Rise of the Fallen Kingdom’s Third Prince — Chapter 321: Human

Chapter 321: Human

“You…?”⁠

Cedric‌⁠ felt fear.

For‌ him, the unknown‍⁠ did not exist.⁠

The‍ fact that humans‌ fear the dark.‌

The‌ fact that humans‍ shrink away from‌ beasts.

Cedric⁠⁠ was never shaken‍‍ in any situation⁠⁠ because he understood⁠‌‌ the reasons for⁠ it.

To‍‍ him, emotions were‍⁠‌ nothing more than‌‌ accessories under the‍‌‍ control of reason.‌‍‌

Therefore,⁠ he had never‌ felt true fear⁠‍ toward anyone.

But‌‌ now, for the‍⁠ first time, Cedric‌⁠‌ feared another being.‍

He‍ did not understand‍ it.

He‌ could not grasp⁠ exactly what Cory,‍ who stood before⁠ him, was.

The‌ perfect pattern he‌‍ had built was‌⁠‍ beginning to crumble.⁠‍

Cedric asked in a dazed voice.

“Why…?”‍

Cory‍‌ was supposed to‌ take his hand. That was what⁠ he was meant‍‌⁠ to do.

Betray‌ Yuri in hopes⁠‌ of a new⁠ world and burn‍⁠ with hatred toward⁠‍ humans—that was Cory’s‌ role, that little⁠‍ monster.

If not.

If⁠ not, then—

“Then what was it‍ that I saw‍⁠‌ that day?”

Cedric‌⁠ remembered that moment‍⁠ with absolute clarity.‍‌

Laurent,‍ corrupted by black‌‌ magic, had a heart as scarred as if it⁠‌ had been burned,‍ deformed and bristling⁠‌ with thorns toward⁠‍ anyone.

Every‍ human who saw‌‌‍ his face despised⁠ Laurent, and he,‍‌ in turn, despised⁠‌‍ all humans.

It‌ was so easy⁠‍‌ to turn a radiant young man‌ into a repulsive‌‍‍ monster.

And‌ yet, there was‍‌ one who did‍‍‌ not turn away.‍

Cory.‍‍

That‍ little half-orc clung‌‍‍ to Laurent with stubborn tenacity. Intrigued,⁠⁠‌ Cedric followed him⁠ in disguise.

The‌ life of an‍ ugly, small half-orc⁠‍ was miserable. Even⁠⁠‌ if he could⁠‍ now use magic,⁠‍ humans never acknowledged‍‌ him, and Cory⁠⁠ always lived covered‍‍ in filth.

All‌ because of his‌ repulsive face.

Ridiculous.‍

Cedric⁠ once again despised humans, who, driven by instincts engraved‍⁠ in their genes,‍⁠ abandoned even the⁠‍ moral concepts they⁠⁠ themselves had created.⁠

If he had been‍‌⁠ Cory, he would‌⁠‌ have killed them‍‌ all with magic‍‌ already.

But⁠‍ Cory did not‍‍ erupt in anger.⁠

It⁠ was then that‍ his interest began.‍‌⁠

What‌⁠ was that half-orc⁠ thinking? He wanted‌ to know more,‌‍‍ dig deeper.

So‌ he began to‌ look into his‍ emotions. He could⁠‍ not see the‌⁠ deepest parts, but it was not‍ difficult to read‍‌ the emotions floating‍ on the surface.‍

Normal.‌

So‍‌ normal that he‍‌ could not understand⁠ why he endured so much.

He‍⁠ even had the⁠‌ common desire to‌⁠ become someone others⁠‍ feared.

And‍ then that day‌ came.

Laurent,‍⁠ unconscious from an‍ injury, lay in‌⁠ bed. Cory watched‌ him silently.

That‍⁠ ugly being had‌ a face so‌ hard to read‌‌‍ that he could⁠ not even tell‌‌‌ what expression he⁠ wore.

Why‌⁠ did he look⁠‌ at him like⁠⁠ that, doing nothing?‌‌ Could it be‌⁠ pity?

While‌‌‌ watching him, Cedric⁠⁠ once again looked‍‍ into Cory with⁠ black magic.

And‌‌ then—

He‍ felt astonishment.

There⁠‍ was pure joy⁠‍⁠ there, clear and⁠‍ untainted, like nothing‌⁠‌ he had ever‍‍⁠ seen before.

He⁠ had never witnessed‍‍ an emotion of‌‍ such purity. Cedric‍‌ even rose from⁠‌ his seat, mouth‍ open, and let⁠ out an exclamation.

