Chapter 9
Chapter 9
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: The Third Prince's Intrusion
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"This is truly a product I recommend. Soon enough, you won't be able to get it even if you want to."
The endorsement from Lipert, the head of the Blue Hair Merchant Guild, their target client.
A few nobles were buying Maple Leaf Tale based on his words, and Third Prince Rikal was one of them.
"An artifact from some lowly Illusion Tower costs this much? Fine."
Spending imperial funds recklessly was his hobby.
As expected, the imperial officials pointed fingers at the prince's behavior.
Being cursed as a wastrel prince was nothing new to him.
"Illusion Tower? You bought something from a place like that for that price?"
"Just ignore him. It's not the first time. How can someone like that be a prince? Compare him to the First Prince..."
Whispers aimed at Rikal and comparisons to the crown prince.
Objectively speaking, the price of Maple Leaf Tale wasn't exorbitantly expensive for a prince.
But it was natural for them to gossip since it was from the Illusion Tower of all places.
"...What is this? It's fun?"
Surprisingly, the game was incredibly entertaining.
He spent days without touching alcohol, completely immersed in it.
That's how he advanced his cleric to second job advancement and started receiving party invites.
"Wow! Thank you so much. Empire's Light is so kind!"
One day in a hunting ground, he cast a heal on someone whose health was depleting due to a lack of potions.
He'd used it to fight undead monsters, and by coincidence, that player was in range.
"...Kind? Me?"
After a few thank-yous like that.
He was constantly praised during party play too.
These idiots. They whisper about me in reality, but here they bow their heads without knowing I'm the third prince.
The third prince felt a twisted pleasure from it.
In reality, he was the wastrel prince pointed at wherever he went.
Yet the very people who cursed him were thanking him here.
How would they feel if they knew they'd bowed to that wastrel?
Fooling other foolish players with good deeds amused and entertained the prince.
On top of that, his character was female.
When creating it, he'd inexplicably chosen female.
In Maple Leaf Tale, players often flirted with him, assuming he was a real woman.
As a devoted healer cleric, men naturally took a liking to him.
They have no idea who I am. Heh, pathetic.
The prince inwardly sneered at the players' actions.
The man everyone hated in reality.
But in this game, they praised Empire's Light without knowing it was that wastrel, smiling and trying to befriend him.
Rikal enjoyed feigning kindness, smiling at them while reveling in their gullibility.
And that's how he became the named user 'Jebit' today.
"This is... the tower?"
The day after the malicious user incident.
Rikal headed straight for the Illusion Tower.
It was a low tower that could collapse any moment without surprise.
[Maple Leaf Tale artifact sales are handled exclusively through the Blue Hair Merchant Guild. Inquiries or excessive complaints regarding Maple Leaf Tale purchases will result in immediate blacklisting without warning.] A notice like that was posted at the tower's entrance.
As rumored, people were swarming the Illusion Tower to get their hands on Maple Leaf Tale.
Even more so after the second batch of sales.
But Rikal wasn't here to buy.
And even if he were, he wasn't the type to back off from a sign like that.
Rikal knocked on the tower door.
- "Maple Leaf Tale purchases, please inquire at the Blue Hair Merchant Guild~"
The door didn't open; only a voice came through.
"Hah."
Rikal scowled and spat a low curse.
The minister and knight accompanying him began watching his reaction nervously.
Rikal throwing a tantrum when things didn't go his way was commonplace for them.
Especially since they'd treated him like any other pushy buyer. The outcome was predictable.
"H-His Imperial Highness the Third Prince has graced us with his presence! Open the doors of the Illusion Tower at once!"
Hannon, the current imperial minister attending him, shouted quickly before Rikal could erupt.
It was a judgment possible only for him, who had survived longest as Rikal's aide thanks to his sharp instincts.
Please... please open...!
Of course, it wasn't just quick thinking that kept him alive.
Many capable aides had died like flies before Rikal.
He'd survived by luck and desperate prayer.
Bang-
I'm alive!
Thankfully, the gods answered Hannon's prayer this time too.
Hannon patted his racing heart.
"Y-You, wh-what brings Your Highness here...! P-Please, come in first!"
A female illusion mage opened the door.
She greeted the third prince while trembling.
Her nervous state was pitiful.
But since Rikal enjoyed seeing people quake before him, Hannon thought it fortunate.
"Pl-Please, sit here!"
Meanwhile, Medea, who had received the prince, was on the verge of fainting.
Of all times, Rain and Rye were away recruiting newbies.
And rumors of the third prince being a murderous wastrel were famous even in Trinity.
"I-I'll fetch the Tower Master, so please wait!"
