Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Blow the Trumpet First (1)
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"Fire Blast!"
Advanced magic incantation spilled from Raymond's lips.
As the chant concluded, the surrounding mana surged wildly. At the site of a massive boulder, a spark infused with mana flickered into existence, then erupted outward with a whoosh! exploding in all directions.
Boom!
A deafening roar echoed, but the boulder only cracked slightly.
It was far short of the power expected from advanced magic, yet a bright smile spread across Raymond's face.
His gaze then turned to the Crimson Tower Lord.
"Crimson Tower Lord. Is this sufficient?"
In response, Berenus Kyle, the Crimson Tower Lord, approached the boulder and examined the lingering traces of mana.
It was indeed lacking for true advanced magic.
"This shows ample talent for fire magic. You should be worthy to inherit the Crimson Tower's secrets."
Berenus declared. Unlike the Azure Tower, the Crimson Tower's secrets had strict prerequisites for inheritance: resistance and aptitude for fire magic.
[Those without qualification who dare to claim it shall not escape the baptism of flames.]
It was a description from the novel [Empire of the Dead] regarding the Crimson Tower's secrets.
Even the 3rd Prince had feared this and avoided inheriting them.
With the Azure Tower never aligning behind him in the first place, the only secrets the 3rd Prince had obtained were those of the Imperial Tower.
"You're really planning to give me the Crimson Tower's secrets?"
"They must be passed to someone eventually. Why not offer them to Your Highness the 5th Prince?"
Berenus replied. Having defected from the 3rd Prince's camp to stand behind the 5th Prince, his own survival and the Crimson Tower's preservation depended on the 5th Prince ascending the throne.
Thus, it was no surprise that he intended to pass the secrets to the qualified Raymond.
"With the Crimson Tower Lord stepping forward so eagerly, I feel reassured."
"I have no choice but to be proactive. It's no exaggeration to say my life hangs on Your Highness the 5th Prince."
"Fair enough."
Raymond nodded with a smirk.
"But don't take it lightly, Your Highness the 5th Prince. The Crimson Tower's secrets aren't easily obtained just because they're being passed down."
Today, Berenus Kyle's voice carried an eerie chill. Raymond couldn't hide his tension, swallowing dryly.
And so the hellish training began.
"Azure Tower Lord. You wished to see me?"
The door opened. With a clear voice, Desia entered the reception room lightly, her blue eyes sparkling.
"You arrived quickly."
"Keeping one's superior waiting is poor manners. And it seems you arrived even earlier, Azure Tower Lord."
"Marquis Crayer provided some fine tea leaves. I've been passing the time admiring the view outside."
"So leisurely."
After their brief exchange, Desia pulled up a chair and sat before Risefield Dior, the Azure Tower Lord.
"How's it going?"
Risefield gently asked as he refilled the teacup before her.
After Elder Philid's expulsion from the tower, she had officially become the Azure Tower Lord's disciple.
Yet the one providing her mana cultivation methods and training regimens was the 5th Prince.
Raymond knew her path to archmage better than anyone, thanks to her detailed main character profile.
"Yes, using the mana cultivation method His Highness the 5th Prince taught me, I believe I can break through to the next realm sooner than expected."
Desia Heli's profile as a lead character was more detailed than most. Raymond knew exactly what she needed to become an archmage.
With someone who knew her settings guiding her, her growth was bound to accelerate.
"Heh, to already speak of reaching the pinnacle advanced mage realm..."
Risefield could only marvel. Though not particularly close to Desia, he knew she wasn't one to chase pipe dreams.
"It's been less than four years since you began walking the path of mana, and you're already eyeing the pinnacle realm... If word spreads to the Mage Tower Alliance, the Imperial Tower Lord might try to dissect you."
"Such grim humor. Of course, His Highness the 5th Prince and you, Azure Tower Lord, would protect me, right?"
"Naturally. The Azure Tower's prestige surpasses the Imperial Tower's—they won't lay a finger on you."
"And just to clarify, lest there be any misunderstanding: three years and six months."
Risefield chuckled and shook his head at Desia's parting quip amid their banter.
Even geniuses among advanced mages took over five years to reach that height. For her to aim for the pinnacle in under four—it could spark envy and deprivation among other mages if rumors spread.
"And where is His Highness the 5th Prince?"
"With the Crimson Tower Lord, I believe."
Desia answered Risefield's question. It wasn't hard to guess he was receiving the Crimson Tower's secrets, even without pressing further.
When he'd met Berenus Kyle recently, the Crimson Tower Lord had spoken positively of passing them on.
"His Highness the 5th Prince will soon reach the advanced mage realm himself."
Even geniuses took over five years, yet the 5th Prince—who'd begun less than a year ago—was targeting it. It spoke volumes of his talent.
"How is His Highness the 5th Prince's guidance?"
"I suspect you know his talent better than I could explain, Azure Tower Lord."
Desia smiled slyly at the probing question.
"Hmm, true. I do share a special bond with His Highness the 5th Prince."
Risefield nodded contentedly. It felt like just yesterday they'd met in Imperial Vault 7, yet so much time had passed.
Recalling recent events, a faint smile touched his lips.
"I suppose it's about time to head out."
"Something come up?"