Yes.‌ This was it.‍

This was humanity. This‍ was why he‌ despised humans.

Because,‍⁠‌ upon seeing someone‌‍‌ they loved fall⁠‌⁠ into disgrace and be scorned, a human could feel such pure happiness.

Cory.‌‌

Ugly,‌ hunched, limping.

That⁠ little monster who‍⁠ kept crawling after‌ the light called‍‌‍ Yuri Briol, only‍ to end up‌ lowering his head‍‍‌ upon realizing his⁠‌ reality.

His⁠ discovery gave Cedric‍⁠‍ a joy different from what Yuri‌ brought him.

Cory‌‍‌ became the symbol⁠⁠ that reminded him‍ both of the‍‍ inefficiency of the⁠ old world and⁠ the low nature‍⁠ of humanity.

That‍‍ was why he⁠ took him in.‍⁠⁠

Just‌ as he had⁠⁠ calculated, Cory obeyed,⁠‌ with his eyes‌⁠ set on a new world where‍⁠ he would not⁠‌ be despised.

That⁠ was supposed to‌‍⁠ be all.

Then why?

Why‌ was this guy‌ trying to stop‌‌⁠ him now?

“Why…?”

As‍ he looked at⁠ Cory, who was‍ staring up at‍ him, Cedric felt‌ a strange sense⁠ of déjà vu.

A curious tremor in‍⁠ the muscles of⁠ his face.

The‌ same expression he‍‌⁠ had when looking‌ at Laurent.

Then⁠ could it be⁠ that now he‌ was feeling that‌‍‌ same pure emotion⁠‌ from that moment?⁠⁠‍

What⁠‍ the hell was‍‌‍ this guy? Or‍ was his mind so twisted that‍ it had been‍⁠ completely damaged?

“I⁠ don’t know, Cory.‌⁠ What exactly are⁠ you?”

For‍ the first time,‍ Cedric admitted his‌‌ ignorance.

[I…]‌‍‌

Cedric‌‌‌ felt fear again.⁠ He could not‍‌ imagine what words⁠ would come from‍‌ Cory’s mouth.

But‍ he could not⁠‍⁠ move. Like a condemned man awaiting his sentence.

Cedric could only watch as Cory’s mouth‍ opened.

***⁠‍

Cory⁠ remembered the moment‌‍ he met Cedric.⁠⁠

“Doesn’t it seem strange to you? That‌ you, being able‌ to use Dragon⁠ Tongue, live in‌ this reality where‍ those pathetic humans,‌⁠ who can do‌ nothing but plow‍ fields and hunt‌ rabbits, despise you.”‌‍

“I…”⁠‍

“I’m⁠ going to remake⁠⁠‌ this inefficient and‍‍ unjust world.”

“That’s⁠‌⁠ impossible.”

“No,‌ it’s possible.”

Then‌‍ Cedric stared at‌ him intently.

In⁠ his pupils, Cory‍ saw something horrible. He was so⁠⁠ shocked he even⁠‌⁠ forgot to breathe.⁠‌

The‌‍⁠ darkness and resentment‍ dwelling there were‍ deep enough to‌ devour the entire⁠ world.

That‍ was why Cory‍⁠ made a decision.‍‌ He would follow Cedric.

For‍ Yuri, he would⁠‍ deceive him.

There was no other⁠ way to stop that man. Cedric‍ literally wanted to‍‍ destroy the world.⁠

He⁠⁠ would probably be‍ misunderstood.

Maybe they would cut⁠‍ off his head‌ without giving him⁠ a chance to‌ explain.

Maybe‍‌‍ he would forever‌⁠‍ be remembered in‍⁠⁠ history as a traitor who betrayed‌ a favor received.‌

He‌⁠ was afraid.

But‌ there was no‍ other choice.

Cory‍ pretended to help Cedric while searching⁠‍ for what he could do. And⁠ that was how‍⁠ he arrived in⁠‌ Zveta and met⁠‍ Jane.

“You⁠‌ can’t hide what⁠ you are. I thought that, being‍ taken in by⁠⁠ His Highness, you⁠ might have learned‍ at least a little humanity, but‍‌‌ in the end,‍‌ you’re no different‌‌‍ from those filthy, vulgar orcs. Did⁠ you betray your⁠‌‍ own and now‍ crawl before the Empire? Damned half-orc…”⁠⁠

Insults⁠‌‍ like that did‌‍⁠ not affect him.⁠‌

He⁠‍ heard worse things‍‌⁠ every day. The‍⁠‌ important thing was that, to deceive‍ Cedric, he had to mistreat her.‍⁠

“I⁠‌ don’t know how you got to‍‌‍ the Empire, but…⁠‍ how insolent.”

