“Why is it always me…?”
Jared glanced over at Hernando and Laurent sitting beside him.
“…”
They were hardly the type to be interested in women. Jared quickly understood.
“I’ll be careful.”
Still, his gaze wandered around the room just like Bursen’s.
Yuri sighed. Their rehabilitation was clearly insufficient.
Meanwhile, Marie-Rose approached the Briol table.
“You do drink, don’t you?”
“Of course.”
“This is a rare wine.”
She leaned in toward Yuri, tilting the bottle. The deep red liquid filled the rounded glass.
Her hair, the same shade as the wine, swayed gently by his ear.
“Please, enjoy it.”
Her face drew close to his, a sly smile playing on her lips as her breath brushed against his cheek.
“Thank you.”
But Yuri didn’t respond.
He had never been interested in Marie-Rose to begin with. What occupied his mind was the war looming ahead.
Valshard, like Gide, was merely a forward supply base—not a real fighting force.
For Yuri, the knights of Bursen, who would fight alongside him, were far more important.
Finishing his thought, Yuri spoke up.
“Bursen, huh…”
His voice carried across the table.
“Bursen. I’ve heard the name a few times. Ha ha ha…”
The sudden mention caught the attention of the Bursen party. Tension rippled through the air.
Yuri savored the brief silence, swirling his wine glass.
“Country bumpkins who don’t even know good wine…”
Expressions shifted.
Because Bursen was located on the edge of the continent, they had long been mocked by other nations as backwater hicks with a fishy smell.
Was the third prince of Briol really a wild brat, or was this an intentional insult?
The knights of Bursen were anything but gentle.
Just as they rose from their seats—
Yuri continued.
“It’s embarrassing for someone with taste like me to say this…”
The knights stiffened, their legs tensing.
The phrase “country bumpkins who don’t know good wine” wasn’t about Bursen—it was about himself.
Yuri went on.
“Still, personally, I find the rum made in Bursen far better than wine. It’s more manly, you could say. Ha ha ha.”
The Bursen knights sat back down.
It was a classic social tactic—start with a push, then subtly pull them in.
Sure enough, their hearts began to warm toward the young third prince.
Briol was known as a land of knights, and it seemed the bold spirit of enjoying rum still lingered.
But that was premature comfort.
“However,”
Yuri added,
“The people there leave much to be desired. Heh heh heh…”
The sudden insult fell like a stone.
Marie-Rose’s mouth opened in surprise, and the Bursen knights froze, unsure when to react.
One of them finally shouted.
“Hey!”
His gaze was sharp.
“Are you out of your mind?!”
Yuri was taken aback by the unfamiliar accent.
He knew some dialects remained in parts of Bursen, but this was the first time he’d actually heard one.
The commander leading the unit intervened.
“Calm down.”
“Sir, the prince of Briol has insulted us.”
“Stay cool-headed.”
The commander’s expression was relaxed.
“Passion in the heart, coolness in the head—that’s Bursen.”
“Grrr… My apologies.”
Yuri studied him.
Nobles thrown into tense situations with foreign troops tend to get edgy. Yet this man maintained his composure despite Yuri’s insult.
“The third prince’s provocative words are… interesting.”
The commander stood. Though not tall, he was solidly built.
He looked over his men.
“There are two possibilities. One: as rumored, the third prince of Briol is a wild brat who doesn’t understand the situation and picked a fight with our brave Bursen knights.”
“Th-That can’t be…!”
“If that’s the case, our answer is simple: we teach him a lesson.”
The Bursen knights clenched their fists, eager to respond.
“And the second possibility: with the alliance about to form, this is a test to gauge the Bursen knights.”
“A test? How dare they…!”
“This is a war for survival. It’s natural to verify if your allies are trustworthy. And again, our answer is only one.”
“Our answer…?”
The commander turned to Yuri with a sly smile.
“To prove our strength ourselves.”
In an instant, a challenge was set.
Marie-Rose’s eyes sparkled as she watched, pouring herself more wine and taking a sip.
“I’ll guide you to the training grounds.”
She seemed like an audience member eagerly awaiting a show.
Yuri stood and introduced himself to Bursen.
