Chapter 59

Starting from next time, the journey begins.

Ein received a parting gift from Kaiser at the academy. It was a letter of introduction to a guild and a source of information named Majolica.

After leaving the academy, they boarded a water train and returned to White Rose Station. Together with Chris, they headed for Majolica’s magic stone shop.

Majolica’s shop was located in a slightly secluded area off the main street.

It was known among adventurers as a hidden gem.

Despite its reputation, it was still a "hidden" gem, so on this day, as usual, there were no customers in the shop. Only Ein and Chris entered.

“...Your Highness? You don’t have to keep glancing around the store like that. My shop is actually busiest in the evening.”

Ein’s thoughts were easily seen through by Majolica, who couldn’t help but mention it.

“Um... why in the evening?”

“Because adventurers return then. They come to offload the good magic stones they’ve hunted. In the morning, it’s mostly the rich or their servants who come to buy in bulk.”

Majolica’s shop was busiest in the early morning and after evening. At other times, it was almost completely empty.

Of course, the rich and adventurers would come at other times, but only a few people would visit each day.

“Well, come in both of you. What brings you here today?”

Suddenly, Ein was captivated by the magic stones. The shop always smelled good, and Ein couldn’t help but be drawn in, wanting to look around.

“Prince Ein... No, we have something to do first, don’t we?”

“Oh, I completely forgot.”

“Not magic stones, but something else, right?”

“—Actually...”

Ein told Majolica the same content as what he had told Kaiser. Since Majolica also entered and left the castle to deliver magic stones, she was bound by a strict confidentiality agreement and was trustworthy.

Before arriving at the shop, Ein had sent a messenger to the castle to ask if it was okay to talk to Majolica about this, and had received permission from Warren.

Ein explained about the Demon King and the Red Fox, just as he had to Kaiser.

At first, Majolica seemed interested, but as she heard about the Red Fox and its unique skill, “Curse of Solitude,” her expression gradually became serious.

“...Please wait a moment. I’ll close the shop.”

When the conversation reached a good point, Majolica suddenly closed the shop and went outside. Her expression showed a hint of hesitation.

“You seem to know something.”

“...Yes, things are going well so far.”

Ein and Chris deduced that Majolica knew something. Otherwise, her demeanor wouldn’t have changed so much. Majolica soon returned to the shop, and the sound of the bell on the door echoed, sounding somewhat melancholic.

“Hmm... Would you like some tea, both of you?”

“No, that’s not necessary.”

“That’s not an option. It’s not right to have the Crown Prince and the Marshal here and not offer anything. Besides... this conversation will probably take a while.”

Majolica clearly knew something. Ein was secretly delighted, not expecting to get a lead so quickly.

Majolica went behind the counter and started preparing tea where Ein and Chris could see her.

“By the way, Your Highness. It’s been a while, hasn’t it? I heard you were on a long convalescence.”

“Yes, I had some things to deal with and needed a break.”

“...Yes. Chris, do you know why I closed the shop?”

“Because we’re going to have an important conversation, right?”

“Which part? The Red Fox...? Or the Demon King?”

Both of Majolica’s statements were correct. And if she had information on either, it was something they desperately wanted to know.

“Both.”

“Right. Then the reason I closed the shop is different, here you go both of you.”

Majolica handed the tea to Ein and Chris, but they still didn’t understand why she had closed the shop.

“Majolica, what do you mean? Is there something else besides what you told Chris?”

“...Your Highness, are you... really the Crown Prince?”

Her words immediately chilled the atmosphere in the shop, changing the mood as if they were in a different world.

“What do you mean by that?”

“Are you a ‘human’? Or a ‘monster’...? Which one are you?”

“Majolica! That’s incredibly disrespectful—”

Chris showed anger at Majolica’s words. While it wasn’t clear what Majolica had sensed, those words alone were enough to be considered a serious offense.

Ein raised his hand in front of Chris to stop her.

“I’m still human. Is that okay?”

Ein spoke calmly, showing no signs of being shaken. He looked straight at Majolica and explained himself.

“...Yes, ‘still’... I understand, Crown Prince. I apologize for my rudeness, and so does Chris. But I had to ask.”

“...I understand.”

Majolica sincerely apologized, but Chris still seemed hesitant. However, since Ein had stopped her, Chris decided to endure for now.

“But, Majolica, why did you ask that?”

“From the perspective of someone who deals with seals, Your Highness looks like a monster to me. I want to know why and what happened.”

“Probably because I’ve been absorbing magic stones and getting stronger.”

“Ain-sama!?”

Surprised by Ein’s sudden revelation, Chris grabbed his shoulder and turned his face towards her.

“It’s fine with Majolica. We’ve already shared similar confidential information... That’s probably why I’ve become more like a monster.”

“...Chris, is what the Prince says true?”

“Hmm... Yes, that’s right. By absorbing numerous magic stones, Ain-sama has gained his current power.”