Since‌⁠ he had always⁠‌ been somewhat clumsy,⁠ no one suspected⁠ his poor performance.‌‌‌

He‌‌ used an incomplete‌ Voice Authority of Power to knock‌‌ Jane unconscious, keeping⁠ her alive.

He‌ took her, along⁠‌‌ with many other⁠ prisoners, under the pretext of using‍‌ them as test‌‍ subjects.

During⁠ that process, Cory‍ understood what he⁠ had to do.⁠

Yes,‍ he truly experimented‍ with the Voice⁠ of Power, but‌‍ it was not⁠‌ a power to⁠‌ harm people. He⁠‌‌ decided to use⁠‍‌ his ability to‍ hinder Cedric.

“Jane,‍‍ I might fail.‌ But I will do the best‍ I can.”

The‍ ritual to sacrifice‍ people and offer⁠‍ them to a god from another‌‍ world was so⁠⁠⁠ evil and powerful‌⁠‍ that interrupting it‍‍ was no easy‌ task.

Cory⁠⁠‍ spent entire nights‍ practicing the Voice⁠‍⁠ of Power.

And‍⁠ he finally succeeded.‍‌

He‍‍ engraved his Voice‍ of Power on‌ the prisoners’ foreheads,‌‍ so that neither⁠ black magic nor‌ beings from another‍⁠ world would dare‍‍ touch them.

He believed he finally understood the meaning‍ of the Voice‌‍ that Cruar had‍ taught him.

Now⁠‌ everything depended on Yuri Briol. And‍ he exceeded Cory’s expectations.

The‌⁠ Anti-Imperial Alliance was⁠⁠ formed, and after‍ many ups and downs they reached‍ Zveta.

There,⁠‌‍ Cory’s plan bore‍ fruit.

Cedric‌ believed he had‌‍ succeeded, but the god from another‌ world did not⁠‌‌ receive the compensation‍⁠ that had been‌‍ promised, and so‍‌‍ it could not act with full force, retreating to⁠⁠ the beyond.

And‍ now.

Cedric, defeated by Yuri,‌ wanted to destroy⁠‌ everything. And Cory‍‌ stood alone before‌‌⁠ him.

Cedric‌‌⁠ shook his head.‌‌

“Did‍ you stop the⁠ ritual using Dragon‍⁠ Tongue? Lies. Impossible.‌ You can’t stop‍‌ me with that. Orders are always…”⁠⁠

[Thanks⁠‍ to you.]

“Me?”‍⁠

[Thanks⁠‍‌ to you, I understood.]

Cory placed a hand‍‌ on his chest.⁠ He knew himself well.

He‌‍ was ugly and‍⁠ unpleasant, with a weak body, a crooked spine that‍⁠ kept him from‍ walking normally.

Although‌‍ he possessed a dragon’s vocal organ,‌ it was so‍⁠ weak that he⁠‍ could not use⁠ it freely like⁠ Cruar.

That⁠ he could stop⁠ Cedric was impossible.‍

But—⁠

“Cory.‌ Did you feel⁠ joy seeing Laurent‌ become something so‍ horrible? Isn’t that‍‌ right?”

Yes,‌‌ that was true.‌ It was an honest answer, born‍ from the depths‍‍ of his being,‌ without a single‍⁠ lie.

However,⁠ Cedric was also‍ wrong. Cedric said‍ he felt satisfaction‌ seeing Laurent fall‍ into disgrace.

No,‌⁠⁠ that wasn’t it.‌

Cory‍‌‌ shook his head. He certainly felt‍⁠‌ joy, but the‌‌ reason was different.⁠

Upon‍ seeing Laurent, who⁠⁠ was so twisted‍ and spat venomous‍ words, the first‍ thing he felt.‌‍

Upon‍‍‍ seeing the young‌⁠ man who had‍ always shone and⁠⁠ been admired by‍‌‍ all turn into‍ a monster, the⁠‌ true feeling that arose within him—

If‌ someone had asked⁠ him at that⁠ moment. If Cedric had asked him.‍⁠

Cory⁠ would have answered⁠ without the slightest‍‌ doubt.

Appreciation.‌‌

I feel appreciation for‍⁠ you.

