Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: The Victory Banquet
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"You're holding a celebration banquet this time?"
"Yeah. His Majesty was thrilled, as if he'd conquered it himself. He even seems keen to announce at this banquet that he'd like to join the Zakum expedition too, as [Fallen Power Warrior]."
"Hmm. Honestly, joining at that level would just be a total drag."
This was the first floor of the Illusion Tower. If I had to describe it, it'd be like the lobby.
Though calling it a lobby felt generous—it was more like a cluttered living room in an unkept house.
Not that long ago, we barely had any visitors, so it was only natural.
Maybe it's time to tidy up and expand our tower a bit.
"His Majesty must really want that Zakum Helmet."
"Yeah. But I doubt Galliard would be thrilled about it, given his personality."
Lately, though, we'd started getting a few visitors.
The Blue Hair Merchant Guild leader and Galliard dropped by occasionally, and recently, Rikal had been coming the most.
"That hero grandpa? Yeah, he'd hate it. Word is he's been stubborn since way back."
"Yeah... Makes sense why he'd push something absurd like an offline strategy meeting."
In my past life, people had shelled out big money to join raids just for Zakum's helmet.
Eventually, rules for dividing raid boss drops would emerge, but in this world, it seemed like it'd take time.
There still weren't that many users capable of tackling Zakum.
And the user base was still small overall.
I need to get that artifact mass-production permit soon.
Hina had been putting it off because she was swamped with the Zakum raid lately.
Now it was time to move on to the next things.
Sip—
Rikal leisurely sipped the mixed coffee I'd brewed for him.
Come to think of it, why does this guy keep showing up so often lately?
"...By the way, you've been coming by a lot lately. The capital and Trinity aren't exactly close."
"They're close. Doesn't even take a full day."
"It takes over three hours."
"That's what close means."
"Is something going on in the capital?"
Sip—
Rikal downed his coffee without a word.
"I still think it'd be best to reveal Jebit's identity at the celebration banquet..."
"Pfft— Hey, hey! Don't talk crazy!"
"That's why I'm telling you to spill it already. I'm busy too—why do you keep bothering me every day?"
"You wanna die?"
"Go ahead and try. If I die, I've set it up so a notice goes out on Maple Leaf Tale that Jebit is the Third Prince."
"Bullshit..."
I shot Rikal an annoyed glare.
Even if he talked big, he wouldn't actually kill me.
Underneath it all, he was dead serious about Maple Leaf Tale.
I was getting used to his foul personality. Not that I liked it any better.
"Sigh... My brother's been hounding me about Jebit's identity every time we meet. It's annoying."
"Your brother—the Crown Prince? Why would the Crown Prince ask you about Jebit's identity? Has he figured it out?"
"Doesn't seem like it. He probably just thinks I'm connected to Jebit because of what happened at the Illusion Tower."
He meant when the Crown Prince came by with the invitation.
From the Crown Prince's perspective, Rikal had been at the Illusion Tower when Jebit was there too.
So he assumed there was some connection between Rikal and Jebit.
Connection? More like Rikal is Jebit.
"That's... understandable, I guess? Still, I wouldn't think he'd ask you directly."
"He can't demand info from the Illusion Tower, so he's asking me instead. No one knows Jebit's identity anyway."
Jebit's identity had been brushed off as a health issue, with no further details.
So no one knew Jebit's family.
And despite countless requests, Jebit never responded to any.
Of course, the diehard fans were still around, but by now, the world had come to somewhat understand Jebit's position.
Yet the Crown Prince was asking Rikal about it too...
Sounded like he really wanted to meet Jebit.
"No way... Is the Crown Prince a Jebit fan too?"
Rikal's face soured.
Looked like it was true.
What was it called again? I'd heard Jebit had a fan club.
And among them were tons of male nobles who wanted to cure Jebit's illness or even marry them.
"Pfft! Come to think of it, the Crown Prince is still single, right? Why not become his crown princess while you're at it?"
Kukukuk...
I couldn't hold back and burst out laughing.
Seeing Rikal's usual smug face twist up felt oddly satisfying.
"...Shut up."
"Wow~ Seducing the Crown Prince? You're the idol of Maple Leaf Tale! Don't the male nobles line up for you?"
Shing—
Rikal drew his sword on me as I clutched my stomach laughing.
I quickly summoned a clone and bolted.
Rikal slashed the clone.
"Ha... fuck!"
Rikal threw his sword to the ground in a tantrum.
He seemed seriously pissed.
Of course he would be—his own brother seeing him as a girl and crushing on him.
"Kuhahaha... So, you're skipping the celebration banquet then."
"...I'm going."
"Huh?"
"Do you know a user called [Phantom Thief Ressit]?"
"Of course."
Anyone would know her well—especially me.
Even without me, after this raid, hardly anyone wouldn't know [Phantom Thief Ressit].
She was the expedition's sole commoner member.
And her performance at the end had even impressed me.
"Some nobles are grumbling because she's a commoner."
