“Such a foolish brat, and lacking in manners too. Did your parents teach you nothing?”
Without realizing it, the words that slipped out of my mouth caused the atmosphere to drop into an icy chill.
“What?!”
Startled by the sudden diss track, the so-called Second Prince begins to panic. Guess he’s not used to this kind of roasting.
“How… how could you say such things…”
“Speaking ill of one’s parents like that… It’s unimaginable slander.”
“The Representative of the Goddess has such venomous words… Could it be that even the Goddess of Life herself…”
Ah, just as I thought, he’s not accustomed to being roasted.
Well, curses need time and history to develop properly. In this era without much history, there probably aren’t any good curses around.
“Arcad Kingdom’s Second Prince, you say? How very foolish and utterly stupid. Consider carefully who stands before you. And take heed where you currently stand.”
With that, I casually stepped forward and grasped the surrounding magical power.
Then, with a light clench of my fist, I gently pressed down on the shoulders of the humans who were acting like beasts.
It wouldn’t be difficult to crush them into a bloody pulp, but I don’t want blood staining the temple that serves her.
“Krk!”
Like a pig having its throat slit, the fool collapses onto the ground. Can’t even handle this little pressure? Truly pathetic.
“Still, we shouldn’t see blood here. Everyone, return. We no longer require anyone attempting to draw the Sword of the Hero.”
Though I’d like to break some limbs as punishment, young heroes are present.
I don’t wish to show such violence. This is a momentous occasion for the birth of a new hero.
I don’t want to taint it with blood.
“Those who value their lives should leave.”
As I finished speaking, I released the magical pressure. The people, now able to move again, ran toward the temple exit with fearful glances.
All except for one foolish Second Prince.
“Grrr… I am a prince! The Second Prince of Arcad Kingdom! Orcus! One who can obtain anything he desires! You insignificant worms dare to make me kneel?!”
Noble, you say?
By mere human standards, right?
“I cannot forgive this! NEVER! I will destroy you all! The sword, the kid hiding behind you, this entire temple! I’ll obliterate everything until nothing remains!”
Huh… really now?
I let out a small laugh.
“Why do you laugh?! Aren’t you afraid of the might of Arcad Kingdom?! The strongest nation in the world?!”
“Why should I be afraid?”
At my low voice, the foolish prince takes a step back.
“To call yourself noble… By human standards, perhaps. But here, in the temple serving the divine, to speak against the gods themselves… Are you mocking the Goddess of Life?”
“But she’s just the goddess of wanderers! Such an insignificant deity! My country’s power could bury her entirely!”
Huh… Just another clueless kid throwing tantrums.
Alright then. Let’s not kill him. Not killing him.
But a bit of punishment is necessary.
“I’ve decided. Killing you here would be such a waste.”
“What?”
“Be grateful. I shall bestow immortality upon you. Until the Goddess of Life returns death to you, you will be unable to die. Even as everyone around you passes away, you will remain. When Arcad Kingdom turns to dust, you will still persist.”
The prince’s expression shifts to one of confusion at my words.
“Immortality… So what if I can’t die? Hahaha! A blessing now won’t change my decision!”
“Blessing?”
“It’s not a blessing, foolish human. It’s a curse.”
“Ha! What nonsense! How is not dying a curse?!”
Not dying. At first glance, it certainly sounds like a blessing.
But I merely said you won’t die…
“Think what you will. I’m curious when your foolish mind will change.”
I summoned magic and left a mark on the prince’s soul.
A message to the Grim Reapers: Do not collect this soul.
Simultaneously, I cast a spell on his soul.
To maintain minimal vitality by absorbing ambient mana.
Thus ensuring he never runs out of life force or lifespan.
A cleverly crafted curse of immortality.
“I declare: Though you desire death as a human, you will be unable to die as one. Your descendants will resemble humans but will not truly be human.”
I continued the curse.
For insulting the goddess in her own temple, payment must be made.
“Since you insulted me using your nation’s power, I shall take that nation from you.”
An eye for an eye. Power for power.
Wonder how you’ll change once your precious nation’s strength disappears.
“Birth will gradually leave your land, and death will mercilessly claim your people. No matter how much you regret everything, things will not return to normal until you sincerely begin a pilgrimage for life and return to this temple.”
Because insulting the Goddess of Life carries consequences.
Fools require punishment.
Even if a nation disappears, divine retribution will fall.
Honestly, I’m a bit pissed. Need to restore some discipline to these pampered humans.
“Therefore, return to your land. And regret it for the rest of your life.”
With a flick of my finger, the foolish prince vanished from the temple.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
The Second Prince, who boldly declared he would draw the Sword of the Hero, returned to Arcad Kingdom on the day the true hero appeared.
As if teleporting, the Second Prince appeared in the capital.
One problem: He materialized a bit too high up.
“AAAAAAAAAH!!”
The height where humans experience maximum fear. Eleven meters. The Second Prince plummeted straight down.
CRUNCH!
Colliding with the solid stone floor, his limbs shattered completely.
At least he didn’t land headfirst – perhaps the Goddess of Life’s protection?
“My goodness…!”
“Is that His Highness the Second Prince?!”
Guards gasped in shock at the mangled form of the Second Prince who suddenly appeared in mid-air, quickly fetching a wooden cart to transport him to the palace.
Even though the “palace” was only three stories tall due to underdeveloped construction technology, in an era where most buildings were single-story, it stood out significantly.
Plus, surrounded by dense wooden fences, it was quite luxurious for this time period.
“My goodness! His Highness the Second Prince?!”
“Summon someone from the Temple of Life! There’s an emergency!”
“Understood!!”
A man inside the palace panicked at the sight of the battered Second Prince and immediately gave orders to the guards, who rushed to the building housing pilgrims from the Temple of Life.
However…
“What do you mean?! Leaving Arcad Kingdom?!”
“The Divine Oracle has spoken. The Second Prince offended the Goddess of Life and incurred her wrath. Therefore, we must depart.”
“How could this happen… But His Highness the Second Prince is gravely injured…”
The pilgrim shook their head slightly.
“No need to worry about that. He’ll be unable to die even if he wants to. I pity the people of Arcad Kingdom instead.”
“What does that mean?”
“Retribution for the Second Prince’s rudeness will strike Arcad Kingdom. Convey this message: Leave Arcad Kingdom.”
“Wait, are you saying the kingdom will fall overnight?!”
“Falling overnight would be preferable. It seems the Goddess of Life is extremely angry…”
The guard couldn’t believe what they were hearing.
What did the Second Prince do to offend the Goddess of Life?
“Remember this well and deliver the message correctly. Destruction will come to Arcad Kingdom. All six cities and seventeen villages will severely decline. If the Second Prince doesn’t repent, ruin is certain.”
“Then, what should we do?”
“The Second Prince must sincerely repent, renounce everything, and undertake a pilgrimage of atonement. Only then, in the final moment, can he seek forgiveness from the Goddess of Life to quell her wrath.”
“A pilgrimage of atonement…”
The pilgrim slung their packed bag over their shoulder and continued.
“But at his current state, it’s unlikely. His arrogance brought this calamity; only after losing everything will he genuinely reflect on his actions.”
“Surely…”
“However, the Goddess of Life’s wrath is confined to Arcad Kingdom’s lands. If you wish to survive, leave. Doing so will ensure your safety.”
With that, the pilgrim began walking away slowly, leaving the guard to ponder whether they should relay the message.
