The Prince’s Nanny, Her Specialty Is Assassination - Chapter 41
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 41. The First Test (1)
“Poison! It must be poison! What do we do? What do we do!”
Edwin whimpered, not knowing what to do.
“Be quiet for a moment.”
Leo covered Edwin’s mouth with his uninjured hand.
“That’s not what’s important right now. Look at that.”
At Leo’s words, Edwin turned his head to follow his gaze.
In front of the boys was a large wolf that had appeared without them noticing, drooling.
No, it was a monster that only resembled a wolf.
It was covered in black, smooth skin instead of fur and had four eyes.
At the sight that made his knees weak just looking at it, Edwin swallowed dryly.
“It’s a mutant monster. As you can see, it looks different from ordinary monsters from the start.”
Leo’s voice became much more serious than before.
“Damn it, I didn’t expect that thing to show up again.”
“Again? Has it appeared before?”
“I saw one a few months ago. It’s not the same one as back then.”
Of course it wasn’t.
The monster that appeared a few months ago had been burned to death by Seiji and the villagers working together.
“But this is the Isolation Zone! Even people can’t just enter, so how did a monster!”
“It seems to come in by crossing the fence section connected to the Mountain Range. Damn it, it’s three stories high, how the hell did it break through?”
A monster that breaks through a three-story-high fence? Does such a thing actually exist?
Edwin whispered in a thoroughly frightened voice.
“Then what do we do?”
Leo didn’t give any answer.
But the young prince could instinctively tell.
The fact that he didn’t have any particular plan either.
‘What should I do? How exactly should I handle this?’
Between the claws of the monster that was smacking its lips was caught a piece of Leo’s sleeve.
Edwin examined Leo’s wound once more.
The arm that had been slashed by the monster while protecting Edwin earlier had some flesh torn away.
For a moment, chills ran down his spine.
‘If Leo hadn’t protected me.’
What was caught on those claws might have been his own head or back skin.
‘Could it be that I’m going to die here?’
Just becoming monster food?
Edwin bit his lower lip.
‘No, this isn’t the time to be thinking like this. What should I do?’
What am I supposed to do, Rachel?
Strangely, the first person who came to mind at this moment was Rachel.
The person who had brought him to this place.
The person who always extended a helping hand whenever he needed help.
But unfortunately, that person, Rachel, was not here.
“Ugh…”
Meanwhile, Leo was breathing more and more roughly.
The hand gripping his arm seemed to be getting gradually colder.
Edwin’s mind also grew cold along with it.
‘I’m always like this.’
Whenever he was in trouble, someone always had to sacrifice themselves in his place.
And he always had to helplessly watch it happen.
Edwin squeezed his eyes shut and thought.
‘…I have to do something somehow.’
Think. Think of something. Right now, the only one who can help me is myself.
So think of a way to escape from that damn monster, Edwin.
‘Right, books. What did the books say about monsters?’
Edwin remembered reading something about monsters in a book once.
‘Creatures cursed for defying the gods.’
In a book he had read by chance, monsters were described that way.
‘And what else was there.’
Edwin tried hard to recall content that might be more helpful for their current situation.
The young prince, who had been frowning and racking his brain, suddenly opened his eyes wide.
‘Right, it said monsters like mana stones. It also said that places with mana stones have a high probability of monster appearances.’
Edwin watched the monster’s movements.
The creature was standing inside the cave, baring its teeth at them.
It looked ready to charge and tear them apart at any moment.
‘This is a Mana Stone Mine. Maybe that thing thinks of this place as its territory?’
If so, the monster’s reaction made sense too.
To the creature, this Mana Stone Mine was a treasure vault to protect, and Edwin and Leo were just intruders.
Edwin soon clenched both fists as if he had made some decision.
“…Edwin? What are you trying to do?”
Leo looked at Edwin with incomprehensible eyes as he suddenly shook him off and stood up.
“Listen.”
Edwin continued in a resolute voice.
“I’ll draw its attention, so escape quickly in the meantime. Your legs are fine, right?”
“What? What are you talking about?”
“If we stay like this, we’ll both die. So while I draw its attention, you go down to the village and call Rachel.”
Was he talking about that suspicious woman Rachel?
Leo stared at Edwin blankly, then grabbed the hem of his pants.
“Then you go! I’ll be the one to draw attention…!”
“No. You’ve been poisoned. If you collapse while being chased, then there really won’t be any way.”
“How is that different from collapsing while going down to the village! It would be much better for me, who’s been poisoned, to lure the monster…”
“No.”
