Chapter 73
The Crown Prince That Sells Medicine Chapter 73
Episode 73 People who prove me (1)
should also have lived selfishly. Because of this, I had to live only with money.
I knew it the moment I raised my head. I am dreaming now. Damian burst into laughter without realizing it.
‘Is this a sight I haven’t seen in a long time?’
Old sewer. Rotting wooden planks. A mouse moving bustling among them. The hand that was used to shoo away such a mouse. I was swinging that hand.
Scribble.
Waving a bony hand. Getting angry and frowning. All we have to do is chase those guys out. Then you will be able to sleep comfortably. A feast of lies spewed out to oneself.
It was the same as back then.
‘It was like this every day when I was young.’
The sewer was his home. It was a home just for me and my mother. My father wasn’t there from the beginning. To be exact, I’ve never seen it before. His mother said he was a noble person. It was said that he was a person of extremely high and noble lineage.
He told me to visit him someday when I grow up. But that request never touched my heart. It didn’t feel real. It was just full of terrible reality.
A piece of bread that your mother begs for?
A coin you were lucky enough to pick up on the street?
I couldn’t live with just that. There was always not enough food. I also needed money for my mother’s medicine. A life like a rotting drain board. It was a life that I clung to only because of such wretchedness.
I needed money. I wanted to try stealing, but it wasn’t easy. They say I had to go begging with my mother.
‘Thanks to you, I had to wave my hand tirelessly every day. like now.’
If you begged, you would often get beaten. What if you cover your head to stop shoehorns? It was my hands that always got hurt.
bandage?
Ointment?
Of course there wasn’t. The backs of my hands and fingers were always full of blood crusts. I couldn’t even dream of being treated by someone. No, even wrapping your hands with a piece of clean cloth was a luxury.
So I cried every day. I lay down in the sewer, crying and covering my wounds. It’s a familiar, nostalgic, disgusting sewer smell. A group of disgusting mice that flocked to the skin every night. I never thought I’d see it again like this.
Even though it was in a dream, I laughed.
But that was then.
Wow!
A sharp sound shook the dank sewer. The rotting sewer clapboard danced. The flock of rats that had been gathering tirelessly ran away. A swarm of flies crashed down, and bubbles rose in the sewage-mixed water.
A cold crescent moon emerged from the bubble. Someone walked slowly in the crescent moon. A familiar silhouette. A silhouette I missed so much.
‘…mother?’
My mother from those days approached me. My mother, who used to wrap me warmly in rags every evening, smiled with a tired expression on her face. And he said.
“How dare you sleep in this situation. “I don’t know if it’s shameless or bold.”
“….”
Damian woke up with cold eyes shining. Regrets about a dream you missed and felt sad about? Of course there wasn’t. Instead, he looked in the direction the voice came from. There was a man there with a skinny appearance.
Inquisitor. He was an interrogator who was dispatched from the Imperial Capital to Cremo three days ago. Damian thought as he faced the interrogator’s emotionless gaze, as if he were looking at a fish on a cutting board.
As expected, I should have lived selfishly. Because of this, I had to live only with money.
“I’ve never seen a friend like this in over 20 years of being an interrogator. Did you go out to quench your thirst and doze off while coming back? Tied to a chair? under.”
The inspection interrogator laughed as if it was absurd. And then I asked.
“Did you say Damian Cayenne? “Do you still not realize this situation?”
“It’s possible.”
“Is it okay?”
“….”
“Do you think someone who can feel the reality of this situation, where His Highness the Crown Prince has been kidnapped by the Minotaur, his life or death is unknown, and responsibility and charges are being questioned, can doze off peacefully? hmm?”
“….”
That’s because you haven’t let him sleep for more than three days. They locked me in this damp dungeon and asked me the same questions as if it were an interrogation. Damian silently repeated to himself.
The interrogator frowned.
“It has already been six days since His Royal Highness was taken away by a monster. One day until the news reached the imperial capital and two days for me to arrive here. For a total of three days, the mayor and the conspirators, including you, wereted precious time conducting their own searches. I couldn’t even find him. No, I couldn’t even find any common clues or traces.”
“….”
“Where did the Minotaur swim to escape to? What was the purpose of such a fuss? Where did Gwyneth Deschamps of Amboise, who bought the Minotaur at the auction house that day, disappear after the uproar? “You guys haven’t even found any clues.”
“….”
