Artem spoke the name Yuri Briol aloud, and instantly, the hikers around them realized who he truly was.
Yuri, caught off guard, quickly made up a vague excuse and hurried down the mountain, but the events that had unfolded atop Mount Jenel were impossible to keep secret.
Stories of how the adult Artem had ascended to the heavens spread like wildfire, and with renewed attention on Yuri’s identity as the Baptizer, rumors circulated that he was a divinely chosen apostle.
Yuri had always been a well-known figure.
But now, having completed the Conqueror’s Era and performed religious miracles, his fame soared to unprecedented heights.
And Yuri Briol made a bold declaration to the entire continent.
“The Empire is ruled by the wicked power of black magic, openly conducting forbidden rituals like human sacrifice. Briol cannot stand idly by. The Holy Kingdom, Bursen, Liberta, and the Central Federation of Minor States unite in condemning the Empire.”
This was the first time anyone had officially linked the Empire to black magic.
Yuri’s warning spread through newspapers across the continent, making everyone aware of the dark sorcery’s existence.
Yet the Empire remained silent.
Some refused to believe Yuri’s claims.
“Black magic? Sounds like something made up on a whim.”
“If it really existed, why hasn’t anyone said a word before?”
“Our territory’s mage says there’s no such thing.”
“Magic is one thing, but black magic? This isn’t a novel.”
Mention of black magic sparked heated debate.
Because the issue was so explosive, all eyes naturally turned to one place.
The Mage Tower.
The continent’s highest authority on magic. The Mage Tower was the cradle, the school, and the home of all mages.
But the Master who represented the Mage Tower never appeared.
Yuri pressed Hernando.
“You acted like you’d find it any minute, so what are you doing now?”
“Well, um…”
“Where the hell is the Mage Tower’s Master?”
“I don’t know.”
“Hernando!”
Yuri snapped sharply.
“Find him. Now!”
Startled, Hernando’s eyes widened and he took a step back.
“Why are you so impatient all of a sudden?”
“Everyone acts like this when they succeed!”
“R-really?”
“Then why don’t you become famous too?”
“Y-yes…”
At this moment, Yuri was literally the continent’s most famous person.
Before, people might not have recognized him on the street, but now, countless portraits depicting his face were circulating, making it impossible for him to walk around without covering his face.
Yuri leaned back in his chair and muttered.
“If the Mage Tower’s Master just says a word, the Empire will be cornered.”
The current situation was very encouraging.
In his previous life, the continent’s nations had been thrown into chaos, each responding differently, only to be destroyed by the Empire.
Now, they were united in their concern over the Empire’s rise.
Besides the four nations including Briol and the Federation of Minor States, many others had sent envoys to Briol, asking how to respond.
The entire continent was wary of the Empire.
And yet, for reasons unknown, the Empire remained silent.
Yuri wanted to use this opportunity to bring the Mage Tower’s Master into the fold and seal the matter once and for all.
“But that guy’s nowhere to be found? Could something have happened to him?”
“No way. If anything happened to the Master, the whole Mage Tower would know immediately.”
“Then why don’t you know where he is?”
“I just don’t.”
Sighing, Yuri looked up just as a server rushed over.
“Can I help you?”
“A beer, please.”
“Yes, right away!”
Yuri and Hernando sat in a tavern in Briol’s capital.
Because Yuri wasn’t hiding his face, crowds of people came to see him.
But due to his royal status, no one dared approach too closely; they simply watched from a distance without causing a scene.
Only the tavern owner was grinning from ear to ear.
“So, Sir Hernando, you’re basically telling me you can’t do your job. Admitting your incompetence, in other words.”
“Well, if you put it that way…”
“You useless brat!”
“Your Majesty, please watch your words with so many people around…”
“Oh, really?”
“Of course.”
“Watch this.”
Yuri slammed his hand on the table and stood up.
All eyes turned to him.
