It was strange.
The swordsman’s rough, unrefined blade work seemed like that of a man with nothing left to lose.
His movements looked awkward, as if he was already wounded, yet he pressed on aggressively without holding back.
The Empire’s knights couldn’t keep up with his swordsmanship. They were pushed back, often killed outright before they could even mount a counterattack.
As the bodies piled up, the knights grew wary.
Yuri whistled softly.
“This guy’s not right in the head, but his skill is undeniable.”
Having someone of that caliber here was a stroke of luck.
While Yuri assessed the situation, the Empire’s knights closed in to surround the swordsman. These knights, altered by dark magic, cared little for pride or honor and didn’t insist on one-on-one duels.
Given the swordsman’s reckless disregard for defense, this was a dangerous situation.
Yuri sensed it was time for him to step in.
“Hey!”
He shouted loudly and charged forward, attacking one of the knights from behind. The knight was caught off guard, tumbling to the ground and kicking up a cloud of dust.
With two enemies now engaged, the Empire’s formation faltered.
Yuri spun his sword, Guilty, and called out to the bandaged swordsman.
“Hey, bandage guy.”
“…”
“Given the situation, how about we fight together?”
The swordsman, his face wrapped in bandages, simply stared at Yuri without replying.
Yuri didn’t wait for an answer. Judging by his sword style alone, this swordsman was anything but ordinary.
Shrugging, Yuri swung his sword.
Even a mere graze from Guilty shredded armor and sent blood flying.
“I’m Yuri Briol! Kill them!”
“Kill them both!”
Yuri deftly switched between offense and defense, protecting himself.
Meanwhile, the bandaged swordsman ignored his own wounds and targeted the enemies’ throats.
Though their methods differed, both were equally difficult opponents.
Clutching Guilty tightly, Yuri rolled across the ground to escape the enemies’ range, then sprang up and swung his sword wide. A knight who hadn’t noticed in time was cleaved in two at the thighs.
Leaning back to avoid the spray of blood, Yuri spotted two knights rushing at him.
Like twins, they raised their swords high, preparing to strike down.
Such an attack was powerful but left too many openings—and was slow.
Yuri gathered the chaotic energy within and accelerated his body. Moving forward, he stabbed each knight in the chest before they could reach him, then dodged to the side. Their swords slammed into empty air and the two knights collapsed side by side.
Blood seeped from their chests.
“Too slow.”
Yuri sneered and immediately turned around.
Attacks came from both front and back. Yuri ducked just in time as two knights, unable to stop, collided with each other.
Armor shattered, blood splattered.
As the two knights fell, Yuri slipped between them and swiftly beheaded two more who were at the same height.
Two heads flew through the air.
“Don’t attack recklessly! Surround him!”
The enemy formation shifted.
Unable to match Yuri’s skill, the knights focused on encirclement rather than direct assault.
Retreating, Yuri found himself back-to-back with the bandaged swordsman, both cornered in the same way.
“Hey, bandage guy.”
Yuri smiled wryly.
“Since it’s come to this, let’s get through this mess together. Sound good?”
The bandaged swordsman didn’t answer, but Yuri thought he heard a faint grinding of teeth. He joked,
“Careful, you’ll hurt those wounds.”
“Shut up and fight.”
For the first time, the swordsman spoke. His voice was rough and coarse—something Yuri had never heard from him before. Yet strangely, it felt familiar.
As Yuri tried to place the memory, the Empire’s knights charged again.
“Watch my back, bandage guy!”
The two covered each other’s backs, fending off the attackers.
Without worrying about what was behind them, the fight became easier.
Yuri swung his sword freely.
Strangely, he realized that despite just meeting today, he and the bandaged swordsman moved in perfect sync.
Even with their backs turned to each other, intense movement usually causes paths to cross and tangle.
But they moved as if reading each other’s minds, complementing one another flawlessly.
The knights, thrown off by their coordinated movements, failed to capitalize on their encirclement and suffered heavier losses than before.
Yuri felt a strange sense of déjà vu as he fought.
His sword, now reaching the pinnacle of its power, tore through the enemy armor.
“Hey, bandage guy.”
Yuri raised his sword and asked,
“Have we met before?”
The swordsman’s appearance and sword style were unfamiliar.
Yet somehow, he felt like someone he knew well.
The bandaged swordsman didn’t reply, only swinging his sword more fiercely. As the battle continued, his skill grew even stronger.
Together, they soon overwhelmed the Empire’s knights.
Yuri found himself admiring the swordsman’s skill.
“Phew…”
Most of the enemies were cleared. The remaining knights in the village had gathered to capture the two, so there was no need to chase them through the streets.
“Retreat!”
The Empire’s knights fled.
Yuri lowered his sword tip and caught his breath.
He wanted to finish them off, but the villagers’ safety came first.
He glanced back.
The bandaged swordsman was also resting, catching his breath. Some of the bandages had been sliced away during the fight, revealing scarred, twisted skin beneath.
Yuri smiled at him.
“We make a pretty good team, don’t we?”
“…”
“Ever thought about joining me? I pay well.”
The swordsman stared intently. Something flickered in his eyes. Yuri sensed a deadly aura and tilted his head.
“Do we have some kind of grudge between us?”
The swordsman finally spoke.
“You figure it out.”
His voice was still rough and hoarse, but familiar.
Through the gaps in the bandages, Yuri guessed that past trauma had twisted both his body and voice.