“Is there even an excuse? Or do you want to protest that you did your best, but that there was nothing you could do? no. It seems different to me. It’s not that they couldn’t find the clue, it’s that they neglected it. Or maybe it was covered up. “To harm His Highness the Crown Prince.”
“….”
“Isn’t that so?”
The interrogator stretched out his upper body. He brought his face close to me and gave me a cold gaze. Again. Questions I have been asked over the past three days. That question that I have now completely memorized. Damian asked back.
“Do you want to conclude that I, the mayor of Cremo, and all the people who accompanied His Highness the Crown Prince… conspired with the Minotaur, a mere monster, to kidnap and harm His Highness the Crown Prince?”
“I don’t want to come to that conclusion, I just want to find out the truth. With a clear confession.”
“….”
“why? “Do you think this is nonsense?”
“Of course…”
“Of course, I know it doesn’t make sense. But… The world wants a clear answer, even if it may sometimes be a conclusion that makes no sense. For example, when there is a need for someone to override responsibility and anger.”
“….”
“Now is the time. His Majesty the Crown Prince has been kidnapped by a monster. Life or death is unclear. So who should take responsibility for that? The Mayor of Cremo, who failed to manage the safety of the city, and the attendants, including you, who accompanied His Majesty by his side but failed to keep him safe. It’s you guys. “I’m saying that only when you take responsibility for this incident and take responsibility for it, things will go smoothly.”
“….”
“Do you think it’s unfair? I guess so. But there are many places where you can get a confession even if you don’t. The Mayor of Cremo or his family or the many people who accompanied His Highness the Crown Prince. All you have to do is get a confession from any one of them. So think carefully. “At least the minimum amount of mercy will be given to those who willingly confess their sins.”
“mercy?”
“It means you will be granted a comfortable and speedy death.”
“….”
“Those who remain silent until the end will be given the most cruel and terrible death process imaginable. Even in the outskirts of hell, you won’t be able to find the body intact. “Do you really want to die like that?”
“Of course I don’t want to die like that.”
“haha. “Are you ready to confess your sins?”
“….”
Damian closed his mouth.
And I thought.
It’s bullshit.
‘Collusion with the Minotaur? So you kidnapped the crown prince on purpose? Do you think that if you write off those sins, things will become clearer? ‘It doesn’t sound like anything.’
I wanted to refute it. But I didn’t. Because I’ve already been refuting for three days. But that interrogator didn’t even listen to that rebuttal.
‘I guess that person is just trying to end this case in a non-complicated way. In the process, he probably wants to make his own achievement by uncovering a criminal.’
I regretted it. As expected, I should have lived selfishly. Because of this, I had to live only with money.
If I had known this would happen, I would have just run away as soon as the crown prince was kidnapped. When the inspection team said to have been dispatched from the Imperial Capital arrived, they should not have followed their request for cooperation. I never dreamed that ‘cooperation’ would be such a push-and-pull type of interrogation with no answers.
‘I was naive.’
A sigh came out of my mouth.
“Whew. “I don’t know about confessing, but I think I’m ready to tell you the truth.”
“oh. It’s true. “Tell me.”
The corners of the interrogator’s mouth rose. The corners of their mouths also went up at the sight.
“The truth I will tell you is this. “Now they are actively interfering with the search for the missing Crown Prince under the pretext of interrogation.”
“…what?”
“That is true. I, as well as the Royal Guards and Special Forces who served His Highness the Crown Prince, all have a greater desire to find His Royal Highness than anyone else. I hope more passionately than anyone else for his safety. So please release me right now. Please include him in the search for His Highness the Crown Prince.”
“So, give me a chance to wash away my sins?”
“No matter how you interpret it, it’s fine. But I can assure you of one thing.”
“It’s just a joke. what?”
“The truth is that if you release me, I will be able to find His Highness faster than anyone else.”
He looked straight into the interrogator’s eyes and said. The interrogator grinned.
“Are you just making a fuss about seeing this friend?”
“….”
“If you include me in the search party, you probably intend to run away, right?”
“….”
I got caught. Damian, who had hit the nail on the head, kept his mouth shut. The interrogator snorted.
“Well, that’s good. It seems to mean that he will not confess his sins in this way. From now on, I will try to answer questions in a slightly different way. “Hey, let’s bring out the criminal!”
The interrogator gestured.
The inspection team approached.
Quickly!
This person, who was chained up, was lifted up with a chair. dragged out of the basement. I was dragged through a dark hallway and in front of the half-collapsed mayor’s residence.
