The Wastrel Prince Becomes Ruthless Chapter 79

“Who had come again, I wondered, and it turned out to be you. Come in.”

Rohan let Yuwon inside, and Yuwon greeted Rohan warmly. But beside him sat a face he had never seen before.

“It has been a while, sir. But this… you had a guest?”

“Guest, my foot. That brat isn’t even a guest.”

At Rohan’s grumbling, Carniel—who sat beside him—gave an awkward smile and greeted Yuwon with his eyes. Yuwon bowed his head in return.

The moment their eyes met, the two men swiftly assessed each other’s appearance.

‘The mark of Lehl… a Holy Knight. There was no way an ordinary Holy Knight would casually visit a legendary blacksmith… Something is going on.’

‘White hair and a handsome face. Even the natural air of dignity… It’s him. He is the Fifth Prince I have been searching for…!’

Many thoughts overlapped and vanished inside their minds. Of course, both made every effort not to let any of that show.

“Good timing. The armor had already been completed as of yesterday.”

“This quickly?”

Far faster than expected, Yuwon pretended to be surprised. Rohan seemed rather pleased with Yuwon’s reaction, lifting his shoulders smugly.

“Who do you think I am? This much is basic.”

“Haha, true.”

“Then sit for a while and wait. I’ll finish up this matter first. It won’t take long.”

“Yes, I’ll wait with a cup of tea. Please continue your work.”

After their short exchange, Yuwon sat at a small table.

Once he sat, the seating arrangement became slightly peculiar.

With Rohan in the center, Yuwon and Carniel faced one another.

In the atmosphere that could have turned awkward, Carniel broke the ice first with a smile, offering a handshake.

“One could tell at a glance. It is an honor to meet you like this. Your Highness the Fifth Prince. I am Carniel, servant of Lehl.”

At the name Carniel, a spark of surprise flashed and vanished in Yuwon’s eyes.

‘So this is the Sword Saint—no, the Inquisitor.’

“Ah… from your attire I assumed you were a Holy Knight of Lehl, but I didn’t expect you to be Sir Carniel the Sword Saint. The honor is mine.”

Naturally, the two clasped hands in a handshake.

“Judging by the look of things, it seems Your Highness will become the owner of the masterwork of the gentleman over there.”

“Ah, yes. It turned out that way.”

“The masterwork of Master Derrel… It seems my training has been lacking. Envy and greed, jealousy and desire differ by a hair’s breadth, and yet the forgotten emotion called envy is stirring within me.”

“Master Derrel?”

Hearing a completely new name, Yuwon widened his eyes.

At his side, Rohan—who had been examining Carniel’s sword—snapped in a sharp tone.

“That’s the alias I used when I forged that brat’s sword.”

He seemed displeased that his old name had been revealed.

Carniel, suddenly on the receiving end of Rohan’s irritation, tried smoothing it over with a laugh.

“Haha, that was my mistake. So you are no longer Derrel. My apologies, sir. I will watch my words from now on.”

“Hmph, spare me the act of pretending to care. After this job, I’ll vanish somewhere no one can find me.”

Watching the two bicker—no, Rohan grumble unilaterally—Yuwon quietly slipped back into the conversation.

“…By any chance, does my father also know you by another name?”

“Well, yes. I met your father nearly fifty years ago.”

“…Then Father must know you by your real name.”

“You catch on quickly.”

“This much is basic.”

After about ten minutes, Rohan finished inspecting the Sword Saint’s sword.

Once done, he walked toward a corner stacked with equipment and brought out the armor.

“The armor is done. You can take it now.”

A full plate mail—thin and light, unlike anything Yuwon had ever seen.

‘I expected something much lighter and more comfortable than steel… but thinner than leather… This is incredible.’

Armor crafted from the scales of a beast impervious even to sword energy.

Yuwon had never been greedy for equipment, preferring to train his body—but this time, he was genuinely excited.

“This fits my measurements, right?”

“Do I look like someone who can’t match a single set of measurements?”

“Ah, no. It’s just that to my eyes all four sets look similar in size.”

“That’s only because the material is so elastic. Once you try it on, it will fit perfectly.”

“Yes, then. I’ll take the armor with me first. Thank you for your hard work, sir.”

“Aren’t you going to test it?”

“If you say it’s finished, then it’s finished.”

“You sure know how to say pleasant things. Guard it well. Once someone recognizes its value, they’ll come for it—going after your life if they must.”

At Rohan’s worried remark, Yuwon smiled confidently and tapped the White Dragon Sword hanging at his waist.

“Don’t worry. No one will take it from me.”

After checking the progress of his previous request, Yuwon gathered the already completed armors and left the hut. Carniel followed alongside.

“Are you heading to the Capital?”

“Yes, I am.”

“If it isn’t a bother, may I accompany you at least until the Capital? I also have business there. And since this is fate, we could keep each other company on the road.”

“Well, it’s nothing difficult, so let’s do that.”

The two walked down the hill side by side in silence, the sound of their footsteps crunching softly over dirt.

“May I ask what brings you to the Capital?”

“Did you know my other name?”

“Yes? If you mean another name…”

“You seem to recognize it. That’s right. ‘Inquisitor.’”

“For you to bring that up now means…?”

“I came for that matter. We received a reliable report about a dangerous existence.”

