The knights of Briol didn’t know much about Yuri, but Yuri knew them well.
They were comrades he had fought alongside countless times in his past life.
In other words, they were brothers-in-arms bound by blood.
So whenever Yuri saw them, a smile would involuntarily creep onto his face.
“Sir Ainger.”
“Yes?”
“Cut back on the refined grains, and eat more meat and vegetables. Actually, since you probably already eat plenty of meat, focus on the vegetables.”
“But I need bread to fill my stomach and keep my strength up.”
“That’s just in your head. Trust me, if you follow my advice, you’ll feel lighter and more refreshed. Especially that belly of yours.”
Yuri poked at Ainger’s paunch.
Even the usually quick-witted Ainger was caught off guard by Yuri’s casual familiarity.
“Don’t you think you should get rid of that?”
“Uh, maybe I should?”
“Exactly. Everyone overlooks it, but diet is a crucial part of being a knight.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
They stood atop the castle walls, watching the approaching Imperial forces.
Though their conversation was casual, the battle was moments away.
“Tonight, those Imperial bastards will be our dinner.”
“Hahaha, indeed.”
Ainger laughed but kept glancing sideways at Yuri.
No matter how seasoned a knight was, the tension before battle was inevitable.
Especially when facing a strong enemy.
And this time, the opponent was none other than the Empire.
Yet this third prince showed no sign of fear.
Instead, he cracked jokes to ease the tension, making it feel as if he stood alongside a far more experienced knight.
Ainger scratched his cheek and asked, “When will His Majesty arrive?”
“They’re on their way. Seems like something’s holding him up.”
Yuri didn’t know the details either. Fiore had delayed departure, saying he had business with Cedric.
Suddenly, Yuri recalled Laurent’s warning.
Laurent had been oddly wary of Cedric.
But even Laurent couldn’t say exactly why.
Though Yuri was bothered by Laurent’s words, he refused to be swayed by mere feelings or speculation.
The Cedric he knew was always someone trustworthy.
“So, if we just hold out through this battle, Father will take care of everything.”
“I see.”
Ainger nodded.
“If we survive today, it’ll all be over.”
“That’s right.”
“Good. I like that.”
Ainger turned around.
Knights stood lined up along the walls, and behind them, soldiers gripped their weapons with tense faces.
Yuri pointed out even the smallest details, revealing his knowledge of defensive warfare.
Thanks to that, they were well-prepared to hold off an enemy several times their number.
Bezos had become an impregnable fortress.
“Everyone’s tense.”
“Then you’ll have to give them a good scolding.”
“Do I dare?”
“If not you, then who?”
“Why don’t you, Your Highness?”
“I’m better suited to be a kind commander. You take the fierce one.”
“Aww, I don’t want to be hated either.”
“Well, can’t be helped.”
Yuri stared at the markers they had set up in advance.
Through repeated drills, they knew the exact range of their arrows.
Once the enemy reached those points, a rain of arrows would fall.
Of course, against knights already prepared, the arrows wouldn’t cause massive casualties.
But they needed to disrupt the enemy’s nerves, even if just a little.
Small details made a big difference.
Every clash of swords could cost a life.
That’s why even the smallest elements had to be arranged with full effort.
That was war.
“The enemy’s coming.”
Yuri said.
He stood at one of Bezos’s four gates—the one facing the largest enemy force.
Even the black knight’s banner fluttered among the enemy ranks.
It was clear the fiercest battle would take place here.
From the soldiers’ perspective, they might have thought they’d drawn the short straw.
Yuri spoke cheerfully.
“Think you’re unlucky?”
His voice echoed over the walls in the tense silence before battle.
He continued.
“Why this area? Why the Empire? Or why did you even pick up a sword and become a soldier? Should’ve just stayed farming, huh?”
The soldiers chuckled.
Yuri stepped forward and leapt onto the parapet, standing tall.
His hair fluttered in the wind.
He turned his back to the enemy, facing his own troops.
Then he said,
“If you’re having those thoughts, throw them away. We’re not the ones who’ll regret this. The ones who’ll regret it are those Imperial bastards who’ll die here today!”
