The Bastard First Prince Doesn't Want to Die

Chapter: 139

We dismissed the meeting, and everyone returned to their places. After the warriors left, I called my grandfather over.

"There\'s one more thing I want to tell you."

I hadn\'t thought deeply about the future changing. Isn\'t it natural for things to change?

I had taken over this body of the reckless prince, and Prince Ikwon and the general\'s journey to the northern region had happened.

Many more things would change in the future. If the future hadn\'t changed, there would have been no need to beg Taejo to bring me back to life.

But the changing future also meant losing the cards I held.

I had known what would happen in the future, which gave me a slight advantage over others.

I thought that way, but it seemed like the future was changing faster and more dramatically than I expected.

Therefore, there was someone I needed immediately.

Gae Yeohwa of Naam Fortress. I had a reason to bring her over sooner.

I had been at a loss for how to take her out immediately, but...

I told my grandfather everything I knew about the Lord of Naam Fortress and Gae Yeohwa\'s abilities.

"I see," my grandfather nodded indifferently after hearing me out.

It was surprising that he didn\'t doubt that the adopted daughter of the Lord of Naam Fortress had abilities or that I knew about it.

...Why isn\'t he surprised?

"Did you understand?"

"Yes, I understand."

"I\'m not joking."

"Yes, Your Highness."

I looked at my grandfather suspiciously.

But he seemed to believe my words without a doubt.

"However, Naam Fortress has ties to the Queen\'s palace, so it would be difficult to bring the lord\'s adopted daughter in with just one order... I might have to visit in person. I\'ll keep that in mind."

I was more surprised than my grandfather.

"You don\'t doubt me? I didn\'t think you would believe me right away."

"Were you lying?"

I shook my head slightly.

"No, I wasn\'t."

"Your Highness."

My grandfather called me. His tone was different from usual.

"I..."

Slowly, a shadow fell over his face.

"I have already committed myself to Your Highness."

I know. We\'re practically joined at the hip. If I fall, he falls, and if he falls, I fall.

If I succeed, he succeeds, and if he succeeds, I succeed...

But I don\'t know why it sounds like he means something else.

"No matter what happens, whatever it is, whatever you want."

Wasn\'t I just a pawn in his revenge?

"As Your Highness wishes."

Why does he speak as if I have some other value to him?

"Just do as you please. I will follow whatever Your Highness wants to do."

I wanted to leave.

It\'s because the general\'s words weren\'t directed at me.

"Your Highness."

"Yes."

"Your Highness is the most important thing to me."

I didn\'t answer.

"Even if Your Highness doesn\'t want the throne, I will support Your Highness\'s will."

That\'s absurd. It\'s like saying he could give up his revenge. Could he give up his revenge on those who took away his power and honor just because of this reckless guy?

Why does blood mean so much to him? I couldn\'t understand. I probably never will.

"I hope I\'m not saying this too late. But please believe that there is not a single lie in what I\'ve said."

"...Thank you."

I clenched my fist. I suddenly felt lost.

"I will do as you say."

I turned away without saying goodbye.

* * *

“What kind of sorry state are you in now?”

The tent flap rustled and a dark figure popped its head in. It was Gon.

“I’m not doing anything, so what do you mean by a sorry state?”

Since returning to the tent, I had been studying a map. From now on, even the guides wouldn’t know the way.

In fact, I wasn’t even sure if this map was accurate.

"What else could be more pathetic than staring at that useless ancient map?"

Ahem, Gon imitated my clearing of my throat and joked.

Ah, so it wanted me to pay attention to it instead of the map.

Of course, the bird, who had been constantly looking around the surroundings, would be more accurate than a map that was over a hundred years old.

But I didn\'t want to give in to Gon just because it wanted me to, so I grumbled, pretending not to understand its intentions.

“This is the only map we have. What am I supposed to do?”

“Do you think looking at a map is the only way to find a path?”

Oh, fine.

“You must have seen something. I don’t know what, but your mouth must be itching to talk.”

“...Fine, if you don’t need it.”

"Aw, why are you like this, Mr. Crow? Do you know how long I\'ve been waiting for you to come back?"

“Humph.”

Only after I begged did it open its mouth.

“It doesn\'t seem very dangerous. I guarantee that no one will die in the next few miles.”

“Really?”

“It will be easier than it has been so far. In my opinion, the most dangerous monsters were those that came down to the walls.”

