Chapter 37: Humiliation Returned (2)

I clenched my jaw as I watched the charging Griffin at me. The prick really is crazy! I wanna kick his ass just like Polestar, they both are getting on my nerves.

"Yoren! Stop!" Sir Devon intervened but he didn't listen.

My eyes are slowly watching the Spirit beasts running to attack me, I'm really getting furious now… I gritted my teeth and sent him daggers… You asked for it, Yoren, then don't blame me.

I looked at the cloaked silhouette and yelled, "STOP MISS AMELIA!". After that the spirit beasts that were supposed to attack me, stopped.

"Miss Amelia, I know you also want to save this poor beast." I said looking at her intently, "Why don't you show yourself to everyone and make this FAKE run back to his home."

Silence...

"W-what are you talking about…" Yoren nervously asked, "have you gone crazy, talking to yourself?!"

I ignored him. I focus on her who's still standing there… A wave of curious murmurs from the knights engulfed us.

"Miss Amelia... Do you perhaps want to kill it too?" My voice softened and my gaze.

Silence…

"Then, I will kill it for you." I made a serious expression and pulled out my sword using my spare arm. I turned around and faced the moaning beast as I saw my own reflection in its eyes.

Even if she won't save it, I can just take the divine beasts myself. I don't intend to let it die just like this, when it can help me change the fixed story in that damned book.

"N-No! Wait! Don't kill it please, Sir!"

A girl's voice yelled, and all of them traced her voice.

*smirked*

She removed her hood and revealed her dirty but beautiful kind face. Everyone was shocked that there's a girl who fought with them all this time. They were wondering how she survived the fights before reaching this floor.

"I-I… I would never let you kill it!" She stepped forward, "Sir Yoren, please let them go. Even if you insist- I. WON'T. LET. YOU." She firmly said

The spirit beasts turned to Yoren, glared at him and slowly approached him… he stepped back several times until he fell on the ground.

'Oh… She never disobeyed Yoren in the book like this.'

"W-Why are you protecting him? Aren't you on my side?" Yoren asked in fear and nervousness.

Gasped and murmurs filled the area.

"What is the meaning of this?"

"Sir Yoren… Wasn't he the summoner?"

"That's what we thought…"

"So he's fake all this time?!"

"Yeah and I think this lady was the real one."

"This is so unexpected."

"I was on your side when I didn't realize you were just using me to gain reputation, but this Sir here made me realize all that." Amelia said, "I won't let you kill him."

"YOU BITC--!"

"ENOUGH YOREN!" Sir Devon shouted furious.

"Know your place, Fake" Sir Valentine spat in dismay.

I bent down to see the condition of the beast. The cub is coming out, I need a cloth.

"Sir, we can use this." Amelia offered her cloak.

I remembered my dislocated shoulder. And asked her "Do you know how to help her give birth?"

"Ah, yes. I'll do it."

I watched her use her hand to support the incoming cub. When it finally got out, it was covered in an amniotic sac. It was Valentine who assisted Amelia and placed it on the cloak.

I remained watching them do it, but maybe it's thanks to my dislocated arm that I didn't get to help her, because it's disgusting.

Then another cub came out and they did the same. The mother was supposed to attend to her cubs but she's so weakened and was dying.

"You seem to know about these things, I'm amazed." Valentine stated.

"It's because I have studied about beasts since I was young… now it has become useful" Amelia awkwardly smiled.

Valentine warped the cubs and placed them beside their mother. Before he touched the head of the twin tailed mother tiger, it's breathing was unstable.

I went to her side and caressed her head. It looked at me with soft, pained eyes… The look on its eyes is rather thankful.

*dingg!*

♤Notice!♤

Stolen novel; please report.

The character 'Dearby' has his feelings that resonate with you. He felt pain seeing his acquaintance at death's door.

He said he doesn't care about life but looks at him... He can lie, but he can't hide the truth.

'Should I let her drink a healing potion?'

- There is no need. She's dying... She is only holding up so she can see her cubs in good hands.

