Chapter 65
Chapter 65
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: Chapter 21: Frustration is What Bends a Man
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"Prince."
Davi pointed at the woman crouched in the middle of the garden.
"Who's that woman drooling like she's drunk?"
"Hm? That? Tolrari."
"Tolrari...?"
Davi's face stiffened in an instant, his hand moving toward the sword at his waist.
"You're not talking about Arch Wizard Tolrari, are you?"
"That's the one."
I nodded while reading the letter. Davi kept his eyes fixed on Tolrari, gripping the hilt of his sword.
"Why is that Tolrari doing here? I don't know the circumstances, but an Arch Wizard is no opponent I can let my guard down against, even for me."
"Tolrari's my subordinate from now on."
I handed the finished letter back to Davi.
"So no need to be on guard. We'll have a lot to work on together going forward."
"But Prince, if that's really Tolrari... there could be problems."
"Problems? What kind?"
"Tolrari's known for her eccentric personality. She treated the elders of the Magic Guild carelessly and was infamous for insulting high-ranking visitors."
"Well, yeah, she talks casually to me too."
"Pardon?"
"Her speech is just kinda weird to begin with. Seems like she only learned the empire's common tongue enough to get by. She's not even from this continent originally."
"So she's a foreigner?"
"From the eastern continent. Came over here as a kid to learn magic, I guess."
"Ugh..."
Just then, Tolrari stretched her hand toward me and flailed around like a zombie.
"Ugh... the bitter taste won't leave my head... please make it go away..."
"What's wrong with her? Is she sick or something?"
"It's leftover effects from the elixir. At least it's mine, so it's not that bad."
If it had been Rania's brain acceleration elixir, she'd be foaming at the mouth on the ground. After watching Tolrari for a while, Davi finally released the sword hilt and spoke.
"She's not at all like the Tolrari I imagined. One of the empire's four great Arch Wizards, and yet... I don't know the details, but she seems kinda incompetent."
"She really is. Other than casting magic, she can't do anything right."
It was a conclusion I'd reached with absolute certainty after not even two full days of knowing her.
Her head's filled only with thoughts of magic.
No life skills, little interest in others, and she hates even leaving the house unless something major comes up.
-Why build a magic tower in this wasteland and hole up? So she doesn't have to deal with annoying people?
The reason she'd come all the way here was that the Lunenbreath estate was in the middle of a dense forest, far from the city center. After hearing the explanation, Davi lowered his voice with a look of disbelief.
"So... she heard there might be some new magical enlightenment, swore loyalty, followed you here, then gulped down the elixir you made and ended up like that?"
"Yep."
"I get a rough sense of what kind of person she is now. But Prince."
Davi raised the letter he'd gotten back, changing the subject.
"As you saw, I need to head north right away."
"Yeah. Something with the handover at the White Knight Order?"
"Everything happened so suddenly up until my expulsion. My successors must be suffering for sure. I'll finish the handover in no more than five days at latest and come back, so please make sure the basic training keeps going steadily while I'm gone."
Even in this situation, all he's talking about is my training. I nodded casually, then paused as something occurred to me, sinking into thought.
"Wait, the north at this time..."
"Prince?"
"I've realized something lately. The same event or the same person can become something totally different depending on the timing."
A prime example was the Tolrari rolling around right next to us.
Just by visiting a few years earlier than usual, the worst enemy turned into the strongest ally?
So I needed to completely reevaluate my pre-planned schedule.
For instance, I wasn't planning to touch the Alien Races Alliance, which was facing off against the empire, until next year—but if I went ahead and built relations now, couldn't I prevent needless sacrifices?
"You're right. Timing is everything. In that sense, the most important thing for you right now is building your body with basic training..."
"Let's go together."
I cut Davi off and declared.
"I'll come with you to the north this time. That okay?"
"No issue there, but..."
Davi fell silent in surprise for a moment before asking back.
"Could you tell me your goal?"
"Figured I'd get acquainted ahead of time."
"With the Alien Races Alliance? Are you planning to sweep the front lines with your power?"
"Nah, not fighting. Just straight-up bonding."
I was originally planning to move after the massive barley and alcohol order from the eastern continent arrived... but heading out light and early with less baggage wouldn't be bad either?
"Elves don't reason. So you're aiming for the dwarves."
"Right. Gotta stock up on booze. I'll tell Kyle to scrape up all the liquor in the capital."
Thanks to raiding Talisman Count's vault, no money worries. Still, spending too flashily might draw suspicion, so maybe some moderate splurging without standing out?
* * *
Right up until the carriage for the north was about to depart, I had a deep conversation about magic with Tolrari in the estate garden.
"Munch munch. Sugar bar's delicious. Total bliss."
"Eat it slower, why don't you? You'll run out before you even need a chaser for the elixir."
"You're right, Prince. But my hand just grabs it on sight."
Tolrari crunched on a new sugar bar. I'd stocked her up plenty with brain acceleration elixirs and sugar bars for while I was gone... but surely she wouldn't polish them off in a single day?
