Chapter 79
Chapter 79
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: 26. The Prince's Tomb (1)
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1.
The Ariant Kingdom had been a tough kingdom since ancient times.
It had no choice but to be tough.
Guarding the harsh land of the Nihal Desert and surviving there was something only the tough could manage.
“The Ariant Kingdom grew strong to survive in that harshness. In other words, the Ariant Kingdom was never a wealthy nation.”
On the other hand, the Ariant Kingdom had never once enjoyed prosperity throughout its history.
That was only natural.
It was impossible to obtain anything substantial in a desert.
Moreover, the Nihal Desert was no ordinary desert.
“It was a country already overwhelmed just by hunting tough monsters.”
A place teeming with monsters that had overcome the desert's harshness.
“Tough monsters—that was the Ariant Kingdom's specialty.”
The magic stones, hides, horns, bones, and other byproducts obtained from hunting such fearsome beasts were the resources that kept the Ariant Kingdom's people fed and alive.
“But then the Mystic Gates appeared.”
That was when the Ariant Kingdom began to change—with the advent of the Mystic Gate era.
Countless Mystic Gates appeared across the vast Nihal Desert lands. The tough adventurers who had lived by hunting monsters brought an unprecedented prosperity to the Ariant Kingdom.
“Abdullah VIII became a king more extravagant than anyone else in the Maple World.”
And King Abdullah VIII of the Ariant Kingdom spent that unprecedented prosperity on luxury.
Not just any luxury, either.
“A king who wouldn't eat anything cheaper than gold.”
He indulged in extravagance beyond what anyone in Maple World history had ever known—an extravagance so extreme it was staggering.
It hadn't always been that way, though.
Abdullah VIII wasn't a great king, but he wasn't a foolish one either.
And Abdullah VIII's princes and princesses were wise and brimming with talent, generously displaying their abilities throughout the Ariant Kingdom.
“Alongside Queen Areida.”
The problems began after Queen Areida appeared.
Everything changed from then on.
Abdullah VIII began to indulge in luxury and pleasure more than ever, rendering the wealth that had enriched the Ariant Kingdom meaningless.
Like water poured onto the parched Nihal Desert, the massive influx of wealth into the Ariant Kingdom dried up rapidly in Abdullah VIII's pleasures.
The extravagance was that extreme.
Abdullah VIII held festivals every day, and each one lasted a full week, more grandiose than any before.
And the order Abdullah VIII always gave when holding these festivals was one:
“Make it more splendid than the last festival! Stake your lives on it!”
More splendid!
That was why.
“Your Majesty, King Abdullah.”
“Oh, Kashan!”
Third Prince Kashan—that was the secret to how he had bought himself a week.
“I have brought the Dragon's Heart.”
“My son! How splendid.”
“Please partake of the Dragon's Heart and live eternally.”
“Uahaha! I gladly accept your filial heart! Everyone, prepare the festival! The prince has cut open a dragon's chest for me and brought its heart from within!”
The moment he brought the gift, Abdullah VIII dyed the capital in festival colors without the slightest hesitation.
“Queen! Queen Areida, come too!”
And in that festival, even Queen Areida could not escape.
Thus began a week-long festival.
In that extravagantly dazzling festival, everyone in the capital began to lose their minds.
Only one exception.
Prince Kashan. Even as he endlessly drank expensive liquor, he showed no sign of intoxication.
He couldn't afford to get drunk.
‘Failure means death for everyone.’
In a situation where failure would instantly reduce him to a prince in name only, his mind couldn't afford to blur.
So Prince Kashan simply waited.
Hoping for good news as soon as possible.
‘Day seven.’
But even on the seventh day—the final day—no sign of good news appeared.
At that point, Prince Kashan thought:
‘This feels bad.’
That something had gone wrong.
“Last hour! Enjoy the festival to the end.”
And now, as everything reached its conclusion.
“Prince Kashan.”
Finally, news came to Prince Kashan.
“The utensils have run out. We'll prepare something new for you.”
With those words, a fork was placed before Prince Kashan.
Just a single fork.
Prince Kashan, who knew what that meant, let his expression harden, if only for a moment.
‘Only one survivor from a team?’
That was the worst-case scenario.
If everyone had been wiped out, at least evidence would remain, allowing for another attempt.
But with one team surviving, it was all over.
The evidence would vanish along with the Mystic Gate.
And Prince Kashan would have to wait for the next opportunity.
That was certain.
“Prince Kashan, what liquor for the finale?”
But the moment he heard those words, Prince Kashan's eyes changed.
It was a code.
If the mission failed, mention food.
‘Success?’
If successful, liquor.
“Recommend something.”
And he signaled through the liquor.
‘Who?’
Which team had succeeded.
“We have a fine liquor from Lith Harbor on Victoria Island. We'll prepare that.”
2.
“El Pam.”
That meeting took place a week after El Pam emerged from the Mystic Gate.
In the Hez Oasis, a small oasis located to the west of the Nihal Desert, El Pam saw him.
“Prince Kashan.”
Prince Kashan, waiting for him there.
The handsome face of Prince Kashan brimmed with joy more than ever.
“You've done well.”
The words he uttered carried the same sincerity.
“Truly, you've done well.”
And rightly so. Prince Kashan had been on the verge of giving up everything until that moment. He hadn't expected such a dramatic turnaround.
The greater the despair, the greater the joy.
Moreover, what was at stake here wasn't just Prince Kashan's life or possessions.
