Chapter 4
Chapter 4
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: The Tech Tree is Meticulous
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“I heard his head’s completely gone haywire?”
“Word travels fast. This morning, he couldn’t even remember who dosed him.”
“That bad?”
“If they leave him out in public like that, who knows what embarrassing crap he’ll pull? They might lock him up in some underground dungeon for life.”
“Why not an empty annex palace instead of a dungeon? He’s still a prince, after all.”
“Same difference. Anyway, worked out great for us.”
Albert held up his empty glass, and Fennell hurriedly filled it to the brim with clear liquor.
“Whew! Good stuff! Anyway, I gotta cut back on following Second Brother’s orders from now on. Sure, he’s got the ministers locked down in the palace, but he’s just another prince, right? You know?”
“Of course. Especially with Crown Prince still kicking.”
“Crown Prince? Pfft, Big Brother’s done for.”
Albert stuck out his tongue and shook his head.
“Visited him once, and the whole place reeked of rot. Even the priests gave up. Won’t make it past this year.”
“Then the next Crown Prince spot’s the issue. Though as things stand, Second Prince has the best shot.”
“That only happens if Father—no, His Majesty—pulls through, right?”
The Emperor had been bedridden and unresponsive for years. Albert’s massive frame heaved up and down as he spilled his hidden thoughts amid the booze.
“The key point is all my brothers are weaklings except me. Second Brother looks the part but he’s just as frail. I’m the only sturdy prince. Opportunity’s gotta come someday, yeah?”
“Naturally, Your Highness. The empire’s all about strength and war, after all.”
“Yeah. Strength and war.”
Albert grinned and balanced his glass on his thick bicep.
“So the body’s the greatest asset. Look at that punk Claude. Sixteen already and still a runt.”
“Isn’t that all because of the drug Prince Jess gave him? Not just wrecking his mind but his body too.”
“Exactly. Brother said if he keeps it up, growth stops entirely? Heh heh… Serves him right! Some low-rank noble without a title waltzing into the palace, acting like an empress and royalty! Vermin like that need to be crushed flat!”
He then gulped down the rest of his drink and started cackling.
I watched the whole thing, dispelling my stealth in the corner of the room with a sigh.
“Man, no matter how many times I hear it, it pisses me off every damn time.”
“What? Something behind… Aaaargh!”
Albert whipped around, fell flat on his ass, and screamed. I sighed at the two of them.
“Yeah. No matter how much I age, staying pea-sized is all because of you bastards. Three more years back and there might’ve been room for growth.”
“Claude! How the hell are you here!”
“How’d I get up here?”
I pointed at the distant study door with a finger.
“Walked. Slipped in when Cousin from the outer family came earlier. Though this jerk doesn’t even see me as family.”
“You… You’re… You’re no cousin of mine.”
Fennell kept glancing at the entrance as he yelled. I nodded understandingly.
“True enough. We’re not directly blood-related. Cousins to the brothers, but not to you.”
“You know your place and still pull this shit? You’re done for. Trespassing in a prince’s quarters… Guards are right below! One yell from Prince Albert or me, and they’ll swarm!”
“Bullshit. Third time sneaking in here on a first night. Checked it out.”
I snorted and tapped the floor with my heel. Tch, too light and weak—barely makes a sound?
“Knights in magic armor, servants—all on the first floor, right? You ordered it that way so no one overhears your bullshit?”
“Urk…”
Albert finally scrambled awkwardly to his feet.
“You snuck in like a thief and eavesdropped? What trick did you pull?”
“Stealth Imprint.”
I activated the first ability Roa granted me and vanished from their sight.
“Wh-what! Where’d he go!”
“He disappeared!”
“Right here.”
I blocked the study entrance with my body and reappeared.
“Cool, huh? Basic ability Roa gave when summoning me.”
“R-Roa? The god of time and fate, Roa?”
“Yeah. Even that nightmare otherworld army can’t find me once activated. Perfect invisibility. But can’t do anything else in stealth, so I drop it like this.”
