Chapter 45

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Translator: Ace

Chapter: 45

Chapter Title: The Crown Prince's Left Arm

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Rushing to the White Tower after an urgent summons, Elder Mage Jayden couldn't hide his bewilderment at the situation unfolding there.

"Your Highness. What do you mean by that? A warp spellbook? Do you even know what kind of item that is?"

"No, that's exactly why I'm asking for it—because I do know. Would I ask if I didn't? Do you think I'm some ignorant fool?"

"N-no, not at all! How could I dare think that of Your Highness! That's not what I meant..."

"Then it's fine. Bring it here."

Watching the Crown Prince bulldoze through without a care, Jayden broke out in a cold sweat.

The Crown Prince's sudden appearance at the tower was bewildering enough, but asking for a warp spellbook on top of that?

"Your Highness, this is truly troubling. Your unannounced visit is already an issue, but making a request we can't fulfill leaves us at a complete loss."

"What? My visit itself is a problem? Is this a place I'm not allowed to come to?"

"Pardon? N-no, that's not it."

Jayden waved his hands frantically, trying to explain. Then, one corner of Asteon's mouth twisted up.

"Anyone would think I need permission to enter the White Tower. Right?"

"No! Absolutely not!"

"I must have been too uneducated to realize. Who knew there was a place in the Empire where even the Crown Prince needs permission to visit?"

"Your Highness! It's a misunderstanding! That's not what I meant!"

"You know, you're not entirely wrong. The White Tower's reputation grows loftier by the day. There are probably more Imperial citizens out there who fear the tower more than the Empire itself. No wonder your shoulders are puffed up."

Finally, Jayden dropped to the floor in a deep bow. He was an elder mage of the White Tower, wielding authority that could make birds fall from the sky, but it paled in comparison to the Crown Prince.

No matter how much the Crown Prince was mocked as a wastrel or a thug, he was still of royal blood and the heir to the throne—that fact remained unchanged.

Besides, he was the Emperor's favorite son. No amount of rumors about his shortcomings could justify treating him lightly.

"What's this? Why are you bowing? Get up. You haven't done anything wrong."

"No, I misspoke and was rude to Your Highness. Please punish this foolish old man."

"Forget punishment. Just give me the spellbook instead."

"Th-that..."

"What, you don't want to?"

"Your Highness, it's not about wanting or not. You know it's impossible."

"I can't understand it. Why is it impossible?"

"It's... because of the tower's rules..."

"Are those rules more important than my request?"

"Not exactly, but..."

Asteon's lips twisted further at Jayden's firm refusal.

"No helping it, then. I'll have to cut back on support for the White Tower."

"Your Highness!"

"Argh, are you deaf? Speak quietly."

"How can you so impulsively and arbitrarily alter the Emperor's decree on the Empire's magic policy! That's unacceptable!"

"It's not impulsive or arbitrary. I've been thinking about it for a while."

"Pardon?"

"The funds Father granted you were for magical research to advance the Empire's magic. But how did you use them? Not for their intended purpose, but for your own private ends, right?"

"W-well, that..."

"Want me to say more? Hoarding spellbooks in defiance of His Majesty's order not to restrict their supply, kidnapping innocent Imperial citizens for illegal human experiments, smuggling magical materials..."

Shocking words poured from Asteon's mouth, each one a dirty secret of the White Tower. Jayden could only sweat profusely, helpless.

How did this wastrel Crown Prince know all that?!

Were the rumors of him being clueless about the world all lies?

"Let's start by auditing your funding lightly. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Bring all the ledgers right now."

"Pardon?"

"I said bring the ledgers. I'm curious how wisely you've managed the support funds."

Jayden's face drained of color. He bowed deeply once more.

"I'll give you the spellbook!"

"There we go. Should've done that from the start."

It took less than five minutes to fetch the spellbook. Asteon confirmed the thick tomes placed before him, then helped the nearly prostrated Jayden to his feet. He even brushed the dust off his shoulders.