‘Topple Queen Areida and set Ariant right.’
The fate of the Ariant Kingdom's people hung in the balance.
At least, that's how Prince Kashan saw it.
What he sought wasn't mere greed to become king, but to save the Ariant Kingdom suffering under Queen Areida's tyranny.
Thus, failure was unacceptable—a destiny bestowed by the heavens themselves.
“So, did you bring the item?”
“Yes, I found the letter.”
“You've truly done well. The heavens sent you to aid me.”
He even saw El Pam as an opportunity sent by the heavens.
Naturally, Prince Kashan hadn't considered it even for a moment.
“So, the letter?”
“I'll pass on this commission.”
“What?”
That El Pam would say such a thing.
“What do you mean?”
Prince Kashan finally showed a flustered expression.
To him, El Pam said:
“What His Highness Prince Kashan wanted in exchange for the item was a Legendary-grade item. That was the commission. In other words, the exchange is optional.”
“Optional?”
“I'll forgo the Legendary item.”
Only then did Prince Kashan understand what El Pam meant.
And the moment he did, Prince Kashan's eyes sharpened menacingly.
At that instant, El Pam's gaze swept the surroundings.
He had sensed something.
‘The Hassassin have moved.’
Hassassin.
An assassin guild with history deeper than the Ariant Kingdom itself, intertwined with the Nihal Desert's past.
They were on the move.
It was no surprise.
Their top client was none other than the Ariant royal family.
So El Pam wasn't startled.
And right now, that wasn't what mattered.
“Do you know what that letter you've obtained is?”
“I've never seen it.”
El Pam's answer was that, but he knew exactly what he had acquired.
‘A testament. The princes and princesses' promised testament.’
After Queen Areida began wielding full power, Abdullah VIII's children had formed an alliance.
To leave evidence if murdered by Queen Areida.
What El Pam held now was that evidence.
That was why Prince Kashan had staked his life, pouring immense effort and money into securing the testament.
With it, he could topple Queen Areida.
‘It’s utterly useless.’
But that was merely the princes and princesses' thinking. To El Pam, it held no meaning.
‘Because Queen Areida has the Black Mage's followers behind her.’
Provoking her that way would only stir the Black Mage's followers.
It would bring unprecedented chaos to the Ariant Kingdom.
From El Pam's perspective, that was something to avoid.
In other words, El Pam had to stop it here.
Prevent Prince Kashan from using this testament to attack Queen Areida.
“You've never seen it, yet you refuse the deal. I'll give you three chances to speak.”
Of course, ordinary persuasion wouldn't sway Prince Kashan.
So El Pam didn't resort to tricks.
“Inside the Mystic Gate dungeon, I met someone named Killerbee. He killed the adventurers you hired, Your Highness.”
“One.”
“He was one of the subordinates of Ebob, who used to be the head of the Kania Merchant Group.”
“Two.”
“Ebob is a follower of the Black Mage.”
He spoke the truth.
“And that Ebob has sided with Queen Areida.”
Before that truth, Prince Kashan showed no reaction even when El Pam uttered a fourth statement.
El Pam's words were shocking enough as it was.
‘Followers of the Black Mage?’
Someone of Prince Kashan's stature knew well what Black Mage followers were and how dangerous they were.
Of course, it wasn't just the mention of Black Mage followers that startled him.
In other words, Prince Kashan had suspicions.
Doubts that had lingered.
A missing puzzle piece.
And now, the existence of Black Mage followers fit perfectly into that gap.
‘Not certain, but.’
That said, he wouldn't fully trust El Pam here.
The matter was too vast and grave to accept at face value.
It required thorough investigation.
But if El Pam's words were true?
Then one thing was clear.
‘If true, this testament I've obtained won't be as effective as hoped. No—it could backfire.’
His preparations might prove meaningless.
That was the crucial point now.
“Can you stake your life on those words?”
Verifying their truth.
“I already have. Every word I've spoken here is backed by my life.”
“So you won't hand it over? Planning to sell it to Queen Areida to save your skin?”
El Pam shook his head at that.
“I'm already being hunted by the Kania Merchant Group. With their remnants siding with Queen Areida, I can't stand on the same side as her.”
“Then?”
It was then.
El Pam handed the prince's testament to Prince Kashan and said:
“You buy it, and I live. That's why I can't give it to you. It'd be like throwing a pebble to a lion. So don't use it as a weapon. No exchange unless you promise.”
Prince Kashan didn't hesitate at those words.
He accepted the testament from El Pam and broke the seal on the letter right then.
After reading it, he placed the letter directly into the candle flame beside him.
Whoosh!
He burned it in an instant.
“El Pam.”
“Yes.”
“The exchange is complete. As promised, I'll prepare the Legendary item.”
“Thank you.”
The commission concluded.
“Now, all that's left is paying the price for saving my life.”
But Prince Kashan didn't forget the favor he'd received here.
“What help do you need?”
He was willing to repay it. To such a Prince Kashan, El Pam made his demand without hesitation.
“I need a safe place.”
Prince Kashan nodded at that.
El Pam would now be pursued by Queen Areida, so requesting a safe haven was reasonable.
“I'll secure you a safe place.”
“Anywhere you know, she likely knows too. This operation was ultimately exposed to Queen Areida. Proof of a spy in your midst, Your Highness.”
Prince Kashan didn't get angry at the follow-up.
He thought the same.
“Thus, the safest place for me now is there.”
So El Pam proposed.
“Where is that?”
“The prince's tomb.”