The Bastard First Prince Doesn't Want to Die

[Translator - Jjescus ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]

Chapter: 131

Jincheon's face was as cold as ice, his eyes shut tight. No matter how much Seo-yeong shook him, the boy wouldn't wake up.

Seo-yeong, his face pale and trembling, had landed in the valley immediately after Jincheon. A descendant of the Hamyang Seo clan, a noble family with roots in the eastern part of Mokryeok, he had volunteered for the militia to follow his admired General So.

But that had merely been a pretext to get his father and clan's permission to join the military. In truth, he had been secretly burning with ambition ever since he heard rumors of the young Prince Ikwon's exploits on the far-northern battlefield.

Prince Ikwon, known as a reckless wastrel. The only child of the deposed Queen So, who had taken the blame for everything and sacrificed herself. And the fact that the Queen's supposed crime hadn't even been a real crime.

The news that this tragic figure had suddenly become a hero in the north had ignited a fire within Seo-yeong.

It might have seemed rash. Even Seo-yeong knew that. But to say this was the price of his recklessness felt like an extreme punishment. If he had simply fallen and ended up in this situation due to his own mistake, he wouldn't have felt so wronged. That would have been entirely his fault.

But he and Jincheon hadn't fallen into the valley because of anything they had done.

“General Gong...”

He had joined General So's forces without hesitation, trusting the man whom General So highly regarded. His father had proudly told him stories about Gong's military prowess.

Yet, Gong's tragic downfall had been caused by a forged document.

“He must have pushed me.”

It wasn't just a simple push to send Seo-yeong plummeting into the valley. Seo-yeong raised his hand and looked at his palm. Gong had grabbed his hand, pretending to save him, but had actually pushed him over.

“I felt a sharp prick. And at that moment...”

Seo-yeong was certain that Gong had stabbed him with something as thin as a needle. And when that needle pierced his skin, he had felt a strange sensation, as if his soul was being pulled from his body.

“He's playing games. I'm sure of it.”

Seo-yeong shook Jincheon's shoulder again, his eyes reddening. He was worried that he might have accidentally injured the unconscious boy while trying to wake him. But he couldn't afford to dwell on such thoughts.

His arm was broken from the fall. In a way, he was grateful for the broken arm. If it had been his leg, escaping would have been much harder.

After the fall, he had carried the unconscious Jincheon for a hundred paces and hidden them in a small cave. Since then, he had been waiting for Jincheon to wake up.

"Please, just open your eyes," Seo-yeong pleaded desperately.

Outside the cave, he could hear the roars of demonic beasts, drawn by the scent of blood. If they were discovered, they would be devoured alive.

He checked Jincheon's breath. The boy was still breathing.

"Hey, hey..."

Then, Jincheon's shoulders began to tremble. Seo-yeong jumped back in surprise.

"Cough, cough..." Jincheon coughed weakly and opened his eyes. Relief washed over Seo-yeong's face.

"You're awake. Thank goodness. Thank goodness."

Seo-yeong hugged Jincheon tightly, tears streaming down his face. But the sudden movement alerted the demonic beasts outside.

They had to move, and fast.

Seo-yeong released Jincheon, deep in thought. "Do you remember where we are?"

Jincheon blinked a few times and looked directly at Seo-yeong. His mind raced, and Seo-yeong's name surfaced. He recalled that Seo-yeong was a subordinate officer under General So. Jincheon nodded.

"We have to get out of here," Seo-yeong said solemnly. Jincheon nodded again.

"...But I don't know how," Seo-yeong said, his expression falling.

He didn't know that Jincheon was as skilled, if not more so, than Gong Chomun. As a relatively inexperienced officer, he hadn't been present when Jincheon and Gong Chomun had sparred the day before.

Jincheon, as usual, stared at Seo-yeong with an inscrutable expression before turning his gaze towards the cave entrance. He scanned the valley, searching for any sign of the demonic beasts.

They were about the size of horses or slightly larger, and their movements weren't particularly fast. There were dozens of them, but no young ones.

‘I heard that the young ones’ blood is poisonous. It's fortunate that there are only adults.’

In fact, his guide had mentioned that this species wasn't considered particularly dangerous in the demon realm. The beasts he'd seen near the walls were far more ferocious and dangerous.

