“A god from another realm?”
“That’s right.”
Sidhehurst spoke calmly.
“If I had to put it simply, yes—a god. One who looks down on us humans as insignificant creatures.”
“Could you be more specific?”
“I don’t know the details myself. Thanks to my magic that manipulates dimensions, I can barely perceive its existence.”
“That’s… unbelievable.”
Yuri let out a low breath.
Though he had lived through his past life, he hadn’t known the full extent of the empire’s situation back then. After Briol’s fall, he had wandered as a mercenary, picking up bits and pieces of rumors here and there.
He had suspected that Cedric had summoned an otherworldly being during his time in the Holy Kingdom.
But he never imagined it was a being powerful enough to be called a god.
Thinking of Sibylla, who had died corrupted by dark magic, Yuri clenched his fist.
“It doesn’t matter. Even if the opponent is a god, it doesn’t change what we have to do.”
“Exactly.”
Sidhehurst smiled.
“With your sword, you just cut them all down.”
Suddenly, Sidhehurst’s tone became surprisingly cooperative, causing Hernando and Marilose to exchange glances and whisper.
“Looks like he’s been hit pretty hard, huh?”
“Seems that way.”
Unaware of their irreverent thoughts, Sidhehurst nodded at Yuri.
“Yuri Briol. I trust you.”
“Good. Just trust me.”
“Hahaha…”
Yuri laughed heartily alongside Sidhehurst and stood up.
“Well then, shall we get going? Let’s leave the Mage Tower and denounce the empire. Once the Mage Tower’s master officially condemns them, the empire will have no way out.”
“Right.”
“Then there’s only one thing left to do.”
Yuri lowered his voice.
“Everyone needs to steel themselves.”
The empire had only one choice as well. And with Sidhehurst joining their side, that future would come crashing down on them sooner than expected.
War.
Countless lives would be lost.
Sidhehurst waved his staff, and the surroundings began to blur.
Before long, as if by magic, they were back in the Mage Tower’s interview room.
They opened the door and stepped into the corridor.
Yuri asked, “What about the foreign-trained knights?”
“They were kicked out of the tower. They can either leave or wait…”
As they spoke and stepped outside, they saw the foreign-trained knights crouched on the ground, deep in discussion.
“Hey, they’re out!”
One knight jumped up at the sight of Yuri’s group.
“Could it be… is that elder the Mage Tower’s master?”
Yuri nodded on his behalf.
“But why?”
“Master! We’ve missed you!”
The knight brushed past Yuri and spread his arms wide in front of Sidhehurst.
“Please tell us! The truth of the world!”
“Hm?”
“The true source of magic comes from the good hearts within all of us, doesn’t it? The Mage Tower’s hidden truth about magic! We all know those complicated mathematical theories are just the tower’s scheme to monopolize magical secrets from the public. Please, reveal the truth…”
Yuri’s hand moved.
In an instant, the knight was struck at the temple, his eyes wide with shock before he collapsed unconscious. Yuri caught him gently.
“I just felt like it had to be done.”
“Well done.”
Sidhehurst glanced over the remaining foreign-trained knights.
“Hmm…”
He stepped forward and spoke.
“Alright. I’ll satisfy your curiosity. Since my specialty is magic, I can reveal the truth about it.”
“Ooooh…!”
“Listen carefully. Magic is…”
The foreign-trained knights leaned in. Even Hernando and Marilose looked tense as they watched Sidhehurst.
Sidhehurst emphasized,
“Talent.”
He struck the floor with his staff.
“And effort!”
Light flowed from Sidhehurst’s staff, spreading like shimmering fireflies around them.
He sneered.
“If a talented person puts in effort, they become a great mage. There are no other secrets. So stop spouting nonsense and work hard. Work! That’s the key!”
“Ah…”
Hearing the word ‘effort,’ the foreign-trained knights immediately slumped, crestfallen.
Sidhehurst pointed at Hernando and Marilose in turn.
“Look at these two. Do they seem kind-hearted? They’re flawed people at heart.”
“Excuse me?”
“Why?”
“But by luck, they were born with talent and brains, and through hard work at the Mage Tower, they became great mages. That’s the truth. You want to be recognized knights too, right? Then work hard!”
Yuri, who had been nodding at the talk about character, winced as Marilose pinched her side.
“Ugh, I knew it…”
“Knew what?”
“Nothing.”
After Sidhehurst’s long lecture and scolding, the foreign-trained knights hung their shoulders and turned away, trudging off.
Yuri said, “Truth is a cold thing.”
“Why do you think even those who studied abroad act like that?”
“When a frog in a well sees the vast world, it wants to turn away.”
Though Briol’s knights were excellent, the empire was undeniably the strongest nation on the continent. And the Parsonte Knight Academy attracted the brightest talents from across the empire.
Those who had been mere knights of a small territory in Briol probably felt the wall they couldn’t break through.
“Those who give up stop moving, but those who grit their teeth and push forward grow.”
“Haha…”
“They’ve probably understood that, so let’s move quickly.”
Accompanied by Sidhehurst, Yuri returned to the castle of Matterhorn.
Einger Eustam welcomed them warmly and laid out a feast.
The spread was so lavish it felt like a small banquet.
Yuri’s group sat in order at the long table. Yuri took the head seat, with Sidhehurst to her left and Einger, lord of Matterhorn, to her right.
Einger spoke to Sidhehurst.
“I’ve heard you’re Sidhehurst. It’s an honor to meet you. I never thought I’d see the Mage Tower’s master in my lifetime…”
“This old man isn’t anything special.”
“Hahaha…”
Yuri patted Einger’s shoulder.
