In a Different World with a Smartphone Chapter 342: The Prince, and the Imperial Prince.
Lowe Kingdom.
That was the name of a small country in the Reverse World sandwiched between Eisengard Magicraft Kingdom and Garudio Empire that existed 10 years ago.
While being situated within two large countries, Lowe Kingdom managed to protect its independence, relying on the mountain ranges in its territory and its strong golem soldiers.
The country had a strong pillar of support in the form of the [Beast Emperor] series, twelve Legacy golems that served the country together with their masters, twelve generals of the kingdom.
In this country, there were ruins of an ancient kingdom which had flourished on this land in the past, and Legacy golems could be found with a high frequency within those ruins. The [Beast Emperor] series were also excavated from those ruins.
It is impossible for other countries to leave that kind of treasure trove alone. The country had received several invasions in the past, but they were all repelled by the twelve generals of those generations.
The ground layers within Lowe Kingdom had high amounts of mithril. Mithril in this world held the property of reducing a golem’s power, and as such, most golems can’t even output half of their usual power while within the kingdom’s lands. However, the [Beast Emperor] series did not suffer from that drawback.
Of course, if they leave the lands of Lowe, that merit would become nothing. However, for protecting the country, it’s a perk that’s more than enough for them.
The countries which had tried to invade Lowe Kingdom had always gotten a painful lesson in return. It’s no wonder, since their own armies are basically operating at half-capacity while the other side is free to do whatever they want; it’s basically cheating.
However, ten years ago, that country had suddenly collapsed. It was during the reign of the thirteenth generation’s king, Maximillian Gran Lowe.
The cause was the betrayal of one of the twelve generals of that generation. He had ran away to Eisengard Magicraft Kingdom, where his [Beast Emperor] golem was researched completely. And through joint development with Garudio Empire, the two countries managed to invent a device which allowed their golems to operate normally in areas rich with mithril.
With that, the Lowe side lost their home ground advantage, and Lowe Kingdom was wiped off the map after falling to the golem armies of the two countries…
“We are former soldiers who were serving Lowe Kingdom.”
While saying that, Colonel took out a single card from his bosom. When he shook it lightly, a golem appeared besides him. So it was a [Storage Card].
The golem that appeared had a large body exceeding 2.5 meters in length, and was covered in armor colored a shade of yellow which is close to orange. And the most eye-catching part, the head, was shaped like that of a leopard.
As I was looking up at that golem, its leopard head also turned to look at me. Oh, our eyes met.
“This is one of the [Beast Emperor] series, the [Thunder Leopard · Leopaldo]. It’s been a while since I’ve let it outside… There was always the fear that our ident.i.ties could be leaked to Eisengard or Garudio, after all.” (Note: I mean, that’s literally what’s written in the raw. “Thunder leopard” in kanji, followed by “leopard” in katakana. I a.s.sume the katakana is the name, so that’s how I’m gonna be calling it.)
“Please wait a minute. If that’s one of the [Beast Emperor] series, then you are…”
Yumina interjected from the side. That’s right, that would mean… To answer our question, the brown-skinned beauty next to Colonel, Lieutenant, took one step forward.
“Yes. Colonel was one of the twelve generals serving Lowe Kingdom during that time, alongside Leopaldo.”
“That would be the case. Well, I was just the youngest kid among them back then though.”
Since it’s ten years ago, it wouldn’t be anything weird; still, I find it hard to imagine how the stern old man in front me could’ve been called “young kid” back then… His face can pa.s.s off as
that of someone in his forties, you know. Is he secretly young? a.s.suming Colonel is just over his thirties, then ten years ago would mean he was just over his twenties… I guess that is young.
“Prince Rufredin was born only three days before the destruction of the country. As he was the child of a new concubine, the people who knew of his existence were very few. While we’re sure the prince had escaped the country with the help of his wet-nurse before it fell, we completely lost his tracks after that.”
“We were picked up by the previous [Red Cats] leader when we were wandering around. Since then, we’ve been gathering information for the past 10 years, trying to find the prince, but we couldn’t find a single lead.”
Following the words of Colonel, the slit-eyed Sergeant said that with a sigh. Well, given the difficulty of the thing they were trying to do, that’s pretty much par for the course.
“The twelve generals have mostly fallen in battle, and the [Holy Beast] have also been taken and destroyed. However, the people of Lowe survived in various places. The prince is a symbol of hope for them. When I think about how the prince could be living in poverty while not knowing his heritage, I cannot help but want to help him. Please. Can you not help us somehow?”
“Even if you say that…”
I looked at Colonel who’s lowering his head before returning my eyes to the photo. If there’s only this much to work with…
“Does this child have any special traits? Maybe a mole in a rare location, or a star-shaped birthmark…”
“I don’t know about any moles or birthmarks, but all males born in the Lowe Kingdom’s royal family will manifest the power of mystic eyes. And while they’re young, it’s a tradition for them to wear a sealing bracelet which seals away their mystic eyes. Since some mystic eyes can be dangerous if they’re not used well.”