Medea bolted to the Tower Master's room in a panic.
As a commoner, she had no idea how to handle royalty.
She missed her days dancing with clones on street corners.
"T-Tower Master! The third prince is here!"
Hina Sirius's room. No response.
Hina lay on the bed, unconscious.
She was gaming.
"Ah, damn it...!"
Medea urgently shut down the Maple Leaf Tale artifact in her hand.
"E-Eek?!"
"Tower Master! This isn't the time for games! The third prince is outside!"
"Wh-Wha... Huh?!"
"Hurry! Get! It! Together!!!"
Hina, yanked from boss hunting into reality.
The words "third prince" snapped her awake.
"Th-Third prince!? Wh-Where's Rye?"
"Rye went with Rain to get newbies! Do something about it!"
"I-I c-can't- Aaaah-"
Hina panicked too, pulling the blanket over her head.
"Ughhh... Please! Tower Master, do your job!!!"
Medea tugged the blanket, but Hina stayed coiled inside like a snail.
No, she came out.
"Okay. Got it, Medea."
"Phew... Hurry!"
Hina emerged from the blanket and strode out majestically.
The relieved Medea followed her down to the first floor.
"H-Here. You can talk to the Tower Master. Then I'll just... hehe..."
"...Where's the Tower Master?"
"...P-Pardon? Right he- Wha?!"
Hina had vanished completely.
It was an illusion.
Medea rushed back, but Hina's door was already locked.
Why does this damn illusion magic only work for useless stuff...!
She cursed her useless Tower Master, but there was no choice now.
Inspired by Hina, Medea created her sole specialty—a clone—and sent it downstairs.
This way, at least she wouldn't die.
Since it was a perfect clone, it wouldn't be detected unless touched.
"Haha, it seems the Tower Master is busy. So, what brings Your Highness to our humble tower?"
Medea's clone said.
"I heard there's a kid illusion S-rank mage named Riot who made Maple Leaf Tale. I have business with him, so call him."
"Ah... That mage is currently on assignment... What is it regarding?"
"I have suggestions for Maple Leaf Tale."
"Ah... Suggestions... But we don't know exactly when he'll return... We can contact you separately once he does..."
"Hah..."
Rikal sighed, rubbing his forehead.
Noticing, Hannon hurriedly interjected.
"Ha, haha! It seems Your Highness has urgent business. Is there no way to contact him now, or know his location?"
"...Yeah. I need to resolve this quickly. Those bastards are keeping me from playing the game."
The third prince was bubbling with rage, ready to explode.
Medea instinctively knew refusing here would spell disaster.
But Medea had no way to contact Rye.
The Illusion Tower was too poor to even afford a basic communication orb.
They'd been destitute, and Rye had reinvested most earnings into third-batch production, leaving little for tower expenses.
"Th-That is..."
"Hah... Fuck... Speak properly...!"
"Kyaaah-!"
"Y-Your Highness!!"
Rikal drew his sword.
Without hesitation, he slashed at Medea's neck.
"Y-You can't kill a mage..."
Killing a mage was a big problem.
Even a worthless illusion mage was part of treaty-bound Trinity.
Hannon's head spun thinking of the aftermath.
"Quiet. It's just a clone anyway."
"...Pardon?"
"I'm not in the habit of killing people randomly."
As he said, the headless woman dissolved into smoke and vanished.
It really was a clone.
Hannon exhaled roughly, calming his shock.
At least it was fortunate.
You've killed plenty before just fine, you mad prince.
Hannon thought it inwardly but didn't voice it.
"...What do you think you're doing."
A voice from behind.
Turning, the Illusion Tower door was open, and a young illusion mage who looked freshly adult stood there.
It was Rye, back from his errand.
Due to the angle, Rye hadn't seen the clone's neck sliced and turning to smoke.
"I asked what you just did."
"Ah, haha... There's a misunderstanding. We..."
"Sliced her neck. She was annoying."
"Y-Your Highness!!"
Rikal cut off Hannon.
Rye's face twisted, and Hannon wailed.
"Are you Riot?"
"Rye Ought. More importantly, do you know what you've done?"
"I have suggestions for Maple Leaf Tale, so handle it fast. Those guys are stopping me from playing."
"Ha, haha... Wait a moment, mage. Let's talk calmly fi- Eek!"
Hannon desperately tried to block between them.
But he soon screamed and retreated.
A massive monster had appeared, threatening him.
Of course, it was an illusion.
"You'll die... How dare you to Medea...!"
Rye's mana surged.
And at the same time, Rikal drew his sword.
Soon after, Rikal's sword clashed with Rye's mana.