“I am Yuri Briol, third prince of Briol and commander of the Briol army.”
“I’m Jonathan Eagle, Count of Kril, captain of the Shark Knights, and current commander of the Bursen forces.”
“Do you expect an apology for your rudeness?”
“No need. You just need to prove your prince wrong.”
“A man’s answer.”
“That’s Bursen.”
Yuri glanced at Laurent and Jared. Laurent’s eyes gleamed; Jared looked annoyed.
“Fine. I’ll send these two out.”
“Your Highness…”
“Dangerous tasks go to subordinates. That’s Briol.”
“Huh?”
Yuri helped Laurent and Jared to their feet.
“Two at a time, sparring each other should be enough.”
Marie-Rose led them to an open space inside the castle.
“Here’s fine.”
A maid stood beside her, holding a tray of fruit and wine.
Marie-Rose swirled her wine glass, thoroughly enjoying the sudden event.
“Prince Yuri?”
“Yes?”
“Did you really pick a fight on purpose? To test Bursen’s strength?”
“Let’s just say I did.”
“Wow, the world of men. They clash head-on to earn each other’s respect.”
“You can’t have unreliable allies at your side, or you’ll die on the battlefield.”
“Impressive. Fascinating.”
Marie-Rose laughed, downing more wine.
Her drinking like water suggested a possible dependence.
Yuri looked away.
Three Bursen knights caught his eye.
There was a reason he was picking on Bursen.
Two of them would become renowned knights across the continent.
And one of those two would rise beyond mere fame to claim a seat among the Ten Strong.
The Ten Strong—the mere mention of their name was a deterrent to war.
A public certification of being among the continent’s mightiest.
Building connections with such promising figures would be a great asset in the future.
“A man’s friendship often begins with a fight.”
Yuri muttered with a smirk.
Meanwhile, Laurent faced off against one of the Bursen knights.
“I’m Laurent.”
“Proin.”
The knight who had shouted earlier.
Now his accent was calm; apparently, the dialect only surfaced when he was agitated.
“Laurent, huh? I’ve heard the name plenty. But I won’t go easy on you.”
Laurent nodded.
“I’ll give it my all.”
No longer the awkward youth who followed Yuri around with shining eyes, Laurent was a boy knight who had already made a name for himself, winning countless sword tournaments.
He was recognized as a prodigy across the continent.
As Laurent drew his sword, a steady energy flowed from his arm into the blade.
Watching, Yuri placed a hand on Jared’s shoulder.
“Watch closely.”
“Yes.”
Jared’s eyes darted rapidly.
After meeting monsters like Yuri and Laurent, he’d realized his own talents were nothing special. So he worked hard not to fall behind.
Jared focused intently on Laurent’s movements.
“Impressive…”
Laurent was a knight who truly fit the word.
His mana was calm, his stance perfect, and his defensive forms textbook examples against approaching foes.
Proin, on the other hand, was the opposite.
He dangled his sword loosely, leaning forward and glaring like a wolf stalking prey.
“You’ve learned well.”
Proin circled Laurent, muttering.
“Young masters are all like this.”
Suddenly, Proin lunged.
His speed was incredible.
Laurent didn’t rush. He blocked the strike and angled his blade to threaten Proin’s neck.
“Predictable!”
Proin dropped low as if waiting for this, spinning like an acrobat to strike at Laurent’s lower body.
Or at least, he tried.
He couldn’t advance further.
Laurent’s blade followed, still aimed at his neck.
“…”
Proin froze, looking up at Laurent.
The outcome was clear.
Laurent calmly sheathed his sword.
“Shall we go again?”
Yuri whistled softly.
“Precise.”
Such unorthodox attacks could throw off an opponent.
But Laurent remained unshaken.
Even when Proin suddenly crouched and spun, Laurent had carefully calculated their exchanges and was confident his attack would land first.
It made it look as if Laurent stood still while Proin flailed desperately—a strangely comical sight.
“Damn…”
Proin stepped back.
His choice wasn’t bad. Knights who fought with orthodox swords often fell to unorthodox opponents.
They lacked the talent to adapt, so their forms became rigid.
But Laurent wasn’t that kind of knight. He didn’t need tricks; he walked the straight path.
