The Seventh Prince Runs Away from Awkward Situations

Chapter 252

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Chapter 252: Gathering (5)

By ‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‍the time Ria reached the final ledge of the cliff after Mona, Alec and his companion were walking through the darkness.

Until ‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‍today came, his relationship with his rather taciturn companion had amounted to little more than passing each other and seeing each other’s faces, but perhaps because of the stability that came from sharing the same purpose, the silence did not feel awkward.

However, ‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‍if there were two problems, the first was that Alec could not see even the slightest bit ahead and therefore could not walk on his own feet.

Thanks ‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‍to that, the second problem was that he had to be led by the man’s hand like a lump of luggage.

The ‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‍embarrassment that his confident prediction that a human would be able to pass through had been beautifully wrong was a bonus.

Alec, ‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‍who had become utterly useless, worried that the man might abandon him and leave, but fortunately, the monster showed mercy.

“Um, thank you for not leaving me behind.”

Alec, sorry that he had ended up receiving help in such a pathetic state after stepping forward so confidently, expressed his thanks without being able to hide his embarrassment.

“I said I would abandon you if a dangerous situation came. You only changed from a weak human into a weak human who cannot see. That cannot be called a threat.”

“But it is still troublesome, is it not?”

“Rather than feeling a useless sense of debt, think about what we should do when we meet Archie or that bastard who may be human or monster. This time, think properly so you do not get it wrong.”

At the bitter words that jolted him awake, Alec put away the thanks that would only make his own heart feel easier.

Just as the man said, by now, there was no knowing which of the two, Ran or Archie, would remain underground, and no matter which one had survived, Alec had to persuade that surviving strong one.

Shamelessly, he was practically going there to make an absurd demand, asking them to fight together, or if that was impossible, at least to buy time for the humans outside to escape.

Besides, with one of the two, his last conversation had ended with, “You bastard.”

While Alec wondered whether that man might take his side more than Archie would, what appeared in his head was the sight of Archie pushing him out of the tent.

Once his thoughts reached that point, strangely enough, his heart sank.

It would be right to say it became comfortable.

Because he thought that no matter which side he chose, they would not simply leave the humans to die.

If that was so, then by now, beneath the tent, the underground might not be a bloody battlefield, but a rather more peaceful sight instead. He even felt he could have that mad delusion.

“Seeing you shut your mouth, it seems you have not been able to abandon that delusion.”

“It is not something that should just be denied outright. If neither of them is dead nor hurt, what will you do?”

“If their skills are equal, we will have to help one side win. From my position, it would be better if that bastard killed Archie and took the leader’s seat if possible.”

“No, I mean if the two of them are not opposing each other. So, if both Archie and Ran have no intention of harming humans. They might even both be trying to save humans, might they not?”

He could not see, but from the small snort, Alec could tell the other man did not agree with his assumption in the slightest.

“You seem to have forgotten, but the one who locked you here was Archie. Archie does not like humans. He only used you because he needed you.”

“But he clearly told me to put the humans back in their places. And he leaped into the darkness on his own feet to stop Ran.”

“Because it was necessary. Archie must have noticed Mona was threatening his position too. Our way of thinking is different from humans’. You will never understand it for the rest of your life.”

At that rebuttal that drew a line, Alec felt half of himself persuaded.

Meaning the other half still rejected his words.

Fortunately, the man and Alec arrived at the man’s tent, the one they had fled from, just in time, so Alec was given a moment to think.

That short time, descending underground as the man led him, was enough for Alec to organize his thoughts and reach a conclusion.

Of course, the fact that the time it took to go down grew a little longer because he could not see and had to fumble along the ground also helped.

“It is quiet.”

Alec’s companion muttered, seeming for a moment to have forgotten that the sense Alec had lost was not hearing, but sight.

“It is still quiet. I do not feel any presence either. We have to go farther inside. Are you prepared?”

He asked while tugging Alec lightly.

“Yes. It is all right to go forward.”

“It seems you have thought of some clever method.”

At the voice mixed half with suspicion and half with relief, Alec considered lying to increase the proportion of relief a little more so that the man’s heart would be at ease, but soon stopped.

That was not something he should do to the man who had risked his life and followed him.

“No. I did not think of any clever method.”

“What? Then why......”

The man’s voice, which had been expressing doubt, grew smaller.

Though he could not see, Alec was certain the man had quite a fierce face in the darkness.

And right now, he was grateful for the fact that he could not see.

Just imagining it was this frightening, so if he had seen the enraged face of a Werewolf head-on, he probably would have sat down from fear.

“Are you still insisting that Archie might be on our side? Why not just say you are so frightened that you have lost your mind?”

As expected, an angry voice came back.

Besides, it was not entirely wrong.

Perhaps he truly had no answer in sight and was losing his mind, indulging in a happy delusion.

Seeing as he still had the courage left to stubbornly insist until the end in this frightening situation, it was an even more credible assumption.

