Rescue Request (2)
"How's the condition?"
In the pitch-black depths of a cave untouched by light, a woman asked in a subdued voice.
"Not good. His leg's completely shattered. We could heal it with holy magic, but he won't be fighting anytime soon."
"Ugh……."
The man groaned and grimaced at her words. Relying on the single torch that illuminated their surroundings in the lightless labyrinth, he finally got a clear look at his broken leg—and realized just how dire it was.
His calf twisted at an unnatural angle and his mangled foot made it painfully obvious he couldn't walk anymore.
All the woman could do as she watched his state was repeatedly apologize to the injured man.
"I'm sorry, Merdin. I never should have come here secretly like this. It was so reckless."
"No, Your Highness. It was my mistake. Please don't make that face."
Even as she accepted his comforting words, Princess Yuria Pernias felt the bitter sting of her own grave misjudgment.
In the midst of the labyrinth, a beast had charged at them with terrifying speed. Merdin, the royal guard knight assigned to protect her, had thrown himself in harm's way to save Yuria. But he hadn't fully dodged the attack, and the beast's strike had hit his leg dead-on.
And the bigger problem? Their small party of just four was already short-handed, and now a key fighter was out of commission. That left the archer tending to injured Merdin and Yuria herself sidelined from combat—meaning the deadly beast that had ambushed them was being held off by a single party member.
BOOM!
Every time the massive beast thrashed wildly and slammed into the cave walls, the entire labyrinth shook with deafening roars.
Amid the chaos, one lone figure gripped his sword, standing firm against the beast's threat.
ROOOARRR!
The beast's thunderous bellow filled the labyrinth. Yuria flinched at the sound, her body rigid with tension as she stared helplessly at Alex's back, blocking the beast's path. She fidgeted anxiously, unsure what to do.
The monster Alex faced was a BullBoar, its enormous tusks protruding from both sides of its mouth. It impaled foes with those razor-sharp weapons on every charge or simply crushed them under its overwhelming bulk—a ferocious killer.
"Senior! This is bad! I need to head your way right now!"
The princess's party—four strong including herself: a mage princess, one archer, and two swordsmen—had solid balance aside from lacking a priest. But in this crisis, losing a frontline fighter from their small group could spell disaster.
The archer knew full well the burden Alex faced, battling the beast alone. After weighing her priorities—between tending wounded Merdin or aiding Alex, who dodged charges while seeking openings—she made her choice.
"I'm sorry…. Really…. This is all because of me…."
Yuria berated herself endlessly, her mind racing. She'd thought they were prepared. Thought it would be simple.
She'd handpicked skilled escorts who believed in her—top talents from the kingdom. No way they'd falter in the dungeon.
Preparations were perfect, contingencies covered. Confidence had brimmed.
She'd only pictured conquering the dungeon, claiming the relic, growing stronger later. But this unidentified beast shattering her plans had betrayed every expectation.
She hadn't foreseen this crisis. Never imagined such a variable.
Why… is something like that here?
In the labyrinth she knew, no such beast appeared.
Why now? Why here? Had she been too complacent?
No one could answer her swirling questions. They haunted her relentlessly as she stared blankly at the two knights facing the threat.
"So, Princess Yuria ran away from home?"
"Embarrassing as it is, yes."
Three days prior, Princess Yuria Pernias of the Pernias Kingdom had suddenly left the palace with two escort knights and a mage.
No one knew their destination or purpose—she'd acted on her own whim. No one in the palace had a clue where she'd gone.
Not even her mother, Consort Helena. Eunhyeon found that troubling.
"So why come to me specifically to resolve your daughter's little escapade?"
"Part of it is what Sir Alex, her escort knight, told me. But the biggest reason? I trust you more than this kingdom's nobles."
"I have no interest in getting dragged into your kingdom's faction wars."
Pernias nobles were split into two camps vying for power: the "Noble Faction" led by Consort Helena and Duke Armitas, and the "Royal Faction" under Queen Regent Dianne.
It boiled down to Queen Regent Dianne and Consort Helena's two sons—which boy to crown crown prince. Factions polarized further, conflicts escalating.
Into this mess, Helena's daughter Yuria vanishes.
The rival Royal Faction learning this could scheme against her. That anxiety drove Helena to Eunhyeon.
