Chapter 49
Chapter 49
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: How the No. 1 Ranked Hero Protects the World
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The man's face twisted hideously at my words.
"What are you so shocked about?"
"You're telling me to betray my father? Do you even know who you're talking to?"
Guess he really is blood-related after all. I half-thought he wasn't, given how heartlessly they'd cast him out.
Fortunately, there was no noise in my words this time. I still had no clue what the System's criteria were for blocking information.
"Well, let's talk it out slowly. Eat first. You need your strength, right?"
I instructed the soldier to slide the meal into the cell. It was bread and water, but the man ignored it completely.
He scoffed.
"You expect me to eat slop like this? You're insane!"
"Oh dear, you haven't starved enough yet."
Try going a few days without food. You'll lick up crumbs or mold without a second thought.
I'd been through it myself. I knew firsthand how quickly human dignity crumbled in the face of hunger. A few more days, and this guy wouldn't distinguish between dog food and anything else.
The problem was, I didn't have much time.
I'd boasted big in front of Lee Seon, but the situation was undeniably tough.
There was no straightforward way to win right now. Holding out against a siege or facing an SS-rank monster head-on—both were daunting.
So, no playing by the rules. Time for some dirty tricks.
I grinned at the heir's face. Man, if this guy hadn't fallen into my hands...
While I buzzed with excitement, the heir flinched at the sight of my smile.
Way too much.
"But is it really betrayal? Your father told you to off yourself, didn't he?"
"Exactly. He's basically abandoned me."
Without prompting, Damon piped up snarkily from the side. It cut deeper because it was plain truth, no exaggeration.
Even the man couldn't deny the fact and mumbled awkwardly.
"That... His Majesty was just making the judgment expected of a king."
"Yeah, so do the math coldly yourself."
Coming down to this underground prison amid all the chaos to sweet-talk the heir? Pure calculated move on my part.
In the past ten years, I'd seen plenty of royal families trying to kill their own kin. I knew exactly how power corrupted people.
Sure, I didn't know this world's specifics, but humans were humans. It wouldn't be much different.
"You've been abandoned. No one's coming to save you. You gonna end it like this?"
Ordering him to commit suicide in front of everyone? Obvious how this kid had been treated all along.
I reached through the bars, grabbed his jaw, and yanked him close. He came without resistance.
His forehead slammed against the bars with a thud.
"Urk!"
"Like you said, you're a noble heir, yet he tossed you aside with one word."
"I..."
His eyes were so close I could see the tiniest tremble.
Humiliation, helplessness... but was that all?
I whispered low.
"Don't you want revenge?"
Damon tsked, clearly displeased, but held his tongue this time.
The unexpected words left the heir silent for a long stretch.
After I silently counted to a minute, a hoarse voice finally leaked from him.
"You're joking."
"Can't recall joking like that."
"Revenge? You really think you lot can win this war?"
"From the way you're talking, sounds like you'd do it if you could. Good."
If he'd denied any thought of revenge and spouted absolute loyalty or filial piety, the plan would've tanked. This was a fine response.
I released his jaw and stood.
"Then let me show you."
Damon looked reluctant but unlocked the cell as we'd prepped. I strode in, grabbed the man's collar, and hauled him up.
"What are you—gurk!"
"So weak you can't even handle this. That's why I told you to eat."
The young man put up no real fight. Weaker than I'd thought.
"Get up and follow."
He staggered the whole way up the long underground stairs.
Prisoners in their cells jeered at the man leaving his. Echoes grew louder, grating on the ears.
By the time I dragged him to the ramparts, his soul seemed half-gone.
I didn't care. I forced his head up.
"Look."
His eyes widened peering down from the wall. Pupils shook like he'd seen the impossible.
And no wonder—the battlefield in view was a gruesome sight. Moonlit ground was littered with corpses everywhere.
All enemy dead.
Thanks to Lee Seon's efforts, the wall and moat remained spotless. Our losses were heavy, but invisible from up here.
"How in the world..."
The man slumped to the ground, face blank. Totally lost.
Probably incomprehensible to him. Just that afternoon, we were pinned by the boss monster's magic, as far as he knew.
But losing it completely over this? Kinda dim, huh?
Not just the scene, though... I eyed the message floating up.
- You are using the 'Blue Bond Earrings.'
― How's it going? Working?
Right on cue, Lee Woo-yeon's message popped up. I grinned and murmured softly.
"Perfectly."
― Excellent.
The man's quick despair was partly my push, but Lee Woo-yeon's mental magic on the heir helped big time.
In his eyes now, the battlefield looked way worse than reality.
My waist-mounted Apex holy sword had been vibrating uneasily since detecting the mental magic.
Relax. He's on our side right now.
