The Bastard First Prince Doesn't Want to Die

[Translator - Jjescus ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]

Chapter: 177

Not long after, they were able to find and kill the demonic beast in question. The demonic beast, which was making the group struggle with its fast movements despite its large size, finally breathed its last and left behind a strange cry.

The group covered its huge corpse with branches and fallen leaves and set it on fire to erase the traces. This was because other demonic beasts could be attracted by the smell of blood.

"It's finally over,” Jawoon said, planting the end of his greatsword into the ground. His voice was heavily laden with fatigue.

"You've worked hard,” Haejung said to Jawoon. Perhaps because he was one of the people who knew best how important Jawoon's role was, he was relatively friendly.

"There won't be anything special for a while, so take a good rest for a while."

Because the huge demonic beast had been running around the forest near the village, making a mess of the whole place, other demonic beasts would have been terrified. The fact that we hadn't encountered any other threatening demonic beasts while chasing this one was proof of that.

Jawoon simply nodded in response.

"Then, let's go back,” Haejung said. And the group returned to the village.

* * *

However, contrary to expectations that it would be quiet for a while, demonic beasts appeared at the entrance of the village quite frequently.

For the first couple of times, I took the lead in searching for the demonic beasts. Seeing the self-governing group's pathetic weapons and skills, I doubted whether they would be able to capture the demonic beasts, let alone survive.

"Uncle, are you going again?"

When a demonic beast appeared and I got up from my seat, Aro, who was rolling around on the platform, pouted as if her mood had soured.

"You promised to play with me."

"I'm... sorry."

What could I do? If I helped a little, Old Man Jawoon would be more comfortable, and no one would get hurt. So, every time I received news, I ran out again and again.

"Are you going again?"

"I can't help it."

Haejung and Jawoon also said that they didn't know why demonic beasts kept appearing. And around that time, the village chief hardly came out of her house.

But despite the village chief staying inside, the villagers didn't seem to care much.

"It's not Uncle's job, is it?"

"Hey."

I beckoned to her. She came closer.

I whispered in her ear, "I have to earn my keep."

Aro stared at me. It was almost a glare.

"I've paid it all back. The cost of food. You don't have to go."

After saying that, she insisted on following me. And eventually succeeded in following me.

She followed me on the demonic beast hunt, and then, taking advantage of a brief lull, approached Jawoon. Then she spoke to him so that only he could hear.

"Uncle said he was definitely leaving, but he keeps chasing after demonic beasts, doesn't he? What do you think, Grandpa?"

Jawoon whispered with Aro for a while. I deliberately didn't eavesdrop on their conversation.

After retreating for a while and returning, Jawoon called me closer and said, "There are things you shouldn't get used to."

Then, he slowly raised the end of his greatsword and added. At the same time, he glanced at Haejung.

"Getting used to something means you'll underestimate the danger. Losing your vigilance is the same as losing your life."

It seemed like he added those words as a smokescreen to hide his true intentions from Haejung.

I quietly pondered Jawoon's words and turned my gaze to the darkened forest. Today, we also killed a demonic beast, but I wondered how long this would continue.

And on the way back, when we were almost at the village, Jawoon lowered his voice and spoke to me so that only I could hear.

"You're becoming a part of the village, aren't you?"

He wasn't wrong. Demonic beasts kept appearing, and I participated in the demonic beast hunts without missing a single one. I seemed to be gradually becoming a part of the village.

However, it was problematic for the villagers to recognize the demonic beast hunts as my responsibility.

"Take care. Oh, and let's have a separate talk tomorrow."

When Jawoon said that, Haejung, who was walking a few steps away, looked at me.

"Your blade was quite damaged, I need to take a look at it."

Only when Jawoon added those words did Haejung turn his head. I replied to Jawoon that I understood and returned to the village. And the next day, I headed to Jawoon's house.

"Let's go together."

Aro, who appeared out of nowhere on the way, clung to me.

How did she find out that I was going to Jawoon's house again?

I failed to shake her off and headed to Jawoon's house together.

"You've come."

When I entered Jawoon's house, there was a warm atmosphere. Jawoon offered me tea and started talking about the main subject.

"How is the village chief?"

He spoke to Aro first, rather than me. Aro carefully lifted her teacup, but immediately put it down, saying it was too hot to drink.

"Don't you have any cold water?"

"Oh, you little rascal."

Jawoon grumbled and got up to get some cold water, then returned a moment later. After quenching her thirst, Aro replied, "Actually, I don't know either."

There was no sign of worry or sadness on her face.

