Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: Welcome the Hero (1)
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2nd Prince Deneb Philius was one of the two sons of the Second Imperial Consort Ellie Philius, the eldest daughter of the House of Duke Valencia.
Thanks to the support of Duke Valencia, known as the wealthiest man in the Philius Empire due to his territories rich with port cities, he wielded immense power.
2nd Prince Deneb had showered gold like water to seize the shadows of the Philius Empire, with countless assassins standing behind him.
Of course, merely scattering gold wouldn't have allowed him to dominate the nights of the Philius Empire.
There was a true entity of darkness backing him, though only a scant few knew of it.
"My lord. A guest has arrived from the 'Deep Night'."
Late at night, a guardsman in a black uniform entered 2nd Prince Deneb's bedroom and bowed politely to announce the visitor.
Deneb, who had been sitting by the window reading a book, looked up. It was already past midnight, and he was tired, but he couldn't turn away a guest from the 'Deep Night'.
"Guide them to the drawing room. I'll head there myself."
"Understood, my lord."
This was a precious guest. He couldn't receive them in his bedroom.
At Deneb's words, the guardsman bowed and withdrew. Soon after, word came that the guest had arrived in the drawing room.
Having changed clothes, Deneb immediately made his way to the drawing room.
"You lot, wait outside."
Upon arriving at the drawing room, the 2nd Prince dismissed the three guardsmen stationed inside.
He knew their lips were sealed, but the fewer who knew of the conversation with this 'Deep Night' guest, the better.
"Have you come, Your Highness the 2nd Prince?"
In the vast drawing room, as he ventured deeper, a man in black robes emerged from the shadowy corner, speaking in a calm voice.
Exuding an icy chill, he fixed a straight gaze upon 2nd Prince Deneb.
"You've received a brief report on the border situation, I presume?"
"The outlook isn't good."
"Indeed. The 5th Prince rescued Marquis Crayer, who was on the verge of execution. Thanks to that, his standing at the border and in the marquisate has soared to the heavens."
The emissary, Dwen, didn't spell it out, but the 5th Prince was now hailed as a hero of the borderlands.
"We should have killed Marquis Crayer instead of capturing him alive."
Regret tinged Deneb's voice. At those words, the corner of the emissary's mouth twisted.
"Isn't he a noble who will one day be under Your Highness's rule? It seems you value their lives too lightly."
This wasn't sincere counsel born of concern. There was a hint of mockery, yet 2nd Prince Deneb's expression remained unshaken.
"To become emperor, I can do far worse than that."
His response burned with fierce ambition for the throne. Knowing this, the emissary offered a faint smile.
Had he no desire for the throne, he wouldn't have drawn in foreign powers.
"Since ancient times, the northeastern nobles have rallied under the Crayer Marquisate, a famed knightly house, serving as the shield that blocked the sharp spears and swords of the Tripartite Alliance. Marquis Crayer is a noble who never forgets favors and grudges. He will soon declare his support for the 5th Prince, and the northeastern nobles will follow suit."
The emissary explained. Deneb couldn't hide his frustration.
"The 5th Prince must have calculated this when he risked his life to save Marquis Crayer."
"Raymond... Who knew that wastrel had this level of cunning..."
He had assigned watchers to the 1st Prince, 3rd Prince, and even the 4th Princess, but not to the 5th Prince, whom he saw as worthless trash.
But he had been wrong. Now, Raymond wielded a blade sharper than even the 1st Prince's.
"Should we eliminate him?"
"I'll leave the judgment to Your Highness the 2nd Prince."
Deneb posed it as a question, but his mind was already made up.
Knowing this, the emissary smirked and dodged a direct answer.
"I've decided. We have to remove him."
As expected, the answer had been set from the start. The emissary nodded and spoke.
"Shall I prepare the stage?"
"It would help if you could provide assassins as well. I could fill it with my own people, but that might arouse suspicion."
"Planning to point the arrow at the Tripartite Alliance again this time?"
