The Wastrel Prince Becomes Ruthless Chapter 76
At Yuwon’s words, Mariel’s complexion finally turned pale as if he had only now grasped the situation.
“You… you bastard…! How dare you deceive me…?!”
“It was impressive how you managed to hide that vile nature of yours behind the flattering mask of the ‘Saint of the Imperial Family’ all this time. Mariel. But for someone who got away with that for so long, you were painfully naïve. I didn’t expect you would confess your guilt with your own mouth after being prodded just a little.”
A sly grin traced Yuwon’s lips.
“Your acting was decent, but what a pity.”
Unable to contain his anger, Mariel ground his teeth.
“…Don’t get cocky. Yurion, even so, nothing changes. Even if you go around repeating what you heard from me right now, who would ever believe you?”
“Do you still see me as the wastrel White Dog?”
“No, no. You are now the rising supernova that even threatens the Crown Prince— the White Dragon. But that doesn’t mean people will blindly believe everything you say. Don’t tell me a clever brat like you doesn’t understand what I’m getting at?”
Mariel wasn’t wrong.
Even if Yuwon went around telling everyone what Mariel had just admitted, it would not benefit him.
“Right. Even if I told them, without undeniable proof all I would become is a lunatic. Even if I spoke the truth, I would instantly be condemned as a shameless villain trying to harm the Fourth Prince with some malicious plot.”
When Yuwon admitted it so readily, Mariel smiled triumphantly and continued speaking.
“Marquis Carson and Count Valaris. The two of them declaring support for you is only a matter of time, I hear? And if Count Valaris moves, the entire South won’t stay still. So then, you’ll end up with both the South and the Carson Marquisate on your side.”
Mariel smiled meaningfully.
“With such power behind you, would you really dare raise your sword toward the small and delicate ‘Saint of the Imperial Family,’ Mariel?”
Just moments ago the man had fallen into Yuwon’s trap and raged, yet now Mariel had regained his composure, proudly throwing the question back at Yuwon— what would he do now that he knew?
Clap, clap, clap—
Yuwon, who had quietly let Mariel ramble on alone, clapped his hands as though genuinely impressed.
“Accurate. I’m a little impressed, Mariel. You fell for my leading questions so easily that I wondered if you were just some fool living off luck until now, but it seems you’re not entirely stupid.”
“There’s no need to pretend to stay relaxed even in front of me, Yurion. Just as you think you know me, I also know you. If you’re angry, you should show a little temper. We’re sharing secrets now, aren’t we?”
At Mariel’s provocation, Yuwon only shrugged as if it meant nothing.
“What do I have to be angry about? Don’t fool yourself, Mariel. I’m actually having fun.”
“…What exactly are you enjoying?”
“I don’t particularly care how you summoned all those beasts, nor is it important. But now that I know you caused that chaos to harm me, that’s enough. Until now, I only had suspicion— but now I’m certain. I look forward to it. Stripping away that noble mask of yours and revealing the filthy crimes you committed to the whole world.”
“You think you can do that?”
“Do you think I can’t? I’m the one who cornered you— someone who deceived others his whole life— and forced you to admit your crimes with your own mouth.”
“Don’t be arrogant, Yurion. As I said, nothing changes just because you know. That’s exactly why I admitted it.”
Yuwon firmly shook his head.
“No. When you confessed to me earlier, you clearly weren’t thinking that far. Don’t bother denying it, Mariel. You said so yourself— nothing changes just because I know the truth. But if nothing changes… then why are you so desperate to deny your own situation?”
“Kh… Fine. Let’s say that’s true. But I didn’t expect someone like you to pull a stunt like this based on mere suspicion. Still, nothing changes. What can you possibly do?”
“You’re wrong. That nothing changes just because I know? You really don’t get it?”
Yuwon stepped toward Mariel with a threatening stride.
“It means I’m going to destroy you with everything I have from this point on. Don’t delude yourself, Mariel. I’m not nearly as soft as you imagine. I’m prepared to kill the Saint of the Imperial Family and be branded a villain. Better to live as a tyrant than die a saint. Don’t you agree?”
