Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 367 (Part 2):

“Search every corner! They’re definitely hiding somewhere. If you sense anything unusual, strike even at the air!”

“Earlier at the stairs, I felt something off. They must have come up to the second floor.”

“Is that so? Then they’ve found a hiding spot. Search the second floor!”

The masked man holding the sacred artifact stormed into the stacks.

The holy energy he emitted was overwhelming.

Sacred artifacts were vessels for holy energy. Since they were rarely used, they contained an immense amount of it.

Each time he drew near, it felt like a tidal wave crashing against Sian’s entire body.

Sian gritted his teeth, enduring the nausea-inducing resistance.

“Ugh…”

He couldn’t help but recall Asuka clinging to Elaga’s back all day. Now Sian understood exactly how Asuka had felt.

Aside from the danger to his life, the Crown Prince was also gripped by another fear.

The fear that Sian might vomit on his back.

‘If I’m killed with vomit on me, that might be the worst way to go.’

He hadn’t expected that a late-night visit to the library would lead to such a crisis.

Then again, the Crown Prince frequently visited the library late at night.

If they knew that, they must have been waiting for this very opportunity.

Finally, the attackers got dangerously close to where the Crown Prince and Sian were hiding.

“There’s moisture here.”

“Sweat? That means they’re close.”

It seemed they had noticed a few drops of sweat that had fallen from Sian’s forehead. They were annoyingly sharp.

Sian dismissed the light spirit and boosted the dark spirit. Since the attackers were bringing light with them, visibility wasn’t an issue.

Hiding was more important than having a clear view, anyway.

Sian and the Crown Prince pressed themselves close to a second-floor window.

Sian whispered a question.

“The window… is it barred?”

“No, it’s reinforced with magic. But it can be opened for ventilation.”

With the library’s barrier neutralized, the window was now just an ordinary window.

At that moment, both the Crown Prince and Sian had the same thought.

They were on the second floor. Unless they were terribly unlucky, jumping from that height wasn’t usually fatal. If they landed properly, they might avoid serious injury.

“You can’t use magic outside.”

“If we’re discovered, we’ll have to try something.”

The Crown Prince gave a short nod. *If* they were discovered. Which meant if they could slip away unseen, they wouldn’t need to jump.

Ironically, they prayed they wouldn’t be found.

Even though they were fleeing assassins sent by the Temple.

Yet their enemies were terrifyingly thorough. It was as if they were desperate to locate the Crown Prince, eyes blazing with urgency.

They were anxious too. This was the imperial palace. No matter how late it was, the imperial mages and knights could arrive at any moment.

“Check the windows.”

The area near the window was a passage where people could walk by—anyone moving around there might bump into someone.

Seeing a masked man approach, sword in hand, the Crown Prince clenched his teeth.

If he swung it, he could pierce the Crown Prince’s body in an instant. That would be the end of their mission.

The masked man, now just a few steps away, tilted his head as if sensing something.

“Huh? The temperature here…”

At this time of night, the area near the window should be cool. But both Sian and the Crown Prince were tense, their body temperatures elevated. The warmth had heated the air around them.

That was something even the dark spirit couldn’t conceal.

The masked man swung his sword through the air. The blade came dangerously close.

The Crown Prince hastily stepped back. Sian bumped into the wall, letting out a small groan.

“Ow!”

“They’re here!”

The masked man had detected the disturbance in the barrier. He swung his sword again. *Whoosh!*

The blade narrowly grazed the Crown Prince’s collar.

He definitely felt something being cut.

Hearing his subordinate’s shout, the masked man wielding the sacred artifact turned and raced toward the window.

The dense wave of holy energy was rapidly approaching.

This time, it wasn’t a gradual wave. It was like a boulder crashing down from a cliff.

“Gah!”

Sian finally coughed up blood. The Dark Spirit vanished, unsummoned. In that instant, Sian and the Crown Prince were completely exposed.

“You were hiding like rats!”

The masked man raised his sword. His eyes gleamed with triumph as he locked onto his target.

The Crown Prince, pale-faced, gripped his own sword. He had never regretted neglecting his swordsmanship training more than he did now.

Their only option was to break the window and jump. The excited masked man shouted.

“Oh noble scion of the Empire who has betrayed the god! May you repent of your misguided choice in Lumen’s embrace!”

As they lunged toward the Crown Prince, a sudden shadow descended, blocking their view.

It was as if a giant bat with spread wings had swooped down.

A loud crash echoed. *Smash!* Shards of glass scattered, scratching their cheeks.

But the Crown Prince barely registered the pain.

A man had landed on the second floor after breaking through the window. He stood between the masked man and the Crown Prince, casually straightening his posture as he rose.

His blue hair swayed lightly in the breeze. From within it, a pair of intense, glowing eyes shone.

With a smirk, he declared fiercely,

“The ones outside are all dead. Now it’s your turn!”

Otaku_Tensei

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