“In any case, we have no words to persuade them with except that Mona will kill you too.”

“There are also methods such as suitable deception or threats.”

“What deception, when I cannot even see right in front of my eyes?”

“Do I look like I am joking right now?”

At the raised voice, Alec hunched his neck like a child being scolded.

But there was stubbornness he had quietly grown until now.

“Seeing you say that, it seems you are quite confident in deception or threats, so you take charge of the bluffing and threatening. It will not be too late to do that after I first confirm whether both of them are on our side or not.”

When Alec insisted, the Werewolf ground his teeth.

“Did I not tell you? I will abandon you the moment it becomes dangerous. Whether what remains is that bastard or both of those bastards, even if you die after babbling nonsense in front of them, I have no intention of saving you.”

As if forcing down his anger, a small sigh rang out once, followed by an even lower voice.

“This is a matter with our victory at stake. Do not think that just because Naria cherishes you, even I will participate in your baseless recklessness.”

The “we” he spoke of were the Werewolves who had chosen to stand against their original comrades for the sake of humans.

No, perhaps humans too were included in that “we.”

The line dividing this group of monsters was humans, but if one changed perspective even a little, it felt like there was no point in any of that.

Because from the moment Archie handed him over to Naria, the boundary between monster and human had already become blurred.

“Perhaps Archie was erasing the boundary line.”

The unfiltered thought leaped out of Alec’s mouth without any explanation attached.

Contrary to his expectation that a rebuke asking what nonsense he was spouting would immediately come back, the man said nothing.

Alec, who grew outright frightened, instinctively stretched his hand forward.

Because if the man was showing through action that he did not agree with Alec’s words, then Alec would have no choice but to suffer it helplessly.

But soon he realized that the reason the man had stopped was because he had first sensed the sound coming from above, more precisely from diagonally above, and Alec’s body stiffened hard.

It was definitely the sound of footsteps.

Those steps, coming down straight without the slightest wandering, did not contain even the smallest deviation.

And unfortunately, this meant the other party was not human.

The taciturn Werewolf, true to his original nature, calmly and firmly pulled Alec’s arm, and Alec followed him.

Since he could not see anyway, there was no other choice.

The two waited for the sound of footsteps to draw closer without even making a sound of breath.

The moment Alec’s heartbeat, squeezed by tension, reached a peak where it could no longer grow any faster, the footsteps that finally touched the ground stopped moving.

Unlike Alec, who could not even confirm the enemy’s face, the man seemed to react with his body before his head.

Though he could not see, Alec heard the man swallow his breath for a moment, and the next instant, he felt him rush past him.

With far too ferocious an aura.

Only belatedly did Alec realize the man was far too excited.

At the same time as a faint unease that something had gone wrong, a hurried voice rang out.

“Wait! I’m not trying to fight......!”

A woman. It was a woman’s voice.

In that voice filled with confusion, surprisingly, no hostility could be felt.

Alec knew instinctively.

The other party was not an enemy.

Even knowing it was meaningless, Alec stretched his hand forward to stop the man.

But nothing touched his hand.

“Wait, please!”

Alec’s voice rang out through the darkness his hand had vainly stirred.

But no answer came back.

Only a fishy scent of blood brushed the tip of his nose.

***

Most misfortunes are sometimes so rational in their birth that they make the people involved feel wronged instead.

Because there is a valid reason for every single step in the series of events, and no one has done wrong, so the misfortune that arrives can only be accepted.

What happened among the four gathered underground was similar.

The Werewolf attacking Ria, Ria curling her body to protect the woman in her arms, and even the sharp claws he had failed to tuck away in his hand that had hurriedly stretched out to grab the woman, wounding both Ria and the woman—all of these were actions where there was no right or wrong to assign.

But the unfairness of misfortune lies in the fact that everyone who has done nothing wrong must endure it.

It took a little time for everyone to notice this.

The first to realize that something had gone wrong was Ria.

Because the moment the woman in her arms began to bleed, her chest began to grow hot.

No matter how worried she was about the other party, Ria did not have enough empathy for the injury of someone she had met for the first time today that her chest would grow hot.

Ria realized the true identity of this heat was the holy object she had hidden inside her clothes.

What came after realization was resignation.

She was a human capable of learning, and she had the experience she had gone through while carrying the holy object on the orc island.

She knew that the only thing she could do was be swept up in the power Abalan had left behind.

Accepting reality, Ria closed her eyes, sent a look of pity toward the nameless Werewolf who was shocked by the suddenly swirling darkness, and tightly held the woman in her arms so she would not lose her.

Then she humbly accepted the misfortune given to them.

Because once all things in the world hit rock bottom, they could only rise upward, and in any case, the holy object had once brought her to Ran before.

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NOVEL FULL

The Seventh Prince Runs Away from Awkward Situations

Chapter 252

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