Side Story: Yuri’s Runaway Ruckus! (11)

“I’ll take him in and train him properly.”

“Thank you…”

Yuri gently patted Mamago, who was roughly wrapped in bandages.

At the moment, he was undergoing “sheath training.” Since Mamago refused to stay in a scabbard, he needed to get used to restraint.

At first, he resisted fiercely, but gradually he accepted Yuri’s touch, and now his aggression had noticeably diminished.

Tatago smiled warmly.

“I was worried about Mamago, but thanks to you, I can rest easy.”

“Yes, sir.”

“It feels like I’m entrusting both my children to you—Marie Rose and Mamago. I’m counting on you to take good care of them.”

“Don’t worry, father-in-law.”

“Hahaha…”

Yuri gave Mamago another reassuring pat.

“He’s going to become a fine sword.”

Mamago no longer resisted Yuri’s touch. On the contrary, he even lightly vibrated his blade as if submitting to him.

“By the way, does this guy really interpret that well?”

“Mamago is the best interpreter in the world. I made him, but he’s an artifact beyond his time.”

“Oh…”

“Want to see a demonstration?”

“Is that possible?”

“Come here.”

Tatago began rummaging through a pile of papers on the table.

Yuri picked up one and skimmed it. It looked like a drawing, or maybe just a rough scribble. He couldn’t make heads or tails of it.

“To think such a script exists… What era could this be from?”

“It’s the continent’s common language.”

“Excuse me?”

“I have terrible handwriting.”

“Sorry about that.”

Tatago pulled out a crystal orb. As he infused it with magic, colors shimmered on its surface, and an elderly man in unfamiliar traditional clothing appeared inside.

“This man is a descendant of a northern minority tribe and can speak an ancient language. The youth of this tribe all learn the continent’s common tongue, so this language will soon become obsolete. Now, listen.”

A strange language flowed from the old man’s mouth inside the orb.

Yuri couldn’t understand a word. At first listen, it sounded like nonsense—something like “shipa shipa gaenoms pa.”

“Is he cursing?”

“Of course not. Now, give Mamago some mana.”

Yuri gripped Mamago. The sword absorbed his mana, then began humming as it started interpreting the old man’s words.

[The warrior does not betray loyalty. The warrior does not oppress the weak. The warrior does not attack those who have laid down their arms. The warrior does not submit to injustice…]

Unlike Mamago’s usual noisy chatter, his voice was calm and steady.

“Mamago can replicate the speaker’s tone and emotions perfectly. When interpreting, his own self steps back, and only the translation takes priority.”

Mamago’s voice was low, like the old man’s inside the orb.

[…The warrior protects the powerless. By the gods, we swear to prove our honor through this warrior’s code.]

Yuri was impressed not only by Mamago’s interpreting skills but also by the “Warrior’s Code” conveyed through the old man’s words.

“What is that man talking about?”

“That tribe is a warrior society that values honor above all else. These are the seven commandments they guard as if their lives depend on them.”

“Briol has his own sense of honor, but compared to them, it’s lacking.”

“If you want to learn more about warriors, read the novels out there. There’s a popular series inspired by them.”

“What’s it called?”

Tatago whispered something into Yuri’s ear.

“That’s an odd title. I’ll have to read it sometime.”

“Good. Anyway, my help ends here.”

Yuri nodded.

“Thank you so much. I don’t know how to repay you…”

“Make Marie Rose happy. That’s thanks enough.”

“Tatago…”

Yuri reached out politely to shake his hand, then stepped forward and embraced him.

“I’ll do my best!”

“Haha, I believe you.”

With that, Yuri acquired an artifact that allowed him to communicate with the inhabitants of the New Continent.

---

After passing through the Small Nations Alliance and crossing the border into Bursen, Yuri raced straight to the coast and arrived in Orphen.

But then he heard unexpected news.

“What? The Bursen branch of the Azure Star Sect has been disbanded?”

