Second Life, I’m Dying Soon Chapter 37

Chapter 37

 

The basilisk suddenly jerked its head up. Its snout was stained crimson with blood as it exhaled in heavy, steaming breaths.

Apparently no longer interested in the dead meat, its gleaming yellow pupils began to scan the surroundings intently. Unfortunately, Yuria was sitting squarely within its line of sight.

Clamping both hands over her mouth, Yuria didn’t dare make a sound. Even someone who had grown up in a forest crawling with monsters would be terrified when faced with a beast like this up close.

As if having chosen its next prey, the basilisk growled and began to move toward her.

“N-No! No, please!”

Yuria tried to drag herself backward on her bottom. She wanted to get up and run, but her legs had turned to jelly, and all she could manage was to crawl away.

The ferocious beast smacked its lips and slowly approached. Seemingly wanting to toy with its prey, it circled her rather than attacking right away.

Seeing this, Cecil hastily aimed his bow at the basilisk. He had never used one before—his pose was more mimicry than skill—but he pulled the string back with all the strength he could muster.

“Yuria! Run!”

With that shout, he released the string. The arrow fell pitifully to the ground, far from hitting its mark, but it landed close enough to the creature’s feet to draw its attention.

“Grrr…!”

The beast snapped its head toward Cecil, its savage eyes locking on him. Having found another target, the basilisk quickly changed direction.

“Run, now!”

At Cecil’s roar, Yuria scrambled to her feet, but she hesitated, unwilling to leave him behind.

Meanwhile, the basilisk rapidly closed the distance. In the blink of an eye, it lunged forward, knocking Cecil over and pouncing on him.

“Ugh! Damn it! You filthy beast!”

Cecil struggled beneath the creature’s weight. He barely managed to wedge his bow between the basilisk’s jaws to avoid getting bitten, but it was far too powerful for him to resist.

Its bite was so strong that the thick wooden bow shattered with a loud crack. Now unarmed, Cecil groped blindly across the ground until his fingers wrapped around one last hope—a dagger.

‘If you’re thinking of pulling some foolish stunt, you’d best forget it. With your skill, you’ll be torn to pieces before you can even stab it.’

Why was that advice coming back to him now, of all times? Cecil didn’t believe he could kill the beast with such a small dagger. This was just a final, desperate attempt.

‘I didn’t think I’d die trying to save Yuria.’

The old Cecil would’ve prioritized his own life and used Yuria as a decoy to escape. No—he wouldn’t even have set foot in such a dangerous hunting ground to begin with.

But things were different now.

He had a purpose to continue this second life, and he had to survive—if only for Alexis’s sake.

Neither Yuria nor he would die here. Even if his limbs were torn apart, he would hold on.

“Damn it! I won’t lose to the likes of you!”

With a firm grip, Cecil slashed the dagger. If nothing else, the swordsmanship training he’d received hadn’t been completely in vain—his stance was at least proper.

Putting all his strength behind it, he slashed the beast’s face without hesitation. Its black fur split apart, revealing raw red flesh beneath. The basilisk howled furiously and opened its jaws wide.

“Gah!”

Its razor-sharp claws dug straight into Cecil’s flesh. It felt as though his abdomen had been punctured—a wave of searing pain spread through his entire body. Gritting his teeth, he endured it.

Just as the beast’s fangs descended again, ready to rip him apart, Cecil raised his dagger once more.

Slice—!

A blade laced with killing intent cleaved through the basilisk’s head in one blow. Hot, metallic-smelling blood sprayed like a fountain from the clean-cut wound, drenching the prone Cecil underneath.

Cecil’s eyes widened in shock. He couldn’t even register what had just happened.

“Cecil!”

A strong hand grabbed him by the collar and hauled him upright.

The pitch-black beast vanished from his sight, replaced by a blinding light. Platinum hair came into focus. It was Alexis.

“Snap out of it!”

Alexis called his name several times, trying to rouse the frozen Cecil. He kicked the still-bleeding corpse of the beast aside and pulled Cecil into his arms to check his condition.

“Are you all right? The basilisk is dead. You’re safe now.”

“Haa… Khh… Hff…”

“Breathe slowly. You’re going to be okay.”

They had managed to defeat the assassins and run into the forest just in time. If they had been even a moment later, Cecil would’ve already been torn to shreds.

