The Bastard First Prince Doesn't Want to Die-Chapter 180

[Translator - Jjescus ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]

Chapter: 180

The village chief was absent, and only Sannyeong, who couldn’t use magic, had returned alone.

The situation seemed uneasy, but the atmosphere wasn’t dark.

I understood the reason from Sannyeong’s following words.

“The village chief is safe.”

Sannyeong said so in a calm voice. There was no sign of anxiety. The villagers breathed a sigh of relief at Sannyeong’s words.

“But she can’t come back right now. She has something to do at the shrine.”

“That’s not a big problem.”

The people nodded. I quietly observed them.

“But she’ll be back soon, right?”

Sannyeong smiled slightly. It was a bright smile, as if it had been drawn on. There was no trace of wavering in her expression.

Judging only by Sannyeong's facial expression, one might think that nothing had happened in the village.

It was clear that her attitude reassured the villagers.

However, I wondered if her attitude was just a lie she made up to reassure people, or if she was really able to smile because the situation had improved.

Above all, didn’t I remember Sannyeong threatening me to go away? The Sannyeong I had met at the shrine with Aro was a completely different person compared to her current self.

Where had the figure gone who had raised the ailing village chief and then scolded her?

“Yes, she will. It will just take some time.”

“Is the village chief safe?”

“Why wouldn’t she be? She’s very well.”

“Is she eating well too?”

“Of course.”

“I’m so worried because the weather is cold.”

“There’s plenty of firewood around here, so what’s there to worry about?”

“I see. Alright.”

Sannyeong nodded lightly. Questions continued to pour in.

She calmly answered everyone. Once the villagers had their questions about the village chief answered, they quieted down in satisfaction.

However, soon people were asking questions again. This time, it was about Sannyeong, not the village chief.

“So, are you going to come back to the village for good now?”

“I would like to, but it’s too early. I still have things to do... I think I’ll have to go back after a while. Maybe a day.”

“Oh, then come to my house later and take some medicine.”

“Come to my house too and take something. Have you eaten, Sannyeong?”

“Come to my house too and take some meat.”

The moment the people started throwing in their remarks, the surroundings became noisy again, in contrast to the brief silence.

Sannyeong was surrounded by people and nodded repeatedly with a familiar smile.

Then, a small tug at my clothes caught my attention. I looked down at the hand that grabbed me.

“Uncle.”

As if she was resentful that her mother didn’t look at her even though she had returned after a long time, she pouted and pursed her lips.

I hesitated for a moment about what to do, then picked her up.

Then, she tilted her head and whispered in my ear. Apparently, the reason for her sullen expression was not her mother’s indifference.

“A lie…”

“Huh?”

What does that mean?

I glanced around cautiously and took a few steps back, away from the people. I distanced myself from the people and asked, “What’s a lie?”

“Everything.”

I sighed softly.

“Everything is a lie. My mother smiles like that when she’s lying. She always does.”

I see.

“So what you’re saying is... the village chief’s real condition is the opposite of what she said?”

“I don’t know,” Aro replied gloomily.

I nodded once and distanced myself even further from the people. After all, none of them were interested in me.

Well, not exactly none. When I moved away from the crowd, Jawoon, who noticed me moving, approached me.

But he was also someone who wasn’t getting any attention from anyone. Even if I and she left, people were still focusing only on Sannyeong.

Jawoon, who approached us, asked, “Where are you going?”

Jawoon asked me first, and without waiting for an answer, he said to Aro, “Your mother has returned to the village after a long time, but are you going to run away without even greeting her?”

It wasn’t a scolding tone.

“Are you going to the village chief?”

Going to the village chief? Well, I was about to say no, but Aro answered instead.

“Yes, I’m going to see Grandma.”

Then Jawoon’s gaze turned to me.

“Is that so?”

“...I just found out. If you want to go, you can. It doesn’t really matter…”

Does Jawoon also believe Sannyeong’s lie?

I didn’t think so. But he didn’t show any other reaction.

Furthermore, he didn't seem to question why Aro was disobeying the village chief's orders and leaving the village to find her.

"I see."

Jawoon suddenly started walking. And he pointed in one direction with his chin. It was the path to the shrine.

