Chapter 126
Chapter 126
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 126
Chapter Title: Imperial Siblings' Dance
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East Continent.
Crown Prince.
That name carried no lightness whatsoever.
He claimed he hadn't learned either swordsmanship or magic himself.
Yet he was the second most noble figure in the empire after the emperor.
That was the Crown Prince.
He had no talent for swordsmanship or magic.
His gift lay in wielding those Gifts to their utmost.
However, that came with a fatal flaw.
Gifts, the blessings called heaven-sent talents.
Diving too deeply into them shortened one's lifespan.
The current emperor had passed a hundred years.
Yet he still thrived with vigor.
Even among the dukes, some revered him as divine; his martial prowess was truly terrifying.
Estimates suggested he could live several more centuries.
That was the emperor of the empire.
Thus, the Crown Prince would never become emperor.
It was an open secret to anyone with even a passing knowledge of imperial affairs.
But he was the emperor's most cherished child.
His authority was thus immense, and because he truly understood the people's plight, he commanded formidable support even in Cradle.
However.
There were always those who resented that.
"......Pathetic."
The Imperial Princess gazed at the Crown Prince with a smile.
Nobles must be noble. For the empire's second-in-command to linger here like this was unacceptable.
So she picked a fight.
Yet...
"......This feels off."
She noticed the Crown Prince's gaze had shifted elsewhere.
He found her provocations tiresome.
And the one drawing his attention was the very man she'd recently taken an interest in herself.
She'd seen him before.
Currently, the empire's most watched figure.
Han Yuseong.
If Genius Killer had been the empire's hottest topic,
Han Yuseong was Cradle's now.
From Genius Killer's tastes to the swords she favored, they'd gathered all sorts of intel on her.
With Han Yuseong, though, they had far less.
The most solid trail started from a small town near Cradle.
"......Even that's frustratingly vague."
When the Imperial Intelligence Agency inferred his Gifts from his actions, the number was absurd.
"At least seven, was it?"
It was ridiculous.
Even Black Nether Duke, famed among the Five Great Dukes for his few Gifts, had only four.
Gifts.
Heaven's bestowed talents.
Just one granted adventurer qualifications; three made one a hero candidate.
That was the power of Gifts.
Yet he was assessed at a minimum of seven.
She wondered if the Intelligence head had lost his mind.
But...
"......What kind of monster is that?"
The imperial bloodline was born with it.
Not without reason.
From birth, they possessed space-related Gifts.
Blood might dilute over generations, but Gifts did not.
It was a covenant.
A covenant binding space Gifts.
Plus one more.
Eyes.
The imperial bloodline was born with eyes.
Manifestations varied by child,
but all could glimpse a person's latent potential or part of their abilities.
"......"
The Imperial Princess masked her smile.
The Crown Prince wore an expression of utter boredom.
Along with one of regret for his misstep.
The Princess swiftly approached Han Yuseong.
"Grrrrrr!!"
The dog lunged to bite her.
No, nearly did.
*
I startled at the sudden attack and restrained Cheong Yurang.
'What the hell's gotten into her?'
I felt awkward as hell and scanned the surroundings.
The Crown Prince looked amused somewhere.
The Princess wore a troubled expression.
Wait, she tried to bite the Princess, and now she's the troubled one?
-As expected of Fenrir. Rejecting anyone who might harm her master...
'What're you on about?'
-One of Fenrir's abilities. Once she acknowledges someone as master, she shows hostility toward any threat to them.
'......Making it seem like I'm really her master.'
-You imprinted as her master on Cheong Yurang and just let her be, didn't you? Isn't it about time to accept it?
'......'
The holy sword chuckled as if enjoying this.
Whatever, more pressing matters first.
I looked at the newcomer.
A woman with long golden hair.
Her eyes trembled as they fixed on me.
"Handsome gentleman, might you share your name with me?"
The Princess curtsied gracefully, lifting the hem of her skirt.
Intimidating.
Someone like the Crown Prince or Princess would be fawned over from all sides.
