Chapter 104
Chapter 104
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 104
Chapter Title: Fake Crown Prince (2)
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We raced along the mountain path and soon found ourselves right in front of the stockade surrounding the mine.
I said,
"We're going to charge straight through."
I planned to keep running full speed ahead.
"Iriel, provide support from the stockade."
Everyone nodded at my words.
The stockade arched around sheer cliffs. Given its size, there probably weren't that many soldiers.
"Not a single one gets out alive."
We couldn't stop them from sending signals some other way, but I had no intention of letting anyone escape.
It was to keep them from accurately gauging our forces.
This island had been cut off from the outside world until now, so their defenses against invaders probably weren't ironclad, but it was better to be thorough.
"Yawn, so boring. What're we doing to kill time today?"
"Fuck, I just wanna get outta here."
Voices drifted over from the guards beyond the brush.
The stockade gate stood wide open.
Their vigilance was that lax.
Flash.
As I burst from the bushes, the bored soldiers' faces froze stiff for an instant.
Then their eyes bulged like they'd seen a ghost.
A blinding white flash slammed into their retinas.
Slash-!
I landed behind them.
Thud.
They collapsed without even a scream.
The blood pooled quietly on the ground.
I walked slowly, scanning the interior.
No need to rush.
I needed time for the enemies to swarm me.
My destination was the building that looked like the command post.
Allen and Nederman followed behind me, spreading out to either side like opened wings.
"W-What's that?"
The faces of those who spotted us went pale as death.
I answered with my sword.
A white flash— and a head full of questions flew through the air.
"Enemies! It's the enemy!"
Those who saw the sight scattered in panic, screaming.
I just kept advancing.
Not a single one put up a proper fight.
They were too busy fleeing toward the command post to face me.
A total ragtag bunch.
We easily herded those fools to one side.
* * *
Meanwhile, in the command post, where the commotion hadn't yet reached.
Jollake, the overall head of the mine, forced down his boiling rage and shot a venomous glare at the crown prince poring over the ledgers.
'He's checking every damn detail. Fucking bastard.'
How the hell was he supposed to vent this suffocating frustration?
Jollake couldn't comprehend the crown prince in front of him at all.
He was the top man here, and the governor-general's office oversaw the big picture.
In other words,
There was no room for this dogshit prick to butt in.
So why the fuck had this asshole dragged himself all the way out here to stir up shit?!
"The quarried amount seems to be increasing. Aren't you working the conscripts too hard?"
The crown prince raised his eyes from the ledger.
Jollake didn't like the look in those eyes staring at him.
Fallen crown prince of a dead kingdom.
A bastard who did nothing but hole up on the island wasting away.
He wanted to flip the desk right then, but orders from above said to put up with him, so he held back.
Jollake spat out his words in a tone thick with dissatisfaction.
"It's because new recruits keep coming in steadily."
"The overall numbers haven't changed much."
"Guess the newbies are working hard."
"Don't treat them too harshly. The food rations look ridiculous too."
"Yes~ We'll make adjustments."
Jollake just gave a perfunctory reply.
Nothing would change no matter what the guy said anyway.
Still, he showed up every time to nag about every little thing, which only made Jollake's blood boil more.
The crown prince's gaze dropped back to the ledger.
He read so meticulously it took forever for a single page.
Just match the total output—why scrutinize every detail like that?!
His anger surged, neck cramping.
"How's the miners' health?"
"Fine."
Jollake swallowed his fury and answered.
The crown prince continued, eyes still on the ledger.
"They're here for the kingdom. It always pains me to see them working in such harsh conditions."
Bullshit.
"Make sure to clearly distinguish them from the convict laborers."
"Understood."
"New recruits should be arriving soon, right?"
"Yes."
"When?"
"Probably today or tomorrow."
The crown prince nodded and continued.
"I'll have to come back again soon."
"No need. I'll handle their training properly. It's not an easy trip—why bother coming all the way?"
"No, I'll come in person, so don't worry."
"Yes."
Jollake ground his teeth and replied.
Then he stared daggers at the crown prince scrutinizing the ledger.
He wanted to bash that skull, but damn, the guy's life was pitiful.
So what if he was born crown prince.
Holed up on this cramped island, wasting his days away.
How bored did he have to be to drag himself here and obsess over this petty crap.
If he didn't do this, he'd have nothing to do as crown prince.
Jollake got it, in a way.
Their situations weren't that different.
'When the fuck do I get out?! Shit!'
Word was the job here would wrap up soon, but he'd already been stuck on this island for years.
