Chapter 16
Chapter 16
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Newbie Adventurer Bern (13) - Even Demons Are Aghast
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Eisen Empire. Capital City Calastia. Golden Cloud Palace.
In the deepest recesses of a palace renowned even within the empire for its exquisite beauty and grandeur, Crown Prince Alondre let out a groan.
"This is problematic."
Lucidra couldn't comprehend Alondre's hesitation.
To her, Blanca's looks were more than passable.
Even without much primping—typical for an adventurer—it was clear she had been blessed with exceptional natural gifts.
So why hesitate when such a woman approached him directly, offering herself up with a "Please take me"?
Lucidra's sweet, seductive whisper was alluring enough to make any man's heart race, but Alondre's face remained utterly impassive.
No, beyond impassive—it almost seemed like he was looking at her with pity...?
"It's just that your woefully limited experience fills me with such pity."
"A full-on brawl with the crown prince right in the heart of the imperial palace. I salute your courage in seeking to personally experience the legend of one against a thousand."
Addressing Lucidra, who had abandoned all pretense of menace and was now grinding her teeth, the crown prince explained calmly.
"I wouldn't know how things were back when you were sealed away, but these days, any family with a modicum of propriety provides basic sex education—or, to be more blunt, training in resisting honey traps. As a matter of course. And do you think I, as crown prince, somehow skipped that training?"
It had to be that way. How could they allow a member of the imperial family—who was destined to lead the empire—to be ensnared by lust, handing over his guts and all to the opposite sex? Naturally, they trained and immunized against it from the start.
He could fill bundles of parchment just listing the social gatherings and balls he'd attended for such "training."
For someone of the crown prince's stature, even romance wasn't a personal matter but a political one, so casual approaches were surprisingly rare. On the flip side, those who did approach came at him with full commitment.
Compared to women with bloodshot eyes, driven by dreams of turning their lives around or reviving their houses, Blanca's shy seduction was almost endearing.
"You... your moral compass is truly awe-inspiring. A great demon is indeed on another level."
Alondre clapped as if genuinely impressed—not sarcastically, which only made it more infuriating.
"If it were someone approaching with political motives, that'd be one thing. But to exploit the vulnerability of a woman desperate to save her mother and take her body? There's trash, and then there's this level of trash. That's not the act of a true adventurer."
Alondre ignored her.
"Anyway, I get the gist of the situation. 'Adventurer Bern' has no intention of ditching Blanca for others, but she doesn't know that and must be feeling insecure. So she's trying to bind him with physical intimacy."
"First, I need to boost her self-esteem. People with low self-regard tend to depend on others more easily. Good thing I prepared that ring. If it enhances Blanca's abilities, she'll regain her independence even after being mentally cornered. Perfect."
Hmm. Would it really be that simple?
That's what Lucidra thought, but she held her tongue and stayed silent.
It absolutely wasn't out of pettiness, like "Ignore me, and see how you like being ignored yourself."
A great demon like Lucidra, who had transcended the limits of her succubus race to establish herself as a unique being, wouldn't stoop to such small-mindedness.
Probably.
I'll do anything.
After Blanca made that declaration, Bern stared at her in silence for a long while.
And the longer that silence stretched, the more her body trembled with anxiety and impatience.
The harder she tried to suppress it, the worse the shaking got, her heart pounding so fiercely it made her dizzy.
Was it too forward?
Does he think I'm some loose woman and despise me?
Should I not have done anything and just stayed quiet?
As Blanca's mind swirled in chaos...
Finally, Bern's hand reached out toward her, touching her shoulder.
"At last," Blanca thought, steeling herself—but instead of undressing her, Bern pulled her clothes back into place.
Relief. Followed by an even deeper despair.
Interpreting his action as rejection, Blanca spoke with a bitter expression.
"I'm sorry. I must have put undue pressure on you."
"Not necessarily. At least it gave me a good sense of your resolve."
Bern rummaged in his pouch and pulled out a ring, offering it to her.
To the bewildered Blanca, blinking in confusion, he said,
"To be honest, I hesitated over whether to give this to you. It's an item I can't use myself—more precisely, one that holds no meaning for me—but its value is so immense I couldn't just hand it to anyone. If word of its existence spread, it alone could cause a massive uproar."
"What on earth is it?"
"It's called the Ring of Essence Absorption. When worn, defeating a living foe absorbs their essence and converts it into the wearer's mana."
"That's impossible..."
Blanca doubted her ears.
If the one saying it hadn't been Bern, she would have scoffed and accused him of trying to scam her.
It was that absurd.
Magic was precious. Even the most basic spells demanded prices beyond a commoner's reach.
But techniques or tools affecting mana quantity, quality, or recovery speed were on another level entirely.
The former could be scraped together with enough money, even for a commoner. The latter? You could pile up gold mountains and still never buy it.
Because the world's power holders clutched them tightly, refusing any leakage.
Mana cultivation methods, prime examples of the latter, could make or break a house's military might and status.
With one, an ordinary soldier could reinforce their body with mana; one who already wielded mana could emit sword aura.
Of course, limits existed, and not everyone benefited fully—but offering even one chance at growth to those who'd otherwise stagnate was a tremendous advantage.
It was why superhumans who carried mana in their bodies and fought like one against a hundred couldn't defy the nobility.
The nobles had the infrastructure to deploy them en masse. Or were superhumans themselves.
And now, Bern had handed one such priceless tool to Blanca.
Stunned by the unexpected gift, she couldn't find words.
Unsure what to say, she voiced the most primal question.
"Why... go this far for me?"
Bern replied,
"Because you're my comrade, Miss Blanca."
"Bern, you could find comrades far more capable and talented than me."
"Maybe. But you're the one who first recognized me and went all-in, even staking your own resources. I'd prefer to adventure with someone who acknowledges me."
Bern shifted to face her directly.
At a distance where a little closer would let them feel each other's breath, he continued.
"Miss Blanca, I'm not the perfect person you imagine. I have secrets I can't share with others, I'm pretty materialistic, selfish, and honestly, my reasons for adventuring are rather half-hearted. If someone serious—doing it for a livelihood, or a goal like yours—heard that, they'd be offended, and I have no excuse."
His eyes, previously calm and inscrutable...
Now burned with a flame that felt dangerously, irresistibly alluring.
"Stepping into hidden ruins shrouded in secrecy, overcoming the monsters and traps guarding them, vanquishing an evil sorcerer, liberating the poor souls he's captured. Sounds good. It gets my blood pumping. You gave me a goal, Miss Blanca, and I love it."
Blanca stared blankly into his eyes.
Her reflection in those mad, fervent pupils looked dazed, almost intoxicated.
"But to achieve that goal, my power alone isn't enough. I need capable, trustworthy comrades who share the dream. Miss Blanca—you proposed the goal to me, so we've already shared a dream. You've proven your trustworthiness through your actions. All that's left is capability, and this ring should cover any shortfall. That's why I'm giving it to you."
Bern leaned back.
Only then did Blanca realize she'd forgotten to breathe.
Gasping raggedly, she said,
"A-alright. I'll... I'll do my best too."
"Excellent."
Bern left with a faint smile and a "See you tomorrow."
Even after he was gone, Blanca sat dazed for a long time, fiddling only with the ring he'd given her.
Thump. Thump.
For a different reason now, her heart ached.