Rise of the Fallen Kingdom’s Third Prince — Chapter 273: Sacrifice (3)

Chapter 273: Sacrifice (3)

Cory⁠‌ remembered the woman’s⁠‌ name.

“Jane?”‌⁠

From‌ dusty memories, her‌ image surfaced.

Back‍‍‍ during the Allied‌ Army days, Jane,‌⁠ who had been‍ captured by the‌‍‌ Kurui tribe, had‍ begged Yuri to⁠ kill all the‌‍ captured orcs. After hearing her plea,‌‍ overflowing with hatred,⁠⁠ Yuri massacred the⁠ orcs.

Cory had thought she‍‌ was living well‌ in Briol after‌ being relocated there,‌ so he couldn’t‍⁠ understand why she‍‍‌ had suddenly appeared‌⁠ in this place.⁠

While⁠ he looked at⁠ her in confusion,⁠‌ Jane spoke.

“You‌ can’t hide your‍‌‍ true nature, can⁠ you?”

Her⁠⁠⁠ voice was filled‍‌ with contempt, an‌ emotion Cory was‍ very familiar with.‌

Jane⁠ looked at him⁠‌ coldly and continued.‌⁠

“I⁠ thought that, after‍⁠ being taken in‍ by His Highness,⁠‍ you would have‍‌ at least learned‍‌ a little to‌‍ behave like a human being, but‌‍‌ it turns out⁠ you’re no different‌‍‌ from those filthy, vulgar orc bastards.‌ You betrayed your‍ own kind and⁠ now grovel before‍‌‍ the Empire? Damn‍‌ half-orc…”

Though‍‌ her voice was⁠ weak, as if her body were‍ in poor condition, her tone was⁠‌‍ sharp as a knife.

Cory‍‍ stood still, enduring‍‌‍ her insults.

“With⁠⁠ that repulsive face… your actions are‌ no less disgusting.⁠ I suppose His‍‌ Highness actually trusted‍‍ someone like you…”⁠

Cory‍ slowly raised his‍ head. Jane kept‌‍ moving her lips,‌‍ spewing every kind‍⁠ of curse as‌‍ if reciting a spell.

Suddenly,⁠ Cory moved his‍‌⁠ hand.

Jane,‍ struck on the‍ cheek, fell to‌⁠⁠ the ground.

Looking‍ down at her, Cory shouted sharply.

“Shut…‍‍ shut up!”

He‌ no longer wore‌⁠ an awkward expression.‌⁠ His face was‌ twisted, and his‌ words were fierce‌‌ as he looked‌‍ down on her.⁠

“I‌ don’t know how‌⁠ the hell you‍‌‌ ended up in‍ the Empire, but…‌‌ how… arrogant.”

“Arrogant?”‌⁠

Jane,‌ despite the blow, did not shrink⁠⁠‌ back.

“Do⁠⁠‍ you even have⁠ the right to‍ use that word?⁠ Filthy damn half-orc…”‌

Cory‍‍‌ raised his hand‌‌⁠ again. Jane curled‍⁠‍ her lips.

“Are‍ you going to hit me? Go on, do it.‍‍‍ You’re exactly what⁠‌‌ I expected. Orc‍‌ bastard…”

Many‌ thoughts passed through‍⁠‌ Cory’s mind, but‍ they all came‌⁠ down to a single question.

Cedric’s⁠⁠‌ voice echoed in‌⁠ his memory.

“Cory,⁠‌ when you saw⁠‌ what Laurent had become, did you‍ feel satisfaction? Didn’t you?”

Cory‌‌‌ answered yes in‍‌ his heart.

It⁠ was a genuine‌ answer, without a shred of a lie.

That‌ fact made him‍ realize what kind‍‍ of being he⁠⁠ was. There was‌ no longer room‌ for doubt.

Now he knew clearly‌⁠ what he had‍ to do and⁠ how to treat⁠⁠ this woman, just‌ as he had‍⁠ nodded without hesitation‌ at Cedric’s question.⁠‍

That‌⁠ was why Cory⁠‌ smiled.

Jane, sitting on the‌⁠ floor, shuddered at‍‌ Cory’s expression. He‌ stepped toward her, and Jane moved‌ back. Cory felt‌⁠ satisfaction.

“Jane,‌‌‌ now I know‌⁠ why you’re here.”‍⁠

“Shut…‌ shut up, damn—”‍‌

“Shut your mouth.”

Cory‌‌⁠ extended his hand.‍⁠ His mana sealed⁠‍ Jane’s mouth.

“So‌‍ you don’t need⁠ to keep moving your tongue.”