"It's just a copy anyway. Why make such a fuss? Just hand it over—no hard feelings on either side."

"Y-Your Highness, we've given you the spellbook, so please forgive..."

"Forgive? Of course. I'm not that inflexible. Don't worry."

"Thank you. Truly, thank you."

"Speaking of which, you've been getting too arrogant lately."

"Pardon?"

"Arrogant. Your shoulders are way too high. You get what I mean, right?"

"Yes! I do!"

"Good. Let's keep it that way. Don't strut around like you own the place, or that glorious title of premier tower might go to someone else."

Asteon winked, patted Jayden's shoulder, and left the tower with his entourage.

Jayden sighed in relief, but dizziness hit him at the same time.

With such a tight grip on their weaknesses, what could he do now?!

"Here. The spellbook."

Ian took the spellbooks Asteon handed over. Sure enough, they were the warp spellbook and the advanced magic circle engraving tome.

'He really robbed the tower for these.'

The feeling was indescribable. Like having a kingdom-toppling beauty as a concubine or something?

Even if it was a trade, getting his hands on something unobtainable just like that...

Impressive.

The Crown Prince lived up to his title.

Well, from his position second only to the Emperor, what couldn't he get?

'Reliable, this Crown Prince!'

"Thank you so much. I'll master them well."

Ian tucked the spellbooks into his bosom. At that moment, he possessed tomes that even top mages in the tower could only dream of glimpsing.

Super-rare spellbooks infamous for being nearly impossible to obtain even in-game!

'Heh heh. Now I can upgrade our Ddol Ddoli.'

As he happily stowed them away, Asteon suddenly spoke up.

"But you know, I thought about it. No matter how I look at it, the trade terms don't balance."

"The trade terms?"

"Yeah. You're getting the short end. Don't you think?"

"Short end? What do you..."

"You retrieved my most precious item. And all I give you is two spellbooks? I can't accept that. My pride won't allow it."

"Not at all. Your Highness gave fitting recompense. I'm more than satisfied."

"No. If word gets out, everyone will mock me. The mighty Crown Prince, stingy with just two books."

'What's his angle?'

"I should give proper recompense. Hmm, what would be good? Just tossing money looks tacky. Position is best, after all."

Asteon stroked his chin thoughtfully, then continued.

"Fine, I'll be generous. Want to be my right arm?"

"Pardon?"

"Wait, I'm left-handed. So be my left arm instead. Good?"

"Pardon?"

Confusion flooded Ian's eyes. What? Left arm?

"Take it as an honor. Opportunities like this don't come easy. The next Emperor's left arm, no less."

"Your Highness, I don't quite understand."

"Don't play dumb. A top graduate of the Imperial Magic Academy wouldn't miss something this simple."

"No, I..."

"What, you hate it? Can't stand the sight of this rude wastrel Crown Prince?"

"No! Of course not."

"Then what?"

"It's just... I prefer a life of personal satisfaction over climbing the ranks..."

"Ah, I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠know what you mean. I heard. What was it? Wor... work-life balance? Workla... whatever. Tough word."

Ian's eyes widened.

'How does he know that?'

"If that's what you want, I'll make it happen. Can't I do that much for a capable subordinate?"

"......"

"Guaranteed off-time? Free personal hours? Approved. I won't overload you with work. Deal?"

"......"

"I'm being extra nice. This isn't my usual style."

A term like "work-life balance" didn't exist in this world. Not even the concept. There were lazy slackers who shirked work, but no notion of balancing work and life.

Only one person knew it.

Deputy Director Bren of the Magic Management Division.

The only one Ian had ever told.

'Wait. Did Bren...?'

Ian recalled his recent conversation with Bren.

A serious talk starting from why he disliked promotions.

'That guy went out of his way for once.'

He got it now.

'The Crown Prince asked Bren about me beforehand.'

Whether ordered or not, Asteon had gotten Bren to look into him somehow.

Ian chuckled softly.

