It felt like blood was being drained from the whole body. The maze started to rumble extremely quickly. I desperately grabbed onto a root.
– Boom! Baaaaang! Boooom!
“No, no……”
My sense of crisis and guilt was gone and all that remained was concern for the Imperial Crown Prince. The guy was a strong hunk,[ but mentally, he was very weak. I didn’t know the details, but I could imagine how hard his life had been as he grew up. So I knew what and who he was looking at right now. I remembered how disturbed he got looking at ‘Nikky,’ whose physical appearance had been the same as his father’s, so the situation on the other side should be quite severe right now. The guardian was probably making him experience terrible pain in order to test his plate.
Just as it had done to me, it was doing it in the form of Prince Consort Alexandre.
– Boom!
“Please do it to me instead,” I immediately turned around and commented. Prince Jesse tilted his head once we made eye contact.
I don’t know if some magic happened or if I had changed in the short period of time, but…… It wasn’t hard to look at him anymore. To be more specific, he didn’t seem that threatening to me anymore. That made my voice strengthen.
“Please torture me more and let him go. His pains have yet to heal.”
– …….
“It’s not fair to treat a hurting person to the same standards!”
– …….
The guardian did not answer. He just looked at me with no emotions in his eyes. He showed no signs of helping me.
Boom! Bang! The rough shaking continued. ‘Damn it!’
“It’s fine! Calm down. Big bro is here so just wait!” I shouted at the top of my lungs and looked around. Maybe I would find a sharp pebble or…
‘Hold on. I have a weapon!’
“Master. Please help me,” I looked at the Holy Staff in my hand and mumbled.
The thing between us was a labyrinth as thick as a wall. It was a portion of the World Tree that was black and sturdy. But what I was holding was a root of the temple as well. This Cardinal’s staff was made from the same material.
– It will definitely be helpful.
Hanan’s voice echoed like a prophecy. I clenched my teeth and grabbed the Holy Staff with both hands. The crescent moon at the tip of the bumpy staff sparkled. I could hear the guardian’s flustered voice behind me.
– That is a reckless thought. Even you cannot destroy the World Tree……
“Shut up if you are not going to help!”
– Swooosh!
I then swung my staff extremely hard.
– Claaaaaang! Crackle!
Sparks flashed out from the black tree trunk. It was an intense flash like when something short circuited, but I wasn’t scared. I probably sounded like a madman right now, but I really wasn’t. I was only focused on helping the punk on the other side of the wall, and Percy was in my pocket. It would be difficult for the sleeping chimney bird to help me, but Nikky’s words were oddly calming for me.
– The world is already relying on you.
‘……If that is true, there’s no way it’ll kill me, right?’
– Boom! Boooom!
“Hold on a little longer!”
– CLANG! – Claaaaaang!
I shouted and swung the staff like a pickaxe. The Holy Staff that was made from the same root was showing results. Damage was visible on the black wall. I saw some hope. I clenched my teeth and swung my arms. Clang! Babang!!
– Puuk! Puuk!
‘It stabbed in!’
– Pssssss!
“Ahhh!”
Something ink-like shot out from the hole in the tree root. My cheeks, neck, clothes, and boots were all dyed black. The strong scent of ink and electronic devices surrounded me.
I wiped my eyes with my sleeve and continued to strike the World Tree. I had no time to worry about the storm that it may cause. Crown prince Cédric would be in pain and crumbling as I wasted time thinking about that. He may end up with a scar he may never recover from.
– Boom! Thud! Bang!
– Pow! Pow! Crackle! Clang!
– My goodness, you……
The astonished guardian spirit mumbled to himself. I did not care. I couldn’t even tell whether it was ink or sweat dripping down my forehead. It also did not matter. The crown prince should not be experiencing such pain yet. He wasn’t fully healed yet.
“Huff, huff, huuuu……”
– Are you not scared? The World Tree is the source of life! It is the only existence protecting the boundary of the worlds!
“Haaa, haa……”
One of the thick trunks was about to break. The black liquid wet my feet while my arm that I had been swinging like crazy throbbed. Some of the Holy Staff’s rust had fallen off but it was fine. I had a dagger in my gabag as well, but it probably would not have lasted as long. It might have even broken on the first strike.
I clenched my eyes for a moment to drag out every last ounce of strength. I then saw something I had not seen until now.
“Huh……?”
Beyond the trunk that was almost broken was the white wall. I walked up to it as if I was bewitched. When I inadvertently placed my hand on the clean wall, I felt an extremely familiar sensation. ‘This is-’
– Shh.
“……It’s paper.”
It was the texture of paper. Not the yellow paper I could easily find in this world but the common modern paper. My dirty finger dyed the paper black.
I had all sorts of thoughts for a moment and I got goosebumps down my arms. But something else was urgent right now.
– Baaaaang! Boooom!