He pointed at a soldier.
“You there. What’s your name?”
“Noah!”
“Alright, Noah. How many do you plan to kill today?”
“Uh, well…”
“How many?”
“At least two!”
“Only two?”
“No, no! Three! Even if I die, I’ll make sure at least three of them die with me!”
“That’s the spirit!”
Yuri pointed toward the Imperial forces behind them.
“The ones who’ll regret it are those guys! Like the three who’ll die at Noah’s hands today! They’ll close their eyes, cursing their luck for running into a crazy bastard like Noah! Right, Noah?”
“That’s right!”
The soldiers cheered.
“The rest are the same! By tonight, those bastards will be cursing the Emperor for making them fight these mad dogs of Briol! They’ll finally learn just how nasty we Briol men can be!”
The cheers grew louder.
Their voices carried beyond the gate, infecting the Briol soldiers stationed in other areas.
The entire fortress of Bezos was alive with energy.
Suddenly, an Imperial rider approached.
It was a formal gesture—a last offer.
Yuri shouted again.
“Look! Those polite Imperial gentlemen have sent a messenger! Probably here to ask if we’ll surrender…”
Yuri jumped down, snatched a bow and arrows from a soldier, and climbed back up.
Then he shot the rider dead.
The startled horse carried the corpse back to the Imperial camp.
Yuri shouted,
“That’s our answer!”
The soldiers erupted in excitement.
“That poor bastard must be cursing the heavens for having a madman like Yuri Briol commanding Bezos! So forget any weak thoughts! Make those Imperial bastards cry and regret this day!”
The Imperial army immediately blew their horns.
The troops began advancing.
Shield-bearing soldiers led the way, followed by spring-loaded jumping devices.
Meanwhile, heavy siege hammers approached, escorted by soldiers.
“Everyone, ready!”
Yuri’s voice rang clearly across the walls.
At the same time, the standard-bearers raised their flags.
The signals passed swiftly, and the archers simultaneously drew their bows, aiming skyward.
Yuri glanced back.
High atop the spires, archers waited in hiding.
From the start to the end of the battle, they would relentlessly target only the commanders.
“Hold.”
Yuri whispered, and the flag bearers relayed the command.
Everyone held their breath.
The moment of truth passed.
The Imperial forces reached the marked point.
But Yuri didn’t give the signal.
“Hold, hold, hold…”
He murmured, eyes fixed on the enemy lines.
Shooting now wouldn’t be very effective.
Yuri waited for the perfect moment.
Everyone was tense, itching to release their arrows, but Yuri’s permission hadn’t come.
Then, at last—
“Now.”
The word fell, and the flags rose.
Orders spread instantly.
Archers atop the gate released their arrows in unison.
The arrows arced through the sky, plunging down onto the enemy.
The enemy raised shields to block, but couldn’t stop all the arrows piercing through.
Blood spilled.
The war had begun.
“Alright, it’s war!”
Yuri shouted, leaping back onto the parapet.
“Your Highness, it’s dangerous.”
Jared, who stood behind him, warned, but Yuri paid no mind.
“It should be dangerous. That’s war.”
His tone was almost gleeful.
Arrows flew up from below.
Yuri swung his sword, and a shield-like aura of energy deflected them all.
Arrows flying toward the outskirts were stopped by waiting knights and shield-bearing soldiers.
No casualties yet.
Arrows continued to fly from both sides.
Though the Briol forces had the advantage of height, the Imperial army vastly outnumbered them.
Despite taking arrow hits, the Imperial troops pressed forward stubbornly.
Soon, the jumping devices were in position.
“Stop them!”
Yuri shouted.
But the Empire had prepared well, and the devices were effective.
Imperial knights formed ranks and charged.
They stepped onto the jumping platforms and used the recoil to launch themselves into the air.
“Brace yourselves!”
Yuri shouted.
The Imperial knights soared through the sky.
Yuri could see their faces clearly, as if time had frozen.
They were a mix of surprise at flying and the tension of battle.
