Chapter 5
Chapter 5
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Talented Scoundrel (3)
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“5th Prince!”
Did he instinctively sense that something was slumbering inside? The Azure Tower Lord, Risefield Dior, called out desperately for the 5th Prince at the top of his lungs, but the prince didn't even glance back as he vanished into the darkness of the passage.
“Argh!”
From the circumstances, the odds were high that the Spear of Sacrifice lay dormant beyond that barrier. But with no way to enter, Risefield could only stamp his feet in frustration.
Whether he did or not, Raymond didn't slow his pace.
How long had he walked? Even Risefield's voice had faded away.
Had the man given up because his throat hurt? Or had Raymond delved so deep that the cries no longer reached him? Considering the southern mages' fervent longing for the Spear of Sacrifice, the latter seemed more likely.
It matched the novel's description perfectly. After traversing the long passage and rounding the corner, the golden door appeared.
No traps.
There had been no mention of traps in the novel or the setting materials he'd read. The barrier that only royalty could pass was the first and final trial—and trap.
The Spear of Sacrifice is inside.
With a tense expression, he pushed open the golden door with all his might.
Kiiiek.
The door, sealed shut for hundreds of years, creaked open with a rusty groan.
At the same moment, the magical lamps on the ceiling flickered to life. Unlike those in the passage, they shone as brightly as if installed yesterday.
Taking in the secret room, he recalled the novel's details.
The magic tome engraved with the Spear of Sacrifice, a subspace pouch, and various rare gems. And astonishingly, all of it...
Stolen goods.
Meaning, pilfered items.
An emperor with a kleptomania setting.
Raymond shook his head with a short sigh, remembering what he'd read about Hansen in the setting materials.
He didn't recall the details of his kleptomania, but stealing the Spear of Sacrifice alone showed the scale was anything but small.
The secret room itself seemed built to hide these stolen treasures.
Even more intriguing was that such secret rooms were scattered across the empire, not just in the Imperial Capital.
And.
I know them all.
He'd seen the map tucked into the setting materials.
Crude drawings of the empire were dotted with red marks indicating secret rooms. He remembered every location.
I even know what's hidden inside.
Visiting them one by one would yield nice little rewards.
Raymond picked up the weathered parchment on the table.
Hansen's note. The content was amusing enough to draw a smirk.
After a brief moment to collect his thoughts, he stepped closer to the worn table and reached for the magic tome.
It was a magic tome, but no mana injection was needed. The moment his fingers touched it, the Spear of Sacrifice awoke.
A soft voice echoed as the magic tome dissolved into white powder, scattering into the air. But Raymond didn't panic.
I expected this.
To gain the power of an ancient relic, one had to pass its trial. And he knew the trial of the Spear of Sacrifice.
He nodded instead of answering, and the white powder swirling in the air gathered into the form of a long spear.
“Gladly.”
He grasped the white spear. Having read the novel, he knew exactly what to do.
“Once is enough.”
Muttering to himself like a vow, Raymond thrust the white spear into his heart.
There was no hesitation. The tip pierced his chest, skewering his wing bone and protruding out the back, yet not a single drop of blood fell.
“Hah, haaack!”
No external wound, but the pain was real. A sharp agony exploded in his chest like a bomb.
His breathing grew ragged, his body swaying unsteadily as it failed to endure the torment.
Ah, not yet?
The novel hadn't specified how long the pain lasted.
I let my guard down. This hurts way too much.
It was the most excruciating pain he'd ever felt. He thought he might die from it.
How long did he endure? Finally, strength drained from his body, and Raymond collapsed to his knees.
“Urk, grrrgh!”
Groaning, he inwardly cursed the faceless Hansen.
This isn't 'a bit' painful!
Fortunately, the agony didn't drag on.
As the white spear piercing his chest seeped into his body, the pain ended.
No sooner had the voice finished than explosive energy burst from his entire body.
His mind cleared, Raymond dusted himself off, stood, and opened the wooden box.
“A fine reward.”
The box was filled with gems so rare even an imperial prince would covet them.
They'd surely prove useful later. Silently, he opened the subspace pouch beside it and transferred the gems.
Stolen goods or not, stolen centuries ago—no owner will come claiming them.
He'd long since sold off any conscience.
“Ugh, it hurts like hell.”
He'd thought the pain gone, but no. Intermittent stabs dug into his chest like knives.
Yet with it came a sense of abundant mana settling near his heart.
Is this the mana of the Spear of Sacrifice?
The quantity was immense. Even using the method taught by the Azure Tower Lord, Risefield, excess mana overflowed.
A bit troublesome.
He couldn't conceal it all.
Rumors will spread soon enough.
The notorious scoundrel 5th Prince suddenly wielding vast mana? That alone put his life at risk.
Especially the power-hungry 3rd Prince—who knew what he'd do? With the Mage Tower Alliance behind him, he might target Raymond if his magical talent showed.
A total mess.
A sigh escaped him. But there was no turning back. He'd have to make his move.
And the first step would be the Azure Tower.
Let's go.
As he exited, the secret room crumbled behind him. Likely to erase evidence of the 'stolen goods' stash.
Retracing his steps led back to Imperial Vault 7. An old man in a brown robe waited silently for Raymond.
The Azure Tower Lord, Risefield Dior.
