Chapter 34: The Beginning of a New Name (2)

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King Laskan Canel of the Canel Kingdom stood atop the tallest spire of the royal palace, overlooking the royal castle below.

It was a clear day—so clear that even the outer walls surrounding the castle could be seen distinctly.

“Hoo……”

A deep sigh escaped King Laskan’s lips.

Just then, Trine, the Captain of the Royal Knights, ascended the spire and stood behind him.

“Your Majesty. His Highness, the Third Prince, has just passed through the western gate and left the castle.”

“Oh-ho…! Already?”

It had only been two days since he had given the prince ten days’ grace. Leaving so soon felt too abrupt, and King Laskan couldn’t help but feel a pang of sadness.

“It seems His Highness departed early, knowing the journey ahead would not be easy.”

“That is true as well.”

The destination was Kanas Territory, known as the Land of the Cursed.

Though vast in size, it was said that much of the land was barren and unfit for farming, leaving its people in poverty.

Because of that, its tax rates were far lower than those of other territories.

Even so, the collected taxes were always insufficient.

That was how difficult it was to sustain Kanas Territory.

“You must be deeply worried.”

“I’ve done nothing right by that boy. As a father, as a king… I’ve given him nothing of worth…”

Trine could offer neither comfort nor reproach to such a sorrowful voice.

No one could criticize King Laskan, who had lived his entire life solely for the sake of the Canel Kingdom.

“Please, Your Majesty, do not worry too much. If it’s the Third Prince, I believe he will do well.”

“Indeed… He’s changed so much. And yet, I couldn’t even give him a word of encouragement before he left.”

At the king’s murmured words, Trine brushed his gauntleted hand over his chest.

Inside his armor was the letter Raion had entrusted to him.

He had said it was to be delivered only if the king fell ill or if some omen appeared.

Trine did not know what the letter contained, but he felt compelled to hand it over anyway.

Yet the condition Raion had mentioned troubled him.

‘A calamity befalling His Majesty… What could His Highness possibly know?’

Questions piled atop one another, yet no answers emerged.

As the king continued gazing down at the castle, it seemed his eyes had grown faintly moist.

Clatter! Clatter! Clatter!

The carriage had long since left the royal castle of Canel and was now rolling along a forest path.

For a while now, there had been nothing but mountains and trees in sight.

Ahead lay the route that would take them through the outskirts of Vaizen, then across Malren, and finally to the Clamen Mountain Range, which bordered Praizen.

If they continued nonstop by carriage, it would take about three or four days.

But considering the stamina of the horses, even at a generous pace, it would take around seven.

“Patrick, when will we reach Vaizen Castle?”

“We should begin to see the castle soon, Your Highness.”

The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, painting the sky with the glow of sunset.

It wasn’t wise to camp out on the first day, so they had decided to stop by Vaizen Castle for the night.

“Then, let’s halt for a moment.”

“Yes, sir.”

When the carriage stopped, Jade and Caldein, who had been riding alongside on horseback, pulled up as well.

“What’s the matter, Your Highness?”

At Jade’s question, Raion gestured for them to come closer.

“From now on, don’t call me ‘Your Highness.’ Call me ‘young master.’”

“Do you mean… to conceal your identity outside the capital?”

Even Patrick, who was seated on the driver’s bench, turned in surprise.

“There’s no need to go around flaunting that I’m a prince. It’d only make me an easy target.”

The Canel Kingdom was far from entirely safe.

Even within territories, the areas outside city walls were often perilous—filled with monsters, or perhaps with corrupted mercenaries and adventurers.

To such people, anyone could appear to be fair game.

“I understand your reasoning, but even if we change how we address you, anyone could recognize you.”

Patrick’s gaze shifted toward the carriage door.

The carriage bore, engraved on all sides, a large lion’s head—the royal emblem used exclusively by the Canel family.

“Well, that alone would give us away.”

Raion stepped down from the carriage and placed his hand on the lion emblem.

“Decomposition (分解)! Synthesis Formation (合成形成)!”

At his incantation in Korean, the lion’s head began to melt away.

Simultaneously, a sky-blue message window appeared before Raion’s eyes.

[Decomposition (分解) complete. Proceeding with Synthesis Formation (合成形成). Please visualize the desired form.]

After pondering for a moment, Raion pictured the traditional blue dragon of Korea in his mind.

At once, the form solidified, and the melted lion reshaped itself into the coiled body of a blue dragon.

He continued the same process for the other sides of the carriage, transforming every lion emblem into the dragon motif.

“This should do it.”

“Your Highness! You must not alter the royal emblem so carelessly!”

Patrick shouted in outrage, running his hand over the newly formed design.

“If I don’t want to be recognized as a prince, this is the only way.”

“Still, even so…”

“It’s not that important. Don’t worry about it. More importantly—huh?”

Raion stopped mid-sentence as another message window appeared before his eyes.

[Due to repeated use of abilities, Form Transformation (形像變化) has been created.]

[You may check your Status to confirm.]

Seeing that, Raion called up his information window.

“Status!”

Ding!