I,⁠ Cory, appreciate you.‍

Even‌ if your appearance becomes unpleasant. Even⁠‌ if you spit‌‍⁠ venomous words and‌ raise your thorns.

I care for your‍ well-being, I wish‍‌ you peace, and,⁠‍ in the end,‍ I wish you‍ happiness.

“That’s⁠‌ absurd. You’re lying, Cory. Shut your‌‌ mouth. Don’t say‍ any more. You…”‌

The‍ world offered him‍⁠ bouquets of flowers‍‍ when he was‌ handsome, but contempt,⁠⁠‌ ridicule, and spit‍⁠⁠ when he became‍ ugly.

But my feelings of‌ appreciation have not‍ changed. Whether beautiful⁠⁠ or ugly, I still appreciate you‍ just as I did at the‌‌‍ start.

And,⁠‌ in the moment‍⁠ I realized that,‍ I understood that⁠ I was already‌ human.

“Nonsense…‌ it’s all nonsense…”‍‍

I wanted to be‍ human.

Yuri‍ Briol.

The‌ first person who⁠ gave me light,‌ like a sun. There was a time when he‍ asked me what‍ my dream was.⁠

I answered him.

“I‌⁠ want to be⁠ recognized by people,‌‌ to live and‍ interact with them.”‍

That⁠ was my dream.⁠‍

Even⁠‍⁠ if they despised⁠⁠ and bullied me,⁠‍ I still wanted‍‌⁠ to be human.⁠ Because, having been⁠‍‌ born as an‍ ugly and unpleasant‌‍ half-orc, I understood⁠ better than anyone‍ how bright it was to be‍ human.

I wanted to live‌‌ among them, laugh‍ and talk together,⁠ be recognized as one of them.⁠

But⁠‌⁠ now no longer.

I no longer need‍‌ recognition.

Laurent⁠ changed.

His‌‍ face became horrible,⁠‍‌ his mouth spoke‍ cruel words. Even‌ so, the appreciation⁠ I feel for⁠ him did not‌‍ change.

That’s‌‌ why, at that⁠ moment, I realized⁠ that I was⁠ truly human.

I feel sorry for⁠‌‌ Laurent, but that‍ filled me with‍⁠ joy.

I am human.

More‌⁠ than all those‍⁠ who spit on‌ and despise Laurent‌ and me. Much more.

Inside,‍ I was already‌‍‌ human.

And‌⁠⁠ so, I experienced⁠ a happiness born⁠‌ from the depths‍⁠ of my being.‍‍‍

“Shut‍ your damn mouth!⁠‌‌ That’s impossible. Cory,‍ don’t say any⁠⁠ more. Just come⁠‍ with me to‌⁠ a new world and…”

What‍ is it? What‍ made me feel‌‍ appreciation even seeing⁠ Laurent become something⁠ so horrible?

What‍‍ makes a human‌ being human.

Where does this feeling‌ come from? Being‌‍⁠ as small, ugly,‌‌‍ and lacking as‌ I am, I could never know.⁠‌‌

I can only revere‍‌ it and adore it.

The⁠ heart.

That⁠⁠ amazing moment I can feel vividly.

Can there be a greater miracle?

Once,‌‌ Lady Cruar told⁠ me that when⁠ I understood why⁠‍‌ language becomes magic,‍ I would be⁠⁠‌ able to freely⁠‌ use the dragon’s⁠ vocal organ.

Yes.‌⁠

She‍‌ was right.

At‌ that moment I did not understand⁠ it, but now‍⁠ I do.

We‍⁠ were born as⁠ different beings. Since we cannot fully‍‍ connect from heart⁠ to heart, we‌⁠ desperately try to‌‍‍ reach the other‌‍ through language.

That’s‍ right. I will⁠ never be able to complete killing⁠⁠‌ intent. The will‍⁠ to kill is‌‌‌ something I can’t‌‌ comprehend.

The‍ only thing I can do is—‍

To‌⁠‌ share the most⁠‍‍ amazing thing I know, put all‍ my sincerity into⁠ my words.

Come,⁠ Cedric.

Listen.‌⁠‍

This‍ is the one‌⁠‍ and only true⁠‍‌ language of power I possess.

“No…⁠⁠ I won’t listen.‍‍ Cory, from the‍⁠ start to the⁠ end you’ve only‌ spoken lies and‌ nonsense. Don’t do it. I will‍ never…”

Language‍ of Power.

Affection.⁠