The Empire seemed poised to invade Yohaim again at any moment, yet they merely stationed troops along the border without making any overt moves.
The royal palace was quiet as well.
To Yuri, that silence felt even more unsettling.
Jared broke the silence.
“Do you think Yohaim is alright?”
“Hard to say.”
Yuri shrugged.
Even he wasn’t confident about Yohaim’s safety. Being so close to the Empire meant anything could happen at any time.
“Well, there’s no need to worry too much.”
But one thing was clear.
If the Empire attacked Yohaim again, they would face serious difficulties.
Just as Yuri had intended, Yohaim’s restructuring was progressing rapidly.
Especially after this war, tactics and combat styles specialized for mountain warfare had become firmly established.
They had even built their own guerrilla training grounds, and defensive positions were being constructed throughout the forests surrounding Yohaim.
“Oh, you mean the guerrilla training grounds inside the castle? I heard three groups just graduated recently. They say it’s been nonstop work over there.”
“Excellent.”
“Plus, young people from Yohaim are volunteering to enlist. Looks like the country won’t fall anytime soon.”
Yohaim’s army was growing stronger.
Though it was still difficult to fight outside the forest, at least within the Alloy Mountains, even the Empire’s forces dared not easily challenge them.
And when the time came, they could emerge from the mountains and strike at the Empire’s rear.
Yuri shrugged again.
“Now, let’s focus on worrying about ourselves.”
In his previous life, the Empire had pushed Yohaim aside and invaded the entire surrounding region.
Though it was early, the war had effectively already begun.
Just as Yohaim had been invaded without warning, no one knew when or what kind of crisis might erupt next.
Yuri and his group soon reached a flat area covered in grass.
“Shall we rest here?”
“Yes.”
Having left Yohaim behind, they were now at the edge of the Alloy Mountains.
Beyond here lay a cluster of small states, and past the Klein Principality at the far end was Briole.
“Who’s on meal duty this time?”
“That would be me, Your Highness.”
“Laurent?”
Yuri fell silent for a moment. Laurent wasn’t exactly known for his cooking skills.
“I’m making stew. Please trust me.”
“All right. Stew’s not too complicated…”
As they lit a campfire, Laurent began preparing with his cooking tools.
Meanwhile, Jose turned to Yuri.
“Your Highness.”
“Hm?”
“How did you kill Yalta?”
At once, all eyes turned to him.
They hadn’t mentioned it outright because of Graham’s news, but everyone had guessed that Yuri was the one who defeated Yalta.
Yuri shrugged.
“I’m a bit strong, you know?”
“Already reached that level, huh?”
“Jose, even if it had been you, you would’ve beaten Yalta.”
“Well…”
“I’m telling you, if it had gone all the way, you would’ve won.”
Yuri didn’t hold Yalta in high regard.
His brutal reputation was exaggerated due to his reckless killing spree, but he wasn’t the kind of warrior suited to the Ten Strong.
Jose would have struggled, but in the end, he would have defeated him.
“He was a worthless brat.”
Jared whistled.
“So, does that mean you’re one of the Ten Strong now, Your Highness?”
“No.”
“But you were the one who took him down, right?”
“I don’t plan to reveal it. That’s why I disguised it as if he died fighting Sir Graham.”
“Then will they pick someone new?”
“Probably.”
The Ten Strong weren’t appointed by anyone; their status was naturally decided by word of mouth.
Usually, the one who killed an existing member became the new Ten Strong.
But since both Yalta and his final opponent, Graham, were dead, a new selection was necessary.
Yuri smiled wryly.
“Most likely, it’ll be Sir Jose.”
Jose’s skill was already well known.
Though there were many strong contenders for the next Ten Strong—like the Empire’s knights or the Holy Kingdom’s paladins—Jose’s reputation was the most prominent.
Jose shook his head.
“I really hope not. I’d be embarrassed.”
“Why?”
“There’s someone right here who killed Yalta, and you want me to be Ten Strong? Ha ha ha…”
“Just work hard so you won’t be embarrassed. How about a sparring match after dinner?”
“Sounds good.”
“Let’s eat first.”
As the two laughed, Laurent sighed quietly while stirring the stew.
Jared tilted his head.
“What’s wrong, Sir Laurent?”
“Nothing.”
Laurent gave a bitter smile.
“Watching you two makes me feel like I’m falling behind. I wonder if I’m really helping the prince at all.”
“Don’t say that.”
“I’m not even good at cooking…”
“W-why all of a sudden?”
Jared shrugged.
“Sir Laurent, look at me. I’m the prince’s guard, but I’ve never properly protected him. In fact, he’s saved me more times than I’ve saved him. If you’re feeling that down, I might as well just die.”
“Now that you mention it…”
“But don’t get too positive right away.”
“Shall we spar later?”
“Sounds good.”
Laurent smiled as he stirred the stew, but inside, he felt uneasy.
He wanted to support the third prince and be a strength on his path, but doubts about his own abilities gnawed at him.
The gap was growing wider by the day.
At this rate, he might become a hindrance.
“Hmm…”
There was no choice. All he could do was keep training.
Just as With, the sculptor from Yohaim, had said: if you wish and work hard every day, someday you’ll achieve it.
“All done.”
Laurent served each of them a bowl of stew with chunks of meat.
As he handed a bowl to Inariel, he suddenly hesitated.
“Do you eat this too, Inariel?”
“Why?”
“Well…”
Elves always seemed like they lived on plants alone.
