The Bastard First Prince Doesn't Want to Die

Chapter: 121

The usually passive elders of Wolhan Fortress had changed their tune.

I could see some of them, old and gray, climbing the walls with their weapons. They weren’t exactly the most useful, but they were better than nothing.

“Why is the wind blowing so hard today?”

The stench of burning oil and monster blood carried on the wind.

Thankfully, the wind was blowing from south to north, carrying our arrows farther. It was a good day for the archers.

I glanced at the archers and returned to my spot.

“They say too many cooks spoil the food,” a soldier beside me said.

I turned to see Bu-seop.

“Bu-seop.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

So it was him.

I scowled.

I’d been scolded countless times for not acting princely, and it seemed like I still wasn’t making much of an impression.

Even though I’d been trying to behave more properly these past few days, it clearly wasn’t working.

The fact that a lowly soldier like him was casually approaching me was a clear sign.

I had no real complaints about Bu-seop, but I was feeling irritable.

“Why are you trying to be friendly? Are we friends?”

Bu-seop’s eyes widened as if I’d slapped him.

Why was that?

“I apologize...”

“Hmm.”

I rubbed my nose and turned back to the battlefield.

I’d been avoiding being at the forefront after the elder’s reprimand.

The elder’s words were essentially the consensus of the council, and even the Lord of Wolhan had remained silent on the matter.

It was an unspoken request for me to step back.

It’s the same everywhere. People never seem to know what’s important. Why worry about trivial matters when there’s a crisis at hand? If they have so much energy, they should go clean their rooms.

“You were saying that too many cooks spoil the food?”

I glanced at Bu-seop, who immediately brightened up.

I’m so weak against these people.

“Yes, yes! Exactly!”

I tilted my head and looked at the towering mountain in the distance.

“If the ship’s already sinking, what does it matter?”

“Ah... yes, Your Highness, you’re right.”

I alternated my gaze between the mountain and the battlefield before turning back to Bu-seop.

“Bu-seop.”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

He answered sharply, his eyes wide. I stared at him impassively.

“Are you free?”

“Yes, Your Highness! I would do anything Your Highness commands, even lay down my life!”

“Lay down your life? Are you serious?”

“Yes, I would! I would even give you my heart to prove my loyalty!”

I don't know if he was being sarcastic or genuinely sincere. I just said, “There's no need to go that far.”

“Whatever you command, Your Highness, I will do my best!”

Hmm.

I pointed toward the training grounds inside the inner wall.

“Over there.”

“Yes!”

Bu-seop turned around and looked in the direction of the training ground. Of course, it was difficult to see clearly from here because it was obscured by other buildings.

Nevertheless, there was one human figure that stood out.

“Do you see that guy?”

“Yes, I do. Isn’t he Your Highness’ attendant?”

“Not exactly, but let’s say he is. Anyway, that guy will be climbing the walls tomorrow.”

I’d thought about it long and hard.

Let’s see, Jincheon. Was he the kind of guy who would get caught up in something dangerous?

The world is always fair, and for every gain, there’s a loss.

Jincheon had traded his ability to think rationally for an unmatched physique and talent.

I’m not saying he was stupid. It’s just that his obsessions were more extreme than most people’s.

Once he got fixated on something, he’d do anything to get it.

I thought back to the time after Wolhan Fortress fell and the Lord and my brothers had all passed away. I wandered from place to place alone.

The Huawei royal family sent many warriors to capture me.

But most of them ended up dead at my hands, lost in the mountains, or fell off cliffs. Well, they died one way or another.

So many deaths, it was like burning down the whole house to kill a bug. Eventually, the royal family gave up trying to catch me.

But Jincheon... he kept chasing after me.

The crazy bastard. I can’t help but curse when I think about him.

Anyway, I don’t think that kind of personality developed overnight. It was probably innate.

So, I decided it would be better to just let him do whatever he wanted.

And if he got eaten by a beast...

...Well, it wouldn’t be a total loss.

After all, it would be like getting rid of one of my biggest threats.

