Chapter 298 : Chapter 298

Chapter 298. Just Change Everything

While ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Radel was discovering a new slave and his eyes were gleaming, elsewhere in the festival a man was wandering about in confusion.

‘Why have I ended up like this…….’

It was the 2nd Prince, Arteo Kudente Cretian.

He looked nothing like his usual self.

The golden eyes that marked him as royalty were darkened, his hair had been dyed black, and even the clothes he wore were no different from those of commoners.

Until the previous day, he had been strutting around in the ornate robes of the Imperial Court Magicians.

He had hoped that perhaps his younger sister, who had cut off contact, might notice him and think of him.

But after visiting the counseling booth yesterday, Arteo had thrown the robe away.

It was because of what he had heard from the Spirit of Knowledge.

‘That absurd answer.’

Arteo recalled the consultation he had had with the Grand Spirit at the counseling booth.

***

“Kh-hahaha, you want to change your maternal grandfather’s heart?”

The Spirit of the Library cackled, its pages fluttering.

It looked at the 2nd Prince as if to say it would see what nonsense he was about to spout.

But it was a great Grand Spirit.

Reading the 2nd Prince’s psychology was simplicity itself.

The very fact that he had come to listen already meant he was halfway convinced.

‘You were caught from the start.’

In truth, there was not much information the Spirit of the Library needed to use its powers to learn.

Bound to the academy and unable to wield its full strength, and limited further by Radel’s small mana pool, it could not properly exert its abilities.

Even so, it dealt with visitors effortlessly.

All it knew were simple words and fleeting scenes, but by pressuring the one seeking counsel, the answer would emerge on its own.

It was a skill honed through years of tormenting academy students.

‘Just throw it out there first.’

The Spirit of the Library spoke in a solemn voice.

“Do you know why you are suffering?”

“Are you saying I am suffering?”

“Yes. Otherwise, why would you come all the way here? You, of all people, the empire’s 2nd Prince.”

“Kgh, fine, let us say that is true. But it is not as if I am suffering that badly…….”

“Not suffering? Then why are you floundering around without even understanding your own condition? I will tell you plainly. The reason you are suffering is…….”

After a deliberate pause, the Spirit of the Library barked at him just as it did with other clients.

“Because you show off too much!”

Arteo’s eyes widened.

He had not heard such rudeness since graduating from the academy.

For a fleeting moment, he felt as though he had returned to his student days.

‘You are wasting materials. Is this really the best you can do?’

‘At this rate, you will die in battle.’

‘A failure in my class…… I am curious what kind of person you will become.’

‘Become one with nature! If you cannot surpass magical beasts, then die!’

‘That is enough. It seems this subject does not suit you.’

Memories of his pride as royalty being trampled flooded Arteo’s mind.

The words of professors he had heard during his academy days swirled in his head.

Only after graduating had he recovered, but back then he had wanted to smash the academy to pieces every single day.

Struggling to regain his composure, he glared at the Spirit of the Library.

“Do not be ridiculous. I am a prince of this empire. Are you saying that a royal like me is being showy?”

“That is exactly it, you wretch!”

The Spirit of the Library shouted back.

“Does being royalty mean you are not showing off? Look at that gaudy robe! You parade around saying, ‘I am the Imperial Court Magicians,’ while at the booth you just dump all the work on your juniors!”

“That is—!”

“Or perhaps…… you want someone to recognize you when they see that robe?”

Arteo’s face stiffened.

It felt as though his desire for Shartea to notice him, even a little, had been laid bare.

“And you want to change your maternal grandfather’s heart?”

The Spirit of the Library snickered.

“With the person you are now? Impossible!”

“……The person I am now?”

“Yes.”

“……Then what am I supposed to do?”

Arteo spat the words out, his expression hardened.

It was a surprisingly subdued voice, enough to startle Radel, who had been listening quietly.

The Spirit of the Library answered, its pages fluttering.

“Change.”

“Change how?”

“Everything!”

When Arteo looked flustered, the Spirit of the Library snapped impatiently.

“Just change everything!”

No one had ever shouted at him like that.

When someone was overwhelmed to that degree, their mind went blank.

Arteo could only gape, cowed by the Grand Spirit’s presence.

“At least tell me how to change…….”

“Hah, how exhausting. Having to spoon-feed even someone who has already graduated.”

With a sigh, the Spirit of the Library opened its pages and used its power.

Flap.

Then it declared with absolute conviction.

“Take off your clothes!”

***

Of course, it was not literally telling him to strip.

It was symbolic.

When Arteo interpreted it that way, the Spirit of the Library flew into a rage.

To the spirit, he had become a hopeless fool who could not even follow instructions when given.

At that point, Arteo gave up on guessing.

From the next day on, he did exactly as the Spirit of the Library had said.

He removed the gaudy robe and even changed out of his luxurious clothes.

He stopped lecturing his juniors and left the Imperial Court Magicians’ booth from the morning onward.

Then a thought suddenly crossed his mind.

“How is this supposed to help?”

……I must have lost my mind for a moment.

To think I would listen to the words of a spirit contracted to that scheming 8th Prince, even if it is a Grand Spirit!

Only then did Arteo realize how pathetic he had been.

Just as he was heading back to the Imperial Court Magicians’ booth—

“Hey, is this not way more comfortable?”

“With the 2nd Prince gone, I feel like I can breathe.”

“He should have gone out sooner. Did he not come to the academy festival to enjoy it?”

