Chapter 6
Chapter 6
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: Chapter 3: The Scoundrel is No More (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
A small grievance stirred in his heart, but sensing the Emperor's gaze brimming with concern for his son, he dismissed it with a slight shake of his head.
"How on earth did this happen?"
The worry was fleeting. The Emperor quickly regained his dignity and asked for the full story.
Raymond forced a tense expression from his face and swallowed dryly. He couldn't reveal anything about the Spear of Sacrifice yet, so he had to choose his words carefully here.
Brain into overdrive, maximum speed.
"Truth be told, I found a book in Imperial Vault 7 that described how to create a mana road. I got curious, read it, and decided to give it a try."
"And what happened?"
The Emperor asked, his voice laced with curiosity. The priest beside him had signaled that Raymond's condition was stable, so much of his worry had eased.
"I opened the path for mana."
"Is that true?"
The Emperor was stunned. The Imperial Knights standing guard widened their eyes in shock.
The fifth prince, infamous as a scoundrel, opened his mana path through self-study?
There was a convenient lie mixed in, but they had no way of knowing. As everyone stared at the fifth prince in astonishment, only the Royal Guards remained unflinching.
"Yes, Your Majesty. Why would I lie to you, of all people?"
"I believe you."
There was no need to mention materialization.
"Your Majesty, it's nearly time for your meeting with the Foreign Minister."
"Already?"
The exchange was between the chamberlain and the Emperor. Despite his busy schedule, it seemed the Emperor had pushed everything aside upon hearing his son had collapsed.
"Don't push yourself too hard."
With those final words, the Emperor left the infirmary.
The Imperial Knights, tense from the Emperor's sudden arrival, finally caught their breath and composed themselves.
"How is His Highness the Fifth Prince's condition?"
Once the situation calmed, Alex stepped forward first. The priest, wearing a faint smile, replied.
"He has depleted much of his life force, but with a few days of rest and stability, he should recover fully."
"Thank you."
He had no intention of resting obediently, but for now, he nodded in acknowledgment. Back at the 5th Prince's Palace, Raymond summoned Alex.
"You called for me, Your Highness the Fifth Prince?"
"Alex. I have a discreet visitor coming, so ease the patrols around my chambers."
"There was an assault on the palace just recently. Are you sure that's wise?"
Alex voiced his cautious concern. He understood what Raymond meant by a "discreet visitor," but he couldn't help worrying.
His feelings toward the fifth prince had recently warmed into fondness, but that didn't mean he was loyal to him.
Still, if something happened to the fifth prince, Alex would be the first to face summary execution.
"Alex, there won't be any issues like you're imagining. It'll only take a moment—just hold patrols for about thirty minutes."
"Understood, Your Highness."
"Go rest."
Alex withdrew. How much time passed after that? The door slowly opened, and an elderly man in a brown robe stepped inside.
The Azure Tower Lord, Risefield Dior.
"You've arrived, old timer?"
He set down his wine glass and turned toward the source of the presence.
Risefield stood there, looking weary.
"You didn't come in your Azure Tower robe."
"Your Highness, there was quite the uproar."
He was the youngest prince, but a royal collapsing in the Azure Tower would naturally cause a stir.
Instead of replying, Raymond nodded slowly.
"Even the investigators showed up. I really had to scramble with excuses."
Risefield wiped away a bead of sweat as he spoke. Raymond refilled his glass, frowning.
Investigators all the way to the Azure Tower? That's a bit much.
"Even if I collapsed, did the palace really send investigators? What on earth have you been up to, old timer? Looks like you've given them plenty of reason to suspect you."
"Hah! They had no choice but to send them."
Risefield let out a heavy sigh laced with complex emotions.
It was like the ground itself was caving in.
"A hole was punched through the Azure Tower, which is covered in defensive magic."
"Old timer, what are you talking about?"
"Don't you remember?"
No, I don't. Not at all.
"The Spear of Sacrifice you used blew a hole in the Azure Tower."
No way?
