The Villain's Ending is Only Death Chapter 83
I blinked in surprise at the unexpected words.
I was more astonished by the Crown Prince noticing someone might be on the other side of the cave than by the possibility itself.
Unlike Calisto, who had a glint in her eye, 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, unexpected situation that deviated 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, picked up the sword by his side and stood up.
He suddenly let out a short groan and staggered.
I was startled and hurriedly supported 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 felt a bit dizzy."
"Could it be that the injury from yesterday is acting up? Your complexion is very pale."
Concerned by my voice, the Crown Prince suddenly chuckled.
"Why? When I saw you strike my cheek, it seemed like you'd 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 inside the cave, as if to cut off my awkward excuse.
I stopped talking 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 rubbed the flint a few times and easily lit a fire.
He then transferred the fire to the longest and thickest piece of wood among the logs he had brought.
A torch was quickly born.
"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 bring 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 come true.
"What if it disappears before we can?"
The Crown Prince turned to look at me, finding my sudden silence strange.
"Within the palace, no one except the mage bound by the pact can use magic. Troublemakers are executed on the spot."
"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 the [Accept] button with tears in my eyes.
I didn't want to press [Reject] and go, but I had no choice.
If something happened to the Crown Prince alone, it might affect his affection towards me.
Moreover, 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 on the ground.
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 left, 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 misbehaving 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 them as the weapons that had pierced the Crown Prince's body yesterday.
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].
I was stunned by the sudden appearance of the system window.
'So this is the assassin's token?'
I looked 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?"
"Since I can't use the crossbow, 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 set off to explore the [Suspicious Cave] with the Crown Prince.
The cave narrowed and became more winding as we went deeper.
It was damp due to the water dripping from the ceiling.
The wind blowing from somewhere gradually grew stronger.
The wind blew again, making Calisto's torch flicker.
'Something is definitely here.'
I forced myself to take reluctant steps.
The eerie sounds made my hair stand on end.
Every time I regretted accepting the quest, I looked up at the back of the Crown Prince's head with pleading eyes.
'Please, nothing happens...'
For me, a drop in affection was more terrifying than the eerie sounds.
After walking for a while along the winding cave path,
The Crown Prince 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 flickering torch finally went out.
The narrow cave was instantly plunged into darkness.
The light that had been seeping from a distance disappeared as the wind stopped. It was a strange situation.
"Let's go over there quickly!"
I urged the Crown Prince. I was eager to complete the quest.
I wanted to run, but the cave was so narrow that I couldn't overtake the Crown Prince.
"Lady, are you really..."
The Crown Prince moved 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 insinuating and snorted.
"Unfortunately, the path is too narrow for that, Your Highness. I'll make sure to hug you next time we're on a wide street."
The Crown Prince sneered in response.
Looking forward to it, my ass. There's no way I'll be alone with you again once we get out of the forest.
While thinking this, I followed the Crown Prince briskly.
Finally, we reached the source of the light. It was a narrow crevice compared to the cave.
"Be careful not to scrape yourself on the sharp walls."
The Crown Prince squeezed through the crevice and entered with difficulty.
Being smaller, I passed through more easily.
Once I squeezed through, the Crown Prince was far below.
He extended his hand to me, flustered.
I hesitated for a moment, surprised, but then extended my hand.
A strong force supported my weight.
Thud. With his help, I landed smoothly on the ground.
Suddenly, a strong blue light burst from the front, followed by a powerful gust of wind.
I closed my eyes reflexively. My tied hair was almost undone by the fierce wind.
Fortunately, the wind subsided quickly.
I opened my eyes, which were stinging. The swirling blue light had disappeared.
The Crown Prince moved forward without a word.
I followed him slowly, looking around.
Unlike the narrow path we had just walked, this was a spacious area.
However, it seemed to be artificially created rather than a natural cave, with a large, flat stone platform in the center.
The platform was so high that I couldn't see what was beyond it.
The Crown Prince climbed the platform easily, stepping on the uneven rocks.
I followed his footsteps and struggled to stand beside him.
I widened my eyes at the scene before me.
In the center of the flat stone platform, a skeleton without lower limbs stood upright.
In its outstretched hands, as if making a salute, were two large, unknown scrolls.
At that moment, blue light began to rise around the corpse.