Chapter 34
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: People's Hearts
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Heading in to meet Lucy, there she was, gazing at me with flushed cheeks.
Did she rush to get ready or something?
Somehow, I felt bad about it.
"P-Prince."
"Lucy, long time no see?"
Lucy bowed politely in greeting, and I waved back in response.
It had been a while.
Probably since that last social gathering...
"Almost three months, right?"
"Y-Yeah, about that much."
Lucy trailed off at the end.
"Have you been well?"
"I've been fine. You?"
"I-I've been well too."
Why was she speaking so haltingly?
I thought that as I looked at her.
Her blonde hair had grown down to her waist now, and her eyes held that somewhat innocent look.
And yet...
"You've grown up nicely."
"Huh?"
"Nothing."
She'd become a daughter her father could be proud of.
Lost in such thoughts as I gazed at Lucy, she furtively rolled her eyes, as if gauging my mood, and whispered.
"S-So, Prince. What brings you here this time?"
"Just."
"Huh?"
Lucy stared at me with a stunned expression.
Yeah, she was feeling apologetic.
Don't make that face like a soldier in a unit suddenly facing the division commander's inspection.
"J-Just?"
"More precisely, you came to mind."
She's getting ready to head out because she wants to see you.
"..."
Hearing my answer, Lucy scratched her cheek and smiled.
"Ehehehe."
Why was she laughing like such an idiot?
"..."
Clue and Isfil looked on at the giggling Lucy with expressions of pity.
"Anyway, sorry for dropping by out of the blue. Did I startle you?"
"No!"
Lucy shook her head vigorously, and the maids glanced at her for a moment before looking away.
Sorry. I showed up suddenly and made you clean up.
I knew from my past life experience—those quick glances I wouldn't have noticed otherwise.
Of course, I also knew exactly how to handle a situation like this.
"Clue, since I came so suddenly..."
"Yes, I'll prepare some suitable gifts."
Just hand out presents. Something valuable.
Confirming the maids' faces brighten at my words, I turned my gaze back to Lucy.
"Lucy, you busy?"
"T-Today?"
"Yeah."
"Ah, no. I have plenty of time!"
Lucy shook her head back and forth.
Lots of time, huh. Good.
"Actually, I have a favor to ask."
"Y-Yes! Just say the word, Prince!"
Lucy nodded repeatedly.
Perfect.
"Then just one thing."
"Yes!"
Seeing Lucy smile so brightly, I returned a smile of my own.
"Could we go walk around outside a bit?"
"Huh?"
*
"...Whoa."
Honestly speaking.
I couldn't stop my heart from pounding.
What to say—seeing all these people bustling about wasn't the first time if I recalled my past life memories.
"Wow, there are really so many people."
Gazing at the crowded streets after so long was quite the shock for me too.
"Master, you mustn't go too far ahead."
"I know, Clue."
Even in that moment, Clue kept fussing over me out of worry.
"I'm glad you like it."
Lucy walked beside me, smiling softly.
"It's a fairly sizable territory, after all."
It was bigger than what you'd call a mere territory.
What to say—it was quite a far cry from the territories I'd imagined.
"I didn't think there'd be people tilling fields and such tall buildings."
It felt different from my fantasies.
I'd expected a perfect fantasy world, but somehow... well, it turned out to be a world more fantastical than fantasy itself.
"I'm more curious how you knew about places like that, Prince."
Lucy blinked at me before looking away.
"I heard the world changed a lot after magic tools came along."
"Magic tools, huh."
"Before that, it was a really tough era, from what I heard. Hygiene was bad, roads were a mess."
"I see."
What a bizarre world.
Magic tools developed instead of technology, and sometimes...
It felt like a world where only the absolutely necessary things were made, perfectly tailored.
I'd always thought normal technology wasn't just about making what's needed—it was more like, while making other things, you end up creating what's needed along the way.
Of course, not always, but simply put, like tree branches.
