Chapter 29: Demon Slayer

The situation had already been predicted.

There were too many signs to believe that such a thing wouldn’t happen.

Nobles who wanted to break the peace for the sake of power struggles.

Demon tribes that had infiltrated deep into the capital.

And the prince who was standing right in front of me.

It was all too obvious that this entire situation, gathered under the event of a victory celebration, was bubbling up and could erupt at any moment.

But I asked.

“Do you think it’s possible?”

“Possible?”

“I mean, do you think something like that could happen here in the capital?”

It couldn’t possibly happen.

The king had mobilized the commander of the knights for peace.

The capital was filled with more soldiers than ever before.

And inside the castle, the hero who had killed the demon king, Isel, was holding the fort.

This meant that the maximum force the kingdom could mobilize was gathered right here.

During the war, the forces had been scattered everywhere, but now they were all concentrated in this narrow capital!

“And I’m not planning on staying still either.”

In other words, the capital now was an impregnable fortress that could not be overtaken, even if the demon king’s army, including the lost demon king himself, was resurrected and charged at it.

Even if a riot broke out from within, it wouldn’t shake the situation.

So how?

How could they possibly shake the capital before the evening came?

The prince’s answer to my question was simple.

“I don’t know.”

“…You don’t know?”

“I must have given you the wrong impression. I didn’t mean I was going to burn the capital down just now, okay? And how could I possibly know how that could happen?”

The prince continued, pacing around the table.

His tone was different from before, now mixed with emotion and intensity.

“I don’t understand why everyone overestimates me, like Martina does. I’m just a kid who’s barely reached half the age for adulthood. Can’t you see that?”

“Ah, no. Your Highness?”

“Plus, I’ve got four older siblings who’ve already been through the battlefield, so what’s this talk of succession? I can’t even handle a servant properly. What can I possibly do? What exactly are they expecting from me?”

I was overwhelmed by the prince’s lament mixed with frustration.

‘He’s got a point.’

But isn’t that because you don’t act like a child?

And what about that warning you gave earlier?

The prince answered my thoughts.

“I just show things.”

“Show things?”

“Yeah. I’ve seen things I’ve never seen before since I was born, and I’ve confirmed that these things happen in reality. And recently… there’s one sight that’s been stuck in my head and refuses to leave.”

“What is it?”

“The capital engulfed in flames, blood, horrific screams… and a shining sword.”

And so the prince moved.

He had learned about me through investigating the only clue, the shining sword, and through Princess Rani, he found out about my connection with Martina.

And now, having retired and opened a restaurant, he approached the Gourmet Association under the guise of sponsorship, leading to the present situation.

I could understand all of the prince’s actions with that statement.

“So, the food made by the Gourmet Association members…”

“Huh? No, that was really awful, I couldn’t finish it.”

“Excuse me? But you didn’t even try it.”

“It just didn’t look appetizing. Anyway, chefs have no sense of what kids like.”

What? Was that really just a picky eater complaint?

So, the fact that he ate all the food I made…

The prince nodded his head.

“It looked the most ordinary, so… Ah, and it wasn’t a lie when I said it was tasty. By the way, are you interested in the royal chef position?”

“No, thank you.”

“When I talk about it, at least pretend to think about it, alright? Don’t just openly disregard me just because I have no real power.”

I tuned out the prince’s grumbling and gathered all the information I had obtained so far.

It definitely seemed like something would happen tonight.

The prince had made that part very clear.

And the two likely suspects for causing chaos in the capital were nobles and the demon tribes.

I don’t know which side will cause the disturbance, but—

‘Wait, is there a reason it has to be one of them?’

What if one of the nobles decided to use the demon tribes for the power struggle?

And what if the demons were captured because they were targeting this very thing?

‘There’s a possibility.’

No, it’s not just a possibility, the chances are actually quite high.

Having dealt with the demon tribes and gotten used to their methods, I’m almost certain of it.

So, what could be the plan here—

‘Deception.’

Attack the capital from the inside and outside simultaneously.

Inside, demons released by the nobles.

And outside, the monsters that would have been preserved for today.

The nobles would spread false information amid the chaos, and that misinformation would cause a huge crack in the capital’s defenses.

If that happens, the prince’s prediction of the capital’s fall could become a reality…

But there’s one question that arises from this.

“Your Highness, I have a question.”

“What now?”

