3- Soul contract (3)

Raihle was only two steps away from Moralex, and Moralex’s body was large enough to shade his whole body.

Seeing his expressionless face up close, Moralex’s smile got wider, more entertainment rushing through his veins.

“And who might you be?”

“Raihle Latarseil…I suppose.”

It’s still odd to call himself by a different name.

“Latarseil?”

Moralex echoed, the name was familiar, and it took him a few seconds to realize it.

“The Imperial Prince?”

“That’s what they say.”

Moralex burst in laughter like a monster “HAHAHAH! GREAT! That’s just great!”

“Your highness!”

Commander Gale couldn’t reach Raihle before Moralex grasped his clothes and pulled him close to his scarred face.

“Do you want me to believe that the empire handed out the Imperial Prince to me? Really? What a funny bastard! Did they throw you here while the real prince ran away?”

He started laughing again, right above Raihle’s nose.

Raihle couldn’t say anything, his face held tightly to a cold expression while his insides were full of disbelief.

First of all, yes, the real prince ran to a different world, leaving him with his own body, and secondly…

‘Is…is this man an idiot?’

This is a battle field, an attempt of war, yet how can someone act so carelessly with an armored man, no matter how weak he seems?

Raihle’s hand was still on the blade, and he was inches away from Moralex, only this man didn’t seem to give it a thought.

Is it ego or gullibility? Raihle couldn’t tell.

“I don’t know who you are, but how unfortunate for you to play the prince role for that coward man.”

‘You are absolutely right, how unfortunate.’

Raihle felt like nodding and thanking him for his understanding.

However, …

“It’s a misfortune for you too.”

“Wha_”

His words faded as soon as his neck separated from his body and he dropped to the ground, splattering blood in the air.

Raihle’s feet hit the ground at the same time Moralex’s body fell on the dirt with a loud thud, his sword leaking with fresh, wet blood.

No one breathed for a second, not the Lumier army nor the Empire’s.

Raihle wielded his sword, cut through Moralex’s skin, and slaughtered him. It’s as simple as that, they saw it happening, but still, it felt unbelievable, it was unexpected to the point that none of them believed it for a few seconds after, like it was made of imagination.

Raihle was a little confused too, his eyes were on Moralex’s bleeding head, waiting for him to get up and stick it back on his neck, but he remained there, body and head separated and very much dead.

He didn’t think it would end easily, he gathered his strength in his blade, and he expected a fierce battle between him and Moralex.

‘Was I expecting too much?’

They talked about dragons and monsters and things that he had never heard of in this world, so he thought he should prepare his mind for all situations possible.

‘Well, the result is the same in the end.’

He didn’t feel bad for killing a person he was already planning to kill, so easy or not, it worked either way.

He shrugged, put his sword back in its sheath, and turned at Commander Gale.

“You…”

Raihle noticed Gale’s strange look, it wasn’t only him but the whole pack of people behind him. It wasn't the time for them to be frozen in place.

“Their commander is dead,” Raihle placed his hand on Gale’s shoulder. “Are you planning on waiting for them to reorganize or striking them down now?”

The two troops are already facing each other, if they don’t take their chances now, it would be useless.

Raihle squeezed his grip and brought Gale back to reality.

“Your highness!”

Raihle leaned closer and whispered coldly, “You’ve been eager to see them bleed, there is your opportunity. Protect me by killing them.”

Gale’s gaze stopped at the blood stains on Raihle’s soft skin, his sharp look made him feel exposed, he sensed him penetrating his brain and reading his thoughts.

‘He knew.’

Raihle knew Gale wanted to use him. He shut his mouth tightly and nodded.

“Please head back behind the barrier, we will protect you all the way.”

Gale’s eyes were glowing with fire, he had a vicious spirit from the start, defending and backing off didn’t suit him well.

Raihle walked away with an unbothered look, but with a little disappointment.

He thought after encountering the enemy he would somehow have a better understanding of the world around him, but what he saw was that this so-called Great Empire is explicitly underestimated and looked down on.

