I Was Hired by the Black-Minded Prince for My Life's Ransom - Chapter 57

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 57. Whoosh
Yurian and I fell silent at the same moment.
The strange tension that had hung between us an instant before vanished in a heartbeat.
“…Your Highness.”
“Shh.”
Yurian brought his index finger to his lips.
[Quietly.]
I held my breath and nodded slowly.
Then, after a moment’s hesitation, I released his hand.
……
Yurian glanced at his empty hand once, then slowly opened and closed his fist.
As if confirming the warmth that lingered there still.
Then he looked at me.
‘…Why are you doing that?’
[It’s nothing. Nothing at all.]
He shook his head and carefully eased open the warehouse door.
Just enough for a fingertip to slip through.
Beyond the gap lay the Banquet Hall.
I crept closer to his side and peered down.
“Heh… hehehehe!”
Just as I’d expected.
The Masked Intruder stood in the center of the party hall, a torch clutched in his hand.
Hair matted and unwashed for months, eyes bright red as a rabbit’s, skin pale as someone who’d never properly seen daylight—he was grinning like a madman.
He looked far from sane.
“Hand it all over!”
He waved the torch wildly, shouting.
“Rings, necklaces, money—everything you’ve got! Now!”
A raving vagrant had walked into a noble’s party hall, and now he was threatening to set fires—some unidentifiable threat made flesh.
Most people would have grasped the gravity of the situation.
But where were they?
“…Pfft.”
A pleasure party where not a single person possessed a shred of actual sense.
Laughter erupted among the nobles as they glanced at one another.
“Hahahaha!”
“This event is quite convincing, isn’t it?”
“Just like when our saint arrived earlier. Today’s been fun.”
“Who arranged this?”
They were genuinely delighted.
Flushed with drink and perfume, they raised their glasses and giggled mindlessly.
“Here, take some money!”
“Will you accept a wedding ring too? Haha!”
Clang!
Precious metals and gold coins were hurled recklessly at the Intruder’s feet.
Some struck his knuckles; others grazed his cheek, drawing thin lines of blood.
To them, all of this was nothing more than a game.
“…In a way, it’s impressive.”
“It’s pathetic. So pathetic they can’t even protect their own lives.”
I nodded as I watched Yurian speak with a gentle smile.
This time, I had to agree with him entirely.
Whoosh.
The Masked Intruder stared down at the money and jewels scattered around his feet.
Then he dropped to his knees.
“Gold… it’s real gold.”
He shoved thick rings onto his fingers haphazardly and draped necklaces across his wrists and neck.
He stuffed gold coins into his falling trousers so thickly they seemed absurd.
The nobles laughed again at the sight.
“Oh my, how crass. Look at all that greed.”
“Tell me, do you really mean to carry all of that?”
“Throw more! More!”
Clang—
Gold coins flew at the words, striking the Masked Intruder’s forehead.
This time a wine bottle was hurled whole.
Thud!
The heavy bottle caught the Masked Intruder’s shoulder square-on and shattered into fragments.
Red wine drenched his clothes and pooled across the floor.
…….
The Masked Intruder stood motionless for a long moment, head bowed.
His shoulders trembled faintly.
It was impossible to tell whether he was laughing or weeping.
…Heh.
He raised his eyes, bloodshot and vivid.
Heh heh…!
A strange laugh leaked from his twisted mouth.
He fingered the ruined clothes, the ring and necklace hanging from his hands, the gold coins crammed into his pockets—and laughed again.
Ha ha… ha ha ha!
Then slowly he lifted his head.
Those blood-rimmed eyes swept across the nobles in turn.
Or rather, across the jewels and finery they wore.
Just now I was going to kill the 3rd Prince for a mere one hundred fifty gold—but if I took all of this, how much would it be? A thousand gold?
His muttering was chillingly lucid.
His expression was that of someone calculating how to claim every last piece of wealth.
I glanced sideways at Yurian.
He’s going to set it on fire, isn’t he?
A beast’s greed only deepens when there is more prey to be had.
He smiled gently and nudged something rolling across the floor with the tip of his boot.
An oil flask.
Small—the size of a palm, a lamp oil flask.
It rolled naturally among the scattered wine bottles, coming to rest at the Masked Intruder’s feet.
