Chapter 89. Ronin (1)

Yuri’s campaign against the orcs had come to an end. What had once required a large allied force was now accomplished by a small group of knights.

Granted, the orcs they faced this time were neither as numerous nor as formidable as before, but it was still a feat worth celebrating.

When Yuri returned to Valshard, Marilose greeted them with fireworks lighting up the sky.

“You’ve worked hard.”

“Not at all,” Yuri replied with a casual smile, as if it were nothing.

Marilose had prepared a feast for them. Yuri and the knights of Valshard gathered to enjoy fine food and drink—luxuries they hadn’t had on the battlefield—and toasted to their recent victory.

Marilose went around, commending her knights for their efforts.

“You all did well. Must have been tough fighting those orcs, huh?”

“Oh, no, Your Grace,” one knight replied respectfully.

Though Marilose was a familiar comrade to Yuri, to the ordinary knights of Valshard she was a formidable mage not to be trifled with.

“Did you really wipe out everything marked on the map?”

“Yes, truly. We even eliminated targets that weren’t on the map.”

Before the expedition, Marilose had handed Yuri a map marking the orc encampments—countless targets scattered across the region.

She had given it personally but never expected they’d clear them all in such a short time.

“You must have had a hard time.”

“Not at all. It was Your Highness who bore the brunt of it.”

“Oh?”

Marilose glanced back. Yuri was sitting with her knights, chatting and laughing together.

Though she often wore a serious expression, when needed, Yuri could brighten the mood around her like that.

Marilose lowered her voice slightly.

“So, how was it? His Highness Briol?”

The knight who had been asked looked up, eyes distant as he recalled the past events. Then, with a flushed face, he murmured:

“He was truly admirable.”

“Is that so?”

“Even though he’s younger than me, his strength aside, the way he leads people…”

“Impressive?”

“Yes. Being with him made me feel like we could face any battle. Is there any royal who fights on the front lines like that?”

“Right, right. Heh heh…” Marilose chuckled softly, as if she herself had been praised.

“That adorable Highness said you all fought so hard that it was thanks to you they succeeded.”

“Really?”

“Of course. He praised you highly.”

“Your Highness…”

The knights of Valshard looked at Yuri with eyes full of admiration.

As a group of men sent her warm gazes all at once, Yuri, who had been eating some distance away, raised an eyebrow and met their eyes.

Then she said something.

Though no sound carried across the room, everyone understood perfectly from her lips:

“What are you staring at?”

Instead of being offended, the knights smiled even more fondly at her.

Eventually, Yuri averted her eyes with a reluctant expression.

It was rare for Yuri Briol to look away first. That showed just how intense the knights’ gazes were.

Marilose, watching the scene, laughed quietly.

“Looks like you’re having a good time.”

She went around thanking the knights individually for their efforts, then stood and approached Yuri again.

“Is the food to your liking, Your Highness?”

“Why were those guys glaring at me earlier? Did I say something wrong? Did they insult me or something?”

“Quite the opposite. They were looking at you with respect.”

“Then why did their eyes look so defiant?”

“Heh heh…” Marilose smiled and sat beside her.

“Here.”

She raised her hand, and a servant approached with a tray of sweets.

“A gift.”

“What’s this?”

The treat Marilose had prepared was a long, slender biscuit coated in fine chocolate.

“It’s long and covered in chocolate.”

“It’s called Pepero. In some regions, there’s a custom of giving these to those who return victorious from war.”

“Pepero… I think I’ve heard of that.”

“The shape resembles a spear, you see. It’s a way to honor the valor of the victor.”

“I see. Thanks, I appreciate it.”

“Just words? That’s too insincere.”

“Well, I did go out and kill orcs for you. Isn’t it just as insincere to settle for Pepero?”

“True enough.”

“Right?”

“Alright then. What can I do for you?”

“Nothing, really…”

“Anything you want, just say it. Heh heh…”

“No, well… since we’re fighting together, that’s enough…”

“Come on, say whatever you want already.”

“Nothing.”

Watching their exchange, Francesco poked at his food with a sad look.

“Hmm…”

Simon, sitting beside him, patted his shoulder.

“Francesco.”

“Hmm…”

“Why the sudden disappointment?”

“It happens.”

“You’ll find someone who suits you.”

“I used to be quite the catch…”

“Not as much as His Highness, I bet.”

“True…”

And so they enjoyed their final feast in Valshard.

The hall’s doors suddenly opened, and someone stepped inside.

“Uh…”

Everyone at the table tensed.

His expression was serious.

His salmon-colored hair gleamed under the lights. It was Inariel, the Archmage of the Ten Greats.

He gripped his staff and scanned the room, looking at each person seated.

Yuri greeted him.

“Long time no see, Inariel.”

“There’s a kid here too.”

Though Inariel looked younger than Yuri, the comment felt oddly out of place.

“The world’s on the brink of chaos, and yet here you all are, laughing and chatting…”

The archmage’s stern voice filled the room with tension.

But Yuri remained unfazed.

“Inariel, are you upset?”

“What?”

“You weren’t invited and we were having our own little feast…”

“No.”

