Chapter 7. Fired the Moment You Are Spotted
The words of Ivan that he had heard earlier came to mind.
What was the answer when Radel asked about the factions trying to kill him?
‘There is more than one.’
He thought all he had to do was find them.
First, the powerful succession candidate, the 2nd Prince. And the factions supporting him.
And the factions of the 9th Prince, Leon Silvert Cretian, who was his twin brother but hated him more than anyone in the world.
‘There could be more.’
Should he sweep away the 2nd Prince’s faction entirely?
Or should he eliminate the followers of the 9th Prince, the zealous Magic Supremacists?
‘I can’t do that even if I want to.’
He didn't have the power for it.
And even if he eliminated them, there was no guarantee that the other Princes and Princesses wouldn't pose a threat.
There would be other Imperial family members who would want to eliminate their siblings given the chance.
The bigger problem was the lack of solid evidence.
This kind of covert succession war was highly disadvantageous for Radel, who had no backing.
It was a stroke of luck that he could even obtain this kind of information.
The Ability Management Bureau was a place to be wary of, but the immediate danger was the direct assassination attempt.
Having no one on his side in the Imperial Palace was also a problem.
To live in this Imperial Palace, he had to live with attendants regardless. However, Radel had no way to find out who sent them.
What Radel could do was continue to suspect them, or...
‘If I live like that, I’ll die early from stress.’
Or get rid of them completely.
Radel climbed up to a high point on the stairs. From the very top, the sight of the attendants was visible at a glance.
He shouted so that everyone could hear.
“Everyone knows I almost died a few days ago, right!”
The attendants, unsure how to react to his sudden outburst, were just rolling their eyes.
“I developed a mental illness from that shock, everyone.”
Radel’s voice trembled.
He dramatically clutched his chest.
“I’m already timid and introverted, but now, the sight of people makes my skin crawl.”
The attendants began to whisper.
There were Princes and Princesses with sensitive personalities, and others who were hot-tempered or exuded a constant chill, but this kind of Prince was a first.
“From now on, you don’t need to prepare my meals or bathwater. Do not approach me under the pretense of doing so.”
The attendants were dumbfounded.
Then how were they supposed to serve him?
“I’ll take care of it myself. I am seventeen. I am fully grown, and if anyone appears in front of me saying they’ll do this or that for me, I won't let it slide.”
Adolescence...?
The pupils of the Chief Attendant, as well as the attendants, shook wildly.
“All of this is because of that memory of almost dying... Ha... I’m going crazy.”
Radel dramatically swept his hand across his face, feigning unbearable agony.
“Seriously... I can't stand it...!”
Radel’s shoulders shook, and his eyes showed through the gaps in his fingers covering his face.
His golden eyes, the proof of the Imperial family, shone darkly.
What was that darkness?
The attendants instinctively got goosebumps at the sight.
If they got involved with him, something bad would surely happen. There was a reason people avoided the 8th Prince’s Palace!
After that, Radel threw out radical statements like leaving him a note if they had something to convey, or that he would forage for his own food in the kitchen himself.
“From this moment on, do not let anyone be spotted in front of my eyes. Fired the moment you are spotted. Keu-keuk.”
The 8th Prince who returned to life is a lunatic!
The rumor spread quickly.
***
Radel reveled in the comfort of the Prince’s Palace after everyone’s presence had vanished.
It seemed the attendants didn't leave the 8th Prince’s Palace, but were just avoiding his sight, but regardless, they didn't try to be near him.
The intentional strange behavior was worthwhile. Having many eyes watching would interfere with what he had to do next.
He approached the secluded stairs where he had fallen.
This was a corner staircase far from the main stairs, a remote place where people rarely went.
He looked around, and indeed, no one was there.
He was very satisfied.
‘What does it matter if people gossip that I’m crazy?’
It was better than dying.
Radel did not forget the feeling right before death. Even with the Troll’s Heart, it didn't mean he could avoid death.
‘I must become strong.’
He learned a lot from his visit to the Ability Management Bureau.
The most helpful lesson was the realization that he must use any means necessary.
The reason he could catch Armandy was because his opponent was careless. If he didn't become strong while everyone was careless around him like this, he would be the one to suffer.
Ding.
[Unknown magic is interfering with the user's perception.]
[Status Effect Nullification is activated.]
[Conditions have been met.]
[Condition: Blood of the Imperial Family]
[A hidden space is revealed.]
[A Secret Training Ground reveals itself!]
A stone wall emitting light appeared before his eyes.
Radel wore a satisfied smile.
There was only one reason why this place caught his attention more than the other secret doors or secret passages.
[Condition: Blood of the Imperial Family]
That condition sparked Radel's interest.
He must have met the condition when he was lying there bleeding from his head.
He didn't know who created this, but the location was so perfect that he wondered if the creator had also fallen down the stairs.
‘This is where I was reborn.’
He felt a new sense of emotion.
When Radel placed his hand on the stone wall that was glowing, the light extending from the wall enveloped his hand and sucked him in.
It was dazzling.
Fwaaa!
There was a sound of something being sucked in.
And what unfolded next was pitch-black darkness.
***
When Radel opened his eyes in the darkness, he had already been transported somewhere.
Looking around the pitch-dark space, the darkness stretched out endlessly. Furthermore, it was too vast to be a hidden space within the Prince's Palace.
