Chapter 40

One minute later, Yuwon allowed Marcellus to breathe.

“Huff, huff! Y–Your Highness! I have committed a grave sin. Please, spare my life!”

Marcellus, reduced to a bloody mess, clutched Yuwon’s arm and begged for mercy.

“Who ordered you?”

In contrast, Yuwon did not even blink, as if this much was nothing.

“O–order? I–I don’t know anything about that!”

Yuwon did not bother to pry. He merely helped Marcellus feel like talking.

“…It seems you’re not ready to talk yet. Have a sip of cold water and think again.”

Yuwon’s words sounded as chilling as a death sentence. Then, inevitably, the water torture continued.

Splash—!

“Guhhh! Cough, cough!”

Marcellus’s face was shoved once again into the washbasin, red with his own blood. He struggled desperately to lift his head, but Yuwon pressed him down with one hand with ease.

Yuwon’s cold gaze stayed fixed on the ticking second hand of the wall clock.

‘Fifty… fifty–five… one minute.’

A minute passed. Yuwon pulled out the limp Marcellus and resumed the conversation.

“Now, are you ready to talk? The next time will be two minutes.”

Between one minute and two minutes underwater lay a difference as vast as heaven and earth. And Yuwon was a man who meant what he said.

Perhaps valuing his life, Marcellus finally opened his mouth.

“Th–Third Prince! It was the Third Prince’s order! It was all by the Third Prince’s command!”

“As expected, Bernid. I thought so. Was it also under Bernid’s orders that I was poisoned?”

“Wh–what? P–poison? What do you mean by that…?”

Marcellus’s torn eyes widened in shock. He had never imagined Yuwon knew even that much.

“The decade-long plan was exposed—you must have wanted to deny it at least once. I understand your answer.”

He did understand. But that was all.

“…However, that’s not the answer I wanted.”

Splash—!

Yuwon’s hand moved again. The blood–tinged water splattered wildly.

The interrogation looked far from over.

Two days passed since then.

During that time, the tournament held two more preliminary rounds, eliminating dozens and deciding the sixteen who would advance to the main competition.

Naturally, Yuwon and Terrien both advanced, and even the formidable Renania managed to cut through fierce competition, becoming the sole female to make the main round.

In every preliminary match, Yuwon and Terrien each defeated their opponents within two minutes. The two quickly became the hottest topic of the tournament.

“At this rate, will His Highness the Fifth Prince really take the championship?”

“Come on, even if so, His Highness the Second Prince—the ‘Imperial Sword’—is still standing strong. No way…”

“His Highness the Fifth Prince and the best swordsman of the illegitimate line, Terrien Calmodet. And even the Crown Prince himself is displaying an awe–inspiring prowess as if unwilling to lose. It seems even the Imperial Sword will not have an easy year.”

“Haha… they said this year’s finals wouldn’t be as predictable as before, and indeed, from the start, things are already different….”

Everywhere, Houkijisu participants argued heatedly over who would claim victory in the swordsmanship tournament.

Although the mounted battles and magician contests had begun, none could draw attention away from the swordsmanship event.

The swordsmanship tournament had always been the main event of the Houkijisu Tournament, but this year, the attention toward it soared beyond the clouds.

And all of it began with Yuwon—the butterfly effect he created.

Now, with only one day left before the finals were to be opened to the public, Yuwon and Terrien were taking a brief rest.

“Your Highness… what about Viscount Bartlett…?”

“Do not worry, Terrien. He is my man. I will reclaim him myself.”

Though Yuwon hadn’t said a word, Terrien had already sensed it. He, too, had been worried about Hastings’s sudden disappearance.

“…Is there nothing I can do to help?”

“Victory.”

“…?”

“Win the swordsmanship tournament in my stead.”

“How could someone as lacking as I stand in for Your Highness? What about you? Are you giving up on the tournament?”

Yuwon gave a heavy nod.

“I have something far more important to do.”

Clack—

Yuwon’s footsteps echoed faintly through the empty cavern.

‘Has it been nearly a week?’