"His Highness the 5th Prince's training should be wrapping up now."
He hadn't realized she tracked his schedule so precisely.
Leaving the mildly surprised Risefield behind, Desia stepped out of the reception room unhurriedly.
"W-wait, I'll come too...!"
The training grounds where Raymond and Berenus trained weren't far from the main building.
Upon arriving after hurried steps, they found the grounds in chaos.
Crimson smoke wafted from craters pockmarking the area.
At the center stood Raymond, with Berenus about five meters away.
The moment Risefield entered, he sensed the mana churning violently.
"C-could it be, already...?"
The 5th Prince had reached the advanced mage realm.
He'd been lucky.
The settings noted an interaction between the Azure and Crimson Tower secrets, but he hadn't expected this much.
"Congratulations on reaching the advanced mage realm, Your Highness the 5th Prince."
As Raymond finished organizing his thoughts, Risefield approached and bowed. It was joyous news, but he remained composed.
His mind was as calm and still as the sea. Compared to the foes ahead, it wasn't a monumental achievement.
"Congratulations on ascending to the advanced realm, Your Highness the 5th Prince."
This time it was Desia. The Crimson Tower Lord merely watched with trusting eyes, silent.
Raymond wiped his face roughly with the towel Desia offered, then smirked.
"Desia, at this rate, you might get overtaken."
A clear smile bloomed on her lips at his light jest.
"No need to worry. I've decided to pick up the pace a bit myself."
Her concise reply needed no elaboration. Raymond easily grasped she meant aiming for the pinnacle realm.
"Impressive."
Like the protagonist Richard in the novel, he'd merely recommended suitable grimoires and mana methods, offering a few tips.
Yet she was already on the cusp of pinnacle advanced mage—astonishing progress.
"It's nothing compared to Your Highness the 5th Prince."
"Is it?"
"Yes. You're just in time for appetizers? Lord Kron has invited you to dinner. You should change and attend."
Raymond nodded at Desia's words. He needed to maintain friendly ties with Kron, the formal heir to the Crayer Marquis family.
"The dinner will have to wait."
Gestain had appeared beside him, speaking in a low voice. His expression was grave—something had gone wrong.
"What happened?"
"The Free Isiria Kingdom's heavy cavalry assault unit has advanced southward. Three border infantry battalions were annihilated, and two outposts lost."
The heavy cavalry's move was tantamount to the Free Isiria Kingdom blowing the trumpet of vanguard.
They struck first to gauge enemy strength before full war. They never moved lightly.
He'd thought stronger provocation was needed to mobilize such ponderous forces—this was unexpected.
"A military council is convening shortly. Marquis Crayer hopes Your Highness the 5th Prince will attend."
Adjacent to the Black Mountains and the border, they had to react sensitively.
It also showed how deeply Marquis Crayer trusted Raymond, requesting his presence at a territorial military council.
"Tell them I'll attend."
"As you command."
Soon, the time came. Less a strategy session, it was more about receiving reports on the Black Mountains and border situation.
The border army courier detailed events for thirty minutes.
"The situation at the Black Mountains is graver than thought."
As the courier finished, those gathered began discussing countermeasures. A knight commander from the Crayer Marquis family spoke first.
His name rang a vague bell, but no details—clearly a minor extra.
"Shouldn't we send reinforcements to the border?"
Someone ventured cautiously. It was a noble leading one of the Lancer Houses sworn to the Crayer family.
With the border army sending a thousand more to cover Black Mountains losses, they argued for minimal support to fill gaps.
"Who should command the forces?"
Marquis Crayer asked. His injuries weren't fully healed. It remained to select representatives from the Lancer Houses.
As discussion loomed in the tense air, Raymond stepped forward.
"I'll go too."
"No, Your Highness the 5th Prince!"
"The Black Mountains now host their heavy cavalry assault unit!"
As expected, Marquis Crayer exclaimed in horror.
"I'm not seeking command of your territorial forces—don't worry. I'll merely accompany; command can come from the Lancer Houses."
He quickly added to avoid seeming power-hungry, but it seemed unnecessary judging by their reactions.
Rather than refusing command, they stressed the Black Mountains' dangers, prioritizing the 5th Prince's safety.
"If Your venturing to the Black Mountains is for the vanguard banner, please withdraw the notion!"
Marquis Crayer raised his voice, veins bulging on his neck despite his incomplete recovery.
His genuine concern brought a faint smile to Raymond's lips.
"If the capital nobles censure you over the vanguard banner, I shall be your shield!"
Raymond's smile sharpened. Though a benefactor to their house, he hadn't expected such profound trust.
'Having someone worry about you feels better than I thought...'
Perhaps frustrated by Raymond's smirking nod, Marquis Crayer sighed shortly.
"Sighing won't change my mind, Marquis."
"Your Highness the 5th Prince... You may not know, but in my youth, I served alongside His Majesty the Emperor in the north. I remember his youthful vigor."
It might seem out of place, but Raymond listened quietly without interrupting.
"In you, Your Highness the 5th Prince, I see echoes of His Majesty the Emperor in his young days."
Reading the mood, Raymond knew what came next from the novel's settings.
Finally, Marquis Crayer slowly opened his mouth to continue.