"I had to cover for that—I really went through hell."
Risefield's tone was deadly serious. It didn't sound like a joke.
It was the Azure Tower Lord's office.
Raymond sat in the seat of honor, while Risefield Dior, the Azure Tower Lord, stood before him, sighing repeatedly.
"Do you know how powerful the Azure Tower's defensive magic is?"
"I have a rough idea."
"It was designed by the ancient grand archmage, the first Azure Tower Lord, who personally inscribed the defensive magic circle. Do you know what that means, Your Highness...?"
He shook his head instead of answering. Risefield stepped closer with a grave expression and spoke.
"Your Highness shattered the grand magic's defensive inscription. It can't be restored."
Yeah, my bad.
"I'll compensate you when the time comes."
"Yes, I'll have to claim repair costs."
It was the reaction he'd half-expected. He had a whole box of precious gems from Hansen's secret room, so he nodded readily, waiting to hear the price.
"The repair cost is for Your Highness to stay in the Azure Tower for a week."
This was unexpected.
"His Majesty the Emperor..."
"He'll permit it. If Your Highness requests it personally."
This old fox was crafty.
"Why not spend a week learning magic here in the Azure Tower?"
Risefield smiled gently. He seemed fully committed, blocking all escape routes with a final nail.
His Highness the Fifth Prince possesses talent bestowed by the gods. With him, even becoming a grand archmage isn't impossible.
Risefield's eyes gleamed with fervent ambition as he gazed at the fifth prince.
After the Great War, the Philius Empire was the only ancient nation to survive. But the cost of survival had been immense. It had been centuries since the lines of grand archmages and sword saints had died out.
The Philius Empire's Mage Tower Alliance had strived to produce a grand archmage, but with no success. Yet hope had appeared from an unexpected place. And the Azure Tower Lord had seen it.
"Old timer, that intense stare is making me uncomfortable."
"Ahem! Regardless, you must pay the repair cost!"
"Isn't there another way? It's not like we're asking the rival Hyifel Empire, but couldn't we invite a grand archmage from the Magic Kingdom to handle the repairs?"
He knew the Magic Kingdom had grand archmages too.
Officially, there were two, plus two more in hiding.
Raymond had seen the setting documents, so he knew about the reclusive grand archmages known only to the Magic Kingdom's king and top brass.
"We cannot entrust the Azure Tower's repairs to a foreign grand archmage!"
The Azure Tower Lord raised his voice.
"Our empire has reclusive..."
He caught himself and clamped his mouth shut. It wasn't time to reveal that setting yet.
Too early to mention the one-armed swordsman or the red beard.
"Your Highness?"
"It's nothing."
He shook his head and stood, but Risefield's suspicious gaze followed. Cold sweat prickled his skin. Sensing the need to change the subject, Raymond spoke quickly.
"I'll handle it with His Majesty, so there won't be any issues staying a week in the Azure Tower."
"It will be a delightful time, Your Highness."
Sure, for you maybe.
He swallowed the retort lightly.
Nodding with a faint smile, he left the Azure Tower Lord's office and rejoined his attendants.
"Your Highness, were you acquainted with the Azure Tower Lord?"
Alex couldn't contain his curiosity and asked cautiously.
He seemed to have mostly overcome his trauma lately. In the past, he wouldn't have dared ask, much less stick so close.
"Not really acquainted—just a chance meeting."
"The Azure Tower Lord is known for avoiding public appearances, yet here we are. As expected of Your Highness."
A light compliment.
"I'll escort you to the 5th Prince's Palace."
Alex bowed, but Raymond shook his head.
Sorry, but he had somewhere to go first.
"No, to the imperial palace."
"Th-the imperial palace?"
Alex was startled, but it was unnecessary worry.
The Emperor favors me.
Knowing the information turned out to be a better weapon than expected.
He received the Emperor's permission. When he explained his intent to stay a week in the Azure Tower to train in mana, the Emperor nodded, visibly moved rather than opposed.
