I Want To Die One Day Before You - Chapter 141
Prince Tarek was once the only force that could rival Crown Prince Viren. The nobles who opposed the crown prince had all sided with him.
But that was no longer the case.
Having been miserably defeated in the Demon King Subjugation, Prince Tarek returned alive by a stroke of luck, only to lead an even more debauched life. A drunkard and a womanizer, he was a complete ruin. Now, no one stood by his side.
In other words,
‘All the forces will now rally around Crown Prince Viren.’
Looking at the grand palace before him, Rufus, in the form of a black butterfly, thought.
The nobles who once sided with Prince Tarek had all scattered. There was no way Prince Tarek could overthrow Crown Prince Viren and usurp the throne.
Therefore.
It was not at all strange for Rufus to become a subordinate of Crown Prince Viren.
Now was the opportunity.
To catch a beast, you must first enter the beast’s den.
And to enter the beast’s den.
“Here it is.”
You need bait that the beast would like.
“The place where Queen Echinacea’s cursed sword is buried.”
For instance, the sacred relic containing his mother’s soul.
“……”
Rufus and Iruel stood in the palace’s sewage treatment plant.
The sewage treatment plant was located in the most secluded part of the palace. It was a place where all the palace’s impurities were processed.
This place, filled with all sorts of filth, was not pleasant.
A terrible stench filled the air. Something sticky clung to their feet.
It was so filthy that even the administrators were reluctant to step foot there. Unless it was for essential work, no one visited this place.
‘I understand why Prince Tarek hid the cursed sword here.’
Rufus slowly scanned the vicinity of the sewage treatment plant with his eyes. Just standing in this contaminated space made him feel sick.
Who would ever think that the queen’s relics were buried in such a place?
“Oh, I wish I could catch a cold.”
Iruel, having returned to his human form, held his nose tightly.
“I’m going to die. My nose is going to rot. I wish I have a nose that can’t smell.”
“Cut it off then.”
Rufus, who had also returned to his original form, replied curtly.
“Haha, you’re joking.”
“I’m not joking.”
“Please say it’s a joke, please.”
Iruel was disheartened by Rufus’s constant coldness towards him.
“Seriously though, Tarek is a real bastard. Even if she’s not his biological mother, how could he hide his stepmother’s memento in such a filthy place? Right?”
“Sure.”
“Really, those who don’t respect their mothers should die early.”
“That’s why I cut his head off.”
“Oh, right. Well done, our Sir Rufus.”
“Yeah.”
Rufus glanced at Iruel, who was babbling as he pleased, and then turned his head away.
Queen Echinacea’s cursed sword. He had to find the cursed sword, the queen’s relic, and offer it to Crown Prince Viren. That was the way to gain Crown Prince Viren’s favor.
‘The sewage treatment plant… it’s buried under the tree growing at the entrance.’
That was what Prince Tarek had said before he died. The witch Odr’s toad had confirmed the truth of that statement.
There was no doubt. Queen Echinacea’s cursed sword was right beneath this tree.
Next to the entrance of the sewage treatment plant. In this nauseating space, where everything was covered in black filth, there was a single green tree. It had been planted with magic to prevent the complete devastation of this area.
Rufus stared at the incongruous tree.
“Iruel.”
“Yes?”
“Dig.”
At Rufus’s command, Iruel reached out his hand toward the base of the tree.
Instantly, a red light flared from Iruel’s chest. It was the magic stone of Demon King Audixus that the witch Odr had given to Iruel.
The magic stone, imbued with the fragment of the demon king’s soul, exerted powerful magic. Magic burst from Iruel’s hand. The force spread out in an instant, striking the base of the tree. Fragments of contaminated soil flew up.
A massive pit was quickly dug beneath the tree.
“Oh, it stinks.”
Grumbling, Iruel quickly turned to look at Rufus.
“Did I do well?”
“Yes.”
Rufus replied flatly as he looked down at the soil Iruel had dug up. It was no empty praise. Even his own mother, the witch Ode, had said Iruel’s magic skills were clumsy, yet he had managed this.
‘The sword should be right beneath this.’
Rufus gathered his magic and pushed it into the pit.
Something resonated with a hum, reacting to the magic.
—Found it.
Having located the source of the vibration, Rufus infused his magic deeper into the bottom of the pit.
It was a powerful force. A strength that Rufus, whose innate magic was not very powerful, could not easily withstand.
Responding to Rufus’s magic, a vibration surged from the cold earth below.
Rufus instinctively withdrew his hand, his legs weakening.
“What are you doing?”
Iruel blinked, confused.
“Can’t you feel it? The power of the cursed sword is stronger than expected.”
“Oh, how weak you are. Are you made of glass? Or a wooden puppet?”
“Then why don’t you try pulling it out?”
“Sure thing.”
Mocking Rufus, Iruel cheerfully reached into the pit.
And immediately screamed.
“Aaaargh!”
“Shut up.”
Rufus frowned down at Iruel. Iruel rolled over the dirty soil.
“It’s hot! Sir Rufus, my hand is completely cooked!”
“Congratulations.”
