Chapter 74 - <12>
Franz was gasping for breath.
"What's wrong! We're not done yet!"
Greig was making a ruckus, swinging his sword around. With his nimble movements, there was no way the novice Franz could possibly be a match for him.
After all, the guy was the champion of the New Festival Month martial arts tournament. Ritz was one thing, but Franz wasn't an opponent he could handle.
In the first place, Franz should have had no reason to fight Greig at all. And yet, Greig, with his strange assumptions, kept challenging him.
"You can't protect Anna if you're that weak! Come at me!"
That was it. He'd been telling him over and over that he and Anna were just companions, but Greig wouldn't listen.
He was so self-centered it was dumbfounding, leaving Franz speechless. But he didn't want to run from a challenge, and more than anything, he couldn't stand Greig's condescending attitude. Besides, it was true that he hadn't been able to protect Anna.
Twice now, she had saved his life.
Still… Franz thought. He had no idea how much time had passed since they'd gone underground. There was nothing here to mark the time.
They'd taken a few breaks, punctuated by Anna's water tricks… or rather, demonstrations of her water spirit magic practice, but for the most part, he'd been facing off with Greig like this.
Greig had told him he could use his fire spirits in this room surrounded by stone walls, but Franz had barely used them.
The only time he'd used them was to buy time to pick up his spear after dropping it, mimicking the [Flame Arrow] Laria had used at her mansion.
This was indoors, after all. And a basement under the royal palace, to boot. If he accidentally unleashed a giant fireball, it would be impossible to clean up the mess.
Because here, neither Ritz nor Edward, who always helped them, were present.
What brought an end to their seemingly endless battle was Anna, who was sitting on a chair placed against the wall of the training grounds, swinging her legs back and forth.
"Heyyy!"
Usually, Franz would get so caught up in a fight that he'd lose sight of his surroundings, but this time, he noticed Anna's call. He was utterly sick of the situation.
"Anna's saying something."
When Franz said that and lowered his spear, Greig stopped.
"You're not trying to trick me, are you?"
Franz simply gestured toward Anna with his chin for the suspicious Greig to see. Greig seemed annoyed by the gesture but looked toward Anna without a word.
"Took you long enough to notice. You two had already forgotten about me, hadn't you?"
"As if I could ever forget you, Anna!"
Greig sheathed his sword and quickly ran over to Anna, while Franz sighed. He shortened the fire spear he'd extended and tucked it into his belt.
"Really? Well then, Your Highness, I have a favor to ask."
As Franz walked over to them, he saw Anna looking at Greig with a bashful expression.
"What is it, Anna? What favor?"
Greig's chest swelled with anticipation as he approached Anna.
"Go on, ask me anything."
"This is kind of embarrassing…"
From the look of it, he wondered if the romantically oblivious Anna had finally noticed Greig's feelings. But her next words proved that was a misunderstanding.
"Eheheh, I'm hungry. It's a little early, but I bet it's almost time for lunch. My stomach is telling me so."
Poor Greig's shoulders slumped in disappointment.
"You're hungry… I see…"
The absurdity of their exchange made Franz feel a little better about his frustration with Greig.
If it had been Ritz, he would have slapped Greig on the shoulder dramatically and said something like, 'Man, you've got your work cut out for you. Well, hang in there,' but Franz wasn't in the mood.
This is what happens when you get your hopes up about Anna in the romance department. Her priorities in life right now were, above all else, her friends and food.
"I think it's a little early for our promised time with Ed-san, so I was wondering if we could get a little something to nibble on…"
Watching Anna's contemplative face, Greig, who had finally recovered, pulled a pocket watch from his pocket. Made of gold, it looked magnificent and expensive. Franz was used to seeing high-end goods, so he was sure of it.
"Wow, that's an amazing watch! Is it yours, Your Highness?"
The watch somehow seemed out of place on Greig, who blushed as if embarrassed.
"Yeah… Grandmother makes me carry it so I'm not late for teatime."
So it belongs to the Queen. That makes sense. Glancing at the watch as if to hide it, Greig let out a cry of admiration.
"…Eleven-thirty… That's amazing, Anna, you're spot on."
Of course she was. Anna might not own a luxury timepiece, but she possessed one of the world's most precise, almost unerring clocks. That clock would sound off boisterously three times a day.
Anna called it her internal clock; Ritz and Franz called it her stomach clock.
