The Hidden Extra: The Lazy Prince Refuses to Ascend The Throne Chapter 721 Gathering Information

"Hahaha! You know what? I actually succeeded in sleeping with that woman yesterday!"

"No way! Damn it! How did you manage that?"

"Hehehe! That's a secret!"

"Did you hear? The Demon Emperor's army has launched an attack on the border!"

"Ugh! My head aches! All my debts are piling up everywhere!"

Within the unassuming tavern, the boisterous voices of its patrons echoed clearly.

Nolan and Evalyn entered, observing the unremarkable, almost dilapidated interior.

The establishment was quite spacious, yet marred by a noticeable layer of dirt. Dust coated the floor, and the tables showed signs of decay.

A strong aroma of alcohol permeated every nook and cranny of the tavern.

"Welcome," a waitress greeted them.

She possessed a certain prettiness, her brown hair fashioned into two neat braids. She was petite, with delightfully chubby cheeks.

Two words perfectly captured her essence: cute and sweet.

"How many in your party?" she inquired.

"A table for two, please," Nolan responded calmly, his hand gently holding Evalyn's left hand.

Evalyn was momentarily taken aback but did not pull away. She recalled Nolan's earlier statement about their assumed status in this world being that of a couple.

For reasons unknown, her mind drifted back to the voyage they had taken towards the Eastern Empire of Izanagi.

During that journey, she and Nolan had also been portraying the roles of a couple.

"Very well. Please follow me," the waitress said, a sweet smile gracing her lips.

She guided them towards the far end of the tavern, where a moderately sized table with two chairs, positioned opposite each other, awaited.

It was the sole remaining table, as all others were already occupied by patrons.

The waitress presented them with the menu, and Nolan opted for some light snacks.

He then extended the menu to Evalyn, who selected tea and a few accompanying snacks.

Having already consumed the food Nolan provided before their temporal displacement, she still felt quite satiated.

The waitress collected their order and announced, "Please wait a moment. Your order should be ready in about ten minutes."

Both nodded in acknowledgment. After she departed, Nolan calmly surveyed their surroundings.

He could easily discern the conversations of the patrons nearby. However, surprisingly few seemed to be discussing the ongoing war against the Demon Emperor and his formidable forces.

'What is truly happening?' Nolan mused inwardly. 'Could it be that we have arrived in the wrong era? But that seems improbable. This should be the very era during which the heroes vanquish the Demon Emperor.'

He felt reasonably confident about this assessment. Earlier, he had indeed overheard someone mentioning the Demon Emperor near the gate.

Yet, that individual had swiftly shifted the topic, preventing him from catching the remainder of the discussion.

Abruptly, a soft voice intruded from behind them.

"Hey, I heard that the Hero of Light managed to breach the Demon Emperor's front lines. However, he sustained some serious injuries."

"Is that true? Where did you get that information?"

"Hehe… My older brother is part of the hero's army. He just returned yesterday from his duties and told me all about it. But remember—this is strictly confidential. If you let it slip, you risk losing your head!"

"That sounds terrifying! I-I understand!"

Nolan was taken aback by this revelation. The title 'Hero of Light' was famously held by the ancestor of the Lionheart family, recognized for wielding the divine artifact known as the Divine Sword of Luminus.

Conversely, the title 'Hero of Darkness' was bestowed upon the progenitor of the Asbourne family.

Nolan had not anticipated that the Lionheart family's ancestor would sustain injuries during that particular engagement.

Nevertheless, he recognized this situation as a prime opportunity presenting itself.

He rose from his seat and walked purposefully towards the two men.

Evalyn was momentarily startled by his sudden movement. She was about to voice a question but refrained when she observed his intended destination.

'Could he have already obtained the information he sought?' Evalyn pondered silently.

"My brother said that—"

Before the man could complete his sentence, Nolan was suddenly by his side, placing a hand on the shoulders of both him and his companion.

