Extra S*ave Saves the Crown Prince Chapter 22

 

Three days had passed since I arrived in Enapok.

 

There were separate quarters for the slaves, but with special permission from the priest, I was allowed to stay in a corner of the herb storage. It was barely enough space to lie down, but since there was no separate women’s slave quarters, I was grateful even for this. And perhaps because I liked the scent of herbs, I slept quite well there.

 

The only problem, if you could call it that, was that there was more work than I expected.

 

“Sez, can you help with the laundry?”

 

“Sez, do you remember how many I said I counted earlier?”

 

“Sez, can you show me how to clean this?”

 

“Priest, may I borrow Sez for a moment?”

 

Helping out in the herb room was my main job, but since there weren’t enough hands, I was sent to help other departments whenever possible. It seemed like everyone was overwhelmed with work, so I tried to lend a hand, but before I knew it, people kept coming to find me every day.

 

“Should we make a number ticket system, Sez?”

 

The priest joked like that, since people came to the herb storage from morning till night. Managing the herbs was already a lot of work, but with so many people coming to find me, the days just flew by without me noticing.

 

＊ ＊ ＊

 

“Huh?”

 

I was on my way back to the herb storage after helping with the lunch dishes when I heard something spill. Turning around, I saw that a cart had just tipped over. Firewood logs were rolling all over the ground.

 

“Oh, thank you—huh?”

 

I couldn’t just ignore it, so I hurried over to pick up the wood, but as soon as he saw me, he jumped in surprise.

 

“Sez?!”

 

The oily tone of his voice sent chills down my arm. He’d gone around saying he was going to become a knight in Enapok, and it seemed he’d finally made it here.

 

“It really is you! How could we meet again here? It must be fate!”

 

This seems more like coincidence than fate, honestly.

 

“No way, you—!”

 

He suddenly clamped a hand over his mouth. From experience, that usually meant something weird was about to come out of his mouth, so I quietly prepared to step back.

 

“You came all the way here to see me!”

 

“No.”

 

“You actually thought to come all the way to Enapok!”

 

“No! Not at all.”

 

“Not at all?”

 

“No. Not even a little.”

 

“I see… Well, let’s just say that’s true. I’ve been doing well. As you can see, I’m not hurt or anything.”

 

I didn’t ask, though…

 

People really don’t change easily, do they?

 

His name was Rond, the son of a baron’s family, but since his family wasn’t well-off, he lived no differently from a commoner. I’d met him doing odd jobs at the dining hall, and his intense self-love had left an impression on me.

 

“Did you become a knight, by any chance?”

 

It didn’t look like it at all, but I asked out of politeness.

 

“I’m still in training. If becoming a knight were easy, anyone could do it.”

 

“I see.”

 

“Sez, you’ve gotten even prettier since I last saw you.”

 

…He wasn’t a bad person. He had a good heart.

 

Instead of answering, I finished picking up the wood and tried to bow out.

 

“Fate really is mysterious. I thought you’d be at the Imperial Palace. Sez, come find me anytime. I’ll be waiting in the stables.”

 

“…You work at the stables, then.”

 

“It’s not work, it’s training. I’m learning how to handle horses.”

 

“Well, I’ll be going, then.”

 

“Right. I guess it must feel awkward seeing me after so long. I understand. I’m fine, so come find me whenever you’re ready.”

 

I clenched my fists and then let them go. That was one more person here I should avoid running into. Though, for a completely different reason than the others.

 

Just then.

 

The peaceful air was suddenly shattered. A chill ran through my chest and goosebumps rose along my spine. My heart felt like it dropped, and I clutched at my collar with one hand.

 

Bwooooooo—A horn blared loudly. Thump! Thump! Drums sounded, and flags began to flutter wildly. The atmosphere in the camp, which had seemed calm, changed instantly. It was the signal that a Beasts had appeared.

 

Clack, clack.

 

It was as if everyone already knew a Beasts would appear; soldiers lined up in formation and marched toward the fortress. It seemed there were squads already on standby. The standard-bearer was desperately waving the flag above his head.

 

『If the flag is waved above the head, it means a particularly large Beasts has appeared.』 

 

Priest Oment’s tip overlapped in my mind, and my body trembled slightly.

 

Clop, clop.

 

From another direction, the Thorn Knights on horseback charged out. They naturally rode to the front of the soldiers. Their black cloaks fluttered dazzlingly in the wind.

 

And finally, he appeared.

 

The black horse was the largest among the horses and stood out immediately. Even to the Beasts, he must have looked like the biggest target. He wore a dark, blood-red cloak, and the way it looked as if it was already soaked in blood made it hard to breathe.

 

He, at the very front, raised one arm, and with a screech, the fortress gate began to rise.

 

The Crown Prince charged fiercely toward the open gate.

 

Aaaaaaaaah!

 

Mercenary company and knights rushed after him. Dust billowed up, enveloping them. I tried to see outside, but the dust cloud obscured my vision. By the time the dust settled enough to see clearly, the fortress gate was already firmly shut.

 

Just like that, they had rushed off to the battlefield against the Beasts.

 

“Huff, huff.”

 

Rond was now gripping the cart tightly. Even though there was no sign of a Beasts, his face was pale.

 

“Sez, don’t be too scared. Luckily, this time it’s outside the fortress.”

 

His body was visibly trembling.

 

“Have you ever seen a Beasts?”

 

“Of course! Just a while ago, one appeared right over by that tree. Huff, huff.”

 

“Did you see the rift, too?”

 

“The rift?”

 

“The place where the Beasts comes out.”

 

“Hm. They come out so quickly, it’s hard to see. It’s not like we’re waiting around for them to appear.”