“I understand that you’ve seen the future where the capital is attacked, and you want to prevent it, but why are you sending me outside the capital?”

It may sound a little like self-promotion, but I’m quite strong.

I have plenty of experience fighting demons.

Although I lost one of my legs and I’m not in perfect condition, my sparring with Victoria still keeps my combat instincts sharp.

So, if you wanted to stop this disaster, you should have asked me to stay, not to leave.

After a brief frown, the prince seemed to think for a moment before he answered.

“There are two reasons.”

“Two reasons?”

“First, I thought that if I couldn’t recreate the scene I saw, nothing would happen. And the second…”

The prince hesitated a little more before saying the second reason.

“It’s a reward for making Princess Rani smile. If something happens, having one less person probably won’t make much difference anyway.”

His voice, as he said this, had a tone that matched his age.

I gained confidence as I observed the prince’s demeanor.

‘I don’t think he’s lying.’

The prince isn’t plotting anything.

He’s simply struggling to break his own prophecy.

Telling others about his prophecy probably wasn’t even a consideration.

If ignored, that would be fortunate; if it’s taken seriously, he’ll certainly suffer from intense surveillance and caution.

And I found some comfort in the prince’s sincere attitude.

‘If he’s already worried about what happens after stopping it, he must be confident about stopping it.’

That could also mean that the situation won’t escalate to the point where royalty is in danger.

If that’s the case, I shouldn’t be concerned about acting recklessly.

I spoke to the prince, who looked somewhat embarrassed.

“Your Highness, I understand everything you’ve said. But are you really okay with this?”

“What am I supposed to do if I’m not okay with it? What can I do?”

“If I had a way to prevent the situation, would you be willing to do something about it?”

“Huh?”

The prince looked at me with a skeptical expression.

I smiled at him and said,

“Your Highness, how about working with me on this?”

I led the prince out of the mansion secretly.

Suddenly, without a single attendant, the prince, now wandering outside, asked nervously,

“Is this really okay? If they find out I’m missing, there’ll be a huge uproar, right?”

“You once said it’s impossible to escape an attendant’s watch, right? Well, there’s nothing we can do about it. Just think of an excuse for later.”

“Is that something you should be saying to a prince?”

Prince Theodore grumbled but followed me without much resistance.

In fact, he asked, seemingly somewhat excited about what was happening.

“So, what’s the plan now? You’re not planning to tell Princess Martina, are you?”

“Of course not. While I am close with Princess Martina, I’m not in a position to just visit her.”

“Then what?”

“I’m going to meet with another ally.”

I said this and headed toward an inn.

The inn was busy with hot dog vendors outside.

I used a headscarf to cover our faces as much as possible and entered the inn, making my way toward the innermost room.

Without knocking, I burst open the door.

The guest, who was rolling up a blanket on the bed, reacted with an irritated voice.

“Human, have you forgotten how to knock?”

“Sorry, but something urgent came up.”

“What is it?”

“Do you know about the power to see the future?”

At my words, Staren slowly turned his head.

After seeing Prince Theodore’s face beside me, he muttered,

“A prince? Ah, I see. It was about time. The last time it manifested was 200 years ago.”

“Stop speaking in riddles and explain it to me.”

“The prophetic power in royal blood. It typically manifests every 200 years. No one knows who it will appear in, though.”

The royal family has such a power?

I’ve never heard of anything like that before.

Maybe I wasn’t the only one who didn’t know, as Prince Theodore asked sternly,

“How dare you speak carelessly about royal blood? Who are you?”

“Should I tell you just because you’re asking? Who do you think you are?”

At those words, the prince’s expression fell apart for a moment.

He was speechless for the first time in his life, hearing something he never expected!

I whispered softly into the prince’s ear.

“I’m a dragon, Your Highness.”

“What? A dragon? That one?”

“Yes. Right now, I work as a staff member in my restaurant.”

“That’s a dragon working in your restaurant?”

I left the utterly confused prince and turned to Staren.

“Anyway, I’m glad you know. Do you know how to use this prophecy?”

“I do. The source of that power comes from the dragons.”

“Then, is there a way to check the near future and locate a specific place?”

“Why are you asking something like that?”

“Why, you ask?”

I answered Staren’s question with a smile.

“I thought it’s been a while since I’ve had a good stroll.”

I placed my hand on the sword hanging at my waist.

Ah, the heavy and chilling sensation.

[The Demon Slayer] Kyle, it’s time to return.