Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Elf Object (1)
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Epic monsters sometimes appear as objects.
Like golems, specters, or massive elemental spirits.
However, humanoid objects were something I'd never seen in ten years of playing.
'Including the rank, everything's in an undetermined state?
It's like an unopened brand-new item.'
All specs undetermined.
In other words, it's an object whose specs are determined by the environment in which it's unboxed.
Not even a summon—it could actually become my object.
This is way too tempting.
'Crazy devs. They crammed every damn thing into Arcana, then wipe it out in the tutorial right at the start?'
My long-held suspicion grows stronger.
This possession experience itself might be the true Dragon Defense expansion pack gameplay.
In that case, is Prince Ragna a bound character given as a survey thank-you gift?
Maybe I stared too openly,
because my eyes met the object's.
She gave a slight bow in greeting, and her slender green hair swayed long and gracefully.
Her emerald eyes evoked the image of a clear, verdant forest.
Her face looked to be in her very early twenties,
but her overall presence exuded a depth of wisdom.
"Your Highness."
Canelian called softly from beside me.
I gathered my wits.
"Yes, Raisha. How's the magic study going?"
...
...
A heavy silence fell over the banquet hall.
Not just the duchess sisters, but my retainers and the Pinia nobles all clamped their mouths shut.
Even Raisha's eyes wavered.
'What the hell?'
I quickly rummaged through the prince's memories.
'I occasionally asked if her magic studies were going well, and she always responded without much reaction that she was studying hard.'
Raisha bowed her head slightly and answered in a trembling voice.
"Yes, I'm diligently devoting myself to magic. My teacher is teaching me earnestly as well."
I couldn't see her face, but I could feel it.
Raisha had been stressed by my words just now.
The Pinia nobles whispered quietly among themselves.
"Prince Ragna still sees Princess Raisha as a thorn in his side."
"He's probably afraid His Majesty the King might suddenly change the heir one day."
How's the magic study going?
It was a famous barb telling her to stick to the path of a mage and never even glance at the throne.
"Even so, to rebuke her so openly in front of foreign nobles. Isn't this a first?"
"It must have been humiliating for Princess Raisha."
"Wait. Could this be a hint that he's planning to marry her off to our Pinia?"
"Oh, that could be it. Publicly checking her in front of us Pinia nobles..."
"But shouldn't we bring up the debt issue soon?"
...
...
The Pinia nobles averted their eyes from each other.
They couldn't even imagine that all their debts had been cleared.
The banquet ended, but the Pinia nobles continued staying in the guest palace.
The prime minister reported, head bowed.
"They still seem unaware that they've all fallen into a prisoner's dilemma."
Unless they all confessed like in a high mass, sure.
"Handle the bonds acquired from Pinia yourself, Prime Minister."
The bonds acquired this time amounted to 77,000 gold coins.
The money the Arcana nobles originally owed the Pinia nobles.
It would offset the debts the royals owed the Arcana nobles.
"Your Highness, what if we repay the debts owed to domestic noble houses not in gold, but in mana herbs? It would benefit the royal finances."
"Handle that yourself too, Prime Minister."
With bulk sales and premiums, it was best to leave money matters to him.
He'd handled the Holy Site Grand Pilgrimage flawlessly, after all—his skills as an executive were beyond question.
"Yes! I'll definitely refill the royal coffers through the mana herb trade!"
He looked revitalized these days—good to see.
That aside, Raisha's pale face from the banquet kept coming to mind.
In truth, players didn't know much about Raisha.
'She dies along with the tutorial's end.'
With the dragon bone rampage stopped, the kingdom wouldn't perish now.
'The prince bastard doesn't abuse his little sister, yet she's still scared of him.'
The prince feared Raisha might claim the throne someday.
So he'd tried to marry her off far away.
'Marry off a future archmage to another country? Idiot, that's leaking a strategic asset.'
Better to marry her to a domestic noble.
Raisha probably wouldn't like living in a foreign land either.
'Anyway, that object...'
The conditions to awaken the object were simple.
Make her realize she's not an elf mage, but an object.
'But how do I make her realize that?'
I was curious what kind of object she'd become once awakened.
Should I start by getting friendly first?
"Summon Mage Silvret. Tell her I have urgent business."
A little later, the object arrived.
Soft, long green hair and green eyes.
Pale, flawless skin and slender limbs.
Her appearance was that of a beauty elf in her early twenties, pure and simple.
