Chapter 4: After a few hundred years

I realized my mistake too late.

It was so obviously my fault that I couldn’t even make an excuse.

‘Damn it, I should have been more careful with the lore. I’ve gotten too used to it.’

For me, the lore of Old Tales was like eating a meal.

Just as a modern person turns on YouTube and watches videos while eating, I would open books and wikis and indulge in the lore in the same way.

Perhaps that’s why.

I didn’t even realize I was talking about future knowledge.

‘I need to be a little more careful from now on.’

“Hey, what’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing.”

“Is that so? Anyway, what was that about just now? How were you so sure? Huh?”

The crown prince sneakily asked me again.

Looking at him now, he had a surprisingly persistent side.

‘Just let it go already.’

For a fleeting moment, I contemplated my next move.

I decided to just brazenly push forward.

“The reason… it’s nothing special, really.”

“Is that so? What is it?”

“I just made a prediction based on the information I have.”

“……”

“Is there anything more to it?”

I brazenly pushed forward with an absurd claim.

As expected, the reaction was very bad.

His eyes were slowly narrowing, a clear sign that he didn’t believe my words at all.

‘So, what are you going to do about it? What can you do right now?’

I mustn’t forget.

The one holding the initiative here is me.

Whether the crown prince believes my words or not, time will eventually prove that everything I said is true.

When that time comes, he’ll be the one seeking me out first.

Simply put, even if I’m being unreasonable now, I have nothing to lose.

‘And he’s not foolish enough to not know that. Rather than ruining the situation over a trivial doubt, it’s better to turn a blind eye and take the advantage.’

My prediction hit the mark.

The crown prince caught his breath as if something was uncomfortable, then finally nodded his head reluctantly.

“…Alright. I understand your intentions.”

“Is that so?”

“From now on, if you don’t want to tell me something, just say so honestly.”

“I’m not sure what you mean.”

“I get it, so stop.”

The crown prince clasped his hands together as if pleading.

Hmm, I suppose I should stop.

“Anyway, I understand what you’re trying to say. That it’s right for me to go back, is that it?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“At first, I was half in doubt, but thinking about it, your words weren’t wrong. There’s no use in running away, and it seems being confident won’t arouse any unnecessary suspicion.”

“It’ll be much better for watching for an opportunity, too.”

“Exactly.”

The general direction of the conversation was set.

It was decided that he would return for now.

Naturally, that led to the destination.

“Understood. Then shall I drop you off at the capital first?”

“Please do. But, this is a little surprising. Were you really planning to let me go just like this?”

“Do you still doubt my true intentions?”

No way, was he still suspicious?

This is a bit disappointing.

“Ah, don’t misunderstand. I’m just genuinely surprised. For a kidnapping of a crown prince, the aftertaste is too bland. That’s why.”

Did my feelings show on my face?

The crown prince hurriedly made an excuse.

Seeing that, I didn’t even feel like pointing it out.

“I’m adding this just in case, but you don’t have to worry unnecessarily.”

“Well, I told you it’s a misunderstanding.”

“Anyway. Ah, and one more thing.”

I raised my index finger towards the crown prince.

“? What is it?”

“From now on, I will occasionally provide you with information.”

“Information? Like now?”

“Yes. However, there is one condition. This is an unwritten rule that must be followed.”

“Tell me.”

“That you will never ask about the source of the information.”

I spoke seriously, with feeling.

This wasn’t a joke, it was real.

I don’t know when I might mention future knowledge again.

Making excuses every time that happens is honestly too bothersome.

‘It’s better to get a confirmation in advance. Squeezing out excuses is a real pain.’

As I said above, the truth of my words will be revealed on its own anyway.

This is to prevent any unnecessary talk for a while.

Did my intention get through?

The crown prince thought for a moment, then nodded his head again.

“Alright, I understand. I will not ask from now on.”

“Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it. I’m the one who received help.”

The crown prince chuckled and pointed to the white clay that bound him.

“Since it’s come to this, can’t you untie this as well?”

“You mean that?”

“Yes. Damn it, I have no idea what this white, hard thing is. I don’t even have a clue what to call it.”

The crown prince grunted, struggling against the clay.

Despite its appearance, the adhesive strength seemed quite strong.

Seeing that even the knight Marina was quietly bound, its hardness was no ordinary matter.

‘That’s not something I can control.’

The master of the airship is me.

However, the detailed management is handled by Wyrcana, not me.

And on a ship that has already departed, sometimes the power of the quartermaster is stronger than the captain’s.

“Wyrcana?”

–…What is it.

“Sorry, but could you possibly untie those two?”

-No.