For the three of them traveling without a watch, Anna's stomach clock had been incredibly useful for telling the accurate time.
"It is a bit early for our meal with Grandfather…"
Greig thought for a moment, then looked up.
"I know, let's go to the Royal Guard's mess hall. I have some pull there. They serve lunch the earliest in the castle. And if we take the secret passage from here, it's not even a five-minute walk."
Come to think of it, during the New Festival Month, he hadn't been in the royal box. He'd told Edward and the others that he was with the Royal Guard.
"If that's decided, let's hurry. Before there's nothing left."
Saying that, Greig hurriedly put the watch away. It seemed he didn't want people to see it. Franz didn't know the reason, but there might be more to it than just it being the Queen's.
Well, whatever the reason, it was none of his business. Franz tucked the question away into the back of his mind and sealed it shut.
He didn't like prying into other people's affairs. He was himself, and others were others.
"Come on, Anna, let's go together! The secret passage is this way!"
Greig smiled brightly and offered his hand to Anna.
"Okay!"
Anna jumped to her feet and firmly grasped Greig's hand with both of hers. But it didn't turn out to be the hand-in-hand stroll Greig had hoped for.
"Make sure you get me something tasty! You promise!"
After shaking his hand up and down vigorously, Anna let go. It seemed she'd only thought of it as a handshake to seal a promise.
As Anna skipped past the once-again-dejected Greig, Franz patted him on the shoulder as he walked by.
And then he delivered the final blow.
"…My condolences."
It was a small bit of revenge for his earlier selfish assumptions.
"Damn it all!"
After stomping his feet in frustration, Greig hurried past Franz to catch up to Anna.
"Anna, this way! This door!"
Seeing Greig's raw emotions, Franz was suddenly reminded of his younger self.
Twelve years old… Franz was eighteen now. He thought he'd been around the same age when he'd run away from home and ended up with Orphe. He couldn't remember clearly.
If that was the case, what had he been like back then, around Greig's age? He was pretty sure his mother had left. No, had she been gone even before that? It was frightening that he couldn't remember at all.
In fact, why and how had he become Orphe's apprentice? Terrifyingly, he couldn't even remember that.
Franz shook his head. This wasn't the time to be lost in thought. Without Greig, Franz had no idea where he was in this building.
He hurried after the two who had gone ahead. The door to the underground passage was open, and he could hear their cheerful voices coming from it, so he was able to follow them straight without losing them.
The passage opened into a narrow space between two building walls, looking like a dead end.
Two clean, white-painted walls stood with just enough space for one person to pass through, and between them was a door.
"See, this is the Royal Guard barracks. Impressive, right?"
Greig puffed out his chest proudly, even though he hadn't built it himself.
"Yeah, it's amazing!"
Franz let out a small sigh and brushed it off, but Anna looked around, then turned back to Greig.
"It really is a secret passage!"
"Right? Only Father, Grandfather, and I know about it."
"Wow…"
Almost at the same time Anna let out a cry of admiration, the sound of shattering glass and a scream reached their ears.
"What?"
The sound came from beyond the wall.
"What was that sound? Did something… break?"
It wasn't just once or twice. The sound of something being destroyed echoed repeatedly. And then, a death cry, and a roar that sounded less than human…
Even with his limited experience, he knew this was no ordinary situation. Something terrible was likely happening…
"…Something's happened to the Royal Guard…"
Greig muttered, then broke into a run. It was a unit he was close to; of course he was concerned.
"Anna, you wait here."
Greig said as he glanced back, but Anna had already started running with him.
"I'm coming with you. If there are injured people, I might be able to help."
Franz hesitated for a moment, then quickly followed them. If he ran now and something happened to Anna and Greig, he would definitely regret it.
By the time the three of them ran desperately around the wall, the abnormal situation appeared right before their eyes.
"…What… What's happening…"
Greig's voice trembled. Anna, too, stared at the carnage in silence.
Franz was frozen in place. It was supposed to be the hallway of the mess hall. But what assaulted his eyes was a scene beyond imagination.
Splattered across the white walls and stone floor was a dazzlingly vivid red… red… red… and black…
The reek of something raw and the scent of iron…
He felt dizzy.
He felt sick, like he was going to throw up.
Someone who wasn't him was spinning around inside his head. He tried to look away, but the sheer horror of the situation wouldn't allow it.
He couldn't… couldn't look away…
It was a sea of blood. Bright red blood and pitch-black blood mingled, painting a vivid contrast on the white walls.
