My Lord Who Is Being Prudent! [EN]: Chapter 198

Sian blinked.

《Ku, cough…!》

The notification window reappeared in his blinking vision.

As expected, Mobile Lord was not unconscious.

Of course, he didn’t look okay.

He seemed to have taken a significant hit and didn’t look to be in good shape.

But he didn’t pass out.

The overload due to karma didn’t trigger a maintenance state.

150 million gold.

The massive gold he squeezed out of the Imperial Family’s assets and embezzled from Elan Dur’s funds.

Even spending almost twice that amount, Mobile Lord didn’t pass out.

He was getting stronger and stronger, this King-bile Lord.

He was supposed to be invincible, unafraid of any karma.

“He…endured this… ?”

It seemed it wasn’t just simple hype.

A reality he couldn’t believe.

“H-How can this be…”

Sian stared blankly at his smartphone screen.

If this happened… it was troublesome.

Not just troublesome, but very difficult.

Because the scenery of Ruben visible outside the office window now…

Kwa kwa kwa kwang!!

Ttukttak ttukttak!

Kugugugung…!

The buildings were being newly built and upgraded in a frenzy.

Ruben was in the middle of a chaotic scene.

It was impossible to live a normal life because of it.

The facilities’ functions were temporarily paralyzed as all the buildings were being upgraded.

And the construction noise, building itself, echoed through his eardrums and into his head.

And that wasn’t all.

Even the Lord’s Castle where Sian was, was being upgraded to Lv.4, causing a commotion.

He was about to be kicked out of his office any minute now.

How could he live in this situation?

That’s why he needed an instant completion ticket immediately.

Without an instant completion ticket, not only Sian but all the territory residents would have to live on the streets from today.

But Mobile Lord didn’t pass out.

He needed to get an instant completion ticket as compensation for the emergency maintenance.

Even with over 150 million gold spent, it didn’t go into maintenance mode.

Should he break his smartphone right now?

Or should he prepare a Blizzard dung pot and a Lightning dung pot? [Crude methods to force a system crash.]

All sorts of thoughts swirled in his head.

But only for a moment.

“Not yet… not yet.”

Sian was finally able to pull himself together.

Not yet, not everything was over yet.

Because of the mileage accumulated by spending 150 million gold.

[Current Mileage] – 1,500,455 M

He had a whopping 1.5 million mileage left.

The total amount Sian spent was 157,240,410 gold.

Therefore, at a 1% accumulation rate, he should have had ‘1,572,404’ mileage.

But not all spending was accumulated as mileage.

Specifically, the various territory growth packages that were opened this time.

Packages didn’t accumulate mileage.

That’s how he ended up with 1.5 million and 455 mileage.

Well, anyway.

“I still have one shot left.”

It wasn’t over yet.

He had one last shot left.

Originally, he had no intention of using this mileage now.

Unlike the mileage accumulated from karma.

Mileage earned through spending had no expiration date.

So he was planning to be very careful and buy the right thing at the right time.

“Not yet… not yet…!”

But as things stood, he had no choice.

Sian took a breath and calmly organized his thoughts.

Currently accumulated mileage, 1.5 million.

There were an additional 455 mileage, but it was a meaningless number.

He could buy at least two items from the 『Special Items』 list, or one building from 『Special Facilities』.

Either way, the effect was certain.

“I guess I have to build a special facility.”

This time, there was no other choice.

To send Mobile Lord away, he had to send him in one shot.

If he used it in small amounts and he somehow endured it, it would be a disaster.

So he had to buy a 『Special Facility』 that could use up 1.5 million mileage at once.

“The problem is which facility to buy…”

Currently, there are four special facilities available in the 【Mileage Shop】.

① (1,500,000 M)

② (1,500,000 M)

③ (1,500,000 M)

④ (1,500,000 M)

All were 1.5 million mileage, and each had fraudulent effects [Overpowered or game-breaking abilities].

He wouldn’t regret building any of them.

But he could only build one.

Sian was in trouble.

How much time had passed?

“First of all… pass on Charlotte’s Hall.”

Sian excluded from the list.

