Pick Me Up!

Chapter 271: Catastrophe (2) (1)

I opened my eyes.

[FLOOR 76.]

[Mission Type – Exploration]

[Mission Objective – Search the Imperial Palace ‘Ragnasars’!]

The mission window appeared on the right side of my vision.

This time the objective was exploration, something I had already expected.

The forces defending the imperial capital were nearly decimated on the 75th floor. In the battle, most of the high-ranking officers, including the commander, were annihilated, leaving behind only a few scattered remnants.

‘The imperial capital, Bardia.’

It was the capital that started with the empire.

A beautiful city that seemed like it came straight out of a painting, built around a grand imperial palace.

Crack, boom!

The debris from the golden roof fell.

The city was burning in many places.

“His Highness the Prince… long live.”

The head of a kneeling soldier flew off.

The mercenary, with a patchy beard, wiped the blood from his blade and urged his subordinates.

“There might still be some rats left. Find them all and kill them!”

“Yes!”

The garden outside the palace.

Corpses lay scattered between the marble columns.

The screams of the dying mixed with the thick smell of blood, spreading through the air.

‘No need to fight…?’

I looked up.

Above the twilight sky, a fleet was floating.

It was an allied force formed by heroes and the princess’s army.

The prince’s forces had been effectively crushed after clearing the 75th floor, but the allied fleet, determined not to show any complacency, prepared for bombardment.

A thunderous voice echoed from the flagship of the fleet.

“Good grief, how noisy.”

Velkist picked at his ear.

“It’s to boost our morale. It’s a declaration that we won, isn’t it?” Jenna nodded as she surveyed the surroundings.

“The civil war is almost over now. We’ll be back home soon. All that’s left is to catch that prince or whatever he is.”

“He’s the problem, isn’t he?”

Velkist clicked his tongue lightly.

Since the 50th floor, up to the 75th, the prince never appeared as his loyal subordinates fell one by one. If he had intervened, the war’s course would have undoubtedly changed.

‘What’s his plan?’

If his original purpose was ‘liberation’ as he had claimed, he should have shown himself much sooner.

Even now, as the princess’s army’s sword pointed at his neck, he remained hidden.

I mulled over it several times, but there was no clear answer.

I had to confront him directly to find out.

I looked to my side.

The garden and passageways surrounding the palace.

At the center, a grand gate led to the imperial throne room.

And…

“…Han.”

There stood Pria, wearing a silvery-white dress.

“I knew you’d come.”

Pria looked at me and smiled, a dimple forming lightly by her lips.

Dressed in an elegant gown and crown, flanked by vigilant guards, her demeanor was naturally regal.

Back on the 60th floor, she had appeared so innocent and naive. Now, she exuded solemnity.

‘Now…’

There was no trace of that little girl left in Pria.

Well, she was nearing her thirties.

She had become older than me now.

“Welcome, Hyung.”

Next to her, Yoshu, sword at his side, bowed his head.

His face bore numerous scars, and he had grown a thick beard.

He had shed all traces of his youthful fragility.

“Thanks to you and the heroes, our army has won. Now all we need to do is plant the flag on the throne.”

“There’s still one left. Don’t celebrate yet.”

“There’s only so much one person can do. And no matter what he does, we have nothing to worry about. We have the invincible warrior.”

Yoshu chuckled.

“Yoshu, don’t burden Han any further. He has already done enough.”

“It was just a joke, Your Highness.”

“…I am not ‘Your Highness.’”

Pria sighed.

“At any rate, this wretched war is drawing to a close. Now we must join forces and move into a new era.”

“Open the gate.”

Creak.

At Yoshu’s command, the grand gate to the palace’s interior opened.

A cold wind blew from inside.

“The prince should be in here. We should deploy the elite forces immediately…”

“No, I’ll go alone. I have things to discuss with my brother.”

“It’s dangerous. Please remember, Your Majesty, that your body is not yours alone.”

“It’s fine. I’m with the most reliable knight of all.”

Pria turned to me.

“Will you wait outside?”

“But…”

“If my brother had intended to fight, he would have shown himself already. Trust me just this once. Can I also ask this of the warriors behind us?”

“Uh, well…”

Jenna glanced at me.

Pria was a primary guard target. Separating from her would leave a significant gap in security.

The risk of an attack would increase exponentially.

But Pria’s words made sense, too.

If the prince had the will to act, he would have done so much earlier.

I nodded.

“Thank you, Han.”

Pria grasped the hem of her dress and bowed to me.

Then she walked slowly into the palace. I followed her, gripping the sheath of Bifrost.

Boom.

As soon as we entered, the gate behind us closed.

The lanterns hanging on the marble columns lit up simultaneously, illuminating the space.

‘Well, it’s not like I came without a plan.’

I muttered so Pria wouldn’t hear.

“Velkist, Jenna, be ready to come in as soon as I give the signal. Keep an eye out for anything suspicious.”

“Old man, you get ready to move in as well.”

Roderick, the commander of the Townia’s aerial squad, responded too.

That set up basic insurance. Whatever happened, if I could buy a bit of time, reinforcements would soon rush in.

Clack.

The empty halls of the palace.

Pria’s heels clicked softly against the marble floor.

“Han.”

“What?”

“I’m aging. Do I look worse than before?”

“Worse? Not at all.”

“Phew, then it was worth the effort to maintain myself.”

Pria looked younger than one might expect.

If someone said she was in her early twenties, they would believe it.

“The answer from back then… you haven’t made up your mind, have you?”

“That’s… true.”

“Take your time. I’ll make sure not to displease you in the meantime.”

Pria muttered with a sigh.

“I may have aged a decade, but…”

I didn’t respond.

I only gripped the sheath of Bifrost tighter.

“It’s all so unclear. Everything is full of questions. What was the dream that drove me? Why did my brother do what he did, and why did you come to us? This distortion…”

“Who knows? Maybe that guy will tell us.”

I spoke, looking ahead.

I'm currently Translating the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon!