I Became the Youngest Prince in the Novel

TL/Editor: raei

Status: ongoing

Illustrations: none

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Episode 161, Chapter 45: The Tower of Causality (1)

Chimseong Palace, after Zion's departure.

"This is too much!"

A high-pitched cry erupted from the study in the palace.

Of course, the source of this outcry was Liushina.

The witch paced around the study, complaining with eyes narrowed in anger.

True, last time she hadn't been too upset since she had her own work to do and there wasn't much progress anyway.

But this time was completely different.

"Don't you think the master went too far this time?"

Liushina thrust her face towards Tierrie, who was calmly handling official duties beside her, seemingly used to such scenes.

"He didn't take anyone with him, not just you, Lady Lina."

"He took Chirpy!"

"......"

Tierrie fell silent at those words, not responding.

It wasn't that he had nothing to say in rebuttal, but he figured any words would be useless if she felt competitive even with a spirit that wasn't human.

"I'm sure he had his reasons, so let it go. After all, hasn't everything His Highness has done so far had a proper reason?"

Sir Fredo, who had just entered the study, said good-naturedly as he handed tea to her and Tierrie.

"He said he'd let me kill more than I could imagine... The master's feelings have changed..."

After sulking for a moment with those words, Liushina suddenly brightened up and raised her head.

"In that case, I'll just have to create opportunities to kill a lot myself."

"What? What do you mean all of a sudden?"

Tierrie's face filled with confusion at this incomprehensible mumbling.

"You know those guys who attacked the master last time? You said there was a woman in a capital uniform among them, right?"

She asked, facing Tierrie.

"Yes, that's correct."

Tierrie's expression hardened slightly as he nodded.

Based on the information from Zion and the First Prince, they had figured out that the woman was one of the demons hiding in the imperial palace and held quite a high position, but they were having trouble tracking her location.

They had been thoroughly searching the entire capital and nearby cities using almost all their shadows, but it was as if she had vanished without a trace.

So the current situation was quite frustrating.

Liushina grinned at the shadow leader and said,

"I think I might know that woman."

"Really? Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I think I might even be able to find her location."

As the witch answered Tierrie's question, a blood-red aura was already swirling in her eyes.

* * *

As dawn slowly broke,

"...This is no joke."

A voice tinged with awe flowed from Rain Dranir's mouth, once one of the Northern Seven Outlaws and now a companion of the hero.

Before her stood a tower so tall it pierced the clouds, its top invisible.

The tower exuded such grandeur that calling it merely enormous would fall short.

This tower was none other than the 'Tower of Causality', the world's greatest dungeon that had appeared not long ago.

But it wasn't the tower that made Rain's eyes widen.

"Are you saying all these people are our competitors?"

The endless stream of people gathering around the tower.

The sheer number of people, reminiscent of an ant colony, evoked such a reaction from her.

What was even more surprising was that these weren't ordinary people, but all skilled individuals of a certain level or above.

Among them were numerous powerful figures so famous that their names could be recognized just by their faces.

Top-tier dungeon exploration teams, platinum-grade and above mercenaries, adventurers who had explored the entire continent, and more.

"Looks like even getting in might be tough?"

As Rain muttered while looking around,

"L-Look, it's the Blood Sword!"

People around her began to stir.

At the end of their gazes was a middle-aged man with a cold expression, carrying a sword as red as blood at his waist.

Rain's eyes also lit up as she spotted the man.

'Blood Sword Lee Un-gang.'

He was one of the 'Twelve Seas', the group of powerful individuals just below the 'Seven Heavens', and a swordsman from the Beast Sea.

In terms of swordsmanship alone, he was easily among the top five in the entire empire.

As if the Blood Sword's appearance was a signal,

"The Storm King is over there too!"

"And the Steel Soul on the opposite side!"

Other members of the 'Twelve Seas' began to appear one after another.

The area around the tower grew even more chaotic as people exclaimed in surprise.

"Is what's inside that tower really that amazing?"

Rain muttered questioningly as she observed the 'Twelve Seas' for a moment.

"I didn't expect them to move so soon."

These were some of the strongest individuals in the entire empire.

Of course, above them were the 'Seven Heavens', but except for one or two, they all held high positions as leaders of massive organizations or equivalent status, making it difficult for them to move freely.

So it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that these were the strongest individuals currently able to act.

"Are you scared?"

Turzan grinned as he asked Rain beside him.

Though he was one of the 'Seven Heavens', he was rarely seen outside the 'Sky Mountain', so no one recognized him.

"No way."

Rain smiled back at the giant as she answered.

Indeed, there was no fear or bewilderment in her eyes.

"The tower will open soon."

Just then, the silver-haired woman who had been looking at the sky spoke up.

Three days ago, the Tower of Causality had revealed its interior, but it wasn't open all day.

The tower only opened for a few minutes at dawn each day.

Because the time was so short, they needed to move quickly.

That's why other people had gathered around the tower in advance as well.

"Did you memorize all the trial details I told you about?"

The woman's question followed, and

"Of course."

"I've got it down pat, so you can stop asking."

As Turzan and Rain answered,

RUMBLE!

The ground began to shake with a tremendous roar.