He could squeeze this out of Conrad… no, receive it [Likely through manipulation or negotiation].

“Then I have to choose between Elodie’s Magic Tower, Muriel’s Sanctuary, and Morkru’s Ironworks…”

And the respective effects were as follows.

[ Construction Effect] – Within the territory, mages who have completed magic training start from the ‘3rd Circle’ [A measure of magical proficiency].

[ Construction Effect] – Within the territory, patients in a ‘treatment state’ do not die.

[ Construction Effect] – Within the territory, +1 additional items are produced from production facilities.

Each one had an effect that could not be called anything but fraudulent.

But unfortunately, he could only build one.

“Ugh…!”

That’s why Sian couldn’t make a decision easily.

But eventually, he had to make a decision.

Sian pondered and pondered.

“This time, I’ll go with Morkru’s Ironworks.”

He was finally able to make a decision.

There were several reasons for this, but first of all.

“Because I can earn more money from trade.”

that can implement a 1+1 special event.

Simply put, it was no different from doubling the income.

The sooner he built it, the more cumulative the effect would be, so it was right to build it first.

And the second and most important reason.

“I need to strengthen the SSS-grade sword.”

He was starting to feel the need to strengthen his equipment.

The sword Sian was currently equipped with was a whopping SSS-grade [The highest possible rank].

A sword he had painstakingly created through crazy enhancements.

A crazy amount of 21.1 million gold was poured into making it.

It was a crazy amount, but its performance was definitely worth the money.

The power of the Mahon Sura Sword that Sian was learning right now.

The influence of the SSS-grade sword was undeniable in its insane power.

But the reason Sian was trying to strengthen his sword wasn’t just because of that.

“The SSS-grade sword can’t handle it.”

The SSS-grade sword was slowly reaching its limit.

Recently, Sian began absorbing the magic of Elixir and wielding the power of Megingjörð [Items or abilities that enhance his power].

Because of that, the sword was being overloaded when he cast Extreme – Asura Heavenly Slaughter [A powerful sword technique].

In addition, the advanced Mahon Sura Sword that he would learn this time.

As much as Sian had progressed, his equipment also needed to be upgraded.

That’s why he decided on .

“Equipment of the same grade is needed to strengthen equipment.”

To strengthen an SSS-grade sword, he needed one more piece of equipment of the same SSS-grade.

Create two S-grades to make an SS-grade.

And create two more SS-grades to make an SSS-grade.

And the material cost to make an S-grade sword was enormous.

Just making this SSS-grade sword cost 21.1 million gold in material costs.

But he’s going to run a 1+1 special event?

“I’m just going to mass-produce enhancement materials.”

There’s nothing better than this in the current situation.

What is there to worry about?

“This time, I’ll go with Morkru’s Ironworks.”

Sian immediately accessed the 【Mileage Shop】 item.

And touched the 『Special Facilities』 list to check .

Click.

④ (1,500,000 M)

『▶Creation has always been considered the realm of God.

And the ability to freely manipulate metals and create something new.

The skills of blacksmiths were magic and a miracle.

Such blacksmiths’ skills have created countless myths and legends across dimensions.

The goblin’s club that creates what you want with a tap.

This is also an anecdote born from the mysterious appearance of blacksmiths creating what they want with a hammer.

Like this, blacksmiths have been regarded as beings who use the skills of God.

And the one who reached the highest level among those blacksmiths.

The name given because his skill reached the realm of God, Divine Craftsman.

Divine Craftsman, Morkru.

There is a legend that his secrets remain in his ironworks.』

-When purchasing this product, will be opened in the territory.

[Construction Effect] – Within the territory, +1 additional items are produced from production facilities.

.

.

A simple explanation.

But a fraudulent effect.

Sian fearlessly pressed the purchase button.

Click.

《A-Are you going to… cough! Purchase… it!》

Then, the trembling notification window of Mobile Lord appeared.

Mobile Lord was almost on the verge of collapsing.

Sian immediately pressed the Y button.

Click.

《Kkeueeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!!!》

Then, with a shriek, Mobile Lord seemed to have a seizure.

And no more notification windows appeared.

The Mobile Lord became quiet.

