Surviving As The 5Th Prince Of Hellman Kingdom [EN]: Chapter 51

051

“······.”

Fran remained silent for a while after I asked her to give me a tour of the Elven Forest.

I aimlessly watched the ants gathering around the melted chocolate, waiting for her answer.

‘What I need is a Sky Flower.’

A rare flower found in the Elven Forest. When made into a potent elixir and consumed, it has tremendous effects on enhancing mana.

‘The World Tree’s Fruit… it’ll be hard to get it right away, right?’

The Sky Flower’s efficacy is like a firefly in front of the sun compared to the World Tree’s Fruit.

As far as I know, a human has only obtained the World Tree’s Fruit once.

It was when the tyrant of the Hamil Empire burned down one of the Elven Forests, demanding the World Tree’s Fruit to create a potion for immortality.

I have no intention of doing that, and it’s realistically impossible.

‘For now, let’s focus on finding the Sky Flower first.’

Even though I regained the memories of the ‘future’ after going through the [Barisada]’s trials, there’s still only one lonely star in my core.

[Limitless Mana Cultivation Technique], which I learned thinking I had discovered a hidden piece, is a cultivation technique that places great emphasis on safety. Perhaps it’s an early prototype of mana cultivation techniques using the ‘core’.

I speculate that the reason I couldn’t find that information in the [Library] is because the ‘records’ were lost over time.

Back to the main point.

Because it places so much emphasis on safety, the cultivation speed is, frankly, not fast, even as a joke.

Before knowing the ‘future,’ I didn’t realize that my innate mana sensitivity was high, so my cultivation speed was similar to others.

I had never learned anything else, so there was no way I could have known. But now I know.

If I had started with the [Bayern Mana Cultivation Technique] that my maternal grandfather had improved, I would have two stars completed in my heart by now.

Well, I don’t regret learning the [Limitless Mana Cultivation Technique]. Because the [Limitless Mana Cultivation Technique] that the ‘future’ me practically recreated boasts a cultivation speed that surpasses the [Bayern Mana Cultivation Technique].

‘I’m finally picking up speed, but I still need a potent elixir.’

When I showed Fran the [Magnetron] earlier, I was very embarrassed by the water balloon that manifested, which was only the size of my thumbnail.

People who don’t know might wonder what I’m worried about since I have [Barisada]’s mana amplification.

‘That’s more of a recovery concept.’

[Barisada] is closer to a high-capacity power bank.

The bigger the vessel, the more water it can hold.

If you try to force an unmanageable amount of mana into one star, the result is predetermined.

Pop like a balloon!

While I was having those thoughts, Fran opened her mouth.

“······Is visiting the Elven Forest really necessary?”

“Yes.”

“What for?”

“First, I’m planning to find the Sky Flower.”

“Sky Flower? … I can guess what you’re going to use it for, but it’s not something you can find just by looking for it. It might not even be on the seventh branch of the World Tree, which is my hometown.”

Elves call the forests they inhabit the ○○th branch of the World Tree [referring to their lineage and connection to the main World Tree].

I know that the World Trees in the center of their villages all share a single root, so they are called that.

“If it’s not there, there’s nothing I can do.”

I said that, but I wasn’t worried.

I’m sure it’ll be there.

In the ‘future,’ the Merton County’s merchant guild auctioned off Sky Flowers on behalf of the elves.

The First Prince, who had been wandering at the gateway to becoming a 6-star knight, broke through the wall with it, and the royal palace was in a festive mood, so I remember it clearly. Ah, of course, the Second Prince’s camp was like a funeral home.

You can achieve things in due time without using such tricks. So, I decided that I, who am in a hurry, should take it instead of the First Prince, who has plenty of time.

“It’ll be hard to wander around the village.”

“Can’t I even take a look from afar?”

“No. You can’t.”

I clicked my tongue quietly at Fran’s firm words.

“But what if the Sky Flower is around the village?”