"See? We've got a real shot at winning this war. Help us, and we avoid pointless casualties on both sides."
"H-how do you want me to help? What can I even do...?"
That sounded genuine.
He bit his lip hard, like it slipped out.
"...Still, we've only lost some troops. You know what my father is like. No mercy. Strongest of all."
"I know."
SS-rank boss monster level, after all.
"I'm not asking you to kill him. I'll handle that."
"No one can do it!"
"Not impossible. I already killed him once."
I added,
"He came back, though."
The man gaped in shock.
"W-what? Say that again?"
"What shocks you? That I killed him? Or that he revived? Both true."
He looked more stunned than at the battlefield.
Scanning me top to bottom in disbelief, he soon dropped his head in dismay.
"...It's true."
I tilted my head at his reaction.
"You were super suspicious, but now you believe?"
"Only a handful know His Majesty can return from death. Closest aides like me... or someone who's actually cut his throat."
"Oh no, you saw too much."
Hiding skills like that made them more valuable—obvious to keep secret. I'd accidentally spilled it wide open.
Nice.
"Now it's simple. Get it? Killing your dad isn't impossible for me. You're the heir anyway. The rest is on you."
I flashed a grin; he gulped.
Captured, abandoned by his side—my hand was a lifeline.
Soon enough, I got the answer I wanted.
"What do I need to do?"
Yes!
I cheered inwardly but played it cool, handing him the contract.
"Sign here first."
He hesitated but skimmed it and nodded solemnly enough.
"Fine, I'll sign. Better to have it in writing."
― Did that idiot even read it? I worked hard on it.
Lee Woo-yeon griped via message.
Expected reaction. He'd written it solo, packing in clauses the guy shouldn't gloss over.
Like absolute obedience to me until the emperor's death—my goal.
No way he missed those poison pills, yet he grabbed the pen boldly.
I warned him once.
"You really read it all? Signing means full agreement. No take-backs."
"How many times? I get it."
― Doubt it.
Sigh, why's he so chatty? Ignoring Lee Woo-yeon's message, I watched the man sign.
The instant the pen lifted—
- Item, 'Scroll of Ironclad Oath,' has been established.
Golden mana shot from his signing hand.
He panicked, yanking away, but the tendrils wrapped him instantly.
- 'Scroll of Ironclad Oath' is only established with mutual consent.
- Contractor: Kang Ye-na, Reinhardt (Temporary)
- This item imposes the stipulated penalty on the contractor for breach.
- The penalty engraved is 'Death.'
I'd wondered if he'd see the System messages. His wide-eyed stare at the air confirmed it.
"H-how...? An item?!"
"Not your concern."
Like I'd trust a verbal promise.
If I seemed that dumb, sorry to disappoint.
"Contract's done."
I stowed the scroll in my inventory. I heard his teeth grind.
"You tricked me!"
"Obey it right, no death. Tricked or not? Besides."
Still not getting it.
Look at the contractors—names as signed.
He hadn't even written his full name, so he'd planned to half-ass it and weasel out.
I kicked the glaring Reinhardt—red-eyed—in the shin.
"Ow!"
Crash!
He crumpled on the cold stone, groaning, unable to rise.
"This wouldn't have happened if you hadn't invaded."
I stomped his rising back; his frail body tensed rigid. A bit more, and bones would snap.
"We, we just prepared for holy war. You knew it could end like this?"
Even pinned, Reinhardt wouldn't yield. Holy war—that mage by the boss had used the term.
"Don't care."
"Guh!"
I pressed harder; he choked.
Still stepping on him, I gazed not at the battlefield beyond, but below the wall.
Dark dawn.
Moon hidden by clouds, sunrise far off.
In the gloom, the aid tent still fought death desperately. Someone clutched a corpse, dazed.
Plain folk, no armor or swords.
I didn't know why these sides clashed.
Wars weren't just good vs. evil. So I didn't care if the knight captain—castle lord—I possessed was the hero or villain.
But when he chose surrender... they opted to slaughter even civilians.
Entering the dungeon, I'd seen their ghosts. State so horrific, corpse-immune me was shaken.
Seeking justice in killing? Absurd. But at least, don't massacre the unarmed.
...Pointless now.
I lifted my foot. Gasping Reinhardt rose.
"Y-you...!"
Face flushed crimson.
He flapped his mouth a few times, recalled he couldn't win physically, and shut up.
Yeah, keep quiet. Much better.
Smiling, I offered my hand.
Reinhardt reflexively reached— but I flicked his forehead instead.
"My only interest now is your patricide, Prince Reinhardt."
As I spoke, silent-till-now Lee Woo-yeon messaged.
― Kang Ye-na, you're evil.
Whatever.