The Prince from Another World Wants to Save the World

Chapter 28: The Mad Prince’s Route (3)

“The management of Berit’s residents is entirely under the authority of the lord. While I can send a letter of recommendation using my power as regent, this policy has been in place for a long time, and it’s not something I can easily change.”

“I am not asking for much. Please, just show enough mercy so that the residents don’t starve to death!”

Davi knelt down on the spot and pleaded. Jess frowned, clearly irritated.

“Are you saying the people of Berit are starving to death right now?”

“Up until two years ago, they somehow managed to survive. But last year’s drought was severe, and this year’s harvest has been catastrophic.”

“Hmm…”

“Despite this, Count Talisman, the lord of Berit, has imposed even higher taxes than before, pushing the people to their deaths! Please, I beg of you!”

Davi pressed his forehead to the ground and wept. The reason he was so desperate was that he was the only knight in the world born in Berit.

Of course, an ordinary person would have never left Berit in their lifetime.

But Davi showed great talent as a knight from an early age. The former lord of Berit took notice of this and sent Davi to the Imperial Academy in Emperoroad through a special recommendation. Before even graduating, Davi was scouted by the White Knights and officially appointed as a knight.

At the time, Davi was only 15 years old.

From there, he grew rapidly, becoming a Knight Commander at 18, and at 22, he reached the level required to obtain the highest title, Knight Master.

“Stand up, Davi,” Jess commanded, glaring at the back of Davi’s head.

“The Empire is currently surrounded by enemies on all sides. To the northeast lies the Coalition of Other Races, to the east is the Undead Army, to the west are the ogres, and to the northwest, barbarians and bandits are constantly threatening our borders and trade routes.”

“…”

“The Empire is suffering to protect itself from external threats, and it is only natural that the Empire’s citizens share in that burden. The people of Berit are no exception.”

“Your Highness!”

Davi sprang to his feet in protest, causing Firen, standing nearby, to grip the sword at his waist and step forward.

“For the regent’s safety, mind your behavior.”

“Knight Firen…”

Both men were Knight Masters, the strongest of knights.

But Davi, without his armor or weapon, stood no chance against Firen, who was fully armed.

“…I apologize, Your Highness. I lost my temper and spoke out of turn. Please forgive me.”

Davi quickly bowed his head again. Jess narrowed his eyes and responded in a low voice.

“Remember, Davi, you represent the Empire as a Knight Master. There’s no need to cling to the past.”

“Your Highness…”

“Forget about Berit. Clinging to it will only drag you down. Think of Emperoroad as your true home now.”

“…”

Davi closed his eyes tightly and lowered his head. Jess waved dismissively.

“If you’re finished, then you can leave. Since you’re on leave, take a few days to rest in Emperoroad.”

“Thank you for your consideration. I will take my leave.”

Davi saluted and exited the office. Jess, looking disgusted, shook his head in disdain.

“That man is one of only three Knight Masters in the Empire… What a pitiful state of affairs.”

“He is indeed a dangerous individual, Your Highness. His origins are problematic, and it may be best to eliminate him,” Firen said as he released his grip on his sword. Jess clicked his tongue and fell into thought.

“I agree, but a Knight Master cannot be killed so easily. He is a crucial figure in the White Knights, who are currently engaged with the Coalition of Other Races.”

“It seems his standing within the order is not favorable. The previous commander shielded him, but since his retirement, that has changed. Of course, his skill is beyond question.”

“Indeed, his skill is impeccable. But with his background….”

Jess glared at the closed door. He had no interest in wasting time on Berit’s downtrodden residents, especially with so many pressing matters piling up.

* * *

‘What am I supposed to do…?’

The sky was a brilliant blue, almost shamefully so. After leaving the palace, Davi looked up and sighed deeply.

Forget Berit?

Even though it had been nine years since he left, whenever Davi closed his eyes, he still saw the faces of the villagers he missed.

Davi had lost his entire family when he was young, leaving him an orphan.

But the entire village had come together to take care of him. Though everyone was desperately poor, they stubbornly supported each other through tough times.

The day Davi left for Emperoroad on a carriage sent by the lord was no different.

The entire village had gathered along the road to wave him off.

– You’re amazing, Davi! Absolutely amazing!

– Endure the hardships! You can do it!

– You’re never alone! We’re all family!

– You’ll succeed! We believe in you!

– Stay healthy! Don’t go hungry, no matter where you are!

“…”

Tears welled up in Davi’s eyes.

Were they still doing well?

Compared to other villages, they should be better off. He had been sending all his wages to them every year.

But the rumors of a severe drought in Berit and the stories of people dying in droves left him restless.

Moreover, five years ago, a new lord, Count Talisman, had taken over and was oppressing the residents even more brutally than his predecessor.

Davi wanted nothing more than to rush back to Berit right now, cut down that wretched lord, and distribute the hoarded food and supplies to save the people.

But he couldn’t.

He had the strength to do it. With the power of a Knight Master, he could slice through a small local army in no time.

But if he did that, it would be seen as rebellion. The Empire would send a military force to crush him.

“That’s not an option…”

While Davi might be able to escape and go into hiding, the people left behind in Berit would suffer even worse than before.

‘What am I supposed to do? Who can help me save Berit?’

Davi’s frustration was compounded by a growing sense of hatred.