He‌‍ remembered hearing from‍ Yuri that all⁠ the prisoners rescued⁠⁠ from the orcs‍ had been transferred‍ to Briol and‌‌ that their management‌‌ had been left⁠‌ to Cedric.

Yuri‍ believed they had⁠‌ all returned safely⁠ to their homeland,‍‍ but most likely⁠ Cedric had diverted‍ them elsewhere.

They⁠ were surely being⁠ prepared as material‌ for black magic‌ rituals.

Cory‍‍ nodded.

“Now I know what‍ I have to‌ do.”

He‍ gave another smile⁠⁠ to Jane, trembling‍ as she sat‌⁠ on the floor.

Cory’s mana brushed against⁠ her back. She‍ lowered her gaze and stayed silent.⁠

“Now⁠‍‌ it’s quiet.”

If‍ Cedric had sent‌⁠‌ him to Zveta, he had to‍‍ meet his expectations.‍

“Jane,⁠‌ I’m going to‍‌ cast a spell⁠‍ on you. Just‍ endure it.”

“No…”

“Shh.”‌

Cory⁠ murmured toward her.‌

Kill‍ Order with the‍ Word of Authority.⁠‌‌

He‍ released upon her‍‌‌ the incomplete power‌ of his Dragon‌ Tongue.

The air trembled.

The‌⁠‌ world reacted.

“Ah…”⁠

Jane’s‍⁠‍ eyes flew wide‌ open as her body began to⁠⁠ convulse.

Cory⁠‍ felt he was⁠ finally starting to⁠⁠‍ understand something about‌ the Dragon Tongue. Words themselves were‍‍ magic.

Just⁠⁠ as invisible mana‌‌ is used to‌ perform the miracle⁠‌ called magic, invisible thoughts materialize in⁠‌ the world through‌‍ language.

That‍ was why this‍ was a miracle.‌‍

Jane⁠‌ soon stopped convulsing‌ and collapsed to‌ the floor. Cory stepped forward to‌ check her breathing.‌ She wasn’t dead‌ yet.

He‍‍ smiled with a twisted grin.

“Lord Cruar, I think⁠ I understand now.⁠‌ Heh… hehehe…”

It‌‌ would still take‍‍ time and more‌‌ experiments to perfect‌ his Dragon Tongue,⁠⁠‌ but he had‌‌ already found the‍⁠‍ clue. Soon, he would be able⁠ to master it.‌

Cory’s heart felt a little lighter.

He‌⁠ knocked on the‌ door.

“Hey,‌‍ you out there?”‍

A knight waiting outside entered.

“Yes.”‌‍

“T-the…⁠‌‌ the experiment is over.”

The‌ knight looked at‍ Jane lying on‌ the floor and‌ said without hesitation,

“Understood.⁠‍ I’ll have her‌ cremated.”

“No,‌‌ she’s not dead.”‍‌

Cory‌‍‌ nudged her body‍‌ with his foot.‍

“This‌⁠⁠ woman is still‍⁠‍ alive. I want to keep using⁠‌‍ her, so take her away and‌⁠ heal her. I’m going to have‌ fun with her‌‍ for a long⁠‌ time.”

“Understood.”‌

“Are‌‍ there many captured‌ humans in Zveta?”‌

“Yes.”‌‌

“Heh,‍ I’d like to‌ take a look⁠ around.”

The‌‍⁠ knight, named Santos,⁠ looked straight at‌ him. Cory no longer hid under his hood—he showed‍ his ugly face‌‍‌ and gave him⁠‍ a twisted smile.

“I⁠ think I’ll feel⁠⁠ better seeing other‍ humans.”

“As‌⁠ you wish.”

Santos⁠⁠⁠ left Jane in⁠ the care of‌‌ another soldier and‌ led Cory through the prisoner camp.‍⁠

It was a massive‌ prison.

In‍ the center, there‍ was a large‌ clearing where inmates‌⁠ were digging trenches‍‍ with shovels. Among them, Imperial soldiers‌ wielded whips without‌ rest.

“Work⁠ harder!”

“Move‍ it! I said‌ move it!”

“I‍⁠‌ won’t give you⁠ another warning!”

At⁠ the edges, as⁠ a warning, corpses‍‍ impaled on stakes were on display.⁠

The prisoners, terrified, kept digging.

It‍‌ was a brutal‍⁠ scene.

“Wow…‍⁠⁠ impressive.”

Escorted⁠ by the knight,‌ Cory walked past‍‌ the work area.‍

Upon‌ seeing him, the‌ soldiers saluted with⁠⁠ discipline.

“Salute!”‍⁠

“Salute!”‍‌

Cory nodded awkwardly.