“……”
The wall must be getting hit continuously from the other side as the wall dented before returning to normal multiple times. I clenched my teeth and fixed my grip on the Holy Staff.
Even someone like me, who was ignorant of this world’s way of things, still knew what fear and danger were. But I didn’t want to be defeated like this, nor did I want to get swept up in the flow of things. I just wanted to save someone close to me. That was why I would rip this apart too. I managed to cut through a thick root so why not this piece of paper?
– Shhh!
– My goodness! Please stop!
“No!”
How can I stop when it’s clear that he is being tortured?!
– Baaaaaaaang! Clang!
– Craaaaaack!
“Ugh.”
It was a sound that should not come from paper. The flash was also something that could not come from paper. I turned my head away out of reflex and quickly ducked.
Psdjlfsajdfklj! The broken pieces scratched my clothes and skin before exploding out in all directions. Crack, crackle! The sparks sounded threatening.
I covered half my face with my arm and slowly opened my eyes. My eyes felt as if they would burst out.
“Your Royal Highness!” My voice cracked. I didn’t care and started crawling on my knees.
In the hole that looked like a hole in a window, a hand full of injuries was extending out. I got scared that something would have happened to him. There were too many people who would be sad if he was hurting. I didn’t want to see him like that. I got ready to shout as loud as I could. I didn’t care whether the guardian spirit behind me gasped or whatever.
“Your Royal Highness, ugh!”
Then I was dragged by my collar!
“Ugh! Please let go-”
“……Snap back to your senses.”
It was his familiar low voice. I scowled and looked in front of me. Beyond the destroyed fissure were two flames burning in the darkness. I got emotional and an unexplainable feeling filled my body. Something similar to laughter burst out as well.
The punk was fine. Thank the heavens that he was fine.
“Are you okay, your Royal Highness? Ugh!”
‘But I can’t breathe!’
“That’s my line?”
“What do you-”
“Just because we can’t use ether does not mean that I cannot feel it.”
“Ugh, mm.” I was in pain because of his tight grasp. I grabbed his wrist and started to pound away at it.
‘You bastard, I’m going to die because of you!’
“Don’t shake me as you please.” His warning voice was low and sharp.
“Ahh……! Cough! Okay!” I could see his ripped shirt and red neck through the blurry gaze…… ‘What?’
“Cough, cough cough!”
Tap! The punk let go at that moment. I urgently gasped for breath and coughed. I shoved my head forward because I could not believe what I just saw, but the crown prince used his long finger to push my forehead away. ‘Ah, why?!’
“W, what happened to your neck, your Royal Highness?” I did not give up and walked up to him again.
His right arm that was dyed in blood… His shirt that looked like rags and a palm print visible around his neck… And something shining in the midst of it all…
– Shaaaaaaa……
I could see the holy stone necklace. I could not speak for a moment and looked at him. He growled and looked right back at me. My body grew weak.
Clang! I let go of the Holy Staff and plopped down on the ground. I couldn’t help but scoff in disbelief. “Why are you acting like you did something well?”
“What?”
“It’s nothing, your Royal Highness……” I didn’t have the will nor the energy to talk anymore. Seeing the injuries on his arm must mean that he suffered quite a bit, but he must have held onto the holy stone to persist.
His drenched forehead and black hair made me snap back to reality. I was super angry at the fact that he had yet to consume any of the ether in there. On the other hand, I was impressed that he was able to persist like that.
I lowered my head to check behind him. Forget the guardian spirit, I didn’t see a single ant.
“Is it just not visible to me, or did it disappear?”
“…The former.”
“I see.”
I could understand the situation. Unless you were the person being tested, you couldn’t even check what form the guardian spirit took. But I was relieved to see that he was mainly fine.
I let out a sigh and pulled my water bottle out to quench my thirst. I handed it to him and the punk quickly took a drink.
Prince Jesse just quietly watched us.
“Who did you see?”
“It is too long to explain, your Royal Highness. It transformed in the middle. I’ll tell you everything at once next time,” I answered as I received the water bottle back from him. The crown prince scowled with discontent.
‘You’ll end up with wrinkles like that.’
“Huuuuuu…… I have no idea how much time has passed. We should probably start moving, your Royal Highness. I’ll see you on the other side, your Royal Highness.” I picked up the Holy Staff, petted Percy inside my pocket, and got back up.
Well, I tried to do that!
– Grab!
“Ugh! Hey!”
‘He’s using my collar like a handle!’
“Act like someone who will be the soulmate of the ruler.”
He was so close that I could see his eyes. His intense gaze made me feel like I would get burns on my face. My jaw slowly dropped down.
‘Do you really mean that?’
“……Are you talking about Her Majesty?”
‘Does he really think I will end up as his stepdad-’
– Plop!
“Eek!”
The crown prince threw me down haphazardly. It hurt! I glared at the hole with a grudging gaze.
The punk had already gotten up and was grabbing his weapon. I was annoyed and angry, but there was something I had to say first. I groaned and got up to shout at his back.