"Wouldn't it benefit your kingdom if I become emperor?"
The emissary said nothing, merely offering another smirk. A heavy, silent pause stretched on for over five minutes. Finally, the emissary broke it.
"I'll contact the superiors."
The emissary left the drawing room first. Deneb shook his head with a short sigh. Though he had borrowed foreign power to claim the throne, a nagging unease lingered in his heart.
'When the time comes, I'll sever the ties.'
Relying on foreign strength to inherit the throne would limit his power. Thus, 2nd Prince Deneb was preparing to cut off relations with the 'Deep Night' once his position in the succession struggle solidified.
He moved in secrecy and caution, but the 'Deep Night' were no fools. They knew everything.
"Sylvia."
"You called for me?"
Unlike the other guardsmen around 2nd Prince Deneb, who all exuded a sinister aura, this response was clear and bright. Yet it carried an undercurrent of profound darkness.
Soon, a figure in the black uniform of the Imperial Guard emerged from the shadows. It was an elf with platinum blonde hair wavy enough to reach her shoulders.
Her lifeless, withered green eyes turned toward Deneb.
"I have a task for you."
"Your Highness the 2nd Prince, didn't you promise to free my younger sister and the World Tree once the matter at the banquet hall was resolved?"
"Didn't you lead us astray and botch the job? That promise is void."
Sylvia bit her lip until blood welled up. She barely suppressed the curses threatening to spill out. This damned bondage choked her and her kin, refusing to loosen.
She wanted to rebel, but with the 2nd Prince holding her powerless clan's lifeline, she had no choice but to obey.
"Then, what is your command?"
Sylvia asked cautiously. What task would it be this time? Foreseeing the storm of trials ahead, she squeezed her eyes shut.
How long did they wait? The 2nd Prince finally parted his tightly shut lips.
"I've heard your clan has a base in the northeastern forests."
"Yes, that's correct."
An uneasy feeling stirred.
"You must know the lay of the land in the Crayer Marquisate well."
"Yes... What is your order?"
She hated being in the same space as the 2nd Prince any longer than necessary.
If she had to follow orders anyway, she wanted to escape this place as soon as possible.
"Go to the Black Mountains with my assassins under my command."
"What am I to do there?"
She had anticipated it, but the destination was the Black Mountains, one of the continent's most perilous places.
"Guide the way, as before."
That was it. The 2nd Prince revealed little. She'd have to learn the rest from the other assassins under him. ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Unable to shake off the nagging unease from Elpis and the Society of the End, Raymond withdrew from the Black Mountains to the Crayer Marquisate with his subordinates.
One knight order under House Crayer led five hundred cavalry to escort and protect the marquis all the way to the border.
The moment they encountered the 5th Prince and Marquis Crayer descending from the border, they dismounted in unison and bowed their heads.
"Your Highness the 5th Prince! We welcome your return to the Crayer Marquisate!"
This was a far cry from the cold reception at first. Seeing this, Raymond turned to Marquis Crayer beside him and flashed a grin.
He said nothing, but the marquis would surely grasp the meaning hidden in that smile.
"During Your Highness the 5th Prince's stay in the marquisate, the hero of the northeast, there will be no discomfort."
Marquis Crayer declared. It was also a vow to his past reckless self.
Unlike his first visit to the northeast, the 5th Prince Raymond had not only rescued Marquis Crayer but also shone as a hero against the Free Isirian Kingdom's army in the Black Mountains.
Any neglect in treating him would invite ridicule.
Under the escort of the territorial troops, they arrived at the central city of the marquisate. The gates stood wide open, and crowds lined both sides of the main avenue, waving flowers and imperial flags amid cheers. Though soldiers maintained order, the atmosphere was electric.
Rooftops brimmed with people eager to catch a glimpse of the 5th Prince. Doors of roadside houses flung open as residents poked out heads, waving handkerchiefs and banners.
"Long live the Philius Empire!"
"Long live Your Highness the 5th Prince!"
They cheered for the Philius Empire and the 5th Prince, shouting huzzahs.