“Yes.”

“Why on earth?”

“Well…”

When Yuri and his party arrived, the Azure Star Sect building was completely empty.

A passing local explained:

“They all fell ill one after another and ended up bedridden. Everyone says they’re sick.”

“Even the sect officials?”

“At first, it was the instructors, then later the officials too…”

The resident shook his head vigorously.

“There’s a widespread rumor it’s an epidemic. Even the priests from the temple came, but they couldn’t cure it.”

“A disease the temple can’t heal…”

As Yuri sent the resident away, he glanced back. Laurent and Jared nodded in agreement.

“It looks like that.”

“Seems so.”

“Then let’s find the chief instructor in charge of the Bursen branch.”

The chief instructor was a former knight named Greenbell.

His house, tucked away in a corner of Orphen, was shabby. In the yard stood a wooden training dummy wrapped in tough leather.

It had been struck so many times that its face was dented into a fist shape.

“Greenbell, are you in there?”

No answer came.

Yuri scanned the area. A strange aura lingered. It was unmistakably the dark magic he had grown sick of long ago.

Convinced, Yuri entered the realm of the soul.

In the blinding vision, he spotted a dark tendril stretching up toward the sky.

“Greenbell is inside. He seems unconscious. Bring him out.”

“Yes.”

Laurent and Jared opened the door, went inside, and carried Greenbell out.

He was dazed, barely able to open his eyes.

“Greenbell.”

“Ugh…ugh…”

“Are you alright?”

“Ugh…”

Seeing Greenbell in pain, Yuri looked back up.

The dark tendril binding him stretched far beyond the horizon.

“Clearly black magic.”

What he feared had come true.

Yuri sighed.

“I wanted to live quietly, but the world won’t leave me be.”

He then lifted Mamago from his waist and began unwrapping the bandages.

Since losing Guilty, he had been using an ordinary military iron sword. Weapons no longer held much meaning for him.

But now, holding a treasured sword like Mamago again, the feeling was different.

You have to use good tools.

“This fits perfectly.”

[Are you seriously going to kill that man? Don’t! I don’t want to be stained with blood!]

“You’ll get used to it, slowly.”

[Stop!]

As Yuri activated his mana method, the soul-cleaving energy swirled around him and filled Mamago.

[Th-this…!]

It was a power Mamago had never felt before.

“Mamago, you’re going to be a legendary blade.”

[Aah…!]

Yuri’s soul-cleaving strike, which could cut through anything, embodied the ultimate purpose of a sword. Moreover, Yuri’s mana was purer and sharper than any knight on the continent.

Mamago felt an indescribable thrill surge through his entire being.

He spoke as if intoxicated.

[Yuri Briol!]

“Mamago.”

[What will you cut with me?]

“You’re my sword. You’ll see what I see.”

Yuri stared at the darkness eating away at Greenbell’s body.

There was nothing he couldn’t cut.

Soul Cleave.

Even the darkness born from human sorrow and screams could not evade his blade.

Mamago realized something.

This man was no ordinary human.

For the first time since awakening by Tatago, Mamago recognized someone as his master.

[Good. I acknowledge you as my master. Now, swing me freely!]

Yuri smiled.

He had gained a new comrade. Guilty, broken and displayed in the Hwangseong Museum, would surely be pleased.

“There really are no bad swords in this world.”

Yuri swung Mamago.

His sword energy, honed to perfection, was neither flashy nor grandiose. It was so thin and sharp it was almost invisible.

But it cut through everything.

The black magic binding Greenbell was cleanly severed.

The tendrils of the dark magic, now without a target, flared wildly before retreating beyond the sea.

But Yuri wasn’t about to let them go so easily.

Surrounded by the energy of his soul-cleaving strike, he grasped the dark tendrils. He faintly sensed the presence of the black mage beyond.

Yuri pierced the tendrils with Mamago and, using chaotic power, reversed a mind-shattering vision that no human could endure. The encounter with Krupfuk in the void had been a reference.