This was doable.

He couldn't guarantee he'd emerge unscathed, but a few injuries were a small price to pay as long as he didn't get covered in poisonous blood.

Jincheon turned back to Seo-yeong. His legs were fine, so he wouldn't be a burden.

But there was something they needed to settle first.

"...What about Gong Chomun?"

Seo-yeong looked up from the ground. Jincheon met his gaze with his typical sullen expression.

"Is he someone you can trust?"

Seo-yeong's eyes widened at the unexpected question, posed at such an inopportune moment.

He hesitated for a moment before stammering, "I, I don't know. I thought he was... someone I could trust. That's why I joined his unit..."

Seo-yeong avoided eye contact and rubbed his forehead with his uninjured hand.

"So you joined because of the people he associated with?"

"Well, something like that..."

"A mistake, then."

"Yeah, I guess so."

"Good to know. Did you see?"

"...See what?"

"He pushed me."

Seo-yeong's face turned pale again.

He had rushed to Jincheon's side after seeing him fall from the cliff. Gong Chomun had seemed to be trying to help Jincheon as well, but Seo-yeong had thought it would be better to have two people helping than one.

"So you did too. I see..."

So that was how it had happened.

"Thank you for your concern."

Jincheon had seen that Seo-yeong had tried to help him.

And while Jincheon might seem indifferent, he was a man who kept a clear account of his debts and grudges.

After assessing the situation, Jincheon thought about Yegyeong.

He seemed to trust Gong Chomun. It was natural for him to trust someone who claimed to be an ally of General So. But...

Jincheon felt a pang of resentment.

'It took me dozens of days to get permission to join, but that guy, just because he has that old man's backing, immediately gained the prince’s trust.'

Jincheon clenched his fist.

Why was life so unfair?

Putting his thoughts aside, Jincheon decided on his first course of action. They had to get out of there.

And then he’ll kill Gong Chomun.

‘I can't kill him in front of His Highness. He trusts him.’

He had never considered getting caught while attacking Gongchomun.

After a single duel, Jincheon had already analyzed Gong Chomun's swordsmanship. It hadn't been difficult at all. Gong Chomun's style was all about throwing his body into the fight, sacrificing flesh to take bone.

But no matter the strategy, it was useless against Jincheon.

"I need to confirm something," Jincheon said, turning to Seo-yeong. "Repeat after me."

"Wh-what?"

"Gong Chomun is a dog."

"...What?"

"Repeat it. Gong Chomun is a dog."

"...Gong Chomun is a dog...?"

"Again. Clearly."

"...Gong Chomun is a dog."

Jincheon then asked Seo-yeong to repeat a few more insults directed at Gong Chomun. Having been a slave for a long time, Jincheon was familiar with the harsh words of cruel masters.

After Seo-yeong had repeated all the insults, Jincheon nodded. "Good. You're not one of Gong Chomun's lackeys."

"Wh-what does that mean...?"

"Let's go."

Jincheon left the cave, leaving Seo-yeong bewildered. Seo-yeong quickly followed after him, afraid that Jincheon would abandon him.

When Seo-yeong emerged from the cave, Jincheon had already drawn his sword, ready to face the demonic beasts that were drawn by the noise. His sword moved in a silver blur, and before the afterimage faded, the demonic beast's blood was splattered across the air.

And that's when Seo-yeong finally understood why Prince Ikwon kept such a young boy by his side.

* * *

I frowned. A foul, bloody stench had mingled with the already unpleasant wind.

"Is something wrong, Your Highness?" Jowang asked, examining my face. I shook my head.

Apparently, Jowang couldn't smell it. Neither could the other guards.

The sudden appearance of this smell meant...

"Hmm."

Someone was bleeding. But it wasn't human blood.

"Over there,” I muttered and looked to the east.

Jowang was startled. "How did Your Highness know?"

"Oh, I don't know. Just a hunch."

I shrugged and dismounted. I felt it would be better to continue on foot.

Then, one of the soldiers, Bu-seop cautiously approached me. "Your Highness, I'm afraid there's a possibility that Jincheon might still be alive..."

He had changed his mind after seeing a few demonic beasts. I couldn't help but smirk.

"Jincheon is alive. Go ahead. He might be waiting for you."

[Translator - Jjescus ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]