‘It’s obviously because of their ridiculous peace attitude.’

“Protect his highness! Protect the Great Empire!” The soldiers shouted as they made a safe way for him to the gate.

But the moment he crossed the gate he almost jumped out of the sudden cheering.

“What the hell?” He subconsciously pulled his sword slightly.

His voice was unheard due to the cheers and shouts from each side.

“I never knew you were this strong, your highness!”

“That was great! He can finally go to hell!”

“The bastard got what he deserved!”

Raihle stared at them with a bewildered face. Was killing people in the country that rare to celebrate him like that?

Maize, the knight who accompanied him here approached him and bowed. He had the brightest smile on his face.

“I wouldn’t believe you killed the Devil’s grandson if I hadn’t witnessed it with my own eyes!”

“…I killed who?”

The Devil’s…grandson? Was that a thing in this world?

“Commander Moralex.”

“…His grandfather is the Devil?”

Maize chuckled “Not literally of course.”

“He is called like that because of how bloodthirsty he was, even his own people are afraid of him. He used to be an infamous mercenary until the crown prince of Lumier picked him up and had him swear loyalty to him. The armies that infiltrated earlier kingdoms were all led by Commander Moralex.” he sighed while rubbing the shudder of his skin.

Raihle realized now that his strength was built on reputation, he was probably so used to being feared that he didn’t consider someone like him a threat.

“He also had a despicable egoistic side,” Maize added. “Wherever he attacks, he always takes a small army. Just a way to show his strength and shame the losing side.”

‘That’s why there weren’t much of them.’

Moralex had a stupid way to show his strength, that’s what Raihle thought.

“But that horrible beast is gone! All thanks to you, your highness.”

“…Is that so?”

Now he realized why everyone was stunned for a moment after he cut his head. They knew how barbaric and lunatic a man he was and never imagined he would end so quickly and easily, while on the other hand, all Raihle thought was what a stupid man he was.

He didn’t return to his house for three days. At that time, the Lumier kingdom army retreated with many losses, including their infamous commander, the Devil’s grandson.

The territory was unscathed, and the barrier didn’t fall, so the city’s people were safe.

The people started a celebration to cheer about the news of the Imperial Prince cutting the enemy’s head.

Raihle had no idea about that since he stayed in a tent with the troops. He was thinking about what to do after everything was cleanly finished. Since he was forgotten and unrecognizable, he considered running away and searching for a way to break this damn contract. Although it would be difficult since he had no idea where he was or what to look for in particular, But then unexpected news ended his future plans.

“The emperor requests your instant return to the Imperial Palace in the capital.”

“What?”

Wasn’t he banished from the capital for good because of his uncanny stupidity?

And wasn’t the emperor sick? That’s why the battle started.

The messenger understood his thoughts and clarified himself.

“Thankfully, the emperor recovered immediately and fully after hearing about his grandson’s news.”

“He recovered just by that?”

What kind of illness was he having?

“Are you saying that my grandson defeated the Devil’s grandson?” The emperor’s lips twitched before he started giggling, “HAHAHAHA! As expected of my little grandson! Haha_*cough*”

The man next to him patted his back.

“Calm down, your majesty.”

“How can you tell me to calm down? Can’t a proud grandpa express his emotions?”

“…I understand but,”

The emperor’s lips curled, and he looked away as if he were thinking deeply.

“…perhaps it’s time he finally shows himself.”

His only grandson has been away since he was a little boy, he felt it was time for him to come back.

His bitter smile was somehow grieving, it made the two men in the room speechless.

“Hugo, you haven’t properly met my cute grandson, have you?”

Hugo, who was standing next to him, frowned without speaking, he had a bad feeling after hearing the emperor’s tone.

“…No, I haven’t.”

“Great! I can’t wait to introduce him to you! You two will definitely get along.”

“I severely doubt that, I hate children_”

“Lain, make sure he feels welcomed the moment he arrives!”

The other man with a black priest cloak smiled gently and bowed to the emperor.

