I Became the Youngest Prince in the Novel

184 - The Floating City (1)

TL/Editor: raei

Status: ongoing

Illustrations: none

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On the rooftop terrace of Chimseong Palace, Zion gazed up at the pitch-black night sky and the stars twinkling faintly within it.

Slowly, his hand reached toward the stars. Following its movement, a darkness deeper than the night began spreading across the sky. When this spreading darkness reached its peak, crunch! Zion's outstretched hand clenched into a tight fist.

In that moment, the darkness radiating from his hand instantly condensed. From below, it looked as if Zion's darkness had completely devoured one of the stars in the sky.

Along with this, black stars began rising in the surrounding night sky. These black stars stopped increasing after going from five to six.

"Still can't reach six stars, huh," Zion muttered with slight disappointment in his eyes.

The Black Star Force grew faster the more battles he fought and the stronger his opponents were. That's why Zion thought he would surely reach the next level after fighting the Remnant of the Frost Queen Tainted by Evil, who was stronger than him, and the Six Claws, who possessed similar power.

However, Zion's level remained at the edge of five black stars. While this alone would be beyond belief to others, it fell short of his expectations.

'Probably because I relied more on divine artifacts than the Black Star Force in both battles.'

He would need to refrain from overusing divine artifacts' power.

'Though it's not like I could overuse them anyway.'

The power consumption was truly beyond imagination.

Finishing his thoughts about the Black Star Force and divine artifacts, Zion's mind turned to the hero's party who had departed days ago.

'They should have reached the demon realm's border by now.'

They would have been inside already if not for the condition Claire Frosimar, the hero, had set before heading to the demon realm.

That condition was simple: help her gather all her companions from before her regression to enter the demon realm together.

This wasn't particularly difficult for Zion, so he immediately contacted Tirian and Elysis to join the hero's party.

While it might seem like he was sending away two people he had just recruited, Zion didn't see it that way.

'They'll all end up under me anyway after returning from the demon realm.'

In fact, they were already halfway there.

Moreover, at this point in time, being by the hero's side would be far more beneficial for their growth than staying with Zion.

The hero's destiny of salvation would help elevate them to even greater heights.

'This should be enough to delay the great war, so now what needs to be dealt with is...'

As his thoughts reached this point while gazing at the night sky, a strange light suddenly entered Zion's eyes.

"Right on time."

What appeared in his vision was a massive city.

A city floating in the sky rather than on the ground, gradually approaching the capital while partially obscuring the moon.

The floating city of Adegrifa.

The world's only aerial city and Zion's next destination.

---

Where in the world was magic most advanced?

When asked this question, people named two places.

First was the Magic Society of Lebrion, located in Hubris, the empire's capital. This place contained the essence of all knowledge from every magic tower in the empire and was considered a holy land among magicians.

The second was the floating city of Adegrifa.

Created about two hundred years ago by several dragons, this city was different in nature from Lebrion.

While Lebrion was a holy land exclusively for human magicians, Adegrifa was where the highest-ranking magicians of all races gathered.

In some ways, it could be considered superior to Lebrion.

Moreover, though called a city, with 99% of its residents being magicians, it might as well have been called a magic tower.

And currently, at the gate of this floating city...

"They should be arriving soon..."

A magician with dragon-like features stood waiting with numerous attendants.

His name was Ackendelt.

He was the vice-mayor of the floating city and ranked ninth in magical hierarchy among the city's highest-ranking magicians.

The reason Ackendelt was standing at the gate connecting to the outside world with his magicians was due to the triennial exchange with the empire's Magic Society.

Even with only the finest magicians gathered, stagnant water eventually goes bad.

That's why the floating city placed great importance on and encouraged such exchanges.

This was why Adegrifa, which normally drifted across the world's skies without staying in one place, came to the empire's capital and remained for several days.

"Is it true that Ahmad Ozlima is included in this imperial delegation?"

"Indeed. That's why even I came out to greet the delegation."

Ackendelt nodded in response to the dog-headed attendant magician's question.

While he didn't know what had prompted someone who had stayed locked away in the Grand Magic Tower to suddenly emerge, it was good news from their perspective.

"I'm looking forward to it. I hope both sides gain much from this... But is he really coming up too? That..."

"You mean Prince Zion Agnes?"

"Yes."

"He accepted the invitation, so he should be."

Both the vice-mayor and his attendant wore strange expressions as they discussed this.

There was a reason for their reactions.

For decades, not a single member of the imperial family had ever visited Adegrifa.

Since one of the dragons who created the city two hundred years ago made a contract with the emperor of that time and received recognition of autonomy, there had been invisible tension between the Agnes family and the floating city.

Therefore, although invitations were sent to the imperial palace whenever exchanges occurred, they were never accepted.

"This is unusual. It's almost unprecedented, isn't it? An Agnes Empire royal visiting here."

"Indeed. They're the type who barely show their faces unless we visit the imperial palace."

"What kind of person is Prince Zion Agnes? I've heard he's the closest to the throne with tremendous power and deep schemes."

"Hmm..."

Ackendelt furrowed his brow as if recalling something before continuing.

"Honestly, I find those claims hard to believe."

He couldn't believe any of the recent rumors about Prince Zion, as the prince he had seen five years ago didn't match any of them.