“Did he go… ?”

Sian swallowed hard and looked at the screen.

But no matter how long he waited, there was no other reaction.

“What is it?”

…Just then.

Ting!

〈 will be opened in the territory. 〉

A new notification window appeared on the screen.

Judging from the dry tone, it seemed to be a notification window sent by the system, not Mobile Lord.

It seemed that Mobile Lord had finally gone to the end with the karma of the last mileage─.

Right then.

Ting!

『 (50,000,000 G)』

One notification window popped up on the screen.

“… …?”

Sian wondered what this was.

Because what is this suddenly…

“Wait.”

At that moment, one thought flashed through Sian’s mind.

Sian checked the notification window that had just appeared again.

〈 will be opened in the territory. 〉

And one word that was particularly noticeable in Sian’s vision.

The word ‘open’.

Sian had encountered the word ‘open’ quite a lot in Mobile Lord.

Without going far, this.

《Arnaise’s special benefits will be opened due to the achievement of the Legend grade achievement!》

Arnaise’s special benefits for the Legend achievement reward.

Special benefits such as , , , and .

When you achieved a Legend achievement, these Arnaise’s special benefits were opened.

But it was only ‘open’.

To apply the effect, you had to pay 500,000 gold to purchase it.

In other words, opening and purchasing were separate concepts.

And now.

The phrase written in the Mileage Shop .

-When purchasing this product, will be opened in the territory.

The system notification window that appeared on the screen now.

〈 will be ‘opened’ in the territory. 〉

Finally, the purchase cost for opening.

『 (50,000,000 G)』

Sian’s mind stops.

No, no thoughts come to mind.

In his head, he kept denying that it couldn’t be.

But the screen in front of him doesn’t change.

Ting!

《T-To see this… kkeuek!》

《I stubbornly… endured…!!》

《Now… now… no more… .》

Ting!

《I have no regrets… .》

Kkaekkodak.

The sound of Mobile Lord passing out was heard.

No, that wasn’t passing out, it was like a last will and testament right before death.

Even though it was the same notification window as usual.

Even though it was just a notification window that was just a phrase.

Sian clearly felt that way.

Ting!

[Overload detected due to karma runaway.]

[The connection to the server has been lost. Mobile Lord will be terminated.]

With that, the Mobile Lord logged off.

Sian’s blank expression was reflected on the black screen.

The absurdity escalated.

His spirit felt like it was leaving his body.

“You son of a bitch──!!!!!”

Sian couldn’t maintain his composure.

#

Darkan, the capital of the Charlotte Empire.

The heart of the empire, located in Darkan, was the Imperial Palace.

And the most central place within the Imperial Palace was:

The Emperor’s audience chamber.

Two blonde men were seated there.

And among the two blonde men, the one sitting on the throne was:

The Emperor, Baluaga.

Baluaga looked at the dumplings placed in front of him.

Steam was rising from the dumplings, as if they had just been made and brought in.

“Elena made these?”

In response to the question he heard, Baluaga slowly raised his head.

A man who looked exactly like Baluaga:

The Crown Prince, Conrad.

Baluaga’s eyes widened at Conrad’s answer.

Elena made dumplings?

So, Elena cooked?

What nonsense was this?

But he heard that she did it because she enjoyed it.

As part of that, these dumplings were made by Elena for Baluaga.

“Why bother with such troublesome things?”

Baluaga clicked his tongue once.

That wasn’t criticizing Elena for cooking.

It was just that she had brought the food to him personally.

Even though there were many subordinates to taste it for poison, she specifically brought it to him.

So, he was criticizing Conrad in front of him.

Because it was obvious what Elena would have made.

Elena was a princess who wouldn’t get her hands dirty.

She was a child who never touched cooking at all.

What could Elena do even if she tried to cook?

“Elena worked hard to make these for Your Majesty. Don’t say that and have one.”

But he couldn’t throw away something made by his only daughter.

Especially when his only son pushed it in front of him even more.

Baluaga stared at Conrad silently.

But at Conrad’s nonchalant expression, he eventually picked up a dumpling.

The appearance… was quite plausible.

