The Crown Prince Who Raises a Side Character

#26 New Adventurer Bern (24) – Two Fates

#26 New Adventurer Bern (24) – Two Fates

The lich’s lair was situated in what would be considered the northern region when dividing the Kingdom of Virka into nine parts.

While the adventurers of the Northern Branch acted as an advance team, assessing the surrounding situation, carriages carrying adventurers departed from the Western, Northwestern, Central, Northeastern, and Eastern Branches respectively.

The three Southern Branches didn’t participate in this endeavor. The reason being that including them would take too long, giving the lich too much time to prepare. They took on the role of filling the void left by the considerable number of skilled individuals who had departed from the other branches.

The procession that left the Eastern Branch included a total of five parties: two Rank 4 parties and three Rank 3 parties.

And amongst them, were faces familiar to Bern’s party.

“Hahaha! We parted without a proper greeting last time, which left me feeling rather… incomplete!”

Alsace Burtrea.

The rare Rank 4 adventurer, whom Bern had met in Frenia, addressed him with a warm familiarity.

“I apologize. The situation was quite urgent then, and circumstances offered no room for proper introductions.”

Alsace shrugged at Bern’s apology.

“No need to apologize. It’s true, I was a bit taken aback when everything wrapped up so quickly after we offered our help… but the matter is settled, and the victims have returned. I believe that’s sufficient.”

“It’s not truly over yet. Only when the remaining victims are rescued can we say it’s genuinely finished.”

“Hmm, there is that.”

Alsace stroked his beard, a habitual gesture, then asked in a hushed voice.

“By the way, did that kidnapper reveal anything else? Weaknesses of the lich, information about the magic it uses, perhaps?”

Bern gazed steadily at Alsace.

Perceiving something in that gaze, Alsace glanced around as if checking for eavesdroppers, then whispered.

“It feels a bit awkward to say this myself, but your party resolved things a little *too* swiftly, which has put our party in a somewhat… awkward position. People keep making comparisons, and my team’s discontent is considerable.”

Bern turned his head, observing the party that was resting by a bonfire some distance away from his own.

At first glance, it seemed like a typical exchange between colleagues, but upon closer inspection, one could feel the sharp glares directed at Vern from the corners of their eyes.

Arthas practically pleaded, bowing his head low.

“This commission has drawn the eyes of the entire guild, a colossal undertaking. If we can show sufficient prowess this time, even those who doubt or mock us will fall silent. The reward will be ensured, so is there anything you can do?”

Vern paused, then chuckled softly before speaking.

“What is the upper limit you can offer?”

Arthas’ eyes gleamed.

“So, you do possess some useful information, it seems?”

“That question, I’m afraid, depends on the compensation.”

“Now, now, my friend. You are more interested in coin than I thought?”

“Are there any adventurers who dislike money?”

“Well, no, but you, with your appearance and your manner, give off a rather aloof impression, detached from earthly wealth.”

“A misconception. I assure you, I cherish money.”

“Hmm.”

Arthas hesitated for a moment, then pulled a pouch from the bag at his waist, offering it in its entirety.

Feeling its substantial weight and catching the glimpse of gleaming gold near the opening, Vern remarked:

“You are generous.”

“Reputation brings riches, but a fallen reputation loses them as well. Such is the nature of the adventuring profession. Consider this an investment.”

Vern accepted the pouch, lowering his voice.

“If you happen to encounter the Lich’s disciples within the dungeon, beware of the black orbs they carry.”

“Orbs?”

“Roughly this size, and the color… it was like a mass of solidified oil.”

Bern gesticulated, giving a concrete description of the orb, and Arthas’s eyes lit with a spark.

“Continue.”

“We were in the middle of interrogating the culprit when suddenly, the orb he possessed transformed into something like a blade and impaled him. I cast healing magic, forcing a few words from him, but I couldn’t extract any truly complex information. We almost wouldn’t have known a lich was behind it all.”

“So the man is dead, then? What of the one executed in the territory?”

“A deal was struck with the lord. In exchange for a larger reward, he wanted the execution to appear as if *they* had punished the culprit. I imagine they simply substituted some unfortunate prisoner.”

“Hmm. I see. Certainly something that lord would do. Any other information?”

“Only the location of his temporary hideout. The victims there have already been rescued, so the information is otherwise useless.”

Arthas nodded.

“Understood. Be wary of this orb. Does anyone else know of this information?”

“Regrettably, I haven’t yet found a client as generous as yourself.”

“Hahaha! It seems this friend is quite the merchant! Good, I’ll trust that.”

Arthas chuckled heartily and walked toward his companions.

Bern watched his departing figure for a moment before returning to his own carriage.

A demon in the shadows inquired.

[What are you scheming, mortal?]

Bern digressed.

‘They say a person is most easily deceived when they believe they are the one doing the deceiving. I, too, must be cautious.’

*

At the same hour.

Blanca considered it.

This is terribly awkward.

“That… I… I was sorry about last time. I, well, I might have… overdone it….”

Her former colleague’s voice trailed off to a near-inaudible mumble at the end, and Blanca spoke with a voice that felt almost frigid.

“Karina. Stop acting in a way that doesn’t suit you.”

Karina flinched, a visible shudder running through her.

Even so, she couldn’t bring herself to leave, glancing around anxiously. It was a far cry from the confident, haughty mage Blanca remembered.

Blanca sighed.

She knew the reason for Karina’s sudden change in attitude.

‘I heard things haven’t been going well for them lately.’

Karina’s party was a five-person affair: two warriors, a rogue, and two mages.

But of those, the two who had tried to assassinate Bern and were brutally crushed, had apparently left the party altogether and retired.

Adventurers generally invested a considerable amount of time and effort in coordinating as a party, so losing even a few members could drastically reduce their fighting strength.