"Anyway, you're amazing, Prince. This sugar bar—wasn't it made for mana recovery?"
"Yeah. Brains need sugar."
"Sugar. Good way to put it. Eating something sweet really gets the mind turning and relieves stress. And mana is basically concentration, after all."
"Right. Mana is concentration."
"You're so easy to talk to, Prince. Those damn Magic Guild elders never listened to a word I said. Not even for something this awesome..."
Tolrari hugged the pile of sugar bars in front of her and grinned.
"Heh heh. Instead, they only came up with stuff like honey or sugar water. But they wouldn't agree with me. Got so pissed I just ditched the whole place."
"That's why you left the Magic Guild?"
"Not just that. They nitpicked my speech too. Fought over all sorts of things. But..."
Tolrari blinked upon noticing the tall maid glaring at her from right beside.
"Who's this girl?"
"Meredes, maid of the Lunenbreath estate. She's also a knight in your personal knight order, Prince."
"A maid who's a knight?"
Tolrari looked up in admiration at Meredes, who was two heads taller than her.
"Impressive. Super tall and intimidating. And handsome face too. Or should I say pretty around here?"
"......"
"But what's got you so pissed? Did I eat too many sugar bars?"
"Your attitude and speech toward the Prince displease me."
Meredes vented her dissatisfaction at Tolrari outright.
Whoa, sparks are flying from her eyes. Better defuse this before she swings.
"It's fine, Meredes. Tolrari's a foreigner, so she's not fluent in our language."
"But Prince..."
"And she's an Arch Wizard, right? One of only four in the whole empire."
In terms of rarity, higher than the emperor's seven kids. Well, five now with two princes dead.
"You're right, Prince. Not that an Arch Wizard... no, that's not for someone like me to butt in. My apologies."
Meredes bowed deeply toward me. I waved it off with a wry smile.
"Don't sweat it. Tolrari'll be living at the estate from now on, so get along."
"Yeah, let's get along."
Seizing the moment, Tolrari suddenly pressed close to Meredes and started sniffing.
"...Lady Tolrari?"
"But you smell like elixirs? You make them too? And there's a fresh ingredient scent mixed in?"
"I do make elixirs, though I'm lacking, and handle gathering materials too."
"For real? Awesome. Total multitasker, huh? Let's be friends. I like cool people like you. Or cute ones."
She shot me a sidelong glance that felt ominous... I cleared my throat and quickly changed the subject.
"So what's up? Something to say?"
"Kyle just contacted us. All the supply wagons are ready, so we can head north immediately."
"Good. Then Meredes?"
"Yes, Prince."
"Take care of the estate while I'm gone. I'll be back in five days."
"Though lacking, I'll devote myself to live up to your expectations."
Meredes bowed once more and returned to her spot. Tolrari watched her retreating figure closely and nodded.
"That's presence for you."
"Huh?"
"She just stands there and she's cool? Someone like me, if I go somewhere and shut up in a corner, no one even notices if I'm there. Skinny, slouched posture and all."
Then she curled up like an old man and fake-coughed.
Man, pre-shot Tolrari really destroys my image every other day.
"Stop the weird impression and straighten up. Got something to talk about."
"Hm? What? My hearing's going with age..."
"You can fight, right?"
"Huh?"
Tolrari finally straightened and faced me.
"What're you talking about? Do I have to fight?"
"Once Davi and I leave the estate, you'll be the strongest one here."
"Probably, yeah?"
"Someone might come raiding the estate in the meantime. If so, step up and kill them all."
"Kill them?"
"Yeah. Kill."
"I've never killed a person once in my life."
"You're the one who took my assassination request—what nonsense."
"Not nonsense. First request I ever took."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Like I said, needed money this time. And wanted to duel you with magic. But..."
Tolrari narrowed her eyes briefly and nodded.
"You're right. Assassination attempt might come soon. They'll have tons lined up besides me."
"That's why we're leaving the estate on purpose. Fighting here might cause needless damage. Making a big show with the supply wagons too, if possible."
"As expected of the Prince. Deep thinker."
"But what if they're dumber than we think? They might hit the empty house with no target. If so, get ahead of them and wipe them out."
"In the forest before they reach the estate? Don't want the maids getting hurt if they get close?"
"Exactly."
"But what if they come while I'm sleeping? I can't stay awake the whole five days, right?"
"No need to scout that far. You know Didi?"
"Didi? That tiny kid like you, Prince? The one training with you yesterday?"
"...Yeah. Didi and her friend will handle scouting. You just move when you get contact. Can you do it?"
"Have to, obviously."
Tolrari sighed with a lazy expression, like it couldn't be helped.
"I swore loyalty to you, Prince? It's an order, so of course."
"Just tough it out for five days. Even if something happens, you can sweep them in seconds."
The ragtag bunch Talisman Count gathers—no matter how many, Tolrari can cut them down.
Of course, they'd usually hit my side after I made such a noisy scene...
But you never know?
Might as well—they got their vault robbed, so maybe they'll get a taste for raiding empty houses instead?