This wasn't normal…
Just then, a man came stumbling out of the mess hall. He was covered in blood, but it was clear he was an older man. He seemed to be injured.
Greig's eyes widened when he saw the man.
"Boyd!"
Greig shouted. The older man turned to look at them, his face filled with shock. As if he'd seen someone he shouldn't have, he yelled at Greig at the top of his lungs.
"Your Highness! What are you doing here?!"
"What happened?! I'm coming!"
As Greig tried to run to him, Boyd shouted.
"Don't come any closer!"
From behind the screaming Boyd, a large figure slowly emerged. Someone had come out of the mess hall.
The moment he saw its form, Franz shuddered. Countless snakes were slithering over abnormally developed muscles… No, those weren't snakes. They were writhing blood vessels.
With Greig and Franz frozen, it was Anna who attacked first.
"Mister, run!"
Anna yelled to the man called Boyd, then immediately raised both hands high above her head. As she crossed her hands, the water in the air began to swirl and converge.
"Spirits of water, answer my call and gather here."
A large amount of water gathered in her palms in response to her request. It was about a meter in diameter. Anna still couldn't quite control this.
"Go, [Water Sphere]!"
The unleashed sphere of water flew straight toward the monster. Seeing this, Boyd stood up and, though staggering, started walking toward them.
His body was covered in countless wounds, none of which looked shallow.
"Thank you, little miss spirit user. You saved me."
"Mister, get back."
Anna didn't have the luxury of looking at the man thanking her as she threw a second and third volley at the monster. At this rate, even that monster wouldn't get away unscathed. Beyond the water spray that filled her vision, the monster should be lying on the ground.
"Your Highness, why have you come here?!"
Boyd's tone was almost a reprimand, but Greig remained silent. He still hadn't recovered from the shock.
"Return to the palace at once. This is a battlefield now."
"A battlefield…"
As Greig muttered those words, Anna, who had been intently watching the trajectory of her water sphere, shouted.
"…It's not working, the [Water Sphere]!"
Boyd muttered with a look of despair.
"It has no sense of pain."
He turned to see the monster slowly getting up. Despite taking a direct hit from that water sphere, there was almost no sign of damage on the monster. And for the first time, it turned its face toward them.
In its strangely muscle-bound face, only its eyes bulged out, glinting with an eerie light. Those eyes looked at Franz…
Fear made his toes go numb. But he couldn't look away from the monster. The monster looked at them and twisted the corner of its mouth strangely.
It's smiling…
At this rate, they would be killed too.
Just like the people who had died, splattering their blood all over this floor…
"Run! We can't win!"
To Boyd's desperate cry, a pale Greig replied.
"But Boyd… there's no escape…"
In the heavy silence, Franz understood what Greig meant. They could escape if they took the path back to the palace they had just come from. But that would mean showing the monster the way to the palace.
And the monster that followed them would surely wreak havoc in the palace. That would put his grandmother, Patricia, the attendants, and the ladies-in-waiting in danger.
Only Queen Patricia had ever been on a battlefield. But she was quite old, and unlike Edward, rumor had it that she had abandoned her skills after becoming queen.
Besides, the Royal Guard was too small in number; they might not be able to defeat this monster.
"Your Highness… then you alone must escape!"
"No! I won't run!"
The monster reacted to Greig's loud shout. It slowly started walking toward them.
"It's not working…!"
Anna desperately threw her water spheres, but she couldn't stop the monster's advance.
Franz made up his mind. Being here now, and being with the person who would be the next king's successor, might be fate.
If that was the case, he would decide his own fate. He wouldn't let anyone else decide it. Not even a monster.
"I can't die. Not in a place like this!"
Franz drew the fire spear from his waist. If he was only going to use magic, there was no need to extend it.
Touching the fire gem embedded in the spear, he felt the hot, surging power of flame well up inside him. Holding the spear in his left hand, Franz concentrated his mind on his right.
"Spirit of fire, answer my call and grant me your power."
Hot flames gathered in his right hand, swirling into a mass of fire. He hadn't had much success with it before, but he would use the [Flame Arrow], which was effective in tight spaces. With this much fire power, it might just work.
"Lend me your strength and courage! Go! [Flame Arrow]!"
The flames shot out from Franz as multiple arrows. They flew straight towards the monster.
"It worked!"
Feeling the success of his attack, Franz let out a short cry. The flame arrows had pierced the monster and exploded violently.
