The Wastrel Prince Becomes Ruthless-Chapter 42

Chapter 42
Step, step.
Late at night, a man walked along the dim paths of the Imperial Palace.
His steps were light but not shallow, steady yet not heavy. Each stride measured, like it had been drawn with a ruler.
Before long, the magical lamps standing at regular intervals illuminated his face.
Beneath his flowing white hair was a face as if sculpted from marble—handsome and sharply defined.
That man was none other than Yurion Aphahiel.
No—Yuwon.
Yuwon appeared relaxed, as if he were merely out for a nightly stroll.
His calm gait, his unassuming attire—clothing that couldn’t possibly belong to someone heading off to perform a grand act—everything about him looked like the usual Yuwon.
The black garments and mask he always wore when bloodshed was expected were nowhere to be seen tonight.
Nor did he carry any of his secondary blades in place of the White Dragon Sword.
Instead, he had the sword boldly hanging at his waist, as if he were flaunting it.
Unlike before, Yuwon made no effort to conceal his identity.
“Hide-and-seek ends here.”
The cold blue eyes that looked ahead said what his lips did not.
“I won’t hide anymore. I won’t conceal myself. I’ll face them head-on—with all the strength I have.”
Yuwon’s specialty had never been schemes or strategy; it was sheer combat strength.
Living as the frail Yurion had forced him into using his wits as a temporary measure while he gathered power.
Even in his past life, that had been so. Yuwon was born a swordsman—a warrior, a fighter. He had never once run from a fight that came his way.
But his enemies, ignorant of that truth, had poked their sticks into the den of a serpent in hibernation.
“I’ll crush them with full force. Grind them to dust beneath my heel.”
In exchange, Yuwon sought only one thing—to instill overwhelming terror into his enemies with absolute might.
“If anyone dares to touch me—or my people—they’ll face a fate far worse than death. I’ll make it known to the world myself…!”
It was a vow unlike any other. Yuwon had no intention of hiding what was about to happen tonight. In fact, he hoped it would spread far and wide.
His steady, chilling steps carried a cold air that made the skin crawl. Yuwon was awakening every sense within his body, readying himself for battle.
At last, he arrived at the front gates of the Third Prince’s Palace. His steps had reached their destination. Yuwon walked confidently toward the main gate.
His final step announcing his arrival—he made no effort to restrain or disguise it. He simply moved at his own will.
Clatter—
The neatly laid gravel slid underfoot. That sound was the beginning.
“Wh-Who goes there?!”
Startled, a palace guard shone his lamp toward Yuwon. Yuwon stood silently beneath the light, no longer hiding or shielding himself.
“I am Yurion Aphahiel. Where is the Third Prince?”
The Rebellion of the White Dragon—its first chapter began here, with the bloodbath at the Third Prince’s Palace.
“Who is it at this hour?”
“It—it’s the Fifth Prince… Shall I send him away?”
The Third Prince frowned. The appointed time was correct, but the location was not.
“…Let him in.”
Though it was a late visit, the Fifth Prince’s appearance was enough to draw the attention of the nobles residing within the Third Prince’s Palace—members of the Third Prince’s faction.
“What’s this? That white hair… isn’t that His Highness, the Fifth Prince?”
“It is, indeed. There’s only one person in the whole capital with hair like that. But why come here at this hour…?”
Many had already noticed Yuwon’s visit. For appearances’ sake, the Third Prince greeted him politely.
“You’ve come.”
“Yes, I have.”
Their greetings were plain, emotionless—one could never imagine that the two men were after each other’s lives from such casual exchange.
“There are many eyes watching. Come with me—we’ll speak elsewhere.”
The Third Prince led Yuwon to his office. A few minutes later, they were seated across from each other, a small desk between them, inside the prince’s spacious private chamber.
“…You came right on time.”
“There are plenty of guests at the Third Prince’s Palace. To rush would be rude on such an occasion—and to be late goes without saying.”
“Haha, you’ve changed indeed. To hear you talk about punctuality—The boy who once lived without a care for time has grown up. As your elder brother, I am proud.”
Yuwon responded only with a faint smile. The Third Prince continued.
“However, I could’ve sworn I said the back gate. It seems there’s been a miscommunication. Such a grave affair shouldn’t suffer from such blunders. I’ll have to punish those responsible so this never happens again.”
“It was delivered properly.”
Just as expected. The Third Prince’s pretense faded, his expression hardening.
“…Then you came through the front gate on purpose—to mock me?”
“I didn’t mean to insult anyone. I only wanted as many people as possible to know I was here tonight.”
