Chapter 199
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 199
Chapter Title: Each One's Time (3)
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Of course, Dexter wasn't the type to just pay lip service.
"Here, take this. It's a gift Javier and I prepared."
"This is..."
Dexter pointed to a spot in the corner of the room, where a box treated with intricate magic sat.
It was a massive box, large enough for an adult man to squeeze into if he hunched up tight. Jun tilted his head at the sight.
"Isn't this a magic vault?"
"Exactly. It even conceals the aura of whatever's inside."
"But what's in there that you had to use a mana fluid seal on top of that?"
"Oh, you recognized it? Javier sealed it himself. Javier, would you mind opening it?"
"Of course, big brother. Right away."
Javier approached the box, and Jun followed right behind him.
"Take a look."
When Javier opened the box, his face was flushed with excitement.
What on earth could be inside to get him like this?
Jun's eyes widened as he peered into the box.
"Th-this is...?"
"Took some effort to procure. Well, not me personally—Aden roamed the seas to find it in the end."
"I hope it proves a great aid on your journey."
And the contents of the box were, indeed...
Something extraordinary enough to have two imperial royals making such a fuss.
"A Dragon Heart!"
It was unmistakably a Dragon Heart from a Sea Serpent, radiating immense water-affinity mana.
"Haha, you're embarrassing me. It's not quite a full Dragon Heart. This box couldn't hide something that powerful anyway."
As Dexter said, it was far too small to be a true Dragon Heart.
A Sea Serpent's heart, belonging to a beast large enough to dwarf most buildings, couldn't possibly be just the size of a fist.
"It's merely a fragment of a Dragon Heart, but it should still be quite valuable to you."
No. Even so, this wasn't something to downplay.
Considering it had been decades since the last Dragon Heart surfaced in the world, this alone was a massive windfall for Jun.
"Of course, that's not all. When you all return to the surface someday, you'll get an official invitation from the Imperial Family—that's the real prize. Think of this as just the appetizer."
"But... is it really okay for me to accept this?"
Jun was Korean enough to know etiquette, so he asked out of politeness.
Still, a good portion of it was genuine.
It was common knowledge that even the Imperial Family didn't have many intact Dragon Hearts.
A mere fragment hitting the market could spark a bloodbath.
"Nonsense. Think of all you've done for us. And..."
Dexter glanced at Javier, who was beaming with contentment.
No matter that they were half-brothers from different mothers, he'd watched over him for twenty years.
He'd been a child under Venes's strict tutelage, never smiling since he took his first steps.
But lately, Javier had started smiling.
He must have gained some enlightenment from Jun and Aiden.
Some might say Javier's happiness—a mere rival for the throne—should be Dexter's misfortune.
But Dexter understood Javier's mindset to some degree.
'He said he sent a letter to Lady Ranes.'
Ranes.
Dexter knew her well.
The woman who abandoned her imperial name to descend to Blackout and build her own Mage Tower.
It couldn't be coincidence that Javier wrote to her.
'He's finally ready to face Venes head-on.'
What was the point of squabbling over the throne with his brother?
For Dexter, this was something to welcome.
And he knew exactly where this change in Javier stemmed from.
'In a way, he's prevented a bloodbath that could have engulfed the Imperial Family.'
Who would believe it?
That a low-rank mage with no backing just last year had preserved the empire's future in under two years.
But.
Even so, as a prince and Javier's brother, there was a question he had to ask.
Dexter's expression grew serious as he looked at Jun.
"Now that I've given the reward, it's time for the punishment."
Jun met his gaze, thinking here it comes.
"When you killed Derman, you said you used Javier's mana."
"Yes."
"Given the circumstances, I'll overlook demanding an imperial prince's mana so boldly—since Javier doesn't want to punish you for it."
"Thank you."
"But how did you know his mana held such special power?"
This was a crucial point.
Javier flinched beside him.
It was something Javier wondered too.
How did this mage know a secret about his own mana that even he didn't?
'What to do...'
Jun had passed one of Dexter's tests before.
The imperial family's lie detection ability, passed down through generations.
Dexter might be using it right now.
'If I lie and get caught...'
He could lose all the trust he'd built.
Should he tell the truth then?
That he was from another world and knew future events?
'That comes with its own problems.'
Forget whether those two would even believe it.
Above all, he couldn't predict Dexter's reaction upon learning the truth.
The current Dexter was a kind, good-natured first prince.
'But not in the game.'
After the empire he loved crumbled, Dexter became an avatar of vengeance, desiring only the Church of the Heavenly Firmament's destruction.
He'd used everyone except his sole surviving twin sister as tools for revenge.
'Javier or this guy—both are risks.'
A choice between two paths.
Jun opened his mouth slowly, decision made.
"I read about it in some old record once."
"A record?"
"Yes. It mentioned that Lady Venes's ancestors were born with spirit blood."
"When did you learn this?"
"Before I met either of you."
"Why did you know?"
"I wasn't seeking it out for any purpose. I was researching magic-related powers that day, and it led me to spirits by chance."
This was true.
He'd searched community keywords related to magic, checking top-liked posts, and stumbled on it.
"Hmm... But from what I know, that clan's spirit blood has diluted greatly. Javier's is different, though—very potent. Did you know that too?"
Despite Dexter's lingering suspicion, Jun answered calmly.
"It wasn't hard to infer. I'd already known about the Evil Spirit Orb before meeting you two..."
"And then you learned the Church of the Heavenly Firmament was targeting Javier."
"Yes."
Beyond their goal of straining Javier's ties to the Imperial Family and fracturing the empire, what if the Church had another aim?
"I confirmed it by asking the Dream Phantom sealed in my ring."