But as the thick smoke began to clear, Franz saw something unbelievable. The monster hadn't dodged any of his attacks; it had taken them all with its body. While black blood flowed from the countless burn marks on its body, the monster was smiling.
"No way…"
Franz stumbled backward. The monster was slowly closing the distance.
"I told you, it has no pain sensation!"
Boyd's words stung. He knew, but he didn't know what to do.
"Tch! How about this!"
Franz created an extra-large fireball in his right hand.
"Go! [Fireball]!"
At this point, he couldn't afford to worry about the building. He just had to defeat this thing.
The massive fireball, with a deafening explosion, engulfed the monster. A giant pillar of fire erupted, setting fire to various objects scattered around.
At that moment, the monster roared.
"…Is it working…?"
Franz muttered. From amidst the flames and smoke rising from the cloth scattered in the hallway, the scorched monster appeared, letting out a low growl.
Terrifyingly, it seemed the monster still felt no pain.
But there was a change. The monster was shaking its head, covering its bulging eyes.
"That thing, its eyes have been hit!"
Boyd said this and drew his sword. Even if it was a monster, if its eyes were gone, there was a chance of victory. But Boyd's injuries were worse than he thought, and he couldn't charge forward.
"Damn it. Of all the times to have a perfect opportunity…"
As Boyd groaned, leaning on the floor, it was Greig who started running from his side.
"Your Highness!"
"If the monster can't see, I can fight it too."
"What foolishness! Stop!"
Ignoring Boyd's warning, Greig charged at the monster, and Franz followed.
Greig's judgment was poor. Franz's attack had certainly damaged its eyes, but a monster without a sense of pain might not have its attacks weakened because of it.
Maybe this was what Ritz had been talking about before. But still, he couldn't just leave Greig. If he let him die, he would definitely regret it.
He felt like something unseen was pushing him.
"Franz!"
To Anna's voice, which sounded like it was trying to stop him, Franz answered without looking back.
"Anna, heal Boyd-san!"
After a moment's hesitation, Anna nodded.
"…Got it!"
During that brief exchange, Greig had already begun to slash at the monster. The body of the blind monster was easily torn apart by Greig's sword. Dark blood gushed from its body.
What in the world is this monster…
Greig, wildly slashing at the monster, was so absorbed he couldn't see his surroundings. Franz, who had fallen behind Greig, could see the situation from a distance.
The blind monster had noticed Greig, who was swinging his sword haphazardly.
Letting go of its eyes, the monster reached out for the still-unaware Greig.
"Look out!"
Shouting instinctively, Franz shoved Greig aside.
"What are you doing?!"
Faster than Greig's protest, the monster's hand swatted Franz's body away with incredible speed. The moment he was slammed against the wall, an unpleasant sound hit his ears. At the same time, a sharp pain shot through him, and his consciousness began to fade.
"Franz!"
Anna's and Greig's screams faintly reached the edge of his consciousness. In his darkening vision, he could see the monster slowly approaching.
He couldn't lose consciousness here. If he did, it would be over. Franz mustered all his willpower. Enduring the pain, he glared desperately at the monster.
He heard Anna's voice trying to come to him, but Franz warned her, his voice a strained whisper.
"…Stay back, Anna… We can't beat it…"
"I don't care!"
Anna's voice was mixed with tears. This is a hopeless situation, Franz thought with a strange calmness.
Am I going to die…
This was the first time he had ever been so conscious of death.
"I won't let you!"
He could see Greig slashing at the monster from behind again, but he knew it was ineffective. The monster twisted its upper body in annoyance and grabbed the arm of the sword-swinging Greig.
"Aaaargh!"
Lifted effortlessly into the air with one hand, Greig screamed. Franz saw Greig's arm bend in an unnatural direction from the monster's strength. He wouldn't be able to fight like that.
It was hopeless… At this rate, Greig would be killed too…
If that happened, this country would…
Franz realized the identity of the unseen force within his heart. It was a strong will, a desire not to let this country fall into chaos. Not to let another civil war happen.
If he used a fireball now, Greig would get caught in the crossfire. That was not an option. Then, what should he do?
After a moment of agony, an idea flashed through Franz's mind like a bolt of lightning. The one that had a will of its own, the one he could command to attack.
But Franz had never been able to control it even once. Still, at this point, he felt he had no choice. There were no other options. Franz touched the gem on his spear again.
