Chapter 182
Translator: uly
Chapter: 182
Chapter Title: Give and Take #1
As I sat there in prolonged silence, Scheherazade spoke first.
“Half-fairy, I wish to ask if you can see Turki’s future in your visions. What do you foresee for Turki once I become empress?”
“Turki’s future…”
Nothing came to mind right away. What happened to Turki in the original story?
From what I remembered, it was huddled behind walls that even Angmar’s demon army couldn’t breach, only to suffer massive damage from a giant flying monster.
It probably fell in the end.
Only a handful survived the original story anyway.
The onslaught of evil overwhelmed the world after the barriers crumbled.
But now, with the barrier collapse foreseen and guard forces bolstered, such a disaster was unlikely barring the extraordinary.
In that case, just as Angmar had begun prospering again without collapsing, Turki would thrive too. Scheherazade seemed plenty shrewd; she’d handle it fine.
Maybe I could give Aira a suitably flattering response?
“With Your wise Majesty at the helm, Turki will enjoy perfect peace and prosperity, will it not? I can only hope that the storied power of Turki forges friendly ties with Angmar going forward.”
Aira would have smiled in satisfaction at such praise and patted my head.
But Scheherazade’s reaction was blander than expected.
“That’s not the empty flattery I wish to hear. I seek more concrete, reliable information.”
“Concrete and reliable…”
“Indeed. For example—someone within Turki will betray us, harboring treacherous designs against us.”
How rational.
No, this was just a normal person’s response.
After dealing with the unhinged Aira, taking the lead in conversation with this woman felt daunting.
She’d see right through me as a nobody. But I hadn’t survived the court on looks alone.
I’d kept my life amid real heavyweights like Reinhardt and court ministers like Belmont. No need to shrink before Empress Scheherazade.
I needed to push back harder.
“Seeing the future comes at a price.”
“Do you require a sacrifice?”
“You could call it that. But it consumes considerable mental energy and mana. I must read the stars’ fortunes. And quantum-mechanically adjust the observation framework. The future can shift based on observation, after all.”
“Quantum… mechanics? Ah, yes. You’re a mage, half-fairy. It must involve complex incantations.”
I rattled off vaguely impressive terms.
I worried she’d call my bluff, but she seemed to accept it as “arcane mage-speak.”
Mages in this world spouted plenty of nonsense.
Even my white-bearded mentor Hainax, who taught me magic, often droned on about “high magical Anghel index—” leaving me baffled.
Then Scheherazade’s mystical silver eyes narrowed mysteriously.
“Very well, a price is fair. I’m no fool to expect favors for mere words. Heh heh heh.”
She even seemed pleased I’d asked for payment. Probably thought she’d found the key to our talk.
Then, in a sly tone, she continued.
“Turki tempts with many desires. Gems aplenty. Dinosaurs too.”
“…”
Dinosaurs? Tempting.
Did they really have those?
As I pictured long-tailed saurs in my mind, Scheherazade spoke.
“Gems? From opal to onyx, diamond to obsidian, carnelian, heliotrope, and black pearls—name your desire, and it’s yours.”
“Hmm…”
Gems, huh.
Truth be told, I had little material greed. Even with money, I didn’t know extravagance, nor had the time. A dinosaur would tempt me more.
“Mages boost mana with rare gems, or so I’ve heard. No interest?”
“If I may, I differ from such mages. Only earth-affinity ones like Kasim can amplify mana via gems.”
“I see. Then what of beauties? As you can tell from me, Turki is famed for its stunning women.”
“Ah…”
I parted my lips slightly, and Scheherazade furrowed her brow.
“What’s that reaction? You could stand to be more impressed right now.”
“Aaah, truly a land of beauties…!”
I gasped in exaggerated fairy-like awe. Pleased with my earnest acting, she pressed on.
“I could assign two or three dancers if you wish.”
The word “dancers” conjured copper-skinned beauties adorned with tinkling gem jewelry on limbs.
—What a cute half-fairy. Dance with us.
Nice.
But I had no time for dancers now. Tending to the four noble ladies already overwhelmed me.
Regrettable.
As I smacked my lips, Scheherazade, reading my cue, changed tack.
“Surprisingly humble in your desires. What of oil then?”
