Extra S*ave Saves the Crown Prince Chapter 37

 

“Sez.”

 

It became noisy outside the barracks. Sihien called me in a low voice. He seemed to want to say something, his mouth opening and closing again.

 

Then he took my hand. First, we needed to check where the Beasts had appeared.

 

Boom! Boom! Boom!

 

We went outside together. The flag atop the fortress fluttered left and right in time with the drumbeats. It meant a Beasts had appeared inside the fortress.

 

I felt the strength in his grip and looked up at Sihien beside me. The corners of his eyes were slightly furrowed. My heart fluttered at that small expression of emotion.

 

So this time, I squeezed his hand tightly in return.

 

“Sihien.”

 

I wanted to ask him not to get hurt, but all I managed was to call his name.

 

“Yes.”

 

He must have had a lot he wanted to say as well, but he answered instead. The booming drumbeats made my heart race.

 

Sihien placed his hand on my head once, then turned away. The knight order was surely waiting for him.

 

His back, always at the front whenever a Beasts appeared, looked even stronger today. And somehow, even more pitiful.

 

“Waaaaah!”

 

The Thornbush Knights, quickly assembled, charged toward the Beasts through the fortress gates. Their morale-raising shouts echoed under the clear sunlight. The sight of horses galloping across the blue sky looked like a painting.

 

It was a scene worthy of awe, if only they weren’t risking their lives on that path.

 

“Sez?”

 

I was staring blankly at the closed fortress gates when a familiar voice called out.

 

“Ah, Priest-nim.”

 

Priest Omont had bandages wrapped tightly around one leg and was using crutches under his arm. His once handsome face had grown gaunt. He’d injured his leg while saving Rond.

 

Seeing the priest limping, I felt a pang in my chest, thinking of him as someone who had crossed the threshold of life and death with me.

 

“The Lord greatly helped us. Thank you.”

 

Omont looked at me once, then closed his eyes briefly toward the sky. His eyes glistened with moisture.

 

I too looked up at the sky for a moment. I was truly grateful the priest was safe.

 

“I’m hurt you didn’t say anything all this time, but since you’re safe, I’ll forgive you.”

 

“I’m sorry. You must have had a lot to do.”

 

Maybe I misheard “work” as “talk.” I’d spent a day lying in the Crown Prince’s barracks, so they must have been shorthanded cleaning up. The herb room was always busy as it was.

 

“Hm? Anyone has to work. More than that, I thought I was closer to you than anyone else in Enafork.”

 

“Pardon…?”

 

“I didn’t think there’d be someone closer than me. No wonder it seemed suspicious.”

 

Omont’s eyes narrowed.

 

“Still, you could have told me. Sez. Was I not trustworthy enough?”

 

“No, it’s not that. Priest-nim, I—”

 

“Oh? Your ears are turning red.”

 

Omont laughed.

 

“I’m joking. I was surprised when you came to the herb room looking for your things, though.”

 

“My things…?”

 

“No, actually, I was surprised from the moment you split open the Beasts. Yes, that’s right. I realized it then.”

 

Omont nodded with a mischievous face, then gradually turned serious.

 

He limped closer to me, leaning on his crutch. His gaze was as heavy as the night he’d shouted that it was dangerous.

 

“So, Sez.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“I might be more trustworthy than you think.”

 

“Priest-nim…”

 

Omont, who let me work in the herb room, was my benefactor. I was well aware that he looked after me in subtle ways. I was grateful to him.

 

“If there’s something else you have to hide, you can tell me.”

 

Something else to hide. I had to do my best not to let my expression waver.

 

“I may not have Divine Power, but I’m still a priest.”

 

He tried to sound light, but I could feel the sincerity in his words. I realized he’d be the kind of person who would gladly be taken by the Beasts in my place if he could. Not because it was me, but because that was his nature.

 

“Yes, Priest-nim. I will. Thank you.”

 

“Really?”

 

I nodded. His gaze sharpened for a moment, making me flinch. Surely he didn’t know something already.

 

“Good. Then let’s get to work.”

 

Omont immediately returned to his usual demeanor. I watched him limp off in search of work for a moment.

 

I must be a person blessed with good people. Grateful, I hurried after him. There was much to prepare for the knights returning from battle with the Beasts.

 

＊ ＊ ＊ 

The knights who had gone out didn’t return until nightfall. The priests waiting to provide Divine Power eventually took turns resting.

 

Occasionally, shouts could be heard beyond the wall, but there was no sign of the end of the battle.

 

“What’s happening out there?”

 

Baslo hadn’t participated in this battle, as he was assigned to guard the outside of the fortress. Not knowing the situation, he sent subordinates up to the fortress walls for regular reports.

 

“The second wave of Beasts is almost taken care of now.”

 

“Almost? Is that a report?”

 

“I’m sorry!”

 

The fortress top was so high that people only went up there for shift changes. The knight, rushed by Baslo, was out of breath after hurrying back.

 

“Do you want to go up again?”

 

“No, sir! Of the five Beasts in the second wave, two remain, and they look like they’ll fall soon! Ugh!”

 

After his rapid-fire report, the knight gagged. His face was pale, as if he never wanted to go up again.

 

Just as he said, as the battle with the Beasts neared its end, word came that a second dimensional rift had opened.

 

If it was despairing outside, those facing it directly inside must have felt even worse.

 

『I’ve never seen them appear this often before.』 Priest Omont also worried about the Beasts appearing at ever shorter intervals. Even with shifts, the knights’ fatigue was bound to accumulate.

