Exploring Technology in a Wizard World
Chapter 468 - 467: Where is the Key?!

Chapter 468: Chapter 467: Where is the Key?!

In the Duel Arena, Richard had been waiting for someone to announce the result, but noticing that the embassy from the Luobu Kingdom—who were spectators—had left, he realized the contest had ended without the proclamation of a result.

Waving his hand to disperse the dust in the air, Richard stepped down the remaining half of the wooden platform and headed towards the corridor that led to the resting room inside the arena.

Princess Rose, who was in the corridor, took the initiative to meet him. Clearly having seen the "accident" on the platform, she curiously asked with wide eyes, "Hey, that explosion just now... how did you do that?"

"How I did it, heh, that’s something you don’t need to worry about; consider it my secret," Richard replied. Magic Salt, a product of technology beyond the times, naturally wasn’t something he could or should reveal.

Facing Princess Rose, Richard continued, "Regardless, Princess Rose, what I did completely met your conditions: achieve victory, do not kill, cause serious injury, make it seem unintentional, allow for accidents, and do it quickly. I believe I have fulfilled the task you gave me."

"Uh, okay then."

"So now, may I collect my reward?" Richard asked. "You mentioned before that your father has a special library; perhaps we could start there."

"Alright, you wait here for me. I will go now to ask my father for the keys to the library. Once I get the keys, I will come back and then take you to that special library," Princess Rose said succinctly, with an air of urgency. "By the way, although I’ve seen that library, I’ve never entered it before. I’m quite curious myself..."

Saying this, Princess Rose walked away.

...

Princess Rose was gone for nearly two hours, and as Richard waited in the resting room inside the Duel Arena, he was almost beginning to suspect that Princess Rose would not return to fulfill her promise when he heard footsteps approaching outside the door.

"Tap tap tap..."

As the footsteps neared, the door creaked open, and Princess Rose walked in.

Princess Rose entered with a smile brimming with warmth, her entire demeanor one of pleasing, as though she wasn’t a princess at all, but rather... a maid.

Richard noticed that Princess Rose was carrying a large food box in her hand. Before he could ask, she had already opened the food box and started placing dishes after dishes on the resting room table.

Steak, roasted chicken, cooked fruit, honey-smeared bread...

"Richard, you must have exerted a lot of effort defeating that annoying Kelly on the stage just now; you must be hungry, have some food first," Princess Rose said with a smile.

Richard looked at Princess Rose and suddenly realized something. He raised an eyebrow and spoke up, "I’m not hungry. Right now, I’m more interested in finding out about the key you were supposed to get from your father. Where is it?"

"Uh, that—" Princess Rose’s tone dragged on slightly before she, as if suddenly remembering something, opened the last layer of the food box and took out a small porcelain bottle. She shook it gently, producing a pleasant "ding-dong" sound as liquid collided with the walls of the bottle.

"Richard, if you’re not hungry, you must be thirsty, right?" Princess Rose continued with a smile, introducing the liquid in the bottle, "This is my favorite fruit wine. It’s not very sweet, but it’s delicious. I guarantee after the first sip, you’ll want a second, and after the second a third..."

"But I am not thirsty, nor do I wish to drink this fruit wine. I only want to ask: where is the key?"

"Ah, you’re neither hungry nor thirsty, then you must be tired, right?" Princess Rose didn’t answer Richard’s question, instead asking again with a smile, then answering her own question, "Yes, you must be tired. After all, fighting on the platform can be exhausting; the carriage is waiting outside. Let me take you to the Imperial Palace to rest awhile, where a Pharmacist will apply medicine to your body to relax your muscles and ease your fatigue. And just so you know, the Pharmacist is a very beautiful woman..."

"Where is the key?" Richard asked a third time, looking straight at the smiling Princess Rose and focusing on the key issue, giving her no room to beat around the bush.

Princess Rose finally couldn’t hold it back any longer, the smile on her face freezing into a slightly awkward expression, "Well, well... Richard, listen to me..."

"Uh-huh, go ahead."

"I mean, let me explain, things aren’t what you think..."

"Uh-huh, explain."

"Well..." Princess Rose began, and Richard looked at her with a serious face, saying, "Speak, explain, I am very curious to hear your reasons."

"Uh—" Princess Rose lowered her head, took a deep breath, "hmmm—"

Lifting her head, Princess Rose admitted, "All right, I’ll be honest with you, the truth is... I didn’t get the key. My father said his private library is very confidential, and people can’t just go in there. You see... don’t get angry first, I promise you, aside from that one library, you can still enter any other library and read..."

At the end of her sentence, Princess Rose couldn’t help but speak in a fainter voice because she saw Richard looking at her expressionlessly.

"What’s wrong, is that not okay?" Princess Rose asked softly, clearly feeling guilty.

Richard looked at Princess Rose and seriously said, "Noble Princess Rose of the Black Holy Mountain Kingdom!"

When she heard Richard call her by that title, Princess Rose’s body involuntarily shivered slightly, feeling an urge to cross her legs tightly. She fully realized that Richard might be angry. After all, the last time he had addressed her in that manner, he had confined her in a room at the White Stone Tower Academy to do "that sort of thing."

Could it be that another round was about to begin?

Princess Rose thought nervously, listening to Richard say, "Noble Princess Rose of the Black Holy Mountain Kingdom! Do you remember what I said before? When you initially proposed many challenges, I didn’t reject a single one and found ways to fulfill them all.

The reason was to ensure that your promises, my rewards, would be realized without dilution. Now you tell me that possibly the most useful library to me, the one harboring the knowledge I desire most, is off-limits, then what’s the point in seeking my reward?"

"I—" Princess Rose faltered, her eyes brimming with a hint of grievance as she looked at Richard, "I didn’t want things to turn out this way either, but my father doesn’t agree, what can I do? He even scolded me, saying I shouldn’t make careless remarks or promises..."

Richard didn’t say a word, just looked at Princess Rose with an expressionless face.

Princess Rose said helplessly, "Do you really have to visit that library?"

"What do you think?" Richard retorted, "The requirement I made initially was access to all libraries. Don’t you think that includes this one?"

Hearing this, Princess Rose was completely deflated and, as if making a decision, she clenched her teeth and said, "Alright, if you’re so determined to access that library, then I will definitely get that key for you. Yes, I will do what I say! Wait here for me; I absolutely will bring you the key back, even if I have to steal it!"

With those words, Princess Rose left with the resolute and heroic spirit of "though I walk alone among ten thousand foes," "draw the sword and swiftly strike, not betraying my youthful promise," and "death comes to all since ancient times, but a loyal heart will shine through history."

She was so decisive, so tragically noble, filled with both reluctance and resignation...

Richard watched as Princess Rose left, his eyes flickering, but he said nothing.

...