“….”
The sunlight I saw for the first time in three days was dazzling. There was a cart under the sun. I saw a large cubic iron cage mounted on a cart. It looks like an animal cage. A chair was thrown into the cage.
Kwadangtang!
“…Kkeuch!”
What are you going to do from now on? Damian gritted his teeth and glared at the interrogator. The interrogator grinned.
“Don’t worry too much. “Your colleagues will be there too.”
That’s the direction the interrogator is pointing. There, I saw iron bars and carts of the same shape.
‘Anis Sergius and…’
All the special forces and guards were locked in their respective cages like animals. The mayor of Cremo, who had a solemn expression, was also trapped. Everyone’s facial expressions made no sense. The interrogator laughed even more happily.
“Do you feel a little more at ease if you bake with everyone?”
“What…”
“Move it!”
There was no time given for questioning. The cart moved. We went down the hill, passed through the city, and reached the pier.
There was a pile of firewood piled up there. Next to the firewood pile, there was a huge pole resembling a fishing rod and a chain resembling a fishing line hanging down. It was a special crane used to load large loads onto ships at the dock.
“Let’s start with that friend.”
The interrogator pointed this way. The inspection team moved in perfect order. The iron bars that confined this area were moved to the side of the crane. An iron bar was hung on the chain link of the crane. And moved the pulley.
Hey! Let’s go!
The chain was wound with a scraping sound. The entire iron bars hanging over this side were shaking loudly in the air. Like bait on a fishing line.
“….”
Damian realized the situation.
An iron bar raised in the air. I’m trapped inside it. But what about down there? Firewood is piled up. There was a smell of oil from the firewood pile.
‘You’re trying to burn me alive.’
Crack!
My teeth ground together with realization. The interrogator’s happy laughter was heard.
“Have you noticed the situation? good. My friend is not stupid. So, you know what’s going to happen from now on, right? I will roast you. I will see you locked in a cage, screaming and howling in sorrow. We will not extinguish the fire until those screams and cries turn into cries of guilt and pleas for mercy.”
“….”
“So it’s not too late now. Speak. They conspired with the Minotaur and planned to harm His Majesty. Confess your sins and ask for mercy.”
‘crazy.’
Damian was embarrassed.
As expected, I should have lived selfishly. Because of this, I had to live only with money. There was no need to worry about the prince who had been captured. I shouldn’t have worried and prayed for his safety.
‘Wouldn’t it be too late now?’
Should I just run away?
No matter what happens afterward. Become a wanted man in the entire empire. No matter what happens to the others left behind. Break this chain, break the iron bars, run away and never come back again, without feeling guilty for not being able to protect the crown prince, and without worrying about the prince’s safety.
Should I run away like that?
Damian was troubled. In fact, the conclusion was obvious. I didn’t want to burn to death in a place like this.
‘I’m sorry, Your Majesty the Crown Prince.’
I decided.
Let’s break the chain.
The moment you try to apply strength to your wrist. It was the moment when the inspector, who received a glance from the interrogator, was about to throw the torch into the pyre.
“Nuuuuuu-!”
Suddenly, out of nowhere or with perfect timing, a familiar(?) scream was heard. It approached rapidly, wading through the offshore waters. A huge mass appeared through the waves.
Wow!
“…!”
Crashing waves and seawater particles. A huge monster soars and leaps through the waves and climbs onto the dock.
Kuwaaaang-!
‘…Mino Taurus?’
Damian paused.
The inspector was shocked. The interrogator was even more shocked. Everyone gathered at the dock froze. Because it was so sudden. Or because I was overly surprised. Everyone was enveloped in strange bewilderment and silence.
Meanwhile, the Minotaur walked. Boom, coo, coo, coo again with the sound of my heart pounding.
“Neuu!”
There was no time for anyone to stop him. I stretched out my hand. I grabbed the iron bars where Damian was trapped with both hands. The chain connected to the Kwasik crane was torn off. Soon, someone’s voice rang out from the back of the Minotaur’s neck.
“What? What is this? “Why are you being treated like this when you tried the hardest to protect me?”
“….”
At that moment, Damian had to see it. At the same time, I realized something in my heart. As expected, I’m glad I didn’t live selfishly. At least this time I did well not to reveal only the money.
Above the nape of the Minotaur’s neck, there was a man looking down at him with a confident posture and eyes.
It was Crown Prince Rakiel.