“What can we do? We have to come back obediently. But you don’t have to worry about that. If it were around the village, we would have found it for sure, but I’ve never heard of such a story.”

“That’s a relief. When can we leave?”

“I was there until yesterday? I also want to take a closer look at the magic formula of the Magnetron you created. How about in about three days?”

“Sounds good.”

It was a satisfactory conversation where I achieved everything I wanted. I taught Fran the formula for [Magnetron] on the spot.

“So… like this?”

She colored the formula she had built so that I could see it too. After confirming it, I nodded.

“That’s right. You’re learning it quickly.”

“Well, everything that makes up this formula is basic.”

“Then I’ll go and rest.”

“Yeah, yeah. Okay.”

Fran, who was absorbed in the Magnetron formula, answered absentmindedly. I got up from the bench and headed to my room. Then, I suddenly stopped and looked back.

“Do you happen to have any acquaintance with the Yellow Tower Master?”

She turned her head to me, who was focused on the formula.

“Would I? I’ve seen his face a few times… that bastard?”

“Never mind if you don’t know him well.”

I shrugged and left the spot. She’s smart, so she’ll figure it out on her own.

Before entering the building, I looked up at the sky.

Hey, law of the world. This much is okay, right?

The clear sky without a single cloud seemed to answer yes.

***

Fran was walking with Evan at the entrance of the Elven Forest.

Reina, Adol, Vernon. Evan’s escort knights made a fuss about accompanying him.

– Follow me if you’re confident in defeating the Forest Keeper.

She settled the situation with one word.

The Forest Keeper who protects the Elven Forest is at least a 6-star powerhouse. They swallowed their tears and turned their steps towards the training ground.

Fran stopped walking.

“From here on out, this is where the seventh branch of the World Tree exerts its influence.”

“I don’t feel anything special? It seems like the trees have gotten a little bigger.”

“Actually, I feel that way sometimes too. I guess it’s because I’m a half-human.”

Fran’s self-deprecating smile, called a half-elf to humans and a half-human to elves, made Evan pause. He closed his mouth for a moment and looked at the distant mountains.

“Where shall we go?”

“Please take me to the highest place first.”

“The highest place… Ah, that place would be good. Follow me.”

Fran, who was guiding Evan, glanced back. Evan’s expression, who had come to the Elven Forest for the first time, was endlessly indifferent. Anyone would think he was taking a walk in the neighborhood back mountain.

‘He’s a strange guy.’

The more she got to know Evan, the more she felt like she didn’t know him. What’s certain is that sometimes seeing the future isn’t all there is to it.

‘Magnetron… he just reproduced what he saw in a dream?’

That can’t be.

Fran, who had been staying up all night for the past few days studying the [Magnetron] formula, was so sure. Her level isn’t low enough to not recognize the traces of Evan’s anguish and effort in the formula.

‘His ideas are completely different from ordinary magicians.’

The [Magnetron] formula is, well… yes, it was similar to the ideas of magic engineers who can’t handle magic.

“By any chance, is the Forest Keeper staring at us right now?”

“Where?”

“Over there.”

At Evan’s words, Fran looked at the tree he was looking at. It was real. The startled Forest Keeper hurriedly left the spot.

“······How did you know?”

“I saw it in a dream.”

A human who doesn’t have elven blood flowing in the Elven Forest discovers the Forest Keeper? It was like a three-year-old baby firing fireballs indiscriminately [an analogy for something unexpected and out of place].

From the moment he entered the Elven Forest, Evan was moving his Ghost Hand at high speed, scanning everything within his sight.

Even now, notifications for various herbs being treated as items were being updated in one corner of his vision. Fran, who didn’t know that the Forest Keeper had been discovered by the Ghost Hand, could only laugh in vain.

Long after lunch.

Evan, who arrived at the highest hill in the Elven Forest, stared at the endless sea of trees for a long time.