“And there are no dangerous monsters here in the demon realm?”

“That’s right.”

There was a time when people used to come and go in the demon realm. But after that, for a long time, no one dared to reclaim the demon realm.

But it doesn\'t seem dangerous?

Of course, Gon must have seen it with its own eyes, and since this guy wouldn’t lie, it must be true.

However, my hunch was the opposite.

Moreover, in fact... the deeper I went, the worse my condition became. I couldn\'t even keep myself sane by biting the flesh in my mouth.

My senses were overwhelmed, to the point where I could barely endure the blood-filled mouth and the pain of chewing flesh.

It felt like being tortured all day long.

I think I should move to the back of the formation, not to yield my merit to other generals, but for my own sake.

I didn’t think I could fight monsters in this condition.

“...I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Humph.”

Since it had been on a scouting mission, I took out some jerky and offered it to Gon as a token of appreciation. Gon then jumped onto my lap, where I was sitting.

“Hmm?”

Was the jerky not dry enough? Why is this...

“Blood!”

Gon squawked.

At that moment.

Plop, plop-

Blood dripped down onto my lap.

“Ah...”

I quickly wiped my nose with my sleeve. Again.

Seeing this continue, it seemed my condition was really bad.

Gon stared at me as I wiped away the blood, tilting its head from side to side.

“You...”

“What?”

It’s just a nosebleed. It can happen when you’re tired. It could be because I couldn’t sleep properly due to my abnormally heightened hearing.

I asked casually, “What is it?”

“I don’t know how to explain it. Wait a moment. I need to think about it.”

It got off my lap and started walking in circles on the floor. It looked like it was thinking.

Then, after a long time, Gon opened its mouth again.

"...The Great One was like that too."

Its tone was quite serious.

"The Great One?"

Who is it talking about? Immediately after asking, I realized.

There was only one person this creature, who dared to call even His Highness a \'this\' or \'that\', would use a respectful term for.

“Taejo?”

As soon as I said it, Gon glared at me with wide eyes.

“That old man?”

"How dare you!"

It\'s not like there\'s anyone around to hear.

“Ah, no, His Majesty.”

Only after correcting my address did it speak to me in a softer tone.

“He was like that too.”

The Founding King had it too? I had already guessed that this condition was related to the Ye royal family\'s abilities.

"But your condition is getting worse."

"Was it different for the old man?"

"How dare you."

Oh, this is tricky.

"Was it different for the Founding King?"

"He was also sensitive to things that other people couldn\'t hear, see, touch, or smell, just like you."

"Of course, since it\'s the same ability."

"He suffered greatly."

Suddenly, the wooden box I had in my arms felt heavy. The poisoned darts that Soldier Do had given me.

"Like me?"

Gon snorted.

“If he were like you, he would have conquered the entire continent by now. What you’re experiencing is nothing compared to what he went through.”

"Really?"

It was an eye-opening statement.

"How did he manage to live with that? I could endure this, maybe even three or four times as much, but if it got any worse, I\'d want to drown myself."

"Hmph, of course. Do you think the founding king was an ordinary person?"

I realized from the beginning that the old man was no ordinary person. He was a terrifying old man.

"...You wouldn\'t really drown yourself, would you?"

"Not now. Anyway, if what you\'re saying is true, that means the old man\'s condition gradually disappeared."

"That\'s right."

"How?"

It was like finding a spring of water when I was dying of thirst.

"One day, he left the capital. Of course, it wasn\'t unusual for him to leave the capital. But it was special that time."

Gon started walking in circles again.

"He returned a few months later, and he no longer suffered from that condition."

Then it stopped abruptly.

"Where did he go?"

"I don\'t know."

What good is that?

"Don\'t you remember anything?"

"He was very busy after he returned. It was difficult to even see his face. I forgot about it too. It only came back to me now."

Is it that forgetful?

I sighed.

"It wasn\'t the demon realm, was it?"

"Probably."

That wasn\'t very helpful.

I scratched the back of my head and said, "Still, it\'s better than nothing. When I return to the palace, I can look through the records and find out. I\'ll find all the places he went and one of them will be the place you mentioned."

"Of course."

Gon nodded.

I stared at it for a moment, then picked up the map again. It was the only map we had, no matter how old it was.

"Tell me everything you saw. Mark it on the map."

Hoping no one would ask where the information came from, I marked the locations of enemies and obstacles on the map as Gon described them.

After this rest, the battle would begin again.