The allied forces marched toward the hills beyond the lake, where a massive orc settlement was said to be located.
Whispers about Briol rippled through the ranks.
He had led the vanguard in the last battle and won the scouting competition. He was delivering the best results in the entire alliance army.
Envy and suspicion followed in his wake.
“Your Highness, other nations are keeping a close eye on you lately.”
“What are you talking about?”
“They say you eat the same food as the soldiers…”
“If they say that again, bring them to me.”
“Understood.”
“Anyway…”
Yuri led Briol’s knights ahead, scouting the path for the allied forces.
From time to time, groups of orc cavalry kept watch on their movements. Each time, Yuri led the knights in pursuit.
To slow down the Komodo Drakes—creatures almost as fast as horses—the knights fired arrows at their legs.
“This is getting tiresome.”
Yuri slung his bloodstained sword over his shoulder.
“These creatures just keep lingering.”
“I’m glad there are so many to kill.”
“Jared, you’ve gotten rougher. You’re finally starting to look like a proper knight.”
“Learned from someone like you.”
Jared chuckled. They had just finished off a group of orc scouts.
“I’m getting used to fighting orcs now.”
Thanks to Yuri’s uncanny ability to spot orcs, Briol’s knights kept gaining battle experience.
“That necklace is quite a remarkable item.”
“Maybe…”
Jared glanced at the gem in Yuri’s hand.
“But what did that shaman say back then?”
“I don’t know.”
“He was unpleasant enough to leave an impression.”
When collecting orc ears on Ragna’s orders, Yuri had encountered a group led by an orc shaman.
The moment they saw the knights, the orcs tried to flee, but when Yuri infused mana into the gem, they went berserk and charged.
The orc shaman, however, was different. He stepped back, resisting the power of the red gem.
The shaman’s eyes were covered with black cloth, yet he shouted something toward Yuri’s direction.
It was as if he knew something about the gem.
But there was no way Yuri could understand what he said.
“You should’ve asked Kori properly back then.”
“He didn’t know much.”
“He was just making weird noises…”
“Hmph, maybe I should’ve spared him.”
“He’s a shaman. Better to kill him.”
When the orc shaman tried to cast a spell, Yuri immediately beheaded him.
“Should I learn orcish…”
Yuri recalled his conversation with Kori.
‘Akuak? Akuak means black, but that alone doesn’t tell us much.’
‘He said something after Akuak, but I can’t remember.’
‘Should I come along next time?’
‘No, it’s too dangerous.’
Kori had grown braver.
Shaking off his thoughts, Yuri looked away.
“And…”
One orc was still sitting up.
Not dead yet.
The creature trembled violently and shouted at Yuri at the top of its lungs.
“Akuakkai! Akuakkai!”
“Akuak?”
That word sounded familiar.
“You… that means…”
The orc kept yelling at Yuri.
“Akuakkai!”
“That’s it!”
Yuri charged forward and kicked the orc’s jaw. The orc stuck out its tongue and passed out.
“Hey, don’t choke on your tongue.”
Jared swallowed a curse and shoved his hand into the orc’s mouth.
“What about the Komodo Drakes?”
“Kill them.”
They had tried to use the Komodo Drakes, but they never obeyed humans. Letting them go would only send them back to the orcs, so they killed any they captured.
“We’ll take this one with us. I was curious, so this works out.”
The captured orc was small enough to ride on a horse.
Yuri loaded the creature and returned to Briol’s camp, which was still on the march.
“Kori.”
“Yes!”
Kori appeared immediately, riding a small pony.
“Shall I translate?”
“Yes.”
“Leave it to me.”
Kori had brightened considerably while learning magic from Hernando.
“First…”
All the orcs who met Kori reacted similarly. They raged and screamed wildly, but after a few blows, they quieted down. Even while grinding their teeth, they answered Kori’s questions obediently.
“Ask what Akuakkai means.”
“Akuakkai? That means…”
Kori tilted his head and asked the orc. The orc glared at Yuri and said something.
“Akuakkai means ‘Black Dog’…”
“Black Dog?”
“The prince is called the Black Dog.”
“Me?”
Yuri frowned.
“Why would I be called a black dog?”
“Because your hair is black, and you find orcs like a dog sniffing them out…”
The knights watching the interrogation burst out laughing all at once.
“This is insane…”
Yuri glared at the orc.
The orc flinched under Yuri’s gaze but spoke again.
“Orcs say it’s an honor to have the enemy give you a nickname, so be grateful.”
Jared nodded in agreement.
“That’s right, Your Highness. Count Saidor is called the scarred wolf. He’s become a figure of terror.”
“Then why a dog? Why not a wolf?”
“You can’t expect to be a wolf on your first try. Someday you’ll be a wolf, then a lion. Keep going, and you might even become a black dragon.”
“Sounds like they’re teasing me.”
“Not at all. Ha ha ha…”
Yuri stepped closer to the orc, and it backed away.
Judging by its reaction, it was clearly afraid of Yuri.
“Who gave you the nickname ‘Black Dog’?”
“I don’t know who exactly, but the rumor is spreading among the orcs. That the Emperor’s Black Dog is coming to strike Okuwa…”
“The Emperor’s Black Dog?”
Yuri furrowed his brow.
The prince of Briol had been twisted into the Emperor’s dog. It was an insulting misunderstanding.
“If I keep listening, I might just kill this one.”
“Please hold back.”
“Jared, you do it.”