- I told you not to read my mind without my permission, brat.

- I won't do it again, but let me use you for a bit while we're still in this dungeon.

I was confused at first but I immediately realized what he meant when my lips moved on it's own "It's fine, Free… Your babies are fine, you can now rest." I said, It was Dearby who used me to say it and bitterly smiled, "You did a great job."

After that the tiger closed its eyes like sleeping, she breathed her last breath. She's dead.

- I'm impressed you had this kind of side.

- …hmph! I'm just going to say that another hourglass has come to its end. Good luck.

Dearby stayed silent after that. Then the earthquake bombarded us. Shit! I almost forgot about that time limit.

"Everyone! Hop on to the carpet! Hurry! If you don't wanna get buried alive!" I shouted at the top of my lungs.

"W-What is happening?!" Yoren asked, trembling.

"No time for that, get your ass here!" It was Theo who answered him.

Valentine took the two cubs with him while Amelia kissed the Mother tiger before following Valentine. I spotted Devon and approached him.

"Sir Devon. In less than 10 minutes, this dungeon will collapse. Could you please instruct the knights to prepare the explosive stones with adhesives?" I told him with seriousness as we watched the knight hopping on. "I'll guide everyone out of here."

-*-

After I told Devon about the current situation. He immediately moved to action. He told Jullian and Venter to get the knights the adhesive explosive stones with them.

They've been wondering what to use it for, but as it was indicated in the booklet, they still brought it. When everyone was already on, I made Selek drive the carpet to the portal we came from. The boiling lava is almost on the level of the cliff, and it's freaking hot. If we were a second late, the portal would melt and we would be stuck here.

The portal shone and we all got transported back to the administrator's room while still on the carpet. I looked at the remaining hourglass and there's only 2 minutes left. Shit.

"Selek, move it close to the ceiling."

Everyone was confused and tired but we need to move or else all of us will die here.

"Everyone, please throw the explosive at the ceiling, make sure it is attached!" I instructed.

The knights led by Jullian do as they're told. Hundreds of explosive stones are now attached. Then I turned to Venter. "Sir Magician, please put up your strongest barrier for everyone."

Venter followed, but there's only 40 seconds left on the hourglass. Devon commanded the knights to cast the detonator spell. And unison, they yelled, "EXPLODE!"

Large explosion shook the barrier and the dungeon itself. Rocks, sand, pebbles crashed on the barrier. Fortunately, it didn't break.

"Sir Magician, are you alright?" I asked Venter who coughed up blood. Did he exhaust his mana? I pulled out loads of Type SSS healing potions and made Efren and Drio distribute it to the wounded knights. I assisted Venter who cannot move his occupied hands to drink.

"Drink this for now." I said and shoved the potion in his mouth. I did the same to other magicians.

10 seconds…

The dust disappeared and it revealed another portal to the outside. Selek moves the carpet through and just like how we entered this dungeon, we came out from the same entrance door.

1 second. Time's up.

Earthquake began and the whole dungeon behind us slowly submerged as it crumbled down before it disappeared completely.

*poof!*

Just like before, the carpet had a failure landing and all of us fell down because of an unexpected situation and we all rolled on the ground. Covered in dust.

'…ugh… I hate dungeons.'

The dungeon that was seated on this very ground vanished like it's never been there. No debris, no trace at all.

Healers and Physicians rush over and tend for the wounded. Just like a scene after a war, they skillfully tend to the injured with and without magic. And aside from sir Devon and sir Valentine, none of the officials are in sight. The head healer came to me and asked what happened to the others...

"I-I…" My eyes shook after I looked down… to my dirty garment.

"You… Don't tell me…" The healer was shocked and suddenly kneeled down… crying and shaking.

'Eh?'

"Your highness… Why did you leave so suddenly… You died so young…" They all said that. I blinked thrice… Why the hell…?

"What are you saying?! The Prince is alive!" Sir Valentine glared at them.

"B-but he..." They confusedly pointed at me and they didn't say anymore.