Maybe, before he was wounded, they had known each other.
“Do you know me?”
Yuri asked.
Instead of answering, the swordsman lunged with his blade.
Yuri dodged the sudden, fierce thrust and parried with Guilty.
In terms of skill, Yuri was far superior.
He thought a few clashes would force the swordsman to yield.
But the swordsman’s unique swordsmanship threw him off. Instead of defending, he countered with offense.
Yuri said,
“I don’t know anyone who fights like this…”
The swordsman leveled his blade and said,
“Your father was sealed by Cedric.”
Yuri’s eyes widened at the sudden revelation.
“What?”
“Cedric told me to tell you. So now you owe him nothing.”
“Who are you?”
Yuri’s voice dropped, his sword glowing with energy.
“Do you know me?”
The bandaged swordsman smirked, then looked up at the sky. The dark night was veiled by clouds, but the moon faintly shone through.
“The moon was beautiful back then.”
At those words, Yuri’s strength drained from his hands.
It was different.
But similar.
The atmosphere he gave off, the swordsmanship he wielded—it was all different.
Yet Yuri knew.
The one who left behind words about the beautiful moon and then disappeared—
“Laurent?”
Kori chopped wood and collected his pay.
He had used magic to drive off the dire wolves, but still, the villagers, including the chief, showed him no kindness.
“Here’s your wage.”
“It’s too little…”
“You broke the fence with your magic earlier. That money has to be deducted!”
“But thanks to me, there was no damage.”
“We could’ve caught the wolves ourselves.”
The chief gave Kori a cold look.
Kori remembered how terrified the chief had been when the dire wolves appeared and couldn’t help but feel exasperated. Still, he took the money without protest.
“Yes.”
At least it would cover Laurent’s medical bills and living expenses.
On the way back, Kori ran into the scarred mercenary again.
Every time he appeared, Kori noticed the villagers watching nervously.
Though both were mercenaries, the villagers treated Kori and the scarred man very differently.
“Hey, idiot. You caught the dire wolf, right?”
“Yes.”
“Why’d you let one live?”
The mercenary chuckled.
“If you’d spilled blood and then caught it, they might’ve feared you a little. But you did it all without a scratch, so they don’t know what to make of you.”
“But then someone gets hurt.”
“So what?”
The mercenary looked down on Kori.
“On the bright side, you got it easy.”
“Are you saying I should let others die for my own sake?”
“You really are an idiot.”
“Stop calling me that.”
“No, you’re right.”
They walked side by side.
Kori didn’t know why the man was following him, but it was more comfortable than being alone. No kids teasing him, no villagers whispering and staring.
“Where are you headed?”
“To the temple.”
“Oh, I heard you brought someone.”
“Why are you following me?”
“Just want to see.”
“What? Don’t come.”
Still, the man followed.
Kori found it annoying, but felt better when the priest, who always sneered at him, saw the mercenary and turned away without a word.
Kori checked on Laurent, who was lying down, and changed his bandages.
The mercenary didn’t even flinch at what he’d just witnessed.
“Why are you taking care of this guy?”
“Because he’s my friend.”
“Friend?”
The mercenary chuckled.
“Friends, huh? Just a bunch of similar idiots sticking together? Well, I guess.”
“…”
“You’re a fool. This guy’s already healed.”
“Huh?”
“His body’s fine, but his mind just hasn’t woken up yet. No need for him to be stuck in a place like this. And you? You’re getting played by that priest, losing your money. You’re a real pathetic idiot.”
Kori stared at the mercenary.
“Don’t you believe me?”
“How am I supposed to?”
“Alright. Then let’s make a deal.”
“What kind of deal?”
“I’ll tell you the combination of herbs that can wake him up. But when he does wake, you owe me a favor.”
Kori tensed, wary, but the mercenary just smiled—his scar twisting with the grin.
“It’s not a favor you can refuse. Why would I ask for something you can’t give?”
In the end, Kori agreed.
And sure enough, Laurent came to his senses and stood up immediately.
When the priest started yammering about needing more rest, Laurent silenced him with a single slash of his blade.
After that, Kori tried to find the mercenary, but he was nowhere to be seen.
Kori kept the fact that Yuri might come to this village from Laurent, staying put quietly.
Time passed.
And then, Yuri really did show up in the village.
Kori wanted to go to him right away.
But for some reason, he couldn’t.
“Greetings! I’ve heard much about you. It’s an honor, truly. Ha ha ha…”
“Will you be staying here today? Please, make yourself comfortable.”
“If you need anything, just say the word.”
The villagers who had once scorned and mocked Kori now acted like the kindest people in the world in front of Yuri and the knights he’d brought.
The village chief was even worse.
“Your Highness, it’s an honor to meet you. I can hardly believe it—the prince of Briole himself has come here. Is there anything uncomfortable? Please, let us know…”
They treated Kori like dirt, but before Yuri, they put on the mask of warm-hearted hosts.
Not just the adults.
Even the annoying kids who used to tease and chase Kori around turned into nothing more than mischievous little children in front of Yuri.
When Jared lifted one of them high into the air, the kid laughed like an innocent little thing.
Kori heard Yuri and the chief’s voices.
“The village is small, but it seems peaceful. Surely that’s thanks to you.”
“Oh no, it’s nothing. I’m embarrassed.”
Kori watched the scene in a daze.
The villagers all seemed like different people.
They didn’t look like the ones who had poured hatred on him before.