"The Prince Zion I saw was infinitely weak and gentle. He had no interest in the throne and wasn't suited for it. And such qualities aren't something that can simply change."

That's why Ackendelt had honestly thought Prince Zion would be the first to die if succession struggles broke out.

Yet now this same Prince Zion had not only killed other royals but was even being called the next emperor.

It would be easier to believe the world was ending tomorrow.

"Oh, is that so? It's truly strange if you say that, Vice-Mayor. Could it be..."

Before the attendant could finish his puzzled response,

Whoosh!

Brilliant light suddenly burst forth from the previously quiet gate.

"The delegation is finally arriving!"

Just as another attendant magician exclaimed excitedly,

Magicians wearing robes embroidered with the Agnes Empire's symbol began emerging one by one from the light.

From the highest-ranking magicians representing each magic tower to rising stars considered the next generation's leaders.

"It seems this exchange conference will be quite high-level."

As Ackendelt was assessing the imperial magicians' abilities with satisfaction,

"Ho ho, it's been a while since I've been here."

An elderly man with long white hair and beard, and notable kind wrinkles around his eyes, walked out of the light.

A subtle smile played on the old man's lips.

'Ahmad Ozlima.'

Though he had never seen him before, Ackendelt instantly knew this was the 'Magician of Contempt' just by looking at him.

Unlike other magicians, the old man's level was completely beyond the grasp of his 'Half-Dragon Eye'.

Moreover, the magical power flowing from him naturally dominated the surrounding space.

'So this is what makes one of the 'Seven Heavens' different?'

Just as the vice-mayor's face grew more expectant and he moved to greet Ahmad,

Step.

A single footstep reached his ears.

A footstep so quiet it was barely audible unless one listened carefully, yet ominously stirring something deep within the listener's heart.

As if on cue, everyone present, including Ackendelt, turned their attention toward the gate where the footstep had come from.

And there...

Step.

He stood.

A man in the imperial uniform symbolizing the Agnes family, with pale skin and languid eyes.

Zion Agnes.

Step, step.

As Zion slowly walked out of the gate, those watching him as if entranced had forgotten the presence of Ahmad and everyone else.

The alien presence flowing from Zion had already filled their minds completely.

'Were those rumors... true?'

No, based on what they felt now, the rumors seemed understated.

The pressure was truly beyond imagination.

'How can a person change this much?'

Ackendelt's eyes trembled uncontrollably.

Was the man before him really the same Prince Zion he had seen before?

Though his appearance was the same, he could have passed for a completely different person.

"..."

Zion, who had approached Ackendelt without him noticing, stared at him intently.

"G-Greetings to His Highness Prince Zion Agnes!"

The vice-mayor, finally coming to his senses, hastily bowed to Zion.

As if his cry was a signal,

"Greetings to His Highness Prince Zion Agnes!"

Ackendelt's attendant magicians also bowed their heads to Zion.

Zion slowly surveyed the crowd as if looking for someone.

Then, in a voice so languid it bordered on lethargic,

"Let's start with a tour of the city."

---

"This is the district where manipulation-type magicians' research laboratories are gathered, and its name is..."

While Vice-Mayor Ackendelt of the floating city had somehow ended up volunteering as guide and accompanying the delegation,

"Isn't it amazing, Your Highness? How a city can function so well despite having only magicians."

Zion let Ahmad's words from beside him go in one ear and out the other as he recalled what he needed to do here.

Two events would occur in this floating city.

First was the city's fall.

Second was the assassination of a certain individual.

'Though the second event is more important for the future...'

The more urgent matter was clearly the first event - the floating city's fall.

The city would plummet onto the capital Hubris exactly three days from now.

It would be a catastrophe comparable to the 'Frozen Night'.

Of course, Zion had already figured out how to prevent it.

'I should at least scout the location first.'

As he carefully observed one of the places they had been shown while thinking this,

"Today's schedule ends with the city tour, and the official exchange conference begins tomorrow."

Ackendelt, who had been occasionally glancing at Zion with disbelieving eyes, spoke up.

"Additionally, we'll hold the 'Magic Proxy Battle', considered the highlight of the exchange. I'm sure Your Highness would find it quite interesting. Would you like to observe?"

"I'm afraid I can't observe."

Zion smiled slightly as he replied.

"Do you have other plans?"

"I need to participate rather than observe."

The first step in preventing Adegrifa's fall.

"What? What do you mean..."

"Um... Vice-Mayor."

As Ackendelt expressed confusion at Zion's words, one of his attendants approached with a strange expression, holding out a specially magic-coated paper.

"What's this?"

"It's the list of magicians from the empire and floating city participating in tomorrow's 'Magic Proxy Battle'."

"Why suddenly...!"

The vice-mayor's eyes began to widen as he scanned the list he had received with questioning eyes.

Zion Agnes.

The name was written at the very end of the empire's list of magicians.

"Your Highness is participating in the proxy battle?"

"Is there some law against it?"

"No, but..."

Despite his words, Ackendelt's eyes were filled with disbelief and questions.

Regardless of his power level, Prince Zion wasn't even a magician to begin with.

'What is he thinking? He'll just lose without even putting up a proper fight. And why did the empire's side even approve this?'

His questions grew endlessly, multiplying one after another.

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