Hernando opened a tent and began tending to the wounded.
“Sir Hernando!”
“Ah, Chaplain.”
Jermaine, the military chaplain of the Briole army, stepped inside after opening the tent flap.
“Oh, why didn’t you say something? You’ve been struggling alone all this time.”
“Hahaha, Chaplain Jermaine, you should be resting too.”
“Not at all.”
Jermaine placed a hand over his chest and spoke earnestly.
“As a servant who spreads the will of the divine, how could I possibly use physical fatigue as an excuse? If my sacrifice can bring peace to many, I will gladly offer my body.”
“You have strong faith.”
“Of course.”
Jermaine pulled up a chair and sat beside Hernando.
“Now, knights, come to me.”
Inside the tent were not only knights but many soldiers as well. Yet Jermaine specifically called out to the knights.
“I will heal you. The will of the divine will be conveyed to you.”
But few knights approached him.
Though Jermaine was a chaplain who used sacred rites, Hernando’s general healing magic was far superior.
“It’s alright. Come here, all of you. Hahaha…”
At that, a soldier standing in the back quickly sat before Jermaine.
Jermaine’s eyebrows twitched faintly, but he began treatment without complaint.
“Where does it hurt?”
“Here…”
A white light radiated from his hands, and the soldier’s pain began to ease.
The soldier nodded in thanks and left the tent. One by one, others lined up before Jermaine.
Kori, who was assisting Hernando, brought a cup of water and placed it on Jermaine’s table.
“Chaplain, please drink some water while you work.”
“Hmm…?”
Jermaine looked at Kori, slightly surprised, then nodded.
“Yes, thank you.”
Kori sensed a subtle unease from Jermaine. Word had already spread throughout the unit that Kori was a half-orc.
“If you need anything, just say so.”
“Alright.”
Kori stepped back and watched as Hernando and Jermaine continued healing the wounded.
Each time a white light burst from their hands, the groans of those suffering from their injuries gradually quieted.
Kori saw the twisted faces slowly relax into peaceful expressions.
“This hurts so much… please, please…”
“Why did you come so late?”
“I thought it would be fine…”
“The wound will fester.”
Jermaine frowned deeply.
“Kori.”
“Yes?”
“Bring some water. Clean water.”
“Understood.”
Kori hurried off.
Because one of his legs was naturally shorter and bowed, no matter how hard he ran, his speed was slow. Still, limping, he fetched the water as quickly as he could.
Jermaine muttered a spell over the bucket Kori brought.
“This water is now holy water. It will disinfect the wound. It will sting, but bear with it.”
He poured the water gently over the injury. White foam bubbled up.
The soldier let out a suppressed groan.
“The holy water reacts with the filth in the wound.”
“It’s so painful…”
“Endure it.”
“Ugh…”
“Kori, wipe it once.”
“Yes.”
Kori brought a clean towel and wiped the wound.
Light radiated again from Jermaine’s hands, and the soldier’s face gradually relaxed.
“All done. Next.”
Jermaine wiped the sweat from his brow.
Hernando and Jermaine continued healing the wounded. Compared to Hernando’s calm demeanor, Jermaine looked visibly exhausted.
Noticing Kori’s gaze, Jermaine spoke.
“That’s because Sir Hernando is an exceptional mage. Don’t read too much into it.”
“Oh, no. If there’s anything I can do to help, just say.”
“Some cool water, please.”
Jermaine drank a cup of water and resumed his sacred rites.
Thanks to their swift response, there were no serious casualties.
Once the situation settled, Jermaine stood up. His chaplain’s robes were soaked through.
“Thank goodness it ended at this level.”
“The war hasn’t even started yet.”
“It will be brutal. I’m already worried. May the divine watch over us…”
“What about you, Kori?”
“I’ll clean up and then leave.”
“Do it tomorrow. Tomorrow.”
The three stepped out of the tent.
“Hmm…”
Though night had deepened, the area around the barracks was still brightly lit.
Soldiers sat around a large fire in the center.
Soon, an unknown soldier began playing a lute and singing.
His voice was surprisingly good.
“This is what life is all about.”
Hernando smiled softly.
Kori scanned the faces of the people one by one.
Some were the wounded he had seen in the infirmary. Their faces, once twisted in pain, now smiled as if free of worry.
Watching this, Kori felt a strange emotion.
“These are people heading to the battlefield, yet right now, they’re smiling like that.”
Hernando spread his hands wide.
From the tips of his ten fingers, star-like beams of light curled and rose into the sky.
“Wow…”
Kori’s eyes widened.
The rays Hernando created ascended into the night sky above the star-studded plains, undulating like waves.
The spectacle of light was unlike anything Kori had ever seen.