“What’s going to happen if you look down like that…”

“It’s over there.”

“······Huh?”

Fran looked at the place Evan was pointing at. It was a place that had nothing special about it.

“······Really?”

“When have I ever lied…? You must have seen it a lot. But it’s real. Let’s dig it up quickly and get out of here. What if the Forest Keeper who disappeared earlier shows up and insists we can’t take it?”

And Fran, who arrived at the place Evan mentioned, discovered a sky-like transparent flower and was speechless.

“Sky Flower… how…”

“I saw it in a dream.”

That damn dream!

If that’s the case, why did you go up to that high hill! Fran, who was about to get angry, soon shook her head.

She decided to give up worrying about Evan anymore.

It was a very wise choice.

“Can Fran-nim [formal suffix] dig it up for me? It would be a disaster if I accidentally touched it and damaged it.”

Fran nodded with a soulless expression. Evan, who received the Sky Flower that she had collected, smiled with satisfaction.

“Let’s go back before the sun sets.”

“Okay.”

The two silently moved towards Merton Territory.

And.

Just before leaving the Elven Forest, Evan called Fran.

“Fran-nim, isn’t the Forest Keeper following us again behind us right now?”

“I guess so. You must have seen it in your dream.”

“Can you just tell him one thing?”

“Tell him something…? What is it?”

“Tell him to ask me for help through Merton Territory when the White Demon descends after the Red Star rises. As soon as possible.”

Fran frowned.

It was a combination of ominous words at first glance. It seemed like a great disaster would soon befall the Elven Forest.

“What does that mean?”

“Just tell him that.”

***

Yesterday, I came back from the Elven Forest.

I had promised to have tea time with Ira, so I went to the garden to meet her. I realized that spring had come as the new sprouts pushed through the ground.

Ira had come early and was waiting.

“I’m a little late. I’m sorry.”

“No, I just got here too.”

After the perfunctory greetings, we talked about our recent activities for a while, and soon we ran out of things to say.

It seemed like it was time to bring up the main point of why I asked her to meet me.

“Ira-yang [term of endearment]. I heard that the Heir has left for another business trip while I was away.”

“Yes, my brother has to inherit the family. He doesn’t have much time at home.”

“Are you envious?”

“······Yes?”

“I’m talking about the Heir who will inherit the family and become the owner of the Merton County. Are you envious?”

At my question, Ira only fiddled with her teacup.

I took a sip of tea and looked at her status window.

[Relationship: Trust]

Ira, one of the few people in the [Who’s Who] with a ‘Trust’ relationship. I know very well where that favor comes from. I’m not that clueless.

It may be a bit cruel, but I don’t feel any romantic feelings from Ira. I also wonder if I can share such feelings with anyone else.

“······I’m envious. And I hate it. This is a confession only to the Prince, but I’ve even thought that it would be nice if my brother was a good-for-nothing. Then I would have had a chance too.”

Tears welled up in Ira’s eyes.

I tapped her skill window.

[Accounting], [Surveying], [Bargaining]… She’s talented enough to lead a merchant guild. The problem is that the Heir also has enough talent to lead the Merton County family.

Ira will be an adult next year.

Unless there’s a big opportunity, she will become the mistress of a noble family within the next three years.

That’s the life of a typical noble lady who hasn’t awakened ‘mana’.

“Would you like to do a job that I entrust to you?”

“······Yes?”

A person who ‘trusts’ me and has ‘talent’.

I’m not foolish enough to let such a person live the life of an ordinary noblewoman.

“There’s a herb called Jenesen. Please organize a small merchant guild with the amount I invest and secure as much quantity as possible by this fall. Even if you have to pay a premium.”

“Jenesen? I’ve never heard of that herb… Why that?”

I took a sip of tea and smiled bitterly.

This winter, a terrible epidemic that breaks out in a place called ‘Juhan’ in the Hamil Empire will sweep across the entire continent.