“Please use the holy stone! I will fill it up again!”
“……”
“I’m going to check it later, your Royal Highness! Make sure to drink some fluids for all that blood loss too!” I felt pity looking at the blood dripping down from his right hand.
The crown prince walked away without any response. I couldn’t help but sigh.
“Now that I think about it, I didn’t get to say thank you.” He must have felt the disturbance in my ether and banged on the wall to wake me up. ‘He did it even though it is probably not easy just taking care of himself.’ I felt some regrets but it was already too late.
‘I should use my healing power right away once we leave the maze.” I grabbed my gabag and prepared to leave. I then made eye contact with the man right in front of me.
“……”
– Unbelievable.
The guardian spirit let out a despondent laugh. I nodded my head and started to walk.
– First we get a rat in the maze. Then the one loved by the Almighty God makes the world messy.
‘Rat?’
“……I apologize for harming the World Tree and the maze. But I had no choice.”
– You seem to say those words, ‘I had no choice,’ so easily.
“Yes sir. I’m sure I will receive my punishment some day,” I answered and brusquely walked. It felt like the Holy Staff in my hand and Demy’s vine were releasing heat.
The purple eyes looked at me as if to threaten me, but I walked without any hesitation. I was really okay now. I knew that he was not real.
– Jung Yeseo. You……
I now knew that this was an illusion created by my heart.
– Shhh!
I walked right through the guardian spirit. It would have been a hard crash if he was real, but nothing happened.
Paaaaa……! I did hear the sound of something disappearing behind me. I walked forward without looking back. Just as I had done until now, I paid attention to what was beneath my feet and focused only on today’s goal. It would be fine to slowly think about everything else in the future. The peace we were going to achieve with Elise… The proviso to go home. Just those two things for now.
– Craaaaaack!
Something shocking happened.
– Crack! Cruuuunch!
“Hoo……”
The other side of the dark path cracked vertically before dreadful teeth split to both sides. The small branches moved like spider legs to create a path. I blankly stood a few steps away, watching it happen. A magnificent golden light started to pour in as the gap widened.
I could instinctively tell despite nobody explaining. The guardian spirit’s test was over.
“……Oh, I made it.”
I was finally in the Holy Room. My feet started to move as if they were possessed.
The surroundings instantly lit up, making it hard to open my eyes. I scowled and looked around. My lips subconsciously formed an ‘O’ shape.
The extremely tall and wide dome-shaped room was covered in gold. There was a white glow to it as well, making it look extremely magical. There weren’t any connecting points or pillars, so it was marvelous to think about how such a place was created. The art on the ceiling, which had a clear sky and golden patterns on it, featured angels. I got goosebumps because it felt like they were really looking at me.
“Wow……”
I limped as I observed the Holy Room. After taking a closer look, I could tell that they did not cut any corners with the walls or floor. Every inch of the place was intricately carved, leaving no gaps at all. The pattern on the ground was a large circle, and the four smaller circles in the four directions seemed to represent the four attributes. There were dozens of sentences written in the ancient Holy Language as well. The beautiful handwriting was as smooth as flowing water and as clear as if they were written yesterday. It was a detached yet extremely harmonious place. And at the center of the circle……
“……So that is the paten.”
It was more elegant than I expected but also simpler. An extremely normal-looking ash-colored plate was on top of a golden support. It was about the size of a washbasin. On the other hand, the support had all sorts of beautiful jewels and the mythologies about the Church of the Almighty God were chronologically carved into it, giving off elegance and dignity.
That was it.
“Mm.”
I did not dare to approach it and just stood there. Nobody was here yet. It seemed like I was the first-
“Ugh, mmph……!”
I flinched and turned around. I then gasped. The ground on one side was slowly becoming dyed in blood!
“Are you okay?!”
“Mm, ugh……”
The person was a man wearing an old robe. I didn’t know who it was, but this was not the time to worry about things like that. I urgently approached him.
Upon closer glance, his condition was even worse than I had expected. There was a nimble dagger stabbed into his stomach. It was such a dreadful and shocking sight. He was bleeding a lot and the patient’s condition was also very bad. He was shaking as he raised his head. I could see his pale cheeks and blue lips underneath the hood.
Light purple hair, glaring chocolate-colored eyes……
“How did you end up like this…… I can’t use any healing power in this place. Let’s bandage the wounds first-”
At that moment…
– Ssss!
The man pulled the dagger out of his stomach. I froze without even being able to scream.
Splash! Red dots splashed out in all directions and the stench of blood filled the room.
The shock did not stop there. The man immediately swung the dagger.
– Swish!
– Puuk!
And he stabbed it into my chest. I felt a hellish pain.
—
Translator’s Comments
O.M.G. DAMN IT GUARDIAN SPIRIT! WHY THE FUCK DID YOU LET THIS RAT THROUGH?!