The Extra Wants To Live

Everyone was so tense that it was difficult to even breathe.

The only sound was the torch shaking in the wind and the sound of the valley water flowing.

In this way, the bottom of a 3m deep pond was revealed, and soon the bottom was completely dry, with not a single drop of blood remaining.

"Lord Carl, please step back."

Bilford grabbed Carl's shoulder and pulled him to protect him.

There was something under the pond.

At Bilford's instructions, a soldier threw a torch down, and its shape was revealed. It was small and didn't move.

It didn't seem dangerous.

"What… is it?"

The soldiers went down with a rope wrapped around the body and carefully went in.

What they took out was a red statue of a gnoll about two spans tall.

Carl looked at it carefully and touched it lightly with his hand.

"It's hot."

It was giving off heat as if it were alive.

Plus this ridiculously detailed workmanship.

It looked like it would move at any moment.

Carl stared at the statue with narrowed eyes and realized that it was slowly sucking the blood that had been sprinkled on the floor.

"Destroy it."

The soldiers smashed the statue as if they had been waiting for Carl's firm command.

He can't bear to look at this object any longer, so he smash it with all my might and then stomp it into dust.

The statue broke easily as if it were made of clay, and before I knew it, only red dirt remained on the floor.

… No, it's not dirt.

Carl realized that it was a piece of hardened blood.

"This…"

"Gather the red dirt and put it in."

Carl didn't bother to mention it.

Although everyone seemed reluctant, they silently followed Carl's orders.

The soldier carrying the bag filled with red dirt had no time to control his distorted expression. He want to throw it away right away.

After rescuing Catherine from the Red Gnoll, Carl finally ordered their return.

It was a terribly long day.

***

Those who survived first received treatment and rested.

Everyone was so exhausted that there was nothing they could do no matter what they wanted to do.

Wouldn't it be possible to enjoy the joy of victory only through strength?

However, those who woke up in the morning were so well rested that they could not feel victory.

No, well...Carl said we won, so we must have won...

The story of the human-speaking gnoll with silver fur and red mane escaping alive was quietly buried.

There is nothing he can do at Healpin anyway. Talking about it will only add to the confusion.

Carol got ready early in the morning and moved to Hilfin Castle.

And he was the first to meet Harmon, who had been eagerly waiting for him.

"Harmon, you did a good job."

"… Yes, Lord Carl."

With a tired face, Harman swallowed back his insults with all his might and responded in the polite manner of an imperial servant.

"Where is Fardin?"

"I will guide you."

Harman smiled and guided Carl.

Then, the moment Carl got off the horse and took off his helmet, Harman could not help but flinch.

'No, within a few days….'

Only four days have passed since the night Carl left.

However, in that short period of time, Carl had grown noticeably.

He is half a span taller, his shoulders have broadened, and his once young and delicate face seems to shine as coolly as a blade.

What on earth happened in that moment?

"Harmon, we don't have that much free time."

"Oh, yes."

Harman came to his senses again and guided Carl.

Fardin was sitting alone in the office where Hilfin's matriarch worked, breathing slowly with his face buried in his hands.

"Fardin."

After Harman opens the door, Carl comes in and calls out, and only then does Fardin lower his hand and look at Carl.

The puffy face belongs to a son who had no choice but to kill his father due to unavoidable circumstances.

"Thanks to your decision, we successfully defeated the gnoll."

"…."

It would be somewhat inappropriate to mention that 'decision' in detail now.

"We killed all the gnolls that attacked from Ax Sound Village, and then went into the forest and wiped out all the remaining gnolls. Hilfin will no longer be threatened by gnolls. The territory will find stability, and the people of the territory will also enjoy peace."

Slowly, Carl puts down the silver ax blade of the gnoll on the desk.

"And with the enormous wealth coming from the silver mines, wouldn't it be possible to grow quickly?"

"…"

Fardin looked at the cleanly cleaned ax blade with a mesmerized face.

What on earth is this?

Because of this, his father Maldin abandoned his family, abandoned his people's, and thus lost his life by his own hands.

… No, in the end it was he who made the decision.

"Of course, if you can protect it."

"…What do you want from me?"

Fardin mutters lowly at Carl's words.

If he can protect it...

If Fardin can hide the fact that he killed Maldin, then Fardin can properly receive the title of Baron and inherit the territory.

And if only we could hide the existence of the silver mine well so that the estate would not become a torn rag.

"Fardin, no, Lord Hilfin. I believe you're not asking because you really don't know."

Fardin looked up at Carl quietly.

And ICarlburst out laughing at the absurdity.

Had he gone crazy?

Is the helpless 4th prince with no background going to jump into the battle for succession to the throne?

"Lord Hilfin, I don't want you to think you have a choice. Your father's sins will not be lifted from his shoulders."

Carl spoke cruelly in a gentle voice and with a gentle expression that he displayed when dealing with the people around him.

"… What happens if I refuse?"

If Fardin refuses, and all the information is released, then wouldn't Carl's troubles have been in vain?

"I will hang you for treason in killing Baron Maldin of Hilfin, approved by His Majesty the Emperor, and appoint a new person in his place, and give Hilfin to me. Fardin, Hilfin will become a big silver mine from that moment on."

Azgoth plans to push Carl to balance power. One way or another, Hilfin will eventually become Carl's.

Carl's words seemed like a threat, but not a threat. There was no choice, but they were not forced, and there was no need to force them.

Fardin closed his eyes and ran his hands through his hair.

"Whoa… … ."

Fardin, sighing and staggering to his feet, walked around the desk and stood in front of Carl.

Although Carl has grown a bit in the past few days, she is just a small child in front of the large Fardin, who must have Valturan blood in his blood.

Carl proudly raised his chin and looked up at Fardin.

His blond hair pulled back in a tight ponytail and his pure white skin were a mess from the ensuing battle, and his armor was covered in all sorts of wounds.

The clothes are torn here and there, and the cloak is also dirty.

Fardin, standing in front of him, looked down at Carl, who was no bigger than his chest, and then looked around at himself.

He had a strong body full of strength, neat clothes, and no armor.

He can't raise his head in front of Carl

Fardin lowered his head because his head was so dizzy and heavy.

Dump.

Fardin completely fell to his knees and covered his eyes with his hands for a moment, gasping for breath.

Then, he grabbed Carl's dirty hand with a trembling hand and placed his mouth on the back of it.

"I will contact you later. Lord Hilfin."

Carl withdrew his hand and spoke calmly.

"Yes, Lord Carl."

"I won't do anything for nothing…"I believe it."

Of course, Carl doesn't trust Fardin at all, and he won't believe Carl words that he trusts Fardin, either.

The reason the two are tied together is not because of trust, but because it is profitable for their own purposes.

Carl was about to leave the office, but turned around and said as if she remembered something.

"Oh, come to think of it."

Unlike before, Carl's voice really sounded like a child of that age, so Fardin lifted his lowered head and looked up at him.

What on earth is he trying to say?

"The credit for the victory goes to the soldiers, but it probably doesn't mean much to them."

"…."

"Isn't there too much money anyway? How about giving a reward to those who sacrificed their lives for fighting? I want to do that, but I'm poor and don't have a single penny."

Carl said that with a slightly awkward smile and left.

"… ha ha ha."

Fardin stopped laughing at the absurdity.

So what on earth is that small, sickly 4th prince?

Is this a devil who will bring destruction to everyone?

Or is he a messenger from God who has come for salvation?