I Want To Die One Day Before You - Chapter 203
First, he tried pushing the coffin lid. But it wouldn’t budge, shut tight like the lips of an angry mother.
Next, Iruel tried using the power of the magic stone from the Demon King Audixus to open it. But the stone he’d been carrying was nowhere to be found—someone must have taken it.
‘Mother’s going to kill me…’
Remembering the way the witch Odr had strictly warned him to never lose the Demon King’s magic stone, Iruel grew even more despondent. As if being buried alive in a coffin wasn’t enough, even if he managed to survive, he’d be in for a beating once he returned. Trying to hold his battered spirit together, Iruel gave one last attempt.
Whirl!
He transformed into a squirrel.
‘I’ll dig a hole and escape.’
With sharp claws, the squirrel scrambled to the edge of the coffin and started gnawing at the wood. The sound of chewing filled the underground silence. As he dug further, the scent of dry earth began to filter in.
‘I smell freedom!’
Excited, Iruel started gnawing with even more vigor.
Then it happened.
Poof!
With a chilling sound, the hole he’d been digging burst open, and sand began to pour in from the outside.
“Ahh!”
The startled squirrel leapt back, hitting his head on the coffin lid.
“Ow… my head…”
Hugging his fluffy tail in distress, Iruel hung his head. The escape route he had just managed to create was now blocked by a mound of sand.
Fortunately, the coffin he was trapped in was unusually spacious, designed to hold the body of royalty. And as a small squirrel, the space felt vast, like a barren hall.
Rolling around in the coffin, Iruel tried to think of another escape plan.
‘I once thought it would be nice to lead a lazy life of lying around forever, but not quite like this…’
My dear Great Demon, thank you for granting my wish. But isn’t this a little much?
As he pondered for hours, suddenly—
Thud!
A huge tremor shook the coffin, causing the lid above him to rattle.
‘W-What’s happening?’
Iruel shot up, having been grooming his tail fur.
At first, he thought some wild animal was passing over his grave. But then he remembered how tightly guarded the palace grounds were. No animal would dare roam freely here.
So what was it?
Clenching his small paws, Iruel stared at the coffin lid, a bead of sweat trickling down beneath his fur.
Thud. Thud. THUD.
The powerful tremors and noise continued at steady intervals above him.
‘What on earth…?’
The unknown sounds grew louder, as did the pounding of Iruel’s terrified heart.
THUUUD!
One final loud thud echoed, followed by the sound of someone breathing heavily above. Finally, Iruel realized someone was digging up his coffin.
‘No!’
It was too late to revert to his disguise as Prince Tarek. And if he was discovered alive like this, it would only lead to more trouble.
In a panic, Iruel tried to bury himself among the flowers inside the coffin. But his fluffy, chubby form was impossible to hide.
‘Oh no, save me, witch!’
It was a moment of sheer panic.
Screeetch!
The coffin lid creaked open, and moonlight poured into the space where Iruel lay.
“Sir Roroel!”
Iruel froze upon hearing a familiar voice.
Roroel?
He cautiously lifted his head from amidst the flowers, and there she was.
“…Sarubia?”
Standing before him with a shovel was Sarubia.
“Yes, it’s me, Sarubia.”
With a final effort, Sarubia pushed the lid fully open and extended her hand to the squirrelly Iruel.
“Come here, Roroel. You must have been so frightened. Let’s go now.”
“Why… are you here, Sarubia?”
“Hmm? Shouldn’t I be?”
“N-No… that’s not it…”
Iruel stared blankly at her outstretched hand.
He had so many questions. How did you find me? How did you know I was here? What made you think of digging up the grave? And why did you come alone, without Rufus?
But none of these questions left his mouth.
“Come on, Sir Roroel.”
Bathed in the moonlight, Sarubia’s face was adorned with a gentle smile—a warm, tender expression that seemed to melt away all worries.
Like a sailor entranced by a siren’s song, Iruel drew closer to her hand. The chubby squirrel settled comfortably into her palm.