“Right. We are the ones doing all the work anyway…… It is much better without him around.”

Arteo stopped when he heard the voices coming from inside the booth.

He knew his juniors found him uncomfortable, but he had not expected them to say this much.

“Those bastards……!”

Crunch.

Arteo ground his teeth.

Normally, he would have stormed in and turned everything upside down.

He would have shut their insolent mouths and thoroughly investigated their families, punishing them without mercy.

Yet, strangely enough, the Grand Spirit’s words echoed in his ears.

‘If you do not want to do it, then do whatever you like. But changing suddenly after showing off for so long is not easy, is it?’

And alongside that, the 8th Prince’s mocking words came back vividly.

‘That is true. They say if a person changes suddenly, it means they are close to death. I do not wish for you to leave early either. Please live as you always have.’

Recalling the 8th Prince’s words, Arteo felt his heart shift.

At the very least, those juniors were not as detestable as that scheming prince.

‘Fine. Let us try it.’

Arteo turned away from the booth.

If he was going to change, he would change completely.

Wearing plain clothes and acting like a commoner.

And while he was at it, he planned to secretly visit his sister’s booth.

If he walked around like this, no one would recognize him.

“Wait for me, Thea. Your brother is coming.”

This time, he would really go quietly, without her knowing.

Just to see her face and make sure she was well.

He moved forward with firm resolve.

……It was absolutely not because he was afraid of Shartea.

And as Arteo walked on, a man brushed past him.

A burly old man with a massive greatsword strapped to his back.

As he walked, the man sniffed the air.

“I smell Teo.”

His instincts had never been wrong.

Alexius Kudente, the Border Count of the northern Cretian Empire, swiftly turned around.

But all he saw was the back of a young man with black hair.

“Hm…… There is no way he would walk around like that. My instincts must be dulling.”

Alexius knew his grandson’s personality well.

There was no way the boy would wear such common clothes.

If it were his grandson, he would be wearing an elegant ceremonial outfit embroidered with lavish patterns.

“That finicky boy would never change. If he could, things would have been so much easier.”

Alexius muttered as he stroked his beard.

His grandson had been noble from birth, eating and wearing only the finest things.

He shunned anything rough or harsh, favoring the gentle and elegant.

Nobility over commoners, magic over swords.

That was how his mother had raised him.

The empire’s 2nd Empress, Theodora Kudente Cretian.

Alexius’s face darkened as he thought of his daughter.

But soon, he smiled as he thought of the granddaughter he adored beyond measure.

“Wait for me, Thea. Your grandfather is coming.”

***

‘He should pass through here soon.’

Gillian’s eyes scanned the surroundings.

Like a beast lying in wait, he steadied his breathing and waited for the right moment.

Tomorrow was the final day of the festival.

He had to retrieve the pouch somehow before today ended.

Fortunately, he had managed to extricate himself thirty minutes earlier.

Gusto had gone to the Combat Magic booth and rotated shifts with him.

After abusing his throat with nonstop healing since morning, Gillian finally managed to moisten it and asked Gusto,

‘……Where is His Highness right now? I would like to greet him before I leave.’

‘At this time, he should be at the Transformation Magic booth. He will come down that path in thirty minutes.’

The place Gusto pointed to was a narrow alley.

An alley where it would not be strange for someone to be hiding.

Materials for the festival were stacked about, giving it a secluded feel.

Gillian’s eyes lit up as he looked at the alley.

So he is coming this way.

Pretending to return to the Supreme Deity Order booth, Gillian slipped into the alley.

To ambush the 8th Prince.

“Let my blood stir the darkness.”

A chant flowed from Gillian’s lips.

Even for a Black Order executive, it was a spell that consumed considerable power, but he could not miss this chance.

As he chanted, he drew a dagger and sliced his palm.

Drip.

The ground where his blood fell began to turn pitch-black.

Concentric circles spread from the droplets, eventually covering the entire floor.

The moment anyone stepped here, they would be dragged into darkness.

‘I would like to eliminate him…… but I will not kill him.’

He could not ruin the festival yet.

On the final day, he needed to claim as many lives as possible, so he had to avoid drawing attention.

Gillian only intended to capture the 8th Prince and reclaim the pouch.

If the prince’s soul fell into corruption or his mind was tainted in the process, that was none of his concern.

Just then—

Step.

Footsteps entered the alley.

It was the 8th Prince Gillian had been waiting for.

As he entered, the prince muttered,

“Armandy held me up, so I am late. I will have to run.”

Hearing that, Gillian cheered inwardly.

‘Yes, step right onto the ground!’

Just step on it……!

“But the ground is too dirty, is it not?”

The 8th Prince scratched his head as he looked down at the scattered materials.

“I cannot run like this.”

With a sigh, the 8th Prince jumped onto the crates instead of the ground.

Tap!

“Ah, this works.”

A satisfied smile spread across his face.

Tap!

Tap!

Finding his rhythm, the 8th Prince stepped across the materials and passed through the alley.

It was so quick that Gillian’s carefully prepared trap was rendered meaningless.

Gillian’s face twisted.

As the rage-filled breath of the man hiding grew harsher—

Radel sensed his presence, spotted him, and brightened.

“Are you not Brother Gillian? Were you waiting because you wanted to work with me?”

“N-no……!”

“Then let us go to the Integrated Major booth together.”

“A-ah…… No, that is not—!”

As he was dragged away by the 8th Prince, Gillian screamed inwardly.

‘Why does it always turn out like this!’