"You summoned me, Your Highness?"
"Yes. I contacted Raisha's teacher because I was curious about her progress in magic studies."
The elf object's face stiffened abruptly.
I realized it was because of my polite speech.
When this prince bastard showed kindness, it was a bad omen, so everyone got surprised and tense around him.
That's why I'd maintained a stiff demeanor with the courtiers on purpose,
but I couldn't do that with this object—I needed to get close to her.
"Don't harbor needless fears. With a fiancée already in the palace, I can't act like a brat forever, can I?"
"...Yes, Your Highness."
She clearly didn't believe me. Damn.
"Princess Raisha's achievements are progressing smoothly.
If she can continue focusing solely on magic studies and training like this, Arcana will one day gain a great mage whose fame echoes across the continent."
"Hm, that's good news."
"And also..."
The object earnestly emphasized how exceptional Raisha's magical talent was,
how much of a waste it would be if she focused on anything else,
and why she had to become an archmage.
'She's desperately appealing that Raisha has no interest in the throne.'
She seemed to think a wastrel prince might purge his sister for the succession.
Sadly, that was true.
I'd seen it in the prince bastard's memories.
Marrying her off abroad was the mildest form of purge among them.
"Come to think of it, doesn't Raisha need mana herbs too?"
I saw a spark of life in the object's eyes.
As expected—that would work.
Nothing builds rapport like buying friendship.
"With sufficient mana herbs provided, Princess Raisha's achievements will advance further.
She could form mana rings more quickly and overcome walls she otherwise couldn't."
The prime minister had informed major figures, including great nobles, about mana herb cultivation.
So they could prepare for market changes.
Raisha knew too, naturally.
"It's my sibling's magic training—I should support it actively. Provide Raisha with as many mana herbs as she needs."
"Your grace is deeply appreciated."
"But there's a small condition."
"Please speak it."
"It's nothing much. Lately, I've grown generally interested in magic."
"Then...?"
"I want to learn magic from you. I'm not obsessed with becoming a mage—just teaching level is fine."
First, build rapport.
And someday, awaken her identity: You're not an elf—you're an object!
'Can't wait to see what specs pop out on unboxing.'
Objects with all specs and traits undetermined have high potential for top-tier performance if awakened properly.
What would a solar-attribute object produce if awakened in peak condition?
"You mean... magic instruction from me?"
Caught off guard, the object stumbled slightly over her words.
"Half of it is for culture and hobby, so no need to feel burdened."
"...Understood. I shall follow Your Highness's will."
Her eyes held a resigned glint.
Like she was sighing inwardly, wondering where to even start teaching this wastrel.
'I was the world #1 in Dragon Defense mage rankings. She'll be shocked when she sees my magic control later.'
Raisha paced anxiously, gnawing at her nails.
She had no leisure for studies or training.
'Why did big brother summon my teacher?'
Only one thing came to mind.
Checking and probing her.
Raisha had zero interest in the throne.
Becoming queen would slacken her magic training and slow her progress.
But the prince didn't believe it.
He believed royal authority was the most sacred and valuable thing above all.
He couldn't understand that someone might value magical achievement over the crown.
Finally, her teacher returned.
Seeing her pale complexion, Raisha's heart pounded.
"Teacher, did big brother scold you harshly?"
"...Not really."
"Then why does teacher look like that...?"
"Raisha. Good news. His Highness the Prince said he'll provide as many mana herbs as you need for your achievements."
"What? Is that true?"
Raisha focused more on her teacher's poor expression than the joy.
"But what did he demand in return? A betrothal to the King of Pinia or something?"
"He wants to learn magic from me."
"What? Magic? From big brother?"
Raisha's face went blank.
The prince had no talent for sword or magic.
It had even sparked talk among nobles that maybe Raisha should be queen instead.
The prince knew his own lack of talent.
He also hated effort.
So his true intent wasn't magic studies,
but probably...
"Is big brother trying to make even my teacher his concubine? N-No, that can't happen!"
"Raisha, you're at the most crucial moment right now. With sufficient mana elixirs, your achievements can leap forward. This is an opportunity you can't miss."
"B-But...!"
"If you can one day surpass even me as a mage, what value does this body hold?"
Silvret clenched her fist and gazed up at the sky.
"Far in the future, if I succeed in ascension, it'll just be shed skin I'll leave behind on the earth anyway."