“Water!”

One of the guards came running with a bucket. Alexis poured the cold water all over Cecil’s head, washing the blood off his face. Then, taking another canteen, he held it to Cecil’s lips.

Most of the water spilled down his chin, but that didn’t matter. After repeating it a few more times, Cecil’s glazed green eyes finally regained focus.

Though his frail body still trembled, he began to calm down, his rapid breaths gradually slowing. The terror he’d forced down still lingered like a shadow.

“Cecil, look at me. Do you recognize who I am?”

Alexis held his cheeks and forced eye contact. Afraid Cecil might faint again, he lightly tapped his cold, soaked face.

Cecil gave a small nod. Seeing Alexis’s face seemed to steady his fraying emotions. He swallowed the bitter taste in his mouth and opened his lips with difficulty.

“…The assassins… what happened to them?”

“All but one were taken care of.”

“And Yuria… is she safe?”

Only then did Alexis glance behind him. In the chaos, he hadn’t checked on her. Fortunately, Claude picked up Yuria, and she didn’t appear to be seriously hurt.

He turned back around and let out a long sigh.

“Yes, she seems to be fine.”

“That’s a relief…”

“You, though… you don’t look so good.”

Cecil was barely propped up against a tree trunk, still trembling slightly. His silk shirt and the vest over it were soaked with blood. Though he’d been drenched in the basilisk’s gore, some of that blood was unmistakably his own, still oozing out in slow trickles.

Alexis looked down at the lower abdomen, where claw marks were clearly etched, and unconsciously bit his lip.

“The wound is serious.”

“Haa, it’s lucky it wasn’t worse. I could’ve died.”

“I need to see the injury.”

“It’s just a scratch.”

Cecil tried to stop him, but Alexis was already undoing the tattered ribbons of his vest. When he started unbuttoning his shirt, Cecil hastily grabbed Alexis’s wrist.

“I said I’m fine!”

“You’re making that face because you’re in pain, and you still say you’re fine?”

“Not here! It’s dirty, and who knows what kind of germs could get in—ahh!”

He couldn’t bring himself to say the real reason—that he couldn’t show his body to Alexis. A highly educated crown prince would surely be able to read the ancient numbers engraved on his chest.

Even as he groaned in pain, he kept resisting stubbornly, and Alexis couldn’t suppress the frustration rising in him. His blue eyes flashed sharply.

“Stop being so stubborn, Cecil Adrien.”

“No! Absolutely not! I’ll only receive treatment once we’re back at the palace!”

“You’re planning to go all the way to the palace like this? I saved your life just for you to bleed out and die on the way?”

“I said no. Absolutely not…”

Cecil held his ground with tenacious stubbornness. Beads of cold sweat formed on his round forehead. As much as he pushed and argued, he couldn’t hide the pain, and his face was gradually turning pale.

“You… I really don’t understand you.”

Eventually, Alexis gave up and let go of the clothes he’d been trying to remove. He stared at Cecil with clear disapproval, then pulled a handkerchief from his inner pocket.

He pressed the small piece of cloth against Cecil’s wound. It wasn’t nearly enough to stop the bleeding, but there was no better option at the moment.

“Can you move?”

Instead of answering, Cecil just nodded. Though he looked as if he were about to collapse, his eyes were even clearer than before.

Alexis lifted Cecil into his arms. As he began to walk, he gave a subtle nod, and the quick-witted royal guards brought over a horse already prepared for the crown prince.

He placed Cecil on the saddle and mounted behind him. Even carrying two grown men, the strong steed trotted without strain.

Gripping the reins, Alexis called out loudly.

“We’re returning to the palace. Captain Vandell will handle the aftermath. Make sure no rumors spread—manage everything thoroughly!”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

The soldiers responded in unison, their voices filled with tension. Sitting atop the horse, the crown prince swept his commanding gaze over the crowd. When his eyes met Claude’s, who stood with Yuria, a silent message passed between them.

I’ll leave Yuria in your care.

No words were needed when trust had been forged over time.

The horse carrying the two men galloped away, cutting through the underbrush. On the back of the horse, walking away through the grass, a flag bearing the imperial crest flashed.A sign that warned all not to interfere with the one who rode beneath it.