Chapter 2: There’s still one step left

I coughed and pushed myself up.

‘That f*cking hurts.’

Maybe because I crashed into the ground, there wasn’t a single spot on my body that didn’t ache.

‘Damn it, if only I had a little more time to practice.’

I never thought I’d be making such an engineer-like excuse.

But with time being so tight, it couldn’t be helped.

I had to come at full speed, so there was no time for practice or anything; I just had to ram into it.

Should I consider it fortunate that there doesn’t seem to be any other damage?

“Wyrcana, is anyone hurt?”

-No. I took control right before the impact.

“As expected. I trusted you.”

-Honestly. What in the world were you thinking…

Wyrcana grumbled before fading away.

Even though it spoke like that, the atmosphere wasn’t particularly bad.

In the first place, it and I are already practically one.

Beyond conversation, we even share a small portion of our emotions.

It must have already known that I had no ill intentions.

‘The Old Ones and their guardians are bound by soul from birth. It seems that setting is being maintained.’

If nothing else, it was honestly convenient not to have to explain everything at length.

‘While we’re at it, can’t we share the sense of pain too?’

I forced my stiff body to move.

I hurried to the entrance on the side.

-Hiss!

With a sound, the door opened.

Outside was already chaos itself.

It was only natural, having been hit head-on by a surprise airship strike.

‘Huh?’

Just as I was about to step outside, I met someone’s eyes.

Surprisingly, it was a very familiar face.

It was even the person I was looking for.

Whether in the novel, the game, or the side story, I couldn’t possibly not know the face that dies like a sunfish in the prologue every single time.

Crown Prince Alexios.

The man, who was no different from a human Leomon, was staring this way with wide eyes near the entrance.

“…A, a person?”

“?! Who are you! Identify yourself!”

Alexios was flustered, and the female knight next to him drew her sword, on guard.

The female knight was someone I’d never seen before.

She was probably Marina, the bodyguard and childhood friend who was only mentioned in the background.

‘It was mentioned she stayed by his side until the very end and died with him. This is my first time seeing her in person. It’s a little moving.’

To witness the pure-hearted knight who stayed with him until death.

Seeing her like this, it felt quite new.

But now is not the time for such trivial sentiments.

Even as I stand here, all sorts of threats are approaching with every passing moment.

“You two over there!”

“?” “?”

“You’re the Crown Prince and his escort knight, right?! There’s no time! If I’m right, nod your heads!”

“…How do you know that?”

The crown prince asked back, looking dumbfounded.

I kicked the floor in frustration.

Come on, I told you there’s no time for this.

“I’ll explain later! Just get on board, quickly! I’ll say it again, there’s no time!”

“Wh-what?!”

“Are you insane! Do you have any idea who-“

As expected, the reaction wasn’t good.

To be precise, the escort knight, Marina, was especially wary.

The crown prince just seemed bewildered.

If he were alone, he might have been slightly tempted by the “Get in! I’ll explain later!” part.

‘It seems words won’t be enough.’

The city was already in an uproar.

Soldiers were closing in from all directions, and at this rate, we’d be surrounded.

What’s more, there was a high probability that the assassin from the original story was mixed in with the soldiers.

In that case?

‘I’ll have to drag them by force.’

“Wyrcana!”

–…Why are you calling again.

“Use the transformation function and bring those two here! Quickly!”

–…? How in the world do you know about that-

“I said hurry up!”

–Haa…

Wyrcana sighed and activated.

The crashed airship twitched, and suddenly, a clay-like arm shot out from its side.

Made of pure white plaster, it looked like the foreleg of a wyvern.

It snatched the two people nearby with a whoosh.

Grab!

“?!! W-woaaaaah!!!”

“L-let go of me! Your Highness! Your Highness!!”

-Got them.

“Good. Now bring them inside the airship. They can’t attack me inside the ship anyway.”

–…You want to bring outsiders into the airship? How dare you…

Wyrcana flared up again.

This b*stard dares!

“What is it? You want me to die?”

–…

“Should I just die?”

–…Haah. Remember this, this is the only time.

You little brat, you were going to do it anyway.

Regardless, Wyrcana tossed the two people inside the ship.

Perhaps angered by my attitude, the force was a little unusual.

I heard a crunching sound, so they were either knocked out or had collapsed.

As long as they weren’t dead, it didn’t really matter.

-By the way, is this okay?

“What is?”

-Isn’t this basically kidnapping? Kidnapping the Empire’s crown prince the moment you wake up. I’ve never seen anyone like you in my life.

“You’re the same age as me anyway. You’ve only been awake for twenty years at most, right?”

-Don’t nitpick my words.

Wyrcana’s tone sharpened.

It was a warning atmosphere.

But weren’t these words of concern for me anyway?

Is that why?

This time, I didn’t feel like arguing.

“I know what you’re thinking. But I have a plan too. Don’t worry too much.”

-Hmph…

“I’m serious.”

–…Alright. I’ll watch a little longer.

Fortunately, it didn’t escalate into an argument.

It was because it had also noticed people gathering around.

Soon, the airship stabilized and soared back into the sky.

It oriented itself in the air for a moment, then ascended rapidly towards the dark sky.

---

A short while later, I quietly made my way.

The destination was, without a doubt, the secluded room where the two were being held.

Maybe because it was time for persuasion.

My heart felt a little heavy.

-Creak

“?!”

“Y-you bastard!”

As soon as I entered, a reaction came immediately.

The crown prince jumped in surprise, and the female knight was on high alert, looking like she was about to faint.

Fortunately, there were no other particular problems.

Currently, the two were being held by the same white, clay-like arms as when they were moved (kidnapped).

