As the sun rose, Yuri left the imperial city.
Since no one had been told the time, no one knew they were leaving.
Only the imperial guards, lazily yawning in the morning light, were startled to see Yuri at the checkpoint and bowed respectfully.
A few birds fluttered their wings, circling around.
Gatensha lay just a little off the road leading to Adelvine, but since Jose had fled there despite Jonathan’s protests, they had no choice but to stop by to pick him up.
Yuri said, “Gatensha… for some reason, that name doesn’t sit right with me.”
“Why?” asked Cory, walking beside him with a tilted head.
His body had changed so much he looked like a warrior now. Even his limping steps carried strength.
It was Hernando’s prescription.
As the saying goes, a sound mind dwells in a sound body. For a mage who manifests mental images into reality, building a healthy body was just as important as learning magic.
Watching Cory’s lively transformation, Yuri found himself agreeing with that.
“No, it’s probably just my imagination. But Cory, how on earth did you train to get this fit in such a short time?”
“Druid…”
“Wait, what? Lloyd?”
Yuri flinched and stepped back.
That was the name of a forbidden potion that caused muscle growth at the cost of something precious. It was strictly banned throughout the empire.
“No, druid,” Cory corrected.
“Steroid?”
“Huh? No, no. Just druid.”
“What kind of druid?”
“A friend of nature—a druid.”
“Oh…”
“Hernando said druids have a way to grow their bodies to communicate with bears, and he taught me exactly that.”
“So that’s it.”
“I feel healthier now, and I like it.”
Simon and Guiness, trailing behind, looked tired, but Cory seemed unfazed despite carrying a heavy pack.
“Did Hernando not teach you any magic?”
“Magic? No…”
“Just helped you build your body?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm…”
They were on their way to face none other than Death Knight Gert.
But Hernando had split off, saying he had other matters. Now, Cory was the only mage left.
Yuri’s worry began to grow.
“I don’t know. With Jose around, we’ll manage somehow.”
Soon, they arrived at Gatensha.
Though smaller than the imperial city, sturdy red flags fluttered atop its solid walls. It was a small but resilient town.
The guards recognized Yuri and his group.
“Welcome to Gatensha. We’ve heard much of the prince’s fame. Sir Roland, congratulations on your tournament victory. How long do you plan to stay?”
“Not long. We might leave today.”
“Understood.”
Yuri’s group entered Gatensha.
He immediately sought Jose.
No sooner had he asked if anyone had seen a large knight than the townsfolk pointed him out.
Jose was in the town’s largest tavern.
Seated in the center, he kept downing drink after drink.
A server struggled to clear the growing pile of empty glasses.
“Jose.”
“Oh, Your Highness?”
Jose recognized Yuri and stood up. Despite the heavy drinking, his face looked clear.
“You came earlier than expected.”
“Did you come here just to drink?”
“Hahaha…”
He scratched the back of his head sheepishly.
“Sometimes you just want to drink alone. We’ve been traveling together nonstop, so I wanted some time like this.”
“Yeah, that makes sense. Want me to make room?”
“No, now that we’re here, let’s drink together…”
Just then, a commotion broke out outside where the rest of the group waited. A group of imperial knights was seen approaching, speaking loudly.
Jose laughed.
“Well, it can’t be helped. Go handle it, Your Highness. I’ll enjoy my alone time a bit longer.”
“You’re especially annoying today, Sir Jose.”
“Hahaha, please forgive me.”
Yuri patted his shoulder and headed to the entrance. Then he overheard their conversation.
“Is this an invitation or an arrest?”
“Don’t misunderstand. The lord simply invited you.”
“Do they invite people with swords drawn these days?”
“They’re still sheathed.”
“Same difference. They came in full armor.”
“If they really wanted to fight, would they just be talking like this?”
“So, you’re challenging us?”
Jared stepped forward, arguing with the knights.
When Yuri appeared, Jared spread his arms.
“No, Your Highness. These guys keep ordering us around.”
“Your Highness, the lord of Gatensha has invited you. He requests you come politely. Please follow.”
“Is that how you invite someone?”
Simon and Guiness, and even the usually calm Roland, raised an eyebrow.
“How rude. Did the lord really send this?”
Roland stepped forward, and the knights’ aggression softened. Roland’s tournament victory carried weight.
“Yes.”
Roland looked at Yuri as if to leave all decisions to him.
Yuri said, “No.”
Everyone, including the knights, stared in surprise.
“I’m not going.”
“Your Highness, refusing an invitation is…”
“Why? You going to drag me by force?”
Yuri touched the hilt of his sword and stepped forward. The knights backed off.
“Right, what was his name again…”
Yuri tapped his pommel.
“Zair Ennekin. He’s the lord here now. Seeing how rude they are, I guess they were really looking forward to my arrival.”
“They only said to politely escort you.”
“Are they trying to take out their anger on me for something from the past?”
The knights’ faces hardened at Yuri’s words.
“You’re going too far.”
“You’re the ones going too far. Showing up in armor with a mob and telling me to come along—did you think I’d just go?”
“Your Highness, this is the empire.”
“So?”
“Wouldn’t it be better not to cause trouble? If you want to return safely…”
Before the knight could finish, Yuri kicked him in the stomach. The armor dented as the man flew back, tumbling with the others onto the ground.
“Such manners…”
“Ugh…”
“That bastard sent you to get beaten, huh?”
Yuri had guessed this would happen as soon as he saw the knights.
So instead of engaging half-heartedly, he struck decisively.
“More will come, right?”