But Inariel ate the stew without hesitation.
“Is it strange for an elf to eat meat?”
“I was just worried, that’s all.”
“I do.”
Inariel broke off a piece of the tender meat with his spoon and chewed thoughtfully.
“An elf isn’t a cow; we don’t eat only grass.”
“I see.”
Laurent had learned something new: elves were omnivores, like humans.
“Your name is Laurent, right?”
“Yes.”
“No need to rush things.”
Laurent’s face flushed slightly. He felt embarrassed that even Inariel had seen through his thoughts.
Inariel set down his bowl and said,
“Or rather, it means that prince is running too fast.”
“Huh?”
Inariel gave a faint smile, lifting only the corners of his mouth as he spoke to Laurent.
“So don’t worry so much. Just being by that kid’s side is already a great help.”
“Thank you.”
“Indeed.”
With that, Inariel fell silent again.
Though he looked like a boy, he was actually an old man who had lived far longer.
Whether the word “old man” suited an elf was uncertain, but his experience was undeniable.
For some reason, his words brought comfort.
Laurent nodded thoughtfully, but then noticed Inariel no longer picking up his spoon, and his self-doubt returned.
After finishing their meal and an impromptu sparring session, Yuri’s group didn’t set off immediately but rested.
Things in Yohaim had gone better than expected, so they had some breathing room.
Yuri approached Inariel, who was quietly gazing into the forest.
“Inariel, what happened with that matter?”
They hadn’t had a chance to talk since encountering each other during the fight with Yalta.
Hernando and Inariel had gone off to investigate the parchment.
Now that they had returned, Yuri expected some results.
“You mean the parchment?”
“Yes.”
“Hernando is looking into it. He said something might come up soon.”
“Good.”
“…”
“Is that all?”
“Yes.”
“Did you find anything, Inariel?”
“No.”
“Oh, I see.”
Yuri was deeply disappointed.
Inariel spoke again.
“But since this isn’t an ordinary matter, I’ve decided to share my opinion.”
“Is that so?”
“Yuri Briole.”
Inariel called him by name.
“You may not know, but powerful mages cannot freely use their power.”
“Huh?”
“Those granted magic by the world bear certain restrictions.”
“But the mages I know just throw fireballs around.”
“That’s crude magic.”
“There’s something even stronger?”
Inariel smiled faintly.
“I’ll leave that to your imagination.”
“I see.”
“But here’s the thing. Last time, there was nothing like that.”
“Huh?”
“I made it rain. Such powerful magic is bound by restrictions.”
“Just rain?”
Yuri’s tone was skeptical, and Inariel frowned.
“I created rain where there was none. Magic that defies nature’s order isn’t something trivial.”
“That’s true.”
“But it worked.”
Normally, Grand Wizards cannot interfere in human history.
Yet at that time, Inariel felt no restrictions at all.
In fact, it felt as if the world itself was urging him to use magic.
Like a butterfly’s wings causing a typhoon, weather-changing magic could bring unpredictable consequences.
Still, the world allowed his intervention.
Inariel pondered what this meant and soon faced a heavy truth.
“The rules are breaking down.”
Grand Wizards are barred from meddling because their actions could disrupt the world’s flow.
So what about the opposite?
“Dark magic is not a power that belongs to this world.”
That was it.
His rain wasn’t interference—it was restoring the natural order.
“The one who set the fire…”
“Yalta?”
“That barbarian was probably already corrupted by dark magic.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Yuri nodded.
When they had dueled in the burning forest, he had sensed a dark energy coiling within Yalta.
“Since that guy set the fire, it means the flow wasn’t right.”
That was why the world had called for rain.
The implications of this were enormous.
How dangerous black magic truly was.
And what kind of threat the world was facing.
As a Grand Wizard and an elf who had reached the Ten Great, he could feel it deep in his bones.
This wasn’t just some endless cycle of mortals warring and killing each other.
If left unchecked, the world itself might be destroyed.
Yuri shrugged.
“Well, that’s good news.”
“What did you say?”
“Now Inariel can fight properly, right?”
“Well…”
“If there are any black magic users around, we should just burn them all to cinders. Maybe Hernando will get stronger too? Should we go bomb the palace? How far can you go?”
Inariel couldn’t help but laugh at Yuri’s casual tone.
It wasn’t that he didn’t understand what Yuri was saying.
In fact, this young, bold human prince was probably the most wary of black magic of anyone.
Until he stepped up to confront that dark force, neither Inariel nor anyone else had even recognized the danger, let alone fought it.
So Yuri’s attitude wasn’t born of ignorance, but rather a natural cheerfulness.
“Alright. I’ll consider it.”
Even Inariel, who was deeply worried, felt a weight lift when someone so closely involved maintained such a positive outlook.
It stung his pride a little to admit that a much younger kid could change his mood, but it was true.
Somehow, he felt like that kid could pull it off.
Because despair welcomes black magic, and fear is the seed of hope.
Inariel spoke again.
“By the way, what’s your relationship with Marilose?”
“Huh?”
“I’ve heard some strange things about you two…”
“Do you know Marilose?”
“At my level, I know most of the capable mages.”
“I don’t know what she said, but I don’t want to hear it. Is she good at interpreting parchments?”
“Um…”
“Why?”
“Do you happen to know Yekaterina?”
“W-what? What?”
“You’re even more flustered now.”
“W-why are you suddenly bringing her up?”
“Marilose told me to ask.”
“Huh?”