#044

“That is impossible.”

Silfir refused outright.

“As you said, red salt has been a long-standing income for our territory. This is the only place that has produced red salt to this extent across the continent. If I follow Your Highness’s command, not only will trade with merchants be disrupted, but the territory’s residents will also strongly object.”

Opposition was expected. Cullen threw in a remark.

“Are there any people left to mine salt? Are you going to order the corpses outside to return to the mines and work?”

“That….”

Taking advantage of the pause, Cullen continued his firm persuasion.

“The salt dug from caves is a finite resource that will eventually disappear. The Marquess’s territory will eventually have to sustain itself through other means. Given that half of the territory’s residents have died, it is unlikely there will be enough labor to maintain the mines, so now is the time to prepare a new path.”

It felt strange to be saying these words himself. Cullen realized he cared more about the territory’s situation than he had initially thought. More precisely, he couldn’t overlook the tragedy that had occurred here.

“The survivors will object.”

Of course, they would. Cullen recalled the selfish and thoughtless people who had been incited by Pellar.

“It would be best to use the same power that subdued the miners on them. Marquess Exion, this is an order. I am following a prophecy, and I believe I have sufficient authority to command, at least concerning matters related to this.”

At the word “order,” Silfir sighed. His face hardened as he looked at Cullen, then brought up a practical problem.

“How do you intend to close it?”

They did not have the luxury of bringing siege weapons, so mobilizing them was out of the question.

“It would be best to collapse it so that it can never be used again, at least that mine.”

“We do not have weapons capable of collapsing such a large mine.”

Except for magic, that is.

Everyone knew the unspoken words Silfir swallowed. Cullen rubbed his chin. His gaze fell on the corpses outside the window, and after a moment of silence, he thought of a method.

“I will handle that.”

It was not a wise method, but it would be a solution nonetheless.

“Uh, Cullen-nim.”

Lasano, who had been observing Cullen as he put on his armor, said.

“May I say just one thing?”

“Don’t.”

Lasano spoke anyway.

“Are you insane?”

Cullen indifferently let his words wash over him as he tightened his leather armor. He would need to ride, so metal armor would only be a hindrance. He checked that the daggers he’d obtained from Silfir were secured at his waist and began to fasten his boots.

Kiyen, who had been gazing at Cullen silently, opened his mouth. His tone was somehow displeased.

“What the High Priest said is correct.”

“This method is correct. Kiyen’s Magic can only be cast when I am in danger, and we cannot leave the corpses outside the castle as they are.”

Kiyen furrowed his brow slightly. He retorted again.

“They will fall on their own once the curse is dealt with.”

“But there are too many. With no manpower, isn’t this the only way to dispose of so many corpses before a plague breaks out?”

To Cullen, who countered without yielding, Kiyen seemed genuinely annoyed now.

“Why not just burn them?”

“That will undoubtedly spread the fire to intact houses within the castle.”

“I’ve never seen a Larkan so eager to die as you.”

Cullen’s plan was brutally simple. He would be the bait, leading the corpses as far as the mine. Their speed was faster than running people, and since the sun had not yet risen high, according to Arne’s explanation, they would be even faster than during the day.

Cullen intended to make the mine their tomb. He couldn’t leave the pitifully sacrificed people in the streets, and there was absolutely not enough manpower to bury them one by one. Even if they burned them all out of fear of contagion, that time was also insufficient. Moreover, it felt like some marker was needed to honor them.

Cullen planned to lure the corpses there, push them in as much as possible, and then have Kiyen’s Magic collapse the mine. It was, in fact, a plan ripe for death, as Kiyen had said.

“If you go in that far, you’ll be swept away too. Even if you don’t die from Magic, you’ll be crushed by stones. How do you plan to escape?”

“I intend to sacrifice the poor horse. I know you find that unpleasant, but there is no other way.”

If he sent the running horse in, Kiyen could cast Magic on the corpses that followed it, as well as those that had come that far. As it was a large-scale Magic, Kiyen would need preparation time. Ascending at the same time would be impossible.

“What a crude plan.”

Kiyen closed his mouth, his mood clearly soured. He recalled Kiyen’s words when he kissed him in the cave. His words, “You must not die here,” probably meant “not before the deal is concluded.” Therefore, he wouldn’t like the current situation.

“If it’s because of the deal, don’t worry. I won’t die from something like that. I won’t go all the way into the cave.”

At the word “deal,” Kiyen’s expression subtly stiffened. There was no major change, but his demeanor shifted. Kiyen shook his head and turned away. The somber atmosphere was broken by a knock on the door.

“Are you ready, Your Highness?”

“Come in.”

Silfir entered, accompanied by knights. He was immaculately dressed, a stark contrast to when he had just returned, but his complexion was even more tinged with fatigue. Everyone here was.

Furthermore, Cullen hadn’t slept a wink. Once this was over, he’d need to sleep for several hours. Though he didn’t show it, he hadn’t rested properly for days and was, frankly, exhausted.

“The horses are ready. We will open the back gate for you, and I and the knights will handle the corpses there. However, I… do not think this plan is wise. It is too dangerous.”

