Who could have predicted that Count Saidor’s banquet would end like that?
After a sleepless night, the Briol army set out from Saidor Castle early the next morning.
“Your Highness.”
Before leaving the castle, Jaime stopped Yuri.
“Take this one with you.”
It was Kori, the orc interpreter, standing beside Jaime with his head bowed low. His face was hidden beneath a hood, his body bundled tightly, revealing only that he was small in stature.
“Kori, was it?”
Jaime nodded.
“Yes. You saw him last night.”
“How’s his health?”
“He’s physically weak, but no problem.”
“And his temperament?”
“Docile and obedient.”
Jaime smiled faintly and added, “Which is rare.”
“I see.”
Yuri nodded and turned to Kori.
“Kori.”
“Yes?”
“Do you know how to ride a horse?”
“R-ride? No, I don’t.”
“Then you’ll have to learn.”
He then spoke to Jaime.
“Could you spare a horse? I’ll pay for it.”
“No need. I’ll just give one.”
Kori looked startled by the sudden offer but didn’t seem to have the courage to refuse.
Jaime handed over a small pony suited to Kori’s size.
“Someone who understands the orc language is a valuable asset.”
“Thank you, Your Highness…”
Kori awkwardly took the reins.
Even sitting atop the pony, he was barely taller than Yuri standing beside him.
After a moment’s hesitation, Kori spoke.
“Your Highness, there’s something I should tell you beforehand…”
“I know.”
“Huh?”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“Well, it’s not that…”
“Here.”
Yuri handed him something—a pair of finely crafted leather gauntlets.
“These are…”
Kori looked down at the gauntlets, then bowed his head and offered them back.
“Th-they’re too much for me…”
“I said I’m giving them to you.”
“But…”
“You little rascal.”
Yuri snatched the riding crop hanging from the saddle and flicked it against Kori’s pony. The pony bolted forward.
Kori screamed, clutching the reins tightly.
Yuri laughed as he watched Kori’s retreating figure.
“Will he be alright?”
Hernando suddenly appeared from behind. Like a true mage, he kept appearing and disappearing during the march.
“Why not?”
“If the soldiers find out, they might not like it.”
“What are they going to do if I’m the one taking him?”
Yuri placed a hand on Hernando’s shoulder.
“Good. Hernando, you take care of him.”
“Huh?”
“Even mages need apprentices.”
“Why me…”
Hernando trailed off awkwardly, but Yuri suspected he was actually pleased at the prospect.
His face brightened, betraying his excitement.
Just like at the gambling table, he was terrible at hiding his emotions.
“Kori will be useful, so take good care of him.”
“Well, if you put it that way, I can’t refuse. Heh heh heh…”
Hernando hummed a tune as he walked off. Yuri began to worry.
“He won’t get into trouble, will he?”
“What kind of insult is that…”
“Then I’ll trust you.”
Yuri mounted his horse. The other knights were waiting.
“Your Highness, you’re here.”
Their attitude had changed.
Last night, Yuri had kept his composure despite the chaos and skillfully managed the troops.
His bold and calm demeanor earned their respect. He had proven he was no coward.
As Yuri rode out, he called cheerfully,
“Good morning. Isn’t it a fine day?”
“Y-yes…”
But the knights’ voices were subdued.
Dark circles under their eyes showed they had spent the night replaying what they’d witnessed.
Yuri laughed aloud.
“Alright, let’s march again.”
He glanced back before leaving the castle.
Jaime stood atop the wall, watching him go.
Yuri placed a hand over his heart and silently thanked him. Jaime bowed in return.
Thanks to Jaime, the young knights had experienced orcs firsthand—and with it, a burning hatred for the enemy.
Everything Yuri needed, he had gained.
He murmured Jaime’s name.
“Jaime Theodore…”
A man with a strange kind of madness, but one Yuri liked.
“This time, you won’t die.”
Now that Jaime was leading the army to join the allied forces, there was no chance the orcs would kill him.