And slowly,

The massive stone door firmly blocking the tower's entrance began to rise.

"It's open!"

"Enter inside!"

With that, people's forms shot towards the tower.

Not everyone moved.

Since nothing was known for certain about the tower, there were also those who wanted to wait and observe a bit longer.

They watched those heading towards the tower with various thoughts in their eyes.

RAT-TAT-TAT!

Living up to their reputation?

The powerful 'Twelve Seas' members quickly pushed to the front and disappeared into the tower in an instant.

Other people also began to rapidly enter the dungeon following them.

"Then I'll see you later."

Since there was no need to enter quickly, the silver-haired woman, who was near the end, briefly greeted Turzan and Rain before pushing her way into the entrance.

"Don't be late."

Turzan's form immediately vanished after the woman.

Finally, as Rain also took a step into the tower filled with pitch-black darkness,

"...Huh?"

Her eyes wavered as she spotted someone.

A man who had just entered the tower from the opposite end of the entrance where she was.

'Zion... Harness?'

Jet-black hair and eyes, and a face with that characteristic indifference.

She knew it the moment she saw him.

She had never forgotten him, not even once.

The man she had so desperately wanted to meet again.

As Rain unconsciously reached out towards him, WHOOSH!

The tower's darkness completely swallowed her.

* * *

The moment he stepped into the tower, darkness completely obscured Zion's vision.

How much time had passed since then?

Zion looked at the huge walls revealed beyond the gradually clearing darkness.

'Has it begun?'

A slight curve appeared on Zion's lips at the initial scenery, exactly as described in the chronicles.

Fortunately, it seemed the changed future hadn't affected the Tower of Causality.

Just then,

-Welcome to the Tower of Causality.

A stiff female voice reached Zion's ears.

-You are a 4th generation challenger.

A voice without inflection.

Zion knew the identity of this voice.

'Trial Helper.'

It was a being that helped those who entered the Tower of Causality focus solely on overcoming trials and ascending to the next floor.

An artificially created spirit, not born naturally.

The reason for the existence of these 'Trial Helpers' was simple.

'The Tower of Causality is different from other dungeons.'

While ordinary dungeons were created to protect treasures, the Tower of Causality was created to give treasures.

It was a dungeon with a bizarre nature unlike any other, but understanding its origin made this natural.

'The final means of support created by gods and ancient dragons working together to prepare for the world's end.'

The gods desired, more than anyone else, for this world not to perish.

So they devised the Tower of Causality as a way to help humans while minimizing causality as much as possible.

By giving rewards in exchange for trials, they could reduce the consumption of causality that much.

'In other words, the more difficult the trial overcome, the greater the reward.'

As Zion organized his thoughts, the 'Trial Helper's' voice continued.

-There are trials on each floor of the tower, and you will be awarded points differentially based on your performance and contribution each time you overcome a trial.

-Points accumulate, and the higher your score, the better rewards you can obtain.

-The trial on the first floor is the Labyrinth of Anguish. Please clear it as quickly as possible to earn a high score.

An extremely simple explanation.

"......"

Zion stared blankly at the huge maze before him.

This trial called the 'Labyrinth of Anguish' wasn't too difficult, befitting the very first trial.

It simply ended once you cleared the maze while dealing with monsters that appeared here and there.

'The issue is how quickly you can clear it.'

In the chronicles, the hero discovered a sort of shortcut, cleared the maze first, and obtained the highest score.

Though he knew that shortcut from reading the chronicles, Zion had no intention of taking that path.

'The hero will take the shortcut too.'

Zion was aware that the hero's party had entered the Tower of Causality along with him.

If the hero had truly regressed as Luminous said, not only she but her companions would also know about that shortcut.

So there was no point in trying to gain a definite advantage that way.

"Besides, there's no need to go that way when there's an even faster route."

With those words, Zion reached out and lightly grasped the air.

SWISH-

As if it had been waiting, Eclaksia settled into his hand.

Zion briefly observed the Light-Extinguishing Sword that appeared in its complete form from the start, then slightly twisted the wrist holding the sword.

SCREECH!

At that moment, the darkness enveloping Eclaksia began to rotate around the blade, absorbing all the surrounding energy and converting it into darkness.

Along with this, Eclaksia, more efficient than Agdravar when it came to the Black Star, endlessly amplified that darkness.

RUMBLE!

The blade trembled from repeated compression and amplification.

This trembling was closer to anticipation for the first strike with a complete body rather than a scream of being unable to withstand the power.

Feeling the trembling transmitted even to his hand, Zion pulled Eclaksia back.

Simultaneously, a natural partial eclipse with 2 overlaps occurred.

In truth, there was no path faster than the hero's shortcut in this maze.

But,

"If there isn't one, I'll just have to make one."

Zion's eyes curved.

As if sensing something ominous?

-Please refrain from inappropriate actions.

-Please refrain from inappropriate actions.

The Trial Helper's voice belatedly rang in Zion's ears repeatedly, but

It was already too late.

Eclaksia, having finally formed another perfect blade, was slowly extended forward.

TAP.

The moment the tip of the Light-Extinguishing Sword lightly touched the maze wall, CRACKLE!

A streak of black lightning originating from the sword's tip split all the walls in a straight line.

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