Extra S*ave Saves the Crown Prince Chapter 3

“You know Noveni, right? It’s an herb with pain-relieving effects.”

 

I hurriedly stepped back and made an excuse. I bit my lip because he seemed to be frowning, and it tasted like herbs.

 

Right, if I eat it myself, he’ll believe me, won’t he?

 

I took out a few more roots and chewed them lightly.

 

“Mm.”

 

A deep groan was heard. Maybe he was just keeping his eyes open, without any real consciousness.

 

“Mu…”

 

“Hm?”

 

His lips moved, but I couldn’t make out the word, so I brought my ear closer. His feverish, hot breath lightly tickled my ear.

 

“Water?”

 

Is he thirsty?

 

“I’ll get water. I will.”

 

Just in case he wasn’t listening, I explained slowly and clearly. I saw his golden eyes go blurry, then sharp again.

 

I wonder if he’s really aware of what’s happening.

 

Well, maybe it’s okay. Just for a moment. I’ve never shown anyone, but now might be the time.

 

I glanced at Shihien, then pretended to go up to where I’d fallen earlier, closed my eyes, and pictured the forest in my mind.

 

The spot where the bird flew away. Where I found the herbs and my foot sank deep…

 

When the heat rising from my toes reached the top of my head, I opened my closed eyes.

 

The smell of damp air rushed into my nose. I had returned to the place I imagined.

 

Fortunately, since it had rained, the puddles were filled with water. I tore off a large leaf, scooped up some water, and closed my eyes again. Just in case, I moved not to where the male lead was, but to the spot where I’d fallen earlier.

 

“Can you drink the water?”

 

When I returned, Shihien had his head bowed again. I carefully lifted his face and let the water from the leaf drip into his mouth. Unlike the herbs, as a few drops of water went in, his Adam’s apple bobbed up and down several times.

 

“That must hurt.”

 

It wasn’t something I thought before saying. It just slipped out because it was so painful to watch, my eyes were burning.

 

Clank, clank Shihien suddenly threw his head back. His body jerked, maybe from pain. Was it my words that triggered something? Worry flooded in.

 

“Are you okay?!”

 

Mouth, could you please shut up? Who asks someone clearly in pain if they’re okay? Seeing him unable even to groan properly and suffering alone made me feel even guiltier for my thoughts as a reader.

 

『The male lead should suffer a bit, after all.』 

 

I wanted to go back and stop myself from saying that. Seeing it in person, this pain was all too real. I even felt like begging for forgiveness.

 

“…A slave, huh.”

 

Then, a rough voice scratched at my ears.

 

“Yes? Yes…”

 

I nodded without thinking. I must have become a slave to the bone. I was agreeing without even realizing it.

 

“Name…”

 

“…Sez.”

 

Even when asked my name, I answered reflexively. It felt completely different from just a groan.

 

His voice was crushed, as if suppressing pain, but his pronunciation pierced right into my heart. I was so focused on the fact that he spoke that I only realized I’d given my name after the fact.

 

“How did you get here…”

 

Shihien—he was talking to me now. I think I lost my mind for a moment at that fact.

 

Only after a brief silence did I realize it was a question and hurriedly answered.

 

“Oh! I was picking herbs, and my foot slipped down, and I ended up here.”

 

I blurted it out, and it sounded so unnatural. Thinking I had to keep a calm face, my muscles felt stiff.

 

He asked if I was a slave, then my name, then how I got here. Only then did a chill creep in.

 

In truth, if a slave was caught running away, at minimum, a beating was standard. If he asked my name to track me down later, I was doomed.

 

“Cough, hack! Hack!”

 

But aside from that, he looked to be in so much pain. Watching thick clots of blood gush from his mouth in real time made me dizzy.

 

Wasn’t there anything I could do to help?

 

I knew I’d come to Salt Island, but I never imagined I’d be chained up alone like this.

 

I thought maybe there’d be a luxurious room somewhere the slaves didn’t know about.

 

No matter how afraid they were of his power, did they really need to chain up the Empire’s heir?

 

In the Original Story, it just said he went berserk—there was nothing about him suffering like this.

 

“If only I could undo these chains.”

 

“What…? Cough!”

 

He started coughing again, as if startled. Clank, clank, the chains rattled with his movements.

 

I quickly took out Noveni from my cloth bag and chewed it up. I didn’t even think about it.

 

I held his face with one hand and pushed the chewed Noveni herb into his mouth.

 

I felt his jaw muscles stiffen. Please, just swallow it all. I focused only on getting him to eat the herb.

 

He stayed still for a moment, then slightly parted his lips and took it into his mouth.

 

Why did I only pick a little herb? Should I move through space now and get more? Would that ease his pain?

 

“Sez.”

 

His rough, scratching voice seemed a little softer. Though pain still lingered.

 

To think the original male lead would call my name—I was a little awed as I listened for his next words.

 

“…Go. Now.”

 

With those words, I felt the air ripple. The torchlight flickered precariously, as if about to go out.

 

“Ugh!”

 

This time, I gagged. My stomach churned and my shoulders felt crushed.

 

A primal fear made my whole body tremble.

 

I felt like my very existence was about to be crushed out of being. The letters densely carved into the space began to shine.