Yuri turned to Kori, who was riding alongside Hernando.
“Kori.”
“Yes.”
“Do you hate orcs?”
Kori hesitated, then nodded.
“Yes.”
“Good. I’ll make sure you see plenty of orcs dying.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Sir Raymond.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Is the pace alright?”
“Faster than expected.”
“Good. There should be bandits beyond the border, right?”
“Of course.”
“Let’s deal with them as long as it doesn’t slow us down.”
Raymond smiled once and nodded.
“Yes.”
Soon, the Briol army reached the border.
The soldiers guarding the kingdom’s outermost edge had a different air about them—a distinct scent of blood and battle-hardened experience.
Yuri sought out the commander and obtained a nearby map.
It detailed merchant routes, bandit hideouts, and places where orc groups had been spotted.
“This is beyond Briol now.”
Yuri gathered the troops.
“It means the enemy could appear at any moment. If you’ve been letting your guard down, steel yourselves from now on.”
The soldiers tensed.
Though some were veterans, most were new to combat. The same went for the knights.
“Let’s move out.”
The Briol army crossed the border.
A dry plain stretched out before them. No sign of human life.
The distant horizon awaited.
“Jarred.”
At Yuri’s call, Jarred rode forward from the rear.
“Yes?”
“You’re the scout from now on.”
“Huh?”
Yuri spread the map, pointing to their current location, then tapped the area Jarred was to reconnoiter.
“This isn’t the direction of Gid…”
“We left early, so a detour is fine.”
“Wait a moment. This mark…”
Jarred checked the legend on the map’s edge.
“Bandits?”
“Vile scoundrels who disrupt the border and threaten merchants.”
“They’ll run if we go.”
“No, we’ll chase and kill them. Even if some escape, destroying their base will pressure them.”
Yuri patted Jarred’s chest.
“Hey, watch your back.”
Jarred looked back. The young knights and soldiers trailing behind wore tense expressions.
Only Laurent fixed Yuri with a fierce gaze.
Yuri turned to him.
“Everyone’s nervous, right? Of course, Jarred, someone as talented as you will find battle as natural as breathing…”
“I understand.”
“I’m a young, inexperienced prince who needs a warm-up.”
“I get it already.”
“Don’t be so harsh just because you’re a genius who can’t understand ordinary people…”
“I said I get it!”
Jarred took the map copy and compass, then spurred his horse forward.
“Hey!”
Yuri tossed a telescope from his side. Jarred glanced back and caught it while riding.
Watching Jarred gallop toward the horizon, Raymond approached.
“Good idea.”
“Right?”
“Yes.”
Raymond stroked his beard.
“Even a light skirmish is better than none. It’s good to get some experience.”
“You’re the only one who truly understands me.”
“Ha ha ha…”
He said quietly,
“You didn’t seem very surprised last night.”
“Did I look that way?”
“Yes.”
“I was surprised too.”
Raymond pointed to Jarred, now a tiny dot in the distance.
“By the way, I heard you favor that young man.”
“Favor? I just keep him close.”
“Sir Saned said Jarred has grown fiercely since meeting you. Few in the guard can match him now.”
“I made him.”
“I didn’t know much about you before, but you’re becoming more and more inscrutable.”
“Sounds like you didn’t expect much.”
“That’s true.”
“What would Genard know? He said a lot of bad things about me, didn’t he?”
“Ha ha ha ha…”
“Sir Raymond.”
Yuri looked at Raymond.
He was a man who had spent as much time on the battlefield as the wrinkles on his face suggested.
Such a knight was like an old sword.
Unremarkable when sheathed, but razor-sharp when drawn.
Yet without a worthy master, the sword would remain hidden forever.
“Can I ask you a dull question?”
“Anytime.”
“Why do you fight?”
“Why fight…”
Raymond’s eyes widened, then he scratched his chin.
“It’s been a long time since anyone asked me that. For a knight, the reason to fight…”
“Because of the times.”
“My answer is an old one.”
