The Wastrel Prince Becomes Ruthless Chapter 89
Somewhere deep inside the Southern Great Jungle where monstrous beasts teemed, a massive den yawned open with its maw wide.
A den where the boundary between day and night was meaningless, where only darkness existed.
And now, from within that deep, black darkness of the den, a figure staggered out.
“…You bastard. So you succeeded after all.”
A man who had waited several days in front of the den drew a smile at the sight, as if genuinely pleased.
Even the mask covering everything but his eye sockets could not hide his smile.
Limp, limp.
The steps of the one emerging from the den looked ready to collapse at any moment, but they did not falter.
Tak―
Only when he fully stepped out of the den did those steps finally stop.
Sunlight fell upon the face of the figure who at last completed the trial given to him and escaped the darkness.
“…I have returned, senior.”
The man was none other than Hastings Bartlett—the very same former librarian of the Imperial Library who had vanished after being kidnapped.
Whatever he had gone through deep inside the den, Hastings’ clothes had become shredded rags, and his entire body was caked with dried blood of unknown origin.
His appearance was in shambles, and yet only his eyes remained sharply alive.
“You’ve suffered, Hastings. Who would’ve thought that someone who began training only a few months ago would pass the trial… You’ve grown truly strong in such a short time.”
At those words, Hastings showed a faint smile.
“It’s all thanks to having a good teacher.”
“You punk… Saying such flattering things.”
The man who welcomed Hastings relayed the news he had been waiting to deliver.
“Hastings, I’ve been waiting for you to come out. There was news you’d like to hear.”
“News I would like…?”
“Yes, brat.”
The man beamed under the mask hiding his face and continued.
“Rumor has it His Highness has finally drawn his sword.”
“Y–Your Highness Prince Yurion, you mean?”
“Yes, and so we are preparing to move as well. With our lord charging forward, how could we stand around with our hands behind our backs?”
“…!”
“You’ve worked hard, kid. Now you’re going where you’re meant to be.”
“Ah… finally…!”
Hastings had no words for how long he had waited for this moment. But that wasn’t all.
“Ah, but it’s still too early to be happy.”
“…Sorry? What do you mean…?”
“Well, I don’t think it’s necessary to go that far, but the teacher insisted on personally coming to see you….”
Srrrk―
“…!”
The man couldn’t finish his sentence.
The space between Hastings and the man wavered, and out of nowhere, an uninvited guest appeared.
A concealment technique pushed to the extreme.
Someone who had been there without anyone noticing tore through space and stepped forward.
“Te–Teacher…?”
Both Hastings and his senior jolted with wide eyes.
Neither had sensed another presence nearby; of course they were startled when a person suddenly popped out.
“Hastings Bartlett….”
Though he spoke human language, the voice did not sound human—an eerie tone.
As if a venomous snake ran its fangs along one’s nape and whispered words directly into the ear.
“…I shall test whether you are worthy of guarding His Highness’ side. Defeat me with your full strength.”
He was one who had served the maternal relatives of the Fifth Prince from the shadows all his life.
A masked man who called himself the leader of the Shadow Crows.
The same man who had saved Hastings from Marcellus—he now revealed himself before Hastings directly.
After being thoroughly entangled with Lehl and suffering through annoyingly troublesome events, Yuwon finally shook off the nuisance completely. With rare free time in hand, he headed toward the cabin where Rohan stayed.
Knock, knock, knock―
“Teacher, it’s Yurion.”
At the sound of knocking, movement stirred inside the cabin, and soon the door clicked open.
The blacksmith Rohan welcomed Yuwon.
“You’ve come at a perfect time. The work was just finished yesterday.”
“Really? So it’s done?”
“Yes, it’s finally complete.”
Rohan’s wrinkled face brightened with a broad smile at Yuwon’s question.
It was a radiant smile one could hardly imagine on the stubborn old man Yuwon knew.
‘He can make that expression… This must have turned out well!’
There was only one thing that could make Rohan smile like that.
Reading the meaning behind that smile, Yuwon felt his spirits rise as well.
“Sit down for now.”
When Yuwon sat, the two exchanged brief courtesies.
“I shut my eyes and ears to focus on the work, and it seems some interesting events happened while I was away.”
“Rather than interesting… I did get dragged into one annoying affair.”
“Judging by your completely untroubled face, you must have handled it well.”
Yuwon smiled lightly.
“Yes, I sorted it out myself.”
“Of course you did. You’re the one who will become His Majesty the Emperor soon.”
Yuwon answered only with a faint smile.
“Well, enough of that.”
Tak―
Perhaps the topic bored him. Rohan suddenly tapped the table and stood up without another word.
“Teacher…?”
A moment later, Rohan picked up something from the corner of the room and set it down firmly in front of Yuwon.
‘…So this is it.’
It was wrapped tightly in white cloth, but Yuwon’s eyes weren’t so easily deceived.
The shape of “it”—which unmistakably looked like a sword—captured his attention.
“This is it.”
“Yes, this is the sword forged by grinding down the monster’s venomous fang you brought. You obviously came for this, so talking about anything else would just waste our breath, wouldn’t it?”
“Yes, that’s true.”
The moment of the sword finally meeting its owner. Even the great Rohan seemed tense, for his words suddenly grew few.
“Then, check it.”
“….”
Yuwon answered with a single nod in response to Rohan’s eyes. Rohan too gave a nod instead of spoken words.
Then Yuwon carefully moved his hand and removed the cloth wrapping the sword.
Srrrk―
The cloth slowly slid away under Yuwon’s touch, revealing the sword.
A pitch-black scabbard forged from the massive venomous fang, and a handle reinforced with patches of the monster’s scales.
The simple yet antique elegance of the sword’s exterior drew a quiet breath of admiration from Yuwon.
