I Became the Cure for the Cursed Prince - Chapter 49

Leon remained tense, his shoulders squared as he stole a glance at Lucas. While Lucas was still preoccupied with dealing with the weaker monsters, Leon considered slipping away to investigate the eerie sound on his own.

He could distinguish between the weaker monsters nearby and the stronger presence emitting a far more ominous sound in the distance. Just a little farther, and they would start emerging one by one. Keeping his voice low, Leon murmured to Lucas.

“Lucas, there are monsters nearby.”

Lucas’s black eyes darkened with focus. “Move back. I’ll take care of them.”

“Yes.”

Leon feigned compliance, nodding as he subtly distanced himself from the rest of the group.

A monstrous screech tore through the air.

“Kiieeeek!”

Just as Leon had warned, the monsters revealed themselves. The knights stiffened, immediately drawing their swords and forming defensive ranks.

Lucas spurred his horse forward, slicing through a monster’s neck in one swift motion. The creature’s head hit the snow-covered ground, blood splattering onto the white surface.

Now. This is my chance.

While the knights and Lucas were preoccupied with the weaker monsters, Leon slipped away unnoticed, moving in the direction of the fearsome presence he had sensed earlier.

The eerie wail grew louder as he moved deeper into the dense forest. His mount, Rai, suddenly stopped, its fur bristling in response to the immense energy emanating from ahead.

Leon soothed the anxious beast, running a hand along its mane. “It’s okay, Rai. We’re not here to fight.”

<Be careful. That thing is terrifying.>

“I know.”

They advanced cautiously through the tangled undergrowth of the Black Forest. Though the terrain was treacherous, filled with obstacles, it also provided excellent cover. Leon crept forward, carefully maneuvering past frozen boulders until he reached a vantage point.

His breath hitched.

What the hell is that?

The sheer size of the creature before him sent a shiver down his spine. Among the monsters, one stood out—far larger than anything Leon had ever seen. Its massive head was lined with dagger-like teeth, while thick, armor-like scales covered its elongated body. Enormous talons gleamed under the faint light, each claw sharp enough to pierce through a human’s skull.

The image in front of him perfectly matched what Jerry had once described.

“It’s terrifying. It reeks of something damp and rotting. Its teeth and claws are so sharp—if you get caught even once, you’re dead. Its body is long, its head is massive, and worst of all—it’s fast. You can’t even escape it.”

A Gargoyle.

Lucas had been searching for this creature for so long, and now it was right here.

But before Leon could feel triumphant, his blood ran cold.

The gargoyle was not simply hiding—it was herding other monsters.

Horrified shrieks rang out as waves of creatures were pushed toward a specific direction.

“Wait… That’s—!”

The realization struck Leon like lightning.

“They’re heading toward the village.”

No more time to hesitate.

He turned to Rai. “We have to get back. Now!”

<Leave it to me!>

Rai let out a deafening roar before launching into a full sprint.

—

By the time Leon rejoined the knights, the ground was already littered with corpses of fallen monsters. Lucas, his blade dripping with blood, had just finished off another enemy when Leon sidled up beside him.

“Lucas—no, Your Grace. It’s urgent.”

Lucas wiped the sweat from his brow, immediately focusing on Leon’s hushed urgency.

Leon wasted no time. He quickly relayed everything he had seen—the gargoyle, its terrifying presence, and most importantly, the fact that it was driving an army of monsters straight toward the village.

“If they’re already moving toward the village—”

“Yes, and even the evacuation shelter might be in danger. We have to move now.”

Lucas processed the information swiftly. His sharp mind needed no further convincing.

He raised his arm. “Listen well, knights! We are pursuing the gargoyle. I’ll take the front. Sion and the senior knights, you’ll follow directly behind me. New recruits, stay in formation at the rear and hold the line!”

Even with the gruesome battlefield surrounding him, Lucas stood unshaken, his stark black hair and pale skin contrasting against the bloody snow. His expression was resolute, unwavering.

The sight of him alone filled the knights with renewed determination.

“Yes, Your Grace!” they roared.

Sion quickly rearranged the formation while Lucas and Leon took the lead.

