The Hidden Extra: The Lazy Prince Refuses to Ascend The Throne

The area around the tents was quiet. Everyone had already gone back to their tents to sleep.

Every now and then, the howl of a monster could be heard in the distance, sending chills down anyone’s spine.

Nolan was lying next to a large rock, not far from where the tents were set up.

Since there was nowhere else to sleep, he had no choice but to sleep there.

Fortunately, Ayakami had brought extra blankets, pillows, and a rattan mat. She gave them all to Nolan so he could sleep more comfortably.

”Mhmm…”

Nolan groaned softly as he rolled over. His closed eyes suddenly flew open.

A tall, red-haired man stepped out of one of the tents and walked toward him.

A smile appeared on Nolan’s face, but it quickly disappeared. He closed his eyes again and pretended to be asleep.

The man, none other than Mike, stopped in front of him.

His expression was cold and indifferent, but he quickly covered it with a smile.

”Nolan, wake up. There’s something I want to tell you.”

Nolan groaned softly and slowly opened his sleepy eyes.

”What’s up?” he asked with a yawn.

Mike kept smiling as he replied, ”I want to talk to you about something. It’s pretty important.”

Nolan slowly sat up and rubbed his eyes.

”Don’t take too long.”

”Sure.”

Without saying another word, Nolan stood up and followed him toward some bushes a short distance from the tents.

”So, what do you want?” Nolan asked, leaning against a tree trunk.

Mike stood silently for a moment. Then, he lowered his head and said loudly, ”I’m sorry!”

Nolan, who had already been running through various scenarios in his head, was taken aback.

”What did you say? Sorry?”

He scratched his head, looking confused.

”What do you mean?”

Mike gritted his teeth and explained in a trembling voice, ”I’ve done something stupid! Ever since you first came to our place, I’ve always been hostile toward you. And just now, I slandered you! Once again, I’m sorry!”

His voice trembled with shame and guilt.

Nolan fell silent. He hadn’t considered this possibility at all.

Apologizing?

This arrogant Mike?

Nolan was skeptical.

Is he hiding some ulterior motive behind this apology?

It seemed like the only possibility.

Interesting… very interesting…

A faint smile spread across his face.

I want to see what you’re really after, Mike. Please don’t let me down, he whispered coldly.

Composing himself, he walked over to Mike and helped him straighten up.

”A man shouldn’t hang his head. I forgive you.”

Mike was surprised. When his eyes met Nolan’s calm gaze, he bit his lower lip and said gratefully, ”Thank you!”

Nolan simply smiled and patted him on the shoulder.

”Let’s head back. Tomorrow, we’ll go to the city.”

With that, he turned around and walked away.

What Nolan didn’t know was that a cold glint flashed in Mike’s eyes.

Whoosh!

His hand erupted with scorching blue flames as he crouched down and darted toward Nolan.

Scrk!

His hand pierced straight through Nolan’s chest.

Nolan’s eyes widened in horror. He looked down and saw Mike’s hand buried in his chest, surrounded by blue flames and covered in blood.

”Y-You…”

”Hahaha!” Mike burst into laughter. His humble expression twisted into a triumphant, almost crazed smile. ”Surprised? Are you surprised? Hahaha! Nolan, oh, Nolan. You really are… an idiot!”

He pulled his hand free, and Nolan’s body immediately collapsed to the ground.

His handsome face turned pale as he glared at Mike with murderous intent.

”You bastard… You’re so cruel!” he growled.

”Cruel?” Mike snickered. ”I’ve been like this from the start. I just never intended to show it to anyone. Unfortunately…”

He crouched down in front of Nolan and grabbed him tightly by the neck.

”Because you, you bastard, showed up and interfered with my plan to win Ayame’s heart. Now she hates me.”

His expression turned grim.

”And it’s not just her. The others have started seeing me as trash, too. So, just accept your fate!”

He tightened his grip.

Nolan’s face turned red as he struggled to pry Mike’s hand away. However, his body was already growing weak, and eventually, he lost consciousness.

Mike released his grip and checked Nolan’s pulse.

”Dead…”

A cold smile appeared on his lips. He stood up and stretched his stiff body.

”I have to get rid of his body and take it as far away as possible.”

Fortunately, there was a river not far from there that flowed westward.

Just as he was about to drag Nolan’s lifeless body away, a teasing voice came from beside him.

”Tsk! Mike, so that was your plan. Not bad.”

Mike’s body tensed. He turned stiffly and saw Nolan sitting on a tree trunk, eating an apple.

His purple eyes sparkled with mischief.

”H-How are you still alive!?” he exclaimed.

Nolan leaped down and landed gracefully. Still eating his apple, he said casually, ”Did you really think I’d die that easily? You’re pretty naive.”

Mike’s heart pounded as he turned toward Nolan’s corpse, only to be stunned.

The body slowly turned into sand and merged with the ground.

”C-Could he have tricked me!?”

The realization enraged him.

Whoosh!

Both of his hands blazed with fierce blue flames.

”Since I failed to kill you, I’ll kill you again!”

He crouched and charged toward Nolan before leaping high into the air.

”Die!”

Just as his attack was about to hit Nolan, the space around him suddenly froze.

His body hovered in the air, completely immobilized.

”W-What’s going on!? W-Why can’t I move!?”

He desperately tried to mobilize the mana within him, but nothing happened. His body still wouldn’t move.

”Don’t look so shocked. Where’s that smug expression?”

Nolan looked at him playfully.

Mike didn’t answer. He was still trying to figure out what was happening.

He was absolutely certain that he had killed Nolan. So why was that guy standing there perfectly fine?

”Tsk! Alright, I’ll explain it.”

Nolan slipped his hand into his pants pocket.

”I cast an illusion spell on you.”

Mike’s eyes widened.

”Illusion magic?”

Nolan nodded.

”I knew you’d come after me. And it definitely wasn’t with good intentions.”

He pointed toward a few twigs lying not far from where they stood.

”Look. That’s the center of the formation.”

Mike tried to move his head and found that he could.

When he saw the twigs, his expression turned bewildered.

Using something as fragile and easily broken as twigs as the center of a formation could only be done by an exceptionally talented and powerful mage.

He hadn’t expected Nolan to be capable of something like this.

Don’t tell me he’s a hidden powerhouse?

The thought made him tremble with fear.

”I-I—”

Before he could finish, a hand pierced through his stomach and came out the other side.

”Graah!”

Mike coughed up a mouthful of blood, his face turning even paler.

”Y-You…”

Nolan smiled casually, without a shred of guilt.

”Tonight, you don’t need to live anymore, Mike. Rest in peace…”

As he pulled his hand away, Mike collapsed to the ground, his breathing weak and his eyelids growing heavy.

He wanted to say something, but he couldn’t. In the end, his consciousness slowly faded away.

Nolan didn’t linger. With a snap of his fingers, black flames appeared out of thin air and consumed Mike’s body, leaving no trace behind.

”Mmhh…”

He stretched his stiff body and muttered, ”It’s all over. Tomorrow, I have to go back…”