“You look so gaunt. Come, let me make room for you.”

Servants brought fresh dishes and utensils for Inariel. His expression visibly softened as he quickly took a seat.

Hernando, sitting near Yuri, muttered:

“Inariel gets sharp when he’s hungry.”

Marilose quietly agreed.

“That’s true. He’s just a kid, despite his looks.”

When Inariel shot them a sharp glance, they quickly looked away.

Yuri stood and approached him.

“Good to see you again.”

“Yeah.”

Inariel nibbled at his food and raised a glass of wine. Though he looked like a boy, the way he drank suited him well.

He had come to Valshard at Hernando’s summons, confirmed the existence of the parchment, then left alone for some time.

Now, suddenly, he had returned.

“I’ve been researching the Devil’s Grimoire. After seeing a copy, I have some ideas.”

“Any progress?”

Inariel paused mid-bite.

“I don’t know. But I’ve discovered one possibility.”

His eyes grew distant.

“If we destroy the Devil’s Grimoire, we might be able to return to the World Tree Forest.”

“Is that so?”

Yuri’s reaction was muted.

She didn’t know much about the elves or the World Tree Forest where they had hidden. All she knew was that the forest was separated from the outside world, and that was why Inariel couldn’t return.

But it seemed to mean a great deal to him.

“Maybe the World Tree will open again.”

“You mean the elves will come out into the continent?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm…”

Yuri thought for a moment.

“Not all of them are as prickly as you, right?”

Inariel ignored the comment and continued.

“It might have been the Devil’s Grimoire that caused the elves to create and retreat into the World Tree Forest in the first place.”

Yuri looked at him, surprised. That was unexpected.

“Is that so?”

“It’s just a theory, but I think the high elves knew about the Devil’s Grimoire long ago and feared it might one day destroy the world. So they separated the space to distance themselves from it. The longer the separation in space, the further apart the times become.”

“Ah…”

Yuri nodded.

If Inariel was right, the Devil’s Grimoire had surely caused chaos even when elves and humans lived together.

“I hope that’s true.”

Yuri looked at Inariel.

“So, if we destroy that Devil’s Grimoire together, you might be able to return home, right?”

“Maybe…”

Lost in thought, Inariel finally nodded.

“Perhaps.”

He smiled like a boy.

Seeing that expression, Yuri fell silent for a moment. It was the first time she’d seen him smile so openly since they met.

She stared at him for a while, then smiled back.

“That will happen, Inariel.”

“Yeah. So you better work hard.”

“I will.”

He returned to his usual prickly self, but the image of that smile lingered in Yuri’s mind.

Inariel missed his own kind.

If they won this war, they could grant his wish as well.

“Inariel, I will make it happen.”

“Don’t hold my hand. It’s distracting.”

“Can you feel my sincerity?”

“Not really interested.”

Yuri laughed and raised her wine glass toward him. He frowned slightly but clinked his glass without a word.

“Inariel.”

“Hm?”

“Please save me a big fireball in the war.”

“…”

---

Yuri and her group prepared to leave Valshard and return to Briolo.

Marilose tidied up the workshop and entrusted her position to a trusted retainer. Valshard was a well-organized city, so it would continue to run smoothly even in her absence.

Francesco had regained the ability to wield mana, though not yet at his former strength. The magi inside him had been purged, but his body still needed time to adjust.

Inariel showed an unprecedented eagerness. To an ordinary observer, she might have seemed unchanged, but Yuri and Hernando could clearly sense the difference.

In fact, Inariel was even urging them to hurry back.

Jared, Simon, and Guiness trained together daily, steadily improving their skills.

When the time came, they left Valshard.

Ernando, Marilose, and Inariel joined the group. Mounted on horseback, they set out on the journey back to Briolo.

This time, war was truly inevitable.

Yuri planned to retake Bezos without delay.

“Huh?”

As they galloped across the plains, Yuri suddenly spotted a caravan.

It was a different group from the one they had met before with Rick.

“The flag says Elaine Trading Company.”

“Looks like Elaine’s been doing well with Eastern goods,” Hernando remarked.

The last they’d heard, Elaine had been at the imperial capital. Since then, there had been no contact.

Yuri didn’t know how she was currently running the company, but seeing the Elaine caravan here on the plains suggested she was doubling down on trade with the East.

“But…”

Jared, peering through his telescope at the caravan, spoke up.

“This doesn’t look like merchandise this time.”

“Let me see.”

Yuri took the telescope and studied them.

Under the fluttering Elaine Trading Company banner, unfamiliar figures were walking.

Yuri murmured, “Easterners?”

They all carried weapons and moved with a light, practiced step—martial artists, like Moyongchan, skilled in combat.

Yuri glanced back at her companions.

“Curious, aren’t you?”

“Not really.”

“Figured as much. Let’s go!”

Following Yuri’s lead, they spurred their horses toward the caravan. Meeting people on the plains was both a welcome and intriguing surprise.

But the caravan seemed to have misunderstood their intentions.

As Yuri’s group approached on horseback, the Easterners shouted something and drew their weapons, charging toward them.