Chapter 3: Prince Ryuguin ①
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“Phew! I think this is it!”
The Hero of the Ages, Prince Ryuguin, placed his pen down on the desk, raised both hands above his head, and stretched with a satisfying groan. He had been diligently working on his script in a room of the Lemone Guild, which he had completely claimed as his own, and he had just finished a significant portion of it.
With the quality of this script, the next stage performance was sure to be a resounding success.
“Alright, alright!”
Ryuguin gave himself a pat on the back for his creative work.
Now that work was done… it was time for food. His stomach was protesting with hunger.
I need to fill my belly with something delicious that befits my status. Maybe it’s time to call Hilbert… I can hand him the finished manuscript while ordering a meal. Hehe, that’s two birds with one stone. As expected of me. Besides, with my well-trained Hilbert, he’ll prepare and bring me my favorite dishes without needing to be told. He was a bit dull by nature, but all the effort I put into his training has paid off.
Feeling quite pleased with himself, Ryuguin clapped his hands together. At that moment, a man who had been waiting by the wall asked, “Did you call for me?” He was a servant employed by Ryuguin.
“Go fetch Hilbert.”
With a succinct command, the servant responded, “Yes, sir!” and hurried out of the room.
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“Hero-sama! I’m here, sorry to keep you waiting!”
In less than a few minutes, Hilbert arrived, panting and dripping with sweat.
“Your time from when I called to when you got here is acceptable. But more importantly, I’m hungry. Prepare something.”
“I figured you might be getting hungry, so I’ve already started preparing! Please wait just a little longer!”
Just by mentioning his hunger, Hilbert was eager to prepare a meal. He dashed out of the room, and within half an hour, a variety of dishes were brought in. Ryuguin simply said, “Well done,” before diving into the feast laid out before him. It would take another hour for him to finish his meal, but during that time, Hilbert stood by with a cheerful smile, watching Ryuguin eat. The sight made Ryuguin think, “Seriously… how much does this guy like me?”
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After finishing his work and dinner, Ryuguin noticed the sun setting outside the window and reflected on his productive day, feeling a sense of fulfillment.
“Oh, right. Hilbert!”
At that moment, Ryuguin remembered something.
“Yes, Hero-sama? What is it?”
“You know what I want, don’t you?”
“To be so expected by you, Hero-sama… I’m truly honored! Well then, if I may be so bold, I believe you called my name for… ‘Reconnaissance’ and ‘Healing,’ correct?”
Ryuguin shamelessly thought of the former as “reconnaissance for maintaining the town’s safety” and the latter as “healing the body and spirit wounded in past fierce battles” while he referred to his drinking escapades as “reconnaissance” and indulging in women as “healing.”
“Finally, you’ve reached this level. Just think of how much time and effort I’ve invested in your training… You should be grateful.”
“Of course! As expected of you, Prince Ryuguin!”
“However, I’d give you a score of about 60 points. Here, take this.”
Ryuguin casually placed the manuscript he had completed into Hilbert’s outstretched hands.
“What is this…?”
“This is the truth of the Sealed Labyrinth Conquest. I’ve finally finished it. This will be the next stage performance I produce.”
The title read “Hero Ryuguin and the Sealed Labyrinth,” and Hilbert felt a moment of dizziness.
“Staring so intently at the manuscript… you’re already my devoted fan, aren’t you? Don’t hold back; read it while I’m off on ‘reconnaissance.’”
After skimming through a page or two, Hilbert offered his initial thoughts.
“You’ve done well to write this much.”
His comment was a diplomatic one, avoiding specifics while still showing respect.
“Of course, it’s only natural. Just make sure to read it thoroughly while I’m out on ‘reconnaissance’ and think about how to develop this story further.”
“Understood! Wow! To be the first to read such a grand work, I feel truly fortunate!”
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───“You’ve done well to write this much.”
That was Hilbert’s first comment. He certainly had a knack for grasping things.
There was hardly any detailed information about the battles in the Sealed Labyrinth. All that was known was that they had defeated a dragon, slimes, and a dragonman (dragonewt). But really, that was enough. The rest could be filled in with imagination.
No, that’s not quite right. This isn’t mere imagination. In the future, this will become reality.
However, among the various issues at hand, there was one significant problem that needed to be resolved. The issue was the “release” of that certain something. This was something that seemed impossible to achieve.
Once a decision is made, is it unchangeable? No, that can’t be the case…
My intuition says otherwise. Yes… more than anything, my wonderful intuition is telling me so. It can’t be wrong.
Then I need to carve out some time somewhere to focus on skill research.
“Hero-sama! Everything is ready! It’s time to depart! Let’s go!”
…That said, there’s no need to rush. After all, I have so many people waiting for me. Spending time on skill research would be a waste.
Besides, with this achievement as a stepping stone, I will soon marry Puffy. And then what? I will become the king of this country. Once I’m king, I can act without hesitation, and there will be no obstacles in my way. I’ll have all the time in the world.
That’s why right now, I want to swim in a sea of fine wine and drown in the affection of the women who love me.
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I’ve posted the cover of the comic adaptation drawn by Yuchi in the recent updates. Please check it out! I did it!