Chapter 3
Chapter 3
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: Talented Scoundrel (1)
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Turning his head toward the voice, Raymond saw the 3rd Prince, Aloken, standing there.
Behind him were what appeared to be his personal guards, each radiating an overwhelming aura of mana.
Mage Tower knights and wizards.
'The genius mage, 3rd Prince. First time seeing him in the flesh.'
Raymond nearly burst out laughing at his own thought—it was absurd. Of course it was his first time; he was a character from a novel.
Unlike the novel's description of Aloken as viper-like, the 3rd Prince had an ordinary impression. Kind, even. If Raymond hadn't known his backstory, he might have taken a liking to him right away.
"I've been thinking about what happened today, brother."
"Yeah, a regrettable incident."
Aloken took a step forward and raised his hand. His personal subordinates stepped back.
"Could you have your people step away for a moment?"
It was the tone of someone addressing an inferior. Clearly an order.
Raymond frowned but raised his hand, signaling Alex and the Imperial Knights to withdraw. Arguing with the 3rd Prince here would gain him nothing.
Besides, he was curious about what the man was thinking.
A private conversation might let him glimpse into that scheming mind, even if just a little.
"You've ignored me completely until now—what's with the sudden change of heart?"
Aloken was direct.
'Do I even need to answer that?'
Raymond just flashed a grin. Unpleased, Aloken frowned and spoke again.
"Have you suddenly taken an interest in the throne?"
A blunt question. There was even a faint trace of killing intent in his voice.
Raymond felt like Aloken's men behind him might draw their swords and charge at any moment, depending on his answer. Of course, that wouldn't happen.
"I don't know what you're thinking, but if you want to live long, you'd best abandon any interest in the throne."
"Are you threatening me right now, brother?"
Raymond's voice turned icy cold. Even Aloken, an advanced mage, tensed for a brief moment.
"You've changed a lot."
The wastrel brother had transformed.
"But I have only one thing to say: forget about the throne."
The 3rd Empress, Violet, who had enjoyed the Emperor's full favor, had died suddenly of illness, shifting his attention to the 5th Prince.
If Raymond hadn't secluded himself for five years, he might have been a formidable rival.
That's why Aloken hoped Raymond stayed out of the running.
His participation would make things a bit troublesome.
"The throne, huh..."
"Don't get the wrong idea. I'm not seeing you as a competitor. I just don't like the hassle."
"I'll keep that in mind."
No sooner had Raymond replied than Aloken turned and rejoined his men. Raymond's gaze fixed on their retreating backs.
"Thanks to you, brother, you've sparked my interest in the throne."
A whisper too soft for anyone to hear, but a firm vow.
A few days had passed since the morning banquet, his first in five years.
In that time, the 5th Prince, Raymond, had kept a low profile to shed his wastrel reputation. Contrary to his intentions, it sparked strange rumors.
'The 5th Prince isn't causing trouble. He must be crazy.'
It wasn't from the few servants in the 5th Prince's Palace. It was a secret whisper among the maids that Alex had overheard and quietly reported.
"Keep it secret that it came from me, Your Highness."
Having finished his report, Alex bowed his head slowly and pleaded.
Raymond's recent kindness had started to win Alex over, bit by bit.
"Sure, my lips are sealed."
Once Alex left, Raymond sat by the window, organizing his thoughts.
The 3rd Prince, Aloken, had bared his fangs at him.
Even if he claimed no interest in the throne, no one would believe him. The 1st and 2nd Princes would be the same.
'Time for me to get serious.'
He had no desire to be ignored. Things had come to this—he'd play for real. The throne? If that's what they wanted, he'd take the challenge.
'But to enter the race, I need backers.'
He couldn't jump in empty-handed.
'The 1st Prince has the military and knights. The 2nd has assassins. The 3rd has the Mage Towers.'
All three had talent. But Raymond had no supporters, and he himself was woefully weak.
To survive, there was only one path.
'Steal the protagonist's opportunities.'
He knew the protagonist's moves and gains up through volume 3, at least roughly.
He'd even glimpsed the author's setting notes by chance, so he knew a bit about the opportunities hidden in the Philius Empire.
"Where to start...?"
He'd decided his next steps. His heart raced with excitement. A smile crept across his face unbidden.
He wondered what expression the 3rd Prince, Aloken, would wear when Raymond finally reached the top.
"Imperial Vault 7. Start there?"
Hidden within was the 'Spear of Sacrifice,' a lost magic of the southern mages.
"You wish to access an Imperial Vault?"
Emperor Ronald asked in a voice brimming with curiosity. A glint appeared in his aged, sickly eyes.
Raymond slowly raised his head.
"Yes, Your Majesty. I request free access to Vault 7."
"Vault 7..."
The Imperial Vaults brimmed with treasures and precious tomes. But Vault 7 was particularly lackluster, filled with lesser items.
It held some rare historical texts, enough to draw mages or scholars, but Ronald didn't think it worthy of imperial interest.
"Can you tell me why?"
"I want to leave my past as a wastrel behind and start anew."
Ronald nodded in satisfaction. It was answer enough to sway his heart.
"Head chamberlain."
"Yes, Your Majesty. What is your command?"
"Issue the 5th Prince access to Imperial Vault 7."
The chamberlain bowed politely and withdrew. Raymond rose carefully.