Edwin said in a small voice with his back turned to him.
“You’re someone the people of this village absolutely need. So you have to live.”
“What? What are you talking about!”
Leo shouted with a furrowed brow.
“Hey, you! I don’t know what you’re thinking, but stop it! You can’t go!”
“…Don’t worry.”
Edwin muttered in a somehow bitter voice.
“I’m good at running away.”
The young prince then picked up a large mana stone and waved it in front of the monster’s eyes.
“Hey! You monster! I’m taking this! You hear?!”
The monster became extremely agitated as soon as it saw the mana stone in the prince’s hand.
Just as the creature revealed its killing intent, Edwin ran out.
“Edwin―!”
At that moment, Leo’s scream filled the sky.
* * *
His throat tasted bitter.
His eyes stung from the sweat flowing down his forehead.
Edwin was breathing heavily.
The sound of his heartbeat came like drum beats.
“Huff, huff—!”
He gritted his teeth, but his breathing kept leaking out.
Edwin glanced back over his shoulder.
The monster was silently pursuing him like a shadow.
Its gleaming eyes, devoid of any intelligence, were filled only with rage.
The creature seemed extremely displeased that Edwin was staying just barely ahead of it.
“Ugh—!”
The deeper he went into the forest, the more grass blades and branches scratched his entire body.
Though the wounds stung, the prince couldn’t stop running.
If he didn’t keep running, someone would surely die.
Whether it was himself, Leo, or the villagers.
Edwin squeezed his eyes shut.
Old memories flashed across his eyelids.
– Please help! Emma, Emma is very sick!
– I’m sorry, Your Highness. The physician has gone to The Second Prince’s Palace.
That day too, he had been this breathless.
He had rushed to The Medical Institute for Emma who had collapsed after drinking tea, but the physician wasn’t there.
At those words from the administrator, Edwin ran again.
He never knew the path from The Medical Institute to The Second Prince’s Palace was so long.
But even after running that long, long distance, the doors of The Second Prince’s Palace wouldn’t open.
– The Second Imperial Consort has also collapsed, so I’m sorry.
The young prince had to lose someone precious so helplessly.
‘This time will be different.’
Though tears in his eyes blurred his vision, he stubbornly ignored them.
Shaking off his tears, Edwin pushed his legs even harder.
‘This time is different!’
At least this time, he wouldn’t lose anyone.
With that thought, the young prince kept running.
Occasionally feeling a chill, he would duck his head as the monster’s claws slashed through the air.
Though he felt like he might collapse from exhaustion at any moment, he couldn’t stop running.
But there was one fact Edwin had forgotten.
The monster possessed a much stronger body than a mere child prince.
Kraaaah—!
The enraged monster let out a roar and leaped over the prince’s head.
Having instantly overtaken him, the monster slowly turned around.
Edwin lost his balance from the sudden stop and fell backward.
“Huff!”
The magic stone he was holding shattered as it hit the ground.
His palm was cut in the process, but he didn’t feel the pain.
Right before his eyes, a much clearer death was opening its jaws.
Edwin trembled as he looked at the monster’s sharp teeth.
‘Am I going to die?’
Was he really going to die?
In a place no one knew, without anyone knowing, leaving no trace behind.
Just like the people who had died here.
– So prove it once and for all, little prince. That you’re not just ‘anyone.’
Perhaps that old sage had already known the answer.
‘Someone like me isn’t a prince or anything. Someone like me…’
I can’t protect anyone after all. Not mother, not Emma, not Emilia, not me, not Leo.
Edwin clenched his fists while sobbing.
He didn’t want to cry so pathetically, but tears kept flowing.
– Your Highness, remember this.
Then, Rachel’s voice echoed in his ears.
– As long as you remain weak, you cannot protect yourself, others, or anything at all without becoming cowardly.
Edwin scooted backward on his bottom to avoid the slowly approaching monster.
‘Rachel was right.’
The weak can only survive by being cowardly.
If you don’t know your place and try not to be cowardly, you die.
Just like right now.
Grrrrr—
The monster made a satisfied growling sound as it looked at its terrified prey.
Just as the creature was about to devour the young prey before it.
“Rachel—!”
Edwin squeezed his eyes shut and called out The Caretaker’s name.
He didn’t know why himself.
He just felt like if he called her name, she would appear right now.
Perhaps that’s why. Even seeing Rachel’s back as she flew in like a bird before his eyes, Edwin couldn’t believe it.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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