Chapter 89

Lately, I’ve been overwhelmed with worries. From what to have for lunch to concerns about Camelian Peony’s father, my mind is a mess. Damn it… Camelian Peony’s father? How am I supposed to report this? But I couldn’t just keep my mouth shut about it, so I reported that their group includes elves and nymphs, suggesting it’s a massive organization.

“Damn it…”

To survive, I also need to retrieve the relics Werner had. I just wanted to live out my days peacefully, but how did things get so messed up? God, was it too much to ask to just laze around in my own house, eating away at my fortune?

“…Lord Werner?”

“Ah, Crown Prince, my apologies. I was just thinking about those organization guys…”

The Crown Prince summoned me privately to give instructions for the next mission. After all that hard work, there’s no reward or vacation. No wonder other sorcerers don’t want to join the Imperial Sorcerers.

“As you’ve seen, there are too many rats in the country now. I want to catch them all, but they’re too sneaky and meticulous.”

“Isn’t it natural for rats to hide in their holes?”

“But as long as those rats are there… the people will continue to suffer!”

The Crown Prince slammed the table as he expressed his opinion. Naive. Do they think pulling out weeds will stop them from growing back? They keep sprouting, and yet he believes it’s possible. He’s still young.

“Crown Prince, there are things in this world you must endure, no matter how angry you are. Things you must pretend not to see or hear. That’s how you avoid bloodshed.”

I said that and sipped my tea. It was bitter but rich in flavor, quite good. Personally, I think anyone who dumps sugar into tea is a lunatic.

The Crown Prince ignored my words and continued.

“If you want to cut out the rot, pus and blood must flow. If you don’t cut it out, the whole body will rot. By then, it’ll be too late!”

“Crown Prince, calm down. And…”

I reached out toward the Crown Prince’s neck.

“To cut out the rot, blood must flow… that’s true. But do you have the blade to cut it out? You can’t do anything with bare hands.”

Even if justice requires bloodshed, you still need the minimum ability to do so. Despite my threat, the Crown Prince didn’t back down.

“Yes, with capable people like you as my blade.”

This lunatic is turning people into blades. Damn it, what is this, turning people into metal? What nonsense.

“Then, are you prepared to wield this sharp blade named Werner? Even the sharpest blade is useless if it cuts your own hand, right?”

I implied that someone like him couldn’t handle me.

“If I were a coward who could only wield a dull blade, I wouldn’t have the resolve to cut out the rot in the first place.”

If he didn’t have the resolve to handle me, he wouldn’t even think of fighting those corrupt bastards. Stupid, naive, and full of ideals, yet brimming with courage and resolve… I don’t dislike that kind of person.

A dangerous mission with low chances of success… let’s do it. That’s a man’s instinct.

“Fine. I, Werner Altan, will follow you, Crown Prince.”

Helping this fool might not be so bad once in a while. He doesn’t even realize how deep he’s sinking into the mud, so it might be fun to lend a hand.

“So, Lord Werner, there’s something I’d like to ask of you.”

As long as it’s not introducing me to a woman or confessing to me, I’m willing to listen.

“What is it? Don’t hesitate to speak.”

“I plan to weed out those rats this time.”

You mean the nobles connected to the Black Round Table or those with other suspicious ties?

“That sounds interesting. Do you have a plan?”

You can’t punish all of them, so you need a way to distinguish them. But if you leave that task to me, I’ll seriously hit you.

“I’ll host a ball.”

A ball? Has this lunatic been watching too many Bollywood movies? What, are we going to dance and say, “Let’s all stop doing bad things!”? Say something that makes sense. Is this guy really an idiot?

“A ball is where all sorts of nobles mingle. Those with shady backgrounds will naturally gather together.”

“That sounds plausible, but they won’t openly discuss suspicious matters in front of you, Crown Prince.”

“That’s why I’m asking you, Lord Werner. Disguise yourself and attend the ball under a fake identity.”

Hosting a party under the Crown Prince’s name and gathering information there… not a bad plan. But there’s one problem.

