Chapter 48
But…
“Am I… going to die?”
To just some monster? Me, the proud Crown Prince of the great Atteleon Empire?
It was ridiculous.
If I were to meet death in some remote cave like this, Abamama and my uncle wouldn’t even know I was dead.
I hated the thought of such a meaningless death. I was scared.
Amid the storm of thoughts and emotions, Reykal suddenly realized:
The one Revoluk was targeting wasn’t him—it was Lorvantes.
In other words, if he abandoned Lorvantes, he could survive.
“…!”
“Rey…kal?”
Reykal suddenly went quiet, and Lorr cautiously called out to him.
“What am I thinking…”
Facing those clear green eyes looking up at him, Reykal took a deep breath and spoke.
“…You’re rude.”
“Huh…?”
“When we get out of here, at least call me ‘brother.’ I’m not even expecting you to call me ‘Crown Prince.’”
Saying that, Reykal pushed Lorr behind him. Lorr tumbled backward, landing hard on his rear. Seeing that, Reykal gritted his teeth.
He was shaking with fear.
But he couldn’t bear to see Lorvantes die.
Only then did Reykal realize why he had been unable to leave Lor, enveloped in that unidentifiable light…
“Run that way.”
Of course, it was because he didn’t want this rude, annoying little brat to get hurt.
“Rey…kal?”
His foolish cousin just sat there, even as he was told the escape route.
Reykal turned around and shouted,
“Go! Now!”
Lorr was a little older than Yuren, but still just a small child.
Even for a moment, the thought that he had considered abandoning such a tiny child to survive alone filled him with shame.
As someone trained with a sword, he should have thought to protect the weak. And yet, even though his uncle had entrusted Lorvantes to him!
This was not at all befitting a Crown Prince.
Crack.
Revoluk opened its jaws wide—sharp fangs, bumpy red palate, and a throat like a cavern.
The inside of its mouth, damaged by Reykal’s earlier attack, looked even more terrifying.
Yet, Revoluk, seemingly angrier than ever, lunged forward with its mouth wide open as if to devour anything.
But Reykal didn’t back down. He stood firm, facing it, waving his hands.
“I am Reykal Parseisha Atteleon, Crown Prince of the Atteleon Empire.”
Though his hands shook from fear, Reykal planted his feet firmly.
“Now…!”
Bang—!
The threads of wind Reykal had concentrated around Revoluk burst outward all at once.
The knots he had tied in midair unraveled into fierce whirlwinds.
Fwaaang! Fwaaaang! Fwaang!
Sharp gusts slashed through Revoluk’s mouth, piercing even its throat.
“Kieeeeeeeek!”
Revoluk thrashed violently, screaming in agony.
Its thick exterior repelled the explosions, but its mouth did not.
The blade-like winds sliced through its tongue, the delicate mucous membranes inside, and even the organs within its belly.
Blood and venom splattered everywhere, shaking the cave’s ceiling as though it might collapse.
“Now, quiet down!”
Reykal gritted his teeth and shouted. The air itself rippled violently, responding to his emotions like a raging torrent.
Ka-WAANG! KWA-AANG!
Every time Revoluk, battered by the wind, thrashed about, the cave walls and floor—solid rock—shattered and cracked.
Finally, the giant serpent flipped over and foamed at the mouth. Yet…
“This is just stalling time.”
Reykal knew well: to take down a creature like Revoluk, a group of skilled mercenaries would be needed. Revoluk was that terrifying.
Right now, it had only recently lost its egg, and its rage made it reckless. Its confusion about its opponent allowed Reykal’s attacks to have some effect.
Soon, the creature would be even more vicious from the pain.
But Reykal already knew the odds of victory were slim.
He widened his eyes and spread his hands.
Until now, he had relied on the pre-made paths of wind, but there was nothing left.
Wind gathered in his hands. He was going to do everything he could.
First, he had to buy Lorvantes enough time to escape.
Revoluk lunged, bloodied fangs bared. Reykal didn’t back down and reached out his right hand toward it.
“Rey…kal! Be careful!”
He wanted to scold Lorr for not leaving sooner, but now there was no time for that.
[No, Lorr!]
Lorr tried to run to Reykal, but the book’s wide-open pages blocked the way. Even if he were with Reykal, nothing would change.
Tears welled up in Lorr’s green eyes.
He couldn’t even think about being a “good child” who shouldn’t cry.
“What do I do, what do I do!”
Reykal was about to be eaten by that terrifying snake!
He was so scared—scared of the monster and scared it might devour Reykal!
“Nooo!!!”
Lorr screamed. He wanted to have tea parties with Reykal again! Visit Reykal’s house! And more…
He didn’t want Reykal to die!
Lorr clenched his fists. Then he heard a faint clinking sound.
Through tear-filled eyes, he looked at his wrist.
Wuuung—.
The amethyst on his thread bracelet rattled. Just like when his father had given it to him—it sparkled!
Lorr’s eyes widened.
“The book…!”
[Oh? There’s still some interference, but… I can use this bracelet now!]
The corner of the book seemed to grow, as if reading his thoughts.
It sharpened like a blade. Lorr brought the bracelet to the edge of the book.
“Quick, quick—!”
If he could just cut this bracelet!
At that moment…
Kwaaang—!
Revoluk slammed its mouth down toward Reykal.
A thick dust cloud rose.
“Hii, hiiik, hick!”
The sight was too horrifying. Lorr shut his eyes tightly, trembling like a leaf.
The monster… had eaten Reykal! What about Reykal? Lorr? Someone… help!
“…Mom, hic… Dad…”
The dust settled with the monster’s growl.
“…My daughter really does get herself into trouble.”
A familiar voice answered Lorr’s call.
It was Alkaid.
From Alkaid’s hand aimed at Revoluk, a black shadow extended, forcing Revoluk’s mouth to stay open.
“Ah, Dad!”
Thud.
Lorr’s small body collapsed to the ground, tension released.
It was Dad. He had really come!
“Hu, huuh, huuaaaaang!”
Lorr burst into tears. Now that Dad was here, she could cry.
Seeing that, Alkaid clutched his aching chest.
He hadn’t spent long with the child, but he had never seen Lorr cry so heart-wrenchingly.
How scared she must have been… how much pain she endured.
“How dare…”
Some insignificant monster made my daughter cry?
He wanted to hug Lorr immediately, but first, he had to deal with the monster.
And—
“I brought this one along too.”
Someone popped out from behind Alkaid with a click of the tongue.
“Lorr, it’s okay now. I’m here too.”
“U-uh, Ka-Kainel?”
“Yeah. Me, and the little one left at the Duke’s mansion, we’re fine, so don’t worry.”
Kainel approached the crying Lorr and gently stroked her back.
Reassured by her father and Kainel’s presence and soothing hands, Lorr’s sobs gradually subsided.
It was a relief that Lorr calmed down, but Alkaid couldn’t help feeling uneasy seeing an outsider so close to her.
“That damned snake.”
He glared at Revoluk with a deadly gaze. Then—
Ssssk!
A shadow slithered from beneath Alkaid, wrapping around Revoluk’s entire body.
The shadow tore through Revoluk’s exterior and burrowed inside.
Crack, snap, sizz!
The horrifying sound of bones and muscles tearing echoed.
Kuu, kuuuhh—! Kieeeek!
After thrashing and screaming for a while, Revoluk’s body went limp.
“It’s over.”
Alkaid confirmed through the shadow that Revoluk’s breath had completely stopped, then checked on Reykal sitting beside him.