“Y-yeah…‌‌ good work.”

Some⁠‌‌ prisoners raised their‌ heads to see⁠ who was passing⁠‌ by, and upon‍ recognizing him, quickly⁠ lowered them with⁠ a mix of‍‌ fear and revulsion.⁠⁠⁠

“What are you looking⁠ at? Tsk…”

Cory⁠⁠ knew well they‍ were digging their⁠⁠⁠ own graves.

He‍ didn’t know exactly‌ how Cedric conducted⁠ his human sacrifice‌⁠ rituals, but he⁠‍ was sure he would gather them‍ all here for⁠‌ whatever he had‍ planned.

Suddenly,‍‌ Cory lifted his‌‌ gaze.

From‌‌ a point overlooking⁠‍⁠ the entire camp,⁠ there was a strange statue. Like‍‌‍ every creation of‌ black magic, it⁠ had a grotesque‌‍ form.

That‌ was when he⁠‍ realized there was‌ someone standing next⁠ to it. At‌ first, he hadn’t⁠ noticed, but suddenly⁠ he saw it‌‌ was a person.⁠‌‌

Dressed⁠ entirely in black,‍ the figure stood‌ motionless, like a shadow.

Cory‍ asked his escort,⁠

“Hey,‌ what’s your name?”‌

“Bow‍‌ your head.”

“Santos.”

“Santos,‍ who’s in charge⁠‌ of Zveta?”

“Count‍ Eduard.”

“Him‌ too for this‍‍⁠ camp?”

“Yes.”

“That‌ guy over there,⁠⁠ is it him?”

Santos‍ looked up.

“No,‍ it’s not.”

“Do‍‍ you know who⁠ it is, then?”‌

“No.‍ I’ve seen him‍‌‍ a couple of‍ times, but I don’t know his⁠‍ name.”

“Yeah?”‌‍

Cory⁠‍ nodded and turned⁠ his gaze back to the sight‌‌ of prisoners working‌⁠ while bleeding.

He⁠⁠ had to complete‌‌ the Power of⁠ the Voice of⁠‌‌ Authority as soon‌‌⁠ as possible.

“In‌‍ a while, send‌‌‍ me about five⁠ people. I need‍‍ to run another‍ test.”

“Understood.”‌⁠

Feeling⁠‌ the fearful stares⁠ fixed on him,⁠‍‍ Cory smiled.

***‍⁠

Yuri⁠⁠⁠ looked up.

From‍⁠ within the monster’s⁠ bubbling fluids emerged⁠‌⁠ the figure of‍‍⁠ Cedric.

— Impressive.

He‍⁠ spread both arms‍ as if speaking‍‌ with genuine admiration.‍

— Yuri, I really‌‍ didn’t expect you‌ to get this⁠‌ far. Before I could do anything,‍‌ you accomplished everything,‌⁠ as if you‍ were reading my‍‍⁠ mind. It’s the‍ first time I can’t predict something,⁠ and it even‍ unsettles me.

“Is‌‍ that all you‍ have to say?”‌‍‌

Yuri‍ looked at him‍⁠‍ with disdain, no‌‌ longer treating him‍⁠⁠ like an older‌ brother, only as an enemy.

“In‍ a week you’re‍‌ going to die‍ foaming at the‍‍ mouth like this⁠‌⁠ bastard, so start‌‍‌ digging your grave.”⁠

— Hahahahaha…

Cedric‌ let out a laugh.

— In my original⁠ plan, by now‌‌⁠ I’d already be‍‍ besieging Briol.

“Yeah,‍ well, now things⁠ are going according‌‍‌ to my plan.‌ In a week⁠ I’ll kill you‌ and put your‍‍ corpse on display.”‍

— Don’t use such‍‍ harsh words, Yuri.

“Why?‌ Do you sound weak?”

— No. It’s just⁠‍⁠ that it breaks⁠‍ my heart—it saddens me—that someone I like so much⁠ would curse me like this.

“You’re‌‍‍ insane. You’ve lost‍ your mind.”

Yuri⁠⁠ had no intention‍‌ of listening further.‌ Cedric was a genius, someone who‍ calculated everything before⁠‍ acting. Listening any‍⁠ more would only‍ cloud his judgment.⁠

“Get‍ lost.”

Yuri‌ swung Guilty with⁠ the power of⁠‌ Cut the soul‌ and the heart.‌⁠

Even at the sudden⁠ attack, Cedric remained⁠⁠ unperturbed. Without changing‌‍ expression, he rattled‍⁠ off his words‍ at incredible speed.‌⁠

— VenazZbetatengounregaloparati…tedegustará…sino vienes…tearrepentirásparasiempre…hahahaha—

By‍‌ the time Yuri’s‌‍⁠ strike cut through‍ Cedric’s figure, he‍‍ had already finished‍⁠‍ saying everything he‍‍ wanted. It had‌‌ been like a burst.