'More meticulous than he looks. Doesn't seem the type.'

He appeared like a carefree brat, but had some sly fox in him.

Well, that's how he'd become Emperor later.

"What? Why laugh?"

"I'll accept Your Highness's proposal."

"Oh, really?"

"Yes."

"Heh heh."

If his four years of stagnant peace were breaking, and change was coming...

If change was inevitable...

Best to ride the top line, right?

Royal blood certain to be the next Emperor.

Couldn't ask for a better backer.

'Can't stay in the Magic Management Division forever anyway.'

Thinking about it, sucking honey as a mid-level manager beat doing it from a position of power?

If the benefits held, much better.

"But I have one request."

"What?"

"Please honor the conditions I mentioned. I have particular tastes in work terms."

"Work terms? That workla... thing?"

"Among others, but yes for now. I'll mention the rest later."

"Don't worry. I keep my word. Ha ha!"

Asteon thumped his chest heartily and laughed.

Despite the verbal agreement with Crown Prince Asteon, nothing changed immediately.

Except being dismissed early on ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the Crown Prince's orders?

And getting a few days' vacation?

-Rest up first. You did something tough, so relax properly.

-B-but what about my duties?

-Duties my ass. Who'd argue when the Crown Prince says so?

-......

-Rest. That's an order.

-Yes, sir.

Returning home early, Ian immediately opened the spellbooks and began reading.

To learn the magic.

Normally, mastering such advanced spells would require grueling effort that drew blood, but Ian didn't need that.

Because he was a player.

Ian opened his eyes. Mana swirled wildly inside him. Deep knowledge of warp and magic circle engraving flooded his mind.

In just half a day, he had mastered two super-rare spells that even high mages could only dream of.

'So that's how warp is cast.'

He hadn't known until moments ago, but now Ian understood the infamous complex mana arrangement for warp.

Not perfectly, of course. It was stored in his head like a library book.

But with his innate genius for comprehending magic, he grasped the notoriously complex warp spell to a decent degree right away.

'No wonder it's hard—the mana array is so intricately twisted.'

Still, he figured he could cast it, even if ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠imperfectly due to the high difficulty.

Ian began casting.

Coordinate input—the step that stumped most.

Mess it up, and your body disintegrates mid-air, killing you.

Even high mages died stupidly that way sometimes.

But Ian didn't care. He had preset coordinates.

Plus, he had a skill to revive even if he died, so he cast without hesitation.

Side effect of using above-level magic: massively increased mana cost. At least triple.

A normal mage would exhaust their mana and die from backlash, but Ian's ocean-like reserves covered it.

Ian opened his eyes. Mana drained rapidly, causing dizziness, but he endured and surveyed his surroundings.

No sight of his mansion—instead, a vast new landscape.

A sprawling plateau stretched out.

'Where's this?'

No idea.

Didn't matter.

What mattered was the massive golem thudding across the plateau.

-Huh!

Ddol Ddoli's eyes widened like saucers upon spotting Ian.

-It's the Master!

"Hey, Ddol Ddoli."

-Master came to see Ddol Ddoli himself?

"Yeah. Came to see you."

-Ddoli happy! Master came to see Ddol Ddoli again!

The golem excitedly stomped around. Feeling the earth's vibrations, Ian calmed it down.

"I'm here to make you stronger. What do you think?"

-Ddoli wants to get strong. Will follow Master!

"Good."

Ian pulled tools from his backpack.

Hammer and chisels like a stonemason's, plus various magical materials.

Aids for engraving magic circles.

"Ddoli, lie down here."

-Got it.

Ddol Ddoli lay down.

Face full of anticipation.

"Let's start with the groundwork."

It wasn't an exaggeration to say Ian learned advanced magic circle engraving just for this moment.

'Now with the advanced skill, I can etch higher-level circles.'

The so-called Ddol Ddoli upgrade project.

First phase: groundwork.

The first step: upgrading Ddol Ddoli's worn-out engraved magic circles.