MWMT 04

Chapter : 4

Crown Prince Johannes was one of the very few people who knew the true nature of the curse.

He was the original novel’s secondary male lead and also the main villain. He was the one who led the story to a tragic ending.

When a person cursed by it dies, the curse moves on to someone else. Being born safely as a human was never a guarantee of safety.

Because the curse was passed down through the imperial bloodline, the next sacrifice was almost certainly Johannes—the one who was supposed to inherit the curse in the first place.

> “So Aslan is basically a ticking time bomb to the Crown Prince. The only way to feel safe is to restrain him and keep him under control.”

The novel *The Curse of Astaroth* ended with the male lead losing to the Crown Prince and eventually reviving a demon.

By offering himself as a sacrifice, he brought about the end of humanity.

Aslan’s reason for choosing that path was clear.

It was to avoid being captured by the Crown Prince and living his entire life like a walking corpse.
It was to make those who despised him suffer the same pain he had endured.

Vivian snapped out of her thoughts when she heard hushed voices nearby.

> “There’s a cave here.”

> “The magic tool is reacting. The target must be inside.”

> “No matter what happens, do not kill him. Remember that—ugh!”

> “Grrrr!”

Before Vivian could stop him, Aslan rushed out of the cave and drove his massive claw straight into an assassin’s heart.

From their conversation, it was clear—the assassins were sent by the Crown Prince.

Wherever Aslan charged, horrible screams followed. Assassins fell one after another like rain, losing their lives.

*But there are too many. If I don’t step in…*

Aslan already had a deep wound in his side. If it had gone just a little deeper, his organs would have been destroyed.

Even so, he was fighting with his back to the cave entrance.

It would have been better to fight freely in open space, but he was acting as if he would never allow anyone to enter the cave.

As expected, small wounds began to pile up on Aslan’s body.

The assassins changed tactics—quick shallow stabs and retreats. They also began attacking from afar with arrows.

> “The cave is suspicious!”

> “He’s definitely hiding something inside. Break through!”

Hearing this, Aslan roared in rage. His golden eyes began to turn red.

*This is dangerous. If this continues, he won’t be able to return to being human.*

He must not be swallowed by the curse.
The moment Aslan lost himself and the demon Astaroth fully revived, the world would end.

Biting her lip in anxiety, Vivian finally tightened her grip on her two daggers. She stabbed the blade straight into the neck of an assassin who was aiming for Aslan’s back.

> “Kaaagh!”

> “Snap out of it, you, you, you dog! Do you want to die here?!”

She could never reveal what the Black Lion truly was.

Becoming the Crown Prince’s target for discovering the imperial family’s secret was bad enough. Becoming Aslan’s target was even worse.

But she wasn’t the only one who froze at the word “dog.” The assassins pointed at Vivian.

> “Dog? Who’s a dog?”

> “She sounds crazy.”

> “Yes! Anything with four legs, fluffy fur, and cute is a dog! You animal abusers!”

Vivian instantly regretted what she had shouted.

Yes, Aslan did have four legs and fluffy fur.

But he was covered in blood, and more importantly—lions were part of the cat family.

*…Hmm. Maybe I should just kill everyone and erase this dark memory.*

As a modern, educated person, she felt deep embarrassment.

So she decided to kill all witnesses first, and if Aslan ever brought it up later, she would just deny it. With no witnesses, what could he do?

She dodged enemy attacks smoothly and stabbed their vital points in one clean motion.

After Vivian’s “dog” comment, Aslan’s eyes returned to their original golden color, and he resumed attacking.

But even as they killed again and again, the enemies did not stop coming in the pouring rain.

*Damn Crown Prince, you really sent a lot of them.*

Her stamina was reaching its limit. Her breathing grew rough.

Aslan was no different. Blood was soaking through the bandages Vivian had wrapped around him. His wound had clearly reopened.

If this continued, the only ending left was a meaningless death.

After making up her mind, Vivian slowly backed into the cave.

> “Haha, so you’re running away?!”

> “Chase her! Kill the woman first—she’s in the way!”

The heavy rain and landslide turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Earlier, while checking the cave, Vivian had found a massive crack.

A fragile crack that would collapse with even a small impact.

