【The Old Man of the Expelled Inn Unwittingly Dominates Today Too】Although I Want to Lead a Slow Life, for Some Reason the Strongest Beauties Who Hold Important Positions in the Country, and Were Once My Disciples, Gather Around Me Asking to Be Hired – Even Though I Only Taught Them a Little～ - Chapter 55: Prince Genus' POV- Genus Fails to Recruit the Archmage

A few days before Calut reunites with Baldo…

“Damn it all…”

I was walking along the coastline all by myself, aimlessly. My clothes were tattered, and I had no money.

“Ha ha ha~ What a pitiful sight you are.”

The one taunting me was ‘the mirror.’ The fool who had advised me to hinder my idiot father and become the acting king.

“Shut it… Even though you’re just a broken piece, you’re still blabbering.”

I was reduced to tatters by an overwhelming stampede of monsters. Despite analyzing the battle situation with my brilliant mind and tactically retreating swiftly, monsters fell from the sky and left me in this state.

What is this?

Moreover, the commoners were unscathed, thanks to a 【Barrier】 that appeared from somewhere.

What is this?

Why do I, of all people, have to walk this damn coastline on foot? The villages around are searching for me.

Armed with hoes and ropes…

They intend to capture me. These insolent commoners dare to overstep! I haven’t had a decent meal in days.

Why must I suffer like this?

As I irritably gazed at the coastline, I spotted a single ship.

“Ah? A harbor…”

“Ha ha ha~ Are you planning to flee to another country by ship~”

“Ah? I’m not fleeing. I’m making a comeback. To my rightful throne.”

“Just by yourself, is that possible~.”

“Silence… Huh? That ship is… a vessel for foreign dispatch…”

It was from the mage corps that had been sent on a long-term mission to other countries… Among them was…

—A great sorcerer!

“Kuk… If I can bring her to my side… There’s still a chance.”

“Ha ha ha~ On the verge of death and still plotting evil~ I like it~”

“Welcome back! My elite corps of mages!”

I welcomed the inspection team upon their disembarkation.

They should consider it a supreme honor to be addressed by me directly.

…Their reaction is lukewarm.

I’m the acting king. Bow down immediately.

“Oi! Where is this grand sorcerer? What’s his name… Ah, something Calut!”

“Calut Mage-sama is right in front of you.”

One of the delegates pointed right in front of me.

You dare point at me… Where exactly are you pointing? Ah?

—Wait a minute.

“You’re quite tiny! Could you be—the one?”

What’s this? She’s but a child. Could the grand sorcerer truly be of such a youthful appearance?

“What? Who are you? Do you need something from Calut?”

“Ugh… You, how dare you speak to me like that—“

“Your name is ‘Oresama’? How peculiar.”

“Damn it, don’t talk back to me! —I am Prince Genus!”

“Eh? ‘Gesu’?”

“It’s not! It’s Ge-nus!”

“Whoa, keep your distance. You reek, stay back.”

Haaa, how dare you say I stink!

“Insolence! A prince such as I could never emit such odors! This is precisely the lack of refinement expected from the lower-born.”

“Why are you dressed in rags? Suspicious.”

Ridiculous! The skies themselves unleashed monsters upon me!

This is making me remember annoying things!

But it’s not wise to mention that now. I need to persuade him to join my side cleverly.

“Look! A sword with the royal family’s crest! Only a member of the royal family has this!”

“Hmm~ Interesting.”

Phew… Are you convinced now?

Why must I prove my princely status? It should be apparent at a glance.

“So, what does the (provisional) prince want?”

“Stop with the ‘provisional’! Curse it… I’m conscripting you for now. Come with me to the royal capital!”

“Why does Calut have to go with you, Genus? If you want to go, go by yourself.”

“Grrr… Those damned disciples of Baldo-sensei, all so infuriating!”

Nothing but insolence…

I refuse to be mocked by such a runt.

“Hey, did you just mention Baldo without respect?”

“Huh? Baldo? You mean that damn Baldo-sama?”

“‘Damn’ is unnecessary, oh despicable prince.”

“Guh… That incompetent is none of my concern! He’s been banished and is probably dead somewhere. Forget such trivial matters and follow me! We’re going to take back the royal capital!”

“Banished? What do you mean? I don’t understand.”

“Ah! For the crime of embezzling national taxes due to his incompetence, I banished him! Enough, forget such trivialities.”

“That’s a lie. Baldo wouldn’t embezzle, nor is he incompetent.”

Guh, not this one, too.

I’m sick of this Baldo worship from her and the Fake Saint. Is he using some kind of slavery magic?

Otherwise, they’d follow me, the more competent one.

Looks like I’ll have to take her by force. She’ll realize my greatness along the way.

As I reach out to grab the insolent magician…

“Hi… Don’t come any closer! Men…”

What? Why is she freaking out?

And she’s sweating a lot… Is it that hot?

“Hey, don’t make me waste my time! Let’s go!”

As I approach the insolent magician…

Huh? What’s with the sky…!

Red…!?

Wait, wait, wait…

Could she be contemplating meteor magic…!?

“If you come any closer to Calut! I’ll obliterate you without a trace!”

—She’s lost it…

“What are you talking about? This is an order from the prince regent! Obey!”

“(Provisional) prince’s orders or not, I won’t listen. Besides, you’re suspicious and smelly.”

The sky remains red. She’s serious about activating the magic…

—This is no good.

“This mad little wretch! Consider yourself dismissed!”

“Fine, then I’ll do as I please. There’s no reason for me to stay in this country anymore. I’m going to look for Baldo.”

With that, the little girl left.

“What’s her deal, professing to be one of the Three Gods?”

I found myself walking aimlessly along the coastline again.

Looking up, the sky had returned to its original blue.

Is she sane? She’s completely unhinged.

If she had hit me with that thing, I’d be annihilated!

“Ahahaha~ Rejected again~”

A shard of mirror in my pocket spoke with an irritating voice.

Huh? My waist feels light…

I stop and pat myself down…

It seems I’ve also dropped the royal sword.

—What is this?

“Mirror, answer me! What is this?!”

Why must I face such a fate?!

I’m the most competent! I deserve to be the king!

“That’s right, there’s no way someone as excellent as I could be doomed!”

“That cannot be!”

“Indeed, your heart is too delicious~ But let me thank you for the feast. How about a dramatic turnaround~?”

“Ah! Spouting nonsense again… I’ll smash you to pieces, mirror.”

“No, no~ I’m always thinking about you~”

“Tch, fine, I’ll listen. What do you have?”

“We’re going to the shrine of the Demon King now~.”

“Ah? What’s that? There’s no such thing as a Demon King.”

“He’s not in this world but sealed in the shrine~ Hahaha~ Unseal it, and he’d be delighted to lend his power~.”

“What did you say…”

My feet began to move again.

Towards the shrine of the Demon King.