The knight couldn’t answer, clutching his dented armor, gasping and coughing up blood.
As Yuri predicted, more knights waiting behind the building poured out.
Yuri’s group drew their swords.
The townsfolk scattered, leaving the street eerily empty. The peaceful town of Gatensha was suddenly thick with tension.
“Wow…”
Jose raised his glass inside the tavern.
“Need a hand?”
“No thanks.”
Yuri nodded toward the advancing knights.
“If you want to see me, tell them to come themselves.”
“Your Highness, escalating this won’t end well.”
“Why do you say that?”
Yuri smirked.
“I don’t care. Maybe stirring up trouble is good. Just like my father did.”
“What?!”
The atmosphere turned grim at Yuri’s words.
Over twenty knights radiated hostility, but Yuri’s group remained unfazed.
Jared quietly asked Roland, “What’s going on here?”
“Old grudges.”
“Grudges?”
“In the past, His Majesty killed a knight from Gatensha.”
“And?”
“That knight was the son of the lord.”
“What?”
“The current lord is the son of that dead knight.”
“Oh, so…”
A generational grudge.
Fiore had once personally beheaded a Gatensha knight. The emperor had covered it up, and Fiore returned to Briolo unpunished.
Six years ago, Georg had pressured Fiore by bringing up the Gatensha incident.
Either way, it was a stain on the Ennekin family.
Now, Zair Ennekin—the grandson of the former lord and son of the slain knight—ruled Gatensha. Upon hearing Yuri had entered his domain, he sent the knights.
The reason was obvious.
They wanted to insult him by any means.
“His Majesty isn’t someone who kills just anyone.”
“They say he was human garbage.”
“Of course…”
Their voices were low but audible to those nearby. The knights scowled, cursing Roland and Jared.
Yuri stepped in.
“I’m in charge here. Talk to me.”
“You’ll regret this.”
“Who will?”
Yuri shrugged.
“If you’re confident, fight. If you’re all talk, then get lost. What kind of shameful knights are you?”
“…”
“I said, if you want to see me, Zair Ennekin should come himself.”
“You’re asking for trouble.”
“You’re talking down to me, you bastard.”
Yuri took a step forward, and a knight flinched, stepping back.
“If you’re going to be scared, don’t act so cocky.”
His face flushed. Yuri had just taken down one of his comrades with a kick, so they were understandably nervous.
They had fought in the alliance army, so their skills weren’t a lie.
“Understood.”
The knight signaled behind him, and one of the knights left, presumably to inform Zair.
Yuri muttered, “Everyone should know why my father did what he did.”
The Gatensha knights fell silent.
The lord’s father’s death was, in truth, a case of getting exactly what he deserved.
Back then, drunk and reckless, he had challenged Fiore—renowned for his swordsmanship—to a duel. When Fiore refused, the lord’s father shifted his target and began harassing Yuri’s mother, who was no longer alive.
He had provoked Fiore, a man who rarely lost his temper. You could say it was a talent of sorts.
Fiore showed mercy one last time. He told the man that he wouldn’t strike while he was drunk, and that they should meet sober the next day for the duel, on his terms.
When the man sobered up, he was terrified—but he still believed that Fiore wouldn’t dare kill a noble like himself.
He was confident in his own sword skills, after all.
So, as planned, he faced Fiore with his blade.
The outcome was clear.
Fiore cut his throat.
“You’re ashamed of yourselves, aren’t you?”
“…”
“And yet your son goes around making a fool of himself. Is this what they call hereditary shame…?”
“I’ll be sure to tell the lord that.”
“Go ahead and snitch. I don’t care.”
As Yuri mocked them, the lord appeared, riding up on horseback.
Zair was a man just over thirty.
The Enekin family had long been known for their swordsmanship, and he was no exception—broad-shouldered and sharp-eyed.
He dismounted silently, folding his arms as he appraised Yuri from head to toe.
It was the kind of look that felt disturbingly like judgment.
“What are you staring at?”
“The little prince is quite bold, aren’t you?”
“Little?”
“Oh, pardon me. You still have that fresh, inexperienced air about you.”
Zair smiled casually.
“If I offended you, I apologize. Since you’ve come to my lands, why not come to the castle for a meal…?”
“Cut the crap. We’re here to fight, aren’t we?”
“Is that what it looks like? I…”
“Don’t waste my time. Perfect timing, actually—I’ve been looking for a punching bag just like you.”
“Watch your words. That’s rude.”
“You think you’re the only one?”
Yuri stepped forward confidently. Zair didn’t back down; he met her gaze and stood his ground.
Yuri muttered under her breath.
“I have places to be…”
He felt irritation rising.
His obvious plan was to force a duel at any cost.
If he just wanted to avenge his father, he could say so plainly. But this sneaky posturing made him look even more pathetic.
Yuri’s hand flicked out.
Smack.
Zair was taken aback.
Everyone there was stunned.
Yuri had slapped him across the face.
“Consider that your excuse. Thanks for the favor.”
“R-right now…?”
“Duel me.”
“You slapped me…”
“Your fault for not dodging. Can’t even avoid a slap? What’ll you do if you can’t dodge my sword later?”
Zair’s face flushed red. The calm facade cracked, his lips twitched, and a crease formed between his brows.
Yuri pressed on.
“Why waste time with all this chatter? Just say you want to fight. Are you embarrassed to challenge a kid like me at your age?”
“I’ll make you regret it, little prince.”
“Regret, huh…”
Yuri burst out laughing.
“If you lose your head, you won’t have time to regret anything, will you?”