*Yes. Come inside.*

Unaware of her plan, Aslan fought wildly to block the assassins chasing her. But assassins clung to him as well.

As Aslan desperately fought, his eyes slowly began to turn red again. The assassins holding him back sensed something was wrong.

**Rumble!**

The cave collapsed in an instant. Vivian and all the assassins who chased her inside were buried under the rubble.

Silence fell—so deep it felt like death.

The sound of rocks rolling echoed through the stillness.

But that was all. No movement came from the collapsed cave.

> “Grrrr…”

Aslan stared blankly at the wreckage, then slowly turned his gaze toward the remaining assassins.

The Black Lion’s pupils expanded dangerously. His eyes split vertically like a reptile’s.

It was proof that his demon transformation was progressing.

The terrified assassins staggered backward.

Just as a horrific massacre was about to begin, several rocks rolled away from the side of the cave.

A completely exhausted Vivian crawled out through a narrow gap, brushing dirt off herself.

> “Wow. I almost really died that time.”

> “Damn it. Was that a plan?!”

> “Did you really think I wouldn’t prepare an escape route? I decide where I die. And it’s not now.”

The assassins exchanged glances in shock.

Most of their allies were incapacitated, but the target and the woman were still standing. Vivian even smiled calmly, playing with her dagger like a toy.

> “We’ll remember this.”

Muttering under their breath, the assassins retreated as suddenly as they had appeared.

Vivian felt relieved.

Because honestly, she didn’t even have the strength left to bluff anymore.

> “Cough—hack, cough…!”

Pain unlike anything before crushed her. It felt as if her lungs were being run over by a truck.

She had never taken her lung disease seriously. She still had plenty of time before the “one year” her doctor mentioned.

Or so she had arrogantly believed.

Now she knew.

Her end was truly near.

> “Haa…”

Cold rain poured down onto her face as she lay helplessly. She couldn’t even move a finger.

Vivian slowly closed her eyes.

She thought Aslan, now a mindless beast, would chase the fleeing assassins—but he stayed near her.

Heavy footsteps approached.

> “I knew this day would come when I found out about my illness… but I didn’t want to die this lonely.”

> “……”

As her senses faded, she felt something large and warm gently stroke her face.

Thinking rain felt like a human touch—how strange.

> “So this is really the end…”

*Not yet, my lady.*

Beyond her fading consciousness, it felt like someone whispered those words.

—

### * * *

> “Her trail ends here?”

> “Yes. It seems she entered the forest.”

Five days had passed since Aslan received the will of his engagement partner, Vivian Eleonora.

It had also been five days since the Crown Prince’s faction began attacking him.

House Eleonora was one of the most prestigious military families in continental history.

During the age of despair, when the Great Demon Astaroth destroyed everything, an unnamed hero rose—and beside him stood a companion.

She helped defeat Astaroth and was rewarded with land closest to the capital.
She was promised that the name “Eleonora” would be remembered forever.

*The daughter of such a family disappeared under suspicious circumstances—and my name is in her will. Perfect bait for political attacks.*

He had to find her, no matter what.

When Aslan mounted his horse, his knight widened his eyes.

> “Your Highness, you’re not planning to enter the forest yourself, are you?”

> “Is there a problem?”

> “You know it’s dangerous!”

The forest was in the southern empire, and it was the rainy season. A massive landslide had occurred just hours earlier.

Entering now was practically suicide.

*Lady Eleonora really did it.*

Aslan frowned, then shook his head.

She wasn’t the type to die so easily.

She was stubborn to the core—never someone who would give up her life so simply.

> “I’ll go alone. You stay at the foot of the mountain.”

One look from Aslan silenced all objections.

Meeting his eyes felt like facing a giant beast—overwhelming, terrifying, absolute.

Aslan rode into the forest alone.

While searching for Vivian Eleonora’s trail, he encountered assassins sent by Crown Prince Johannes.

At first, he didn’t care. This was nothing new.

But just as he swung his greatsword—

> “Ghk…!”

His heart clenched violently.

Black fur spread across the back of his hand.

The curse had begun to awaken.

> “KRAAAAGH!”

A scream like death echoed sorrowfully through the dark forest.