The Banished Prince's Survival in a Romance Novel

Rin swiftly and efficiently dispatched the remaining four Class B demons with his katana, each strike precise and swift, leaving no room for the monsters to retaliate. As the last of them fell, Rin turned his attention to Yori, who was still struggling in the grip of the demon's crushing force. He knelt beside her, his hands glowing with faint mana as he checked her condition.

The head maid was gasping for breath, clearly shaken but alive, her injuries not fatal. Rin applied a quick healing spell, his hands hovering over her wounds as the mana mended her bruises and broken skin. His eyes remained focused, his usual calm demeanor taking over as he worked to ensure she was stable.

Once he was certain that Yori was going to be fine, Rin rose to his feet and turned towards the Vermillion Princess, his eyes never leaving her. The chaos of the battle was fading into the background, but the weight of the moment felt heavier than the battle itself.

He kneeled in front of her, his posture respectful and solemn. His katana was sheathed at his side, the once crackling aura of lightning now gone, leaving only the lingering feeling of power in the air. His purple eyes locked onto Rei's, his gaze soft but determined.

"I came across this town while chasing down the dark magician responsible for the attack," Rin explained calmly, his voice steady despite the tension that still hung in the air. "When I saw the demons assaulting the people, I couldn't just stand by. I chose to intervene and save the civilians from harm. I couldn't let them suffer."

His words hung in the air, and for a moment, Rei said nothing. She watched him closely, her admiration for his decision growing. She had known Rin was capable, but witnessing this firsthand—the way he had rushed to the town's aid without hesitation, protecting everyone, even at the risk of his own safety—made her see him in a new light.

"You risked everything," she said softly, her voice filled with admiration. "You came here for us, without even thinking twice. Your actions... They are what true strength is about."

Rin lowered his head slightly, though his eyes remained steady on hers. "I did what anyone would have done, Princess."

But Rei could see the depth of his words, and as she gazed at him, she realized that Rin was not just the warrior he appeared to be. There was a silent strength in him, a resolve that made him someone capable of far more than just battle. He was someone who would act when others hesitated, someone who would protect when the world was at its darkest.

The silence between them felt profound, and for a brief moment, it was as if the chaos of the world around them had faded entirely, leaving just the two of them standing amidst the remains of the battlefield.

As the last of the barrier was deployed, Rin finally allowed himself to rest, his body still buzzing from the intensity of the battle. The mana stones he had collected from the demons formed a shield around the town, providing a momentary peace from the onslaught. His breathing was steady, though his muscles ached from the strain.

He sat down on a nearby rock, closing his eyes for a brief moment of relief. The air around him hummed with the residual energy of the fight, and the faint crackling of the barrier provided a strange but comforting background noise.

As he rested, he heard the familiar footsteps of the Vermillion Princess approaching. He opened his eyes to find her standing before him, her expression serious yet softened by concern.

"Rin," she began, her voice steady, "What should we do next? We can't stay here forever, but we're at the mercy of those demons. The barrier will only last for so long. We need a plan."

Rin glanced up at her, sensing the weight of the situation on her shoulders. As the leader of the group, she had taken on the responsibility of keeping everyone safe, just as he had done in the fight. But now, the burden was shifting, and it was clear that the responsibility would fall on them both to figure out what to do next.

He exhaled slowly, then spoke, his voice calm but resolute. "First, we need to rest and heal. Everyone fought hard, and we've bought ourselves some time with the barrier. But this is just the beginning. The dark magician will likely send more demons. We need to be prepared."

Rei nodded, her gaze unwavering. "I understand. But we also need to find a way to escape this place. The dark magician... he's toying with us. He won't let us go so easily."

Rin met her eyes, his expression thoughtful. "Agreed. We need to find a way to track the dark magician and stop him from manipulating this subspace. But for now, we rest and regroup. The barrier will buy us some time, but we need to move quickly once we're ready."

Rei hesitated for a moment, then took a step closer to him. "I'll leave the strategy to you, Rin. You've proven yourself in the fight, and I trust your judgment. We need a leader now more than ever."

Rin nodded, appreciating her trust, though he couldn't help but feel the weight of the responsibility. "I'll do what I can, Princess. We won't fail."

With that, Rei stepped back, looking over the group of survivors who were resting and recovering. Rin's words had sparked a small glimmer of hope in them, but they all knew that the true challenge was still ahead.

The air grew thick with tension as the mist swirled and gathered above the town, forming the ominous hologram of the dark magician. His appearance was noticeably haggard, his movements slower, but his grin was no less menacing. His piercing eyes scanned the survivors below, lingering on Rin.

"Consider me surprised," the dark magician sneered, his voice dripping with mockery. "I didn't expect so many of you to still be alive, especially after my little... welcoming party." He tilted his head, the grin on his face twisting into something more sinister as his gaze locked onto Rin. "But now I see why."

The survivors murmured among themselves, glancing nervously at Rin, who stood silently, his expression calm but watchful.

The dark magician raised a hand, his tone laced with venom. "You. The warrior who dared to chase me. You've forced my hand." His grin widened as his voice boomed across the ruined town. "I had no intention of focusing on this miserable corner, but now, because of your foolish persistence, I've decided to make this town the centerpiece of my game. Consider yourselves honored! Every demon I can muster will descend upon you, turning this place into your graveyard."

The survivors gasped in horror, and the tension thickened. The dark magician chuckled darkly before pointing an accusing finger at Rin. "Blame him. Blame this so-called warrior who thought he could strike at the game master. It's because of him that I'm turning my full attention here. If you perish, know it's his fault!"

