Fourth Prince's Debauchery

Chapter 279 Where are the monsters?

The next morning.

Daisy, Iris, and I left the camp after a quick breakfast.

Today, the forest was covered with a light mist. Clouds of rain adorned the sky, and the wind carried the smell of earth.

It was as though the forest itself had turned gloomier.

”… It looks like there will be a storm.” I said.

Iris and Daisy nodded. ”… I thought the situation could not turn worse.” Iris said.

I glanced at Iris with a curious look. ”It looks like you hate rain.”

”… I donʼt like it very much.”

”Is it so? I, on the other hand, love the rain. The fresh smell of earth when the rain falls onto the ground is intoxicating… Besides, perhaps the rain will wash away this pungent smell of blood.”

”Blood?” Both Daisy and Iris were confused. Try as she could, they could not smell the blood I was mentioning.

I smiled without answering them. At the same time, I thought about all the bodies I had detected since we started to walk.

… It looks like the number of students that were killed last night was a lot bigger than I thought.

Most of them were students on Alanʼs side, of course. But there were a few innocent students that were killed without knowing anything about the situation. They were innocent victims of this conflict.

Even if the teachers and Dina did everything in their might to protect the students, it was normal if one or two of them were unable to be rescued. Plus, a group of daemons that attacked Dinaʼs camp as well, and some students and teachers died during the battle.

And that number was only going to increase as this nightmare continues.

Well, I donʼt need to worry about them. Itʼs not like I obligated to save them or something like that.

While we were walking, a frown appeared on Daisyʼs face. That frown became more obvious the longer we walked.

”Is there something bothering you, Daisy?” I asked.

Daisy was startled, but quickly answered. ”… Itʼs just... Donʼt you think there is something strange about this forest, your highness?”

”What is strange?”

”… We have not seen any beast or monster since we entered the forest. In fact, I have not seen many living beings at all. itʼs like the forest is dead.”

So, she finally realized.

Certainly. Since we entered the forest, we have only faced other students and daemons. We have not seen any monsters.

I looked at Daisy in praise. ”So you noticed it too, huh. You are right, itʼs very strange.”

”… Now that you mention it. The bodies of the daemons we killed yesterday were still in the ground when we woke up… Normally, the smell of blood would have attracted monsters and beast.” Iris said finally realizing that something was wrong.

”… Your highness, I think we should investigate it. Perhaps, itʼs part of the crown princeʼs plan.”

Actually, I already know what is happening.

When I used Akashic Sight, I saw the entire situation of the forest. And of course, it included the situation about the monsters.

But I did not refute Daisy. After all, her suggestion is something that adjusts to my plans.

”Letʼs try to catch one of Alanʼs men and ask him.” I said.

”… Do you think they will talk?” Iris asked.

I looked at her briefly and smiled. ”Donʼt worry, if they know something, they will speak.”

Finding a student was very easy. I just led the girls towards the direction of one and we ʼcoincidentallyʼ met him. Then, after a short fight, he was caught.

We then tied him to a tree and surrounded him with ice-cold expressions.

”Now, tell us. What is Alan planning?” I asked.

”… Pah. Do you think I will tell you something?” The student we caught spat on the ground in disdain.

I sighed. Damn, this is so tiresome.

I can use a bit of hypnosis to get him to speak. But it would defeat the purpose of catching him. I need his confession to look as truthful as possible.

Just for the sake of Iris, of course.

”Daisy, a bit of lightning, please.”

”Huh? Oh, okay.” Daisy hesitated slightly before producing a lightning spell on her hand. One second later, she threw it towards the young man.

”Arghg!” The young man screamed and pain. His body twitched several times, and smoke came out of his body.

”P-Prince Claus, is it alright?” Iris asked hesitantly.

”We need this information, Iris.” I said with a sigh. ”If Alan is planning something, we need to know about it as fast as possible. Daisy, continue.”

”Y-Yes, your highness.”

Fortunately, the young man was not very brave. After three bolts of lightning and a bit of hypnosis from my part (nobody noticed it), he spat out everything he knew.