“…”‌

Yuri‌ trembled with rage.‍ It felt as⁠‌ though he had⁠ lost.

Beside‍‌ him, Jared clapped.‍⁠

“Impressive.‍‌‌ Talking that fast‍‍⁠ and still keeping‍⁠ the pronunciation and‌‌ projection of voice.‌ There was even‍ rhythm. I think‌ there’s a musical‍ genre where people talk like that…⁠ maybe he learned‌ it?”

“Shut up.”

“He said he’s got‌ a gift for you at Count⁠ Zveta and that⁠ you’ll regret it‍‌ forever if you⁠ don’t go.”

“I⁠ heard.”

“His communication skills are‍ amazing.”

“That’s why I didn’t⁠ want to hear‌‍⁠ him… Ah…”

Zveta‍⁠ was quite far from the imperial⁠‍‍ capital. He had‍⁠ no intention of⁠ going; he planned‌⁠ to march straight⁠‍ for the capital.‌‍⁠

But‍ Cedric’s words were⁠⁠ starting to loop‍ in his head.⁠‌⁠

“Zveta…⁠‌ what kind of‌ place is it…?”⁠‌‌

Laurent cut in.

“Idiot.⁠ You’re going to‍⁠ do what the⁠ enemy wants? Ignore‍‌ it.”

“I⁠‌ can’t.”

“What?”‍⁠

“Cedric‌ might have mentioned‍⁠ it precisely so⁠⁠ we wouldn’t go,‍ pretending it’s a trap. Maybe there’s‌ something really important‌ there.”

“He could also have‌ foreseen you’d suspect‌‌ that and countered‌ with another move.”⁠‍‍

“And‌ maybe he foresaw‍ that we’d foresee‌‍ that and turned it around again.”

“And⁠ maybe he foresaw‍‌ that we’d foresee‌‌ that he foresaw—”‍‍

“Ughhh!”‍‌‍

Yuri‍ clawed at his hair.

“That’s why I didn’t‍‌ want to listen!”

“But he said it⁠ in such a catchy way it⁠‍ was impossible not⁠ to pay attention.”‍

“Damn‍ it…”

Yuri‌‍ stood.

“Let’s⁠⁠ get back to‌ the main army.”‌‌

He‌‍ led the two back to the⁠‍ village entrance, mounted his horse, and rode toward the main forces.

They⁠⁠‌ were already quite⁠ close.

At‌ the front, Ainzer‍ smiled at seeing‍‌ him.

“From⁠ your face, I’d‍⁠ say you had‍ quite an encounter.”‍⁠

Yuri⁠ briefly explained what⁠‍‌ had happened. Ainzer‍ frowned.

“Zveta…?”⁠⁠‌

“What is it?”

“Nothing…‍‍ Just that it’s‌‍ always been called‌ a cursed city.‍ I don’t like‌ the sound of‌ it.”

At‌ that moment, Hernando⁠ approached.

“Your‍⁠ Highness.”

“Hmm?”‌

“I‌‌‌ must inform you‍‌‍ of something…”

The‍⁠ tone of his‍⁠‍ voice gave Yuri‌‍‌ a bad feeling.‍‌

“It’s⁠ a warning.”

“Then‌‌ don’t say it.”

“I must say it.”‌‍

“I‍ don’t want to‍‍‍ hear it.”

“Your‍‌ Highness.”

Hernando’s face was more‌ serious than ever.⁠⁠ After a brief‌‍ pause, he spoke.⁠

“The‍ heavens have been⁠ disturbed.”

“The⁠ heavens?”

“I⁠ can read the⁠ Mandate of Heaven. I had lost that ability for‌ a time, but‌ suddenly, a wave⁠‌ of ominous energy showed me fate.‌ I’ve never seen‍ anything like it.”‌

“What‍‌ did you see?”⁠

“Danger.‍ The seed must⁠‌‌ be eliminated before‍ it’s too late.”‍‌

“How?”

“There.”

Hernando⁠ pointed with his‌‍ finger.

“Right‌⁠‌ now, the capital⁠‍‍ isn’t what’s important.‌ We must go‌ in that direction to eliminate the⁠ seed of tragedy.”⁠

“That⁠⁠ direction?”

Ainzer,⁠ who had been‍⁠⁠ silently listening, spoke⁠ up.

“Oh…‌‌‌ That’s the direction‍‍ of Zveta.”