'My calculations were spot on, as expected.'
Raymond's lips curled slightly as he surveyed the cheering masses. Marquis Crayer was a respected lord in the northeast.
Though not on the level of a grand duke like the Mountain Duke, he had long served as the northeast's shield, protecting the empire. Thus, many nobles gathered under House Crayer's banner, and the common folk supported and followed him.
'At the very least, the northeast won't turn against me now.'
Marquis Crayer was a noble who clearly remembered favors and grudges—a fact evident from the novel’s lore.
Confirming once more that his choice was right, Raymond spurred his horse toward the center of the broad avenue.
Children rushed out, scattering flower petals before him.
It was a grand homecoming parade unlike any other. The welcoming crowds stretched all the way to the gates of the inner castle.
He thought the crowds would end there, as commoners' access to the inner castle was restricted—but he was mistaken.
"We welcome Your Highness the 5th Prince!"
Knights in pristine uniforms lined the road.
They were knights of House Crayer, gathered to express gratitude to the 5th Prince Raymond who had saved their lord.
Unlike his first entry into the central city, now welcoming gazes filled the air.
After receiving the citizens' cheers followed by the knights' salutes, Raymond's party passed through the inner castle and reached the lord's castle.
"A welcome banquet has been prepared."
No sooner had they crossed the gates of the lord's castle than Marquis Crayer announced. Having anticipated this, Raymond nodded readily.
All of Raymond's close aides attended the banquet. Prepared with utmost care, the cuisine was of exceptional quality.
Before the feast of delicacies unseen amid the recent Black Mountains and border skirmishes, the Azure Tower Lord teared up, his fork and knife dancing busily.
"You're in the presence of the 5th Prince. Maintain some dignity."
The Crimson Tower Lord shot him a look, to no avail. The Azure Tower Lord had already lost his reason to fine dining. But it wasn't unseemly, so Raymond merely chuckled and shook his head.
Once the banquet ended, Raymond took a bottle of liquor and moved to the terrace with Marquis Crayer.
In light silence, their glasses were filled.
"Your Highness the 5th Prince."
After draining about half of his first glass, Marquis Crayer broke the silence first. Raymond, who had been eyeing the snacks, looked up.
"I wanted to express my gratitude once more."
"Didn't you say it several times on the way from the border?"
"I don't consider my ramblings while injured a proper thanks."
Marquis Crayer rose from his chair and bowed deeply and respectfully.
"To be frank, Your Highness, it's hard to say you left a good first impression on me. Yet, when my life hung by a thread, the first to arrive was Your Highness the 5th Prince."
His voice trembled. Had he been brutally slain by the ghost unit, the marquisate would have passed to his young eldest son, Kron.
Kron was a talented knight but not yet a capable lord. He had much to learn. Taking over the vast marquisate too early would have been daunting.
"I acted for His Majesty the Emperor and the Philius Empire."
"Of course I know that, Your Highness. But the result was that you saved my life, so I must address this properly."
It was the demeanor befitting the head of House Crayer, who clearly honored favors and grudges as described in the novel’s setting.
"Bring it here."
"Yes, my lord."
Marquis Crayer signaled the steward behind him to fetch something.
This was surely recompense for saving his life. Since the marquis himself was presenting it, it wouldn't be trivial. Raymond steadied his pounding heart and waited calmly.
Soon, the steward brought a case, which Marquis Crayer received and carefully offered to Raymond.
"By saving me from afar, Your Highness the 5th Prince has essentially preserved House Crayer. Thus, as recompense, I offer this magic artifact passed down through our generations."
Opening the lid revealed a white ring emanating a cold aura.
'Could this be...?'
The reward exceeded expectations. Among the magic artifacts handed down in House Crayer, only one in the novel's lore possessed such an icy chill.
It was none other than...
"To Your Highness the 5th Prince, I present this 'Guardian of the Ice Soul'."
A 'Unique'-grade magic artifact, one of the rarest even in the Imperial Vaults.