Though clearly angry, he hesitated to speak freely, instead staring down Hernando for a moment before muttering sharply.
“You incompetent fool…”
His voice wasn’t loud, but it echoed clearly through the tavern.
Everyone present was affected by Yuri’s words.
Not that they blamed Yuri—on the contrary, they began to criticize Hernando’s incompetence just as Yuri had.
“That guy sitting over there must be useless.”
“To upset His Majesty like that…”
“He looks useless.”
“Useless brat…”
“He’s officially useless now. Let’s call him that.”
“His Majesty is drinking with a useless guy. Such kindness.”
In an instant, public opinion was swayed by Yuri.
Hernando opened his mouth in disbelief.
“How can this be…”
“Told you—if you don’t like it, become famous yourself.”
“I’ve never been called incompetent in my life. Hernando here is a genius recognized by the Mage Tower…”
“Enough. Where is the Mage Tower’s Master?”
“I don’t know.”
“You useless fool.”
“Ugh…”
Hernando bit his lip.
Yuri wasn’t entirely wrong. Hernando felt a deep sense of self-doubt.
The Grand Wizard still hadn’t found the Mage Tower’s Master, meaning Hernando couldn’t counter the magical techniques the Master had unleashed.
“Maybe you’re right. I’m just a useless guy…”
“Pathetic, drowning in self-pity.”
“Useless and pathetic…”
Hernando buried his head in the table, causing a stir around them.
“How dare he put his head down in front of His Majesty…”
“Useless, pathetic, and now disrespectful…”
“What’s his name? What does he do?”
“To defend such a subordinate, His Majesty is truly remarkable…”
Most people would have felt pressured by such blind worship, but Yuri didn’t care about others’ opinions; he just shrugged.
Praise or criticism—he used it all for his purpose.
Right now, he was using his fame to scold Hernando.
Shrinking under the crowd’s scorn, Hernando spoke in a barely audible voice.
“Your Majesty, did you really call me to the capital just for this…?”
“Now you get it?”
“Scary…”
At that moment, a commotion erupted at the tavern’s entrance as the crowd parted.
Yuri and Hernando turned their heads.
What cleared the way wasn’t fame or status.
It was beauty.
Marie-Rose Entree.
The mage from Valshard was approaching Yuri and Hernando.
Marie-Rose wasn’t wearing her usual elaborate dress but something more practical for moving around.
Still, her beauty was undeniable, and the townsfolk stepped aside to let her pass.
She strode straight through the crowded tavern without hesitation.
Tilting her head, she gave Yuri a seductive smile.
“Your Majesty. There you are.”
“Yeah.”
“Shall we get going?”
“Let’s.”
“You’re only suffering because of this useless Hernando.”
“Tell me about it.”
“No, Marie-Rose, you should come with me—”
“Keep your mouth shut.”
Marie-Rose raised a finger to silence Hernando and continued.
“It’s clear that with Hernando’s pathetic magical skills, he can’t find the Mage Tower’s Master. So you have no choice but to go yourself. Maybe that’s exactly what the Master wants.”
Yuri nodded.
“Right. With no reliable subordinates, I have to move myself.”
“Your Majesty, it’s pitiful. Such an incompetent aide…”
Hernando protested to Marie-Rose.
“If that’s the case, aren’t you part of the unreliable subordinates too?”
Yuri shook his head.
“Marie-Rose isn’t my subordinate.”
“Then what is she?”
“Marie-Rose is…”
Before Yuri could finish, she quickly answered.
“A partner.”
Hernando looked at Yuri. Yuri, about to say ‘collaborator,’ cleared his throat and nodded.
“Something like that.”
“You understand, Sir Hernando? You’re a subordinate, and I’m a partner. So just admit your incompetence as a subordinate.”
“I was already aware of it before you came…”
Hernando sighed deeply.
