I Can't Let Those Fishermen Bastards Kill the Crown Prince
I couldn't let those fisherman bastards kill the Crown Prince. If that guy died, I'd be left like a kite with its string cut. Besides, the bastard was about to become a father soon... And above all else, I hated it more than anything when those naive fools who believed in justice or ideals met their end.
I had to hurry upstairs. As I tried to climb the steps, the self-proclaimed escort knights blocked my path.
"You cannot enter from here onward."
"Get the hell out of my way, you fucking bastards. This is important."
"Moreover, it appears you've sustained serious injuries. I don't know what happened, but please receive treatment first."
"I'm not the type who enjoys giving polite warnings, you know? I'm being extraordinarily kind right now, so... move."
"If you persist, we will have no choice but to subdue you. We would prefer not to do so against someone already wounded..."
The conversation dragged on in parallel lines. In the old days, I wouldn't have bothered talking to these pricks at all. I would've simply snapped their necks.
"Last warning. If you block me, I'll kill you."
"...Please forgive our rudeness. This will only take a moment."
"Your lives, you mean?"
I prepared to drive the edge of my hand through their carotid arteries. I could kill them instantly before their hands even reached me.
At that moment, a dignified voice rang out.
"Stop this at once!"
It was the Crown Prince. I lowered my hand, and the escort knights did the same before dropping to one knee.
"Your Highness, this man was causing a disturbance, stubbornly insisting on an audience with you..."
Look at these sons of bitches trying to frame me. I'd clearly stated my intentions and hadn't caused any real disturbance yet. Were these tin-can bastards actually trying to corner me?
"This man is Count Holstead, my trusted confidant. Escort him up immediately."
"Yes... We apologize for the discourtesy."
"It's nothing..."
When I reached the second floor, the Crown Prince spoke to me from the balcony overlooking the brightly lit first floor below.
"Are you certain you don't require treatment for that wound?"
"It's only a cut on the skin. The injury itself is shallow. This much wouldn't kill a newborn."
"Still, that was far too close for comfort."
"Tell me about it. I nearly died at the hands of Your Highness's escort knights instead of the Black Round Table..."
"No, it was my knights who nearly perished in the line of duty. You were clearly aiming to pierce their throats with a single strike."
This greenhorn bastard had seen through that...? What was he, some kind of special ninja eyes?
"I would like to hear why you needed to come see me so urgently."
Fuck, was he giving me attitude? Well, I had nearly killed his subordinate.
"You must evacuate immediately. Lorsch and I will handle the hall, so please get to a carriage..."
"Hmm... Might I know the reason?"
I told him everything I'd uncovered. That the enemy would move once the music ended and the next piece began after a short pause. That numerous corrupt nobles were involved in this affair. And that there was a leader commanding them all.
The Crown Prince gave a small snort of laughter after hearing my report.
"I had originally planned to slip away early since these balls are so exhausting... but it seems I must remain here after all."
This fucking golden-sun bastard. Why was he hearing my words through his asshole instead of his ears? Why didn't this shit-eating bastard just shove it up his own rectum? Was that why he'd always hated women?
"This is no time for jokes. You must evacuate at once!"
"Hehe. Teacher, didn't you teach me? Even basic tactical reading... There are two reasons I shouldn't withdraw."
"Excuse me?"
"First, the enemy would have already accounted for me attempting to flee. Facing them on my own two feet is preferable to an unstable carriage. That is the first reason."
When he put it that way, it made sense. Still, there was always the one-in-a-million chance...
"Second, the enemy is targeting me. Put differently, this is an excellent opportunity to capture them alive."
"That may be true, but Your Highness's safety..."
"Teacher, the common people on the streets all live with their lives on the line. Hunters stalking wild beasts, herbalists climbing treacherous mountain paths, merchants braving the threat of bandits, knights and soldiers facing danger every single day... So should I hoard my life simply because I am the Crown Prince? What makes me so special?"
This bastard really...
"Your Highness, even among lives there are degrees of importance."
"Hahaha, stop testing me. Didn't you say it yourself, teacher?"
Those who always wear fine clothes and eat the best food carry a heavier responsibility than anyone else. It is not about sharing your wealth with them, but about striving and laboring on their behalf, you idiot Crown Prince bastard.
The teaching directed at the Crown Prince remained in Werner's memories as well. This Crown Prince was still following it to this day.