Business done—it was time to get the pass and head to Vault 7.
"Leaving already?"
Regret tinged Ronald's voice. But he couldn't keep Raymond.
Beyond imperial dignity, the palace attack had spiked urgent political and diplomatic matters.
"Show your face now and then."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
With that, Raymond left the audience chamber.
'The Emperor's aged more than I thought.'
And fallen ill. It felt more vivid with each meeting.
"Not much time left."
"Pardon?"
The mutter slipped out. Alex approached cautiously, thinking it was an order.
"Nothing."
Raymond shook his head. The sturdy Emperor of his memories had visibly weakened in five years. An ill omen.
Before possession, the old Raymond thought his relationship with the Emperor poor.
But without the Emperor's protection, even the imperial bloodline granting access to ancient weapons wouldn't have saved him from ruin.
"Your Highness, 5th Prince."
The chamberlain had approached unnoticed. He handed Raymond the access pass.
Polite, but Raymond caught a flicker of disgust in the man's eyes.
'Still a long way to earn respect.'
Raymond gave a wry smile. His wastrel past was too vivid for people to warm to him yet.
"No trouble in the Imperial Vaults, Your Highness."
"No need for concern, chamberlain."
'This doesn't suit a wastrel...'
A faint sigh hung in the air. By the time Raymond finished sorting his thoughts, the chamberlain was gone.
"Every damn one of them... treating me like dirt."
His reputation as a wastrel made it inevitable, but it still stung.
'I'll show them I've changed.'
Clutching the pass, his steps toward Imperial Vault 7 were resolute.
"Your Highness, Imperial Vault 7 is..."
"I know."
"Pardon?"
"I know where it is."
He'd never been, but the novel described it briefly. And he knew.
Why? 'I've seen the setting notes.'
Vault 7's details stuck with him.
The seventh vault managed by the Philius Empire's imperial family. Unlike others storing magic tools or grimoires, it held only historical texts.
Few visitors, but long ago, Emperor Hansen hid the Spear of Sacrifice there.
"Heh heh heh."
An opportunity meant for the protagonist. The thought of snatching it drew a villainous chuckle.
Alex, the attendant witnessing it, shuddered at the traumatic memory.
About thirty minutes of brisk walking later, they arrived at Vault 7.
Two Imperial Knights guarded the entrance. Raymond showed them the pass.
"No escorts allowed."
"Wait here."
Alex and the knights bowed and stepped back. Raymond opened the door and entered.
Magic lamps glowed dimly. Dark, but navigable.
Raymond headed deep inside.
He didn't know the exact spot for the Spear of Sacrifice grimoire, but roughly where.
[The moment he entered Imperial Vault 7, an intangible energy emanated from the right. Dazed, he followed it to a faintly glowing device. He'd found Hansen's secret chamber.]
Unable to handle mana, he couldn't sense intangible energy. The sole clue: the right side.
"Let's give it a shot."
That day, he wasted five hours.
Seeing the wastrel frequenting a vault full of historical texts without mischief spread fun rumors in the palace.
'The 5th Prince has changed.'
Those who first called him mad now thought positively.
Raymond paid no mind. He was fixated on the 'Spear of Sacrifice' in Imperial Vault 7—nothing else mattered.
"Alex, let's go."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Today, too, he left the 5th Prince's Palace with Alex to search Vault 7.
A few Imperial Knights trailed. At the vault, they withdrew as if rehearsed.
Raymond opened the firmly shut door and stepped in, expecting the usual.
But it wasn't.
"You should come out before I call the Imperial Knights."
Different from yesterday. Books were displaced.
Someone else might have visited, but Raymond spoke with utter certainty, like he knew everything.
Nothing to lose, right?
"I didn't expect you'd see through my stealth, Your Highness."
From the darkness emerged an old man in a brown robe.
A mage, but no Mage Tower emblem on the robe.
"You know I'm the 5th Prince."
"Your cloak bears the crest."
"Does it?"
Raymond nodded and closed the distance a few steps.
The old man just smiled, not retreating.
"Got your pass?"
"No, Your Highness."
He spread his hands—empty.
"Should I alert the palace guard?"
"Is that necessary?"
"I see."
"Ignore me and do your business. I'll ignore you too..."
Raymond spoke leisurely. The old man grinned and vanished into the shadows.
'Didn't think I'd actually run into him...'
No name given, but Raymond had a good idea who.
'Probably hunting the Spear of Sacrifice.'
But in the novel, he never found it.
'In the end, the protagonist gets it.'
And the old man becomes the protagonist's ally.
'His name was...'
Risefield Dior. The only one in the Mage Tower Alliance not backing the 3rd Prince, declaring neutrality.
'Azure Tower Lord.'
A smile spread across his face.
'Find the Spear of Sacrifice, and the Azure Tower stands behind me.'
Stealing the protagonist's opportunities— the first spark was lit.
He'd obtained info that the item he sought might be in Imperial Vault 7.
Getting access was tough after the palace attack.
But he couldn't give up. As a high mage nearing grand mage status, sneaking into lightly guarded Vault 7 was easy.
The problem came after. No matter how he searched, nothing. He took days off, tempted to quit.
"The 5th Prince is visiting now?"
Stealth magic should work. He was top-tier among high mages.
But.
The 5th Prince saw through his stealth.
That, he hadn't expected.