I looked up at Valentine with watery eyes, all stiff… dirty… dirt all over my body.

"Sir Randall, why are you…? What happened to you?" He asked concerned.

"D-Dirt… Dirt… G-Germs… C-Clothes" I stuttered then looked at my clothes, I'm getting dizzy. I need to take a shower as soon as possible.

'I'm sorry. I just can't tolerate my OCD.'

"What?" He asked cluelessly about what I'm saying.

"Sir Valentine, I think he has a severe fear of dirt." The healer whispered, then Valentine turned to me, shocked.

"What?! T-then what should we do?" He asked the healer.

The healer replied, "A bath and a clean set of clothes."

A few moments later…

Sir Valentine supported me by my shoulder to one of the abandoned houses in Dabe Village. He has a spare set of clothes on him and gave it to me.

"Sir Randall, here. it's the spare clothes I have, you can wear it for now, it is my chance to repay you after you save our asses back there." He bowed, "Enjoy your bath, I'll go back to the camp."

I nodded and stiffly bowed. I walked to the bathroom, there's a bath ready for me. I locked the door and undressed, I slowly soaked my body in the water and felt it. How should I tell them? Hmm… only Keaton and our family knight here knows it, was it considered treachery? Fraud? Though I didn't harm anyone, I saved them. Nevermind. They put that unfair rule, and I just fulfilled my promise.

Speaking of which, is that ponytail girl still here? She said she'll wait. I wonder how many days have passed since we entered the dungeon. Inside the dungeon, we spent almost four days. Dungeons, depending on their difficulty; thus the harder it is, the faster the time inside.

-----

After an hour of scrubbing and washing, I decided to wear the clothes Sir Valentine gave me as I have no choice.

"Hmm… this clothes' design isn't half bad, though I still liked my own style."

The black trouser was adjustable, the inner shirt in white color was fitted with an emerald gem cavat, and a green long coat. I dried my hair and let it down. I brushed it and styled it like a man's. Not bad. I looked like a son of an aristocrat.

I shoved my dirty clothes inside my bag… wait… Polestar and Keaton were still inside of that knapsack! I totally forgot about them. Shit!

I immediately went to the camp, where the knights are being tended by the healers and priests, though none of them have now a single scratch due to the potion I gave.

But unexpectedly, the atmosphere in this camp is heavy despite being unharmed. I felt gazes from behind me and when I turned to see, no one was looking at me. I shrug off the uncomfortable feeling to find Theo among the patients. Theo is also being checked so I only took the bag that I entrusted him with and opened it.

Devon approached me and helped me take Polestar and Keaton out, "I thought you planned to take them home hahaha~" He laughed and I just shook my head in embarrassment.

The two of them are still unconscious but all of their wounds and injuries, according to the healer, have completely healed.

"PRINCE!" The Priest rushed when they saw Polestar. No wounds to be seen so it means he's fine.

"Why so overreacting?" I unconsciously mumbled out of disbelief.

- Because he is a Prince, he's more important than others.

Dearby answered. I only deadpan and dragged Keaton with me.

'Hahaha… Prince my ass.'

The prince I know should be brave enough to save his people, not to be protected and get saved by his people. Fairy tales are Fairy tales, it won't change its concept. Did I mistake this book to be a Fairy tale when it's obviously a Novel? Then be it. I'll change this novel to however I want as long as there's no Princes like Polestar and Megastar.

- I'll illuminate them next time.

- ……

Another series of gazes were felt from behind me as if it was stabbing me. It isn't normal. It's as if many people hold a grudge against me. It was until someone yelled that the gazes went away.

"Brother!"

Everyone turned their attention to a girl with a ponytail, running to Theo for a hug with her teary eyes.

"I thought you were gone! I'm so glad you came back alive." She said in tears.

I saw my knights and gestured at them to take Keaton to take Keaton. Then I faced Sir Devon who was watching Theo and his sister.

"Sir Devon, can I talk to you in private?"