Bare keep town"s Market Street appears too quiet. Not a person or animal appeared around the area at this time. Only whizzing noises of wind and some howling noise of wolves heard from outside of the town from time to time.Suddenly, a snorting sound of a drunken man who fell near the walls alerted the two figures who were stealthily running. In the dark alley, Abium and Crown Prince Huggin stealthily advanced towards the slum area while carrying another two persons on their back.
"You seem to know much about this town. Do you live here? Ah! i also forgot to ask your name. what is your name?"
Crown prince asked Abium while he hit the back of Nicolaus with his palm. Abium looked at his friend"s sorry state then answered.
"I know little about this town, your highness. My name"s Abium, also don"t hit Nicolaus whenever you get angry! We need to find a safe place inside the slums; then, we will find a way to escape."
"Umm, do you know anyone inside the slum area? I believe that Margrave"s men entirely guarded all the gates and outside entrances."
Abium shook his head at the crown prince"s anxiety and rushed towards the slum more quickly. Suddenly both heard noises behind them, and crown prince clasped his sword to ready for battle.
But, Abium"s hand prevented him from doing anything reckless and gestured him to follow his lead. He knew they would be searching for them only in the ordinary citizen"s residences first, then only they would shift towards slums. No one would believe two Royal princes would lurk inside the slum!
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Once both appeared out of that dark alley, they saw a small gate that looked on their sight. Two guards were resting on each side of that small gate and dozing off. If Nicolaus and Raollet were not unconscious, it would be easy to sneak away from them.
"Your Highness! Do you have some gold coins?" Abium whispered in a quiet tone to not alert those guards. Crown prince Huggin brought out a small pouch from his ring and tossed it towards Abium.
Once, he caught that pouch then quickly peered inside. A sum of 12 white gold coins, 30 gold, and some silver coins was inside. Abium soon picked four gold coins, and some silvers put it inside his pocket and returned to give it back, but the crown prince waved his hand to keep it for himself.
A grin emerged on his face. Then, he advanced towards those two guards who were resting soundlessly.
"Wake up, fools! Young masters are here, but you are still sleeping and not even doing your duties. Pathetic!"
When the two guards heard his scolding, both woke up from their slumber and saluted them tensely. Only when they saw Nicolaus was snoring both of them loosened. But Abium didn"t give them a chance and continued his scolding.
"If Lord knows you are relaxing on guard duty on important gathering, then you will definitely won"t forget this day in your entire life. Humph!"
"We are extremely sorry, young master! We wouldn"t do that ever again."
"Humph. We will see that. Okay, we are continuing to check the slums. So, unlock the gate!"
"Y-Yes y-young master."
Both guards gawked at four of them and noticed two of them are already sleeping and considered questioning. But suddenly they remembered questioning a n.o.ble might lead both of them killed.
Without minding those questions in their minds, they opened that small gate. A stretch of excretory smell a.s.sailed their nostrils. Abium antic.i.p.ated this and covered his nostrils then tossed a few gold coins along with some silver coins to the guards.
"If guards or other visitors came here to inquire about us, report them you didn"t see anything, okay!"
Once the guards picked the money, both nodded their heads and stood there with a silly grin. Because even if they served for a whole year, they wouldn"t get this much wealth.
Abium and the crown prince didn"t remain there any longer. Due to the stretch, both walked inside the slum quickly to found any shelter.
"d.a.m.n! I hate this stink! I never thought there is a place that still exists like this."
When caught crown prince"s grumbling Abium nearly stumble upon the ground. He never suspected this innocent crown prince would be this naïve because royal capital"s west region slum area was five times bigger than this slum.
""cough" Your Highness! There is also a slum area in the royal capital west district."
"What? Are you telling the truth? But Royal city"s guard captain or anyone in the royal family never discussed anything about that."
"It"s because n.o.body bothers about them, your highness! The slum people"s days are always like this. They live here; they die here. Anyways, Your highness! We need to escape faster from this town; otherwise, Holy See might send reinforcements."
Crown prince Huggin froze and urged him.
"But all the ways are heavily guarded. How can we find a way out?"
Abium grinned at the crown prince and proceeded ahead. Crown prince was strong in strength but very honest and naïve inside.
On the other hand, prince Raolett was the polar opposite of the crown prince. He was a smart, calculative, and sly person; he was capable of surviving for decades and holding the kingdom together during the chaos era.
A few tiny homes with broken doors and broken walls emerged on their eyesight. During rainy season one wouldn"t be able to relax inside those homes.
While they were wandering, suddenly, a small figure collapsed ahead on the path which caught their attention. Once Crown prince saw that it was a person, he quickly rushed forth to investigate.
"How? Who could have done this? Why they beat up a child like this?"
An enraged voice appeared out of the prince"s mouth as he examined that small figure, then he instantly brought out a potion from his ring then poured onto that child"s mouth.
Abium eyes lingered on the healing potion vial. It"s worth fifty gold coins for a low tier potion! But the prince poured that much money to treat the wounds for a slum child. He was both amazed at worried at his character. Crown prince"s genuine nature was the only reason he died in the past.
"Your Highness! These sorts of things occur all over the kingdom."
Abium spoke and examined the child"s condition using the scan function.