Still, something didn't add up.
"That doesn't answer my question. Why me, and not some noble from your own faction?"
"Royal blood carries heavy duties and responsibilities. But she's still a child, unready to bear them as a princess…."
"Did you plan to use her in a political marriage to some foreign noble or high lord to shore up support?"
Eunhyeon voiced the clichéd novel trope that sprang to mind.
"Noble Faction lords were already circling her for that. She felt the pressure, seemed to be scheming something. Never dreamed it'd lead to running away."
"I suspected as much. Figures."
What kind of contrived plot is this?
Eunhyeon sighed and listened as Helena continued.
"If word of this spreads, even allies might demand favors for help, using it as leverage. Obvious what comes next. That's why I came to you."
Unable to trust her own vassals, she turns to an unrelated commoner.
Eunhyeon, that commoner, had proven his skill resolving the Hersha barony incident, earning Elenoa and Alex's endorsement. Helena recognized his worth.
"This isn't some state affair. Just bring her back to the palace quietly. No one knows. Doesn't that align with your goals? Secrecy above all."
Helena nailed it.
Eunhyeon loathed exposing his true nature. Solving this discreetly fit perfectly.
Difficulty aside.
"What a hassle."
He scratched his head, frowning.
"Milady, any clues from Alex about the location? Anything else?"
"I can provide a lead."
Elenoa spoke up, pulling a small device from her bosom with slender fingers and showing it to Eunhyeon.
"This is…."
"A tracking artifact. Brother gave it to me before leaving."
"You were already prepared."
"Yes. Infuse it with mana, and it remembers the user's mana. The needle points to them anywhere. Brother imprinted his mana, handed it to me with a note. He… vaguely knew this might happen."
"I see. Thank you. I'll take it… Hm?"
As Eunhyeon reached for the artifact in Elenoa's hand, she pulled it back, refusing.
Puzzled by the gesture, he eyed her curiously.
"I'll come with you."
"No."
Her blunt refusal without hesitation made Elenoa scowl in dissatisfaction. Undeterred, she stood firm.
"Why? I won't get in the way."
"You will."
"Ugh…!"
Elenoa groaned at his overtly annoyed expression.
"Do you know where we're heading? What threats lurk there?"
"No…."
"Doesn't make sense to dive in blindly."
"If I may add."
Helena interjected into their argument.
"Personally, I don't recommend the duke's daughter courting danger. But she's special."
"Special?"
"Lady Elenoa bears Vesta's blessing, specialized in holy magic as a priestess. I don't know your power level, but with her, you'd have support—not hindrance."
"Even for you, two's better than one, right?"
Eunhyeon stared silently, but Helena's backing and Elenoa's unyielding resolve seemed unbreakable.
"I prefer solo. Protecting you too doubles the hassle."
"I can protect myself."
"If you become a liability, I'll ditch you. Sacrifice you if needed."
"Fine by me."
Elenoa answered instantly.
She knew Eunhyeon wasn't some justice-driven saint who cherished life.
He might even outshine kingdom nobles in cunning schemes. If truly necessary, he'd discard her coldly.
Yet she couldn't shake the vague belief he wouldn't abandon or doom her.
His ingenuity had saved the duke's house unscathed. He'd desperately shielded her from the black mage, necessity or not.
An enigmatic man whose thoughts defied grasp.
From this moment, Elenoa wanted to know everything about "Eunhyeon."
"Sigh…."
Unable to sway her resolve, Eunhyeon sighed and spoke again.
He hated the request, but refusal wasn't viable.
"Fine."
"Really?"
"Yes."
Helena finally relaxed upon his consent.
"Then, compensation?"
"No need for money. What do you want?"
"Nothing comes to mind right now."
Elenoa frowned at Eunhyeon's grinning lie—she knew that smile from Aiter School and the mansion incidents. He was plotting something.
"I'll take it as a debt owed."
"……."
Helena narrowed her eyes, probing his intentions, but he just smiled.
"Don't worry. I'll ask for something you can grant. Nothing excessive."
"Sigh… Fine. No idea what you're scheming, but I'm more pressed. Can't be helped."
With Helena's approval, Eunhyeon nodded promptly.
"I'll prepare right away."