Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Prince Peter's Secret
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"No way. Just ask the elves who came with us, and you'll see. We're the ones who got caught up in all this."
In response to Prince Peter's still-puzzled expression, I glanced at Ash.
A silent request for her to explain.
Ash let out a sigh before slowly opening her mouth.
"What this human says is true. In fact..."
The reason we'd come all the way to Mercado spilled slowly from Ash's lips.
Only after the entire story was told did Prince Peter's expression finally soften.
Hmm.
'Well, we did get roped in, but I'm planning to make use of it...'
No need to mention that, though.
"I see. Because of the carriage emblazoned with the Ikenia royal crest... In that case, it's understandable why you'd be desperate to clear up the misunderstanding. Sorry for jumping to conclusions."
I humbly brushed off Prince Peter's apology.
"No need to apologize. I would've thought the same. That said, Your Highness, if it's not too rude, may I ask you something as well?"
Prince Peter nodded readily at my words.
"Of course. What is it? I owe you my life—what wouldn't I tell my savior?"
He might take offense, but I was genuinely curious.
"You've surely heard my nickname, so you know all about me. But Your Highness's reputation is just as formidable."
Prince Peter.
"I'm flattered."
The man infamous for his "love" of demi-humans.
"Why go to such lengths?"
He bid on demi-humans indiscriminately, regardless of race or gender.
Some whispered that he had some perverse fetish.
But the Prince Peter I'd seen was different. It wasn't "love" for demi-humans so much as...
'He seemed like he was running from something.'
I was asking about the truth hidden behind the rumors.
"Young Master Jerome! How rude! Even if you saved his life, how dare you—!!"
His guardian knight, Yorn, exploded at my question.
But Prince Peter raised a hand to silence Yorn.
"Rude? It's the truth, isn't it?"
Prince Peter wore a bitter expression as he pushed aside his herbal tea and pulled a bottle of wine from beside the table toward himself.
"Care for a glass?"
"I'm sorry, but I'm not of age yet."
The hand Prince Peter had extended withdrew awkwardly.
"...Right. You're so monstrously strong, I forgot."
He poured himself a glass with a glug-glug-glug.
"Yes, just as you said. A 'lover' of demi-humans. It's enough to raise suspicions—I'd think the same if someone acted like me."
He downed the wine in one gulp and set the glass down with a clink.
Tak!
"But I swear on the gods, I've never done anything shameful. I've freed not just Millia, but every demi-human I've bought at auction."
Peter set down his wine glass, a self-deprecating smile on his lips.
"I saw it as the only way to atone, even slightly, for the royal family's sins."
"The royal family's sins?"
When I pressed him, Prince Peter shot me a glance with his slightly flushed, tipsy face.
"What's with you? Someone like you must know."
Whether the wine was good or his body craved it, Peter poured another glass.
"As you can see, Mercado isn't some run-of-the-mill little slave market. Not to brag, but I can confidently say it's the largest on the continent."
"It certainly was impressive."
I affirmed his words. In my past life, I'd seen it myself—Mercado was overwhelming.
"Do you think a mere noble could run a market like that?"
My suspicions were turning into reality.
'No way.'
The true owner of Mercado. Of Kosax. It was all owned by the current king of Sharon Kingdom.
"For a noble royal house to capture innocent demi-humans and traffic them... It's unbearably shameful."
Hmm. So this was the kind of man he was.
"But I lack the power. All authority in this kingdom is concentrated in my father's hands. The most I can do is buy them and set them free."
That explained his fate in my past life.
After Prince Peter ascended the throne, Sharon Kingdom fell pathetically to the Holy Empire.
The newly crowned Peter was assassinated amid the chaos, and the kingdom was swallowed up.
The assassin's identity was never revealed, but I had a pretty good idea.
It had to be the slave traders of Mercado, pulling strings under the current king's protection. Removing one puppet king would've been child's play for them.
"I know it's cheeky after you saved my life, but... could I ask you a favor?"
"Of course, Your Highness. What is it?"
"...Could you escort Millia safely to the Beast Forest in my stead?"
Huh?
"That's a given. That's why I came here in the first place."
Jackpot.
I'd planned to steal her away if needed, but if Prince Peter was handing her over willingly, there was no reason to refuse.
But Prince Peter slowly shook his head.
"It's not that simple. I bought Millia at auction less than a day—a half-day—ago, and the Holy Empire attacked."
I understood what he meant.
"...There's a spy on the inside."
"Mm. Probably aimed to eliminate me, the thorn in their side, while they were at it."
He ground his teeth with a crunch.
"I'll never forgive them. I've been passive so far because of my father, but if they're after my head, that's another story."
The Prince Peter who'd been too passive in his past life, becoming a puppet king, seemed ready to change.
'What changes will this bring?'
It was just a feeling, but I sensed I'd meet Prince Peter again soon—as allies.
"Your group and the elves' purpose have likely been reported to the Empire as well. The road back won't be smooth."
Clatter!
"I can't ask you to brave such dangers empty-handed. Consider this a token of my sincerity."
The sound from the pouch he pulled out was anything but small.
'As expected of the richest in the Five Nations Alliance...!'
It was the lavish generosity befitting Sharon's royal blood.
Since I had to do it anyway, extra gold on top? No reason to refuse.
I tucked the pouch into my bosom and asked Prince Peter,
"I understand repaying demi-humans' kindness, and I sympathize with your intentions, but..."
Still, one thing I couldn't fathom.
"Why go this far for Millia specifically?"