“Isn’t he still young?”

“He may look young.”

I chuckled.

“He seems eager to prove himself. You should teach him a thing or two.”

Bu-seop’s eyes lit up. He looked at me with bright eyes and asked, “What should I teach him?”

“First, how to fight under a ten-man commander. Then, how to fight under a hundred-man commander. And then, how to fight under a thousand-man commander.”

“Are you making him a soldier?” Bu-seop asked, surprised.

He probably assumed that he would receive special treatment since he was staying in the same quarters as me and was supposedly a boy sent by my maternal grandfather, a general.

“Yes. No special treatment. He’s just a new recruit. You can teach him well.”

If I couldn’t control him myself, the answer was simple. Just put more leashes on him.

I wasn’t sure if I could call this a leash, though.

* * *

A few days passed. It was good that the elders were enthusiastic.

But if their enthusiasm led to internal conflicts, I would have to wonder if my decision had been hasty.

“I understand Lord Heunggyeong’s ambition, but he’s not capable of leading such a large group.”

“And you? You’ve never even killed a beast. How dare you speak so presumptuously? Have you ever even set foot in those mountains?”

Voices grew louder in the meeting hall. The morning meeting was dragging on longer than expected due to heated arguments among the elders. I was starting to get hungry.

Feed me, you idiots.

I folded my arms and pouted, expressing my displeasure. While they continued their pointless debate, I waited impatiently for the meeting to end.

Then, the Lord of Wolhan Fortress stood up.

“Enough. It’s almost time.”

Everyone turned to look at her. The meeting hall fell silent immediately. The Lord of Wolhan continued calmly.

“Let’s end this here. We can continue later.”

“Ahem, ahem.”

The elders, who had been engaged in a heated argument, cleared their throats and stood up one by one. I followed suit.

“Haah.”

I sighed.

Along with the Lord of Wolhan, the elders all left the meeting hall. I had to join them and follow them wherever they were going.

As we headed towards the south wall, I saw that the people had already gathered. It seemed they were there to see the procession coming from the capital. I knew from when I first arrived at Wolhan Fortress that there wasn’t much to see, but I was wrong.

Soon, the gates opened.

My grandfather's reinforcements were marching in grandly. The royal banners fluttered, and the armor and weapons glinted in the sunlight.

As they approached in a strict formation, their footsteps sounded as if the entire army was moving as one.

The guards of Wolhan Fortress looked tense. The elders, who had been arguing just a moment ago, seemed to be cowed by the sight of the general's army.

I spotted my grandfather at the front of the approaching procession.

The sound of the cavalry's hooves and the infantry's footsteps echoed through the fortress, as if it were all prepared as a backdrop for the general.

Sitting on a white horse, his appearance seemed to remind everyone of why he was a general.

Even the marks of age on his face did not diminish his aura as a warrior.

Then, my grandfather's white horse stopped. And all the others, as if on cue, stopped as well.

I knew what it meant. It was a sign of trust.

With a light leap, my grandfather dismounted. The other cavalrymen followed suit.

Had they really planned this in advance?

My grandfather approached me and knelt. All his men followed suit.

I was quite taken aback. It was excessive for a general to kneel, even to a prince. It was almost as if I were the crown prince.

I could feel eyes boring into my back.

But before I could stop my grandfather, he spoke.

“I am So Ik-Gyeom, your grandfather.” He bowed his head. “I have come to Wolhan Fortress to protect its safety and serve Your Highness, Prince Ikwon.”

Our eyes met.

The meaning behind his gaze was clear.

To put it bluntly, it was as if he were saying, ‘I’ve set this all up for you. If you mess this up, you’ll answer to me.’

Of course, the general wouldn’t say it so crudely.

“I am deeply grateful for your help,” I said.

His eyes trembled slightly. Since we were face to face, I couldn’t pretend not to notice.

Without waiting for a reply, I nodded first.

It was a sign that I understood he was using me for his own revenge.

I extended my hand to him.

It was a promise that I would repay him for his help.