Ein explained the miracle created by his Toxin Decomposition EX and the Dryad’s absorption skill. Majolica was highly interested, nodding as she listened to Chris’s explanation.

“Do you understand?”

“Yes, I understand, Your Highness. But... it’s like the World Tree.”

“The World Tree...?”

“Indeed, now that you mention it...!”

Ein didn’t understand, but Chris seemed to recognize the term and agreed.

“The World Tree is said to be the ancestor of the Dryads. It protects those who live near it and, if there are evil monsters, it will absorb them without hesitation. That’s the World Tree.”

“Ancestor... So, the Dryads were born from the World Tree?”

“Yes, that’s what’s said. So, I thought it was a bit similar. After all, for someone with Dryad blood to have such power... it feels like there’s some connection.”

Ein nodded in agreement after hearing this.

“So, maybe you’re not becoming a monster, but rather something like a guardian. ...Anyway, I understand the situation. You came to me because Kaiser told you to, right?”

“Yes. ...Do you know anything about the Red Fox?”

“I do.”

Majolica admitted it frankly. Ein couldn’t hide his joy, and Chris also looked relieved.

“I once read a book about it in a certain city. ...It’s a troublesome creature that can be an enemy or an ally depending on the race.”

“Oh... Please tell me!”

Ein raised his voice, eagerly asking for the information. But Majolica looked a bit troubled and started thinking.

“I only know one more thing. The Red Fox can control monsters, even those it hasn’t raised. ...That’s all I know. There’s not much information, and I didn’t have much interest in it at the time.”

“...I see.”

It was a bit disappointing, but it was still useful information. Neither Ein nor Chris knew that the Red Fox could control monsters, and they started thinking about how it might do so.

“So, I’ll introduce you to a place where you might find more detailed information. I mentioned a city where I read about it, right? The city is called ‘Magic City Isth.’ Since Kaiser prepared the letter of introduction to the guild, I’ll write a letter of introduction to a certain research institute attached to Isth’s academy.”

Ein had received two letters of introduction in one day. Feeling guilty about always being introduced, he thought he would bring a gift next time.

“Magic City Isth...”

“Do you know it, Prince Ein?”

“Of course. I understand the geography of the continent, but... how long does it take to get there by water train?”

Majolica went back to the counter and started preparing the letter of introduction. Since prestigious places often turn away those without a letter of introduction, Majolica’s letter was a valuable item.

“There’s a direct route to Isth. It doesn’t stop at any stations along the way, so it will take about half a day.”

“Even half a day. It’s still far.”

“Purely in terms of distance, it’s more than twice as far as Magna.”

For Ein, this would be the longest journey within the continent. But there was also excitement. In Magic City Isth, there were people who tamed wyverns and other monsters for transportation. Comparing it to his past life, it was probably a much more fantastical city than the capital.

Istalica has four major cities. The first is the capital, the largest and most populous city in Istalica.

The second is Magic City Isth. In terms of magic, more research is conducted here than in the capital, and Isth is also known as an experimental city. There is also a lot of research on monsters, and a wealth of related materials.

Like the academic district of the capital, Isth has many academies, and most graduates go on to research positions.

The third is the adventurer town of Balt. It’s a city that can be reached by water train from the capital in less than half a day.

As the name suggests, it’s a town where many adventurers gather, and the surrounding areas are home to many monsters. The residents are mostly those who hunt and live off these monsters.

The many materials obtained there are also shipped to the capital in large quantities, providing an important source of livelihood.

Ein’s classmate, Bartz, whose father works at a fortress, is located near this city.

The last is the port town of Magna. Many seafood products distributed throughout the continent are spread through Magna. The local ingredients are very fresh and are so delicious that they are even favored by the Istalica royal family.

“Here, Your Highness. I think this will get you in easily.”

“Thank you!”

The name on the letter was unfamiliar, but that was to be expected. Even Ein didn’t know the names of all the academies in other cities. But thanks to Majolica, the investigation could continue.

“So, are you going as the Crown Prince? It might cause a commotion.”

“Oh... Right. Instructor Kaiser said you might be able to help with that.”

“...Oh?”

“Can you somehow make it so that I’m not recognized as the Crown Prince?”

“Another sudden difficult request...”

Majolica put her hand to her forehead and started thinking. Despite the difficulty, Ein was grateful that she was considering a solution.

“By the way, how many people are going?”

Majolica turned to Chris and asked.

“Prince Ein, me... and Dil, if he comes. So, three of us.”

“I’ll need 15 million G. If that’s okay, I’ll make it for you.”

Surprised by the high price, Ein thought he might need to look for another way. But Chris responded.

“I understand. I’ll bring it later.”

“Understood. Then I’ll try to make it as soon as possible.”

Chris’s immediate response and her lack of concern over 15 million G surprised Ein.

“C... Chris! Is that okay!?”

“Of course. If it only costs that much, it’s a bargain. I was prepared to pay up to 200 million G.”

“Eh...”