"Could you perhaps enlighten me on the matter?"

The two men exchanged surprised glances. They turned in unison, their eyes meeting Nolan's purple irises, within which the pupils had morphed into the distinctive symbols of a star and the sun.

Their expressions instantly became vacant, as if their consciousness had been momentarily suspended.

The man who possessed the information nodded stiffly and replied in a monotone voice, "Yes, I can tell you."

Nolan offered a faint smile and instructed, "Relate the entire account to me without delay."

Fifteen minutes later…

Nolan returned to his seat, his expression perfectly composed.

"So, what's the verdict? Did you manage to get the news you were seeking?"

Nolan was about to respond when the waitress reappeared, carrying their ordered food.

"Here you are."

She carefully placed the dishes on the table. Once everything was arranged, she bowed her head and quietly withdrew.

Nolan picked up his meal. He had ordered baked potatoes accompanied by tomato sauce. Upon taking a bite, he experienced a slight sense of pleasant surprise.

"This is quite delicious," he murmured.

With a chew and swallow, he declared, "I understand. Your ancestor is currently engaged in battle with the Demon Emperor's forces and has sustained injuries."

Evalyn, in the midst of sipping her tea, let out a sudden cough. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at Nolan, stuttering, "In-Injured?"

Nolan offered a nod and proceeded to elaborate on the situation. Evalyn listened with rapt attention, her expression gradually clouding over with concern.

"Just how formidable are the Demon Emperor and his legions, then? If even my ancestor was bested in such a manner."

The narrative had consistently portrayed the Demon Emperor as an unconquerable being, responsible for the downfall of numerous human kingdoms.

Among these was the venerable Ancient Kingdom of Eron, its former expansive territories now reduced by half over the span of a millennium, leaving it significantly weakened.

Despite this, Evalyn had always held the conviction that her ancestor possessed immense strength, capable of effortlessly repelling the Demon Emperor's armies.

However, the disheartening news of his injury left her with a profound sense of sadness and apprehension.

"Try not to worry excessively. According to the account, your ancestor confronted thousands of demons and several of their elite generals. It is only natural that he would sustain injuries under such circumstances. The crucial point is that his wounds are not mortal, and he remains safe," Nolan offered words of reassurance.

The Demon Race of this particular era far surpassed their strength a thousand years into the future.

This stark reality was evident in the widespread devastation they were inflicting upon human forces across the entire continent.

Setting aside the direct influence of the Demon Emperor, it was an undeniable fact that the members of the Demon Race themselves were instrumental in this ongoing conquest.

Upon hearing Nolan's words, Evalyn exhaled a sigh of relief, her head drooping slightly in a gesture of weary acknowledgment.

"You are correct. My apologies, I allowed my emotions to get the better of me earlier," Evalyn expressed, lowering her gaze modestly.

A faint smile graced Nolan's lips, though he remained silent. They did not depart immediately after obtaining the crucial information.

Instead, they savored a fleeting moment of tranquility. After all, an opportunity to revisit the past in this manner was a rare occurrence, not to be squandered.

Approximately half an hour later, the pair made the decision to depart. Nolan placed two gold coins upon the table as payment.

As circumstances would have it, the town of Norham was situated within the western domain of the vast Velmora Empire.

Considering that the empire's currency had undergone minimal alteration over the preceding thousand years, he deemed it perfectly acceptable to utilize currency from his own time.

Once the duo had exited the establishment, the waitress who had attended to them promptly approached to clear the remnants of their meal and beverages.

Her attention, however, was suddenly captured by the glint of the two gold coins, prompting her to retrieve them.

"Hmm? Gold coins?" Her eyes narrowed as she scrutinized the unfamiliar engravings, pondering aloud, "To which kingdom do these gold coins belong?"

Despite her best efforts, no answer presented itself from her contemplation.

"I suppose I will need to consult Jack about this," she murmured to herself, a hint of intrigue in her voice.