Surviving As The 5Th Prince Of Hellman Kingdom [EN]: Chapter 27

027

Evan and Alfonso returned to Emerald Palace.

They headed straight to the study.

“I’m tired.”

Evan had exhausted all his energy in the conversation with Fran, his mind foggy as if covered in mist. He collapsed onto the sofa.

After blankly staring like a limp cat for a while, Evan finally opened his mouth.

“Alfonso, get me some chocolate from the desk drawer over there.”

“Yes, sir.”

Alfonso opened the drawer and grabbed a handful of chocolates. A neat stack of magic books on one side of the desk caught his eye.

‘To think he’s studying magic.’

There are those who study magic even though they are not magicians.

Magineers [Individuals who study magic without being practicing magicians].

Eccentrics who study these incomprehensible magic books to satisfy their intellectual curiosity, feeling joy and sometimes creating unbelievable marvels of civilization.

Evan seemed like one of those types.

‘What else are you hiding?’

The day the Royal Intelligence Agency raided, Alfonso had a long talk with Evan.

However, given the situation, the main topic was related to the Northern Liberation Army. There wasn’t much room for personal stories between the two.

‘Still, you could have told me you were using magic.’

A prince who is like an onion, with endless layers. Alfonso hid a slight feeling of disappointment and handed Evan the chocolate.

“Thanks.”

As Evan put the chocolate in his mouth and chewed, his eyes gradually regained their vitality.

“I feel a bit better now.”

Feeling that Evan had regained some energy, Alfonso asked the question he had been wondering about while driving the carriage.

“Your Highness, why did you ask that question to the kid earlier? Beautiful magician? Bowing nine times? What kind of… anyway, he looked at you strangely, which made me a little embarrassed.”

“The magic book you brought, 『The Source of Fire』, which dealt with [Ignition]. The address of the message hidden in it was that mansion. Doing as I asked was a subtle way of accepting you as a disciple. I was curious if Fran’s disciple actually did that, so I asked.”

“…”

The message that magicians hide in basic magic books to find talents like pearls in the mud. Alfonso was speechless for a moment at Evan’s words, who stated plainly that he had simply discovered it.

In the past, Alfonso thought that Evan didn’t seem to belong to the genius category because he didn’t show any unique madness.

He cursed his judgment at that time.

If geniuses gather, there will be an exceptional genius among them. If he is exceptional among those with madness?

‘He might look like a normal person instead…’

Understanding it that way, Alfonso decided not to ask why he created a ‘Core’ and put shackles on himself.

Originally, learning ‘Core’ is a choice made by those who have no talent in either swordsmanship or magic… or were deceived by a quack.

Talent for swordsmanship, talent for magic.

Since it was Evan’s decision, who has both innate qualities, it must have been the right choice. Thinking so, Alfonso decided to watch quietly.

Seeing Alfonso’s ever-changing expression, Evan realized that he was making some serious misunderstandings.

“It’s not what you think. I was able to see the message hidden in the magic book because I had already created the ‘Core’. What that means is that originally, you design the formula expressed in two dimensions in your head…”

Alfonso smiled as he watched Evan making excuses with incomprehensible terms.

“It’s okay. I’m looking forward to what will surprise me next.”

“So, in a state of already manipulating magic power… Ha… Never mind. Think whatever you want.”

There was something Evan didn’t know.

Alfonso’s thoughts were not wrong.

The message Fran hid in the magic book. It was normal not to be able to solve it, regardless of whether you were awakening magic power.

Fran, who studied magic at the Red Tower.

In the past, for some reason, she was forcibly pushed to revise and republish some of the basic magic books of the Red Tower.

As a way to vent her anger, she put some problems with ridiculous difficulty in basic magic books such as 『The Source of Fire』.

And after the draft was created, she thought it wasn’t right and quietly deleted it.

Alfonso had delivered that draft to Evan. Because he could get it for free.

It was the same as Evan restoring a tornado-swept, ruined cabin to its original appearance without ever having seen it.

