...
@criver :
you don't take perspective from all side enough ...
it's like in NGNL when NULL challenge beast kingdom ...
MC make situation which create audience super focused about "cheat" which make the risk of magic using get really bad ...
(Note, the magic for King and MC might totally different to begin with, and most likely NOT SAME)
also for the king make MC scapegoat, it's really nonsense if The king blame one of citizen out of magic when they protest their king ...
there'll be TONS of complain from citizen if the King do that ... (like The King "silenced" one of citizen from scapegoat, and in that country current situation, it will surely cause great chaos)
learn some politic in RL, that will also based happen too in here logically ... (lately it get happen OFTEN in RL)
and it isn't like The king know anything what MC has done when he is seeping inside his kingdom ...
it seems King only notice MC AFTER he meet the King ...
the best way for King is to follow MC plan and kill MC after he become useless ...