Upon hearing the word “mystic eyes”, I met eyes with Yumina on reflex. When I turned back to the photograph, the baby really was wearing something like a bracelet on his tiny wrist.
I’ve already met a couple of mystic eye holders before. Yumina’s Mystic Eyes of Intuition which allows her to see the nature of a person, Her Eminence the Ramissh Pope’s Mystic Eyes of Sincerity which allows her to see through lies, and the dragon clan adventurer Sonia-san’s Mystic Eyes of Revelation which allows her to see through illusions.
As for the baby in the photo, his eyes were closed but I guess he was a mystic eye holder too huh.
“His Majesty the late King also had the Mystic Eyes of Ignition, even though it wasn’t that powerful an ability. The prince should have the power of mystic eyes within him.”
“If that’s true, then it should narrow down the range quite a bit. Our world didn’t have that many mystic eye holders, and this world should have even less.”
I’ve once heard a theory that mystic eyes are non-attribute magics that have embedded themselves into a particular organ—the eyes—of its wielder. In this world where magic users themselves are rare existences already, mystic eye holders should be extremely scarce. (While the Surface World may have more by comparison, mystic eye holders are still pretty rare in our world, though.)
Or more like, they couldn’t find him even with that big a hint?
“I don’t know about your side, but in this world mystic eye holders are generally feared. Most mystic eye holders live their lives while hiding their abilities. It’s hard to find one of them. Furthermore, unlike the young lady there, His Majesty had the same eye color for both his eyes. I think it would be safe to a.s.sume the prince is like that too.”
The stronger the power of the mystic eyes, the more likely the person is born with heterochromia. Judging from that, the mystic eyes formed within the Lowe royal family probably aren’t strong ones. However, as long as it’s still a pair of mystic eyes, I can tell it apart using the flow of magic power within the person’s body. And as long as I can tell it apart, I can search for it with my smartphone.
“Search. A boy around 10 years old who has a pair of mystic eyes.”
“Searching… Search finished. Now displaying.”
A few pins dropped onto the map being projected into the air. Three, huh. Still, with this we wouldn’t know which one is the prince. It could even be possible that all three were just normal boys with mystic eyes.
“Is that sealing bracelet something which can be worn even when the child grows bigger?”
“Ah. The size should be freely adjustable. Since it looks like a normal bracelet on the outside, there’s a good chance he’s still wearing it.”
Since it’s a magic tool, I should be able to sense magic from it as well. That means it pa.s.ses as a search condition.
“Search for one wearing a sealing bracelet among these results.”
“Search finished. One result fits the search conditions. Displaying.”
“””!”””
Got it! A single red pin falls onto the map.
“Garudio Empire… To think he would be within the target of our vengeance…”
“Colonel, it’s not just that. This place…”
“The Imperial Capital, Gallesta… And it’s right in the middle, really…”
The three of them muttered while looking at the map. They probably never thought he would be in one of the countries that destroyed their own, and furthermore in its capital. They’re making rather complicated expressions.
I wonder which part of the capital he’s in. I zoomed in on the map. I just hope it’s not something like the slums… It’ll be the worst possibility if he’s committed crimes or fallen to slavery.
“Nn? Oi, wait a second, isn’t this…”
As I enlarged the location with the pin, I began to realize that it hasn’t s.h.i.+fted from the center of the imperial capital yet. The pin’s location is within a large building at the center of the capital. Isn’t this… The imperial palace!?
“Why is the prince of Lowe Kingdom within the imperial palace of the Garudio Emperor…!?”
Colonel leaked out a dumbfounded voice. I guess I should thank my luck for the imperial palace to not be covered in a barrier… Wait, no. Not that. Is my search mistaken or something?
“What could this mean?”
“No, even if you ask me…”
Leen looked at me with her eyes, but I don’t know why this is happening too, you know. At the very least, within the imperial palace, there definitely is a “boy around 10 years old” who “has a pair of mystic eyes” and is “wearing a sealing bracelet”. I suppose there is still room to doubt whether that boy really is the lost prince of Lowe…
“Do you have something like hair from the late king?”
“No, at least not right now… Why do you ask?”
“It would be best for us to confirm whether this boy really is the child of the late Lowe king, right? If I had something like the king’s hair or bone, I can do that.”
“… Although it’s severely damaged, His Majesty the King’s golem is with someone I know. His Majesty’s hair or nail should still be in its G-cube. We’ll prepare it if it’s needed.”
I see. Genetic information of the golem master, is it. That should be enough.
After that, I just need to intrude a little bit upon Garudio’s imperial palace, and borrow a strand of hair or two from the boy who turned up in my search. Then I just need to pa.s.s the
materials over to [Alchemy Building]’s manager, Flora, for a bit of DNA a.n.a.lysis, and we should be able to get to the bottom of this.
“Are you going to this palace?”
“Yeah, just going to borrow some of this kid’s hair strands with the help of [Invisible].”
