Chapter 120
Chapter 120
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 120
Chapter Title: Eastern Continent
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Even so, I learned one thing.
That orcs wandering around outside alone could end up getting taken out by elves.
"Well, the elves do target superior orcs specifically, but it's not just orcs—any males are at risk, so you need to be careful."
"Indeed. Especially you—you're a particularly dangerous type even among elves."
"Me?"
Rishiel looked at me as she spoke, and I tilted my head in confusion.
"At the root of it, most elf species go after orcs because they see other races as uglier than themselves. But if someone more handsome than them shows up, things change."
Slurp.
Rishiel savored the tea Cheongju had prepared and continued, her loosened lips moving freely.
"It's a blessed gift no matter how you look at it. Anyway, back to the point—elves have a serious temperament, and you're in danger because of it."
"What kind of temperament?"
"They're quick to fall in love."
Ermé answered my question.
"Elves believe there might be prettier ones among their own kind, but no other race has faces better than theirs—that's the vibe."
"But if someone more handsome than them appears, it shocks them."
"Exactly. Like when Rishiel first saw him and lost her mind, courting Yuseong right away..."
"Y-You!! Can't you shut up?!"
Of course.
My ruggedly handsome looks were apparently extremely dangerous.
I resolved to be especially wary of elves.
I glanced at Rishiel.
Unlike her, I'd seen the other candidates too.
She'd confessed to me as well.
"Sometimes when I look at just you, it feels like you dropped into this world with some utterly alien common sense."
"...What nonsense is that?"
Maybe it came with age.
Old man Volkan's insights were sometimes impossible to ignore.
"Right, Yuseong just trained in the mountains,"
Ermé dismissed Volkan's words as nonsense.
And then.
"That one definitely looked at me like I hung the sky when we first met."
"Wasn't that because you pettily refused to teach him swordsmanship?"
With just swordsmanship, you could become someone's sky—yet refusing to pass it on?
And to Ermé, no less.
'How foolish.'
-No, swordsmanship isn't some investment.
'Isn't it worth investing in?'
-...
The holy sword seemed speechless.
This is why medieval folk won't do. Making a fuss over something as simple as basic sword techniques.
-Do you even know that every sword technique you've learned is a secret art, not some basic move?
'Hm...'
The holy sword pointed out that the techniques I'd learned were more impressive than I thought.
I climbed aboard the carriage.
Holding the bouncy Cheongju, I got in, followed by Ermé, Veronica, Clara, Rishiel, and Volkan.
"...Is it okay to take up three seats by yourself?"
"Should I drive the carriage myself?"
"Well, at least it's spacious, so that's good."
"But who's handling the carriage...?"
"The coachman said he'd come, but he's a bit late?"
"Coachman?"
"Yeah, the coachman you know too, Yuseong."
Ermé smiled brightly as she said it.
The only coachman I knew was Diego.
Why would Diego be here...?
"Hahaha! Mind if I hitch a ride for a bit!"
Speak of the devil.
As the crown prince hopped onto the carriage, Ermé beamed.
As if everything had gone exactly as she'd planned.
"The Golden Witch indeed..."
Volkan muttered, teeth practically grinding.
"Don't slander the kind Ermé."
"Does that look kind to you?"
Volkan shot me a bewildered look at my words. I glanced at Ermé, who giggled with a mischievous smile.
"Damn it, can't do a thing about it since she's my disciple. Argh."
"..."
Volkan rarely showed irritation.
Suddenly, I recalled her old face—the one grinning slyly while threatening someone with gold coins.
Like a mastermind pulling strings from the shadows.
-That's her true nature.
'No... I trust Ermé.'
-Don't fall for her facade!
I ignored the holy sword's outburst and turned to the crown prince.
"Don't worry. Ugly old Diego here will handle the driving just fine."
"Ugly?"
"Not handsome enough to count as one of us, but not ugly among the rest—so yeah, ugly."
"Whoa."
It was brutally honest.
Diego scowled at the treatment but soon gave up.
"No need to fret. Diego's earned words like that."
"Oh, if that's the case."
"What's with that relieved look?"
Diego bristled as I nodded.
I mouthed something to the holy sword without speaking.
Diego wordlessly headed to the driver's seat.