Unfazed by distractions, choosing only the right answer, he was like an unbreakable wall.
“Sir Laurent, shall we go again?”
“Yes.”
Proin’s demeanor had grown noticeably more respectful.
Bursen and his group also began watching the sparring match with greater seriousness.
The two men took up their swords once more.
Proin tried to create openings with flashy, elaborate moves.
But Laurent met each attempt calmly, as if he already knew every trick.
Every move was blocked.
Eventually, Proin conceded defeat.
“I’ve lost.”
Laurent sheathed his sword and bowed politely.
Yuri applauded, followed by Marie-Rose’s enthusiastic clapping, and Bursen’s group also accepted the outcome, cheering for Laurent.
Jonathan spoke up.
“As expected of Briol. They say it’s the land of knights, and their skill is truly impressive.”
Yuri responded modestly.
“You’re flattering us. Laurent’s just exceptionally talented. Without him and me, it’s a mess.”
“I see.”
“Surely Bursen won’t back down just like that?”
“Of course not. He can’t afford to lose twice in a row. Jose, you’re up.”
“Yes, sir.”
The knight who stepped forward in Proin’s place was massive. Just by looking at him, you could tell he possessed incredible strength.
He glared at Jared, slinging a huge sword over his shoulder.
Yuri’s face brightened noticeably when Jose appeared.
Jose Aratur.
He was destined to become one of the Ten Great Knights in the future.
“Jose, huh? Just looking at him, you can tell he’s strong. His presence alone is intimidating.”
Jonathan smiled with satisfaction.
“Actually, Proin was the weakest among us. Jose is the strongest knight in our unit. He’s the one aiming to be Bursen’s top warrior.”
“Impressive. It’s an honor to have such a knight step forward. Let’s see what Bursen’s all about—give it your all.”
“Absolutely.”
“Alright, Jared.”
“Yes?”
“Go.”
Jared looked at Yuri.
“Wait, just a moment…”
He tried to step back, but Yuri immediately pushed him forward.
“No…”
Something felt off.
Maybe it was because of the earlier defeat. Jose’s eyes burned with fierce determination. You could feel his resolve to win at all costs.
Even without clashing swords, Jared could sense it.
This was bad.
“Uh, this is…”
“Begin.”
The duel started.
Jose was a monster—an orc’s brute strength combined with human technique. He freely mixed swordplay with hand-to-hand combat, unconstrained by any style.
This was a far cry from the clean exchanges before; it was a brutal brawl.
Jared’s skills were excellent, but they weren’t enough to overcome Jose’s raw power.
He fought desperately, but the difference in strength was overwhelming, and he was slammed across the ground again and again.
“Huff… huff…”
“That’s enough.”
Jared sat down on the floor, bleeding from his nose.
Jose gave a thumbs-up.
“For someone so young, that was impressive. To hold out this long against me—Briol truly is the land of knights.”
“…”
Jared wiped his nose and stood up, a thick smear of blood on the back of his hand.
“Thanks to you, I’ve learned a lot.”
Jonathan applauded.
“Sir Jared, was it? That was a great match. Losing to Jose isn’t something to be ashamed of. It’s been a while since I’ve seen someone put up such a fight. You lost, but you fought well.”
“Thank you…”
Jared wasn’t sure whether to feel good or bad about being praised after rolling around on the ground so embarrassingly.
In any case, that was how the contest between Briol and Bursen came to an end.
“One win each…”
Yuri stepped forward and extended her hand to Jonathan.
“A draw, then.”
“A draw.”
They shook hands.
Having proven they were skilled enough to watch each other’s backs on the battlefield, they were now comrades.
Marie-Rose waved her hand, and the words “Alliance of Brothers” appeared in the air.
“That was amazing! Wow!”
Marie-Rose was thrilled.
The future allied forces might very well be fighting under her encouragement.
Yuri looked at Marie-Rose.
“The entertainment’s over. Shall we get down to business?”
“Business, huh? Sounds good. There are many kinds of work. Would you like to come to my office?”
As Marie-Rose gestured, Jonathan cut in.
“Ha ha, mind if I come along?”
“Well…”
Marie-Rose gave him a quick glare but then nodded.
“Alright.”