After being busy with the tournament and other matters, Yuwon finally returned to the underground chamber of the library.

The first thing he did was feed the starving Black Serpent. He considered feeding it the venom of the Dragon-Scaled Serpent, but the agony from that was not something one could endure twice.

“The first time was like a stroke of fortune, but there’s no guarantee I’d survive a second.”

The bite mark on his chest, where the Dragon-Scaled Serpent had once bitten him, still remained vividly like a tattoo.

Standing before the gray iron door leading to the central cavern, Yuwon pushed it open.

“Ugh— tch.”

Soon, a dense jungle spread before his eyes. The damp, hot air surged toward him.

“Let’s get started, then.”

Yuwon swept through the various wings—the jungle section, the desert section, and others where venomous creatures thrived—moving as swiftly as the wind.

After about thirty minutes—

“Are you full now?”

Even without words or sight, he could feel it. The Black Serpent, having gorged on toxins, seemed content at last.

It had grown irritable from hunger over the past few busy days, but now that it was fed, it calmed down immediately.

“You’re cuter than you look.”

It felt like raising a pet inside his own body.

“Now, it’s your turn.”

The urgent matter settled, Yuwon’s gaze shifted to the inner pocket of his coat.

“Screee—!”

The hatchling of the Dragon-Scaled Serpent let out a high-pitched cry, greeting Yuwon. Its small but sharp fangs gleamed.

“At least no one will mistake you for a worm anymore.”

Once, it had looked like an earthworm at birth, but now it had grown enough to resemble a small snake.

Unlike the Black Serpent, this one was charming in its own way—growing a little each day.

“Come to think of it, your scales have come in nicely too.”

Its once–smooth skin now bore proper scales befitting its name, Dragon-Scaled Serpent.

Since the hatchling wasn’t picky like the Black Serpent, it never went hungry even if Yuwon couldn’t visit often. Still, being kept close for protection must have been frustrating.

“Go on, stretch out and play for a while.”

Yuwon took the Dragon-Scaled Serpent from his pocket and released it into the cavern.

“Screee—!”

It squealed with delight at its long-awaited freedom, slithering about energetically. Yuwon couldn’t help but smile faintly at the sight.

“Cute little thing.”

The hatchling did not particularly pick its food; if it was something a young snake could eat, it would snap it up eagerly.

On top of that, it even understood human speech and had once brought Yuwon giyeon as well. It was impossible not to find it endearing.

Inside Yurion Aphahiel’s body had accumulated a massive poisonous core and Yuwon’s cultivated life force.

The two energies, like water and oil, formed a strange harmony after the Dragon-Scaled Serpent’s poison had entered Yuwon’s veins.

‘Thanks to that, it grew quickly.’

Even now, the pure venom of the poisonous core was slowly seeping into his life force and increasing its quantity.

Because the poisonous core gradually contributed to his life force, he was regaining strength far faster than he had imagined.

‘Now I’m probably roughly at the tail end of second tier, about to enter the first tier…’

At this rate, the peak level that was called Sword Master in this world would not be far off.

Above all, Yuwon already had a path he had cultivated in his previous life.

‘At this speed, two or three years from now. Time will make up for any shortcomings.’

Even Yuwon himself could hardly believe the speed of his growth. There was no need to rush.

‘Then shall I take care of my work now…’

Yuwon sat down cross-legged.

It was the first time in a long while he had any time alone since the Houkijisu Tournament had begun.

In the wide cavern — a secret space granted only to Yuwon — he practiced breathing cultivation without worrying about anyone watching.

And after a long while.

“Phew….”

Yuwon finished his breathing cultivation with a deep breath and stood up.

‘I should be getting up soon.’

Before the tournament he might have been able to spend hours alone, but now it had become difficult for him to enjoy long stretches of solitary time.

All because of the surge of attention from the recent Houkijisu Tournament.

“Then… lastly.”

Yuwon stood before the massive stone gate where he had once discovered Tang Seogyeom’s secret manual.

Creak—

When he threw the gate open, an empty space greeted him. Beyond the empty spot, only two doors were visible.

