Chapter 57: Echoes of Doom

Seeing the gaping hole, I was stunned. Why did the ground collapse out of nowhere? The hole was massive. Finding someone too big to fit in it would be nearly impossible. Not just Deokbong, but me and the rest of the party were all thrown off.

I called out.

“Are you sure you’re okay? Don’t just say you’re fine if you’re not. Speak up now to avoid trouble later.”

Unlike the others, Deokbong wasn’t fine. Maybe if he’d trained in falling techniques… but no, that wasn’t likely. He shouldn’t be judged by the standards of trained fighters.

Still, his voice showed no sign of pain.

“Yes, yes, Your Highness. My apologies. I’m truly fine.”

If he wasn’t hurt, he was lucky.

His voice echoed, suggesting a space below.

Deokbong stammered.

“My apologies, but something else seems more important.”

I couldn’t hear clearly.

“What?”

“My apologies.”

Why does he keep apologizing? Deokbong tended to fear me more than necessary.

He didn’t need to.

Such a timid guy.

Hondon treated me too casually, Wolhanseong soldiers disrespected me, and Deokbong feared me excessively. I wasn’t blind to it. He probably feared me because I’m called the mad prince.

Deokbong stuttered.

“E-eggs… or something like that.”

Eggs? Unexpected words. Who’d expect to find eggs in a mountain cave?

“Eggs?”

I lowered the torch to shed light. Nothing but Deokbong’s head was visible.

He flinched as the light came closer.

“Yes, Your Highness. Huge eggs, big enough to hold a grown man.”

Man-sized eggs. Not ordinary beast eggs. Definitely monster eggs.

“I need to see for myself.”

The pit Deokbong fell into was over ten feet deep. Too high to climb without help. No walls to scale either.

“Can you get up?”

“Well…”

Deokbong hesitated.

“No light to see by…”

I held the torch closer, looking around. Nothing but Deokbong and the floor.

He apologized again.

“My apologies.”

It wasn’t his fault. No need for apologies.

“No need.”

I thought briefly about how to help him.

Options were limited.

“Could you climb if we lower a rope?”

“Yes, probably…”

“I’ll pull you up, then go down myself.”

We had rope from setting up tents. I told a soldier to fetch it. One left the cave to get it.

“If Your Highness goes down, I’ll stay until you come back up.”

There he goes again. Do I look weak? Is that the issue? I frowned. The others went further, all turning to me as they peered into the hole.

“It’s dangerous, Your Highness.”

“Please retract your words.”

What’s dangerous?

“Do I look like I’d die falling ten feet? Do I seem that weak? Remember, I’m not a kid who came here with you.”

They ignore me sometimes, but now they’re stopping me. Is their goal to block me? Did the Lord of Wolhanseong order this? I glared at them.

They said it’s dangerous but none volunteered to go down themselves. Just staring.

“Then I’ll go with you.”

Hondon spoke up, his usual dry tone. But the offer wasn’t casual. More proactive than the others.

Surprised he’d help, I asked.

“You?”

“Is there a problem?”

Hondon didn’t blink. In his childlike form, it looked bold.

What a guy.

Maybe he’d seem bold even curled up. Or arrogant? What made him so arrogant? Was it skill?

I sighed and said.

“You…”

Someday, I’d have to test Hondon’s martial skills.

“As you know, my main reason for being here is to protect Your Highness.”

Hondon yawned lazily. Seeing it made me want to smack him.

Protection? He hasn’t done a thing.

But as a guard, he had to follow me. Fair enough.

I wanted to argue but had no comeback. Speechless, I shut my mouth.

Hondon spoke, as if it was no big deal.

“I’ll go down first.”

He leapt into the pit. His small frame made it look effortless. I wasn’t that agile, so I couldn’t jump like him. Just then, the soldier returned with the tent rope.

I climbed down using it.

Thud. Holding the torch, I landed. The floor was damp, slightly sticky. Probably a place where water once flowed, weakening the ground, causing it to collapse under Deokbong’s step. Turning, the torchlight revealed what he mentioned.

“…Eggs.”

Their size made them look like rounded boulders. But their color and texture were unlike any rock. Impossible to mistake them for anything but eggs.

“Monster eggs, right?”

Hondon smirked.

“Obviously.”

His tone sounded mocking. Not my imagination. I don’t know what grudge he holds against me. Ignoring him, I spoke to Deokbong.

“Are these common here?”

I approached an egg, tapping its shell with my hand. Tap, tap. Thicker than an ostrich egg, naturally.

“I’ve seen eggs, but never this big. So many together is a first.”

A first. Deokbong had roamed these mountains for years, yet never saw these until I found them.

At this time, when I was sent at the Lord of Wolhanseong’s request.

These must be linked to the monster hordes near Wolhanseong.

“Not good.”

Above, the party murmured. One asked.

“Your Highness, have you confirmed? Come back up.”

“I’ve confirmed.”

“Are there really eggs?”

“Yes, a ton. We can’t leave them. Wait a bit.”

“Let us handle…”

“If we destroy these, the Lord of Wolhanseong will be pleased.”

Mentioning her silenced them.

“It’s good for you too. If these grow into adult monsters, they’ll attack you. Better to nip it in the bud.”

What to do? The eggs were as big as me when curled up. If hatchlings are this size, adults would be twice as big. Dozens of them. It’d take hundreds of soldiers to fight.

We can’t let them hatch. Destroying them now could save countless lives. At least dozens wouldn’t need to fight.

Smash them one by one? Or…

I noticed the torch in my hand.

“Burn them.”

Simple solution.

“They’ll die if cooked. We can’t let them hatch.”

Hondon objected.

“Must you use fire? There’s no room to escape flames here. I’ll smash them.”

Didn’t expect him to care about danger. Thought he lacked caution.

“I want to be thorough.”

“Smashing them is more certain.”

“How long will that take?”

“Not long. Leave it to me.”

“I don’t want to touch them. You’ll do it?”

“Yes. Why not?”

Burning or smashing didn’t matter much. But Hondon kept obstructing me. What’s his deep grudge?

“Your Highness, come up.”

“Be careful, Your Highness.”

The party kept calling. Annoying nagging. I snapped back.

“Alright, I’m coming. Can’t you wait? I’ll get up.”

I’d climb on my own, yet they nag. Desperate to raise their voices.

I laughed bitterly.

“Fine, Hondon, you smash them. If you’re so eager, I won’t stop you.”

Hondon replied curtly.

“My apologies.”

He swung his short arms, striding toward the eggs. I handed Deokbong the torch, gesturing to stay by Hondon. Down here, the party’s light ensured I could see.

Somewhere, the ground seemed to rumble. A sound, layered with multiple echoes.

A bad feeling hit.

Looking up, I said to the party.

“Did you hear that?”

No one answered.

But I was sure. Something bad was coming.

Bad feelings are never wrong.