The Terminally Ill Prince is the Mad Dog of the Underworld (Novel) - Chapter 45
Chapter 45. How Did You Know About That?
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Discord
Steam rose over the bare-chested man’s skin.
A distinctly visible shape discernible to the naked eye. A truly intense scorching energy manifestation.
When he infused the entire energy into a single sword, the air began to ripple, influenced by the heat like fire.
Whoosh!
The sword energy containing Scorching energy precisely sliced a tiny boat in the blue sea.
Boom!
The boat split in half, engulfed in flames, slowly sinking into the sea.
“Young Lord Karl, your Scorching Sword Technique’s achievement deepens daily. Truly an outstanding single strike.”
The elderly knight praised the man.
“Thank you, but I still feel insufficient.”
Karl Grünewald, the Crown Prince, shook his head while watching the burning boat fragment.
What he was practicing was the Scorching Sword Technique, a martial art using Scorching energy among Grünewald’s various ascending martial techniques.
It was a martial art so popular that three previous family heads had chosen it.
‘I’m still far from mastery.’
But he couldn’t give up. Only by mastering this technique would he qualify to learn the secret martial arts reserved for the family head and heir.
‘No need to rush. Even Verdzich will need time to master this stage.’
Even that genius would find it challenging. How much more difficult for someone with lesser talent like himself.
Karl knew his martial talent was inferior not just to Verdzich, but also to Ulvhilde.
But he could at least not lose in persistence. Thus, despite being the Crown Prince and commander of a battalion, he trained daily.
“Well then.”
Karl lightly pointed his sword at the elderly knight.
“As always, give me a lesson today.”
“I’ll be gentle with you.”
After several intense energy collisions and dozens of exchanges, the duel’s victor was finally determined.
“I lost, young lord. I can’t compete anymore.”
Sweating profusely, Karl extended his hand to help the knight up.
“Good match. Your last move was even frightening to me.”
“I actually prepared this technique after contemplating for days, but I didn’t expect you to counter it. I’m greatly impressed.”
“Haha, last year I would have fallen for it. I’ve grown a bit.”
“Indeed.”
Karl pushed back his sweat-soaked hair with a satisfied smile.
‘Though inherently stubborn and serious, he was somewhat lacking in improvisation during actual combat. But as experience accumulates, he’s compensated for those weaknesses.’
The knight thought while observing Karl, his superior and lord.
‘…Though he can’t match Prince Verdzich’s monstrous genius.’
Becoming an heir requires more than just martial talent. This isn’t a battle determined by who reaches a higher level first.
Moreover, Karl had already accumulated overwhelmingly superior martial presence among his peers. He was doing quite well.
“We’ll stop here today.”
“Yes. Thank you for working late.”
The sun was setting. The sunset was gradually sinking below the sea.
“…”
A shadow suddenly crossed Karl’s expression while heading to the bathhouse after delegating cleanup.
‘Allenbert, that guy.’
He was naturally monitoring Allenbert’s movements, who had ventured outside the castle for the first time in nearly seven years.
‘Such an unpredictable fellow.’
Some of his actions were surprisingly bold, while others were remarkably subtle.
Are you really planning to extend your hand into the underground? Because you can’t borrow the power of your maternal relatives?
‘If he’s such a radical and hasty fellow, he’ll be difficult to ally with.’
However, the fact that he did such a thing so conspicuously in a situation where he was already drawing attention was unsettling. Wasn’t there something hidden behind this?
‘What are you thinking, Allenbert?’
I was also concerned about the appearance Allenbert showed during his unexpected first real combat.
‘In my first real combat, I froze the moment I saw blood.’
My body wouldn’t move as planned, and attempting to force myself to act mechanically almost got me into trouble against a novice opponent. Looking back now, I can’t help but laugh at how inexperienced I was.
Yet Allenbert was in an even weaker state than my past self. It was remarkable how freely he fought without even properly learning swordsmanship.
‘Is he a natural-born warrior?’
While some warriors are carefully cultivated, others are warriors from birth. He didn’t even hesitate at the sight of blood. His cold aggression was unexpected.
‘Based on what we’ve seen so far, Allenbert’s talent is no less than Ulvhilde’s.’
It was still unclear if he could match Verdzich. After all, he was an undeniable sword genius.
“…”
A talented younger brother. Nothing troubled Karl more than this.
‘But who could have instigated this?’
The situation was too coincidental to be mere chance.
‘Ulvhilde isn’t the type. Neither is Baklava.’
At this point, Karl reached the same conclusion as Allenbert.
‘Somerset seems suspicious.’
The Verdzich he knew wouldn’t do something like this. He’d more likely criticize such an act as pathetic.
‘Foolish guy.’
He possessed several traits Karl most despised. Frivolous, incompetent, lustful, and lazy. Despite all that, he harbored ambitions, dreaming futile dreams in his mother’s embrace.