Even as atonement, was it necessary for the prince himself to escort her all the way to the Beast Forest?
From our conversation, Prince Peter struck me as reasonably wise.
For someone like that to act so rashly... there had to be some hidden reason.
"Well, you see..."
Clop-clop, clop-clop.
Two days had passed since I'd handed Prince Peter over to the royal knights summoned by his knight Yorn.
Saladin, the elves, and I set off on the return journey with the beastkin slaves in tow.
"Hey."
"What."
I snapped curtly at Saladin, who called out to me.
His face screamed, Don't you have something to say?
"You punk, without me, Millia would've been kidnapped by the Holy Empire this time too, yeah? You'd have been totally screwed, huh?"
Oh boy.
"What're you getting at?"
Saladin spat out one word emphatically.
"Deadweight."
Huh?
"What's with that clueless look? You called me deadweight. Take it back. Do you know how valuable I am, you punk?"
He gestured at Mimi and Nene, who were half-broken and loaded into the carriage.
I couldn't help but chuckle at Saladin's words.
Yeah. This guy's got this charm.
"Ahh, sorry, Saladin. I didn't know you could already use Shatter with poison."
When I teased him playfully,
"Kyaack! You son of a—!!"
Saladin flew into a rage again.
Ah, yeah. This is the good stuff.
'Faster than I expected, though.'
I'd teased Saladin, but truthfully, I'd been shocked hearing about his battle from Millia.
In my past life, Saladin hadn't started using Mimi's Shatter and Nene's poison in real combat until much later.
'Because he met me?'
As I mulled over such thoughts while riding, Millia approached me.
"You two really get along."
"Get along? This guy's—Guh!"
I shoved Saladin's interrupting face away and answered Millia.
"Haha, not at all. Everything alright on your end?"
"Hehe, thanks to you. You've been so thoughtful, Young Master Jerome—nothing's inconvenient."
Millia smiled prettily.
"Glad to hear it. Was there something you wanted to say?"
Millia fidgeted with her fingers, hesitant.
"Um... it's about Peter..."
'Ah, that.'
It must've been a shock for an elf like Millia, unaccustomed to humans' passionate emotions.
Two days ago.
"Why go this far for Millia?"
To my question, Prince Peter answered without hesitation.
"Love at first sight."
What did I just hear?
"...Pardon?"
I reflexively sought confirmation at the unexpected reply.
Prince Peter repeated himself, confirming I hadn't misheard.
"Exactly what I said. I fell for her at first sight. Race didn't matter—I just had to save her."
Prince Peter scratched his cheek bashfully.
"...And I ended up bidding 20,000 gold."
The elves looked flustered at his bombshell.
Millia was the most shocked, naturally.
"Think what you will of me."
Prince Peter gazed warmly at her.
"Just know not all humans are evil. Safe travels."
With those words, he departed for the palace the next day with the Sharon royal knights.
"Do humans normally fall in love that quickly?"
When I stayed silent, Millia asked more specifically.
But.
'Look at that?'
Millia's cheeks were a bit flushed.
"Of course..."
"No way they feel those emotions that easily, Princess!"
Saladin shoved my face aside and chimed in excitedly.
"Humans don't fall in love that easily! Love at first sight is rare, and that's what makes it beautiful!"
Millia responded reflexively to his enthusiasm.
"I-is that so?"
Saladin nodded vigorously.
"Yep! Risking your life for someone you fell for like that? Even rarer!"
Was this guy such a romantic? I thought he was just some shut-in fiddling with dolls.
I saw him in a new light.
"Ever since I met Mimi and Nene, I haven't felt love for any other woman!"
"......"
"......"
There it is.
Millia and I put some distance between us and Saladin amid his tirade, but he didn't notice and kept ranting.
"Well, the dummy's not entirely wrong, Millia. Prince Peter's feelings were surely genuine."
I wasn't great at romance myself.
"20,000 gold isn't a sum humans throw around lightly."
"...I see."
Millia seemed even more thoughtful.
From her earlier reaction.
'I'll have to arrange a private meeting with Prince Peter later.'
If played right, he could be a solid ally.
'The Sharon king won't last a few more years anyway. Better make moves before then.'
"Grrr. Human, how much farther to your lands?"
As I pondered Millia and Prince Peter's connection, planning ahead, an unfamiliar voice growled.
A beastly timbre mixed in.
It was one of our beastkin companions on the journey home—not Millia, but the other one.
"Ah, the 200-gold one."
"Grah! Not 200 gold! I am Baukalac, proud of the Moon Tribe!"
The lycanthrope first auctioned to Prince Peter for 200 gold at Kosax.
She'd helped protect Millia, and since the Dragon Mountains were her home anyway, we were dropping her off en route.
-Grrr, human. Strong. Impressive moves.
Then suddenly, she insisted on following me. Said there was much to learn.
Lycanthropes were a race with formidable combat prowess. No reason for me to refuse.
"Almost there. We're at the edge of Dalton Kingdom now. Just past the mining city of Zaun, and we'll be in Ikenia."
"Grrr. Eager to arrive. Once there, where you were raised, I'll uncover the secret of your strength."
Baukalac's eyes gleamed with anticipation as she imagined Banten.
Well, sure. More hands to work, the better.
'Saladin alone was a bit short-handed.'
Speaking of Zaun.
'That guy back then was from Zaun, too.'
Might end up with another sturdy, hardworking slave.
"Achoo!"
Hearing Saladin's sneeze, we slowly headed toward the mining city of Zaun.