He was at his limit.
'Still better than this prick.'
Jollake consoled himself while glaring at the crown prince.
Heard the guy had spent ten years here.
His recent trip to the empire was the only time he'd left the island.
Poor bastard anyway.
Didn't stop the rage, though.
Thud.
The crown prince finally closed the ledger.
Jollake sighed in relief.
But it wasn't over yet.
"I saw a lot that needs fixing on my inspection of the interior."
The crown prince droned on with his nitpicking.
Back to the ordeal.
Jollake reined in his seething guts and endured the meaningless prattle.
"Oh, and one more thing."
Still not done, you fucker?!
Teasing an end then dragging it out only pissed him off more.
Jollake let it all go in one ear and out the other before replying.
"Yes. We'll fix everything."
His answer to it all: yes.
Kept it short that way.
But even if the crown prince came back next time, the mine would be exactly the same.
It always had been.
The bastard knew that too.
So why keep coming back to spout this crap? It was maddening.
"Then I'll leave you to it."
The crown prince stood, patting Jollake's shoulder like encouragement.
Finally over.
That's when urgent knocking sounded.
Knock knock knock!
"Captain Jollake!"
"Come in."
Jollake scowled and said.
The door flew open, revealing a subordinate pale as a ghost.
Something had gone down.
Of all the timing, with this prick here.
"B-Big trouble!"
The words from his subordinate's mouth were just as expected.
Jollake's brows twisted savagely.
Any incident in front of the crown prince meant extra nagging.
Sure enough, the crown prince's eyes lit up at the soldier's urgency.
Like he'd spotted prey.
Jollake, his anger peaking, snapped irritably at the soldier.
"What the hell's got you so worked up!"
But the situation was beyond expectation.
"Enemies have attacked!"
"Enemies? Those natives again?"
"No."
"No?"
Jollake tilted his head.
He doubted his own ears for a second.
Who else would attack this place besides them?
The subordinate pressed on urgently.
"The enemy's too strong! We can't hold them off!"
"How many?"
"Only three visible so far. Looks like independence army."
"Independence army?!"
How the fuck did those shitheads get here?
The crown prince seized the moment to interject.
"I'll come with. We should hear why they're here first."
That excited look—he seemed thrilled.
Jollake exercised patience once more.
"It's dangerous. Who knows what mischief they'll pull."
The guy was a figurehead, but his safety mattered.
Couldn't hand the crown prince to the independence army.
"If it's the independence army, aren't they Francia's people? They wouldn't dare harm me. And you know well that my escort knights are all beyond Expert level."
Jollake nodded silently.
As he said, the knights with him were top-notch.
Just three enemies.
With him joining, they'd crush them easily.
Even if things went south, they were independence fighters—they wouldn't kill their own kingdom's crown prince.
The crown prince's point was valid.
For the first time, Jollake thought he seemed useful.
"Let's go together. I'm curious what they look like."
As they stepped out with the crown prince, shouts and screams rapidly closed in from afar.
"I'll check the situation first."
Jollake pushed through the blocking soldiers and advanced.
Just then, some men entered the yard.
Jollake bellowed at the sight of them.
"Who the hell are you! Show yourselves now!"
His mana-charged voice shook the battlefield.
He was a mid-level Expert knight himself.
If not for exile on a disciplinary post, he wouldn't be here—his skills were that good.
Jollake scanned the enemies standing side by side.
As his subordinate said, just three.
The youngest stepped forward and spoke.
"You're the head honcho?"
"Yeah. Independence army?"
"Save the pointless Q&A. Plenty of time for talk later."
Arrogant little shit.
Fucking rude punk.
But Jollake couldn't move rashly.
His feet wouldn't leave the ground.
Just facing them set his instincts screaming danger.
Then a voice came from behind.
"That's them?"
Pushing soldiers aside, a man approached.
Four escort knights followed him.
A dignified stride.
Jollake grinned at him.
For once, he actually looked like a crown prince.
They clearly weren't pushovers, so no need for him to step up.
"You insolent dogs! What are you waiting for—bow your heads!"
Jollake roared at the enemies and pointed to the crown prince.
His voice boomed through the yard.
"This is the Francia royal family's firstborn and sole rightful heir, His Highness Crown Prince Jenes Kuhn Francia!"
Silvery hair gleaming, mysterious silver eyes.
Bearing the symbols of the Francia royals, he slowly revealed himself.
Feeling the enemies' agitation, Jollake seized the chance to shout louder.
"If you're Francia citizens! Pay your respects to His Highness the Crown Prince at once!"