“What the hell’s this bastard babbling about? What’s this otherworld crap!”
“Doesn’t concern you. You don’t need to know.”
I made a flame dance in my palm and smiled. Albert flinched and backed up reflexively.
“Magic! No way! A mongrel like you, when’d you learn that!”
“That’s why I picked magic from the start this time—because of scum like you.”
“What?”
Dumbass Albert looked totally lost. Even a smart head couldn’t grasp what I was saying.
“Nine loops confirmed it: Albert, you’re irredeemable trash. Can’t recycle you.”
“What? You little worm, how dare you!”
“Shut up and listen.”
I grew the flame in my palm, and both Albert and Fennell backed away. I explained part of this 10th loop’s core tech tree to them.
“Used to think otherwise. These assholes deserve stoning, but maybe keep ’em alive for the otherworld war?”
“Urk… Prince Claude? You keep saying otherworld this, otherworld that—what do you mean? What’s an otherworld?”
Fennell sensed danger and switched to polite speech. I smirked and shook my head.
“Don’t need details. Anyway, kept you alive a long time once, but you fucked everything up. Especially you, Albert.”
“Me?”
“Yeah, you. Not talentless, though. Tough body, strong. Even hit upper magic armor wearer—Knight Commander.”
“Shut your trap! I’m Knight Master material!”
Hah, this idiot still can’t read the room and flips out.
“No way I stop at Commander! Already fitted for top-grade magic armor! What makes a worm like you judge me? You see the future or something?”
“Yeah. Saw the future.”
“Right. The future… What? What bullshit is this!”
“Rare chance, so listen up. Spilling secrets now and then’s good for mental health. Know the fairy tale ‘The Emperor’s Ears Are Donkey Ears’?”
“Fairy tale? What crap are you spouting!”
“Don’t know, whatever. Anyway, you keep quiet and build strength, fine—but you abuse prince command to lead armies. Always crash and burn. So this time, different route.”
“…Route?”
“Yeah. Pest extermination route. Gave up maxed spirit magic for it. Insane firepower, but no fine control—especially no flight.”
Flying from the mansion to the palace took 30 minutes. Fennell, quicker on the uptake, freaked out.
“No way—Fly! Flight magic needs Arch Wizard!”
“You know it. I’m an Arch Wizard.”
“H-how…”
“Hit it in loop 4. Anyway, Fennell? You’re not innocent bystander. You’re industrial waste like Albert.”
“Industrial waste?”
“Trash polluting surroundings if left alone. Your family’s bribes to merchants—if fixed, imperial economy skyrockets.”
“…”
Fennell shut his mouth, caught off-guard. Albert gnashed his teeth, glaring at the flame in my hand.
“Don’t know your nonsense, but that puny magic can’t touch me? Even without magic armor, that little flame…”
“Gah! Tempest!”
Fennell let out a short scream.
“Prince Albert! That’s a Tempest! That compressed magic vortex flow…”
“Fennell knows his stuff? This is Tempest. Fire Tempest.”
Every ultimate magic has a Tempest stage. I shrugged at the swirling flame vortex in my palm.
“Bit wasteful here, but gotta erase all traces.”
“No way! Only true Arch Wizards do Tempest!”
“Bull! A worm like you can’t cast that!”
Their last words.
The flame left my palm and plunged down, exploding into massive fiery wings that engulfed everything.
Everything turned crimson, then charred black.
But that’s not Tempest.
The blazing flames birthed a huge explosive blast, obliterating the study in one go.
An explosion.
A massive one visible from anywhere in the capital.
Problem: Too close, caught me too.
No biggie. My other power—holy magic—has perfect anti-magic defense.
‘Protection Magic.’
Clear light wrapped my body, blocking the blast head-on.
No shake, no heat.
The fireworks raged another 5 seconds. Top floor of the Deer Antler Palace—and below—gone, wide open.
“…”
“…”
“…”
Far below, people poured out from the tower base, shouting. I cast flight magic, rose high out of sight, then turned and flew back toward the mansion.