“But Crown Prince, if it’s such a ball, many people will attend. Isn’t it too much for me to monitor everyone alone?”

I’m not some African mercenary with superhuman hearing.

“Don’t worry about that. I’ve already found a suitable partner for you.”

Suddenly, the Crown Prince started covering his eyes with a towel. Did this guy suddenly want to become Illidan or something?

“Please come in.”

Then the door opened, and Lorcha appeared.

“Your Highness, I hope you’ve been well.”

Even though Lorcha appeared, the Crown Prince didn’t react.

“Now that I can’t see, there’s no need to react, hahaha.”

Humans are animals that know how to use tools, huh? I almost wanted to applaud the Crown Prince’s evolution and wisdom.

“So, I plan to host a ball soon. You two will disguise yourselves and attend under the identities I’ve prepared.”

Lorcha seemed to have been briefed beforehand, as she didn’t look surprised.

“Do we have a reason to host the ball, Your Highness?”

“To celebrate the pregnancy of the Crown Princess should suffice.”

“Certainly… that’s a perfect reason. But what identities are you preparing? Creating two fake identities is quite difficult…”

“Well, if we make you two a couple, that should be enough, right?”

Making us a couple would certainly make things easier. But Lorcha’s face turned red as she shouted.

“Your Highness! Me and him as a couple? I haven’t heard anything about this!!!”

Her entire body turned red like a master of the Fire God Technique, and she clenched her fists in protest, which was kind of cute.

“But as Lady Lorcha, the Tower Lord, said, creating two separate identities for such an event is no small task.”

“Then I’ll attend as the eldest daughter of the McCallin family without using a fake identity…”

“That would be even more problematic, don’t you think?”

“But Your Highness…”

The Crown Prince looked at the wall, not at Lorcha or me.

“But you two look good together, even to me. Even if you temporarily change your hair and eye color, the harmony won’t be disrupted.”

Thanks for the compliment, but what are you even looking at? Covering your eyes doesn’t make you blind. What do you mean “even to me”? What can you even see?

“Then, can I bring some people to assist me?”

I wanted to bring some guards just in case.

“Well, if they follow the disguised Lord Werner, it shouldn’t be a problem.”

Truly, my lord, the monster of rationality.

“Hey, Werner! That’s not the point right now!”

Then what is the point, you idiot?

“Hmm… is there something more important than this plan right now? I don’t know.”

I teased Lorcha a bit because I wanted to mess with her.

“No! We have to attend as a couple! Aren’t you bothered by that?”

“It’s just a disguise. Didn’t we play like this when we were kids?”

“No! Playing Archmage as kids is not the same as this!”

“Well, playing husband and wife with you sounds pretty good to me. Don’t you like it?”

“No… it’s not that I don’t like it…”

“Then would you follow me to the ballroom… my wife?”

I teased Lorcha with full confidence. Her red face contrasted with her blue robe, which was very cute.

“Ah… fine! I’ll do it! I’ll do it!”

“I’m glad to hear that, my wife.”

“If you call me ‘wife’ one more time, I’ll kill you!”

I guess I teased her too much. Even a worm squirms when stepped on, and Lorcha is no different.

“Indeed, you two look good together, even to me, hahaha.”

“By the way, Crown Prince, you can’t keep the blindfold on at the ball. What will you do if you see a woman?”

“Ah, it’s fine. If I prepare myself, I can endure for a few minutes…”

Just then, the Crown Prince laughed so hard that the towel covering his eyes fell off, and he ended up seeing Lorcha’s face.

“Bleeeeh!”

Can this guy really hold back from vomiting at the ball?

“It’s not very pleasant to have someone vomit at the sight of your face, really…”

Seeing Lorcha sigh, I felt like teasing her more.

“Bleeeeh…?”

When I pretended to vomit, Lorcha started hitting my back.

“You’re asking for it! Seriously!”

A Crown Prince who vomits at the sight of a woman’s face.

The handsome and kind heir of Confucianism, Werner Altan.

The dropkick master, Lorcha McCallin.

Can these three hopeless siblings really handle this properly?