“Then go ahead. Kill me with that glorious strength of yours, why don’t you?”
“Really?”
The moment Yuwon spoke, an eerie chill swept through the air.
Swoosh—!
“Khugh—!”
Yuwon moved like the wind and seized Mariel by the throat. He was so fast that Mariel, eyes wide open, couldn’t even perceive his movements.
Struggling as Yuwon’s hand clamped around his neck, Mariel forced his mouth open.
“Ghk—! Y-you…! You know full well things will get complicated if you kill me— kh!”
Though he had told Yuwon to try killing him, the terror in Mariel’s eyes was unmistakable— even the mere grip on his throat made him confront death. In contrast, Yuwon’s eyes were ice-cold.
Expressionless, Yuwon pulled Mariel closer and whispered into his ear.
“When I think of all the people who died because of you, I want to tear you apart right now. But I’m letting you live simply because—for the time being—it benefits me more to keep you alive.”
“What nonsense…!”
Swoosh—
Yuwon then flung Mariel without hesitation.
Thrown carelessly into the corner of the balcony, Mariel toppled with a loud crash. As though his business were finished, Yuwon grabbed the doorknob.
Clack—
At his touch, the door connecting the banquet hall and the balcony opened, letting the sweet music of the hall spill out.
The soothing melody mixed eerily with the deadly atmosphere the two had created. Holding the knob, Yuwon spoke his final warning.
“Don’t fret, Mariel. When the time comes, you still die by my hand.”
Clack—
Leaving that mystery behind, Yuwon vanished. Left alone, Mariel nibbled anxiously at his nails, deep in thought.
‘He said keeping me alive benefits him more…?’
In that instant, a thought struck Mariel like lightning.
‘No way…!’
“…Yurion, that brat must have already confronted Father head-on.”
The struggle for the throne, which had dragged on without a proper clash under the Emperor’s protection, had finally begun for real—because Yuwon had struck the tinder himself.
The childish play was over.
Archbishop Palphis’s original interest had been the Fourth Prince Mariel, known as the Saint of the Imperial Family. But when the Fourth Prince was nowhere to be seen, Palphis’s attention drifted elsewhere.
‘Where did Mariel go? Hm… They say the Fifth Prince’s recent rise is terrifying… Should I take a look while I’m free?’
If one cannot catch a pheasant, one catches a chicken. Palphis more or less knew what the other princes were like, but the Fifth Prince was different—what he had previously heard and how people evaluated him now were polar opposites.
That curiosity led Palphis to seek out Yuwon instead of Mariel.
“Um, where should I go if I wish to meet His Highness the Fifth Prince?”
“His Highness the Fifth Prince stepped out for a moment on some business….”
‘Where did the Fourth and Fifth Princes both disappear to?’
As if responding to Palphis’s puzzlement, Yuwon happened to step out from the balcony.
Hearing the click of the door, Palphis turned and immediately recognized him.
A fair young man with white hair. That must be the Fifth Prince.
Palphis hurried over and greeted him.
“So His Highness the Fifth Prince, hero of this subjugation mission, was here. I couldn’t find you and was searching.”
“…?”
Palphis knew of Yuwon, but Yuwon did not know Palphis. Yuwon quickly assessed the stranger who had appeared before him.
‘Mid to late fifties. Judging by the clothing, a cleric of the Church of Lehl… This man is strong. Comparable to Count Valaris—perhaps even beyond that. Then he’s not just any cleric. He must be one of the Swordsages of the Church.’
Though he could not be absolutely certain based on suppressed aura alone, the man was undeniably powerful. Having taken in Palphis in a mere instant, Yuwon responded calmly.
“Haha, a hero? Hardly. I’m not worthy of such a title. But, forgive me, may I ask who you are…?”
“Ah, forgive me. I was so absorbed in meeting Your Highness whose fame precedes you that I forgot to introduce myself. I am Palphis, servant of Lehl.”
