Zanac POV
"Ahh… finally back."
I looked around, confirming I was once again in the familiar room, the very place where I had first woken up in this world.
Noticing the light spilling through the window, I walked over and pulled the curtains aside. Morning huh. Just like there.
It seemed the word SYNC mentioned on the card wasn't an exaggeration. Time flowed normally between both worlds.
Well I'd spent a fair amount of time there in checking the loot, disposing of the bodies in the forest, and securing a temporary hideout. It hadn't been too difficult. The bandits' camp had been on the outskirts of a small village. If my memory was right, the Kagenou household should be somewhere in a nearby town or city. After all, Cid used to come and go within a single night.
With a tired sigh, I flopped onto the bed, the mattress dipping under my weight.
I closed my eyes, letting my thoughts drift.
I'll need to return at regular intervals.
First, to learn the local language and to understand their political structure. Second is to solve the possession situation as soon as possible. And most importantly, to learn how they use mana.
Because my assumption had been correct.
What there was called "magic power" in essence is mana. That was good news. It meant that even if I completely exhausted my reserves there, I wouldn't have to worry about permanently damaging my growth. Mana naturally replenished, just like here.
I remembered something important from the story.
It's said originally, the world of The Eminence in Shadow didn't possess magical power at all. It only gained mana after one of realms collided with that one flooding the world with magical energy. Some species failed to adapt and went extinct. Others evolved… and thrived.
The same phenomenon even affected their version of Earth.
Multiple realms. Each with different environments, different inhabitants.
That alone meant the danger level of this world was far higher than most people realised.
The Cult of Diablos seemed to know more than they let on. Who knew maybe they still existed in that parallel version of the world I went. Many believed they were merely a by-product of Cid's unconscious reality manipulation, but without him here… it was worth investigating.
And speaking of realms—
This world wasn't exactly different.
Demons existed. Angels too.
The question was, whether they comes from other dimensions connected to the planet?
Or were they simply inhabitants of the same world, dwelling somewhere impossibly distant, like in a typical isekai setting?
"…This is going to be troublesome," I muttered, opening my eyes.
I'd need to restock on magic scrolls soon since I used far more scrolls than I originally planned to.
That said…
Buying another large batch from the Magician's Guild in such short term would definitely raise many eyebrows. Specially when I am a prince.
"Better to buy them outside the guild…"
The price would probably be higher but at least I wouldn't have to worry about being monitored.
…Still.
There was a lot to think about.
Buying scrolls outside the Guild meant new risks. Meeting unreliable suppliers. The possibility of being betrayed. Jumped by thugs. Or worse meet someone clever enough to realise they were dealing with more than an ordinary noble.
Sure, I could use Warp Gate to move everything straight into my room once the deal was done, but using teleportation even by mistake in front of others will lead to trouble. One rumour was all it would take for things to spiral.
"Tch… what a pain."
It would be so much easier if I had an ability related to duplication, clones or avatar. Something I could control remotely.
If I had that, I could create an alternate identity, someone who could move freely, make deals, take risks, and disappear without leading any connection back to Prince Zanac.
An expendable face for dirty *cough* I mean, serious work like peaking to gather information.
Why am I even getting flustered? It's not like I was thinking of anything strange.
And even if I was… no one can hear me right now.
I'm getting sidetracked.
Regardless of where I go whether it's the guild or some back-alley supplier I'll have to stay on guard. I won't have soldiers with me this time so no convenient meat shields to draw attention or soak up danger.
A one-on-one fight wouldn't be much of a problem, especially against magic casters. Most of them can't even move properly while chanting, and I'm not weak enough to lose to ordinary local warriors either.
The real issue would be facing a group… or running into a high-tier individual.
Let's hope my luck doesn't turn against me.
Or maybe… I should just wait until the next spin. There isn't much time left anyway. If I'm fortunate, I might pull something actually useful someone or something that increases my chances of survival.
The scrolls I still have are more than enough for another one-sided slaughter like yesterday, but relying only on consumables isn't a habit I want to build.
Hmm… it's decided. I'll do another spin before making my move.
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Movies to travel and gain subordinates