 

Sluuurp, thud!

 

My feet slid back and my body hit the stone wall. I couldn’t even lift a finger by my own strength.

 

I barely managed to lift my drooping head and look ahead. He was gripping the chains, head thrown back.

 

He seemed to be succumbing to his own power. I was starting to realize I could die if I stayed here. My whole body was drenched in sweat.

 

Clank, clank!

 

The sound of chains colliding grew louder. As if swept by a strong wind, my whole body was pushed and I was moved to the spot where I’d fallen earlier.

 

I couldn’t tell if I’d used my power unconsciously, or if some formless force had driven me out.

 

“Haa, haa.”

 

I came out into the forest and collapsed.

 

I rubbed my face with both hands as if washing it. That voice calling, “Sez.” The clanking of chains. Those golden eyes staring straight at me. All of it swirled together, making me dizzy.

 

[A monster has been born.] 

 

The words spoken by his birth mother, the Empress, came to mind. A line I’d only ever read as text now pierced my mind like a thorn. A male lead who wasn’t even loved by his own parents, enduring everything alone.

 

“Get a grip.”

 

I slapped my cheeks with both hands several times.

 

In this Original Story, I was just a slave. Surviving by avoiding the explosion was my most important mission. Just meeting the original male lead was more than enough. Since his power goes berserk every year on his birthday, I’d probably meet him again next year.

 

If the island was still here by then.

 

＊ ＊ ＊

 

“Shihien ka Sharkani.”

 

Hearing the priest’s gentle voice made his name sound even nobler—though that must be my imagination.

 

A few days after meeting him, I came to see the priest with hollow eyes. It was the dead of night, when everyone was asleep.

 

Even though I knew this was the world of the Original Story, after meeting “him” in the cave, my heart pounded all day. My body was tired, but every time I closed my eyes, his chained figure appeared vividly. It felt as unreal as when I first realized I’d possessed a slave.

 

Did I really meet him? I pinched the back of my hand for no reason until dawn. Then I thought maybe hearing about Shihien objectively would help, so I came here.

 

“He’s the Empire’s hero, still fighting Beasts for our sake, you know.”

 

But… why does it not sound objective at all?

 

There was a small chapel on Salt Island. Slaves were officially allowed out of the cave once a week to attend worship. Of course, they had to line up and march back under the overseer’s watch.

 

The unusual person who volunteered for this tiny, honorless chapel was Priest Feren. He looked like a bandit, but his eyes were sincere and pure.

 

『I’ll give you this salt. Please help me escape.』 

 

When I suddenly possessed a slave’s body five years ago, he was the only one I thought trustworthy enough to bribe. I was out of my mind at the time, desperate.

 

『Sez. You and I are both children of God in the end. That never changes, no matter where you go. Even here, God’s will is present.』 

 

He refused the salt, comforting the child with vague words. I wasn’t really a child, but in his eyes, I must still look young.

 

“Sez, but why have you come to see me at this hour, suddenly asking about His Highness the Crown Prince?”

 

And yet, even when I snuck out of the cave in the dead of night to the chapel, he always welcomed me warmly.

 

“I suddenly wanted to know more about His Highness. Priest, do you have any books about him?”

 

He didn’t help me escape, but he did break the rules. He taught me to read, even though I was a slave. I must have seemed truly pitiful.

 

He probably thought there was no use knowing letters if I’d spend my whole life on this island anyway.

 

“There’s a book that records how magnificently he fought in battle against Beasts.”

 

It must be a book overflowing with praise.

 

“Wow. A book about His Highness’s battles.”

 

I clasped my hands, feigning admiration for the Crown Prince.

 

My stiff speech made my acting obvious, but luckily he was too busy taking out the book to notice.

 

Feren was a bookworm and a Beasts-research enthusiast, so he owned many books about Beasts.

 

The way he carefully brought the book and set it on the table in front of Sez was full of pride. As if to say, “Look, I even have this kind of book.”

 

“Ah.”

 

I was about to pick up the book when I noticed my hand. After working all day and not washing, my hands were filthy.

 

I would surely leave a dirty mark on his cherished book.

 

“Oh, Sez. Give me your hand.”

 

The priest brought a white cloth and wiped my hands. He must have smelled something every time, but he always treated me kindly. He was remarkable.

 

“I’m sorry. I couldn’t wash.”

 

“Sez. Physical filth is nothing. What’s more important is to wash your mind clean and keep your faith, as we’ve said.”

 

The only flaw was that everything ended in “faith.”

 

“Priest, um…”

 

“Yes? Go ahead.”

 

“Um… about the Epilo tribe… did they really go extinct? Not a single one survived?”

 

“Sez.”

 

After wiping my hands, he wore a stern expression.

 

“They committed an unforgivable sin. When you think of how much blood was shed, and is still being shed, I doubt even God would forgive them.”

 

A chill crept into his usually gentle eyes.

 

“…Yes.”

 

Actually, I think an Epilo is still alive, Priest. I didn’t do anything wrong, you know. Turns out I’m an Epilo after all.

 

But I couldn’t say that, so I opened the book he handed me.

 

I was tired from labor, but the priest looked so eager for me to enjoy the book that I couldn’t bear to disappoint him.

 

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