“Go on.”
“For Briol’s peace.”
He smiled sheepishly.
“Is that a boring answer?”
“No.”
Yuri smiled.
“Sir Raymond.”
“Yes?”
“From now on, you’ll fight for that alone.”
Raymond looked at Yuri. Yuri stared ahead, ignoring his gaze.
“I promise you.”
Then he spurred his horse and rode ahead.
“Keep up the pace. I’m going to run ahead a bit.”
“Where are you going?”
“I don’t trust Jarred.”
“Your Highness!”
“Don’t worry.”
Yuri urged his horse forward.
The air beyond the border brushed over him.
The whip-like wind was oddly welcome. Old sensations stirred within him.
Back then, he had fled to a forsaken land after losing everything. But now, things were different.
“Briol’s safety, huh…”
Not a bad answer.
Yuri urged her horse forward and laughed aloud.
Jared peered into the distance through his telescope.
“Hey.”
“Don’t talk to me.”
“I’m just asking if you can see well.”
“Yes.”
“Let me have a look.”
“I’m still looking.”
“I gave it to you…”
“You were assigned the reconnaissance mission.”
“You’ve grown a lot, Jared.”
Yuri snorted, then kicked the man tied up tightly behind her.
“Ugh! Ugh!”
“Quiet before I gag you too.”
“…”
Though they were bandits, they did have their own sentries.
After capturing him, Yuri and Jared threatened the man with their blades until he agreed to lead them to the bandits’ hideout.
“This doesn’t match the spot marked on the map.”
“They move their base around.”
“So, what now?”
Yuri approached and removed the gag from the man’s mouth.
“Hey.”
“Yes, yes.”
“You said there are no other guards?”
“Yes.”
“Why are you the only one?”
“If you ask why, I don’t really know…”
“Can you watch all directions by yourself?”
“No.”
“Then why are you alone?”
“I don’t know…”
As they pressed him, something caught Yuri’s eye.
“What’s this?”
She slipped her hand inside his collar and pulled out an object.
It was a necklace with a red gemstone.
It didn’t seem like something a bandit would carry.
“Is this yours?”
“No.”
“Then?”
“The boss gave it to me…”
He added, “All the guards on duty wear this necklace.”
Jared raised an eyebrow.
“Is it some kind of magical artifact?”
He pressed his blade against the man’s throat.
The bandit trembled in fear.
“P-please spare me, sir.”
“Answer me. Is this some kind of device for transmitting voices?”
“I-I don’t know. It probably doesn’t have that function. I don’t even know what it is.”
“Then why carry it around?”
“I’m not sure…”
Yuri shrugged.
“We’ll just have to ask the boss directly.”
The man looked back. Nothing was in sight.
Beyond the hills, the Briol army was slowly approaching.
“I’ll stay here. Go and deliver my message.”
“You want to stay here alone?”
“Yes.”
“It’s dangerous.”
“That’s an order.”
Yuri gagged the man again.
“When I say do it, you do it.”
“But…”
“Now.”
“Understood.”
Yuri unfolded the map.
“Here, here. Divide the troops and position them here. The escape route is fixed. Block their retreat, surround, and annihilate them. Tonight, we’ll owe those guys a favor.”
“Yes.”
“This will probably just be a check to see if the orders are getting through.”
“Understood.”
Even at their largest, the bandits couldn’t compare to the army Yuri had brought.
With several knights deployed, this would be an easy fight.
“I’ll be back quickly.”
Jared reluctantly stood and ran toward the horse tied up in the distance.
Before long, he returned leading a group of knights.
Yuri sighed.
“Why bring so many?”
“Just in case, I brought the knights first.”
“You’ll get spotted like that.”
“We kept it as quiet as possible.”
“Alright. Good work, Jared.”
Yuri raised her telescope again to observe the bandits’ camp.
There were no unusual signs. The ragged bandits moved about idly.
Occasionally, she spotted people being treated like slaves—likely captives. They might even be citizens of Briol.