“Then I’ll come along too.”
“Me as well.”
Following Yumina, Leen raised her hand as well. Pola raised its hand too as if saying “Me too”. Kougyoku too nodded while perched on my shoulder.
“Then, we’ll grab the hair of this boy and return to our world directly from there. How long would you guys take to get the king’s hair or whatever?”
“Let’s see… Around two or three days.”
“Got it. Just contact Nia if you guys are finished.”
We said goodbye to the [Red Cats] group, then moved to an unpopulated forest for the moment with [Gate]. From there, everyone would disappear via [Invisible] before I would jump to the destination in one go with [Teleport].
Since we’re invisible, it should be fine even if we’re off by a bit, was my thoughts as I confirmed the direction and distance using the map.
“Alright, everyone come closer.”
“Ah, yes.”
“Fufu, it’s a bit embarra.s.sing, isn’t it?”
Don’t say it out loud for G.o.d’s sake. I’ll start minding it more, you know.
While hugging the two of them who are clinging onto me below my arms, carrying Pola on my back and Kougyoku on my shoulder, I used [Teleport] and instantly transferred ourselves to the inner courtyard of the imperial palace of Garudio Empire.
“Kya!”
“Oto!”
“Mu!? Who’s there!”
I messed up the height a little bit, and we ended up teleporting to a spot 30cm above the ground. I managed to hug Yumina who’s about to fall over close and prevent it, but we couldn’t stop our voices from coming out, and several guards came over.
Since I’ve already casted [Invisible] on us, as long as we don’t make a sound, they shouldn’t notice us.
The soldiers were looking around in front of us. Since no one was here, they collectively tilted their heads.
“What’s wrong?”
“No, we heard some suspicious sounds… Seems like it was our imagination. Probably a bird or something.”
One of the soldiers answered to the voice of a child which came from the side.
When I turned to look at the source of that voice, there was a young boy around 10 years old standing in the inner courtyard. He’s wearing some expensive-looking clothes. Is he the child of a n.o.ble?
The boy has his long clear-looking brown hair tied behind his head, and looks like a mature child. His left eye is deep brown, but his right eye is a weird color between green and hazelnut- colored. Mystic eye holder, huh.
“Touya-san. That…”
Yumina pointed at the young boy’s wrist, where a golden bracelet was s.h.i.+ning. The sealing bracelet. That means this boy is, without a doubt, the boy which was my sole search result.
Now then… The late king of Lowe apparently had the same color for both his eyes; however, the boy in front of me is completely heterochromatic. Furthermore, how did the prince of a destroyed country end up as the son of a n.o.ble within one of the countries that destroyed it? Well, with regards to the mystic eye it could be that his inherited power was stronger than average but…
“Hmm, maybe my search was wrong after all…?”
Eh, whatever. Everything would become clear with the DNA test.
“Kougyoku, please.”
“As you wish.”
Kougyoku flied off from my shoulder and glided in the air for a bit, before pa.s.sing by the boy’s head while plucking off a few strands of his hair.
It probably p.r.i.c.ked him a bit; the boy held his head with his hands and looked up at the sky. Sorry about that.
Well then, with this our mission here is complete. Let’s retreat.
“Ohh, Lucrecion. So you were here.”
“Father! And mother too!”
“Your Majesty the Emperor! Your Majesty the Empress!”
What!?
Everyone in that place besides the young boy kneeled down at the appearance of two new people in the inner courtyard.
An imposing man in his forties and a gentle-looking woman in her thirties.
The man who, although somewhat thin, had eyes and brows which expressed a strong will, was wearing a luxurious mantle and a crown which identified him as an emperor at first glance.
The woman too was wearing a high-cla.s.s dress, and on her head was a circlet with an abundance of jewels scattered on it. So these two are Garudio’s emperor and empress, huh.
… That means that boy is the imperial prince!?
“Are you going out, father?”
“Umu. To the Factory. I might be returning late. Take care of mother.”
“Yes!”
After gently patting the head of the prince, who answered energetically, the emperor left the courtyard with some knights. The empress then started accompanying the prince, and while chatting happily, they moved in a different direction from the emperor while accompanied by the escorts from earlier.
“Kougyoku, sorry but can you grab some hair from the emperor and empress as well?”
“Understood.”
Kougyoku flied off again. I have absolutely no idea what’s going on here, so this much is about the only things I can do right now.
“What does this mean? How did the prince of the destroyed Lowe Kingdom become the imperial prince of the Garudio Empire which destroyed it?”
“We’re not sure if that boy is the prince we’re looking for, you know? There’s the chance that the imperial prince here happens to be around the same age, has mystic eyes, and is also wearing a sealing bracelet.”
Yumina and Leen discussed the current situation. Is it like that time in Lihnea, where the queen had an affair and birthed the son of another man… No, probably not.
Seems like some seriously complicated puzzle has fallen into my laps… This is going to be troublesome…
– Pixel