[Status Information]

Name: Raion Canel

Age: 17

Occupation: Third Prince of the Canel Kingdom / Regressor / Arcane Sorcerer

Life: 999 / 999

Stamina: 3,830 / 3,830

Mana: 10,110 / 10,110

Abilities:

Synthesis (合成) Level 10

Decomposition (分解) Level 10

Extraction (抽出) Level 10

Emission (放出) Level 10

Engraving (刻印) Level 10

Formation (形成) Level 10

Analysis (分析) Level 10

Storage (倉庫) Level 6

Detection (感知) Level 3

Concealment (隱蔽) Level 4

Restoration (復舊) Level 5

Decomposition-Synthesis (分解合成) Level 10

Specific Analysis (特定分析) Level 10

Synthesis Formation (合成形成) Level 10

Extraction-Synthesis (抽出合成) Level 10

Engraving Expansion (刻印擴張) Level 2

Remote Engraving (遠隔刻印) Level 3

Form Transformation (形像變化) Level 1

True Martial Art (眞武道) Level 10

Raizen-Style Swordsmanship (라이젠류 검술) Level 4

Tip:

Abilities can be synthesized to create new techniques.

Tap an entry to view detailed information.

When fifteen or more abilities reach Level 10, a new ability will be unlocked.

The newly acquired ability was Form Transformation (形像變化).

It had manifested after he repeatedly used Decomposition and Synthesis Formation earlier.

“So, new abilities can form like this too?”

It seemed the “Ability Synthesis” mentioned in the tips referred to exactly this phenomenon.

“With this, I can easily alter shapes, huh?”

Raion muttered to himself and reached for a small piece of wood placed nearby.

“Form Transformation (形像變化)!”

[Form Transformation (形像變化) initiated. The material will be analyzed automatically and reshaped as desired.]

Upon hearing the message, Raion imagined the blue dragon shape he had created earlier.

Instantly, the wooden piece changed form and transformed into the figure of a coiled blue dragon.

“Not bad at all.”

Patrick, who had earlier been furious, sensed Raion’s new realization and asked,

“Have you learned another spell, Your Highness?”

“Something like that. But it’s easier to use.”

“Remarkable. Your Highness’s magic truly knows no bounds.”

Caldein, standing beside him, let out a deep exclamation.

He was still studying Vladmia Mahal’s magical formulas, yet his curiosity toward Raion’s magic had also grown, and he had been documenting his findings in detail.

“It’s all thanks to my peculiar constitution. But still, Jade, Caldein—do you have any regrets?”

Jade and Caldein had both left the Wind Wolves Knights and the 13th Mage Division, joining Raion’s command instead.

Naturally, they knew well how dangerous Kanas Territory was.

They had abandoned stable positions to leap into peril, and it was only natural for him to be concerned.

Even if the question came a little late, Raion still wanted to hear their honest answers.

Caldein replied first, his expression firm.

“Because I believed, Your Highness, that you would lead me to what I’ve been seeking.”

“That would be Vladmia Mahal’s knowledge, wouldn’t it?”

Caldein suspected that Raion’s magic might somehow be related to Vladmia Mahal’s sorcery.

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“And you, Jade?”

“Just because.”

“…Huh? Just because?”

Raion blinked, taken aback by the unexpected answer.

“Yes.”

“You left Sofia back in the royal castle, and you’re fine with that?”

Four years ago, she had nearly been tricked into disaster by Diang Oulad.

Although Diang had been captured before anything terrible happened, Sofia had grown fearful of meeting anyone afterward.

Having opened her heart—only to discover the man was a serial killer—was naturally traumatic.

Eventually, Jade and Sofia grew close again, though the two still bickered constantly.

“I’m sure Sofia’s doing fine.”

“You’re not worried? What if someone proposes to her?”

Sofia was now twenty-six—well past the typical marriage age.

Though her past trauma made relationships difficult, her beauty alone would inevitably attract men’s attention.

“Who could possibly handle that temper? She’ll probably live alone and die of old age.”

Raion couldn’t tell if he was joking or serious.

Still, he found it reassuring that Jade seemed at ease.

“If the chance arises, we can bring her to Kanas too. Anyway—thanks for choosing to follow me.”

In the original future, Raion had only ever heard of a mercenary named Jade from the Canel Kingdom.

He had never met him, nor planned to recruit him.

It was a coincidence that he had remembered him and taken him in this time.

“There’s no need to thank us.”

“Still, it feels a bit embarrassing to say it aloud. Anyway, from now on, I’m no longer a prince. Call me whatever you like—‘young master,’ or whatever feels right.”

“Understood, young master!”

“Understood, young master!”

“I’ll do that too, young master!”

Jade, Caldein, and Monica all responded.

At that, Patrick bowed his head slightly.

“I shall address you differently, sir—Master!”

It meant “one’s lord” or “true master.”

Raion found himself rather liking that title.

“Not bad.”

“Now that I hear it, I think I prefer that too.”

“Same here.”

Jade and Caldein both agreed.

“I’ll stick with ‘young master,’ though,” said Monica, firmly.

Watching quietly from the side, Dike blinked his sky-blue eyes and asked,

“What should I call you then? Master? Young master?”