“5th Prince, have you obtained the Spear of Sacrifice?”
The elderly high mage easily detected the changes in the prince's body.
“And if I have?”
The lost magic of the south, the Spear of Sacrifice. Complex emotions flickered in Risefield's gaze as he looked at Raymond.
Ancient relics bound to their wielder. Even killing the user wouldn't help—the relic would lose power for 50 years. Risefield harbored no such ill intent.
Blood on his hands for a shot 50 years later? The weight of imperial blood was too heavy.
In the Philius Empire, which valued imperial lineage above all, murdering royalty was unthinkable.
Not if it were another royal, maybe.
Feeling Risefield's gaze, Raymond smiled faintly.
“If I hold the Spear of Sacrifice, will you uphold the oath?”
“Hohoho. You even know of the Two Thousand Years' Oath?”
The Azure Tower Lord laughed hollowly. He never imagined the young prince before him knew of the oath the south had upheld for two millennia.
The Two Thousand Years' Oath must be kept.
Risefield recalled the teachings of past Azure Tower Lords. The words themselves held power under the name of oath.
What in the world is he?
The scoundrel had transformed overnight. Without instruction, he'd awakened talent to manifest mana, and now wielded the Spear of Sacrifice the southern mages had sought in vain—then mentioned the Two Thousand Years' Oath.
“Old man, what's got you so lost in thought?”
The 5th Prince's voice snapped Risefield from his reverie.
“If it's not rude, how did you learn of the Spear of Sacrifice...?”
“Does it matter?”
Risefield was at a loss for words.
Staring blankly at the 5th Prince for a moment, he soon shook his head with a calm smile.
“Not at all, 5th Prince.”
“Then recall the oath kept for two thousand years since antiquity.”
The Two Thousand Years' Oath—leading it were the Philius Empire's Azure and Crimson Towers.
“5th Prince.”
Risefield smiled at Raymond.
“The Azure Tower still remembers the Two Thousand Years' Oath.”
Hearing the loyal tone in the Azure Tower Lord's voice, Raymond couldn't stop a smile from spreading. Nodding in satisfaction, he spoke.
“The Crimson Tower had better remember it too.”
The Imperial Tower was different, formed after antiquity, but the Crimson Tower would remember.
If not?
He'd remind them.
“The 5th Prince is in critical condition! Imperial Knights, clear the path at once!”
“Where are the priests and healers?!”
“5th Prince! Just hold on a little longer! The infirmary is almost here!”
An Imperial Knight's face swam into his hazy vision.
He squinted to make out who it was, but his sight hadn't recovered.
“The 5th Prince is awake!”
“Just a bit more!”
The Imperial Knights fussed noisily.
Only then did his vision clear slightly, allowing him to survey his surroundings.
Did I collapse?
He was being carried on a stretcher somewhere. Two servants bore it, while five Imperial Knights cleared the way.
Alex, the 5th Prince's Palace steward, walked beside with a grim face, matching the servants' pace.
“5th Prince, you'll be fine.”
Alex said with resolute voice. As Raymond racked his brain for what happened, a cough came.
“Cough! Cough!”
Covering his mouth, he hacked violently. Something sticky touched his palm.
“5th Prince!”
“How far to the infirmary?!”
The Imperial Knights fussed again.
He wanted to tell them to calm down, but couldn't. His palm, pulled from his mouth, was smeared with dark red blood.
“Damn it...”
Now he remembered. Testing the Spear of Sacrifice in the Azure Tower Lord's private training ground, he'd overdone it and blacked out.
I didn't expect it to drain life force this much...
He knew the Spear of Sacrifice consumed life force instead of mana, but passing out? That he hadn't foreseen.
Won't use it often.
Best saved as a one-strike kill.
One regret: blacking out before testing its destructive power.
The Azure Tower Lord will explain later.
Curious, but he'd endure. Frowning and biting his lip slightly—apparently mistaken for pain—the Imperial Knights jumped and quickened their pace.
“To the infirmary with the 5th Prince!”
“We can't delay!”
Amid the fussing knights, they reached the infirmary. Priests and healers waited, alerted in advance.
While the healer prepared medicine, the priest examined Raymond.
“The 5th Prince's condition is...”
As Alex asked, Raymond—who had just begun awakening mana—sensed vast mana gathering at the door.
An overwhelming presence, too powerful to even glimpse properly.
Wanting rest, but what was this?
“Pardon the intrusion.”
A light knock, and the door opened. A group in golden cloaks entered the infirmary. He knew who they were.
The shield of the imperial family.
“Royal Guard here?”
One of the Imperial Knights who'd escorted Raymond blurted in shock.
No one answered, but all knew. The Royal Guard's appearance meant...
His Majesty the Emperor is here.
With a sigh, he roused his weary body. Couldn't stay lying down with the emperor coming.
“His Majesty the Emperor arrives!”
Viscount Illusion, a familiar face, shouted vigorously and stepped aside.
Escorted by golden-masked Royal Guards, the emperor entered the infirmary.
“Raymond!”
Calm until crossing the threshold, his face changed at the blood-soaked 5th Prince lying there. Forgetting decorum, he called his son's name and rushed forward.
The Imperial Knights hastily stepped back and bowed; the priest and healer did the same.
No, if even the priest and healer bow like that, when do I get treated? I'm dying here...