Chapter 9
“It’s a highly recommended item. Soon, you won’t be able to get it even if you want to.”
It was a recommendation from Rippert, the head of the Blue Head Merchant Guild.
Several nobles were purchasing Maple Leaf Story based on his recommendation, and the 3rd Prince, Rikal, was one of them.
“Is an artifact made by something like the Illusion Magic Tower this expensive? I like it.”
Spending Imperial money recklessly was his hobby.
As usual, the members of the royal family pointed fingers at the Prince’s behaviour.
It was nothing new for him to be criticized as the “Rogue Prince.”
“An artifact made by the Illusion Magic Tower? You paid that much for something like that?”
“Leave him alone. It’s not the first time. And to think he is a prince. Just look at the 1st Prince and how…”
The whispers directed at Rikal and the comparison to the Crown Prince.
The price of Maple Leaf Story wasn’t particularly expensive for a prince to spend.
But since it was an item from a mere Illusion Magic Tower, it was natural for people to gossip.
“…What is this? It’s fun.”
Unexpectedly, the game was incredibly entertaining.
He got so immersed in it that he didn’t drink for several days.
And so, he advanced to the second job as a Cleric and began receiving party invitations.
“Wow! Thank you so much. You’re so kind, Light of the Empire!”
One day, he healed a player who was running out of health because they didn’t have any potions left at a hunting ground.
He had used Heal to kill undead monsters, and the player had just happened to be within its range.
‘…Kind? Me?’
He received several thank-yous like that.
He was always praised whenever he played in parties.
‘These idiots… In reality, they gossip behind my back, but here, without knowing I’m the 3rd Prince, they bow their heads to me.’
The 3rd Prince found this strangely satisfying.
In reality, he was the Rogue Prince who was criticized wherever he went.
Yet here, those who would insult him in reality were thanking him.
How would they feel if they found out they had bowed their heads to that “Rogue”?
The 3rd Prince found it amusing and enjoyable to deceive these foolish users by pretending to be kind.
On top of that, his character was female.
When he created his character, he had no particular reason but ended up choosing a female character.
In Maple Leaf Story, many users thought he was a real woman and often flirted with him.
And since he was playing a devoted healer class like Cleric, it was only natural that men would be attracted.
‘They don’t even know who I am, hah. It’s truly amusing.’
The 3rd Prince sneered internally at the users’ behaviour.
In reality, everyone hated him.
But in this game, people complimented <Light of the Empire>, laughed, and tried to get close to him, not knowing that he was the same rogue.
Rikal pretended to smile kindly at them and enjoyed watching the foolish users who were completely fooled by him.
And so, he became the famous named user, “JeBbit.”
“This… is the Tower?”
The day after the incident with the malicious user.
Rikal immediately visited the Illusion Magic Tower.
It was a short tower that looked like it could collapse at any moment.
[The sale of Maple Leaf Story artifacts is handled exclusively by the Blue Head Merchant Guild. Any inquiries or complaints regarding the purchase of Maple Leaf Story should be directed to them. Excessive inquiries or complaints directed at the tower will result in immediate placement on the blacklist without warning.]
That was what was written at the entrance of the tower.
It seemed that, as the rumours suggested, people were showing up at the Illusion Magic Tower to get Maple Leaf Story.
Even after the second batch was released, the number of such people only increased.
But Rikal wasn’t there to buy it.
And even if he were, he wouldn’t back off just because of such a warning.
Rikal knocked on the tower’s door.
[For any purchases of Maple Leaf Story, please contact the Blue Head Merchant Guild~]
The door didn’t open, but a voice could be heard.
“Hah.”
Rikal frowned and cursed under his breath.
The attendant and knight who had followed him began to nervously glance at his reaction.
It was common for Rikal to throw a tantrum when things didn’t go his way.
And now that they were treating him like any other problematic buyer, it was almost certain that trouble was coming.
“Th-the 3rd Prince of the Empire himself is here! The Illusion Magic Tower should open its doors immediately!”
Hanon, the royal attendant currently serving under Rikal, shouted quickly before Rikal could cause any trouble.
It was a quick-witted move that allowed him to survive the longest as Rikal’s aide.
‘Please… please open the door…!’
Of course, his survival wasn’t due to quick thinking alone.
Many skilled attendants had lost their lives like flies in front of Rikal.
Hanon’s continued existence was thanks to luck and desperate prayers.
Creak—
‘I’m saved!’
Fortunately, this time, too, his prayers were answered.
Hanon let out a sigh of relief.
“H-H-His Highness?! Why have you come all the way here?! P-please, come in!”
The one who opened the door was a female Illusion Mage.
She was trembling as she greeted the 3rd Prince.
Her nervousness made her seem pitiful.
However, Hanon thought it was fortunate, as Rikal enjoyed seeing people tremble before him.
“P-please sit here!”
On the other hand, Medeia, who was welcoming the 3rd Prince, was on the verge of fainting.
Of all times, why did this have to happen when Rain and Rai, who usually handled external affairs, were away?
On top of that, the 3rd Prince was notorious in Trinity for being a rogue who even killed people.
“I-I’ll go call the Tower Master right away, so please wait here!”
Medeia hastily ran to the Tower Master’s room.
