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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Clara]
[Proofreader - Gun]
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Chapter 25: Encounter (1)
There was a guy named Liam.
He served as a squad leader in my convict squad—cheerful, with a bit of a foul mouth.
His notable traits included a fondness for camaraderie and a love for drinking despite being in a rather individualistic unit.
That’s what made him approachable for me.
—Lieutenant! How about a drink today?
—Got anything to drink?
—I rummaged through that wrecked house over there. Found some homemade brew in the basement.
—Oh.
After every battle, he would scavenge through nearby abandoned houses and somehow find alcohol.
He’d usually come find me afterward, and we’d share a drink together—not that I didn’t appreciate it.
After all, it was wartime.
The battlefield was a place where people went mad without little moments like these.
So, we shared those moments together.
And every time, I felt a strange curiosity about him.
—Why do you never get hangovers? I push mine out with mana, but you...
Liam drank till he was on the verge of puking but never seemed to suffer a hangover.
I thought it might be because he could hold his liquor, but it still seemed beyond ordinary limits.
He gave me this answer when I asked him out of sheer curiosity.
—This necklace is the secret.
He showed it off proudly, so I still remember its appearance clearly.
He called it the ‘Hangover Relief Necklace.’
It was an ancient artifact that converted mana into healing power to energize the body.
The amount it converted wasn’t infinite, and the efficiency wasn’t exactly great, but for a civilian to wield healing power?
That made it a divine object.
Even I coveted it.
Of course, having it on the battlefield would help preserve my stamina considerably.
So, I once tried to get it from him.
But he refused, firm in his stance.
—I can’t part with it. It’s something my father left me.
He was a cheerful fellow.
But think about who we were.
The convict squad.
Everyone in it was a criminal, with shadows over their hearts.
Liam’s father had been a common knight in the Royal Guard, unlucky enough to lose his life in the second prince's purge.
When Liam was a cadet, he was driven mad by his father’s death, burning with vengeance against the royal court, and he broke into the palace alone, sword in hand.
Not that he could have done anything.
Despite the era’s darkness, it was still the Imperial Palace.
Security wouldn’t just be breached by a mere cadet.
And so, the vengeful cadet became a prisoner, rising through the ranks to join our convict unit after achieving the status of an expert.
—My father was a real knight, unlike me. He had conviction, and he was righteous. I just… don’t want to forget someone like him.
I knew how powerless it felt to lose family; that wound sears deep.
After hearing him out, I couldn’t bring myself to desire that necklace any longer.
So, he held onto it until the end.
In the end, he died, but…
‘At least he lived until the final battle.’
He survived until the great Capital Siege, the very battle where I had been sent back in time.
If I recall, he made it to the rank of Expert Lieutenant.
Thinking of him now reminded me of something else, too.
—What about you, Lieutenant? What will you do when the war ends?
—I need to rebuild my family.
—Oh! Then can I join your family as a knight?
—No. Pharos isn’t allowed to have knights. Because of our political position, we can’t afford to have armed forces.
—Huh? How does that even work? Then who’s supposed to protect your family?
—The Royal Guard used to take turns as the family's knights. Don’t you know? The barracks were right under Pharos Gardens.
—I lived in the southern part of the capital, so….
—What? You lived in the rich district.
He wanted to join my family as a knight, and I explained why that wasn’t possible.
Then, he replied in a way that was both amusing and endearing.
—Then I'll join the Royal Guard and personally protect Pharos!
—I doubt they'd allow it. That’d be like having a personal army.
—Then I'll settle as a gatekeeper. It’s fun being around you, Lieutenant.
He was a cheerful fellow in many ways.
We were closer than I was with any of the others, and that bond made him special to me.
If I ever got the chance, looking him up might not be a bad idea.
Living in the same capital, it should be easy enough to meet again.
But now isn't the time.
I have too many other problems to deal with.
I sighed.
‘I’m sorry, Liam.’
This time, I need to claim that necklace for myself.
After all, your father is still alive, and there’s no second prince wreaking havoc, so it’s not as if that necklace is going to become a memento for him, right?
I could use it better anyway.
That eased the guilt somewhat.
* * *
Securing that necklace became my top priority.
I didn’t know what might come next or how much I’d have to push my body, so no safety measure was more important than this.
So, I pondered ways to acquire it.
Should I join an auction?
I shook my head at that thought.
‘There’s a risk.’
Liam’s father had been an ordinary knight in the Royal Guard.
If he could afford it as a gift for his son, it probably wasn’t that expensive.
But still, it’s an auction.
Too many variables.
Would the same bidders participate as in my previous life?
The chance was almost zero. T
he future was a twisted thing, ready to change at even the smallest ripple.
With the crown prince alive and well, I could already see discrepancies from the life I knew.
If I attempted to buy it, some rich bidder with too much time and money could easily interfere, and I’d be out of luck.
So, I needed a more reliable plan.
That’s when I thought of a solution.
I went to Dawn Palace.
"So you’re asking me to steal an auction item for you?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
"You think that’ll work?"
"Why wouldn’t it? This auction is held under the auspices of the royal family, and the items are managed by the First Princess, who reports to you, Crown Prince. Besides, it’s not even a main item."
I’d calculated this well.
At this point, no one seemed to recognize the necklace's value.
