Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 366 (Part 2):

The Crown Prince arrived at one possible assumption:

The ones fighting Asuka must have called for backup, and so more enemies showed up.

Inside the imperial palace, magic couldn’t normally be used due to the barrier, but it seemed the barrier had lost its effect in certain areas.

‘That means they could have entered using teleportation magic.’

This was likely the work of someone familiar with the imperial palace’s layout. High-ranking nobles might be involved.

To target the Crown Prince inside the imperial palace! Their audacity and lawlessness were shocking.

If it wasn’t the Temple, who else would dare do such a thing against the Empire?

‘There’s no evidence yet. But…’

Circumstantial evidence was enough. The masked intruders passed by the Crown Prince’s location and headed toward the first-floor stacks.

One of them seemed to be guarding the stairs, standing right in the middle.

The longsword in his hand gleamed coldly.

“We need to go up now.”

They didn’t know the Crown Prince was hidden by magic, but if they didn’t find him on the first floor, they would change their approach. They had to hurry.

“Be careful not to bump into them.”

Sian whispered. Fortunately, the stairs were quite wide. As long as the intruders didn’t suddenly change direction, there was little chance of collision.

The two moved up the stairs, sticking as close to the edge as possible.

The Crown Prince’s back was drenched in cold sweat. They were just passing by the intruder.

“Huh?”

Even among the masked intruders, this one was skilled. He felt a strange sensation. The movement of the air was subtly unsettling. There was clearly nothing around, but…

“What’s this?”

Instinctively, he swung his sword swiftly through the air. *Whoosh!* The sword hit nothing.

But in reality, the Crown Prince and Sian were right there.

“Whoa!”

Sian let out a yelp. The razor-sharp sword had narrowly passed between him and the Crown Prince.

The barrier he had cast didn’t block physical force. If they had been even slightly careless, they would have been cut.

Fortunately, the sound didn’t leak outside the barrier.

Since the spirits maintained the barrier, Sian’s momentary panic didn’t break the spell.

“Maybe I’m being jumpy.”

The intruder muttered and looked down at the first floor again. The Crown Prince and Sian, their hearts pounding, moved cautiously.

They had overcome the crisis and finally reached the second floor.

“Phew, we made it.”

Sian wiped the sweat from his forehead. The Crown Prince shook his head.

“It’s too soon to relax. We don’t know how large their forces are.”

From the Crown Prince’s perspective, a mere second-place graduate from Greta Academy’s magic department was somewhat less than reassuring.

Still, Sian was at least the best help he had at the moment.

“There’s a hideaway in the second floor that only a royal can open. We’ll go there.”

“Am I allowed to come with you?”

Sian’s eyes filled with doubt. If he followed to such a place, he could be silenced to keep the secret.

The best answer was to avoid getting involved in such matters in the first place, but it was too late now.

The Crown Prince reassured him, “You’re Asuka’s friend, right? I won’t treat someone who helped me like that.”

“Just so we’re clear, I’m from Rodril.”

Sian knew all too well that one should never take the words of those in power at face value. And that’s why he boldly revealed his identity.

The Crown Prince, as if expecting such doubt, merely nodded.

“I thought so. I had a feeling when you mentioned spirit magic.”

Relieved that the Crown Prince seemed familiar with the name Rodril, Sian followed him without further protest.

Strangely, there was no one on the second floor. Perhaps everyone had gone to the first floor, but it felt eerie.

They soon reached the vicinity of the safe room.

At the end of the corridor was a large portrait of a noblewoman.

Behind it was the entrance to the safe room. Once inside, they would be safe.

Just as the Crown Prince was about to approach, Sian grabbed his shoulder.

“Wait, something’s off. Let’s observe the situation for a moment.”

Without warning, Sian tugged the Crown Prince aside. Moments later, someone sprinted through the corridor.

When he reached the portrait, a masked figure emerged from the curtains nearby and asked, “Have you found the Crown Prince yet?”

“We’re still searching the first floor. The stacks are vast, so if he’s hiding, it’ll take time.”

“We’ve taken measures to ensure the imperial mages can’t turn their attention here, but we don’t have much time. We need to hurry.”

“The Crown Prince will definitely come here sooner or later.”

“Right, the safe room hasn’t been activated yet. You, search this area again.”

“Yes!”

After hearing the conversation, Sian shook his head repeatedly.

“They know where the safe room is.”

This meant they had more than just a general knowledge of the imperial library’s layout—they likely had the blueprints.

He had suspected as much when they descended from the second floor without breaking the first-floor door, but this was serious.

If they managed to get out of here alive, the Crown Prince would certainly need to track down the traitors.

“What should we do now?”

Sian asked. They couldn’t enter the safe room like this. It would be better to leave the library and seek help.

The imperial palace—particularly the Emperor’s quarters—was the safest place in the entire Empire.

But just as the Crown Prince was about to speak, a frantic shout echoed through the corridor.

“There’s a mage on the first floor! It seems the Crown Prince has joined forces with him!”

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