The good-natured Wyrcana had tactfully subdued them in advance.

I could feel its consideration once again.

‘I feel kind of bad now.’

My eyes inexplicably started to sting.

I felt like I should seriously thank it later.

In any case, I quickly approached the two.

After subtly gauging the atmosphere, I spoke as if to reason with them.

“First of all, please calm down.”

“How can we possibly calm down right now!”

“I understand why you’re angry. But first, please listen to my story-“

“Please spare my life!”

“?”

“?”

Alexios suddenly begged for his life.

Even I didn’t expect this.

Marina, who was next to him, had a similar reaction.

“I don’t know who you are, but please spare me! I haven’t done anything to hold a grudge against! I’m sure we can resolve this with dialogue!”

“Your Highness! Are you in your right mind?! Begging for your life from someone like that!”

“You be quiet! Don’t you know that for a knight with your personality, being kidnapped is the most dangerous thing?!”

“What do you mean by that?!”

“Anyway!”

The two of them chattered on their own.

Watching them, I started to feel dizzy.

‘I see why they killed him off early.’

The crown prince’s personality was very different from my expectations.

I hadn’t realized it from the descriptions and mentions, but it was enough to slightly ruin the atmosphere of the world.

Such a high-tension character in a gloomy world.

If I were the author, I would have killed him off first too.

‘In other words, his existence alone brightens the world, even if just a little.’

In life, a light to the world.

In death, the gunshot of ruin.

Either way, he was nothing short of an irregular.

Well, in any case, the fact that I needed his cooperation remained unchanged.

From that perspective, now was actually better.

A person like that was less of a burden to deal with than someone who was unnecessarily serious about everything.

“For now, please calm down.”

“…Hoo. I understand.”

“We have a lot to talk about from now on. For now, I’d like you to listen to my story and judge for yourself.”

First, I lightly set the mood.

Considering what would follow, some preliminary work was necessary.

Fortunately, the tension from the earlier commotion had somewhat dissipated.

I quickly moved to the main point.

“First, let me tell you this. The reason I brought Your Highness here was not for money or anything else.”

“Then why?”

“The reason is simple. It was to save you, Your Highness.”

“Save me, you say?”

“Yes.”

During our conversation, I tapped the floor.

It was a hint towards the city of Germano below the airship.

“Just today, assassins were hiding all over the city. The target was, without a doubt, Your Highness. If you had remained there, it certainly would not have ended well.”

“……”

After hearing my story, Alexios fell into thought.

It seemed he was piecing together the situation in his mind.

“There’s one thing I don’t understand.”

“What is it?”

“How do you know the inside story?”

That again.

Well, it makes sense to be curious about that first.

‘I can’t tell the truth.’

I was about to make up a plausible story.

“Wait.”

“?”

“Even if I ask this now, it’ll be hard to get a real answer anyway.”

The crown prince asked pointedly.

He’s quite sharp.

“In that case, I’d rather ask something else, if that’s alright?”

“I don’t mind. Please ask anything.”

“Thank you. Then there’s one thing I’d like to clarify.”

“What is it?”

“About the assassins you mentioned. I don’t think it would have been possible for them to be in the city in the first place.”

“Why is that?”

To my question, the crown prince answered with a proud smile.

“Because the one who rules that place is my uncle. The lord of Germano is His Majesty the Emperor’s younger brother. And, when I was young, I grew up learning the sword under my uncle.”

“Hmm…”

“He considers me almost like his own son. I even met him this morning and we talked while taking a walk. We even discussed future grand plans. In such a situation, is it not unlikely that my uncle would have neglected the city’s management?”

I listened to the crown prince’s words in silence.

Looking at him, my heart truly ached.

Especially when I thought about the truth I was about to reveal.

“Your Highness.”

“Why?”

“The one who tried to assassinate you was none other than the lord of Germano.”

“…?”

The crown prince’s expression went blank for a moment.

His pupils shook violently.

“…That’s impossible! Why would my uncle try to kill me?!”

“It may be hard to believe, but that is the truth, Your Highness.”

“Don’t give me that sh*t! There’s no reason for my uncle to try and kill me! No, that’s not it! The personnel stationed in the city would have been managed directly by His Majesty! Even if my uncle tried to kill me! The soldiers were sent by my father himself! So! So how could that be!”

“Your Highness.”

I called to him again.

The crown prince flinched in surprise once more.

“Wh-what is it?”

“The one who ordered the lord of Germano to carry out the assassination… was His Majesty the Emperor.”

“…!!!”

The crown prince’s eyes looked like they were about to pop out.

Even his breathing became noticeably ragged.

His earlier “don’t give me that sh*t” attitude was gone, and it looked like he was about to stop breathing at any moment.

Was the shock of his own father trying to kill him too much?

“Are you insane! How dare you speak such nonsense! His-His Majesty tried to have the Crown Prince assassinated?!”

“You don’t have to believe it if you don’t want to.”

“What did you say?!”

“Because I’m not even finished talking yet, anyway.”

I lightly ignored Marina’s outburst.

Sorry, but now is not the time to be concerned with her.

I still have one more shot left.

“Your Highness.”

“…Why? Why are you doing this again?”

“That is…”

“Can’t you just not say it?”

The crown prince spoke as if pleading with me.

His tone was almost begging.

If one had human emotions, it would be natural to be a little shaken.

But I had no emotions.

“Your Highness is not the biological son of His Majesty the Emperor.”

“!!!”

This time, the effect was a bit bigger.

-Thud!

Alexios fainted while still sitting.

Marina, who was next to him, caught him in surprise.

“Y-Your Highness! Your Highness!!!”

Crown Prince down!

Crown Prince down!!