The Extra Prince Sets Out To Conquer The World

I lightly moved the large gem attached to the necklace, imitating an expert.

“Do you have the appraisal certificate?”

“Of course.”

The green-haired boy took out the appraisal certificate as if he had prepared it.

The appraisal certificate was genuine, with the authentication stamp of the 5 major trade associations and the name of the jeweler who appraised it.

“But is this all?”

At my question, Julian answered with slight surprise.

“Of course there are still some that aren’t shown… They are slightly lower in quality than the ones showcased. Are you perhaps not satisfied with what we’ve shown you?”

I shook my head and said,

“No. Each and every one is of a quality that my master would be pleased with. It’s just that my master told me to look for separate gift items. If you don’t have any, I’ll look elsewhere, but if you do, it would be good to handle it all at once.”

If I’m going to cheat them, I should do it properly to make it worthwhile.

When I spoke as if it was no big deal, Julian skillfully smiled and answered.

“The items we didn’t show are just slightly below your dignity, but they are precious items that can’t be compared to goods from other places. You will definitely like them more than elsewhere.”

“Is that so? May I see them once?”

“Of course.”

At Julian’s gesture, all kinds of items indeed came out in order.

It seemed like he was visibly happy inside, thinking he caught a big fish today.

“I like them. I’ll take everything here.”

At my words, Julian couldn’t contain his joy for a moment and smiled brightly, then quickly managed his expression.

It was understandable that he was happy since all of this would be reflected in his performance.

“Then shall we deliver them as usual?”

I answered casually at his voice that revealed emotions he couldn’t quite suppress.

“No. As you may know, it’s a bit chaotic now due to ‘that incident’. That’s why we need to be more careful as we’re buying more than usual.”

The incident I mentioned referred to the assassination attempt on me.

The quick-witted boy soon realized and nodded.

“Yes, then what should we do? Split delivery…”

“There’s no need for that.”

I cut off his words and said,

“Outsiders entering at this time is bound to be burdensome. That’s why I visited to take them ‘directly’ myself. I’ve been serving my master for quite a long time, so I’m somewhat free from inspections.”

“Ah! I see! But the quantity is considerable and the volume is large, will it be alright?”

I slowly dispelled the suspicion about visiting in person unlike usual.

“You just need to pack them and load them into an inconspicuous carriage. We’ll deliver the rest through a route we’ve prepared.”

Julian accepted my words without any doubt, perhaps because he was quite excited or because he was still young.

In the novel, he was quite a cunning character, so it’s a bit disappointing.

Well, since I entered with a mark only the master knows, it’s natural that he can’t be suspicious.

“I’ll have it prepared right away. I’ll put them in a magic bag with space expansion magic, so they’ll fit sufficiently in one carriage.”

Julian gave instructions to his subordinates, and the Boutique’s staff began to move busily.

“Ah, come to think of it, didn’t you say that thing was all prepared?”

At my question, he smiled and affirmed.

“Of course!”

Clap clap!

When Julian clapped, a burly man brought a long box that looked luxurious.

When I opened the box, there was a beautiful sword and scabbard inside that made even an outsider like me gasp in admiration.

Was the sword what the empress ordered?

Come to think of it, the empress’s good-for-nothing son, the 2nd prince, had a wall with studying and was immersed in swordsmanship, hanging out with knights.

A few months later would be the 2nd prince’s birthday, so it seemed to be a birthday present.

“It’s even a genuine one made by dwarves. You won’t be able to find a sword this good easily in the market.”

“It’s very nice. I’ll have to take care of this myself.”

It was a beautiful sword, but it still felt somewhat lacking compared to the Seven Star Sword I gave Precia.

It would be perfect to give to Gilbert later. I closed the box, attached a string to it, and hung it behind my back.

“Well then, since it seems we’ve gotten everything we need, let’s take care of the original business we planned to see to.”

At my words, Julian made an expression as if he would do anything and said,

“Please speak comfortably.”

I gained favor by making a large purchase, but it was still a bit lacking to contact Abassael, my original goal.

Abassael’s existence was a golden goose that laid eggs for the Boutique and also their biggest secret.

Then I should shake things up so they have no choice but to accept my request.

I whispered to Julian as if telling a secret.

“I heard the Boutique has a hidden faceless engraver.”

An engraver was a term referring to a specialized profession that engraves magical formulas on objects.

Usually magicians take on the job concurrently, but even those who can’t use magic can engrave formulas to some extent.

For Abassael, who can’t use magic, it was a perfect profession.

At the words ‘faceless engraver’, Julian’s expression slightly stiffened, but he smiled as if nothing happened.

“Well… What do you mean?”

“I came knowing everything. I’m saying the fallen sage candidate Abassael is here.”

When Abassael’s name came up, Julian seemed to think it was no use making excuses anymore and honestly admitted it.

“Abassael’s existence is a secret. May I ask how you knew?”