His son, a scoundrel for five years, wasn't just turning over a new leaf—he wanted to train in magic. How could he refuse?
Learning to handle mana opened paths not just to magehood, but to becoming a high knight wielding a powerful mana sword, even without full magic.
Further advancement led to sword saint status with an aura blade.
"You've been visiting the palace frequently lately, Raymond."
"Is that you, Brother Aloken?"
No sooner had he received permission and left the audience chamber than the third prince, Aloken, emerged from around the corner.
"I told you not to eye the throne, yet you still ignore your brother's advice."
He flashed a soft smile, but his tone was threatening.
"I'll handle my own affairs."
Raymond replied coolly. Did it sound defiant?
Aloken's affable smile twisted into a scowl.
"Are you talking back to me right now?"
Aloken pressed aggressively. Even as the scoundrel fifth prince, no one expected him to push back this hard in front of Imperial Knights.
He glanced back at the attendants.
"Relying on those Imperial Knights behind you? Do you really think they're your knights?"
The third prince's voice dripped with malice. The Imperial Knights silently stepped back three paces without a word.
Alex was the only one who stayed, trembling pitifully.
The third prince is even scarier than in the settings.
He hadn't anticipated that even the knights in the 5th Prince's Palace were Aloken's plants.
No matter how powerful the third prince was, it couldn't have happened overnight. Likely prepared years in advance.
"Well?"
Aloken shrugged with a villainous grin.
He seemed to expect fear, but Raymond felt nothing.
His only thought was the urgent need to build his own faction and form a personal guard.
I need my own people.
Emperor Ronald Philius was exceptional but now old and ailing.
The fact that Aloken had infiltrated the knights sent by the Emperor showed how weakened his authority had become.
"I'll take your advice to heart, brother."
"You'd better, if you want to live long."
Aloken spat coldly and sauntered off with his attendants.
"Your Highness..."
Alex approached. Raymond kept his eyes on Aloken's retreating figure and spoke.
"Not a word now."
With that, he headed to the 5th Prince's Palace first. He needed time to sort his thoughts.
"Your Highness, preparations are complete."
As he paced the gardens organizing his mind, Alex approached with a report.
It was only a week, but moving a royal required much preparation, so it had taken longer than expected.
"Good work."
Now it was time for the Azure Tower. As he started walking, the Imperial Knights waiting inside and out moved in unison.
Too many.
Over ten of them. Likely because the palace assault was recent, the Emperor had attached this many as a condition for allowing the week-long stay.
Close escorts would be two or three including Alex, but so many eyes made it hard to relax.
"We'll prepare a carriage."
"Alright."
A carriage to the Azure Tower awaited. Since it was near the capital, the trip wouldn't take long. The imperial carriage was comfortable. At the tower's entrance, Risefield and several elder mages waited to greet him.
The carriage stopped, and Raymond descended.
"Your Highness, wel..."
"Old timer, to your office."
He strode ahead. Risefield followed with a puzzled look. Soon they reached the top-floor office. Raymond sat in the seat of honor as if it were natural, fixing the Azure Tower Lord with a serious gaze before speaking.
"Old timer."
"Yes, Your Highness. What is it?"
"I've changed my mind."
He'd had no real interest in becoming a mage. He'd planned to coast through the week with basics.
But that had changed.
"At least low-grade mage."
"Pardon?"
Risefield blinked in confusion at the abrupt statement.
Ah, too curt? Fine, I'll explain properly.
"I'll reach at least low-grade mage within the week."
"Your Highness, even geniuses take over a year. Average people need more than four years to refine their mana for low-grade mage status."
Risefield voiced his cautious concern.
No matter how talented Raymond was, with no prior magic training, a week seemed impossible.
"With your cooperation, it's doable."
"Pardon?"
Risefield's eyes trembled with unease.
"Hand it over."
"Pardon?"
"Is 'pardon?' all you can say? Fork over all the Azure Tower's secret inheritances."
This was outright robbery. Risefield nearly fainted at the fifth prince's words. His mind reeled.