This place was surely created by magic.
“What is that...?”
A faint light could be seen leaking from a gap in the darkness far away.
Radel walked toward the dimly lit place.
Crackle, crackle.
Wood was burning red in a fireplace.
Radel blinked his eyes at the unbelievably peaceful scene spread before him.
They called this a Secret Training Ground.
“It’s just a room.”
The small room where Radel was standing contained not only a fireplace but also a desk, a chair, a small sofa, a table, and a bed.
One would believe someone had just been there.
However, it was too quiet except for the sound of the wood burning, and there was no sign of people.
Radel found a book placed on the desk.
Someone’s initials were written on the cover.
H.L.K
“Who is it?”
He couldn't know yet.
Opening the book, there was writing in neat handwriting.
This was a diary.
Imperial Calendar XXX Year, December 12th
Damn this Ability!
Why is it giving me such a trial?
Imperial Calendar XXX Year, December 15th
I wish I could chew and swallow this Ability.
This must be a curse.
Imperial Calendar XXX Year, December 30th
I can't gather Mana no matter what I do.
But I will not give up.
The owner of the diary was a Prince born in Cretian a long time ago. And he lived in the 8th Prince’s Palace, repeating research and experiments.
The diary continued with content about repeatedly challenging and failing against the Ability.
“He was an ancestor.”
Radel found it fascinating that a Prince who lived a long time ago wrote so many complaints about his Ability in his diary.
And that the Ability he desperately wanted was a curse to someone else.
Imperial Calendar XXX Year, May 21st
Finally, Mana is starting to move!
Can I use magic again?
Imperial Calendar XXX Year, May 22nd
If only I had never known magic!
What if I had never felt Mana?
These thoughts are futile.
I was happy when it manifested, and then came despair.
But I cannot not challenge it.
Imperial Calendar XXX Year, May 24th
It was a good idea to build the palace here.
Although it is a little secluded, a vein of ore flows beneath the Prince's Palace, making it rich in Mana.
Is that why?
The movement of surrounding Mana has been unusual recently.
I cannot gather Mana, and I cannot use magic.
However, I can feel the flow of Mana.
As far as Radel knew, there was only one such Trait.
Magic Nullification!
Magic Nullification was a Trait that blocked all magical influence.
He couldn't receive buffs or Heal, but it was also convenient in combat because the attack magic of the enemy would also be nullified.
‘I used to envy that when I was a Hunter.’
Radel summoned his Status Window.
[Status Effect Nullification (S)]
Nullifies all types of magic that affect the user's status.
However, attack magic is excluded.
How wronged he was because of that one line: attack magic is excluded.
He couldn't receive Heal anyway, but why did the attack still hit him!
It claimed to nullify all kinds of magic, so why exclude attack magic?
The memory of suffering from the double cost of potions whenever he encountered a magic-using monster in a dungeon was vivid.
‘But it must have been hard not being able to gather Mana in this world.’
He couldn't use magic.
Moreover, he couldn't receive Heal.
On Earth, if you weren't a Hunter, you would never feel Mana or need magic in your entire life.
But here, it was natural to receive Healing Magic when sick, and to use magic in combat.
He could guess how difficult his life must have been.
Furthermore, reading the diary, it seemed his manifestation was late for an Imperial family member.
It was a situation he could easily guess in many ways. It seemed the life of an Imperial family member was similar then and now.
Imperial Calendar XXX Year, July 13th
I finally found a clue.
The answer was inside me.
Imperial Calendar XXX Year, August 9th
Seira is scheduled to visit tomorrow.
I want to tell her what I found out quickly.
Imperial Calendar XXX Year, August 10th
This is the first time!
Using magic without gathering Mana!
Could I be a genius?
“...What?”
Used magic without gathering Mana?
Radel was surprised.
If he succeeded in this, the owner of this diary was surely a genius who would be recorded in history.
Imperial Calendar XXX Year, January 1st
It’s been a while since I wrote in my diary.
I am satisfied with what I have achieved.
However, I thought that someone in the future might be born with the Magic Nullification Ability like me.
So, I pick up my pen again.
Do not despair.
I leave a gift in this palace that contains everything of mine.
If Magic Nullification has manifested, you will be able to find it easily.
Good luck to you.
Archmage Hayden Reinhard Cretian
Radel read the name written on the last page aloud.
“Hayden Reinhard Cretian...”
Then, as if in response to those words, a book on the bookshelf next to the desk began to glow.
“?!”
He walked toward the bookshelf and checked the name of the glowing book.
[Hayden’s Absolute Mana Training Method]
Simultaneously, a familiar sound was heard in his ear.
Ding.
[Scanning user.]
[Status Check]
[Skill: Hayden’s Absolute Mana Training Method]
[Condition: Magic Nullification]
[Skill is being changed because the condition is only partially met.]
[Skill: Hayden’s Normal Mana Training Method]
[Would you like to learn the Skill? (Y/N)]
It could change the Skill to suit the user like this?
Radel intuitively knew this as he read the System Window, but the creator had clearly applied an incantation so that the book would transform to match whoever came.
He was a real Archmage!
“You're amazing, ancestor.”
He was genuinely impressed and raised his finger.
Not learning a Skill from such an Archmage was simply ridiculous.