After years of chasing mere traces, they had finally found the gargoyle. It had eluded capture before, moving swiftly and concealing itself at every turn.

But this time, Leon’s acute instincts and heightened senses made all the difference.

Whenever the creature attempted to change course, Leon detected the shift almost instantly, guiding the knights in the right direction. Every time they gained ground, Lucas’s heart pounded faster—victory was so close.

As they neared the village, they encountered the first wave of monsters.

These were the creatures the gargoyle had driven ahead.

Lucas wasted no time. Without even dismounting, he swung his sword with devastating precision. A troll, nearly the size of a small building, fell with its head cleaved in two.

“Stay back!” Lucas barked at Leon.

Then he charged.

Blade flashing, he carved through the horde. Limbs were severed, heads rolled, and the snow was painted blue with monster blood. But Lucas did not stop.

Even the creatures that managed to survive his initial assault did not last long—wounded and maimed, they became easy prey for the knights behind him.

With Lucas leading the charge, the knights methodically cut through the advancing wave of monsters, pushing forward toward their true target—the gargoyle itself.

As Lucas, covered in blood, took a moment to catch his breath, Sion focused all his senses on listening for the gargoyle’s sounds.

“There! Over there!”

Hearing a faint growl, Sion pointed in a specific direction, and the knights immediately rushed toward it. However, the creature seemed to have sensed their pursuit and moved even more stealthily than before, making it much harder to track.

Sion concentrated on detecting the gargoyle’s traces and directed the knights accordingly. At times, they managed to brush against its shadow, but the creature was so fast that it constantly slipped through their grasp.

“We have to chase it to the northernmost edge if necessary. We can’t afford to lose this chance.”

At Lucas’s words, Sion let out a sigh, glancing at the setting sun. He was more desperate than anyone to capture the gargoyle, but the knights were growing weary, and Lucas—who had been at the forefront of the hunt all day—was in no condition to push further.

“The sun is setting. Since we’re near a village, why don’t we rest here for the night and resume at dawn? With Sion’s abilities, we can track it again in the morning.”

“…Fine.”

Lucas reluctantly nodded. With the help of the villagers, the area quickly became an improvised camp. Lucas and Sion set up their quarters a short distance away from the other knights and finished a simple meal.

Afterward, the two washed off the monster’s remnants and changed into lighter clothing. The warmth of the fireplace soon filled the room. Lucas sat at the table, carefully inspecting his sword.

What would happen if they managed to capture the gargoyle? His sister would finally be healed, and it would be right to return the title of Grand Duke to her.

To ensure a smooth transition without causing any political instability, he would handle matters gradually. By the time everything was settled, Sion would have nearly come of age. Then, Sion would return to the capital, and as for himself…

“Lucas?”

The familiar voice pulled Lucas back to reality. He blinked and found himself staring at his own reflection in the blade, his hand frozen mid-motion. Looking up, he met Sion’s gaze.

“Sion? What is it?”

“Lucas… Are you feeling unwell?”

The sudden proximity of Sion’s face caught Lucas off guard, making him feel strangely unsettled. He cleared his throat and turned away.

“No, I’m fine. We have a long journey ahead tomorrow, so it would be best to rest early.”

Just as Lucas was about to rise from his seat, Sion grabbed his hand, prompting him to turn back. Sion hesitated, as if searching for the right words. Lucas patiently waited.

“If I were to capture the gargoyle… what would you do?”

At that, Lucas let out a small chuckle. No matter how talented Sion was, capturing a gargoyle was an impossible feat.

“That’s not going to happen. Besides, I already told you not to take unnecessary risks.”

“But what if? You never know, right?”

Sion’s eyes sparkled with determination as he stubbornly pressed on. He even flashed a bright smile—knowing full well that the cuter he appeared, the harder it was for Lucas to refuse.

As expected, Lucas’s firm expression softened. Seeing Sion eagerly awaiting his response, Lucas finally relented.

“Very well. If that’s what you want… Capturing the gargoyle would be a great achievement, after all. A reward would be in order—both as the Grand Duke and as Michelle Rion’s brother.”

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