And normally, one of the officials would have to taste it first to determine if there was any poison.

But this was made by Elena.

There was no need for that.

After a moment of contemplation, Baluaga put it in his mouth.

*Crunch*, the texture of chewing, and the juice burst out in his mouth.

Baluaga slightly raised his eyes and replied.

“Delicious?”

It was unexpectedly delicious.

Of course, it was lacking compared to what the head chef of the Imperial Palace made.

However, it was hard to believe that it was the skill of someone who hadn’t learned to cook for long.

So, he couldn’t believe that Elena had made it.

“I didn’t know Elena had this talent.”

“I was surprised too.”

Baluaga picked up another dumpling.

And he unhesitatingly put the dumpling back into his mouth.

As expected, it tasted pretty good.

“You should have one too.”

“No, I’m fine.”

Baluaga offered it to Conrad, but Conrad adamantly refused.

For some reason, he made a slightly disgusted expression.

Baluaga tilted his head and picked up another dumpling.

“So, what is it that you wanted to tell me?”

Soon, Baluaga asked why Conrad had come to see him.

He couldn’t have come just to deliver Elena’s dumplings.

“If you requested an audience as soon as you returned to the Imperial Palace, it must be important.”

Especially after slacking off under the guise of a vacation.

“Your Majesty, the truth is…”

As expected, Conrad calmly began to speak.

There was nothing special in that story.

What Conrad saw and heard in Ruben.

So, it was just bragging about what happened on his vacation.

How long had it been?

“You want me to believe that?”

Baluaga put the dumpling he was holding back on the plate.

Because they were unbelievable stories.

Of course, he had a rough idea of what Ruben was like from the reports.

However, what Conrad was saying was quite different from what was written in the report.

Especially the knights of Ruben who fought equally with the Royal Knights.

“But, it’s all true.”

At Conrad’s firm words, Baluaga was finally able to realize.

No wonder.

He wondered why Elan Dur was acting like that.

He wondered why he was only submitting petitions instead of taking immediate action.

‘He has grown strong enough to stand against Elan Dur…’

Even in the barren environment of the Dark Forest.

‘Sian… Sian, is it…’

He had guessed it during the incident in the North.

Certainly, a talented person was a talented person.

“And Your Majesty. Actually, there is a most important story left.”

“The most important story?”

“If it’s not too much to ask… could I borrow Your Majesty’s Zodiac Sword for a moment?”

The sword used by Arnaise Charlotte a thousand years ago.

Currently, it was one of the things that symbolized the emperor, like the royal seal.

“The Zodiac Sword?”

“Yes. There is something I want to show Your Majesty.”

Baluaga stared at Conrad silently.

The Zodiac Sword was a sword that symbolized the emperor.

It should not be easily handed over or lent out.

But Conrad was the Crown Prince and would become the next emperor.

After a moment of contemplation, Baluaga handed over the Zodiac Sword, which he always carried with him.

Conrad carefully accepted the Zodiac Sword.

Then, he walked to the center of the audience chamber and stood there.

*Clang!*

Soon, Conrad drew his sword.

Baluaga stared at Conrad silently.

A moment of silence.

*Swoosh!*

The Zodiac Sword was swung towards the empty air of the audience chamber.

*Swoosh!*

A sharp sound cutting through the air.

Conrad swung his sword without hesitation.

Conrad’s sword continued to embroider the air as if flowing.

And how long had it been?

“Hoo…!”

Conrad’s sword stopped.

Then, he calmly raised his head and cast his gaze towards Baluaga.

“This is the swordsmanship that Empress Charlotte used long ago.”

“What?”

Baluaga shouted, widening his eyes.

Because the swordsmanship used by Charlotte had been lost hundreds of years ago.

But what now….

A moment of silence.

Soon, Baluaga’s mouth opened.

“That is Empress Charlotte’s swordsmanship?”

“Yes, it is.”

Conrad answered lightly to Baluaga’s question.

Conrad did not show even a hint of hesitation.

Baluaga was silent for a moment at Conrad’s appearance.

Because it was hard to believe even if it was Conrad’s words.

“What is the basis for saying that?”