“I told you to find the Mage Tower’s master, but in the end, I found him myself. You should reflect on that.”
“I’m ashamed.”
Before setting out to gather the Overlord’s artifacts, Yuri had instructed Einger to help find the Mage Tower’s master. But in the end, Yuri was the one who succeeded.
Einger scratched his head.
“You really are unmatched, Your Majesty.”
“If I don’t step up, nothing gets done.”
“I apologize.”
“It can’t be helped. Not everyone can be great.”
“Excuse me?”
“Enough of that. Let’s prepare for the next task.”
Yuri turned to Sidhehurst.
“How do you plan to announce the truth about dark magic?”
“Well…”
“Just write a long statement for the press. If you want, I can draft it for you. You’d only need to revise it.”
“No need.”
“Oh? Are you confident in writing, Sidhehurst?”
“No.”
Sidhehurst shook his head.
“Why would I need to write?”
“Then?”
“I’ll handle it myself. Don’t worry. I’ll make a statement on dark magic soon. I’ll criticize the empire as harshly as you want.”
“Good. When will that be?”
“Within three days.”
“Understood.”
Yuri smiled and looked around.
“On a related note, things are going well in the Holy Kingdom too. Weapons plated with orichalcum will soon arrive in Briol. They carry resistance against dark magic.”
Sidhehurst reacted.
“You got orichalcum? Does that mean you met dwarves?”
“By chance, yes.”
“Hmm…”
“If we plate weapons this way, we can produce quite a few. All nations opposing the empire will use them.”
“Orichalcum would definitely be effective.”
“And through the Irein Trading Company, we’ll import warriors from the East.”
“From the East?”
“Yes.”
Then Jared, who had been quietly sitting, asked,
“Are you thinking of something like a band of ronin?”
“Stronger than that. Real warriors from the East. They’ll have to be on par with knights here.”
“Will they come? It’s not like ronin who struggle to survive.”
“Sometimes, there are values more important than material things.”
Yuri smiled and revealed a new fact.
“The empire has an enemy among the Eastern martial artists.”
“An enemy of the Eastern warriors?”
“They call him the Celestial Demon. The empire’s ‘Shadowless Sword’ is actually the Eastern martial arts’ nemesis, Celestial Demon Danso Cheon.”
“Oh, no!”
“Impossible!”
Jared and Sidhehurst exclaimed simultaneously, then looked at each other.
“So, do you know anything about this Celestial Demon?”
“No…”
“Then why bring it up?”
“Because no one seems to know, I felt obligated to respond.”
“I see.”
“And Sidhehurst, what do you know?”
“I thought everyone knew, but I didn’t want to be the only one silent…”
“No one knows.”
“That was pointless.”
No one knew who this Celestial Demon really was.
Yuri continued.
“Anyway, the Celestial Demon is the leader of a cult, hated by all martial artists. If it’s revealed he’s under the empire’s command, we can lure the Eastern martial arts’ masters here.”
Then Simon, sitting in the corner, tilted his head.
“Master Moyongchan is very pessimistic about the martial arts world. He says it’s a corrupt group. Would such people really come?”
“Though the Eastern martial world may be rotten, there must still be righteous heroes who understand honor and duty. I choose to believe in the code of the jianghu.”
“To persuade the people, your role as envoy will be a heavy responsibility.”
“Indeed.”
“Right now, the only route connecting us to the East is practically monopolized by the Irein Trading Company. They might not be willing to cooperate.”
“They will.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Because I’m the honorary chairman of Irein Trading Company—and a major shareholder with an equal stake to Irein itself.”
“Excuse me?”
A new revelation stunned everyone. All eyes turned to Yuri.
Yuri said, “You could say I’m responsible for about eighty percent of Irein’s growth.”
Everyone’s jaws dropped in shock, but only Hernando nodded knowingly, arms crossed.
He had once traveled with Yuri on the way to meet Irein.
“D-Do you know about this, Lord Hernando?”
“I didn’t realize it was to this extent, but I knew there was a connection to Irein Trading. His Highness was one of their earliest investors.”
Hernando gazed into the distance.
“Back then, Irein was barely keeping afloat—a small, crumbling company. Then His Highness came along and entrusted them with a huge sum, predicting the surge of Mugranza.”
“Ah, no wonder you’re so entangled with Irein Trading…”
“So, does that make His Highness the so-called ‘mastermind’ behind Irein, the one people whisper about?”
“I always thought those rumors about Irein’s ‘shadow hand’ were just gossip…”
“But it’s said he practically runs the whole company.”
“They say he can see the future!”
Yuri shook his head.
“I’ve been advising them, yes, but those rumors are exaggerated. I’m simply a partner with equal standing alongside Irein.”
“Wow…”
“Of course, I can take credit for Irein’s enthusiasm for Eastern trade. I plan to send a man named Cheongwoon from the Ronin Corps as our envoy, working alongside Irein’s merchant guild. Someone from the East would understand the situation better.”
“Oh, that guy’s sharp.”
“This empire’s troubles aren’t just our continent’s problem. As Lord Sidhurst said, the empire is already under the sway of dark magic. They’ve even summoned horrific beings from other dimensions. If we leave it unchecked, the entire world will be swallowed by darkness.”
Yuri pounded his chest.
“We will risk our lives and do whatever it takes to stop the empire. Whether it’s the Black Army, unknown monsters, or gods from other realms—we’ll kill them all. Prepare yourselves.”
His fierce gaze silenced the room.
Then Yuri cracked a grin.
“So eat your fill today. When you’re dead, you’ll regret the meals you didn’t have.”