The main branch advances forward, but the side branches form alongside it, shaping the tree.
Yet every now and then, this world felt discordant.
Like there were no side branches at all.
As if I were looking at an artificial tree with only one straight branch extending out.
It didn't feel natural.
But it wasn't easy to point that out to others.
Because to them, my thoughts wouldn't feel discordant at all.
I only sensed this strangeness because I'd lived in another world—if I hadn't, I'd never have noticed it.
"Prince Theodor, is something bothering you...?"
"No. Just lost in thought."
I shook my head at Lucy's words.
"Magic tools have been really popular lately, anyway."
Lucy smiled softly.
"The magic tool merchants have been churning out new ones left and right recently..."
"Ah."
"The latest is... something like a button that makes soap bubbles when you press it."
"I see."
"Kids are begging for them, but they're hard to get. I heard if you have one, you become the star at kids' social gatherings."
"I think I have about thirty of them in my room."
"Huh?"
And that wasn't all.
My room was stuffed with all sorts of magic tools.
Aleck, the owner of the magic tool guild, always sent the newest ones to me and Clue first.
The one he'd sent last time, giggling about how well it was selling—that must've been it.
"Want some?"
"...Not for me personally, but if you give them, I can spread Prince Theodor's name even further at the socials..."
"I'll give you some."
"Th-Thank you."
Yeah, you can't help but press it the first time you see one.
I remembered snatching one from the kids at the orphanage and pressing it—they cried their eyes out.
Lost in such thoughts, my mind wandered to Aleck for a moment.
Just as Lucy said, ever since meeting Clue, Aleck had been mass-producing magic tools like a madman.
Most were prototypes, but sometimes he created truly astonishing masterpieces.
Before that, he'd said he hadn't gone through many trial and errors.
It felt like a branch that had only shot straight ahead was finally sprouting side branches.
But that was that, and even when Aleck brought me magic tools saying they were great, there wasn't much I could advise him on.
For starters, he saw me as a magic tool expert, but I barely knew anything about them.
Only recently had I started learning bits from Clue and tinkering.
When I vented to Clue about it, she'd just smile kindly and say nonsense like, "Master, just sit still and I can handle everything for you."
Anyway, thinking about Aleck gave me a headache.
Fortunately, he still hadn't come asking me anything directly.
He said it was enough to occasionally visit Clue and get her advice.
Who knows.
I walked on with those thoughts, Lucy and Clue following behind me.
Isfil... said she had something to talk about.
"Shall we take a look around, then?"
"Not dangerous, is it?"
"I've heard stories of thieves calling themselves righteous bandits stirring up trouble lately, but..."
"Oh."
Righteous bandits.
Sounds interesting.
"But there's no need to worry."
"That's right."
Clue smiled at me.
"I'll tear any assassins to shreds."
"...Don't tear them to shreds."
I had a feeling Clue would really do it right in front of me.
Oh, come to think of it...
"Lucy. Mind if I ask something?"
"Yes?"
"Is there a relief center around here?"
*
"...Damn it."
The young man gritted his teeth and leaned against the wall.
"...Wound... anywhere..."
Blood draining from him, his face growing ever paler.
The man gritted his teeth and let out a sigh.
He was the man recently called a righteous bandit.
It wasn't anything special.
He'd robbed the wicked and distributed to the poor a few times, and before long, people started calling him a righteous bandit and idolizing him.
And in the end, he'd become so bound by that name...
"..."
The man slowly slid down the wall.
His weathered face was gradually overshadowed by the pallor of death.
"Is this... as far as I go..."
Muttering to himself, the man sank to his knees.
Strength ebbed from his body bit by bit, and just as he was about to accept his fate.
-Flash!
A brilliant light burst forth, and strength began surging back into his body.
"...?"
He looked up ahead,
and locked eyes with a boy whose golden blonde hair gleamed brightly.
"Still alive?"