"Mother just sighs and doesn't tell me anything."

The village chief's nursing was the responsibility of her daughter and Aro's mother, Sannyeong. While the village chief didn't come out of the house, she also took on the household chores and fetching water for the house. However, Sannyeong had also rarely shown herself recently.

Perhaps she was in a situation where she couldn't take her eyes off the village chief for even a moment.

"......I think..."

Jawoon opened his mouth but immediately closed it. Then he hesitated and paused.

"This is just my guess. This..."

"What is it?"

Aro urged him, perhaps impatient with Jawoon's continued hesitation. But Jawoon continued to hesitate.

"What did you guess, old man?"

When even I joined in urging him, Jawoon reluctantly opened his mouth.

"Lately, the frequency of demonic beasts appearing... I have a feeling that it's related to the village chief being bedridden."

Jawoon looked at me intently. I couldn't help but nod. I had such a suspicion.

But that was all. The village chief not appearing, and the frequency of demonic beasts leaving traces at the village entrance increasing.

Apart from those two things, nothing had changed from when I first came to the village.

I added my own speculation to Jawoon's guess and made a few assumptions, but I couldn't reach a conclusion.

In the end, until the village chief reappeared, the truth that could be obtained in the status of an outsider was extremely limited. It was no more than the cover of a book.

There was no great gain even when I left Jawoon's house. And the next day, as if waiting for it, traces of another demonic beast appeared.

I discovered that the villagers had at some point come to take it for granted that I would go out.

I hurriedly left the place after discovering the gazes of some people who seemed to be reproaching me for not being in a hurry and being lazy, but it was true that they had already assigned me the role of hunting demonic beasts and protecting the village.

However, if I tried to abandon the role they demanded of me, they would immediately change their attitude. Even Jawoon, who lives outside the village, is taking on a role for the village, isn't he?

I could easily foresee what would happen next.

"Look at that."

Aro said that to me. What she said was absolutely right. I had to continue going out to hunt demonic beasts.

Of course, it wasn't a difficult task. No major injuries occurred. It was just that a situation was naturally occurring where I was taking the lead in hunting demonic beasts.

Several months passed like that. The biggest event that happened during that time was that the village chief had completely moved her residence.

The village chief left her house in the center of the village and moved her residence to the shrine in the forest. Aro's mother, Sannyeong, followed to take care of the village chief, and after that, the atmosphere of the village became even more chaotic.

Meanwhile, demonic beasts continued to appear. Now, every other day, demonic beasts left traces at the entrance of the village. No, there were even cases where demonic beasts and villagers encountered each other at the entrance of the village.

The situation was flowing in an unusual direction. A busy daily life continued. There was not enough time in the day. While time was passing like that, I almost forgot about the library.

Moreover, the energy of the demon realm was changing along with the frequency of demonic beasts appearing. A much heavier and more ominous energy was weighing down on my whole body.

A situation similar to when I was on a demonic beast subjugation mission starting from Wolhan Fortress was unfolding.

After finishing the hunt and returning, I fetched water from the well, took only one bowl, and sat down on the platform. While gulping down the water, I glanced at my face reflected on the surface of the water in the bowl, then placed the bowl on the platform.

While I was sitting and resting for a while, I heard that the self-governing group had returned, and Aro approached.

She had lost a little weight in the meantime. A dark shadow was cast on my face.

"......How is the village chief?"

Aro shook her head and replied, "I don't know."

"......What about your mother?"

"I haven't seen her either."

"Has it been four days already?"

Sannyeong occasionally returned to the village to get food and deliver news about the village chief.

She reassured the villagers that the village chief was safe and then left for the shrine again. I don't know how long she has been repeating that.

At least before, she came to the village every other day to show her face, but this time, she hadn't appeared for four days already.

"Uncle,” Aro said in a trembling voice. "Can I ask you a favor?"

I felt like I knew what she was going to say. I nodded slightly.

"......Could you go to the shrine with me?"

It wasn't difficult to guess how she was feeling about this situation.

She must be scared. How scared would she be? I couldn't even imagine how heavy the anxiety she was suppressing was.

I slowly nodded and stood up.

"Okay. Let's go."

It was just my hunch, but I didn't think I would be able to meet the village chief right away just by going to that shrine.

But I hoped my hunch was wrong.

The worst case was that the village chief had already passed away. If the village chief was absent, what would happen to the village in the future......

I glanced at Aro, who was walking towards the shrine. I didn't think she could take responsibility for the fate of the village.@@novelbin@@

[Translator - Jjescus ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]