“Prince, magic tools are expensive. Some can easily exceed 10 billion G. ...As a citizen, it’s reassuring to know the Crown Prince is frugal.”

For civilian-use magic tools, the price was within the average monthly income. But for custom-made items, the price could skyrocket, changing by orders of magnitude. Despite being royalty, Ein rarely had the opportunity to spend large sums of money, so he was surprised.

“Also, Prince Ein, Majolica probably deducted the technical fee. It’s probably just the cost of materials... Right?”

“Yes. If I included the technical fee, it might have been 50 million G.”

“...Then 15 million G is too cheap.”

“Serving the Crown Prince... it’s fine. And you even brought Chris to ask.”

Majolica smiled coolly and spoke generously. Ein felt grateful but had one question.

“By the way, how do you and Chris know each other?”

Chris’s body stiffened. Seeing her, Ein wondered what was going on and turned to Majolica for an answer.

“...Chris, haven’t you told him yet?”

“It’s... hard to say...”

“Hmm. ...Chris, is there something going on?”

Chris, still a bit confused, turned to Ein and opened her mouth. Looking at her hands, he could see she was clenching her fists tightly.

“...My sister was in the same party as Majolica... and Kaiser...”

“Sister...!?”

“Oh, come on. It’s not that big of a deal that you didn’t tell him.”

“It’s a bit... hard to say...”

Ein, who had never heard that Chris had a sister, watched the conversation continue.

“C... Chris!? You have a sister?”

“Yes. She was a problematic person, but...”

“...Yes, she was. A strong but incomprehensible woman.”

“...Hmm. Was your sister stronger than Chris?”

After a few deep breaths, Ein regained his composure. The conversation between Chris and Majolica was quite intriguing.

“She was someone even Lord Lloyd couldn’t handle. She was problematic, but...”

“Yes, she was really strong, Your Highness. Thanks to her, our party became well-known. ...But she was a problematic woman.”

“...Even Lord Lloyd couldn’t handle her? That’s impressive. But she was problematic...?”

Chris put her hands on her head. Seeing her, Ein could tell she was dealing with a formidable person. He felt a bit hesitant to ask about Chris’s sister.

“S... Sorry, Prince Ein. I’ll tell you gradually, so please forgive me for today...”

“Eh... Okay. Sorry about that?”

“Hmm... It’s a bit hard to explain. That’s why Chris was a bit confused. Please forgive her?”

“Of course. It’s not something to get angry about.”

Seeing Chris still holding her head, Ein couldn’t help but pat her head. Seeing her silently accept the pat, he felt a bit relieved. ...Was it just his imagination, or did Chris shift her body to make it easier for him to pat her?

“You’re quite well-trained, aren’t you, pup... Well, it’s fine. I’ll start making the custom magic tool today and deliver it to the castle when it’s ready. Is that okay?”

“Thank you. I’m sorry for the sudden request.”

“It’s fine. I think it will take about ten days. Just to confirm, three, right?”

“Yes. We won’t be traveling in large numbers, so that number is fine. ...If we were traveling in a large group, it would probably be when Istalica officially gets involved.”

“Right. Understood... The price will be 15 million G, and I’ll make it for you.”

The concern about Ein hiding his identity while traveling was resolved with Majolica’s help. They also received a lead on where to find information about the Red Fox. Considering they had just started, it was a good start. They had planned to conduct the investigation over a period of years, so this smooth progress was a pleasant surprise.

“Hey, Chris. How long are you going to let the guard be petted? Come back!”

If Chris were really a dog, her tail would probably be wagging furiously. That was the feeling Ein got from her. But the moment passed, and Majolica reminded Chris.

“Huh... I’m... I’m sorry, Prince Ein. I lost my composure for a moment.”

Seeing Chris return to her senses, Majolica muttered, “You’re still a klutz...” but it was just a whisper that only she heard.

“Well, since we’re done. Take the Prince back to the castle, you shouldn’t keep him waiting.”

“I’m... I’m sorry, Prince Ein! I got a bit too relaxed.”

Chris bowed her head. Her face was slightly red, which wasn’t just Ein’s imagination.

“It’s fine. Let’s go back now. We’ll visit the guild another day. I need to sort out today’s events.”

“Understood! ...Majolica, thank you for your cooperation.”

“Yes, yes. Come again, and take your time next time, Your Highness.”

The next goal was set. They would prepare and head to Magic City Isth. Using Majolica’s introduction, they would start their investigation.

Going to a new city was something Ein couldn’t say he wasn’t looking forward to. In fact, it was half investigation and half excitement for him.

Actually, Magic City Isth was the city where Ein was supposed to study abroad for a short period when he reached his sixth year.

Ein had not received much magical education in the capital and had not taken practical classes. This was because he was supposed to go to Isth in the near future to receive higher magical education there.

In the end, Ein would go to Magic City Isth, albeit in a different form.

With the important investigation of the Red Fox, the prospect of genuine magical education made his heart leap with excitement.

Thank you for reading today.

I hope you will continue to enjoy future updates.