CH 5

He was gasping for breath and it seemed that it must have been difficult for him to say a few words. Thick beads of sweat trickled down the back of his head to the tip of his chin. I could tell he had to hold it together to get the words out.

“You’re going to pick me up? You believe me when I say that there will be an explosion?”

I felt the heat rising in my throat and I glanced around needlessly. I’m the only one here, but what if he’s looking at me and talking to someone else?

I pointed a trembling finger at myself while looking at him in a confused manner as if to make sure he really meant me.

He nodded.

I clenched my fists. I could barely keep my tears from spilling over. Memories of me telling everyone for years that the island was going to explode flashed through my mind, and I felt all of that facade melt away in one fell swoop.

“Why? Why would you believe me?”

‘Because I gave him water and herbs?’ 

That’s the least anyone can do for a crown prince, or even more. Besides, a slave like me deserves all the help that I can get. If I get hurt, Mrs. Noah or the priest will give me some herbs. But if a hero of the Empire comes and fetches a slave for such a small favor, just because he believes that I can see the future? It seemed more like a fantasy.

“…Seth. Ugh.”

I could hear the urgency in his voice. I was barely holding back tears in my confusion when the whole space began to shake again. I felt a huge force pressing down on my body. It was getting stronger and stronger.

“Get out, now.”

Blue veins sprouted out on his head. The clanking of chains sounded violently, but his groans were swallowed inside. Even when I was losing myself in the pain, I still saw a flash of concern in his eyes.

“Ugh!”

I was instantly knocked backwards by what I don’t know if it was force or the wind. In my confusion, the pain didn’t hit me until later, and I felt like I had a huge bruise on my back. But in front of someone whose life was constantly on the line, it didn’t seem like much of an injury.

“Oh, my God.”

I’ve been telling myself not to cry, but when I got out into the dark forest, I did. I had promised myself that if I cried, I would do so only after I had successfully escaped. But tears still streamed down my cheeks. At least there was someone who actually believed in me. At least one person would listen to what I want to say.

‘I’ll come get you.’

The words were so warm, they made my eyes water. His voice kept echoing in my head, as if it were embedded deep in my heart.

“Just once, heh I can let myself go, heh…he..”

I decided to cry for a while, just for today. I let it all out. All those pent up emotions came rushing out like a dam was opened. I buried my face in my arms and sobbed. It was the first time ever, since I woke up as a slave.

⚘

The port of Pichedore was a place that grew from trade with the Salt islands. Salt sculptures and dishes made with salt were sold there. While 80% of the salt was owned by the Empire, 20% was freely traded by merchants, so the port was always bustling with merchants from out of town and local traders.

The crown prince’s quarters were also located in the center of the city with the best view. Their itinerary here was top secret, so they were disguised as private mercenaries.

“Ricks.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Ricks lowered his head down to avoid eye contact with the crown prince’s freshly bathed upper body.

Gone was the tattered appearance of him covered in wounds. He looked like he was going to die when he was taken to the salt islands, but when he returned he was emitting an aura of life. He was covered in fine scars, but his skin was so clean that it seemed to be glowing. It was a sight he saw every year during the rampage, but it still surprised him.

“We’re going back to the island.”

“What?”

“I need to bring someone back.”

“Your Majesty. I’ll go.”

It had already been half a day since they left the salt island, and to go back there again… A place that they only visit when he’s on a rampage? Ricks couldn’t help but wonder. His highness hadn’t had the time to meet or do anything with anyone, so what does he mean by going back and taking someone away?

“I’ll go, you don’t know what she looks like.”

“What?”

“Just prepare.”

The crown prince ordered in his usual nonchalant tone. He had always obeyed his orders, but there was something strange about this one.

Thud.

At that instant, the crown prince and Ricks turned towards the door, they both reached out for their swords. It wasn’t long before an urgent knock arrived at the door.

Knock, Knock.

“It’s Arnic.”

Arnic was one of the crown prince’s men, and he immediately bowed in to show his courtesy. His chest was heaving with the urgency of his arrival.

“Your Highness. A demon has appeared within the fortress.”

Both the crown prince and Ricks were silent for a moment. Demons usually appear without any certain cycle, but it was only spotted in a certain area.

Einfork, it was a basin-shaped town backed by high mountains. As the starting area where the dimensional rifts were first opened, Einfork was naturally at the forefront of the battlefield.

Its massive fortifications, built after decades of work, were a symbol and pride of the empire’s defense against demons. The Demon Extermination Corps, led by the Crown Prince, had been stationed in Einfork to deal with them for a while now.

“When did it happen?”

“Around sunset.”

A demon appeared from within the fortress. This was the third time. The location of the dimensional rift was never quite the same, but it never left Einfork, and it had always been outside the fortress.

But lately, that rule has been constantly broken.

“What about casualties?”

“I apologize. There was no news yet.”

“We’ll be on our way.”

No one seemed to realize that his words came out much slower than usual, and they all just assumed that he was simply worried about the demon.

“Yes!”

Arnic immediately snapped from his trance and stormed out of the room.

“Your Highness, this is the third time it happened… If the fortress is destroyed, wouldn’t the entire empire be in danger?”

“Ricks.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The crown prince stared out the darkened window for a moment.

“You and Vaslow are going to the Salt Islands.”

“What?”

“There was news that the place might explode soon, and I’ll have you investigate it when daylight comes.”

“Your Highness.”