“…So confident, aren’t you? Or have you forgotten that your man is being held hostage?”
“Hastings…”
Yuwon forced himself to remain calm. Every word he spoke came out as if biting back fury.
“How is Hastings?”
“You think that matters? You’ve stepped into the trap I set with your own two feet.”
“It matters. After all, it concerns my brother’s life.”
An audacious declaration. Yuwon spoke as though he already held the Third Prince’s leash in his hand.
“Heh, still full of bluster.”
The Third Prince laughed mockingly. Behind him, several presences stirred—those who had concealed themselves until now.
Yuwon matched the number of figures he had sensed earlier with those now revealed.
“One, two, three… Including the Third Prince, thirteen in total. Four knights with swords, four magicians… the other four standing behind me—assassins, perhaps? He’s prepared quite thoroughly.”
Even from their auras alone, each one was a formidable opponent. Practically, this was the elite core of the Third Prince’s forces.
“Someone once said—a lion gives its all even when chasing a rabbit. But I’m not chasing a rabbit tonight. I’m hunting a lion’s cub. So I must give my utmost. Don’t hold it against me.”
“Hold it against you? On the contrary, I’m grateful.”
Creak—
Yuwon slowly rose from his seat. At that sudden motion, the Third Prince’s subordinates hastily gripped their weapons.
In that tense stillness, only Yuwon’s quiet voice resonated.
“Thanks to you… I can finish this in one stroke.”
Yuwon silently reached for his waist. His movements were neither rushed nor sluggish—but they were deceptive.
Just as his hand brushed the scabbard—
Click!
A flash of light.
Swish—
A chilling sound echoed through the chamber. The pure-white blade, freed from its sheath, sliced cleanly through the neck of the nearest foe.
Splurt—!
Blood spurted from the severed neck like a fountain. The head flew into the air.
Yuwon’s strike was so fast that the man died without even a final scream.
The body part that should have remained attached spun alone in the air. Just before the head hit the floor—
“Damn it! Strike him down!”
The enemy retaliated.
Including the Third Prince, twelve enemies remained. Though they had shed blood in vain under Yuwon’s fierce ambush, these men were the Third Prince’s personally chosen elites. They were by no means easy foes.
“Even without the hostage, nothing changes! Kill him!”
“Yes, Your Highness—!”
The moment chaos broke out, the Third Prince—who had already retreated far behind—gave the order.
At his command, his subordinates formed ranks and began to press Yuwon.
‘Damn it, if the conversation had started where the hostage was, this wouldn’t have happened…!’
Had Yuwon come through the back gate as the Third Prince instructed, the prince could have used Hastings as a hostage to fight on his own terms—perhaps even win without fighting at all.
‘But that chance has passed… focus on what’s ahead!’
There was no time to regret a missed opportunity; the enemies before him were far too dangerous. The Third Prince drew mana from his heart and wrapped it around his body.
Crackle! Crackle—!
In an instant, blue electric currents flared around him. The Third Prince’s eyes locked on Yuwon.
With a flick of his hand, a blue current flashed from his fingertips like lightning and struck at Yuwon.
An attack that couldn’t be seen, let alone dodged.
‘Something’s coming!’
Fixing his gaze on his sword, Yuwon instinctively sensed the danger. One more step forward and he could have severed his opponent’s neck—but Yuwon abandoned that chance and leapt back.
Then—Boom!
Half a second earlier, the spot where Yuwon had stood was struck by a bolt of lightning.
It was the fastest attack Yuwon had ever faced since living as Yurion.
‘Third Prince!’
Yuwon turned his eyes toward him.
“To dodge that—impressive! You must die here tonight…!”
The Third Prince was standing midair. Wind howled around his floating form, suspended a hand’s span above the floor.
‘If he keeps raining lightning-type magic like that, I can’t be sure I can dodge forever. Then I’ll strike first—with everything I have…!’
Until now, Yuwon had only used his inner strength. Now, he focused his mind deep into his heart.
From his left chest—where the fang marks of the Dragon-Scaled Serpent still remained—his heart pounded violently. Yuwon released the venom within.
‘Come, Black Serpent.’
At his call, black poison welled and flowed from his heart.
Dark mist began to gather over the White Dragon Sword, which shimmered faintly with blue energy.
Before long, the once pure-white blade of the White Dragon Sword turned dark, casting a murky radiance.
“What… what is that ominous color…?!”
The enemies had no time to gasp in awe.
Channeling venom through his sword, Yuwon sent the same power coursing through all his veins, further enhancing his speed.