It burst like fireworks, took the shapes of animals, and frolicked among themselves.
Shifting colors from red to green, then green to blue, the dazzling display dazzled the eyes.
The soldier’s singing grew even brighter.
All who looked up saw a kaleidoscope of colors reflected in their eyes.
Kori stepped back and took in the entire scene.
Magic.
It came to Kori.
Suddenly, he felt as if this moment was the only time it could happen.
Without thinking, he spoke. Normally, he wouldn’t have said such a thing.
“Sir Hernando.”
“Hm?”
“Please teach me magic.”
As he said this, Kori looked up at Hernando from beneath his hood.
Though it was his own voice, it felt as if he hadn’t spoken it himself.
It all seemed unreal.
Hernando’s face tilted slightly as he looked down at him.
Aside from Yuri, Hernando was the only one who didn’t frown at Kori.
Had Hernando been offended by such a bold request? Would he suddenly change his attitude?
But Kori wasn’t afraid of that.
Behind Hernando’s face, a radiant light shone even more brilliantly.
“This is…”
Hernando said softly.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen this.”
“Really?”
“Not you.”
Hernando’s expression was softer than ever.
He reached a hand inside his hood.
Kori was startled. Hernando gently stroked his cheek—something no one else dared to touch.
“Everyone has a destiny given to them.”
“Destiny?”
“Yes. But I lost the ability to see it. Because of someone.”
His words were mysterious.
“But I can see it in you. Even though he’s right there.”
“I don’t understand.”
“It means a destiny that wasn’t originally yours has come to you like a lie. If so, should we even call it destiny?”
Hernando smiled and asked.
“Kori, why do you suddenly want to learn magic?”
“Well…”
He could have mentioned Yuri’s name, but he didn’t want to.
Kori turned his head and looked at the people gathered around the campfire.
“Because people are smiling.”
Those who had suffered from wounds were now at peace. Those heading to the battlefield were smiling.
He envied the power of magic that created a radiance more beautiful than the stars.
“I see.”
Hernando nodded. Just in case, Kori added,
“Oh, and the prince recommended it too.”
“Ah, I see.”
Hernando laughed aloud.
Though he often joked, Kori had never seen him laugh so heartily.
When the laughter died down, Hernando muttered.
“A half-orc who uses magic…”
Kori shrank back.
Hernando placed a hand on his shoulder.
“That’s truly something remarkable.”
It was the first time Kori had heard such words.
He quietly pulled his hood further over his head.
His mouth twitched. Confused by the involuntary movement of his facial muscles, he tilted his head, then saw the other soldiers’ faces and realized it was a smile.
A smile he had never made before.
The Briole army marched steadily toward Valshard.
From time to time, shadows of orcs appeared in the distance, but they did not attack directly.
As they moved away from the border, unfamiliar landscapes began to appear.
“What’s that?”
“What are they riding?”
Orcs appeared riding strange, unidentified beasts.
“Those are Komodo Drakes.”
A voice answered suddenly, and a soldier turned around.
A boy with black hair stood with his arms crossed.
“Prince?”
This unique prince often appeared suddenly among the soldiers.
If he were another noble, they would have been terrified, but this prince was not authoritarian, so they felt at ease around him.
“They’re monsters orcs ride instead of horses.”
“They’re huge.”
“There aren’t many, so you don’t see them often. But if you meet one, run. Their bite causes wounds that rot away. Plus, their skin is so tough that only blades can cut it.”
“I see. You know a lot, Your Highness.”
“It’s all in the books.”
“I’ve never seen you reading books…”
“I prefer to read in secret.”
The Komodo Drakes were two to three times the size of an orc, crawling on all fours like giant lizards. Though bulky and seemingly slow, once they started running, their legs moved so fast they were barely visible.
Orc cavalry scouting the Briole army vanished beyond the horizon in an instant.
“Next time, we should shoot one down with arrows.”
“They’re too far away to hit.”
“Still, it’s annoying.”
Yuri whistled. A black horse trotted up beside him.
He mounted and took the lead.
The knights, including Raymond, guarded the front.
“I’ve heard.”
“Pardon?”
Jared tilted his head in confusion. Yuri continued.
“Today’s lunch is meat soup flavored with jerky.”
“Oh, uh…”
“They coordinated with the supply unit and managed to open a whole cart of it.”
“That’s good news.”
“You can say it’s thanks to my foresight in predicting the orc ambush.”
“Ah, yes. We’re proud to have you, Your Highness.”
“Every time you take a bite, make sure to salute in my direction.”
They steadily advanced toward Valshad. It looked like they’d arrive by evening.
“I’ve heard some nations have already reached Valshad.”
“Already?”
“They say they came without any trouble.”
“That’s fortunate.”
The allied forces were gathering at Valshad from various routes.