“If you can find a slave named Seth, it will be easier to talk to her about it.”

“When you said you had someone to bring, was it..?”

The crown prince’s golden eyes locked onto Rick’s. He had known Ricks ever since he was ten years old. It was the first time he’d heard him mention anyone other than a demon, and it was disconcerting, but he knew better than anyone that he wasn’t bluffing at all.

“Yes, your Highness.”

He bowed to his lord, who had remained silent after a while.

Click..

There was a sound of a wooden door closing. Crown Prince Shane covered his forehead with his long fingers for a moment. A deep sigh escaped his lips.

‘That must’ve hurt.’

‘Are you okay?’

‘Water, I’ll get it, I’ll get it.’

‘If only I can break these chains…’

It wasn’t until later that he realized that it was the first time he had ever heard those words in his life, and he took them apart and put them back together in his head. In fact, he had played them so many times in his mind that they now floated through it without him even realizing it. It was as if it was passing close to his heart.

Some days passed like wind, some days it was like water, some days were warm like the sun, then came the rain… Day after day, she passed by alone in his mind.

There was worry and concern in her eyes. No one had ever looked at him like that before, and it was so unfamiliar that it kept coming back to him.

He knew those words were just things that slipped out unconsciously from her mouth, but he still wanted to keep them, no matter what. Demons had been his nemesis and reason for living his entire life. So this time he couldn’t believe that he wanted to leave them behind and go to the salt island.

Preventing the devastation caused by the demons should have been his priority, but he couldn’t help but remember those large purple eyes in his mind.

“Seth..”

The name melted into the air. It was a new habit of his lately, calling that person’s name when no one was around.

Moments later, he spurred his horse and left the Port of Pichedore with Arnic. Their gallop was so fierce that everyone they pass by turned to look, but no one realized that it was the crown prince who had stayed there and was leaving.

⚘

“Do you mean that the salt island is about to explode?”

“I have to investigate.”

“His highness himself sent me to investigate it.”

“Alright.”

“I suppose that means he trusts me, right?”

Vaslow was a knight who admired the crown prince. He was older than him, but from the first moment he saw him, he knew he was the lord that he wanted to serve. When he saw him fall, and snatch his sword from the hand that could barely hold it, then ride furiously towards a demon, he had thought his heart would burst out of his chest.

“Think what you like.”

“I take it that means you think so too.”

“Drive the boat straight.”

Ricks was the leader of the Order of Thorns, also known as the Crown Prince’s Knights. Originally, they were part of the Thornwood Mercenaries, but after their success in slaying the demons, the entire mercenary group was promoted into a Knight’s Order.

“It looks so peaceful from the outside.”

The sailboat sliced through the waves in the gentle breeze. The salt island that was getting closer and closer was a sight in itself, with steep cliffs. There was even a forest on top, which blended in with the blue sky and sea, and it was hard to imagine that the slaves of the Empire’s lowest class were imprisoned there.

BOOM!

So when he first heard the sound, he didn’t think much about it, assuming it was from the mines.

Rumbles, Boom, BOOM!

But soon a thunderous rumble pierced their ears.

‘I need to bring someone back.’

The image of the crown prince, speaking in a nonchalant voice, immediately superimposed with the rumblings.

“Vaslow, bring the boat closer!”

Vaslow pulled out the oars in the boat and began rowing towards the island. Birds flew out of the forest at once, filling the sky with blackness. Thick smoke billowed from the Salt Island.

It was exploding.

⚘

“Aah! My eyes!”

“Help me! Ow!”

“Don’t step on it! Aaaah!”

The island was like an abyss full of howling sounds like from evil spirits. The Salt Mines crumbled away at a rapid pace and the only way to avoid being crushed was to step through the cracks.

“Mrs. Noah! Mrs. Noah!”

BOOM! BOOM!

“Aaaah!”

The explosions stopped for a moment then started again. I knew the salt island was going to explode, but I didn’t expect it to be this big.

“Aunt, it’s Seth! Where are you, Mrs. Noah! Cough! Cough!”

The explosion had obscured my vision. A fire had started somewhere, and everything was burning like hell. People were scrawling everywhere, they were trying to get out of the cave first.

I wandered in the opposite direction, looking for Mrs. Noah.

“Huh?”

I looked around at the fallen people and saw a familiar figure.

“Mrs. Noah! Cough!”

“You’re supposed to be outside, what are you doing crawling in here, get out!”

My throat tightened at the angry voice.

“I told you to come to my side if the place explodes!”

“Don’t come here! Get out!”

She was unable to get up from her slumped position, so I looked over and saw that one of her legs was covered in blood. My vision blurred in an instant.

“Mrs. Noah, just get up, let’s get out of here.”

“No! You leave!”

“Please! Come on!”

“You never listen to me, you’re just like your mother, so dirty, she never listens to people!”

I tried to take her hand, but she kept pulling it away.

Kwaa-ang! Kiiiit!

This time the whole ground shook. It was hard to stand still. From the sound of screams I heard coming ahead, I knew that there must have been another explosion at the cave entrance. I bit my lip hard. I had to get myself together.

“Mrs. Noah, please close your eyes.”

“Are you crazy? What if someone sees you? Get out!”

“You can’t leave now anyway. Keep your eyes closed. Don’t ever open them, okay?”

I clasped her hand tight to keep her from pulling away, and I grabbed her wrist with my other hand. I held on to it with all my might, so she wouldn’t be able to break free.