Chapter 41: The Hardship Of An Old Man

"Wait a minute! You there!"

'Oh shit!'

Kaisen's heart skipped a beat as one of the knights called out to him.

Panic surged through him, but he tried to keep his composure as they approached.

"What are you doing at night?"

One of them asked, their brows furrowing with suspicion.

"Aren't you that guest who got injured? Why are you awake at this hour?"

The other one chimed in.

'Shit!'

"I'm feeling better now. Just wanted to head back to my room."

Kaisen replied, trying to sound nonchalant.

But his attempt to leave was thwarted as the second knight interjected sternly.

"No can do. After midnight, it's quarantine time. Nobody's allowed to roam freely, especially in the royal palace. It's dangerous at night, even more so for guests like you. Please return to your room."

'What danger? Does a succubus or somethin-- oh wait! Yeah, yeah, I understand.'

He couldn't help but imagine Queen Roslyn prowling the royal palace at night like a horny vampire, her sadistic smile ready to pounce on anyone unlucky enough to cross her path.

He shrugged, figuring there was no point in arguing with knights who had the authority to make him disappear faster than a magician's rabbit.

Why bother when he could just sneak out as he originally planned?

So, with a nod of his head, he turned and made his way back to his room.

Once inside, he leaned against the door and let out a heavy sigh of relief.

"Too close! Let's do this my way then."

After a few moments to catch his breath, he cautiously peeked out again, ensuring the knights weren't in his path.

Satisfied, he quietly slipped out of the room and closed the door behind him.

Skirting around the stairs, he made his way towards the queen's wing, moving stealthily to avoid detection.

'I have to reach the throne room and then the queen's wing. Alice is staying in one of the rooms there.'

Even the mere sound of a scuffle could alert everyone, putting his very existence at risk.

So, what else can he do?

The answer was simple. Very simple.

With the stealth of a ninja in a B-movie, he nestled himself in the shadows, eagerly biding his time for the knight's unsuspecting stroll.

His gaze flickered to the sturdy vase nearby, a perfect environmental tool that can be used in games.

"Time to make use of this random prop."

As the knight drew near, Kaisen seized the moment, springing forth like a coiled spring and delivering a swift, yet comically dramatic blow to the helmetless head of his unsuspecting target.

Relieved that the vase proved sturdier than expected, Kaisen watched with a mix of amusement and mild concern as the knight dropped to the ground with a resounding thud.

For a moment, he feared the worst, but a quick glance assured him that the knight was merely unconscious.

'I don't want a dead body lying in the palace.'

With a sense of triumph, he swiftly grabbed the unconscious knight's hand and dragged him towards the imposing double doors.

Placing the knight's palm on the door, he anticipated the familiar surge of energy spreading from the door to the knight's hand.

As expected, the mechanism worked like a charm, and with a satisfying click, the doors creaked open.

'And ladies and gentlemen, the prop indeed worked.'

The poor knight still had one more task ahead - opening another door.

Kaisen cautiously peeked into the throne room, just as he had expected, finding it deserted. T

he room was eerily silent, with no one in sight.

'Now, to take this guy to the other side.'

With a mix of determination and a hint of desperation, Kaisen crouched down, preparing to hoist the knight onto his shoulder.

'Alrighty! Lets get this over with.'

However, instead of the seamless motion he had envisioned, he was met with a cacophony of groans—mostly from himself—and the unsettling sound of something ancient giving way.

It wasn't the knight's weight that proved the challenge;

It was Kaisen's own protesting bones, creaking and cracking like old floorboards beneath his weight.

'Fuck me! Fuck me to hell!'