Redo Prince – Chapter 22 – Commentated version

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Non-commentated version of this chapter here for those that don’t want to interrupt their reading of the story with my rambling.

Chapter 22 – A safe place

“I underestimated that monster region…..”

After returning to the headquarters in Lobrion, I was sitting on a chair, pondering.

I didn’t expect a large number of monsters to attack all at the same time.

I shiver even from remembering the other monsters descending like a locust swarm on the remains of monsters we defeated.

“Their numbers are also a problem, but what’s even worse is no matter where I 《Teleport》, there would already be monsters there.”

We have no hope of gradually exploring the territory like this.

…..should I take down as many as I can with Dark Magic?

If I decrease their numbers, then they will most likely learn to fear me eventually.

However, there are a lot of monsters that don’t fear death…..It’s possible that they would be able to surround me and make me use enough of my mana that I wouldn’t be able to 《Teleport》 anymore.
(TN: This would be a possible concern if his teleportation wasn’t depicted as instantaneous until now. He could literally port in, kill a bunch of monsters, then port out until he recovers his mana before going back without any real danger. He can apparently feel their mana too, so it’s unlikely he can be caught off guard as well.)

Let’s keep the use of force as a last resort for now.
(TN: That reminds me. Didn’t he have that Conceal spell that can hide anything and anyone perfectly? Did the author forget that one in his hurry to pile up as many balance breaking abilities on the protagonist as conceivable?)

“Maybe trying to estimate our ultimate destination would be the best idea here….”

Tialus is a very large territory that’s rich in nature.

Plains and forests extend from its northern border that’s adjacent to Count Lobria’s territory to the southernmost point of the continent.

In its eastern parts, a mountain range cuts through it from north to the south.
There are mana filled minerals called mana ores within the earth there.

Its western and southern borders face the ocean, with a giant bay called Tialus Bay to the south.

Within that bay, a large island called Alus Island can be found.

During the Luxia Empire days, the provincial capital could be found on that island.

The most likely reason why the provincial capital was there is because it was easily defendable.
(TN: Call me crazy, but putting the center of government for the whole province on an island that can be entirely cut off from the mainland with only ships does not sound like easily defensible to me. This is like putting the capital of the USA in Cuba because it’s more defensible that way.)

“Since it’s also surrounded by the ocean, monsters can’t attack it easily. It’s the best place to create a base.”

Let’s try to aim for Alus Island first.

If we manage to find documents from the era of the previous empire, then we might find some information about the location of natural resources as well.

“Well, we can’t be sure that Alus Island wouldn’t be overrun with monsters either…..”
(TN: Holy shit he really started from the assumption that the island would be light on monsters? It should be a near certainty after all this time that it would be just as full of monsters as the rest of the region. Also, if Tialus is so chock full of monsters that you can’t even teleport through without encountering a sizable swarm of village-killer class monsters, then why the hell didn’t those monsters move towards the empire yet? There was never a mention of a border that would need to be constantly defended from monster incursions and that would certainly be what would happen if there were really that many monsters in Tialus as depicted.)

Let’s take a bath and go to sleep for now.

We fought a good number of battles today, so I’m a bit tired.
(TN: A number of exactly 1, which lasted about a few minutes tops, which you spent not even getting off your high horse. Literally.)

I started heading to the bath on the first floor.
(TN: Wasn’t the first floor supposed to be the shop area?)

On my way, I noticed a number of blue haired guys still working in the workshop.

“Hey, shouldn’t you be off for today already?”

“Ah. Alec-sama. It’s still a bit early to take a break yet, I think…”

A young man answered.

I guess they are used to working till later before this.

“Just don’t overdo it…..That reminds me, I heard business was booming today.”

“Indeed. We repaired some weapons for the guards that came for the chains and also sold some armors. We got quite a sum already.”
(TN: I made an executive decision to put armor there instead of the scissors it was written as, since those kanjis are kind of similar and in this context I think the author meant armor instead of that. I don’t think people would rush the new blacksmith for scissors when there is a chance of an incoming siege.)

I heard from Elysia that they managed to earn ten gold today. That’s apart from the price of the chains.
(TN: The author really doesn’t bother to establish any kind of remotely realistic monetary values. Always suspiciously round values for wildly different things. 1 hauling mission for a handheld object to a neighboring city: 5 gold. Perfectly processed parts of a big shot monster that’s supposed to be worth quite a lot: 5 gold. Weapons repair and selling armors for a day: 10 gold exactly. This is just lazy as hell.)

The man had a large grin on his face.

“That’s why I was thinking about tomorrow’s stock. I was thinking of making scarves out of the skin of the Death Snakes that Alec-sama gave us just now.”
(TN: I’m pretty sure any item made from the skin of a freshly killed thing can not be completed in a single afternoon. And why the hell would you make scarves out of it, when armor should be in high demand right now!? And scarves? Really? From snake skin?)

I’ve killed a lot of Death Snakes on the highway.

I’ve put their remains into my 《Pandora’s Box》 as they were, and I was able to bring them back without any of it rotting.
(TN: Why would it have rotted during that few minutes before you got back to the city? Even if they were handed over later, an extra hour at most wouldn’t have mattered either.)