“That is…”

Conrad hesitated greatly at Baluaga’s question.

How should he explain this?

Even if he told him, would he believe it?

It was an expression that contained such complex emotions.

But that was only for a moment.

Conrad finally began to speak.

It was the story about Leia’s existence.

And immediately after Conrad’s story ended.

“······”

Baluaga lost his words.

The distorted expression represented how Baluaga was feeling.

Empress Charlotte’s younger sister was trapped in the hall.

And now that existence was in Ruben.

Was he telling him to believe this now?

Above all.

“Elan Dur stole Empress Charlotte’s swordsmanship?”

What was this again?

“Yes, it is.”

Conrad brought up another story related to this.

And when Conrad’s story ended.

“······”

Baluaga once again lost his words.

And honestly, he didn’t believe it.

How could he believe those words?

He wondered if Conrad had been brainwashed in Ruben.

But the eyes of Conrad he was looking at were not like that.

It was not the eyes of someone who had a mental illness or was brainwashed.

Then that story was true.

At least Conrad believed so.

“······”

Baluaga was lost in thought.

It was still unbelievable.

In fact, he didn’t just not believe it.

To be exact, he could say that he was confused.

Charlotte’s swordsmanship had already been lost hundreds of years ago.

How could he know now whether it was real or fake?

Conrad mentioned Leia, Charlotte’s younger sister.

Baluaga did not believe that story.

However, the swordsmanship that Conrad was demonstrating now.

And the sword held in Conrad’s hand.

The sword used by Arnaise Charlotte a thousand years ago, the Zodiac Sword.

And Charlotte’s swordsmanship named after it, the Zodiac Sword.

Maybe that’s why.

He couldn’t erase the feeling that it fit perfectly.

Conrad’s movements embroidering the sword, every single action.

It fit perfectly like a colleague who had been working together for a long time.

But the seat of the throne was too heavy to judge by just such a feeling.

Above all, the words that Elan Dur stole Charlotte’s swordsmanship.

No, okay. Let’s say that.

So, let’s say that the above story is all true, a hundred, a thousand, ten thousand times.

To be exact, let’s just move on for now.

Whether it’s true or not, let’s just move on.

“You can regain Empress Charlotte’s swordsmanship?”

But this was not an issue that could be easily overlooked.

Charlotte’s swordsmanship that had been lost hundreds of years ago.

All the emperors of the past had tried to restore it, but failed.

Therefore, it was a lost lineage of the imperial family that could never be regained.

He could regain it in his generation?

“Yes, it is.”

Conrad nodded slightly.

“But…”

And Conrad’s words continued again.

“A little… no, a lot of gold is need…ed.”

“Restoration requires gold?”

Conrad nodded very slowly.

Rather than slowly, it was appropriate to say that he was hesitating.

“How much is needed?”

As expected, Conrad did not answer easily.

Baluaga waited for Conrad’s words.

Even if he kept waiting, Conrad did not open his mouth.

“How much do you need that you can’t answer? Do you need even 50 million gold?”

“······ Th, that’s right.”

Conrad nodded only then at Baluaga’s question.

And Baluaga could understand why Conrad hesitated.

50 million gold.

Of course, it could be said to be a cheap price in restoring Charlotte’s swordsmanship.

However, it was an amount that could never be taken lightly or easily.

But it was not an amount that he could not pay.

If he could reconnect the lost lineage of the imperial family, 50 million gold─.

“If 100 million is added in front… it will be done.”

“······ What?”

Baluaga paused for a moment.

He wondered if the voice of Conrad that he heard in his ear was correct.

Was he really hearing it right?

So, was he saying that with a sane mind?

Because the words that 100 million was added in front.

Did it mean that 100 million was added in front of 50 million gold?

So, it wasn’t 50 million gold, but 150 million gold was needed?

Baluaga stared at Conrad with a blank gaze.

And Conrad slightly avoided Baluaga’s eyes.

A silence fell.

The emperor’s dignity, the emperor’s grace, the emperor’s whatever, the emperor’s damn it.

“You son of a bitch──!!!!!”

Baluaga couldn’t maintain his sanity.