Chapter 2: The Trojan Horse

He fiercely glared at me as he raised his voice.

[Leader]: So, you’re the crown prince. I wonder how much they will pay for you.

I raised my head and smirked.

[Edmond]: Don’t expect much. I am The Devil after all.

I looked around the room to count how many guards were present. Apparently, five in total; two near the door, three behind the leader. My silence started to irritate the leader. He approached me and raised a sword to my neck.

[Leader]: Then, I will take your head.

[Edmond]: That makes six.

[Leader]: What are you talking about?

[Edmond]: How about I get to the point? As you can see, I was betrayed, so let’s work together to destroy them.

[Leader]: Do you think I am stupid? You will betray me once we’re done and take everything.

[Edmond]: So, you’re declining. I guess you’re not stupid. You just don’t think hard enough.

In a fit of rage, he punched me in the stomach. I curled up in pain but, while I wiggled around, I took the opportunity to grip my dagger that I hid at the side of my left leg.

[Edmond]: I’ll give you one, last opportunity to agree.

[Leader]: I don’t need your help. I heard you’re the unwanted prince.

[Edmond]: You will soon meet your dead comrades. Greet them for me.

The leader was confused. Then, he started laughing together with the guards. While they were busy relishing in the humor, I had already cut the ropes. I straightened myself back up to look at him again.

[Edmond]: You can’t hunt devils with angels.

[Leader]: What???

I leaped forward and sunk my dagger on the side of his stomach. Next, I quickly pushed the nearest guard while snagging his sword. Swinging this sword in hand, I spun around and killed the first guard near the door.

Chaos erupted within the tent. Some guards stood still, frozen in surprise. One of them attempted to scream, but, with a few leaps, I slit his neck. He fell while holding his wound. Another guard came charging with a spear from the other end of the room, but I skillfully deflected the attack, forcing him to veer to his right and leave an opening. I then proceeded to cut his back. Now, only two guards remained. One of them attempted to stop the leader’s bleeding. I approached the other guard, who nervously held his sword.

[Guard]: You won’t escape here alive.

[Edmond]: I wasn’t planning to.

He came charging like a wild animal, but it was useless. My left foot moved back. I lowered my body while the sword swung just above my head.

*TING*

Our swords met each other, but I was the first to react. I pushed him back with my swords. Then, like lightning, I slashed down with full force. A huge wound opened up on the guard’s chest. He fell to his knees, looking up at me. I kicked his head and he collapsed. The last guard picked up the dagger and attempted to stab me, but I caught his arm. As if I was lifting a dummy, I raised his entire body.

[Edmond]: Are you feeling lucky?

[Guard]: Please don’t kill me! I have a wife!!!

[Edmond]: Did you think about that when you killed my men? Today you draw your last breath.

[Guard]: NOOOO!!!!!

I stabbed him through his chest, then tossed him to the side. I gazed on as the guard died slowly. Satisfied, I turned towards the leader.

[Edmond]: You should have accepted my offer. Then, all of this wouldn’t have happened.

[Leader]: You truly are the devil. Will you show mercy to this fool?

[Edmond]: Would you have done the same?

[Leader]: I see. Then, I will take you with me.

Mustering all of his strength, he jumped towards me with a knife. I took the knife straight on, letting it stab me. Finally, with my sword, I cut him down. I watched his body turn lifeless before I drew a big breath in and looked up.

[Edmond]: Who knew that Hawkeye’s novel would save me? He will be very angry at me when I return it to him.

After pulling out the torn novel from my inner chest pocket, I stepped out of the tent, covered in blood while holding the dead leader’s head. All the guards were shocked and sounded the alarm. I watched with amusement as they scrambled for their weapons.

[Hawkeye]: What the bloody hell is going on down there?

[Knight]: They have sounded the alarm. Will the prince be okay?

[Hawkeye]: We will find out. Mobilize the unit.

As I saw the knights arrive on horseback, I started to cut through them. One of the horses appeared familiar. It was a graceful, black horse being ridden by a knight with a beard. He galloped towards me while swinging his spear.

[Hawkeye]: Boy, you’re still alive.

[Edmond]: Took you long enough.

He suddenly stopped and looked shocked. Bodies laid strewn around me, some even pilling on top of each other. He then looked at me with a curious eye and chuckled.

[Hawkeye]: I must have trained a monster

[Edmond]: That is not amusing.

[Hawkeye]: How many did you kill?

[Edmond]: I lost count. Let’s return.

The camp was located in a small town, where families and villagers took part in their daily activities. Although the soldiers set their camp up beyond the outskirts of town, my quarters were found inside the town, together with the other nobles and high-ranking officers. Even though my assigned house was the oldest and weakest house in the area, they apparently went out of their way to find me a house that still had a bath, a bed, and a window.

Soldiers saluted to me with respect as I rode back into the camp, heading straight for my quarters. I removed my bloody clothes, then took a bath. After I finished, I reached for my bottle of wine. As I sat on my bed and poured the wine into my glass, I gazed outside the window. Everything was blanketed in darkness. I sipped a little and turned to the corner of the room.

[Edmond]: For how long do you plan to stand there?

[Assassin]: ……..