‘Ah…!’
A matched pair of twin blades. Just by looking at the shape of the scabbards, he could tell.
‘One is a double-edged dagger, the other is a single-edged short blade.’
The mere sight of the scabbard and hilt alone sent a shiver down his spine. Yuwon’s hand moved toward the sword’s hilt as though he had been bewitched by something.
“The real one is inside. Go on, draw it.”
“…Then, I will draw it.”
Yuwon picked up one of the two daggers before him and drew the blade.
Srrrng―
As the blade slid free of the scabbard, the ringing of steel gave off a chilling sound, like a serpent gliding across the ground as it hunted its prey.
At last, Rohan’s life’s masterpiece cast aside its sheath and revealed the black fangs it held.
“….”
Yuwon remained silent for a moment.
The murderous energy clinging to the blade felt sharp enough to cut his eyes.
“How is it?”
“…It’s the best.”
“I know. The sword you’re holding right now is finer than any I’ve ever forged. Of course, its sibling over there is just the same.”
Rohan spoke while looking at the other dagger still resting on the table.
“Just by looking at this one, I can tell. That one must be the best as well.”
They were masterworks that would not pale even when compared to the White Dragon Sword, said to have been crafted directly by the blacksmith fairies of legend in the history of the Aphahiel Continent.
Indeed, this is legendary craftsmanship… How could such a thing exist….
Not the longsword that sat awkwardly in Yuwon’s hand, but a dagger and a short blade that fit him perfectly.
A smile naturally formed on Yuwon’s lips.
Having already acknowledged their quality himself, Rohan also smiled brightly beside him at the sight of Yuwon’s satisfaction.
“Ah, and I also made the other things you asked for, so come and take a look.”
At Rohan’s words, Yuwon’s eyes widened.
“You made other things in that short time?”
Rohan shrugged as though wondering what was so surprising.
“With good materials, one loses track of time. It’s been a while since I worked day and night without noticing.”
“I was thinking of asking you again if there happened to be some materials left….”
“Then why did you leave your samples behind?”
“Haha….”
Yuwon laughed awkwardly at Rohan’s remark.
Soon after, Rohan placed a box filled with concealed weapons before Yuwon.
Throwing knives, daggers, needles—everything Yuwon had offhandedly mentioned just in case.
Their workmanship was so flawless that the concealed weapons Yuwon had been using until now felt like some kind of crude stone tools.
“Huhuhu… When did you make all of these….”
“Who do you think I am? I simply lacked the desire before. As long as the mood follows, this much is basic.”
Even as he stared at them with his own eyes, Yuwon seemed unable to believe it, glancing back and forth between the concealed weapons and Rohan several times.
Not even when he had died and come back to life in Yurion’s body had he been this astonished.
“Master, are you really human….”
“Mm?”
Yuwon swallowed the rest of his words.
No, no. Even the legendary blacksmith fairies wouldn’t be a match for this man.
A title so grand that even honoring the dead with it would feel excessive.
In this moment, he felt with his own skin the weight of the word “legend” being attached to someone living.
Step― Step―
On the evening of the second day since the Envoys of Lehl left Aphahiel, the envoys and the Crown Prince’s forces—who had volunteered to escort them—were walking along a secluded forest path.
Having taken only the bare minimum of rest, the entire party showed obvious signs of exhaustion.
Among them, Reginald Turner, the Crown Prince’s trusted aide, was deep in thought.
There’s nothing to worry about. His Highness sent people who paid special attention to the matter; they will leave no trace whatsoever.
If everyone here is wiped out without a trace, the only one Aphahiel and the Holy Kingdom will point to as the murderer is the Fifth Prince.
Though Lehl had simply leapt to a wrong conclusion, everyone already knew that the first button between Lehl and the Fifth Prince had been fastened incorrectly.
Should the Envoys of Lehl be massacred on Aphahiel’s soil now, the direction of suspicion would be obvious.
And I, along with the other knights, will die as well….
At this moment, Yuwon was considered the Crown Prince’s only rival for the future throne.
If things proceeded as the Crown Prince planned, people would believe that Yuwon had seized the chance to eliminate the Crown Prince’s knights and the troublesome Lehl all at once.
Reginald had initially been unwilling to obey this particular order, but his blind loyalty to the Crown Prince eventually overcame him and forced him to stand here.
It’s about time to begin….
Perhaps someone had read Reginald’s thoughts.
Rustle―
At that moment, something stirred in the dark undergrowth.
Already knowing exactly what was about to unfold, Reginald tensed and placed his hand on his scabbard.
They’re here…!
At the brink of the moment, Reginald raised his voice.
“There’s something ahead! Everyone, draw your swords and prepare for an ambush!”
Cheng-cheng-cheng―!
At Reginald’s shout, the knights under him immediately drew their swords. Sharp rings of steel echoed along the forest path.
“I’m telling you, I heard someone’s voice from here.”
“Ah, who would be in a place like this? That’s why I told you to let me guide the way.”
It was a conversation none of them had expected.
Reginald and the Crown Prince’s knights, who had been listening with perked ears, began to wonder if they had misheard.
Rustle― Rustle―
“…!”
Two figures suddenly popped out of the bushes.
“Uh…?”
The startled faces of the two men, who truly seemed to have appeared by accident, were also familiar to Reginald.
“Y-Your Highness?”
“Huh? What? Sir Turner?”
“Oh! Aren’t you one of His Highness the Crown Prince’s knights?”
Their identities were none other than the Third Prince Bernid and the Knight of the White Dragon, Terrien.
The two had appeared from a place no one expected.
Feigning surprise, Bernid swallowed a laugh.
We’re not late, then.
This time, Yuwon was half a step ahead of the Crown Prince.