The meat of the Arrow Crows we took down before is also still frozen…..
Maybe time does not move forward inside my 《Pandora’s Box》.
I plan on performing more experiments with it in the future to find out more.
(TN: I think the author just throws in these lines sometimes to disguise the fact that nothing requires any kind of smarts or ingenuity from the protagonist because he accomplishes everything on the first try every time. I can think of a couple of tests that could answer that question in an hour at most, if you want to cover a bunch of possibilities. If not, then a few minutes at most. Just throw in a burning torch, or straw pile for more immediate results, and see what happens to it. If it goes out then there is no air, if it keeps burning then put it back in for a while and see if it burns down while inside.)

To get back to the topic, I decided to entrust the Death Snake remains to the blue hair brigade.

There were ten of them in total, but it seems they already managed to process them all.
The skin and meat were already separated.

I guess he wants to make scarfs out of those skins.
(TN: Another thing. I don’t think that a huge hecking monster snake has such tender skin that it could be used for scarves.)

The skin of a Death Snake feels nice to the touch, quite sturdy, and somewhat resistant to magic attacks. It’s a high value commodity.
(TN: Then it’s especially stupid that all they got for it last time was a measly 5 gold. Not that we know anything about what that is worth, just that it equals the rewards for an easy hauling mission.)

“Rich people would probably buy it. We should be able to sell it for 1 silver per.”
(TN: Oh come on. He’s clearly not even trying with the prices. Won’t even comment anymore on this. Probably.)

“Yes! For Alec-sama’s sake, I will do my best!”

“Thank you for the sentiment, but just don’t overdo it….”

I told the blue hair guy that eagerly resumed working.

At any rate, it seems that having the blue hair brigade create products to sell is a great success.
(TN: It was one day so far. This declaration might be a bit premature.)

After that I soaked in the bath for a while, then went back to my room.
(TN: At least there weren’t any harem-type shenanigans in there.)

When I opened the door, Elysia and Yuuri were waiting for me inside.

“Did you both take a bath already?”

“Yes. As you suggested, both Yuuri and I took a bath a while back already.”

Elysia replied.

Yuuri looked very tired, so I let them take a bath first.

The aforementioned Yuuri was now deeply bowing her head to me.

“I’m truly sorry that I’ve caused so much trouble for you today, Alec-sama….”

“Don’t mind it. I did not intend for you to get into a fight at all to begin with, I only wanted you to take a look at the minerals. If you don’t want to come with us anymore after what happened today, then you can stay here starting tomorrow.”

Depending on the person, a scene like that could be emotionally trying.

Even I feel a shiver run down my spine, when remembering that large swarm of monsters.

However, Yuuri shook her head in negation.

“Please, let me still accompany you. I won’t be making a mistake like that anymore.”

“Got it….I’ll do my best to keep you from being scared as well. I’ve decided where we are going too, so don’t worry.”

“Alec-sama…..”

Yuuri’s face was bright red.

“Y-Yuuri? Do you have a fever or something?”

“No! No….I just got fired up!”

Elysia then addressed Yuuri.

“Let’s do our best from tomorrow onwards, Yuuri-san. But before that, to Alec-sama.”

“Right…..Alec-sama, please take this.”

On top of the bed where Yuuri was looking, a pure white sheet was laid out.

“Hmm? ….it’s not a normal sheet? It seems a bit glossy.”

“Yes! The sheet and the pillow are made from Death Snake skin.”
(TN: Is it just me that doesn’t think that snake skin can be used for things like that? I think it would be uncomfortable as heck. I don’t know why the author had to use that snakeskin for everything. Not to mention there wasn’t nearly enough time to make it in the time they came back once again.)

Yuuri nodded in affirmation.

“Hoh. In just a few hours…..”
(TN: Hecking exactly. Though it’s not an impressive effort but an impossible one. Something like that takes weeks at minimum as far as I know.)

I tried to touch the sheet on the bed.
It was nice and smooth to the touch.

“Did you make this, Yuuri?”

“Yes! I wanted Alec-sama to have a good rest.”

“Yuuri…..I am very particular about how and where I sleep.”
(TN: Which wasn’t mentioned at all the last two nights. The second was even while camping and not a peep about it.)

“I’m confident in my work! Please, try it.”

I tried it by lying down in my pajamas, but it was pleasantly cool.

It was all soft without any stiff hair clumps in it. It was really well made.

It seems the blue hair brigade can make a lot of nice things and not just by smithing. If they can make weapons from magical ores, then we will have some nice products to sell.

“I think I can sleep soundly with these…..Yuuri, you’re amazing.”

“I’m just happy that you liked it, Alec-sama.”

“Thank you. Then I think I will go ahead and sleep now.”

Yuuri and Elyisa kept watching me lie there with smiles on their faces. For a bit too long, really.

“This really feels nice….thank you.”

I said again, but the two of them just kept smiling.
(TN: This is a lot more creepy than funny to me.)

…..do they intend to keep watching me until I fall asleep?

“Then, good night…..Tomorrow will be an early morning, so the two of you better go and sleep now.”

“Yes, good night!”

The two answered in unison.

I kept an eye out for them for a while, but the two of them just sat down on my bed and kept watching me, saying ‘So cute, so cute’ all the while….
(TN: Holy shit this got even more creepy. If I didn’t know better, I would start to suspect the Servant bond having some kind of creepy brainwashing element to it because of this. However, I think this is just the author’s fetish or something. Things like this makes me rethink continuing to translate this at all.)

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