Chapter 238

“Eh?”

Aint blinked a couple of times.

“What did you say…?”

“Nothing. I recognize your face. Aint Armian. No doubt about it.”

Fernan Pellenberg’s words had been true. The hero named Aint Armian was the most solid proof.

Proof that Fernan wasn’t on the side of the corrupt, and that what he’d said was true.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have Aint at his side.

“I’ll trust you.”

“Thank you.”

“So then, what am I supposed to do? It’s not the best thing to say in front of someone who just gave me proof, but I have no real power.”

When the first prince was imprisoned and the second took the regency, everything had been taken from her.

Now, she was nothing more than a pretty ornament of the royal family. Nothing more. Her half-brother used her in that way.

“I know.”

“…I’m glad you know.”

Yuli felt a tinge of sorrow.

Was that supposed to be a relief? That at least, by knowing that, the golden thread wouldn’t snap immediately?

The very fact she had to think like that showed how dire her situation was.

“Then…”

Do you know I have nothing to give you?

Yuli held back the words.

Nothing in this world was free. No matter how just Aint Armian’s heart might be, she had to show some form of compensation.

And now there was also Fernan Pellenberg.

‘Money…’

He’d said it from the start—that he wanted it. But she had no right to open the royal vaults.

“…When my father wakes up, I’ll give you whatever you want.”

In the end, that was the best she could offer.

“I understand. But let’s leave that conversation for later, Your Highness. For now, what matters is defeating the corrupt and saving the Kingdom of Linelt.”

“Ah, right.”

“There will be other favors I’ll ask later, but for now we only need one thing from you.”

“What is it?”

“Everything you know.”

What had happened in the Kingdom of Linelt, how they ended up in this situation, and why.

“If you tell us everything, I promise you this.”

I’ll save the first prince.

“…Really?”

“Of course.”

Fernan pushed Aint forward.

“In the name of Aint Armian.”

“…Eh?”

Aint blinked again, not knowing what to say.

***

The night was dark.

With his hair dyed dark blue, Aint walked through the mountains, recalling what had happened yesterday.

“Didn’t you say I shouldn’t leave the mansion?”

That’s what Fernan had told him when they arrived in the Kingdom of Linelt. That his face was too well-known and he shouldn’t step outside the refuge.

And now, suddenly, he was asking him to personally rescue the first prince.

“I didn’t say never to step out. I meant not to stroll around crowded places in broad daylight. This is different—at night, hidden, hair dyed, and with a mask.”

He wasn’t entirely wrong.

The place where the first prince was being held had to be heavily guarded, which meant there would be fighting.

And that would force Aint to use his trademark—the power of Armian.

Because all of his aura was Armian’s power.

— That’s why he sent you with this guy.

At Gardner’s words, Aint looked at the man guiding them.

“So your name is…”

“Just call me Turtle.”

The man, covered head to toe in black attire, was the guide Fernan had assigned him. From what Aint had heard, he belonged to the Black Turtle Guild.

“Fight freely. We’ll take care of the cleanup.”

In the end, hiding his strength was pointless. But in truth, what Aint was really concerned about wasn’t that.

“Wouldn’t it be easier if you rescued the prince yourself?”

“In the eyes of the world, it always has to be you. You’re the face—no, the hero of humanity.”

There was the real reason.

Fernan wanted it to be him who rescued the first prince.

‘This is starting to scare me. I’ve gotten too much help—I’m starting to wonder why he’s doing so much for me.’

— Because he’s a demon, isn’t it obvious?

‘But even so, I feel like even if I weren’t here, he’d succeed anyway.’

— …That’s true.

Gardner couldn’t deny it.

With Fernan, you never knew what he’d do, but whatever it was, it always worked.

‘And I don’t feel like he’s trying to betray me.’

— He’s given you elixirs, money, fame, even connections. Betray you? That would make no sense.

If he’d wanted to, he could’ve done it a hundred times by now.

Aint had nearly died many times, and Fernan had always saved him.

— Honestly, that’s the least of my worries. Think, “I’m a Pellenberg.” I invested in a product, and I’m not letting it go to waste. That’s why he helps you grow.

‘Is that it?’

— Of course. But the more he invests, the more he’ll want back later.

‘…!’

Aint’s face went pale.

— Exactly. Now’s not the time to waste energy doubting. Fernan gives you food—you swallow it and grow. That way, when it’s time to pay up, at least you’ll have something left.

‘I… need to work harder.’

— That’s right. Or you’ll end up emperor and still drowning in debt.

‘That would be horrible…’

While Aint imagined a terrible future, the guide spoke.

“We’ve arrived.”

In the west of the Kingdom of Linelt, in a valley surrounded by mountains, stood an isolated mansion.

Three stories tall, large, with walls so high and sturdy they looked like a fortress.

It was clear—it had been built to withstand monster attacks.

“That’s the place?”