Briol, bordering the grasslands, was relatively close, but delays had occurred due to several incidents.
“We’ll rest here for a bit.”
The Briol troops halted to prepare lunch.
From a distance, two mounted knights approached.
By the time they got closer, everyone in the Briol army could see them.
Yuri glanced at their attire while stirring her food tray. The dark armor suggested they were from the Empire.
“Hey.”
Yuri nudged a nearby soldier.
“Y-yes?”
Startled, he jumped to his feet.
He’d been uneasy eating beside Yuri, feeling the pressure.
“Why so jumpy?”
“N-nothing!”
“Are you new? Just enlisted?”
“Y-yes…”
“Good. See those two knights coming this way?”
“Yes, yes.”
“Go ask them what they want.”
“Me?”
“Yes.”
“I-I don’t think I’m suited for such an important task…”
“It’s not important at all.”
“Still, I mean…”
Yuri looked at the senior soldier beside the recruit. He immediately scolded him.
“How dare you refuse when the prince himself asks?”
“N-no!”
“Stop stalling. So, will you do it or not?”
“I-I will.”
The recruit’s eyes darted nervously. Yuri smiled and patted his shoulder.
“Just ask what they need. No need to be so scared.”
“N-no.”
“Good. Now go.”
“Y-yes…”
Hesitant at first, the soldier finally got up and, pushed by the sharp gazes of Yuri and the senior, hurried off.
Yuri watched him go while eating her meat soup.
After a while, the soldier reached the knights and spoke to them.
The two knights glanced occasionally in Yuri’s direction.
“The soup’s too salty.”
Yuri finished her tray and handed it off to a nearby soldier.
“You return it.”
“Yes.”
The soldier was coming back.
Yuri clanged her sword as she went to meet him. Laurent and Jared quickly followed.
“Which country do you think they’re from?”
“Probably the Empire.”
Yuri was familiar with the Empire’s armor style. She’d fought countless battles in her past life and knew their weak points.
Soon, the soldier returned, panting.
“They’re knights of the Empire. They came to warn us that orc groups have been spotted near Valshad.”
“How kind of them.”
Yuri nodded.
“Traveling in pairs is risky. They must be confident in their skills.”
“But since they came all this way, we should meet them.”
“Of course.”
The three knights all turned their gaze to the soldier. Catching his breath, he asked,
“Sh-should I go back?”
His eyes looked pitiful. Yuri just waved him off.
“No need. Good work.”
Instead of sending the soldier back, Yuri waved her arm toward the two knights.
“You two, wave back quickly. Tell them to come over.”
“What? That’s…”
Jared shook his head, but Laurent immediately copied Yuri.
“Why do you follow her so quickly, Sir Laurent?”
“Come on, Sir Jared, hurry up.”
“Oh my…”
In the end, all three enthusiastically waved at the Empire knights.
Fortunately, the message seemed to get through, and the two knights rode toward their camp.
They dismounted, and one tucked his helmet under his arm, revealing his face.
“Greetings. I am Rayfio Artem, a knight of the Empire and the second son of Count Zenon.”
He bowed to Laurent.
Laurent stepped back, flustered.
“N-no, it’s not me…”
Rayfio’s gaze shifted to Yuri, who introduced herself.
“I am Yuri Briol, commander of the Briol army and the third prince.”
“Oh, my apologies.”
His eyes widened as he bowed deeply to her.
“I did not expect the prince himself to welcome us.”
“You came all this way for us. This is the least we can do.”
“Thank you for your hospitality.”
“Did you arrive at Valshad first?”
“Yes. The Empire is sending multiple units. We are the vanguard.”
Rayfio explained recent events.
Orc forces had begun appearing near Valshad, and some troops from the nations that arrived earlier had been killed by them.
“So we’re scouting the area and warning the allied forces.”
“Thank you for your hard work.”
Yuri acknowledged their efforts.
Though the Empire was technically an enemy, the emperor had yet to reveal any ambitions. There was no need to show hostility toward ordinary knights.
“And the gentleman over there…?”
“Oh…”
Rayfio glanced back. The knight who had been standing apart removed his helmet.
He was a middle-aged man with graying hair and a lined face.
Yuri’s eyes widened.
“I apologize for not greeting you sooner. I am not in a position to be proud right now…”
His face was unforgettable.
No different now than before.
She could almost hear his voice echoing in her ears from her past life.
Suppressing her emotions, Yuri nodded.
“Graham, who has lost his status as a knight, humbly salutes the third prince of Briol.”
If the Empire’s princess, Yekaterina, was Yuri’s sin,
then this man before her was her shame.
Graham Hart.
A man more upright and knightly than anyone else, now serving in white robes as a volunteer soldier.