“Isn’t it fortunate for you, then?”

Cullen’s words, spoken without malice, caused the faces of the knights and Silfir to stiffen.

“I am not speaking to object to a decision that has already been made, Your Highness. This is separate from how much I love and cherish Helen.”

As he’d felt before, Silfir truly seemed to love Helen. Helen also appeared to rely on him. It was a rare sight. This meant it was different from the political engagements between royalty and nobility that Cullen had envisioned.

“And I dislike needless sacrifices,” Silfir said quietly. Cullen nodded.

“I appreciate your concern, but Kiyen will be there, so it will be alright. When I begin to lead the corpses, you, the High Priest, and Kiyen should maintain a good distance and follow closely.”

“…The horses are prepared.”

“It’s fortunate we have them.”

Not wanting to waste time, Cullen grabbed his longsword and left the room. Before leaving, he glanced at Kiyen, who still looked displeased. Like a sulking cat. Though he had never raised anything other than a Wolfdog, Cullen thought so.

Just then, as he was about to step out of the door to go to the stables, Arne, held by the knights, spoke.

“I will go with you, Your Highness.”

“That is not possible. Unlike me, you are an untrained Common Priest; you will die.”

The knights flinched, startled by Cullen’s eccentric behavior of using honorifics towards a Common Priest. Even though his status had been revealed, Arne seemed surprised that Cullen maintained the same attitude. He paused, then calmly retorted.

“It is difficult to attract attention with just one person. Moreover, you must take your sword, don’t you? You are affected by swords, and the High Priest must protect the knights as he moves, so it is right for me to go. You also don’t know the way to the new mine.”

This time, Lasano, who had been smiling, stiffened his expression. Just as he was about to open his lips, Arne spoke again.

“Please, let me help. My life is forfeit anyway, so this would be more helpful.”

Silfir did not object. He looked at Arne with a blank expression.

“Can you ride a horse? You need to be able to ride well to throw torches and lure them.”

“Yes, fortunately, I can ride a horse moderately well.”

Arne did not seem like he would back down. Since Silfir also did not object, there was no immediate alternative.

Cullen nodded with a reluctant expression. Arne had assumed death, but if he could prevent it, he would try his best. He somehow didn’t want Arne to die.

“Then let’s go quickly. It would be best to do this before the morning is fully light.”

“Yes, understood.”

Cullen began to walk without delay. Silfir followed beside him. The knights, bewildered by the Crown Prince’s strange way of speaking, quickly followed behind him.

Only the horses they would ride remained in the Marquess’s stables. If the horses died, Kiyen would dislike it. Stroking the horse’s head, Cullen apologized inwardly. The fate of the horse he would ride was sealed, if not others.

Despite his apparent fear, Arne mounted the horse skillfully. He rode better than Lasano, clearly having done physical work before becoming a priest.

“Two will remain to close the gate, and the rest will escort the High Priest and Kiyen and come along. Arne and I will go to the mountain first.”

Silfir’s eyes met Cullen’s as he stood beside the horse, looking up at him.

“Your Highness… you are very different.”

Silfir said in a calm voice, as if measuring something.

“It’s my nature.”

As Cullen calmly agreed, Silfir continued.

“The royal family has never directly interfered in the affairs of other territories.”

After saying that, he paused for a moment and wished Cullen luck.

“May we meet safely from above.”

“We shall.”

Cullen pulled on the reins. As he slowly exited the stables, Cullen mounted his horse and met Kiyen, who was staring at him intently. He felt a faint unease, clearly displeased because of him. Hesitantly, he spoke to Kiyen.

“I will be alright.”

“I did not ask,” Kiyen’s sharp voice sounded as if he were worrying about him for no reason. It was impossible, and even if it were, it would be because they were contractors…

He didn’t dislike it. It was enough to offset the mood that had been dampened by his shoes.

With a slightly relaxed expression, one he hadn’t even realized himself, Cullen said to Kiyen.

“Follow carefully, Kiyen. The mountain path is treacherous.”

At that, Kiyen’s expression grew sharper. He became angry.

“Begone.”

Was it wrong to find this situation cute? The thought that briefly crossed his mind surprised even Cullen.

Regaining his usual stern expression, Cullen bowed his head slightly. Then he left the stables. Silfir and the knights followed quickly behind him. They arrived at the small back gate, used by the castle servants for carrying food or leaving work.

Arne stood beside Cullen. Cullen glanced at him and said.

“You must follow well.”

“Thank you, Cullen.”

Arne smiled innocently, even facing death. Seeing his eyes crinkle like a puppy’s, Cullen closed his mouth. Meanwhile, the knights stood by the gate.

“Here you are.”

Silfir handed Cullen a torch. A knight also handed Arne a torch.

“We are ready.”

As soon as the words were out, the knights opened the gate. The moment the small gate, barely wide enough for a carriage, opened, the loitering corpses turned their heads. With a growling sound, the corpses in tattered clothes rushed forward like a pack of dogs.

Cullen drew his sword and severed the head of the first one that charged.