‘Somerset. You lack qualification.’
Karl entered a perfectly warmed bath, letting his muscles – torn and overworked – quickly relax.
Under soft lighting, he observed his reflection on the water’s surface. Black hair, brown eyes. Ironically, completely different from his father in both hair and eye color. He was the child most resembling his mother.
‘Truly nothing.’
…Karl closed his eyes, sinking beneath the water’s surface.
‘Allenbert.’
The weak boy who once despaired before his terminal fate no longer existed. Karl had seen this himself. Wasn’t his confidence and resourcefulness impressively striking?
‘Just as mother said.’
Allenbert might indeed be a brother worthy of alliance. But Karl was still uncertain of his true intentions.
‘What exactly are you planning?’
…What conversation did he have with Verdzich that day? And why did he go outside at this particular moment? Why interact with smugglers?
Karl didn’t yet realize that this very confusion he was experiencing was precisely Allenbert’s intended response.
‘Are you also dreaming of becoming the family head?’
If Allenbert truly harbored such futile dreams…
‘We could not walk that path together.’
Karl’s previously gentle eyes turned cold.
* * *
“Wow, what a nice place.”
I leisurely wandered around Somerset Grünewald’s third prince’s annex, exclaiming.
“Such discrimination. It’s infuriating. Can brothers be treated so differently?”
“Oh, maybe because he’s an older brother?”
“Shut up. Whose side are you on?”
“I’m not taking anyone’s side.”
“If Baklava’s annex were better than mine, I’d become a gangster.”
“Even if you say that…”
While chatting with Peter, a response came from the other side.
“A-Allenbert Young Lord!”
The butler who came out to meet the unexpected guest looked visibly flustered.
“W-What brings you here?”
“Can’t I come?”
“Of course not, sir.”
“Why are you so startled? You look like you’ve committed a crime.”
The butler wiped sweat with a handkerchief.
“Not at all. I’m merely anxious that we might be inadequate in receiving such an esteemed young lord who arrived without notice.”
“Oh.”
A good answer. I am indeed quite noble. Being noble is also quite tiring.
“But why have you come?”
“What else? I’m here to see our brother Somerset.”
“May I ask the specific purpose?”
I retorted somewhat brusquely.
“Just say I came to have a talk.”
“U-Understood.”
The butler disappeared into the annex as if fleeing.
“How suspicious.”
Peter whispered to me, who was grinning.
“But what are you really here for? The butler will sigh again.”
“That’s why I came when he’s not around.”
I replied, looking at Peter’s foolish face.
“How could a mere sparrow like you understand my grand intentions?”
“That’s too much.”
“Just watch. It’ll be interesting.”
“I’d rather not know.”
I pointed at Peter.
“You know our brother’s personality. If he can’t pick a fight with me, he might pick one with you.”
“Eek.”
“But if you get caught laughing stupidly, I won’t help you.”
Peter firmly sealed his lips.
“Don’t worry.”
“How unnecessarily serious.”
“I only have one life.”
Not really?
…
I entered Somerset’s reception room with Peter.
“Brother, long time no see.”
I grinned, seeing Somerset’s constipated expression.
“Still no dignity in your greetings. Why are you here?”
“You’re too hasty. Jumping straight to business.”
I sat in a plush chair.
“Could you get me some water? I’m thirsty.”
“Get it yourself.”
“How harsh. How disappointing.”
Peter tactfully brought a water glass.
“How dare you touch my things without permission?”
“Oh, how cold. Grünewald’s hospitality has fallen. Not even willing to give your brother a glass of water. Oh my…”
As I clicked my tongue and nitpicked, Somerset sighed and gestured.
“Drink.”
“About time.”
After gulping down a glass of water, I said:
“By the way, the city guards’ training seemed quite good.”
Somerset snorted.
“Naturally.”
“But the city guards seemed intimidated by the royal guards.”
Somerset’s eyebrows twitched. An easy-to-read reaction.
“So?”
“Just saying.”
“With no troops under your command, who are you mocking?”
“Me, mock someone? Why?”
I responded with an absurdly brazen face.
“You’re overinterpreting. Brother, people get sensitive when they don’t get enough sunlight. Maybe go out for a walk.”
Somerset slammed the table.
“Damn it! What the hell did you come for?”
“No special reason. Just came to see my brother’s face.”
“Get lost. Since when were we close?”
Somerset was angry. But I read anxiety and unease within his anger. Why?
‘My eyes don’t lie.’
“By the way, brother. I was attacked by some strange guys earlier.”
Somerset scoffed.
“How poorly must you have behaved to be looked down on by such pathetic thugs?”
“Oh?”
I made a fuss, pointing at Somerset.
“How did you know they were thugs?”
“…!”
A look of panic rose on Somerset’s face.