Chapter 80
Chapter 80
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: Crown Prince Alondre (5) - Human, Demon, Crown Prince
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Outwardly impressive, but ultimately lacking substance. That was the assessment those around him had of Travers Brown, a merchant from the Kingdom of Ravellocia.
With his striking looks and eloquent tongue, he excelled at stirring up expectations and winning favor—valuable traits for a merchant, to be sure. But that was where it ended.
The ability to spot exceptional goods or talent.
The knack for reading the flow of money and riding the wave.
The guts to take risks, dive into high-stakes gambles, and come out on top.
Most of the myriad skills possessed by his grandfather and father—both among the kingdom's foremost magnates—had not been passed down to Travers. Nor was there any other kin to replace him or a capable second-in-command.
The Brown Trading Company had always been run as a one-man show by its successive heads, a tradition of sorts.
Thanks to the firm's considerable scale and the foundations built up over generations, it was muddling through for now. But it was obvious that the longer this dragged on, the worse things would get.
It was then, amid the painful mix of anxiety and expectation from those around him tormenting Travers in his dreams, that a mysterious entity appeared.
"—You look exhausted. Got something weighing on you?"
The speaker's form was nowhere to be seen.
A voice simply emanated from the endless darkness beyond.
Was it because he dismissed it as just a dream? Or because the unknown voice felt so warm and benevolent?
Either way, Travers vented his troubles like a complainer, and the voice listened patiently.
When he awoke, Travers chalked it up to a strange dream but felt no displeasure.
On the contrary, unburdening the frustrations he'd bottled up inside left him with a sense of relief and refreshment.
That was when the odd phenomena began.
The criminal gang that had been bleeding the company dry by exploiting its vulnerabilities imploded in an internal power struggle.
Travers rejoiced at the removal of that headache and drifted off to sleep in high spirits.
And once more, the mysterious entity appeared in his dream.
"—How about my help? Has it eased your worries a bit?"
Travers mumbled in his hazy state.
Yes, it had helped. Thanks to it, his troubles were resolved.
The voice asked,
"Really? Shall I help you more, then?"
Travers nodded drowsily.
There was no reason to refuse an offer of aid.
Upon waking, he felt a twinge of unease, but it soon faded into the rush of daily business.
A few days later.
The artisan who had repeatedly rebuffed Travers's pleading visits suddenly showed up demanding a contract.
And that night.
Travers conversed once again with the mysterious entity.
"Did you like the gift? I'm glad your worries seem sorted out."
Travers asked.
Who are you? Why are you helping me?
The voice replied.
That doesn't matter.
What matters is whether you need 'help' or not.
"So, shall I help again?"
The sweetly probing voice prompted Travers to shake his head.
Instinct warned him against it.
Even in the face of his firm refusal, the voice merely chuckled without anger.
It simply told him to call upon it before bed anytime he needed assistance.
A little more time passed.
Travers and the Brown Trading Company he led plunged into crisis.
A newly appointed official was demanding exorbitant bribes in exchange for permits to operate in the territory.
The demands grew steeper with time, deepening Travers's anguish.
In the end, he had no choice but to seek the mysterious voice's aid once more.
"I see. You've been through a lot. Just wait a moment."
He'd rejected help before, only to come crawling back. The entity might take offense.
Contrary to Travers's fears, the voice responded with utmost kindness and consideration.
Without the Browns lifting a finger, another victim of the official's extortion denounced him, getting him booted out.
And it continued like that.
Whenever Travers asked for help, the voice granted it effortlessly.
The more it happened, the weaker grew Travers's resolve to tackle problems on his own.
It was far easier and more comfortable to just ask the demon.
With every venture succeeding, the Brown Trading Company expanded its influence, and the subordinates revered their capable leader.
Travers was happy.
One day, however.
"Sorry, but I think it's time for me to go. I won't be able to help anymore."
At those words from the voice, Travers felt the ground crumble beneath him.
He begged.
Don't abandon me.
Please don't leave.
The voice seemed to ponder, then countered,
"I can't help for free like before. Is that okay with you?"
Travers nodded.
As long as he could keep enjoying this glory, this happiness, this comfort, he was prepared to pay any price.