“Oil?”
My mind flashed to gushing black crude. Desert and oil—oil meant desert lands.
But Turki’s oil was different.
“Yes. Our deserts hide mineral-rich underground caves aplenty. Clear oil emerges there most rarely. Half-fairy, should you desire, I’ll grant a drop.”
Clear oil.
A rare elixir, by my reckoning.
Incredibly potent and scarce, worth its weight in gold. Something like droplets from stalactites.
Hence “rock oil.”
Turki had revived its war-torn economy by discovering such springs.
Now I was intrigued.
It’d surely boost mana. Maybe even shatter my 5th-circle plateau outright.
* * *
‘As expected!’
Queen Scheherazade had her read.
She excelled at sensing human desires—fundamentals of negotiation.
The half-fairy’s vague wants had confused her. He shunned gems and beauties alike.
Though beauties tempted him somewhat.
Even Turki’s famed dancers hadn’t stirred him much. Not the best hook.
Then she recalled he was a mage.
One rivaling her supremely skilled brother Kasim.
Kasim had said, “Not a battle-trained battle mage, but quite talented.”
Her willful half-brother’s prowess ranked high in the World Mage Academy. If he matched such a rigorously trained battle mage, this half-fairy was no slouch.
A mage that capable would crave clear oil.
Sensing victory, Scheherazade continued.
“Clear oil grants even mortals boundless vitality. For mages, the effects amplify. A few drops yield years of meditation’s fruits.”
“Hmm…”
“Half-fairy, you’ll fight as that queen’s champion in the duel trial, yes?”
“How’d you know?”
“Few qualify as her grand warrior. For scant time left to prepare, one drop of elixir suffices, no?”
“…”
The man wavered.
A tiny flinch, but to Scheherazade, a quake. Even a whisker’s breeze raises a tiger’s claws.
Swoosh.
At last, she drew a tiny vial from her silken waist pouch.
Thumb-sized, gold-capped. Within, a milky-white droplet huddled.
It spoke.
—Gweeeng.
The half-fairy startled.
“Did that droplet just… speak?”
“Indeed. Clear oil holds will. Called wildling in Angmar? A slime-like sentient liquid. Drink, half-fairy. Theo Gospel.”
Swoosh.
She proffered the vial.
He hesitated, then uncapped and downed the contents.
—Gweeeng…
Watching the pitiful droplet vanish, Scheherazade’s lips curved.
‘He’s hooked!’
Mages tasting oil once addict, craving more. He’d enslave himself to Turki for it.
Well?
She smirked inwardly.
* * *
The clear oil Scheherazade gave me was bitter.
I figured one drop barely signaled the liver, but upon entering my mouth, a fierce aroma exploded, shaking my mind.
Ugh. So bitter I nearly spat it out.
Nymph-repelling flavor.
Ghastly taste.
My body screamed.
—Gweeeng…
Had it not whimpered so piteously in my mouth, I might’ve endured. Mutely mourning it, I swallowed. Spitting before the empress would cause havoc.
Soon, text appeared.
「Bitterness builds endurance; true tonics bite harder.
Occupation: Mage level rises.」
Mage Lv. 9 → Lv. 10
「Wisdom and acumen grace you.」
「Occupation at level cap; chance to advance to higher class acquired.」
「Higher class available—《Archmage》.」
「Archmage: Class for truth’s seekers on the path of sorcery. Level ups boost spell power, effects, and success rates.」
Oh. Just as I thought. Mage Lv. 10 unlocks Archmage. I could become an archmage like Aira.
Excellent. As I savored the thought, more text emerged.
「Restricted class—《Demon King》 available.」
「Demon King: Restricted class for those unlocking specific conditions. Only one per era. Levels greatly enhance myriad aspects and grant perks. But coercive force imposes negative karma and penalties.」
Wait, that’s a class?
Demon King as an occupation? I’d assumed a title.
Anyway.
The massive buffs tempted greatly, but the coercive negative karma and penalties worried me.
High-risk, high-reward classic.
I’d heard to avoid such investments.
Did Solomon the Demon King have this class? Probably. Hence the name.
Then Scheherazade, watching me, spoke slyly.
“How is it? Feeling the effects? Sufficient payment for foresight, wouldn’t you say?”