‘Archbishop Palphis of the Church of Lehl…!’
Yuwon had guessed correctly. Archbishop Palphis, known as a devout believer and strict adherent to principles, was one of the Five Swordsages who led the Church’s Holy Knights.
“Ah, so you are Archbishop Palphis! My apologies for not recognizing you. I am Yurion Aphahiel. I heard the Church of Lehl stepped up to assist the South, which suffered greatly from recent events, but I never expected one of the Five Swordsages to personally come.”
“One must know how to protect oneself in order to help others. Given the circumstances, I thought it best to accompany the mission personally.”
Yuwon and Archbishop Palphis shook hands warmly.
The moment their hands met, their eyes naturally met as well. If it had ended as a simple greeting, it would have been fine—however, Palphis’s curiosity ruined everything.
‘Let’s see… what kind of person the Fifth Prince truly is.’
Palphis focused his holy power into his eyes, gazing beyond Yuwon’s mere expression.
Something impossible with mana—only holy power could do such a thing.
The light of Lehl that discerned good and evil flickered in his eyes. And then—
‘Hhh…!’
Palphis glimpsed the abyss behind Yuwon’s gaze. Yuwon’s eyes held the frozen depths of a winter sea—so cold, so still, and something ominous lurked in the fathomless waters beneath.
‘How could a human’s eyes look like this…!’
They say the eyes are windows into the soul.
Ever since Yuwon absorbed a monster’s inner core, something subtle had changed in his gaze, and occasionally, those with sharp intuition sensed it.
But none had felt what Palphis now felt.
As a Bishop of Lehl, he stepped further than any before him and saw the nature Yuwon kept tightly locked away.
‘So that’s it…! The sudden change in how people view the Fifth Prince wasn’t mere coincidence!’
A primal terror.
Like a mouse thrown before a snake, goosebumps swept down Palphis’s spine.
Yuwon was a beast—one with hidden fangs and claws ready to bite and tear apart his foes.
At the same time, he was a venomous serpent, waiting to sink its fangs into an enemy’s throat and crush it.
The monstrous presence Yuwon had sealed within himself rattled Palphis’s very mind.
‘A devil… He is a devil. This is the reincarnation of an evil god!’
A Heavenly Slaughter Star—one destined to have blood accompany every step of his life. A being born as a natural-born killer.
Tang Gye-ung, elder of the Sichuan Tang Clan, had been certain the moment he looked into Yuwon’s eyes as he tried to kill him.
And now, someone from an entirely different world sensed the exact same thing from Yuwon’s gaze.
Palphis, who feared nothing but the one true god Lehl Himself, trembled.
One of the Five Swordsages of Lehl, shaking simply because he peered too deeply into Yuwon’s eyes.
“…your… Grace?”
“Huuk!”
Yuwon shook Palphis, snapping him out of his daze.
“Are you all right? Your face suddenly turned pale, and you weren’t responding. I was worried.”
“A-ah, no. I’m… fine.”
Despite saying so, his complexion was dreadful.
“You must have rushed here without proper rest. Helping others is good, but you must take care of your health first. I think you should rest for today.”
“Yes, yes… Right. I should rest for today.”
“Yes, you made the right choice.”
“Y-yes. Then… I’ll take my leave.”
Palphis practically fled the banquet hall. Watching his retreating figure, Yuwon tilted his head.
‘What a strange man… Is he frailer than he looks?’
Leaving the banquet hall, Palphis hurried back to his room and quickly contacted the Church through the Magic Mirror.
“Hm? Archbishop Palphis, requesting an emergency call at this hour? What’s the matter?”
“I found it… I found the evil god.”
An evil god?!
The person on the other side of the Magic Mirror gasped in shock.
“W-what! Are you saying an evil god has returned?! You wouldn’t accuse someone without reason—who is it?!”
Perhaps even recalling the name terrified him. Palphis’s trembling lips forced the answer out.
“Aphahiel… Yurion Aphahiel, the youngest of the five princes of the Aphahiel Imperial Family.”