Wyrcana refused flatly.

Actually, I asked knowing the answer.

I wasn’t particularly disappointed.

“Did you hear that?”

“…”

“The quartermaster says no.”

“…Did the ship just talk? How-“

The crown prince looked like he was about to have another fit.

It seemed like he was starting up again.

‘Has this man already forgotten?’

I cleared my throat mid-sentence and raised my finger.

Your voice. Don’t raise your voice like that.

“…I understand. You’re saying not to ask for details, right?”

Fortunately, the crown prince was quick-witted.

Only then did I lower my finger again.

“I’m glad we seem to be on the same page.”

“……”

“Right?”

“…Of course.”

At my words, the crown prince forced a smile.

His facial muscles were strangely stiff.

Just looking at his awkward expression, I felt like I knew what he was thinking.

“Your Highness.”

“Why?”

“I’m not particularly a devil-like b*stard.”

“……”

“And I don’t have the talent to read people’s minds.”

“…My mistake.”

---

A mysterious young man.

The man who identified himself as Noah finally left the room.

Only then did the room become quiet again.

Alexios, who remained, frowned with deep fatigue.

‘This is confusing.’

Alexios rubbed his eyes and touched his head.

He felt like he was going to develop hair loss he didn’t even have.

His head was a bit complicated, perhaps because too much information came in at once.

“Your Highness.”

“Why?”

“Do you really trust the words of that man from before?”

Marina, who had been silent all this time, asked pointedly.

It was a question that was difficult for even him, the crown prince, to answer rashly.

“If I knew that, my head wouldn’t be hurting so much right now.”

“However…”

“Enough, it will all be revealed with time anyway. Assassination and whatnot, there’s no point in worrying about it now.”

If a clear answer emerged, that would be a different story.

But if not, he didn’t want to waste his energy on a useless debate right now.

“…Thinking about it again, it’s just absurd.”

“Your Highness, what is?”

“The story that man told earlier.”

“Yes.”

“Weren’t they all just information related to my surroundings?”

“Is there any problem with that?”

Marina tilted her head.

It was an attitude of someone who genuinely didn’t know.

It was an ignorant attitude, but in another way, it was pure.

This was also the biggest reason he kept her close.

The crown prince sighed at her attitude and chuckled.

“It’s not so much a problem as it is just scary. That there was someone who investigated my surroundings so thoroughly, and I didn’t notice it at all until today.”

“Your Highness…”

“It’s alright. I wasn’t looking for comfort-“

“It’s not Your Highness’s fault. It’s just that that person was much more skilled than you.”

Marina threw a quick jab.

“…Huh? What did you say?”

“? Was I wrong?”

As if asking what the problem was, Marina tilted her head.

Alexios was momentarily at a loss for words.

The part that got hit (his heart) hurt too much.

He keenly realized that being too pure could also be a problem.

“…Thank you for comforting me.”

“It wasn’t really comfort-“

“Anyway.”

He hurriedly cut her off.

It felt like if the conversation got any longer, nothing good would come out of it.

Alexios stared out the window while dangling.

He could see a sky full of clouds.

‘Come to think of it, he did say that.’

Alexios recalled what had happened a little while ago.

Before leaving, the young man introduced himself as Noah and added one more thing.

-I know that Your Highness is half-doubting my words.

-Well, I told you it’s a misunderstanding.

-That’s fine. I don’t want to waste time on pointless persuasion. So, I’ll just show you the conclusion.

-…Conclusion? How?

At that time, the young man named Noah had pointed out the window and mentioned the time.

-In an hour, keep a close eye on the window.

-Why the window?

-Today is a special day. It’s the day a red meteor falls for the first time in 340 years.

-……

-In the empire, it’s treated as a good omen. The orcs seem to fear it, calling it the Red Fang, but wouldn’t it serve as a celebratory fire for Your Highness’s future grand undertaking?

Noah said so and turned his back.

That was the last conversation he had with him.

‘Thinking about it again, it’s crazy talk. But…’

Alexios’s gaze was fixed on the window.

A long red tail was caught in the sky at the edge of his vision.

A red meteor was truly falling from the sky.

“A meteor is falling……”

“Your Highness…”

“It’s really falling. Really…”

Alexios’s voice slowly trailed off.

This was the first time this had happened in several hundred years.

As a matter of course, it was impossible for a person to predict this.

Naturally, the possibility that the words of the young man named Noah were also true became higher.

‘Assassination, uncle, father. …No, that’s not it.’

Alexios shook his head from side to side.

That’s not what’s important right now.

At the end of his shaken gaze, only one question remained.

‘How in the world does that man know these things?’