I was waiting for him to ask like that.

I deliberately expressed displeasure and answered in a low voice.

“Are you now daring to tell me to sell my master’s information?”

When I went on the offensive, Precia tensed up and took a stance.

Precia seemed to have realized her mistake, but it seemed to be perceived as a warning to Julian and the Boutique’s staff.

“No! How could that be! Please forgive my rudeness!”

From their perspective, subduing the two of us would be a piece of cake, but they couldn’t help but consider our backing.

I sighed exaggeratedly as if displeased and turned around.

“I can’t tolerate such rudeness! I will surely report what happened today. Also, there seems to be no need to pack the items, so everyone stop.”

As I turned around without hesitation, Julian panicked and blocked me.

“I, I’m really sorry! I will pay the price for my rudeness somehow, so please!”

Seeing Julian bow with a youthful face, I almost burst into a chuckle.

Even the sly and inscrutable Julian in the novel seemed to be helpless when young.

It was a fatal blow for the Boutique to fall out of the empress’s favor, so it was natural.

I sighed deeply as if pondering, stroking the top of my mask.

“Sigh… If you go that far, I have no choice. Considering the good relationship we’ve had, I’ll let it slide this once. We also have quite an urgent matter.”

“Th-thank you!”

“But I hope there will be no more disappointing incidents.”

The surroundings turned as cold as ice at the half-threatening remark.

“Of course. But why Abassael…”

When I glared at him, the boy naturally changed his words.

“…we don’t need to know why you’re looking for him. That’s right.”

Julian waited for my words while being extremely tense.

I paused for a moment and then stated my business.

“I want to talk secretly with Abassael right now. The business talk comes after that.”

At my request, Julian’s pupils trembled.

He seemed to be contemplating which was more fatal between revealing the golden goose the Boutique was hiding to an outsider and losing the trust of the super big shot client, the empress.

His contemplation wasn’t very long.

“I understand. I will guide you.”

It was a natural choice. Even the golden eggs laid by the goose need a place to be sold to have value.

The moment they turn the empress into an enemy, the loss the Boutique would suffer was incomparable to something like the golden eggs the goose would lay.

Julian instructed his subordinates to hurry with the packing and guided me and Precia upstairs.

The place where Abassael was located was a small attic at the top of the cathedral.

Stopping in front of the attic door, Julian spoke while gauging my reaction.

“Abassael has quite a nasty personality, so I…”

“It’s alright, geniuses are naturally arrogant. For the conversation with Abassael, just me and this friend are enough.”

When I cut him off, Julian spoke carefully once more.

“Still, he might act violently without knowing anything.”

“The friend who came with me is ‘a man among men’, so he can subdue a feeble magician with one hand, don’t worry.”

There was no way Julian could know the gender of Precia, whose entire body was covered by a shabby coat.

“…I understand. If anything happens, please shout.”

Julian opened the door and went inside as if he had no choice.

As we entered the attic, we saw the haggard Abassael with iron shackles on his legs.

Abassael was confined by the Boutique and doing engraver work.

“Mr. Abassael, our esteemed customer says he has something to discuss with you in secret. I will wait outside, so please refrain from any rude behavior.”

Although the content of the words was a warning, Julian’s speech and actions toward Abassael were quite upright and polite.

Judging from his health condition that didn’t seem too bad at a glance, it seemed they were treating him decently despite the confinement.

Well, engraving formulas was said to be quite an arduous task, so they couldn’t treat him recklessly.

When Julian left, Abassael spoke in a sarcastic tone.

“Hmph! You must be a precious guest to showcase me, who was hidden away. If you have something to say, spit it out quickly and get lost.”

Indeed, his personality was nasty, as Julian said.

Well, it was easier for me to deal with someone who acted nasty and despicable.

“Navi.”

-Meow~!

When I called Navi in a small voice, Navi meowed and created an air barrier around so sound wouldn’t leak outside.

“Magic? No, it’s a bit different. This is… a spirit? You must be a spirit arts user.”

As expected of the youngest Supreme Mage, his discerning eye was excellent.

“With this, no sound will be heard outside. Ah, is there any eavesdropping magic installed by any chance?”

At my question, Abassael smiled bitterly.

“No, I’m not in a position to need such a thing.”

“That’s fortunate.”

“If you have something to say, say it quickly and get lost. If you want to keep the engraving formula a secret, the bastards you use will handle the material procurement, not me, so go find someone else.”

Abassael’s eyes were filled with only emptiness as he said that.

His rotten eyes, as if he had lived his entire life, even made me feel a bit of amusement.

“What I want to deal with isn’t something like engraving, so don’t worry.”

“Then what do you want from an engraver?”

Looking at him staring at me as if I was crazy, I laughed merrily.

“What I want is you. Become my person. Then I will give you freedom and what you desire most!”

Indeed, it’s the law that investments made in a pile of trash yield the greatest profits.

(To be continued in the next episode)