Evan, who had not been initiated into magic for long. It was natural that he didn’t know that fact after losing interest in solving problems after discovering the message in 『The Source of Fire』.

***

“…If it is possible to construct a two-dimensional formula into a three-dimensional one, anyone would have solved the problem.”

“It’s okay. I’m looking forward to what will surprise me next.”

“So, in a state of already manipulating magic power… Ha… Never mind. Think whatever you want.”

I gave up trying to persuade him and shook my head.

“You must be tired too, sit down for a bit.”

I suggested Alfonso, who was wearing an uncomfortable smile, to sit down.

“I’m more comfortable standing. Really. It’s easier to react immediately even if an assassination attempt comes flying.”

“Well, do as you please.”

I said that and glanced at Alfonso’s status window.

With a huge bomb about to drop on my head in the form of a hearing to invalidate the immunity from arrest, I didn’t have time to ask him about his past in detail.

But I can guess a lot just by looking at the status window.

Alfonso Einberg.

19 years old in just a month.

A skill window full of assassin’s techniques.

Moreover, the mana cultivation technique he is learning uses poisonous herbs to increase achievement quickly. Ah, I heard this from him.

‘Who is freaking out about creating a core?’

I clicked my tongue, remembering Alfonso’s reaction at Fran’s mansion.

Besides using poisonous herbs, there is a commonality in mana cultivation techniques that try to increase achievement quickly. It becomes exponentially more difficult to achieve as you go further.

That’s not the end of it. There is a bigger problem.

Just like a car running fast consumes fuel several times faster, it eats away at your lifespan.

I took out the Bayern Mana Cultivation Technique that Fran gave me from my pocket. You can check the value of this by searching in the [Skill Window].

[Bayern Mana Cultivation Technique] – 100,000 RP

[Bayern Mana Cultivation Technique] – 500,000 RP

Two [Bayern Mana Cultivation Techniques] with the same name.

I guess the former is from the existing Bayern family.

The latter is the value of what my maternal grandfather has improved, which I am holding now.

I used to just worry about why there were two of them and couldn’t find the answer. Only after receiving the mana cultivation technique from Fran did I finally find the answer.

Thinking about it, I am also surprised by her generosity in readily returning the mana cultivation technique, which is worth nearly 5 billion in my previous life’s value, to me, who is my maternal grandfather’s bloodline.

The problem is….

‘It’s a white elephant [A valuable but burdensome possession].’

I can’t learn it.

Of course, I can’t sell it.

I can’t even tell Alfonso to learn it.

Mana cultivation techniques that are learned quickly are like bombs in the body, and if you try to change them to mana cultivation techniques that follow the right path, they will explode. Not a metaphor, but real, your heart goes boom!

“I suddenly felt bad. My heart suddenly feels a little numb.”

He’s quick on the uptake.

I jokingly handed him the Bayern Mana Cultivation Technique.

“Want to learn it?”

“You’re being too indirect in telling me to die. If I, who have achieved the 4th level, learn it, I will die instantly. Definitely.”

“Tsk, why did you change it instead of diligently practicing the Einberg Mana Cultivation Technique.”

“I’m sorry too. But I had my reasons.”

Well, where is there a grave without a story [Everyone has a reason for their actions]?

I decided to keep it safe for now and put the Bayern Mana Cultivation Technique back in my pocket. The day will come when I take it out again someday.

“Leave it to me. I won’t lose it and will keep it safe.”

“Don’t even think about it. Bring back the activity expenses I gave you to buy magic books.”

“Well, now that I think about it, it seems like too valuable an item for me to keep. Please keep it safe.”

Alfonso, who is smacking his lips and avoiding my gaze.

The energy I had lost after the conversation with Fran had returned, and it seemed like it was time to talk about another headache.

“I’m glad the conversation went better than I thought.”

“It’s all thanks to the sword of the North [Referring to Fran’s influence]. Just Fran delivering the message will give the executives who don’t like Your Highness’s plan a chance to think again.”