“Fine. Let’s go to the Mage Tower. I don’t know what difference it’ll make if Your Majesty goes, but let’s see. If it doesn’t work, then Your Majesty is incompetent too.”
“Me?”
Yuri stood up.
“Hernando, I see nothing right now.”
“Really?”
“Do you think I’ll just shrug and say, ‘If it works, great; if not, oh well’?”
Something flickered in Yuri’s eyes.
“I’m not joking around. Until that Master is convinced, I won’t wait patiently. Fighting the Empire isn’t something you do half-heartedly.”
He still remembered the battles of his past life.
There was no room for complacency.
He wouldn’t wait endlessly for others’ approval.
If the Mage Tower’s Master didn’t show up, Yuri was ready to tear the Mage Tower down himself. If it meant stopping the Empire and preventing tragedy from repeating, he would gladly do it.
To Yuri, fighting black magic meant exactly that.
“Let’s go.”
“Now?”
“I told you, I don’t have time.”
“But you drank well enough.”
“This is fuel.”
Yuri smirked, downed the last of her beer, then slammed a gold coin onto the table and sprang to her feet.
Outside the tavern, about ten knights had their horses ready, waiting.
The Vengeance Knights.
They’d been waiting here for Yuri from the start.
Yuri mounted first, and at that signal, the knights all swung into their saddles in unison. It was a simple motion, but executed with precision.
“The prince and the Vengeance Knights…”
“Wow…”
“So cool.”
“That’s the legendary…”
The crowd murmured in awe, some even cheering.
Jared, who had been waiting, gave a sly smile toward Hernando as he finally appeared.
“Well, Sir Hernando, did you enjoy your punishment?”
“Yes. It turned out that way.”
“Shall we go?”
Marilose and Hernando mounted their horses as well.
Jared teased Yuri as she took the reins.
“Your Highness, isn’t drunk riding a crime?”
“I’m above the law.”
“Hahaha…”
“Let’s move.”
“Yes, sir!”
In an instant, Yuri and the Vengeance Knights galloped through the castle town.
Briol had a mage tower too.
Not a large one, but all mage towers were connected anyway.
Yuri and the Vengeance Knights headed toward Matehorn, the domain of Einger Eustam.
Perhaps word had spread ahead, because the castle gates were already open.
While Yuri exchanged greetings with Einger Eustam, the Vengeance Knights locked eyes with the Matehorn knights.
Knights with swords drawn were all the same breed—eye contact often sparked tension.
But there were exceptions.
“Why are you staring so much? Hehe…”
Tirbo scratched his head with a clueless look, prompting even the usually laid-back Jared to sigh.
He really didn’t look like the eldest son of a noble count’s family.
“Sir Tirbo.”
“Yes?”
“Try to act more like a knight.”
“What does that mean?”
“Chin up, eyes sharp. And glare steadily. Don’t smile carelessly. Smiling makes you look weak.”
“But Your Highness is always smiling…”
“He’s not smiling, he’s sneering.”
“Then I’ll sneer too. Like this?”
“Don’t. You look ridiculous.”
“Yes…”
“See? They’re already pointing fingers at you!”
“Sorry…”
Of course, some of the knights at Matehorn had fought alongside them in the Bezos skirmish.
They greeted Jared and the Vengeance Knights warmly. But a group of unfamiliar knights still glared at them.
Jared asked,
“Why are those guys staring so much?”
“Oh, those guys…”
A middle-aged knight who had fought at Bezos gave an awkward smile.
“Do you know Parsonte?”
“Parsonte? You mean the place with the Parsonte Knight Academy?”
“Exactly.”
Parsonte was a territory on the empire’s outskirts, home to the Parsonte Knight Academy. It was considered one of the three cradles of the empire’s knightly power.
“Matehorn has an agreement with them. They regularly send selected knights over.”
“You mean…”
“Yeah.”
The middle-aged knight gave a wry smile.
“They’re the empire’s study-abroad knights.”