"Surprising. Didn't think you'd care about that, Your Highness."
"...It's just irritating hearing trash talk from unskilled nobodies."
He was more egalitarian than I'd thought.
Though I had worried about that too.
The Zakum expedition was something everyone wanted to join.
A commoner shining there? Plenty would envy that.
And soon enough, at the raid celebration banquet.
As Rikal predicted, the nobles' gazes toward [Phantom Thief Ressit] weren't kind.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ This raid success celebration drew far more attention than the last.
The invitation lottery tickets sold were several times more.
The reason for the huge interest? The banquet would screen the Zakum raid footage.
The raid details were already somewhat public.
But chances to watch the actual footage were still rare.
The Illusion Tower planned to sell it eventually, but that was still a ways off.
"Ahh...! What luck...!"
"When I failed the strategy meeting lottery, I thought the sky was falling! Who could've guessed this?!"
"A miracle... a miracle! Me winning a banquet invitation."
A chance to witness the heroes' exploits firsthand.
Like spectating a hero party slay the Demon King in the old tales.
Of course, seeing that in person was impossible.
It lived on only in stories.
Yet people still went wild for those hero tales.
Imagine watching such a historic battle—the first Zakum raid—live.
No one would pass up that glory.
"What an honorable day this is—!"
The emperor, already downing a drink, shouted from the podium.
It was a long speech, but boiled down to praising the Zakum raid.
Mixed in subtly was his desire to join the next expedition.
He wasn't the only one thinking that.
'They cleared it with 24 people... That leaves 6 spots, right? Max is 30, so if I play it right...'
'Zakum's level cap isn't that high anyway. If I grease the right palms, maybe I can sneak in...'
'If I just survive to the end, I could get a 'Zakum Helmet' too...!'
The urge to join a Zakum raid.
The greed for a 'Zakum Helmet.'
Zakum's level limit was 50, so most users harbored such thoughts.
Everyone aimed to cozy up to the expedition members here, hoping for scraps.
"Ooh, Galliard—no, [Fallen Power Warrior]!"
Expedition members entered one by one.
Most people tried to suck up to them.
All but one.
'Ugh... Today, I'll just stay quiet too. But the food looks tasty. Hehe...'
[Phantom Thief Ressit], the commoner—Milly.
She huddled in a corner, dressed out of place for the banquet, munching away.
No noble would stoop to flattering a commoner, even for expedition glory.
If anything, the whispers and stares toward her had increased.
Milly looked like the odd one out here.
But such lavish feasts were rare for her.
Gobbling delicacies she'd never taste again lifted her spirits a bit.
Thud—
"Ack...!"
Someone bumped into Milly hard as they passed.
The food she'd been holding hit the floor.
Habitually, she bent to pick it up.
"Ugh—Trying to pick up floor food. Typical commoner..."
"Right? She's on the expedition, but bringing that to a sacred imperial banquet..."
"...!"
Frozen mid-bend, Milly went rigid.
The clear hostility. The mockery aimed at her.
Used to bowing before nobles, her body trembled instinctively.
"How did she even get Maple Leaf Tale? I barely snagged one in the third batch."
"Exactly. It was way pricier then. No sum a commoner could afford."
"Yeah. Unless she stole something."
"No way, right?"
The two noble ladies feigned shock, hands over mouths.
"Come on, they wouldn't let a thief on the expedition, would they?"
"True. If it got out, she wouldn't survive. Think a thief would have the guts to show up?"
Thud—
"Aack—!"
The ladies shoved past the bent-over Milly.
She tumbled, covered in dust.
From then, the voices sharpened, drilling into her.
"If it weren't for her, I'd have made the expedition."
"Look at her strutting after one lucky performance. Who does she think she is...?"
"A commoner daring to show up here? Even with an invite."
"How did a commoner get Maple Leaf Tale back then anyway?"
"Unless she stole it..."
Milly's vision narrowed.
Cold sweat dripped; tinnitus rang in her ears.
Most accusations were false.
She wasn't strutting—Galliard had begged her to join.
She shrank in the corner, head down to avoid such talk.
And without her, others still wouldn't have joined—24 out of 30 cleared it.
Pure envy of her, a commoner's, feats.
But one truth among them.
Thief.
Her Maple Leaf Tale came from stealing a noble's ring.
Caught, she could die on the spot.
Milly wanted to flee.
Panic clawed at her.
She scrambled up and bolted for the exit.
Or tried to.
After three steps, her legs froze in place.
"...?"
Across from her, eye contact with a middle-aged noblewoman.
The baroness whose ring Milly had stolen.
The baroness walked slowly toward her.
"Hah... Hah... Hah...!"
Her breath quickened.
She wanted to run, but her legs buckled.
Nobles filled the hall, staring oddly.
'N-No... No...!'
The baroness now right in front of her.
As the baroness opened her mouth to speak,
Grab—
Someone gripped Milly's shoulder from behind.
"Eek—!"
"Are you okay?"
He was the illusion mage who created Maple Leaf Tale.