-Well, it worked out for both our positions.
'Even so, while transporting a holy sword, helping someone who almost got me killed because he's a demon worshipper? That's a bit much.'
He was a good kid, sharp in politics, but his mission success rate left something to be desired.
'Someone you eye with suspicion the moment a mission pops up.'
That was my assessment of Diego.
The crown prince grinned as he entered the carriage.
"Hm, the inside feels a bit cramped."
"Then I'll step out."
Volkan awkwardly started to stand.
"Naughty. No need. I'm the uninvited guest anyway."
Golden light flickered in the crown prince's eyes.
And then the carriage seemed to expand.
-Ho, to wield imperial power like that—impressive.
The holy sword praised.
I widened my eyes at the crown prince.
I had no choice.
The interior had grown at least three times larger than before.
-The imperial family is the imperial family, huh. No talent for magic or swordsmanship, but that bloodline... Explains why he's crown prince.
'Bloodline?'
-Yeah, bloodline. Inherited gifts. Spatial manipulation is a hallmark passed down through the imperial line.
As the holy sword finished, the crown prince grinned.
"Surprised? You look pretty shocked—worth the strain."
"Strain?"
"Well, it's semi-permanent. Spatial magic is incredibly versatile, but one slip and it could cause massive casualties. Gotta be meticulous. If it unravels midway, half of us here die."
In other words, he was confident enough to cast it here.
-No worries. He cast it meticulously with Volkan in mind.
'Meticulously, sure.'
-No, it's foolproof. No one can tamper with it. Perfect for a mage.
'...?'
-Eh... complicated to explain. Anyway, inherited gifts don't tie to lifespan like others.
'Really?'
-That's why emperors specialize in one thing—sword or magic—but prioritize bloodline powers. Time, space, creation, destruction. Starting with one makes sense.
'And?'
-That crown prince... dabbles in everything, but last time, his swordsmanship was solid.
'...?'
-He's sly as hell.
'He's crown prince—sly comes with the territory.'
-...Not just that. Far from frail, he seems master-level in swordsmanship.
'Master? Whatever.'
-...Silly to explain to your level, but level 5 delving deep earns 'master.' Those using sword aura count. Yet he flawlessly warps space like magic.
'...'
Meaning the crown prince was far stronger than he appeared.
'Doesn't seem that threatening.'
Something about it felt off.
Power over space.
How much could that do...?
'Hm?'
Suddenly, something flashed in my mind about space.
-What's that look?
'Hold on.'
I hushed the holy sword and examined the carriage's expanded space.
What is space?
A bolt of lightning struck in an instant. Grabbing it might change everything.
'Not like I have anything to begin with.'
I pondered deeply for a while.
But I couldn't grasp the answer.
I sighed inwardly.
'Guess I'm no genius.'
I'm the type who cheats with the system.
Liking freebies and solid rewards—not some enlightenment seeker.
Maybe I'd started believing my own hype lately.
My face flushed with embarrassment.
-No, you've been a monster so far. Enlightenment's like that.
The holy sword sounded consoling yet triumphant, with a hint of fluster.
Weird for it—maybe because I was down?
Complex emotions from the sword.
-You're a thief at heart, great at stealing others'. Space is tough for you. Creation, destruction, spacetime—reserved for the chosen few.
'Right, I'm a thief. Stealing is...'
Wait.
Steal?
The thought hit me, and I blankly stared at the space.
Spatial expansion increases space.
What if I stole space?
-Hm...?
I looked outside.
Too focused—I hadn't noticed we'd stopped.
I opened the door and stepped out.
"Looks like you had some revelation?"
Volkan eyed me warily.
"Hold on."
I cut him off and turned to Ermé.
What is Steal Strike?
It steals from the opponent.
On a hunch, I imagined 'stealing' the distance between Ermé and me.
I moved my hand.
My hand vanished for a split second, clutching something.
And then.
Boom!
"Wh-What's going on?"
Ermé stared at me in shock.
The difference?
We'd been about 10 meters apart.
Now she was right in my face.
'...'
I looked at Ermé.
Never seen her this close before. Her eyes looked a bit red up close.
-Wait, you didn't just...?
'Looks like I stole it.'
Space, that is.