Already able to stand against twelve opponents without faltering, Yuwon grew even faster.
From a defensive stance, he switched to a fierce offensive in an instant.
“He’s attacking!”
The startled enemies formed their defenses a half-beat too late.
Yuwon gripped the White Dragon Sword and swept it from left to right. The light motion drew a vast arc in the air.
Slash—
A chilling sound rang out.
The very space around the White Dragon Sword split cleanly apart. But it wasn’t only space that was cut.
The body of an enemy caught within that rift was severed cleanly in two.
Blood erupted like a fountain from the bisected torso, and spinal fluid spilled out from the neatly sliced backbone.
Yuwon was drenched in the shower of blood. While the stunned enemies reeled at the surreal sight, Yuwon used the collapsing corpse and streams of blood as cover to step closer.
In a battle where life and death were decided by inches, that single careless step toward him meant death.
“O-Oh… guh!”
The knight who noticed Yuwon’s attack a single step too late couldn’t finish his last words.
Thrust—!
The White Dragon Sword pierced through the knight’s throat and burst out the back. Death came instantly.
‘The moment I chose to draw blood, hesitation was gone.’
Yuwon cut through one man’s waist, then immediately skewered another’s neck.
On the blade that no longer hesitated, not even a drop of blood lingered.
The blackened White Dragon Sword didn’t absorb blood—it devoured it into an unfathomable abyss.
In the blink of an eye, three of the Third Prince’s elite knights fell dead. Snapping back to his senses, the Third Prince hastily cast a binding spell.
“At this rate, we’ll be taken down one by one! I’ll bind his legs—strike while you can and kill him!”
No response came from his subordinates. No one had the leisure to reply.
Just as the Third Prince gave his new order, the assassins—who had been quietly waiting for their moment—attacked Yuwon.
Two of the four threw poisoned daggers, while the other two gripped short blades and lunged at Yuwon’s throat.
“Not a chance!”
Clang—! Clang!
Yuwon’s White Dragon Sword clashed with their weapons, the colliding auras sparking violently with each blow.
Yuwon was a wolf among sheep. No matter how many enemies came or how many blades struck at him, it made no difference.
Crunch—!
A wolf’s nature was simply to kill the flock.
Deflecting his enemy’s fiercest strike, Yuwon swung back.
The White Dragon Sword, emanating streams of shadow, showed no mercy.
Boom—! Bang!
Every collision of blades resounded not with the clash of metal but with explosions.
The Third Prince and his men fell back, forced into retreat by Yuwon’s sword. Even the spacious office of the Third Prince felt suffocatingly small.
Even then, drenched in blood, Yuwon’s expression remained blank as he swung his sword mercilessly.
“Ugh… If we can just land one hit…!”
Just one.
With a single hit, they believed they could bring down that monstrous Yurion—but he allowed not even a scratch.
“At this rate, we’ll all die! We’ll stab him even if it costs our lives! After that—!”
The Third Prince had no time to stop him.
The assassin who spoke dashed forward, breaking formation, followed by another.
“Die—!”
Gripping his dagger in both hands, the assassin charged at Yuwon. Yuwon deflected the blade as effortlessly as swatting a fly.
Clang—!
“An assassin shouting a war cry? How disappointing.”
But that attack was a feint.
From behind, another assassin’s poisoned blade flew silently at Yuwon.
Swish—
“Ugh—!”
The throwing knife grazed Yuwon’s left arm. Blood seeped lightly from the shallow tear in his sleeve.
Yuwon glanced at the wound, then immediately swung his sword—beheading the two assassins.
For the small wound they had given him, both paid with their lives.
‘Your sacrifice was noble…! Now he’s as good as dead!’
The Third Prince’s eyes gleamed as he cast the binding spell beneath Yuwon’s feet.
“I-It’s done! The attack worked!”
He wasn’t the only one convinced of victory. His men too, satisfied with that minor wound, were already celebrating inwardly.
Yuwon crushed their hopes without mercy.
“Poison, is it?”
“Yes! The venom of the Southern Spider—a single drop can kill an elephant!”
The Third Prince’s triumphant voice echoed. At that pitiful display, Yuwon spoke softly.
“Futile… Bernid.”
“…?”
Black mist rose beside Yuwon.
The power that had blackened the White Dragon Sword—the power he’d gained through the very poison Bernid used.
“…I am the poison.”
At those words, the Black Serpent coiled in Yuwon’s heart stirred.
It swallowed the venom that entered his body in one gulp—and roared like a dragon.