"If it can be used for the people... then as Rutbelg van Kaionia, Crown Prince of this realm, I will gladly cast my life as bait and go fishing."
"Sigh... May I speak frankly, Your Highness?"
"By all means."
"Your Highness is the biggest blockhead among all my disciples."
"Hahaha! Blockhead... What an amusing expression. Shall I have you beheaded for lèse-majesté?"
The Crown Prince drew his hand across his throat in a slicing gesture. He wasn't exactly the same, but this kid was the same type as my friend. A naive fool who believed in justice and ideals.
"I can't just let a blockhead disciple like you die."
"There is no need for you to protect me. I have trained in martial arts to a respectable degree, as you can see."
True, he did look like he had some real skill at a glance. After learning magic from Werner, he'd apparently honed his swordsmanship on his own as well.
"Then I should head down."
I turned to leave.
"With the greatest bait of all, the Crown Prince himself, this Werner will haul in the net."
"It seems Werner, my teacher, has become quite the dependable fisherman in the meantime."
The fisherman who catches men. Werner, descendant of Peter, was on the move. We even shared the same family name, though I wasn't sure which "Bei" it referred to.
The fourth piece ended. I leapt from the balcony. I would've preferred a superhero landing, but I didn't want to shatter my knees, so I settled for an ordinary one. Heroism came from mindset and action, not from striking a pose, so the landing style hardly mattered.
Was it because of the rough landing? Or had they been startled because this hero Werner hadn't used a proper superhero landing? It didn't matter either way.
I circulated mana throughout my body, and the dyeing magic came undone. Several nobles who recognized my face gasped and covered their mouths in shock.
"Y-you...!"
"It's Werner! The runaway Archmage has returned!"
"I heard he was dead. What is this..."
I wasn't some kind of Tanahan who just "came back." Their reaction was a bit much. I cleared my throat and shouted.
"That's right! This Werner Alton has returned!!! And to cut the bullshit, if you don't want to die, get the fuck down right now!!!"
Everyone stared at me in stunned silence, too bewildered to move. Then the Crown Prince spoke.
"This is an imperial decree! Lord Werner is my trusted confidant! Refusing his instructions will be regarded as treason!"
At his words, the nobles began dropping to the floor in hasty obedience. Damn, so this was why status was useful. They'd hesitated when I spoke, but the moment the Crown Prince opened his mouth, they slammed themselves down.
"Hey, you idiot!!!"
"Master!"
From across the hall, Lorsch and Airi came running. Lorsch charged straight at me and launched a hectopascal kick. Unlike last time, I barely managed to dodge it. She landed cleanly and grabbed me by the collar.
"You said we couldn't afford to have your identity exposed! I even went along with that ridiculous fake-marriage act because of it, and now you ruin everything?! We're enemies now, you son of a—"
Lorsch began hurling a string of colorful curses. Wow, fuck... This girl could retire and open a soup restaurant as a foul-mouthed grandma someday.
I bent down and whispered into Lorsch's ear.
"The Black Round Table is about to launch their assault. Most of the nobles involved have already fled."
"What...?"
"You take care of the safety of the nobles gathered here. My disciple and I will handle the attackers."
"...Understood."
Leaving the nodding Lorsch behind, I quietly whispered instructions to Airi.
"Airi, fight near where His Highness the Crown Prince is. Keep watch for any suspicious presences."
"But Master..."
"What, are you worried my head might get cracked open?"
"..."
"Don't worry. I won't die."
I patted Airi's head. She lowered her gaze slightly as I did, then noticed my wound.
"...Who gave you this injury?"
"Ah, there was a small fight..."
"If you get hurt again, I'll really lock you up in a log cabin on a remote island for the rest of your life."
Airi licked her finger and applied her saliva to my wound.
"Ow, that stings."
"This cute disciple's saliva is a healing potion. A panacea, in fact."
"Heh... And you make sure you don't get hurt either."
"What do you take your disciple's skill for?"
It was true. From what I'd seen when she fought Glacia, their abilities were evenly matched. It should be safe to leave the rear to her. If she handled this well, maybe I'd grant her one wish.
The music hadn't even started yet, but the enemy had already surrounded the ballroom like a swarm of bats. That was probably why the windows had gone dark.
Soon, a rain of transparent glass shards fell as they broke through. I picked up the holy relic Lancelot had given me.
"Unfurl, Enoch."