Moreover, of the remaining members, the bearded warrior focused on tanking rather than attacking due to his sluggish movements, and the healing mage was originally not qualified as a Rank 3, recruited solely for her aptitude for healing spells as a replacement for Blanca.

No matter how skilled Karina was, it would be stranger if the party functioned smoothly in this situation.

One might suggest recruiting new party members, but the problem was that Karina’s party’s reputation had plummeted severely.

A Rank 3 party, outmatched by a single Rank 2 adventurer, unable to even scratch him.

Blanca knew it was simply because Bern was a monster, but to those unaware of the circumstances, the suspicion that ‘that party isn’t actually that good’ was inevitable.

To those languishing at the bottom of Rank 2, perhaps it wouldn’t matter. But to those who were Rank 3, or those who had the potential to advance to Rank 3, it had become a party with no appeal.

Party strength weakened, gazes from others grew harsh, and no improvement seemed to be on the horizon.

Even rivals she’d once held a grudge against were, in the blink of an eye, soaring to higher ranks, riding a wave of success.

What if, in this situation, Blanca couldn’t forget old grievances and attempted retribution?

Or, even if Blanca didn’t act directly, what if capable adventurers, not wanting to antagonize her, continued to ostracize Karina’s party?

“Hmm.”

Blanca, arms crossed, fixed her gaze on Karina, then shifted it to the bearded warrior and healing mage behind her, who wore similarly sheepish expressions.

The healing mage flinched, averting his eyes, while the bearded warrior hung his head, looking utterly ashamed.

Nearby, Lenya erupted in a flurry of indignation, scolding them sharply.

“Honestly, have you ever seen such brazen people! Elder Sister! There’s no need to listen to them any longer!”

“I-I won’t do it again! I really thought I was something back then, I swear! Just one chance, just one chance to be forgiven…!”

“If you were going to apologize, you should have done it long ago! You hid yourselves away until Elder Sister did well, and now that you’re desperate, you apologize? What kind of mindset is that!”

“It’s just…”

Karina, unable to properly refute Lenya’s repeated accusations, only blushed deeply.

Blanca suddenly let out a hollow laugh.

A Fourth Circle mage was, frankly speaking, someone who could enter any territory and become a resident mage, receiving treatment better than that of an average knight.

How often would someone of that skill find themselves in such a poorly regarded position?

Was it that she lacked the confidence to leave the adventurer’s world she’d always known and settle down elsewhere? Or had she been so cornered recently that she didn’t even have the wherewithal to consider it? Or… unlikely as it was, was it a sense of responsibility, unable to abandon her party members and escape alone as their leader?

What would Bern have said in this situation?

Blanca pondered for a moment, then smiled.

-Just do what you want, Blanca. Isn’t that what being an adventurer is all about?

As if hearing a vivid voice playing back in her ear, even though she hadn’t heard him say it directly, Blanca opened her mouth.

“Karina. I’m going to ask you one thing, and I expect an honest answer. Don’t even think about dodging the question or lying, because you won’t like what happens next. Got it?”

“W-what is it?”

“Why did you see me as such a thorn in your side?”

Karina hesitated, unable to easily open her mouth, but the earlier intimidation seemed to work. She squeezed her eyes shut and mumbled.

“…Jealousy.”

“Excuse me?”

“I said, jealousy!! Some of us are sold for a handful of coins, almost rotting away in some brothel until we die, only to claw our way up by selling ourselves and fawning over wizard clients just to barely receive a lower-tier spell. But you? You were taught step-by-step by your own mother! And you even wield a staff that even nobles struggle to get their hands on, casting this magic and that magic like it’s nothing!”

Blanca involuntarily glanced around, relieved to find that no one else was listening.

Even if it wasn’t intentional, if that story had spread because of Blanca’s own pressure, it would have been incredibly awkward, that was for sure.

“No…”

Blanca almost said, “If that was the case, you should have said something sooner,” but then she stopped herself.

It wasn’t the kind of situation one could easily confide in unless they were cornered like this, backed into a corner. And besides, Blanca herself hadn’t been particularly interested in the personal lives of her former party members.

After all, back then, her party members were simply a means to rescue her mother.

Blanca wore a complicated expression for a moment before speaking to Karina.

“It’s fine.”

“What?”

“I accept your apology, and I won’t dwell on what happened before. I won’t seek revenge, so stop shrinking into yourself.”

The grief on Karina’s face lifted, replaced by a flicker of color.

She rapidly scanned Blanca’s face and the faces of the other companions behind her, then bowed repeatedly to Blanca before hurrying away.

“You are most generous, Sister. Isn’t that right? Even though this one was aware of your circumstances, your valiant quest to rescue your mother, she was jealous and acted deplorably”

“Well, I don’t know.”

Blanca couldn’t quite imagine what Karina, who’d said she was sold off to her parents for a handful of coins, might be thinking after hearing about Blanca’s own mother, who’d sacrificed everything to protect her child.

Frankly, she didn’t particularly *want* to imagine it. It wasn’t a competition for who was more unfortunate.

“What matters is, instead of being all shrunk back, it’s better she’s feeling secure enough to run wild. That way she can be more effective against the Lich. That’s enough.”

Even if the party balance had become somewhat unstable, Karina’s ice magic itself was still extremely useful in group battles.

And with the current commission involving collaboration with other parties, the vacancy left by the departed member could be minimized.

This was all for the sake of strengthening our forces, Blanca muttered, almost as if offering a needless excuse, even though no one was questioning her.

*

And, some time later.

At the entrance to the Lich Dungeon.

An aging man, radiating a palpable, chilling aura from his every pore, solemnly began.

“—It seems everyone has assembled. Let us commence the operation.”