A deathlike scream echoed in his head.

The dark magic tendrils soon lost form and vanished.

“What did you do?”

“I sent it back. The one who cast the black magic must have taken damage.”

“So…”

“Greenbell is safe.”

Color began returning to Greenbell’s pale face as he half-collapsed.

“It really was black magic.”

“Yes.”

Yuri paused, then spoke.

“The situation is urgent, so we need to split up. I’ll go meet the king of Bursen. Laurent, take that Buscolum fellow with you.”

“Understood.”

“Jared, gather the officials affected by the black magic and inform the temple that black magic has appeared.”

“Do you think the temple can help?”

“Right. Just say my name, and they’ll take action immediately.”

“Hmm, understood.”

“And one last thing…”

Yuri gazed out toward the distant Orphen Sea as she spoke.

“I’m calling in the Vengeance Knights.”

---

Though Jose was the lord of Orphen, he resided in the capital of Bursen, so his vassals handled affairs in his stead. Jared met with one of these officials to inform him about the dark magic and request assistance.

Orphen’s forces were mobilized without delay.

Jared, accompanied by soldiers, transported the officials of the Shincheon Order to the Order’s training grounds and laid them down.

Just like Greenbell, they were all losing consciousness and slipping toward death without any clear symptoms.

Fortunately, Greenbell, who had recovered somewhat, helped tend to the others.

“Sir Jared, do you think they’ll all recover?”

“Of course.”

“Thank you so much…”

Though Jared answered confidently, inwardly he was uneasy.

To dispel the dark magic, Yuri’s help was essential.

But she had already left for the capital.

Though she had instructed them to seek aid from the temple, Jared doubted whether the priests could truly remove the dark magic.

Meanwhile, the officials’ conditions worsened. Some even convulsed, foaming at the mouth.

A soldier asked anxiously, “Sir Jared! What should we do?”

“F-for now, keep them warm and calm them down!”

“Yes, sir!”

As Jared desperately cared for the officials, the sun dipped below the horizon and night fell.

The groans of the dying filled the Shincheon Order’s grounds.

There was no sign of improvement.

“Ugh…”

Jared wiped the sweat from his brow.

Then, at eerily regular intervals, a soft knocking echoed: tap, tap, tap.

Someone had come to the Shincheon Order.

“Who is it?”

“I’ll check.”

“No, I’ll go.”

Jared walked to the front gate.

“Who’s there?”

He opened the door without suspicion, but immediately stepped back in surprise.

Standing outside were figures dressed in bizarre attire.

“W-who are you…?”

They wore deep hoods and strange masks.

The round eyeholes were covered with translucent glass, and the mouthpieces jutted out like bird beaks, with only small breathing holes.

Their robes bulged oddly here and there, as if concealing unknown tools.

Most strikingly, everything was pitch black.

Jared was taken aback by the unfamiliar sight.

“Are you Sir Jared?”

A hoarse voice came from the figure at the front—a voice as grim as their appearance.

“Y-yes?”

“We have come in response to your summons.”

“My summons?”

Jared pulled something from his pocket, his hand instinctively gripping the hilt of his sword.

But the figure raised something unexpected.

A cross—the symbol of the temple.

“We are the Pope’s direct Anti-Dark Magic Legion, the Exorcist Battalion. This is the First Exorcist Unit, and I am Antianus, its captain. It’s an honor to meet you…”

Jared’s voice trembled as he spoke.

“W-what exactly is that?”

“It’s understandable you don’t know. This unit was secretly established by the Pope at the suggestion of His Highness Yuri Briole. It exists solely to combat dark magic.”

“Impossible…”

“If those who follow dark magic appear again, you will surely meet us.”

Antianus’s gaze passed over Jared and landed on the groaning officials of the Shincheon Order.

The eyes behind his mask’s glass glinted coldly.

“And, regrettably, it seems such an enemy has already arrived.”