THDK Chapter 44

Operation: Rescue the Second Prince! (Part 3)

When I pushed the door, it opened easily. I slipped inside on tiptoe. It seemed only the guard I had seen earlier was stationed here.

As I moved forward, peeking into each cell, I found one that was clearly different from the others. It was sparsely furnished but had a bed and a water bucket—simple amenities not provided to the other prisoners. The cell was secured with heavy locks and chains, and inside, lying on the bed, was a man with beautiful silver hair.

“Um… are you Prince Luke?”

When I spoke, he noticed my voice, sat up, and slowly turned around. His emerald-green, droopy eyes caught sight of me and widened in surprise.

“An angel has come to greet me.”

“No, I’m not an angel…”

“Not an angel…? Then… Ah, you’re carrying a very beautiful sword.”

Prince Luke’s gaze shifted to Oreole, and a smile formed on his lips. He had an elusive, enchanting aura, and as he approached, he knelt before me. Surprised, I felt him take my hand through the bars and press his lips to the back of it, causing me to flinch.

“At last, I’ve been able to see you. The Hero, our star of hope.”

“P-please, stand up!”

“Very well, I’ll take your word for it.”

I felt relieved as Prince Luke stood up. It felt far too presumptuous to have a prince kneel before me.

“My name is Sol. How did you know I was the Hero?”

“I sensed the light magic emanating from you and your sword. I have the ability to see others’ magic, though unfortunately, I can’t use magic myself. But your magic is a bit… Well, more importantly, I can guess why the Hero, who’s been hiding all this time, has come to see me. May I ask your reasons?”

Just from this brief conversation, it was clear Prince Luke was sharp. I summarized my story, and Prince Luke let out a soft laugh.

“I see. No wonder no one could find you—you were living in demon territory. And now, you’re trying to stop the war.”

I had kept my life in the Demon King’s castle a secret, only mentioning that I had lived in demon lands. I wasn’t sure if he’d accept that, but he seemed to understand. After a moment of thought, Prince Luke suddenly looked up and suggested we retrieve the shield.

“The shield?”

“The shield that pairs with the Hero’s sword. It’s stored in the royal armory. Ten years ago, the shield glowed, signaling the birth of the Hero. The sword and shield are connected—when the sword chooses the Hero, the shield glows. But even though the Hero’s birth was a joyous event, the Hero never appeared. The anti-demon faction has been desperately searching for the Hero.”

So, I really was being protected by Nox and the others. They kept me from falling into human hands and being used. It dawned on me that a Hero raised by demons would be a difficult figure for humans to handle. Of course, I had no intention of being used by anyone.

“If we retrieve the shield, everyone will recognize you as the Hero.”

“Then, I’ll get the shield and afterward, I’ll meet with Prince Antonio to stop the war.”

“I’ll help too. War only brings suffering to the people.”

“Thank you! Um, could you step back for a moment?”

Prince Luke obliged and stepped back. Once I confirmed he was at a safe distance, I focused on the chains binding the cell. I gathered my magic and concentrated, recalling what Alan had taught me.

“Ha!”

In an instant, I activated wind magic and channeled it through Oreole’s blade. With a powerful swing, the chains shattered with a loud clang and fell to the floor. Even sheathed, Oreole’s power was immense. With magic infused, it could cut through stone or wood effortlessly.