…….
His gaze locked onto it.
After glancing once at the torch in his hand, he bent down.
Does the Divine Providence watch over me?
He muttered and seized the oil flask.
His gaunt, weathered hand clenched tight.
Then, without the slightest hesitation, he hurled the flask toward the table where the nobles sat gathered.
Ahhh!
What are you doing, you madman?
Ha ha ha, what a show!
The nobles’ reactions scattered in all directions.
Some raged, some laughed, all convinced this was merely part of the entertainment.
What about my dress!
A Noblewoman shrieked at the Masked Intruder.
The hem of her skirt had soaked up some of the oil.
He turned to look at her and tilted his head.
It looks like an expensive gown.
What… what did you say?
If I burn it… would only the jewels remain?
An instant.
He hurled the torch at the Noblewoman.
Time seemed to slow.
The torch traced an arc through the air and landed precisely at the woman’s feet.
Exactly where the oil flask had burst moments before.
And—
Ahhh….
The Noblewoman’s lips trembled violently.
Ahhhhhhhhh!
Whoosh!
Flame engulfed the fabric in an instant.
Fire roared upward from her feet.
She tore at her burning clothes in a frenzy, casting them away.
The scream became a signal, and the banquet hall descended into chaos.
“What—what is this!”
“Is that really fire…?”
“Where did the 4th Prince go!”
Those who scrambled to their feet in panic couldn’t grasp what was happening, spinning wildly in confusion.
The fire spread with terrifying speed.
Flames that had started at floor level caught the long curtains draped across the ceiling, and within moments had consumed the far side of the room.
A wave of scorching heat rolled forward.
“R-r-run—”
“Flee!”
“Fire! There’s really a fire!”
Screams erupted one after another.
Crash!
Chairs toppled, wine bottles shattered.
The banquet hall became a war zone in seconds as guests shoved past one another.
This meant it was finally my turn to move.
“The Left Entrance—you remember it?”
“Yes.”
“Go now.”
“…And you, Your Highness?”
“I’ll follow shortly.”
Then I had to trust him.
I nodded and plunged into the chaos of the first floor.
Everyone had crowded toward the main entrance, desperately trying to open the doors.
But Kyle had already locked them from the outside.
There was no chance they’d open from within.
“Damn it, damn it—! Why won’t it open!”
“Aaaah! I don’t want to die!”
The panicked nobles couldn’t even think to look for an alternate exit.
I picked up a mask lying scattered on the floor and covered my face.
Then I pressed into their ranks and shouted as if I were one of them.
“His Highness Yurian came to apprehend that criminal!”
“The Imperial Defense Corps will be here soon, everyone stay calm!”
“He said he’d already unlocked the Left Entrance! Hurry!”
As I screamed until my voice cracked, the panic in their eyes wavered.
“His Highness…?”
“Of course! He’d never come to a place like this—I knew something was odd!”
“Where is the Left Entrance! Take us there at once!”
“Save us, Your Highness!”
Fear is the finest tool for manipulation.
I led the terrified, panicked crowd toward the exit I’d already unlocked.
As I threw open the lock, cold night air rushed in.
“This way!”
“Aaaah! I’m leaving first!”
The crowd surged out like a tidal wave.
Desperate to save their own lives, they shoved forward without order or courtesy, trampling over one another.
“Ah—oof! W-wait…!”
Caught in their midst, I was swept along as I tumbled outside.
No—I have to get back to His Highness—!
“Huh!”
I barely fought through the crowd and sprang clear to the side.
I was rising to my feet, about to dash back inside, when it happened.
KABOOM—!!
A deafening roar erupted before my eyes.
The impact struck hard enough to shake the earth, and searing heat lashed across my face.
I blinked.
“What…?”
Black smoke was pouring through the shattered windows.
The color drained from my face.
‘This wasn’t part of the plan…?’
I’d anticipated the fire wouldn’t spread too violently, even with the Masked Intruder provoked.
That way, Yurian could subdue him naturally and rescue the people inside.
But an explosion.
“Your Highness…?”
My heart plummeted.
“Move!”
Yurian was still inside.
I shoved people aside roughly and threw myself back into the Mansion engulfed in flames.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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