“Whoever it is, if they ended up being chased by the Sword Saint, their suffering must be guaranteed.”

“Most likely. But the target I am pursuing still wouldn’t know my involvement. That is fortunate for me.”

At that moment, Yuwon felt a cold shiver creep up the back of his neck.

Carniel did not threaten him, nor did he give any subtle hints in his tone. He was not releasing aura through magic nor murderous intent.

And yet Yuwon instinctively recognized it.

The very same instinct that had warned him countless times of enemies’ threats once again signaled danger.

‘…It’s me. The Inquisitor’s target is me. Mariel must have dragged the Church of Lehl into this.’

The moment he realized it, Yuwon chose not to hide and confronted it head-on.

“Yurion Aphahiel.”

“Yes…? Why all of a sudden…?”

“Isn’t the target me?”

Thunk—

Carniel, who had been walking in step with Yuwon, flinched and stopped in surprise.

“…How did you know?”

Yuwon’s relaxed expression contrasted sharply with Carniel’s shocked face. Yuwon even added a faint smile.

“I’m quick on the uptake, you see.”

A tiny village on the outskirts of the Capital—so small its very name was hardly known. On an unpaved dirt road, Yuwon and Carniel walked side by side.

“Lately, Your Highness the Fifth Prince’s name has been heard everywhere, and now I finally understand why. I never imagined I would be caught this cleanly.”

Yuwon merely answered with a gentle smile. Finding that smile odd, Carniel asked a question.

“…Are you not offended? My being here means our Church is looking at Your Highness with irreverent suspicion. Surely Your Highness is aware of that.”

“It doesn’t feel good, but it doesn’t feel particularly bad either. Life is sometimes about being misunderstood and then resolving those misunderstandings, isn’t it?”

“…Your Highness is utterly confident in your innocence.”

“Yes. I am not a man with clean hands, but I am certain I am not someone to be accused of heresy. If anything, I am closer to having no interest in religion at all.”

“Then may I briefly confirm just one thing?”

“Yes, well, if I am to clear a strange accusation, I should cooperate. Will it take long?”

“No. Just stay still for a moment. Please only keep your gaze toward me.”

“Was it that simple?”

“Yes, then excuse me for a moment. It won’t take long.”

With his eyes meeting Yuwon’s, Carniel drew upon holy power and wrapped it around his eyes.

The divinity borrowed from Lehl allowed him to briefly see what was normally unseen. And then—

‘Ah… Aaah…!’

A scene of hell unfolded before Carniel.

A massive tidal wave surged through his mind; thunder and lightning split the sky apart.

‘…Archbishop Palphis was right! This man is the reincarnation of the Evil God!’

In the abyss, within an unending depth of darkness, a colossal serpent lay coiled, slumbering.

A fierce alarm rang within Carniel’s mind.

Sword Saint Carniel drew his sword without hesitation.

Srrrng—

An eerie sound echoed along the lonely forest path.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

At the sudden combat stance of the Sword Saint, Yuwon did not remain still either. Feeling hostility, he calmly grasped the White Dragon Sword at his waist and prepared for Carniel’s attack.

“…I hold no personal grudge. But you must die here. Your Highness is someone who must not remain alive.”

“I suspected it might turn out like this. To condemn a man a demon and kill him just because you saw something in his eyes… How convenient. Exactly how many people have you killed because they didn’t suit your tastes?”

Each of Yuwon’s words struck Carniel’s chest like a hammer.

Carniel gritted his teeth in fury.

“…Watch your mouth.”

From Carniel’s firm tone and eyes, Yuwon saw not a single opening.

‘…He’s not someone who will listen to reason. So this is what the blood cults or demonic sect fanatics must be like.’

Seeing the Sword Saint’s gaze, as if he were looking at an eternal enemy, Yuwon realized further discussion was pointless.

“Phew… Fine. Do as you please. But remember one thing. The moment you swing that sword, there will be no going back between me and the Church of Lehl. Are you prepared for that?”

“Why would I hesitate to slay a slumbering Evil God?”

At Carniel’s proud declaration, Yuwon let out a short laugh. His lips smiled, but his eyes were cold as ice.

“Thank you. Thanks to you, I now know what I must do first when I become Emperor.”

“…?”

“Erasing from this land the religion that condemns innocent people as demons and kills them. That’s where I’ll start.”

At Yuwon’s chilling words—declaring he would wipe out the Church of Lehl entirely—Carniel tightened his grip on his sword and aimed it at Yuwon.

“You wretch! You finally reveal your wicked fangs…!”

“‘Wretch’? A wretch, is it…”

Yuwon repeated Carniel’s words with eyes gone frigid. And then he spoke again.

“Do not be mistaken. I have no feelings whatsoever about Lehl. I simply tear apart and kill anyone who tries to harm me. It was you and your Lehl who cornered me for no reason. So I’ll tear apart you and the god you believe in.”

“Silence! Blasphemy!”

Enraged at Yuwon’s mad declaration that he would tear apart even their god, the Sword Saint looked ready to cut Yuwon down that instant. Watching that fury up close, Yuwon scoffed and drew the White Dragon Sword.

Srrrng―

“Good. We don’t need to talk anymore. Come. As you wish, I’ll become your Evil God.”

The price for provoking Yuwon’s wrath.

Now it was time to pay that merciless cost.