It was categorized as an opening item meant to stir up interest, and there was no reason for it to be auctioned off in the first place.
Besides, I had the prince’s backing.
Why not use my connections and power here?
The Crown Prince raised a skeptical eyebrow.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Clara]
[Proofreader - Gun]
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“…Is there something magical about this necklace? Something you know?”
“I just want it. Saw it in the catalog and liked it.”
“You’re suddenly interested in accessories?”
“Developed an interest.”
He looked suspicious.
Sure, he might.
The prince was sharp when it came to matters of interest.
He might try to claim it himself if he figured it was valuable.
But I hadn’t come unprepared.
"It’s not like I’m asking you for it for free."
“Oh?”
The Crown Prince smirked.
We both knew the card that would work best in our negotiation.
I pulled out a piece of paper and waved it at him.
“You need a recipe, don’t you?”
“The burger recipe?”
“I wouldn’t bring anything less valuable to the table, would I?”
It was a solid bargaining chip.
Since he’d first tasted a cheeseburger, the Crown Prince had been badgering me for the recipe daily.
Knowing he wanted it badly, I’d resisted, knowing the time would come when I could use it as leverage—and here was my chance.
And now, that opportunity had finally arrived.
'There's no way he can refuse. Not this.'
The essence of negotiation is accurately grasping the value of what the other person wants and what I want.
What I desire is the necklace.
But the prince desires an even greater benefit.
Let’s think from the prince’s perspective.
An artifact or relic?
The palace is full of relics, and nearly everything the prince wears is an artifact.
Even if their worth is sky-high.
So what?
Once he ascends to the throne, all national treasures will become his.
On the other hand, this recipe is something only I know, and the prince wants it intensely.
I’m someone the prince cannot force.
In terms of value, the recipe holds the advantage of being 'unique.'
'I’m above you, dear prince.'
The prince didn’t hesitate for long.
Extending his hand to me, he said,
“Give it to me.”
“Once you accept it, that’s the end.”
“I don’t go back on my word.”
“Don’t investigate the necklace separately. The moment I hand this over, it’s mine.”
“You have my word.”
At least, he doesn’t lie.
With his principles, he lives a life where he feels no need to lie, so I can trust him in this regard.
After securing his promise, I handed over the recipe.
He cherished it and tucked it into his robe with a delighted smile.
“A good deal. You truly are my best ally.”
“Of course.”
Who would have thought I’d end up laughing with this man, face to face?
That’s what I was thinking.
“So, shall we go fetch it right away? The item’s already been moved to the auction house. Why don’t we go together and collect it?”
“Oh.”
What smooth handling of matters. V
ery satisfactory.
* * *
We went out into the street.
Following the prince’s suggestion to keep a low profile, we pulled our robes over ourselves.
The first thing that caught my eye was the liveliness.
The National Foundation Festival was three days away, and the southern district of the capital was busy preparing for the upcoming event.
It was a familiar sight.
“The second night, was it?”
“Hmm? Oh, you mean the night market.”
“Yes, the drinks are especially good that night.”
“...You really do love drinking, don’t you.”
Before I was imprisoned, I would drink in the streets every year during this festival.
Let’s forget, for a moment, about the times I got into fights with random passersby.
The laughter, the shouting, and the dazzling lights painting the streets through the night — those were moments of unique beauty only a festival could bring.
At times like this, one becomes rather sentimental.
Like the moment I returned from the dead, gazing upon the capital as if it were a dream from the past.
Peaceful, comforting moments always seemed to stir a pleasant feeling.
Though, the aftertaste of such sentiments was still bitter.
‘To think that scenes like this were ruined.’
It’s not exactly a grand cause.
My purpose is solely to revive my family’s honor.
But, when I look upon this scene in my nostalgia, I can’t help but wish that it remains unspoiled.
I want to witness this vibrancy for a long time.
Then it dawned on me — perhaps I really did love this capital.
I let out a quiet laugh.
My gaze turned to the prince.
‘He’d better do a good job.’
Of course, the worst was already avoided, so he’ll manage somehow.
The prince’s mere existence would dispel the empire’s dark days, and even if war were to break out, it would never be the same as before.
Yet, solid defenses are always reassuring.
The prince is a foundation.
He’s the solid ground and the pillars in a building.
But a house isn’t complete with just that.
You need walls, a roof, fences, and various furnishings.
The ones who would play that role are the forerunners of the golden age.
For now, they’re fools enchanted by common women.
‘How do I prevent this...’
I know what trouble they’ll cause.
I just don’t know the exact timing, but as long as I keep a close eye, I can be prepared the moment I spot the signs.
With the prince’s help, the handling, whether before or after, can be as clean as possible.
‘First off, Beatrice.’
She’ll need to be dealt with somehow.
It was at that moment.
I heard a woman’s voice, low but unmistakably clear.
“...Your Highness?”
Stopped—
The prince’s steps came to a halt.
I also froze in place.
I turned my head.
I recognized this voice, too.
Then the prince spoke in a trembling voice.
“...Rebecca.”
Before my eyes stood a woman with pink hair, looking at the prince with an innocent face.
When she saw me, she flinched.
A beauty capable of toppling nations.
The woman who brought a kingdom to ruin was now in front of us, and my chest began to feel cold.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Clara]
[Proofreader - Gun]
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