Earlier, he had told his soldiers to make the enemy regret this day.
Yuri made that a reality immediately.
He struck down the knight who leapt straight at him.
Though momentum made it difficult, he broke the knight’s balance.
The knight was pushed back, crashing into the parapet.
Yuri kicked him, trying to send him tumbling over the edge.
“Uaaaaah!”
The knight screamed, clutching the parapet to hold on.
Yuri looked down into his eyes and drove his sword’s energy straight through the gap in the helmet.
Blood splattered as the knight fell.
“Kill them all!”
On the battlements, side by side with Yuri, the Briol knights clashed fiercely with the enemy.
Not many foes would dare such a bold leap, yet some of the enemy knights gripped thick ropes hooked onto the battlements.
They were trying to secure lines to climb up from below.
Yuri moved to the railing and peered down.
While some knights had broken through, others were still climbing up the ropes.
Laurent, standing beside him, approached.
“Your Highness?”
“I’ll cut them down.”
As Yuri moved to sever the ropes, an imperial knight lunged at him.
But Ainger Eustam swiftly struck the attacker down.
“More climbing up?”
“Yes.”
Yuri channeled his sword’s energy into Gilty and sliced through the ropes.
Those climbing immediately plummeted.
But it wasn’t enough. Ropes hung all over the walls, and imperial soldiers were scaling them from every direction.
“This is good.”
Arrows rained from above, sword flashes flickered from the sides, and below, the enemy swarmed like ants. The rhythmic pounding of the battering ram against the gate echoed relentlessly.
It was utter chaos.
This was war.
Once again, imperial knights launched themselves at the walls.
Some leapt so far they overshot the battlements entirely.
Most of those fell from such heights, unable to land properly, dying or wounded on impact.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
“This is our castle, imperial scum!”
Perhaps thanks to Yuri’s pre-battle rallying, the Briol knights shouted as they pushed back the empire’s forces.
The fight raged on.
Yuri kept fending off knights flying onto the battlements.
“What about the other gates?”
“They’re holding firm.”
“Good…”
Amid the battle, an imperial knight flew straight toward Yuri.
He landed cleanly on the narrow railing.
Yuri instinctively sensed this was a formidable opponent.
“You must be Yuri Briol.”
“And you are?”
“Armute, Captain of the 8th Knights.”
No sooner had they exchanged names than Armute charged at Yuri.
With a single swing, his sword’s energy exploded outward, sweeping not only Yuri but the nearby knights as well.
A space cleared on the battlements, leaving just the two of them.
“I will kill you and take this castle.”
“Oh? If you can, then by all means, try…”
At that moment, a Briol knight stepped in.
“Who do you think you are, clinging to the prince like that? Some lowly nobody!”
He claimed to be a baron from a local territory.
Winking at Yuri, he shouted,
“We are Briol!”
Then, without hesitation, he charged at the Captain of the 8th Knights.
“No captain or whatever! You’re nothing! How dare you challenge the prince!”
Their swords clashed with such force that Armute staggered back, clearly caught off guard.
They exchanged blows several times, neither gaining the upper hand.
Yuri turned to Laurent.
“What’s that baron’s name?”
“Morren Esch? Morren Edu? Something like that…”
“Why is he fighting so well?”
“Indeed. He’s quite skilled.”
Yuri nodded thoughtfully and glanced around.
“Hmm…”
He felt a surge of pride.
Compared to his past life, they were fighting much better. He even wondered if Briol had always been this strong.
One of the Briol knights raised his sword and shouted,
“Briol!”
Cheers erupted from all sides.
“Briol!”
“Bri-ol!”
“For Briol!”
Imperial knights were pushed off the battlements, falling to the ground below.
Those barely climbing were kicked away mid-ascent, sent flying.
Knights attempting to leap from the air were immediately grabbed by Briol’s defenders, forced into brutal combat.
“Die, imperial scum!”
An imperial knight collapsed.
Yuri smiled grimly as he watched, then raised Gilty again, eyes fixed ahead.
There was no time to relax.
This war was only just beginning.