"Then let's go together."

"Yes?"

Huh? Suddenly?

"Anyway, this child has to go into the shrine alone."

"Yes? Oh..."

Ah, so... Jawoon must have thought I would wait outside while Aro went into the shrine alone to meet the village chief.

"It would be boring to wait."

So, he seemed to be offering to keep me company because he would be bored waiting.

...This is bad.

I didn't want Jawoon to find out that I had abilities.

It's not that I wanted to deceive Jawoon. It's just... I was worried that Jawoon's kindness towards me was simply because he found something in common with me and empathized with me.

It wasn't that I was worried he would turn his back on me.

I just hoped he wouldn't be disappointed. Even if I had to lie to him.

"Monsters have been appearing frequently lately, and you didn't go out even at dawn yesterday, elder."

"So?"

Jawoon frowned.

"An old man should just be taking naps in his room."

"No, I mean..."

At that moment, I made eye contact with someone among the crowd through Jawoon's shoulder.

It was Hwang Danyo.

I knew it wouldn't work very well, but I did my best to ask her for help with my eyes.

Of course, it probably wouldn't work. We weren't close anyway...

Just as I was about to give up, Hwang Danyo started walking towards us. Then she called out to Jawoon.

"Grandpa Jawoon!"

Did my desperate plea for help work? Jawoon turned around at Hwang Danyo's call.

"Are you busy?"

"Not really."

Jawoon glanced at me and Aro.

"Then help me with something."

"What is it?"

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"This stupid Gongyeong broke another trap, you see."

Hwang Danyo started rambling on and on about the trap, without even being asked. And it seemed like Jawoon's attention was being drawn away as well.

Then Aro pulled me.

"Uncle."

"Yes?"

"Now is the time. Run away."

"Huh? Okay."

I glanced at Jawoon cautiously and quietly backed away. And after moving a few steps, I immediately ran away from Jawoon with all my might.

* * *

I went straight to the shrine where the village chief was secluded. The white, cloud-like fog that completely obscured the view was still there.

As I stepped inside, a pungent smell of smoke and incense filled my nostrils.

"Ugh."

Aro wrinkled her nose first. As for me, I could handle this much since I had smelled worse things.

"What is this?"

But incense all of a sudden? And what about this smoke? If it's a rotten smell, there's no need to ask why because something must have been left unattended, but this scent couldn't be so strong unless someone had lit it on purpose. Someone must have lit it.

"Anyway..."

Aro spoke in a nasally voice. It was because she was pinching her nose.

"Grandma seems to be performing a ritual."

"Performing a ritual?"

The word ritual brought to mind a lavishly set-up ancestral altar.

"Is there food here?"

"What are you saying?"

Aro looked at me as if I were an idiot.

"No?"

"What are you talking about?"

She pointed to the shrine door. The shrine looked even older than before.

"Just go inside."

As I opened the shrine door and stepped inside, the pungent scent grew stronger. We needed to air this place out.

"If they're burning incense this strongly..."

Maybe she's already dead? But I couldn't finish my sentence.

"Why is she performing a ritual anyway?"

When I asked, Aro hesitated for a moment before answering.

"Probably... Probably... she's preparing for the end."

"The village chief?"

That means she herself has a feeling that she's going to die soon. Aro's expression darkened as well.

"Yes."

"Then... what's next? Are you going to be the next village chief?"

"How could I?" Aro retorted sharply.

I didn't think this girl could handle being a village chief either.

But still... if this girl really had to lead the village...

"...Hey."

"Yes, what?"

I couldn't control my expression. My face twisted, and Aro looked up at me with a curious expression.

"What?"

"Are you okay?"

"What?"

She tilted her head as if she didn't understand. But I'm pretty sure I know this kid well. It's impossible for her to not understand me.

"Then, will your mother take over as the village chief?"

"Mother can't be the village chief. You know she can't use magic. No one can except Grandma and me."

"Is that the only reason? But if you train hard..."

"It's not like that. Uncle, you don't understand."

I had more questions, but I had to stop. We had reached the door to the room where the village chief was. It was the same room where we had found the altar that seemed to be used for rituals.

[Translator - Jjescus ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]