 

“What does a Beasts look like?”

 

“It’s okay, Sez. His Highness is here. He’ll protect us. You don’t have to be so scared in advance. Plus, I’m here too.”

 

He probably hadn’t actually faced a Beasts. If he had, he would have already been bragging about it. He was likely busy hiding somewhere. Even now, there wasn’t a trace of color in his face.

 

Bang!

 

“Eek!”

 

Suddenly, the ground shook with a tremendous noise.

 

Rond instantly ducked behind the cart.

 

I bit my lip and ran toward the herb storage.

 

“Sez!”

 

He called after me belatedly, but I ignored him. My heart was pounding with anxiety. I wanted to do anything I could to help right now.

 

Please, don’t get hurt. Please, be safe.

 

The image of him in the cave on Salt Island, chained and bleeding, flashed before my eyes.

 

That wound across his chest hadn’t been from a sword. I knew this was the front line, but seeing it with my own eyes made it all the more real. My heart pounded painfully fast.

 

“Sez, you’re here.”

 

Oment was calmly packing up herbs. He acted as if this happened all the time, but his expression was stiff.

 

He grabbed herbs with hemostatic, analgesic, and numbing effects. They were always kept ready, but he was preparing extra just in case.

 

With Oment, I loaded the herbs onto a cart and headed to the infirmary. There were already patients, but they were busy preparing more beds.

 

Seeing them prepare, expecting there would be wounded, made me even more anxious. Was it a vain hope to wish that no one would get hurt?

 

Even if it was selfish, I hoped at least he wouldn’t be harmed.

 

For the first time, I felt the urge to kneel and pray desperately.

 

＊ ＊ ＊

 

 Creeeak.

 

The fortress gate opened again deep in the night, when stars were twinkling in the sky. The priests had come out in advance to wait at the gate.

 

Divine Power was more for healing mental wounds than physical ones. Since it was impossible to tend to each returning soldier individually, the priests waited on either side to give Divine Power as they passed.

 

“I don’t have Divine Power, so I’ll just help physically.”

 

Oment winked as he moved to the back of the line.

 

Clutching my trembling chest, I hid behind a nearby building and watched the gate.

 

Clop, clop.

 

With the sound of hooves came a smoky scent. Smoke from burning Beasts corpses drifted over the wall. As they drew closer, the metallic scent of blood filled my nose. It was so thick it made my head spin.

 

Praying that it was Beasts blood, I watched those riding in.

 

The huge black horse was as imposing as its master. The man holding its reins had a presence that changed the very air.

 

Everyone, including the priests, naturally paid their respects. The highest noble, yet the one who stood at the front lines, desperately protecting those behind him—a hero.

 

No one would deny that just having him in Enapok reassured the citizens of the Empire.

 

I wanted to see his face up close, but since I had to hide my presence here, I held back.

 

Unlike the fierce charge earlier, he now walked at a slower pace. Thanks to that, I could watch him a little longer.

 

Tap. He dismounted.

 

One of his legs seemed a little unsteady as he touched the ground, but he quickly acted as if nothing was wrong and led the horse away.

 

“Your Highness.”

 

His attendant came up and took the black horse to the stables. Wherever he walked, the dirt was stained dark.

 

Praying it was Beasts blood, I watched his back as he headed toward the barracks. Two Thorn Knights followed him, talking about something.

 

Only after he left the procession did the priests’ Divine Power flow to the knights and soldiers like a warm breeze.

 

Those returning, utterly exhausted, were covered in the smell of smoke and blood.

 

“Injured, over here!”

 

The wounded were laid one by one on the stretchers prepared in advance. Oment guided the wounded toward the infirmary. Soon, stains began to appear on his white priest’s robes.

 

All my nerves screamed to follow the Crown Prince, but I forced my body to move toward the priest.

 

“Huff, huff.”

 

“Hey! Stay with me!”

 

“Breathe! Breathe!”

 

“Ugh!”

 

Some who had returned safely couldn’t even make it to their quarters and collapsed by the gate. Some were wounded, some had lost their lives. A cloth was placed over the dead, as if this was all routine.

 

The explosions I’d seen on Salt Island overlapped with this scene. Those running around missing body parts looked no different from these men.

 

“Sez.”

 

Aaaaaagh! Kyaaaaah!

 

It was as if the screams were right in my ear. I saw a vision of dirt flying and the island shaking.

 

“Sez!”

 

“…Yes?”

 

“Come with me.”

 

Oment looked at me with concern. Meeting his gaze snapped me back to my senses. Now was not the time to worry about myself. There were people with far worse wounds. I slapped my cheeks with both hands.

 

“Yes!”

 

I hurried after the wounded on stretchers and Oment.

 

Suddenly.

 

The Crown Prince stopped in his tracks.

 

“Your Highness, is something wrong?”

 

Captain Lekes checked his lord’s complexion. In the darkness, the Crown Prince’s golden eyes shone fiercely.

 

After a battle, he always had to fight himself to rein in his sharpened aura. Sometimes, he would send everyone away and spend time alone.

 

The power overflowing his human vessel was always kept in check by the narrowest of margins. Lekes, who watched from his side, knew this better than anyone.

 

“Should we withdraw?”

 

For the Crown Prince’s sake, and for everyone’s, he needed to know when to step back. He knew how much His Highness blamed himself when he lost control.

 

“No.”

 

The Crown Prince turned and looked back toward the fortress gate. For some reason, he felt he had to look back. It was as if he’d heard a beloved name.

 

But as always, after the battle, the usual cleanup was underway, and there was nothing out of the ordinary.

 

Confirming this, he turned away without regret. His steps toward the barracks resumed. Captain Lekes followed after him.