As a commoner, she had no idea how to deal with royalty.
She longed for the days when she performed dances with her Clone Attribute at the theatre.
“Ma-Master Hina, the 3rd Prince is here!”
In Tower Master Hina’s room, there was no response.
Hina was lying on the bed, unconscious.
She was in the middle of a game.
“Ugh, seriously…!”
Medeia hurriedly shut off the Maple Leaf Story artifact clutched in Hina’s hand.
“W-wha…?!”
“Master! This is not the time to be gaming! The 3rd Prince is outside!”
“Wha-whaa… huh?!”
“Come on! Get! Ahold! Of yourself!!!”
Hina, who had been pulled back to reality while fighting a boss, was utterly confused.
The mention of the “3rd Prince” brought her back to her senses.
“Wha-wha-what?! The Prince?! Wh-where’s Rai?”
“Rai went with Rain to recruit a new member! Do something, please!”
“N-n-no, I c-can’t-!”
Hina, also panicking, pulled the blanket over her head.
“Ugh… Please! Master, do your job!!!”
Medeia tried pulling the blanket, but Hina stubbornly stayed hidden like a snail in its shell.
No, she came out.
“Yes. I understand, Medeia.”
“Whew… Hurry up!”
Hina stepped out from under the blanket and confidently walked forward.
Relieved, Medeia followed her downstairs.
“H-here. I think you can speak to the Tower Master now. Then I’ll just… hohoho…”
“…Where is the Tower Master?”
“…Pardon? Here… oh, what?!”
Hina had vanished without a trace.
It was an illusion.
Medeia hurried back, but Hina’s door was already locked.
‘Why does this wretched Illusion Magic even have to be useful like this…?!’
She cursed the useless Tower Master, but now there was no other choice.
However, taking inspiration from Hina’s actions, Medeia sent her own clone down instead.
At the very least, she wouldn’t die this way.
Medeia’s clones were flawless, and unless someone touched them, it was impossible to tell they weren’t real.
“Haha, it seems the Tower Master is quite busy. So, what brings Your Highness to this humble place?”
Medeia’s clone spoke.
“I heard there’s a young S-rank Illusion Mage named Riot who created Maple Leaf Story. I have something to say to him, so bring him here.”
“Ah… That mage is currently out on a mission… May I ask what business you have?”
“I have a suggestion to make regarding Maple Leaf Story.”
“Ah… a suggestion… But I’m not sure exactly when he’ll be back… If he returns, I can let you know separately…”
“Hah…”
Rikal sighed and pressed his forehead.
Seeing this, Hanon hurriedly spoke up.
“H-haha! It seems Your Highness has urgent business. Is there no way to contact him or find out where he is?”
“…Yes. This issue needs to be resolved quickly. Those bastards are preventing me from playing the game, you know?”
The 3rd Prince simmered like he was about to explode at any moment.
Medeia knew that saying “no” would mean big trouble.
But there was no way for Medeia to contact Rai.
The Illusion Magic Tower couldn’t even afford the common communication crystal orbs.
They were so impoverished, and most of the money Rai made was reinvested into creating the third batch, leaving little to be used for the tower.
“W-w-w-w-well…”
“Hah… Damn it… Speak clearly…”
“Eek, eeeeeeek-!”
“P-prince!!”
Rikal drew his sword.
Without any hesitation, he swung it and cut off Medeia’s head.
“Ah, ah… If you kill a mage…”
Killing a mage was a big issue.
Even if it was a worthless Illusion Mage, they were still a recognized part of Trinity by agreement.
Hanon’s head spun, thinking of the complications he would have to deal with.
“Calm down. It was just a clone.”
“…Pardon?”
“I don’t just kill people at random, you know.”
Just as he said, the woman whose head had been severed turned into smoke and disappeared.
It was really a clone.
Hanon took deep breaths to calm his startled heart.
In any case, it was fortunate.
‘But you’ve killed people just fine until now… Crazy Prince…’
Hanon thought that to himself but didn’t dare to say it aloud.
“…What do you think you’re doing?”
At that moment, a voice came from behind.
Turning around, they saw that the door to the Illusion Magic Tower was open, and there stood an Illusion Mage who looked barely an adult.
It was Rai, who had just returned from his errand.
He hadn’t seen Medeia’s clone disappear into smoke due to the angle.
“I asked what you were doing just now.”
“Ah, haha… It seems there’s been a misunderstanding…”
“I cut her down. Because she annoyed me.”
“P-Prince!!”
Rikal interrupted Hanon’s words.
Hearing that, Rai’s expression twisted, and Hanon screamed in his mind.
“Are you Riot?”
“My name is Rai Oat. More importantly, do you know what you’ve just done?”
“I want to discuss something about Maple Leaf Story, so deal with it quickly. Those bastards are stopping me from playing the game.”
“H-haha… Please wait, Mage. Let’s calm down and talk this through… Ah!”
Hanon hastily stepped between the two of them.
But then, he screamed and stepped back.
A massive beast had suddenly appeared, threatening him.
Of course, it was an illusion.
“Prepare to die… How dare you touch Medeia…!”
Rai’s mana flared up.
At the same time, Rikal drew his sword.
Rikal’s blade and Rai’s mana clashed violently.
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