As if already familiar with it, Yuwon grasped the left door and opened it.

Clatter—

“Y–Your Highness? Is that you, Your Highness?”

The moment the door opened, someone’s voice came through. Dampness, a musty mold stench, and a faint smell of blood assaulted Yuwon.

“Ugh, the smell.”

Yuwon wrinkled his nose at the stench. The person who had been there reacted immediately to his voice.

“P-please… please spare my life….”

Marcellus! The voice belonged to Marcellus.

The Chief Attendant of the Fifth Prince’s Palace and a henchman of the Third Prince had been caught by Yuwon and locked in the deepest part of the library’s underground cavern — Yuwon’s secret space.

In two days, Marcellus’s appearance had become something else entirely. His unwashed face showed clear traces of a nosebleed, and his half-naked, bound body bore several small scratches and bruises.

“Ugh, ugh….”

Marcellus writhed in pain. Though there were no obvious external wounds, his expression was one of intense agony.

“You still have some antidote in you; don’t be so dramatic….”

Before Yuwon could step forward, Marcellus crawled toward him. Using his elbows and knees because his bound limbs did not move well, he flailed forward.

“Your Highness! P-please, the antidote…!”

Marcellus begged for his life at Yuwon’s feet.

“Shh, quiet. Your voice is echoing and it hurts my ears.”

“Y-yes….”

Marcellus immediately lowered his voice. Yuwon pulled a chair up in front of him and sat.

“Do not misunderstand, Marcellus. I have no intention of killing you. If I intended to kill you, why would I come at the right time and give you an antidote?”

Then Yuwon reached into his clothes and took out a small vial. He released Marcellus’s bindings and placed the vial in his hand.

“Drink. You’ll be fine for another two days.”

“Th-thank you! Thank you! Your Highness!”

The effects of the previously taken antidote had been fading. Marcellus cradled the small vial with both hands as if it were his life.

Gulp—

It was hardly a mouthful. Marcellus poured the antidote into his mouth and swallowed every last drop.

Once the medicine took effect, the creeping pain would subside. While he drank, Marcellus rubbed his hands together, freed temporarily from his restraints, and pleaded for forgiveness.

“Y-Your Highness. Please forgive me…! If you spare me, I will do anything! It was all the Third Prince’s orders… please, please! Spare me…!”

“Do not worry, Marcellus. I have not even found Hastings yet; why would I kill you? Until Hastings appears safe and sound before me, you cannot die even if you wanted to!”

Yuwon’s voice, usually calm even in anger, thundered terrifyingly. His shout echoed sharply through the small room.

“If Hastings is already dead or if you are of no use, you will spend the rest of your life tormented by pain such that you could not die even if you wanted to!”

At that decree, Marcellus trembled as if struck by lightning.

“I truly do not know anything! It is true that I led the arrest of the Viscount, but I was not involved in his disappearance afterward. If the Viscount was not in the place I mentioned last time, then that was the Third Prince’s command! Please believe me!”

Marcellus pleaded with tears. But Yuwon, now as cold as if not a drop of blood ran through him, was merciless.

“Why should I believe that? What if you have deceived and lied to me as you always have?”

What flowed in Yuwon’s veins was not blood. It was poison. Poison.

“It is a matter of my life. How could I lie? I speak only the truth!”

Marcellus struggled with everything he had to live. The sight of him sobbing that he wanted to live without even knowing what had become of Hastings disgusted Yuwon.

“…Do you want to live that badly?”

“Yes, yes. I will do anything; please spare me. Your Highness. I will beg like this!”

Marcellus begged even to tears, grime and snot streaming down his face.

Yuwon felt revulsion and could have killed him on the spot, but he could not bring himself to do it. The man was still of use.

Yuwon closed his eyes to suppress his anger.

‘Above all, I needed him alive to find Hastings.’

When he opened his eyes again.

“I will spare you. But there is something you must do.”

Yuwon’s blue gaze flashed like a blade. That blade pointed at the Third Prince’s heart.