 

On top of that, the anxiety that Beasts could appear anywhere, anytime, weighed down the whole atmosphere.

 

“Smoke is rising!”

 

Thick black smoke from burning Beasts began to rise into the night sky. The acrid smell was so strong it was hard to breathe. At last, the battle was over.

 

It was the slowest day I’d experienced since coming to Enafork. Even knowing Beasts were no match for Sihien, I was anxious about the knights not returning.

 

He didn’t even have anyone to relieve him.

 

The Crown Prince participated in every battle in Enafork. Everyone knew this, but no one dared tell him to rest first. I could easily picture him throwing himself into the fight without holding back this time as well.

 

Only after the smoke had risen for a long time did the fortress gates lift. With a clatter, a huge black horse appeared first, and I almost ran straight to him.

 

His red cloak was soaked and hung heavy. But more than anything, a powerful presence swept in like the wind.

 

An intangible force pressed me back with overwhelming intimidation. I had definitely felt this sensation before.

 

In an instant, my memory flashed back to the cave where I first met him. I could almost hear the clinking of chains from afar.

 

“Gasp!”

 

“Ugh!”

 

The priests waiting on either side were pushed back. The oppressive force twisted everyone’s faces at once. Even the air seemed to distort, but I forced my eyes open to regain my senses.

 

Then, suddenly, my body felt light. As soon as my blocked breath was released, the acrid smell rushed in all at once.

 

“Cough! Cough!”

 

Amidst those coughing, I unconsciously took a step closer to him. It was only a brief moment, but he had clearly lost control of his power.

 

“Your Highness!”

 

Baslo also came to his senses and approached his lord, keeping a slight distance. Sihien, moving uncharacteristically slowly, dismounted and immediately fixed his gaze on me.

 

“Hoo.”

 

He looked me up and down, then let out a deep sigh, his shoulders rising and falling. Watching him, I took a deep breath in turn. Only then did I realize my chest had felt tight since the battle began. Without thinking, my legs moved toward him.

 

“Please, step back for a moment.”

 

He was speaking to Baslo and the attendants, but his eyes remained on me.

 

His golden eyes shone sharply, like a blade. I could feel his inner energy hadn’t fully settled.

 

“Yes, Your Highness.”

 

As if used to this, Baslo and the attendants bowed and stepped back. Looking behind him, I saw the knights were also standing farther away than usual.

 

Sihien walked away alone, neither quickly nor slowly.

 

It hurt to see the Crown Prince and hero of the Empire hide himself alone after battle.

 

“Sez.”

 

So, without thinking, I tried to follow his retreating figure. Baslo quietly called my name and stopped me. When I looked at him, he shook his head. He meant, don’t go.

 

“Wounded over here!”

 

“Water! Get some water!”

 

“Merciful Lord, please breathe life into this weary soul…”

 

The sound of priests praying as they bestowed Divine Power, the groans of the wounded, the panting breaths of exhausted horses, the metallic and acrid scent—As soon as he disappeared, the once-quiet atmosphere changed.

 

I should get to work. I should help. Forcing my stiff body to move, I headed toward the water jars.

 

.*. *. *. *. *. *.

 

“Y-Your Highness.”

 

Sihien didn’t return to the barracks, but headed toward the edge of the mountain at the end of the fortress. Those who greeted the Crown Prince as he passed sensed the unusual mood and stepped back. Instinctively, fear flickered in their eyes.

 

“Haa.”

 

Only after entering the empty mountain did Sihien place his hand on a thick tree.

 

A powerful force raged through his body, out of control. It was as if it begged to be unleashed, heat racing from head to toe. He poured all his focus into keeping the power inside, making it hard to breathe.

 

“Urgh.”

 

One of Sihien’s knees hit the ground. Suddenly, with a crack, the tree beside him split from the impact. Even as he tried to cram the power inward, if he lost focus for a moment, it burst out like this. It harmed his surroundings.

 

『Didn’t they say he wouldn’t last the year?』 

 

Jumbled memories ran wild. As a child, when he didn’t yet know how to control his power, he’d overheard conversations at his bedside.

 

He’d spent all day lying in bed, but he knew it was his mother’s voice. Yet there was no worry or affection for her child in her tone.

 

‘Why is he still hanging on?’

 

That was all it meant. Even without meeting her gaze, he could feel the fear in her eyes.

 

When he was very young, he might have thought that was sad. But now, he felt nothing. He only wished this power would harm no one but himself, that it would end with him, that it would not hurt anyone. That was all Sihien wanted.

 

Every cell in his body creaked under the strain of the power. The pain burned, as if he were in a fire.

 

‘Don’t hold back.’

 

‘Just stop now.’

 

The voices he always heard.

 

『Sihien.』 

 

He desperately recalled the voice he’d stored in his memory. Amidst all the heat, only that voice flowed with a cool energy.

 

『Because I like you so much.』 

 

When he finished the battle and passed through the fortress gate, she must have felt his power.

 

At the moment when everyone else stepped back, he saw her trying to step closer. Just recalling that small gesture, the pain that tightened his nerves seemed to fade for a moment.

 

Kneeling on one knee, Sihien recalled and recalled again that small gesture and voice.

 

While suppressing his rampaging power, he clung to her memory. Because it was the first time anyone had looked at him not with fear, but with concern, because it was the only one, it was unfamiliar and sweet.