The voice chuckled at his response.
The darkness veiling Travers's vision lifted, revealing a humanoid figure beyond.
Jet-black hair.
Ruby-red eyes.
Leather-based, revealing attire.
Bat-like wings, horns, a long tail.
It was the form of a devilishly beautiful demon.
Just gazing upon her face filled his heart with ecstasy; a single glance from her made his body tremble.
"Travers. Travers Brown. Will you heed my words well? Will you do anything I desire? Can you swear it?"
Gone from the demon's voice was its former gentleness and softness.
It dripped with arrogance now, making no effort to hide her contempt for him.
Yet Travers couldn't even think to rebel.
Nay, he couldn't muster a single complaint.
His soul, slowly melting away as he accepted the demon's 'gifts,' had utterly submitted the moment his eyes beheld her true form.
The demon—no, the great demon Lucidra—gazed down at the pledging Travers with bored eyes.
Whether before her sealing or now in resurrection, humans hadn't changed much, she thought.
And so, she seized control of Ravellocia's premier trading house.
Eisen Empire. Golden Cloud Palace.
"Ho, the Kingdom of Ravellocia. I've never been myself, but from what I've heard, it's quite a fine place."
"Is it? Seemed smaller than Birka in terms of size."
"Territory matters, but it's not everything. Ravellocia may be small, but it's politically stable, with good public order and high overall education levels."
Unlike the Kingdom of Birka, which squandered its potential through inept rule, Ravellocia—though compact—enjoyed steady prosperity under capable governance. That was Crown Prince Alondre's understanding of the nation.
"So, what's the next clone? Become the kingdom's strongest knight and slay a dragon? Or a shadowy noble plotting revolution? Or maybe legendary assassin, going for the king's head? We've laid enough groundwork to fake any status, so spill it."
To Lucidra's question, the crown prince replied,
"You seem a bit too hooked on dopamine. Not everything fun has to be so thrilling and intense. Stirring up chaos everywhere is just a nuisance to those around you."
"…."
Lucidra blinked.
Her mouth hung agape; she couldn't even muster a retort.
Processing and accepting those absurd, terrifying words demanded all her brainpower.
What? Not everything good has to be stimulating?
Something about causing flatland storms wherever he went?
While Lucidra froze like a lion being lectured on vegetarian cuisine, the crown prince continued calmly.
"People need to reflect on their path now and then. In that vein, I'm doing some soul-searching. Adventurer was pure aspiration; butler balanced hobby and duty nicely. But thief leaned too duty-bound over fun. The gap between my ideal 'phantom thief' image and reality muddled the clone's direction a bit."
In the end, encountering hero-seed Dahlia salvaged it, but judging Doppel's actions alone left him with regrets aplenty.
"Thus, time to rediscover my roots. Ditch duty entirely and just savor a peaceful daily life. Ravellocia fits perfectly—not as troubled as Birka, ideal for some healing."
"…Healing without flipping the whole place upside down?"
"As I said, I fundamentally respect rules and order. Unless I deliberately play a disruptive character."
To Lucidra, it rang utterly hollow.
A typhoon sitting primly in the city center wouldn't bring peace to the residents, would it?
Still, undeniable that watching the spectacle unfold would be entertaining.
Far better than the usual routine of corrupting dull humans.
Her eyes gleaming with subtle anticipation, Lucidra asked,
"So, what status do you need?"
The crown prince answered,
"Something leisurely where I can read books. As crown prince, reading's mostly necessity-driven. I want to build knowledge for dipping into various trivia."
"Librarian? But that involves work, right?"
"No, that's a fine idea. Books are great solo, but sharing thoughts is joy too. A job mingling with book lovers is a solid position."
The crown prince nodded thoughtfully, then added as if struck by a sudden idea.
"Could you look into Aldridge? One of my magic mentors hails from there. Heard stories, but I'd like to see it myself."
"Why? Know someone?"
"Yeah. Her hometown."
"Sure, I'll check."
Lucidra agreed without fuss.
The grunt work wasn't hers anyway.
"Name decided?"
"Ernst. Surname to fit local circumstances."
Librarian Ernst.
The new clone was set.