“I will make sure he feels very welcomed.”

Hugo felt a shudder behind his neck, something bad was going to happen to him. “Your majesty, you aren’t planning on bullying me again, right?”

“Now! Now!” The emperor tossed away his sheet and jumped off the bed with enthusiasm in his muscles “Time to prepare! I must look great in front of my adorable grandson!”

“Do I really have to go?”

It was the fifth time Raihle asked, he was already in the carriage after packing a few things from his house.

His companion no longer needed to answer that question, his expressions said enough.

“Ha…”

He sighed and rested his back on the comfy backseat of the carriage. He even got a new carriage and a whole unit of knights to take him to the imperial palace.

Since he was living in a small, isolated territory, they said it would take him three days to reach the capital.

The journey started smoothly. Raihle didn’t leave his carriage at first and only stared at the scenery outside the window, but then he got bored and got out. Everyone started talking about the Devil’s grandson and what he did as if they were praising a child, so he decided he’d rather get stuck inside the carriage instead.

“We will camp here for tonight, if everything goes according to plan, we will reach the imperial palace tomorrow. Ah…and please stay indoors until we leave the forest, it’s dangerous at night.”

Raihle nodded to the man and sent him away. He looked outside the window, they were in the middle of a black wood. It looked like a normal forest, but it had a strange rumor he overheard the knights say while they camped last night.

It is said that there are creatures who lure people into the black woods and make them disappear.

It sounded like a frightening story at first, but then one of the knights laughed and explained that all the missing people eventually came out unscathed, and the longest time anyone went missing was a week.

It didn’t sound like a dangerous place but rather intriguing, especially to Raihle, who wanted to explore this world as much as he could.

To find the goblin who arranged the contract and to return to his original body, he couldn’t ignore these mythical stories.

He waited till after midnight, when the fire was set off, and most of the knights were sleeping in their tents except for two who were standing by the carriage.

Raihle opened the door.

“Your highness?”

“Is there any problem?”

“Yes,” he said, getting off and standing on the ground. “There is something wrong in the carriage.”

The two of them got inside to check, but there wasn’t anything out of the ordinary, so they turned around.

“There is nothing wrong_ your highness?”

Raihle was nowhere to be found.

“Now,” he muttered while walking through the black trees and the dead branches, “what kind of creatures are going to lure me?”

The area was soundless and dark, like a cemetery. His eyes adapted, and he managed to look around easily, however, there was nothing eye-catching, not even a bug or an animal. Everything looked dead.

At first, he was able to hear the noises coming from his camp after his disappearance, but he swiftly ran farther away.

He didn’t want to be found before he found something.

After a while in the dark, a blue-light orb flashed in front of him, catching his attention. It was a tiny light, floating like a firefly, but it shone brightly among the shades of tree trunks.

He headed to it slowly at first, but then he quickened his steps before he finally realized he wasn’t getting any closer at all.

The light orb floated in its place, as if waiting for him to reach for it, but he thought it was probably luring him deeper and farther away in an unnoticeable, slow movement.

Raihle got curious, he looked at the blue orb and spoke loud enough for it to hear him. “I’m done, I don’t want to follow you.” And then he dropped to the ground, leaned his back on a thick tree trunk, and closed his eyes.

He kept his senses sharp but lowered his breathing.

The light orb didn’t move—not for thirty minutes, not for an hour—but after three hours, it finally lost its patience.

“Hey! Hey you! Wake up, you weird human!”

“Why are you calling me a weird human?” Raihle spoke then opened his eyes.

An orb of blue light that looked like a ball of fire floated in front of him, it didn’t have a mouth, but it had a shape that looked like eyes, and they looked angry but then turned surprised.

“You weren’t asleep?!”

“How can someone sleep in these conditions?” Raihle then asked it a question. “What are you?”

“Isn’t that obvious?! I’m the great, mighty, respected, and most powerful Goblin in the world!”

“Is that so?” Raihle’s eyes gleamed with joy, of all creatures, he got the exact kind he wanted.