“Yeah.”

From the beginning, my relationship with Fran was ‘friendly’, so I could confidently blabber on without hesitation. I thanked my maternal grandfather for having her as a friend.

“So, next, we just have to wait for the Northern Liberation Army to contact us?”

I looked at him as if he was pathetic at Alfonso’s words.

“The hearing may be held as early as next week. We can’t just wait for contact until then.”

“Then what are you doing?”

“I have to prepare things in advance.”

“Prepare things? But what if the hearing is held before the preparation is finished? Isn’t the time too short?”

“I have to lie down.”

“Yes?”

“They won’t tell a person on the verge of death to come out. Pretending to be sick is not enough, so I have to drink some dangerous poison to buy time.”

A trick that many people use in both my past and present lives.

However, unlike my past life, in this life, fake illnesses do not work because of the existence of priests who can raise human healing power absurdly.

“Yeah, the poison of the famous Chilbocho would be enough.”

Chilbocho [A deadly poisonous herb].

A poisonous herb that grows naturally in a magical region of the Hamel Empire.

It got its name Chilbocho because it has a deadly poison that kills you before you walk seven steps after being bitten. If I collapse because of that level of poison, even the 1st Prince’s side, who is holding the hearing, will admit it.

Alfonso made a dumbfounded expression.

“You could really die.”

“That’s what will happen in the worst case. Just in case that situation comes, I have to prepare an antidote in advance so that I don’t die.”

“Even if you survive, there will be severe aftereffects. For example… losing your sense of taste.”

“…You, you’ve eaten it.”

“Don’t worry about the antidote. I already have it.”

During the conversation with Fran, my worries about the Northern Liberation Army’s abilities being inferior were unnecessary.

It was rude to worry about a group that feeds Chilbocho to people without hesitation for training.

“I picked it up by mistake. My teacher was horrified.”

…Is that bastard playing with me?

Ah, now that I think about it, I remember him saying that he lost his sense of taste because he picked it up by mistake. He’s so good at acting that it’s hard to tell if it’s real or fake.

“That story is over, and I can’t just sit back and wait for contact that may or may not come. I have to prepare in advance.”

“But, what should we prepare first?”

Instead of answering, I got up from my seat and approached the desk. I opened the drawer and took out the Telliston [A magical communication device] that I had put away.

“Who are you trying to communicate with?”

“Count Clian.”

The 2nd Prince’s left-hand man, the chief secretary of the Royal Treasury Department.

“What are you going to talk about?”

“What time is it now?”

“Uh… 5:50. Dinner time is coming up soon.”

I heard that he is a punctual person and does not answer calls outside of business hours. I didn’t have time to answer Alfonso. I hurriedly tried to communicate with Count Clian.

「This is Count Clian. What’s going on? I clearly asked you to refrain from doing anything for the time being. Thank you for only telling me the main point within 10 minutes as there is not much time left until the end of work.」

This human has no humanity.

“I’ll take down the Royal Committee member who supports the 1st Prince. You can hang up if you’re not interested. I’m refraining from doing anything as you asked.”

「…What power does Your Highness have to take down a Royal Committee member?」

“Didn’t you know that I have a close relationship with the Northern Liberation Army? Then where did you think I got the information from during the royal trial?”

「….」

Count Clian is silent.

Alfonso’s eyes widened as he listened to the conversation. If I can see his pupils, he must be really surprised.

– When did you have such a close relationship with the Northern Liberation Army? We didn’t even make an appointment?

It was as if he was asking that.

I gave him a look that meant it would be soon, so it didn’t matter.

– If the Northern Liberation Army does not participate in Your Highness’s plan, how are you going to handle the aftermath!

Alfonso’s pupils were shaking violently, meaning that.

Ah, what a nuisance.

The moment the Northern Liberation Army refuses to participate in my plan, I’m already screwed, to put it bluntly.

‘I’m already riding a tiger’s back [In a precarious situation].’

I took a breath.