'......I don't get it, but jumping straight into action like this is impressive.'
At the same time, unsettling.
No way would such figures approach me with pure goodwill.
They'd try pulling me to their side.
And in the process, saddle me with debts.
......Felt rotten inside.
The future looked messy. I didn't want entanglement, yet here we were.
Sighs escaped me heavily.
Should've bolted right away.
Though...
'I'd have run into them eventually in the empire anyway.'
No helping it for hero candidate registration.
For some propaganda reason, they showcased abilities before nobles and royals; promising ones got noble connections offered.
With that system, encounters were inevitable.
'So best to gauge their inclinations now.'
I concluded in a flash and flashed a slight smile.
"Pleased to meet you, Your Highness."
"Oh? You know me?"
"No other woman in the empire shines with such radiant beauty as you."
-Urk.
I heard the holy sword retch.
You punk.
"Hee hee, such pleasant words."
"Grrrr......"
Cheong Yurang growled.
A light pat on the head calmed her.
-She's really like a pet?
'Beastkin, remember.'
-Even beastkin don't lean this animalistic...
'But she's cute.'
-You some shady guy?
'......?'
Shady? Maybe.
But not what the sword meant.
Anyway, set that aside.
"Hee hee, you're nothing like the rumors."
"Rumors? Which ones?"
"They say a Sword Ghost appeared in Cradle lately. Doesn't suit that brutal moniker."
I didn't look all that ferocious.
If anything, refined.
"I'm told I look rather noble."
"......Ho ho ho, rumors truly can't be trusted."
Playing it bold threw her off a bit.
'Quick on the uptake.'
No, in this case, showing even a sliver of gap was amateurish.
Can't even be shameless.
"Rumors aren't reliable."
"Yes, especially about you, Yuseong. Even if the empire's tales held, you'd match Genius Killer's skill."
The Princess smiled ambiguously.
"Did you know? The empire's hero tournament is a contest among nobles and imperial blood."
Of course.
Why else would nobles pull strings there?
Why would other races join a human empire's hero tournament?
'Massive interests at stake.'
Humans always produced a Saintess, no matter what.
Thieves and mages too.
Just not swordsmen.
Hence the huge expectations for Soyeonhwa.
The one vying for Sword Hero qualification.
Soyeonhwa herself.
"If it's not too rude, would you dance with me?"
"That would be rude."
Thud. Thud.
The Crown Prince approached.
"Sorry, but I called dibs on this friend first."
He winked at me as he drew near.
"Dibs...?"
"Yeah, we've already had a meal as friends."
His reaction left me bemused.
Were we friends?
"His expression says otherwise."
"Nah, he's just shy. Anyway, getting tired of dealing with you—mind buzzing off?"
The Crown Prince grinned at the Princess.
"Where to? If you let me dance with Yuseong, I'd be delighted."
"Hm, sorry, but this friend won't react to that hideous frame of yours."
The Princess's brow furrowed at his words.
Guess she's confident in her figure.
"That's not for you to decide, brother."
"True enough. But look how troubled he's getting."
Thing is.
They're both misunderstanding big time.
'They think I'm entering the Sword Hero tournament.'
-Pfft... Yeah. Only an idiot wouldn't enter the juiciest prize pool with your skills.
'But it's the most famous. High visibility.'
-You're unbelievable.
'Thanks.'
Frankly, the attention was burdensome.
Too much scrutiny in my past life made me numb to it now.
But...
'I don't like it.'
Even those inured to pain don't enjoy it.
Just used to enduring.
Attention was that for me.
"Excuse me, but I have something to tell you both."
"Ah, what is it, friend? I'll grant most any request."
"Hee hee, I can promise vast benefits. As Crown Prince, visibility matters, and sharing with your retainers too."
The Crown Prince scowled at her words.
Sounded true enough.
But that's not the point.
"Sorry, but I'm not entering the hero tournament's sword division."
"Right, you're... huh?"
"Of course that's fine... wait, what?"
"Because I'm the Thief Hero."