[Name: Unknown
Age: 5
Race: Fox kin
Cla.s.s: None
Attributes
Strength: 0.6
Agility: 0.7
Vitality: 0.8
Mana: 2.0
Spirit: 2.5]
He noticed her internal wounds gradually started to recover at an incredible state. That girl child appears so weak and very thin. Slight tap might quickly break her bones.
The ears and tail grabbed Abium"s attention.
"Beast kin!"
He uttered in a shocked tone and soon recovered himself. He also noticed the girl"s spirit and mana were irregular than any other average person. Beast peoples rarely appear around these southern areas. Abium learned a few things about them in the past also fought a few of them outside the kingdom.
Abium examined her clearly and noticed she belongs to the fox clan. Because of light G.o.d"s hatred against beast peoples, they were captured and killed inside the Holy See"s affiliated kingdoms. Some Light G.o.d"s followers even state beast peoples as a monster. There was no G.o.d to protect them from this predicament. Other races have many G.o.ds except beast kins.
Abium heard all G.o.ds who looked after beast kins fell in that ancient war. Only G.o.ddess Nyara survived that war, but her whereabouts were unknown. Even with this situation, they persevered and enduring under the protection of Mother G.o.ddess.
Abium shook those thoughts and looked at the surroundings. He didn"t want to wander in these slum areas aimlessly, so he quickly went to a nearby half-destroyed house. Abium and crown prince Huggin carried the three of them and entered inside the home. An old couple watched at them vigilantly and quivering at the corner.
"We didn"t hold any ill intentions towards you. We wish to borrow your place for a few minutes; then we will be on our way."
Both of them repeatedly nodded at the crown prince"s overbearing voice and noiselessly stayed at the corner. Abium brought out the remaining silver coins from his ring and flung it towards the old couple.
Commoners rarely use gold coins. Only silver coins and copper coins majorly used everywhere. If a commoner or slum, people hold any gold coin in public that might draw too much attention. It would be no surprise if the guards came and arrest them.
Then Abium took a water sack from the ring and splashed it on both Nicolaus and Raollet"s face. Within a few seconds, both slowly regained their consciousness.
Abium signed in relief that small bolt didn"t contain any poison in it. Once both wake up, the first one went on a rampage was Nicolaus.
"Y-You! What have you done! I trusted you and let you inside our fort only because you"re Navarre"s brother. B-But you did this to your own brother"s friend. Traitor!"
"Well! What about yourself and your family? Are you not scheming against the royal family and co-operated with the Holy Empire to plot against the kingdom?"
This time it was the crown prince, who was conversing with Raollet regarding their escape suddenly interjected and roared at Nicolaus. Even though the crown prince protected his little brother from taken as a captive, they still surrounded inside this town. He felt betrayed by the kingdom"s subjects and n.o.bles.
"Y-Your Highness! I-I d-don"t k-know anything! It"s—"
Abium didn"t want to hear any reasons any longer.
"I don"t care about why you betrayed and schemed against the royal family. All I want is you to stay quiet and don"t try anything foolish, okay! Your Highness Raollet! Can you keep an eye on him?"
"Ugh. Okay!."
Abium bowed his head, then shifted his sights to the fox girl. Only then everyone inside the house noticed she already awoke. Her snow-like eyes were gawking at them without even blinking.
Abium saw there was also a hint of fear on her face. He patted that child"s face and asked the crown prince.
"Your Highness! What do you want to do with this child?"
"Why not just ask those couple to take care of her?"
Abium knew how the slum people think so instantly shook his head at that thought.
"If the person who beat this child found out she is still alive, they will come after her and once again beat her up."
Abium didn"t trust these old couples at all. Everyone in the slums might betray their companions just for some dry pieces of bread. So, Abium carried her on his shoulder and stepped out of the house. Crown prince and others followed after him.
"What is your name, kid?"
""growl" I"m s-sorry sir! U-Umi"
"Don"t apologize, child! Take this. My mom especially made this for me. Eat!"
Crown prince brought out Istrunate bread from his ring and presented it to her. Sweetbread, only n.o.bles capable enough to buy it. The group slowly walked towards the interior of the slum near the northern wall area. Some times a few hoodlums tried to hinder them and threatened them while they on their way. But against crown prince strength, they were blown away.
After a few minutes, they reached the entrance of a large building. That house was much bigger than the regular one. Everyone quickly figured it was the home of the gang boss of this slum. The entire house was secured by a few thugs who wore tattered clothes and carrying rusty knives on their hands.
"Let"s go! Don"t kill anyone, knock everyone unconscious, and tie them up."
Abium spoke and quickly dashed ahead towards the thugs. Within a few moments, all the thugs were beaten unconscious and bound together near the wall. Once everyone entered the home abruptly, Umi holding Abium"s hand, screamed and hurried ahead.
"Mama! Mama!"
"Who are you, b.a.s.t.a.r.ds? How did you get here?"
A tall build man laid on the couch b.u.t.t naked while on his hand holding a naked beast woman, who seemed to be already unconscious. Abium immediately used his scan function and saw she was barely keeping her life. He saw almost her spirit grew fainter. Crown prince eyes went bloodshot, then next second, he pounced on the couch and thrust his sword right through that guy"s chest.