“Yes. It’s estimated that about 48 guards are always on duty. Of them, around 10 are knight-level. The rest are elite soldiers. Oh, and there’s also a mage.”

It wasn’t a small force. It clearly showed what the second prince thought of the first.

— It’s a sensible decision. From his point of view, until he secures the throne, it’s better to keep the first prince alive.

No matter how much trouble the first prince had caused in the kingdom or that he was imprisoned, he was still the legitimate heir of Linelt and the regent’s elder brother.

If he died, the impact would be enormous. It made sense to keep him alive.

‘But they surely didn’t think he’d be stolen like this.’

— Obviously.

— Also, how the hell did they even find this place? It’s so hidden. Those from the Black Turtle Guild—the name sounds humble, but their skills are legit.

‘Someday, Armian will also have an intelligence organization like that.’

— Of course, you must.

Without fail.

“So what should we do, then?”

“What’s the best way?”

“In any case, we’ll make it look like it was the second prince’s doing.”

In the process, any trace of Aint entering would disappear.

“So you can go all out. There’s only one condition—the first prince must not die under any circumstance.”

If Aint attacked head-on, the knights, in desperation, might use the first prince as a hostage.

And if they accidentally killed him, it would be a disaster.

“In that case, could you help me? While I draw attention from the front, you could…”

“That’s not possible.”

The Turtle shook his head firmly.

“The young master said the rescue of the first prince must be carried out by you, Aint.”

“But I’m rescuing him either way, aren’t I?”

“He also said to remember Silver.”

…Silver?

Was he referring to the effect of the mark?

“But the first prince isn’t a newborn or a baby bird.”

“And yet, when someone is helped in a desperate moment, they usually feel the greatest sympathy toward the one who rescues them first. Think from his perspective.”

“The first prince was manipulated by the corrupt and turned into a criminal without realizing it. He’s been locked up for years, regretting it every day—and suddenly someone appears and tells him it was all a mistake, and that they’ve come to free him.”

And if that person was Aint Armian, and the true culprits turned out to be the corrupt?

“Can you imagine a more perfect image?”

“I suppose not.”

In the end, Aint had no choice he had to be the one to infiltrate.

The Turtle would create a diversion while Aint snuck in to free the prince.

“Then let’s begin.”

Aint put on the mask.

— Then what the hell did I dye my hair for?

***

The bluish moonlight filtered through the window.

White curtains fluttered in the breeze.

“……”

The first prince of Linelt, Antenor Linelt, opened his eyes, dazed.

He had felt a presence.

“…I don’t want it.”

A hoarse voice escaped his dry throat.

“I don’t want that medicine.”

“That’s not possible, Your Highness.”

A mage had entered with a syringe in hand.

“It’s the medicine to treat your madness. Three times a day, without fail.”

“But when they give it to me, my mind clouds. I can’t think at all.”

Hours lost in the fog. Three times a day.

He spent more time absent than conscious.

It was indescribable torment.

“I understand your feelings, Your Highness. Who would enjoy being intoxicated with such strong poisons?”

The mage approached with the needle. Feeling the tip through his clothes, Antenor instinctively pulled away.

“But this is for your own good. Better to be lost in the fog than to massacre your subjects in a frenzy, wouldn’t you agree?”

And let’s not even mention that he had also killed nobles.

The mage sneered. Casually, he grabbed the prince’s wrist.

As he rolled up the sleeve, a pale, thin arm was revealed.

“Even so, I don’t want to…”

“In this world, can anyone choose only the good things? The people you killed didn’t want to die either.”

“No… don’t do it!”

“I will.”

“No.”

“I said yes. You’re especially stubborn today…”

Wham!

The world spun. His body flew and slammed into the wall. The pain knocked the air from his lungs.

What… what just happened?

The mage looked up.

“I said no.”

A silhouette stood, blocking the moonlight.

He couldn’t make out the face, but his eyes gleamed coldly.

“W-Who…?”

Someone from the mansion?

No. If he were, why would he attack?

Then he understood—it was an intruder.

“Aler—!”

He couldn’t finish. A kick sent him flying. He rolled on the ground, writhing in pain.

“Silence. This is a very important moment.”

The intruder sat down in front of the prince. He looked into his eyes and whispered.

“Your Highness, I’ve come to rescue you.”

“Me? But I committed crimes… I was imprisoned…”

“No, Your Highness. You’re not guilty of anything. The corrupt manipulated you.”

“The corrupt used me?”

“Yes. But don’t worry. Today, I’ll free you from their grasp. I’ve come on behalf of Princess Yuli.”

The intruder handed him a small brooch.

“Ah…”

It was the gift he had given his sister on her tenth birthday. The one she always carried with her.

A tear slid down Antenor’s cheek. His once-lost eyes regained a faint light.

“So it was all a false accusation?”

“Exactly.”

“What’s your name?”

“I’m Aint Armian, Your Highness.”

The intruder bowed his head.

“Aint Armian. Please remember it well.”

That I was the one who rescued you.