The villain's ending is only death Chapter 83
I blinked in surprise at the unexpected words.
The fact that someone might be on the other side of the cave was less shocking than the Crown Prince noticing it.
Unlike Calisto, who had a sharp look in her eyes, I wasn't particularly worried.
If it were a dangerous episode, the damn system window would have informed me first.
Even if it were a real deviation from the story, it wouldn't matter.
After all, the Crown Prince, who can't die, would slice everything with his sword.
"I need to check it out."
The Crown Prince, who had already put on his cloak, got up and picked up the sword he had placed beside him.
He suddenly let out a short groan and staggered.
I was startled and hurriedly supported the Crown Prince by grabbing his arm.
Looking again, his complexion wasn't good.
"Your Highness, are you really unwell? Why don't you sit down again?"
"It's fine. I just got a bit dizzy."
"Maybe the injury from yesterday is acting up? Your complexion is very pale."
At my worried voice, the Crown Prince suddenly chuckled.
"Why? When you slapped my cheek, it seemed like you would dance if I died."
"If we were near the palace, you would have been dragged to the underground prison as a regicide suspect."
I jumped up and denied it.
"That was an unavoidable choice to wake you up..."
At that moment, a cold wind accompanied by a vibration blew from the depths of the cave, cutting off my awkward excuse.
I stopped speaking abruptly.
The Crown Prince, who had been looking at the other side of the cave with sharp eyes, started moving quickly as the wind stopped.
Approaching the extinguished campfire, he stroked the flint a few times and easily lit a fire.
Then he transferred the fire to the longest and thickest piece of wood among the logs he had brought.
"You stay here. I'll be back soon."
I hastily grabbed the hem of the Crown Prince's cloak as he was about to step into the dark cave with the torch.
"Is it really necessary to check now?"
The Crown Prince's eyebrows twitched.
"It might be dangerous. It would be better to leave the forest first and then come back with the knights to check..."
A clear square window appeared over the darkness behind the Crown Prince.
〈SYSTEM〉 Hidden quest triggered!
Do you want to explore [Suspicious Cave]? (Reward: Something unknown)
The thought that 'if it were a dangerous episode, the damn system window would have informed me first' had just been proven wrong.
"What if it disappears before we can check it?"
The Crown Prince turned his head to look at me, finding my sudden silence strange.
"No one can use magic inside the palace except for the mage bound by the oath. The principle is immediate execution for any troublemakers."
"Judging by the weak magic power, it doesn't seem to be multiple people. I'll kill them quickly, so wait here."
Swish. He drew his sword from the scabbard, ready to run at any moment.
There was no time to think deeply.
I pressed [Accept] with tears in my eyes.
I didn't want to press [Decline] and go, but I had no choice.
If something happened to the Crown Prince alone, I didn't know what impact it would have on his affection.
Besides, the rewards from the 'hidden quests' I had completed so far had all been helpful.
"Didn't you run out of bolts, Lady?"
The Crown Prince sneered as I picked up the crossbow from the floor.
It sounded like he was saying I was useless without the crossbow.
"Two is better than one, right?"
"You'll just be a burden."
"Don't worry. Since I don't have any bolts, I'll run away if I encounter an assassin."
"Ha! Your insolence is beyond words. Do they teach such manners to the royal family in Ecart?"
The Crown Prince clicked his tongue, looking at me as if I were a naughty child.
I retorted irritably in my mind.
As I straightened up after picking up the crossbow,
Something shiny caught my eye.
Next to where the crossbow was placed, unfamiliar weapons were lying.
They were blood-stained javelins and daggers.
I immediately recognized that these were the weapons that had pierced the Crown Prince's body yesterday.
But ironically, what was shining was not the sharp edge of the javelin, but the crude handle of the dagger.
As I approached, the shining became faster, as if it wanted me to pick it up.
I picked up the dagger with a puzzled look. At the same time,
〈SYSTEM〉 You have obtained [Dagger with an engraved emblem] as a reward.
I was stunned by the sudden appearance of the system window.
'...So this is the assassin's token?'
While looking down at the dagger with a doubtful expression,
"When are you going to get up? If you don't want to go, just say so."
The Crown Prince urged me impatiently.
I picked up the dagger and hurriedly approached the Crown Prince.
"Why are you bringing that?"
"I can't use the crossbow, so I'll use it for self-defense."
"Do you know how to use a sword?"
The Crown Prince looked surprised.
Of course, I didn't know, but I didn't show it.
I said, and set off with the Crown Prince to explore the [Suspicious Cave].
The cave became narrower and more winding as we went deeper.
It was damp due to the occasional drops of water from the ceiling.
The strength of the wind blowing from somewhere also gradually increased.
The wind blew again, making Calisto's torch flicker.
'Something is definitely here.'
I reluctantly moved my feet.
The eerie howling made my hair stand on end.
Every time I felt a bit of regret for accepting the quest, I looked up at the back of the Crown Prince's head with a pleading gaze.
'Please, nothing happens...'
For me, a drop in affection was more terrifying than the eerie howling.
After walking for a while along the winding cave path,
The Crown Prince, who was walking ahead, suddenly stopped.
Following the direction he pointed, I saw a faint light coming from a distant spot.
"It must be there. The magic power feels stronger than before."
At that moment, a stronger wind blew than before.
The torch, which had been flickering precariously, finally went out with a 'puff'.
The narrow cave was instantly plunged into darkness.
The light that had been seeping from a distance disappeared as soon as the wind stopped. It was a mysterious situation.
"Let's hurry over there!"
I urged the Crown Prince. I was eager to complete the quest quickly.
I wanted to run ahead, but the cave was so narrow that I couldn't overtake the Crown Prince.
"Lady, are you really..."
The Crown Prince moved forward again with a dubious tone.
"Are you really a noble lady?"
"Usually, other noble ladies would scream and jump into my arms in such situations..."
I understood what he was mocking and snorted.
'Wake up from your dream.'
"Unfortunately, the path is too narrow for that, Your Highness. Next time, if we're on a wide street, I won't forget to hug you."
The Crown Prince sneered in response.
Expect it? I won't even be alone with you after we leave the forest.
While thinking this, I followed the Crown Prince briskly.
Unlike the narrow path we had been walking, it was a fairly spacious area.
However, it seemed to be an artificially created space rather than a natural cave, with a large, flat, circular platform rising in the center.
It was so high that I couldn't see what was beyond it.
The Crown Prince easily climbed up the platform, stepping on the uneven rocks.
I followed his steps and struggled to stand beside him.
When I saw the scene in front of me, my eyes widened.
In the center of the flat platform, to my surprise, a skeleton without lower limbs stood upright.
In both hands, which were raised as if in a salute, were large, unknown scrolls.
At that moment, a blue light began to rise around the corpse.