Rin let out a deep, tired sigh, his posture unchanging despite the magician's taunts. "You're nothing more than a coward hiding behind your illusions and your pawns. You created this twisted game, and now you blame me for standing against you?" His voice was calm, but it carried a weight that silenced the murmurs around him. "You brought this upon yourself, magician. Don't act as if I'm the one who made you my enemy—you did that the moment you decided to harm innocent people."

The dark magician's smile faltered for a brief moment before returning, even darker and more malevolent. "Oh, how noble. Let's see how long your courage lasts when the town is overrun. Let's see how long you can keep playing the hero." His figure began to dissolve into the mist, but his parting words echoed chillingly through the air. "Enjoy the time you have left. It won't be long."

As the mist faded, the town was left in silence, the tension palpable. All eyes turned to Rin, their faces a mix of fear, admiration, and uncertainty. The Vermillion Princess stepped closer to him, her voice steady but filled with concern. "Rin, what do we do now?"

The murmurs of dissent quickly grew louder, a single civilian stepping forward to point accusingly at Rin. "It's your fault! If you hadn't chased that dark magician, he wouldn't have decided to target us like this!"

Another voice joined in. "That's right! You've brought this upon us! Take responsibility!"

Soon, more and more voices echoed the sentiment, the panic and fear among the crowd manifesting as blame hurled at Rin. Even as the Vermillion Princess, the head maid, and the soldiers stepped in to defend him, their efforts were drowned out by the overwhelming chorus of accusations.

Rin stood silent amidst the chaos, his expression calm but unreadable. When it became clear that no reasoning would stop the civilians' tirade, he let out a long, exhausted sigh. Slowly, he turned his gaze to the crowd, his eyes cold and piercing, carrying the weight of unshakable resolve.

"As expected," Rin said, his voice low but commanding, cutting through the noise like a blade. "You people always find someone else to blame when the situation grows dire. Instead of facing the reality of the danger, you choose to point fingers and cower behind empty accusations."

The sharpness of his words silenced the crowd momentarily, their accusing glares turning to stunned silence. Then, with a flick of his finger, a pulse of mana rippled through the air. A gravity field descended upon the dissenters, forcing them to their knees. The weight of the force was undeniable, pressing them down as if the very earth demanded their submission.

Faces filled with despair looked up at Rin, who stood like an unyielding pillar amidst the chaos. His cold, disappointed gaze swept over the crowd as he spoke again, his voice heavy with authority. "You think you have the right to demand responsibility from me when you can't even take responsibility for your own lives? You call yourselves victims, yet here you kneel, willing to drag others down with you instead of rising to face the danger."

The Vermillion Princess and the head maid looked on with mixed emotions, understanding the necessity of Rin's actions but still concerned about the harshness of his tone.

With another flick of his finger, the gravity field dissipated, and the civilians slumped to the ground, shaken and subdued. Rin's cold gaze softened slightly as he turned to the Vermillion Princess and the soldiers.

Rin's voice echoed through the silent crowd, sharp and unrelenting. "Tell me, what were you people doing when the soldiers and the Vermillion Princess blocked the demons? You cowered in fear while these soldiers risked their lives to defend you. And now, you stand here blaming me, the one who eradicated most of the demon wave, while you contributed nothing. Why should we protect you? Is it simply because these soldiers are bound by duty to the empire?"

His gaze swept over the trembling civilians, their faces pale under his scrutiny. "The fact that we're even here is because of that dark magician. So, tell me, people of the empire—do you truly believe that without me here, you would all have survived?"

The crowd stayed silent, their earlier anger now replaced with a growing sense of shame and dread. The Vermillion Princess, standing beside him, looked at Rin with surprise. This side of him—a cold, unyielding truth-teller—was far removed from his usual aloof and calm demeanor.

Rin's voice softened, but the weight of his words only grew heavier. "Three days. That's how long we have to endure. The demons are out there, lurking, waiting to strike. Tell me, do you honestly think you can survive three days without the protection of the soldiers standing here? Without someone willing to do what's necessary to keep you alive?"

His words cut deep, and the people shivered under the cold truth he delivered. The Vermillion Princess opened her mouth to speak, wanting to say something to ease the tension, but Rin turned to her before she could.

"Vermillion Princess," he said, his tone steady, "do you think these kinds of people are worth fighting for?"

Her breath caught in her throat as his piercing gaze met hers. She looked at the crowd—frightened, broken, and shamed—then turned away, unable to answer. She knew Rin was right, but it didn't make the truth any easier to bear.

Even so, she forced herself to speak, her voice firm yet tinged with sadness. "Rin, I understand your frustration, but they are still people of the empire. Regardless of their faults, they're under our protection. Your words, while true, were harsh."

Rin sighed and looked at her, his gaze softening slightly. "Harsh truths are sometimes necessary, Vermillion Princess. If they can't understand the reality of our situation, we're all doomed."

The Vermillion Princess nodded reluctantly, knowing that Rin's words, though cold, held undeniable truth. She turned to the crowd, hoping to rally them. "You've heard Rin's words. Now, prove him wrong. Work together, support each other, and show that you're worth fighting for. That's the only way we survive these three days."

The people nodded hesitantly, their fear mingling with a newfound determination. Rin said nothing more, stepping back to let the princess take charge, but his cold expression remained, a reminder of the weight of their circumstances.