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

Chapter 767: The Cursed Girl (2)

"A cursed girl?" Nolan’s eyebrows rose slightly. "Explain it to me clearly."

The demon nodded and began telling the story. "Some time ago, a slave trader came to me. He claimed he had gotten his hands on a valuable slave and wanted to sell her at a bargain price."

He gritted his teeth as anger flashed across his face.

"But that bastard tricked me! The slave he sold turned out to be that cursed girl! Ever since she arrived, I’ve been plagued by endless misfortune. That’s why I locked her up in there and placed many talismans on the door so her curse wouldn’t spread to me. And ever since then, I haven’t suffered any more misfortune! I’m finally free from that girl’s curse!"

His face broke into joyful laughter, as if it were some great victory for him.

Nolan furrowed his brows. The demon’s story sounded strange and vague. However, he still managed to grasp a few important details, and his curiosity toward that "cursed girl" grew even stronger.

Nolan was certain that girl was the one who had drawn him to this city.

"Open the door. I want to see her," Nolan ordered.

"W-What!? Open the door!?" The demon froze in place. He quickly shook his head and firmly refused. "N-No, I can’t do that! I finally managed to get rid of the bad luck she brought, and now you want me to open it? That’s impossible!"

Nolan shot him a sharp glance and said coldly, "Open it, or I’ll destroy this shop of yours! I know you’re operating illegally. No one knows whether the palace will take action or not, but I’m sure you wouldn’t dare take that risk, would you?"

Hearing the threat, the demon’s face immediately turned pale. This shop—no, every shop in this alley—was indeed operating illegally.

There was no official permit from the city authorities, but everyone chose to turn a blind eye, and no one dared report the matter to the imperial palace.

But now, the man before him actually dared to threaten him, causing anger to rise on his face.

"You—"

Before he could finish his sentence, a terrifying pressure suddenly erupted from Nolan’s body.

The demon was instantly forced to the floor, pinned down by the overwhelming pressure and unable to move even an inch.

"Open it now, or you’ll regret it!" Nolan threatened coldly.

"A-Alright! I’ll open it!" the demon replied fearfully. "P-Please let me go first!"

Nolan withdrew his aura, and the demon was finally able to move again. However, he no longer dared to act defiantly in front of Nolan.

The young man he had initially considered easy prey turned out to be a monster he should never have provoked.

If he had known things would end like this, he would never have invited Nolan into his shop.

Unfortunately, regret always came too late. With reluctance gnawing at his heart, he walked toward the iron door and slowly began to open it.

He moved aside the large stones holding it in place, then removed the chains binding the door.

The process took nearly fifteen minutes, showing just how terrified the demon was of the cursed girl inside.

Nolan simply watched calmly. In truth, he could have smashed the door open with a single blow.

But since the demon was willing to open it himself, there was no reason to waste the effort.

Clack!

A soft click of a lock echoed through the room. A moment later, the demon pushed the door open, revealing a silent, damp, and suffocating space.

The smell was unpleasant as well, filled with the stench of charcoal and rot.

"You go in. I don’t want to touch that place, let alone meet her," the demon said as he took a few steps back.

Let the young man be the one to suffer the girl’s curse. He didn’t want to experience that nightmare again.

Nolan ignored him and stepped inside. The room turned out to be much larger than he had expected. Various torture devices lined both the right and left sides.

But what caught his attention the most was the little girl lying on the floor.

Her condition was heartbreaking. Her small body looked emaciated from malnutrition, while her clothes were stained with blood and covered in whip marks.

"It really is her..." Nolan’s eyes widened slightly.

He could sense that the red thread leading him to this city originated from that girl.

Nolan walked closer and heard a faint groan coming from her.

"Anyone... please help me. It’s dark... I can’t take it anymore. I’m scared... please..."

Her weak whimpers sounded painfully pitiful.

Nolan stopped right in front of her.

Only then did he realize that the girl had completely lost her sight.

Nolan crouched down and extended his right hand.

"Do you want to live?"

The girl’s body tensed. She slowly lifted her head, and her blind eyes beneath the blindfold seemed to turn toward Nolan.

"You... who are you?" she asked timidly.

Nolan observed her miserable condition before calmly replying, "I’ve come to take you away. Do you want to come with me?"

"Take me away?" The girl looked startled. "D-Do you want to torture me too, like those evil people?"

Fear was clearly evident in her trembling voice.

Nolan’s eyebrows rose slightly. The demon had said he locked this room and never entered it again.

But then why was the girl talking about torture?

And judging from the wounds on her body, they all appeared fresh.

Nolan scanned the room and noticed a small crack leading outside.

A suspicion immediately crossed his mind.

"Could it be that some demons have been entering through that crack to torture her?"

That was the only explanation he could think of.

Pushing the thought aside, Nolan reached out and held the girl’s cold hand.

"Don’t worry. I didn’t come to make you suffer. On the contrary, I came to help you escape the nightmare that has bound you. Do you want to come with me?"

His words brought a faint light of hope into the girl’s heart. She had been tortured for a long time and had never once been given the chance to be free.

Moreover, she was blind—she could see nothing but endless darkness.

Even if the man in front of her was lying, she didn’t care anymore. As long as she could get out of this place, she’d obey anything he said.

"O-Okay," the girl said weakly, though there was a hint of resolve in her voice. "P-Please... take me away from here!"

Nolan smiled in satisfaction. But suddenly, a mysterious voice echoed in both of his ears.

"Defying fate will bring severe consequences. You have touched what you should not have touched. A heavy punishment awaits you..."

Nolan stiffened. He looked around warily, but there was nothing except an eerie silence.

"Just now..." His eyes narrowed. "Was it just my imagination?"