He felt utterly alone. In this vast Empire, was there not a single person who would help him save Berit?

Then he thought of the White Knights, the order to which he belonged.

But even there, no one was on his side. After the previous commander retired, most of the knights either envied and despised him for being from Berit or treated him like he was invisible.

Today, everything felt unbearably painful.

Despite all his efforts and sacrifices to get to where he was, not only had he failed to save Berit, but even his own life felt unmanageable.

“Damn it…”

Davi lowered his head and gritted his teeth.

He was one of the strongest people in the Empire.

Yet the fact that he couldn’t achieve what he truly wanted weighed heavily on the 24-year-old, turning his heart as black as coal.

* * *

When I opened my eyes, it was dawn.

As much as I wanted to collapse back into bed, I had to get up. Ugh, I felt sore all over, probably because I didn’t sleep well.

“Good morning, Your Highness.”

“Good morning, Your Highness.”

As I stepped into the hallway, the maids who had already started their duties were startled and quickly bowed. I waved casually and descended the stairs to the first floor.

“Your Highness? You’re up already?”

Rania was in the drawing room, giving instructions to the maids. I nodded and stretched my arms.

“I went to bed early, so I woke up early. Where’s Meredith? I need to ask her to do something.”

“Meredith went to the forest to gather ingredients for her elixirs. There are some materials that can only be collected in the early morning.”

“Herbs?”

“Mainly insects.”

“Insects are used in elixirs?”

I feigned surprise even though I knew. Rania smiled gently and nodded.

“They are commonly used in elixirs that enhance physical abilities. After drying them properly, they’re ground into powder. While the elixirs you’ve taken so far contained little to none of that ingredient…”

Bang!

The estate’s door flew open, and Meredith rushed in, her voice sharp with urgency.

“Quick! Call a priest!”

“Meredith! What’s going on? Calm down!” Rania exclaimed, leaping toward her. I sighed silently as I noticed the girl Meredith was carrying in her arms.

The Mad Prince’s Route.

It’s finally starting. Thanks to Meredith, it seems to be about 30 minutes ahead of schedule.

“I found her while gathering beetles in the forest. She’s covered in wounds, and she’s so weak from hunger that her body can’t take in the recovery elixirs. I’ve tried, but her body is too exhausted. We need to treat her injuries with divine magic right away. Your Highness?”

Meredith seemed startled to see me awake so early. I crouched down and tapped the floor.

“Lay her down here. I’ll handle it.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The girl’s body was covered in numerous wounds—many of them festering and

oozing with pus.

I used Healing and Anti-Poison at the same time, carefully mending her ravaged body.

“Ugh… Uuuuh…”

The girl groaned and squirmed as she began to regain consciousness. I asked Meredith to bring some water, then pulled out a sugar bar I had prepared in advance. Breaking off a small piece, I placed it in the girl’s mouth.

“Can you eat this?”

“Ugh… mm… mm?”

After swallowing the piece, the girl’s eyes widened, and she flailed her hands. I placed the rest of the sugar bar in her hand.

“You can eat the rest. What’s your name? How did you end up in the Lunembreth family’s forest?”

“I… I’m… Lu… Lu…”

Her name was Lune.

But before she could finish saying her name, she suddenly turned over and buried her face in the floor.

“Please! Please help us! Please save my village!”

“Your village? What village?”

“I… I ran away from Alun Village in Berit.”

At that moment, the maids around us gasped in shock and began to murmur.

“So she’s from Berit after all…”

“Alun Village, isn’t that one of the closest villages to here?”

“My goodness, for a child like her to come all the way from there…”

Usually, Berit evokes negative or hostile reactions due to the discrimination against it.

But this time, there was a sense of pity in the maids’ voices because half of them were from Berit themselves.

“The harvest was so bad this year… Everyone is starving. But the lord took everything, so there’s nothing left. There’s no bark left to peel from the trees, and the dried potatoes hidden in the cellar are all gone. Sniff… I’m sorry for lying… I actually stole the potatoes and ran away. Without them, my mom and siblings might starve to death. I don’t know who you are, but please save us. Please, my family and the people of our village…”

The girl, who had been speaking frantically, suddenly collapsed and lost consciousness.

Phew.

Even though I’d seen this scene many times during my regressions, it still tore at my heart.

I wish I could have saved this girl before she had to endure the struggle to make it here.

But if I interfered too early, her fate would change. That’s the problem.

Lune’s journey from her village to the Lunembreth estate takes seven days.

If she’s saved on the first day, nothing significant happens.

If she’s saved between the fourth and fifth days, she expends all her energy and dies immediately upon reaching me.

But if I wait until she arrives at the estate, I can save her like this.

On the sixth day, something happens that pushes her beyond her limits. She even described it herself.

In any case, during my previous regressions, the Lune I saved on the first day was completely different from the Lune who reached the estate on her own.

– Species: Human
– Current Magic: F
– Potential Magic: A

That’s right. She’s awakened again.

A quick scan with Analysis confirmed the result immediately.

Having escaped to the Lunembreth estate on her own, Lune would soon awaken to her magic, growing into a sorcerer on par with an Archmage.

But this was only the beginning.

The reason I had been rushing through various plans so far was because of this moment.

Today, on September 6th of my first year after regression, I’m finally beginning the Mad Prince’s Route.