This is an item passed down in the royal family… Lend me your power, to protect the royal family!
The hot power of flame coursing through his body emboldened Franz. If this failed, both he and Greig were finished. Ritz, who had always saved them in a crisis, Edward… and even his master weren't here.
Franz stared at the smoldering remains of the fireball still burning beside him. Maybe with this…
Looking up, he saw the monster's other hand reaching for Greig's neck. Because it couldn't see and Greig was struggling, it seemed to be having trouble finding its target.
It's still okay… I can make it in time…
After confirming this, Franz, his consciousness hazy, reached out to the flames burning beside him and slowly began to speak.
"Spirit of fire, who governs strength and courage. Answer my call and come forth to me. Grant me a share of your power."
With his prayer, the flames before him began to shine even brighter. But it did not take the form he desired.
"Damn it! Is it no good… Is it still too soon for me…"
At that moment, he felt something burn hot in his chest and explode. What was there was… that mysterious jewel.
Franz took out the jewel that hung inside his clothes. It was burning bright red, glowing. That's right, he had no choice but to use this.
"Power of flame, sleeping within me. Please, appear here before me."
His whole body was hot, as if being burned by flames. But Franz did not stop his prayer.
Gritting his teeth at the very limit, enduring the heat, a powerful, dignified voice resonated inside Franz's head.
'Seek me strongly, with the power of your heart.'
"Please, [Fire Dragon]! Lend me your power!"
At that moment, something in his head burst into white light. He had grasped a sense of understanding.
Simultaneously with his voice, the dying embers before him swelled to dozens of times their size and transformed into a giant dragon.
"[Fire Dragon]…"
His heart had reached it. It was the first time he'd ever felt it respond.
Enduring the brilliant light and his rapidly depleting stamina, Franz desperately commanded the [Fire Dragon].
"…Defeat that monster."
The [Fire Dragon] let out a great roar, and the swirling flames that formed its body blew a massive blast of fire at the monster's head.
"Hot!"
Greig was groaning. He remembered that he hadn't told it to save Greig.
But Franz somehow knew that the [Fire Dragon] understood. Because the heat was stopping just short of reaching Greig.
Seconds after the monster's head was engulfed in flames, Greig fell from the monster's limp hand to the floor below.
"…A fire dragon… This is Franz's power…"
Franz faintly heard Greig mutter as he slowly backed away.
When the flames from the [Fire Dragon] vanished from the monster's head, the monster's head was no longer there. It had been completely incinerated.
Even a monster couldn't do anything after losing its head, and it slowly began to topple over. But there was no time to catch their breath. Hearing the commotion, other monsters had started to come out of the mess hall.
There were about ten of them.
Franz stood up through sheer willpower.
His head was spinning. His footing was unsteady. The scenery was distorted. His back hurt, his chest hurt. It was hard to breathe.
Normally, he would have a mountain of complaints.
But, he had to defeat them all, no matter what. If his willpower gave out midway, everything would be over. His own life, and the peace of this country.
"I won't let that happen."
Franz returned the fire spear to his waist and clutched the jewel he had received when he set out on his journey.
"[Fire Dragon], blow their heads off!"
At his command, shouted with all his might, the swirling flames roared and charged toward the monsters. He could see the flames they spewed burning up, incinerating the monsters.
The mess hall and the hallway were transformed into a hell, dominated by the fiercely burning dragon of flame, the roars of the monsters, and their death cries.
Flesh burned, and a pungent smell filled the air along with the smoke. He felt like he was going to vomit.
Franz, having given the order to the [Fire Dragon], had no strength left. As he collapsed to his knees, Anna and Boyd, whose wounds had been treated by Anna, rushed over and supported him firmly.
"Are you okay, Franz?!"
Anna's eyes were still filled with tears. He wanted to say he was fine, but he didn't even have the strength to speak. If he were to speak, he had to use every last bit of his energy to defeat the monsters.
The monsters tried to fight back, but they couldn't touch the hot, flaming body, and if they even tried, they would be engulfed in fierce flames from that point.
In just a few minutes, the battle was decided.
After confirming it with Anna's and Greig's cheers, Franz gave the [Fire Dragon] one last command in his mind.
Return, [Fire Dragon]…
Just as he confirmed the [Fire Dragon] was heading toward him, Franz's consciousness abruptly cut out. He thought he heard Anna and Greig screaming in the deep darkness spreading before his eyes, but he wasn't even sure of that.