"And that's how you verified the spirit blood."
Jun nodded silently in affirmation. Dexter closed his eyes briefly, then nodded.
"Thank you for answering honestly, Jun."
"Just doing what I should."
"Normally, prying into imperial secrets could be a crime..."
Dexter cracked a mischievous smile.
"But the judgment falls to Javier."
"I have no desire to punish him over something like that, big brother."
"Fair enough. If the person involved feels that way, I won't interfere. Good! Serious talk's over. Back to the main topic."
"I'm deeply grateful for your consideration."
"Hearing that from you makes me feel all mushy. Anyway, the rest is up to Javier. You explain."
"Understood, brother."
"What is it?"
As the interrogation-like session ended and Jun looked up, Javier spoke with a brightened expression.
"Someone wants to meet you. They're arriving here soon—can you stay until then?"
"That shouldn't be a problem."
"Haha, excellent."
Javier's face was filled with anticipation...
And a few days later, Jun would understand why.
A few days passed.
In that time, a welcome face visited Voleska.
Not the person Javier mentioned, but Cloi.
"You really..."
"Happy to see me alive?"
"Ugh. Is that what you call it?"
Why had she come all this way when she must be swamped?
No need to ask—it was to handle matters they'd skipped during the journey.
"I really... never thought it'd end this well."
"Same here. Figured it'd just be a routine patrol and done."
Despite Jun's grumbling, Cloi nodded agreeably for some reason.
It wasn't like this was the first time he'd gone somewhere dangerous.
But this time, peril lurked everywhere.
No place to bluff on magic skill alone.
Yet Jun returned with the best possible outcome. Cloi couldn't help but think...
'Did he harness the power of the universe or something?'
An absurd notion that would horrify Jun if he heard.
He didn't want to throw himself into danger like this often, either.
"Anyway, seems you've got some time? Coming all the way here yourself."
"Wanna die? Do you know how busy I am... Sigh. I'd snap at anyone else."
Of course, Cloi had been incredibly busy too, but not enough to chew him out.
Things had finally stabilized enough for her to surface.
"Anyway, I got your report. Connected to the Church of the Heavenly Firmament again, huh?"
"Yeah."
"I've been gathering intel on them too. Got some payback of my own to deliver."
Cloi's bright expression upon reuniting with Jun turned icy.
She too had lost people to the Church.
"These bastards are sneaky, hiding among humans."
"Catch any solid leads?"
"Not yet. That's why I'm here personally."
Cloi's Blackout intelligence network was no longer to be underestimated.
In just a year or so, she'd ballooned her influence massively.
Absorbing Requiem under Chiles had netted their expertise, and her capital let her dominate the lower strata.
Still, limits remained.
"Surface is one thing, but here? We're hitting walls. Especially since I can't move alone against their size."
"True. They even reach into the Imperial Family."
No matter how much she'd grown since last year, she couldn't match the Church's deep Blackout roots.
She bit her lip in frustration, turning toward the massive castle in the city.
Where the two princes resided.
"We need Imperial cooperation. But carefully—they won't hesitate to cut tails either."
Regret dripped from Cloi's eyes.
She'd come to see Jun, not the princes.
"I've made preparations too. Even asked Grandpa separately."
"That artifact?"
"Yeah."
A plain iron ring, devoid of markings.
But Jun's eyes sparkled with curiosity.
"Not ordinary mana. Incredibly advanced craftsmanship."
"You can tell."
"A gift from the Imperial Family to Grandpa long ago."
"No way..."
"Teleportation artifact. One-use, but reliable."
"Insane."
Even royals struggled to obtain them.
Money alone wouldn't cut it.
Even Shylock had trouble acquiring one.
How did a mere merchant have it?
'Not that the world's golden hand is ordinary.'
Anyway.
"Handing that over means... you're confirmed as next guild head."
"Hmph, obviously. You think I'd compare to those yes-men upstairs?"
Though she'd leaned on Jun heavily, spotting him and allying was Cloi's choice.
Sticking with him post-disaster was hers too.
And gathering intel Jun couldn't alone to expand her domain? All her doing.
Seizing opportunity is a skill.
Now, she was treated as the rightful heir.
"So your grandpa's turning against the Church too."
"Yeah. He gathered surface intel. And found more rot than expected."
This was tricky.
Good or bad? Hard to say.
Gaining the Golden Hand's support—on top of the Imperial Family—was cause for cheers.
'But opposing the Church means I can't relax.'
The Empire wouldn't fall helplessly like in the game now.
'Protecting myself and those around me in the chaos is another matter.'
Jun now worried for more than just himself.
But did he lack confidence? No.
'Gotta hustle.'
At least crushing the Church's nose this trip would make them cautious.
That day, Jun and Cloi conferenced until late night.
The person Javier mentioned arrived the next dawn, right after Cloi departed for Black Forest Fortress.
"So you're the rumored mage."
Ranes, lord of the Ranes Mage Tower—known as a 7th-circle mage.
But seeing her, Jun instantly knew she wasn't.
'8th circle... and perfectly stable.'
It was a space made of countless crystals.
Did each one hold special power?
Gemstones scattering eerie lights, reflecting off each other in chaotic brilliance.
A masked figure lay on the floor, groaning.
"Ahh... In the end, I achieved nothing..."
The voice belonged to the Venom Sage's master—the culprit behind the Slayer Coast Island incident.
His voice rose and fell as usual, but he seemed utterly drained.
Hardly surprising.
Sparks intermittently erupted from his body, crumbling it.
It regenerated soon after, but focused on that, he was immobile for now.
Soon after, an outsider spoke.
"No word to us, and this is how you end?"