“Understood.”
Jared pressed the orc for more information through Kori.
They got quite a bit of useful intel.
The orc tribe in the hills had long ago been absorbed by Okuwa and was already prepared to face the allied forces.
In a way, they were the first line of defense.
“Kurui, the leader of the hill tribe and subordinate of Okuwa, is an incredibly strong warrior. The allied forces won’t get past Kurui, let alone Okuwa.”
After gathering enough information, Yuri took the captured orc to Ragna.
Ragna immediately split the orc’s head with a single blow. The sound of thunder echoed as he swung his sword.
Handing the bloodied blade to his lieutenant, Ragna said,
“You even have a translator? Briol has many talents.”
“Thank you.”
“Kurui…”
Ragna smiled, his lips curling upward.
He looked forward to the war with great anticipation.
His confidence was reassuring, but in the last life, the allied forces had failed.
Yuri spoke up.
“It won’t be easy. We need to prepare.”
Yuri regretted not having detailed knowledge about the allied forces.
He knew they had been defeated, but not exactly why. So he warned them to be cautious.
Ragna looked at Yuri and laughed.
“I thought you were reckless, but you’re surprisingly cautious.”
“It’s war.”
“You’re right, Yuri.”
At some point, Ragna had started calling Yuri by his first name, as if they were close.
“It won’t be easy. Good work. Rest up.”
“Yes. I’ll go now.”
“Oh, wait.”
Ragna called out to Yuri as he turned to leave.
“Yuri.”
“Yes?”
“Do you have a girlfriend or fiancée?”
The sudden question made Yuri’s eyes widen.
“What are you talking about all of a sudden…”
“Answer me.”
Ragna asked the personal question with the imposing dignity of royalty.
Faced with that solemn expression, Yuri couldn’t say anything else.
“No.”
“How old are you?”
“Eighteen.”
“Don’t tell me there’s something wrong with you. You fight bravely, so I doubt it. Yuri, you’re a man, so you must like beautiful women, right?”
“What are you saying now…”
“I have a niece, you see…”
Ragna trailed off.
“No, that’s not something to talk about during war.”
“Wait, did you just say…”
“Forget it. Go.”
But Yuri had heard everything.
He was sure Ragna said niece. And there was only one niece worthy of being called beautiful.
He wanted to grab Ragna’s shoulder as he walked away and shout that he absolutely refused.
“Something’s seriously wrong here.”
Muttering to himself as he returned to camp, Yuri thought,
“I need to take action.”
If he stayed like this, after the war ended, Ragna might try to set him up with that woman. He wanted to avoid that at all costs.
But he couldn’t refuse Ragna’s favor.
So there was only one option.
Find someone suitable to fool Ragna’s eyes.
Yuri thought of a woman who might conspire with him.
“Ah, Yuri.”
Suddenly, he ran into Sibylla.
“I heard you fought orcs again today. Impressive. Are you hurt anywhere…?”
Yuri stared at her intently, and she couldn’t continue.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Nothing. It’s nothing.”
Yuri shook his head.
Sibylla’s status was too high.
But on the other hand, even as royalty, she was just a powerless puppet princess, overshadowed by her brother, the next king.
Maybe she was just the right fit.
When Yuri looked at her again, Sibylla frowned.
“Why do you keep staring like that?”
“Good.”
“What do you mean?”
“That you’re not blushing.”
He couldn’t afford for any real feelings to develop. In that regard, Sibylla passed the test.
“What kind of nonsense is that?”
“Sibylla, you haven’t forgotten you owe me your life, right?”
“Of course not…”
“Good. Just know that I trust you completely.”
“What are you talking about all the time…”
“Let’s keep helping each other from now on. Well then, take care!”
Yuri gave Sybilla a firm pat on the shoulder and then brushed past her, her steps noticeably lighter.
“What on earth was that…?” Sybilla muttered, shaking her head as she watched Yuri’s retreating figure. She was utterly unpredictable—impossible to read.
Just then, someone approached Sybilla’s side.
“Your Highness.”
“Fennec?”
It was Fennec, who led the Holy Kingdom’s knights alongside Sybilla.
He had been quietly observing the exchange between the two from behind.
Fennec looked at Sybilla, lost in thought.
Sybilla’s expression twisted in frustration.
“So this time, you’re just going to watch silently?”
Only then did Fennec clear his throat and speak.
“It’s a good sight to see.”
“What?”
“For the future of the Holy Kingdom, I sincerely support both of you. I’m here to help whenever you need.”
But his words were transparent.
Fennec was loyal to Sybilla’s brother, Larson. If she were to marry a prince from another nation, it would be like a weight lifted off his shoulders.
“Well then, I’ll be going.”
Like Yuri, Fennec said his piece and turned away.
Sybilla wanted to call out to both of them, to shout even, but held back—there were soldiers from other nations watching.
“Both of them are insufferable.”
Back at the camp, Yuri suddenly came across a strange scene.
“So that’s how it happened.”
“I see.”
Graham and Cory were sitting on a rock, deep in conversation.
“Oh, Your Highness.”
Graham bowed his head as Yuri appeared—not overly formal, but respectful.
Though he was now a soldier serving in the ranks, the noble bearing ingrained in him was unmistakable.
“Sir Graham, have you decided to accept my proposal?”
“Please, no honorifics. I’m just a soldier now. And I’m sorry, but I came here simply to talk with Cory.”
“With Cory?”
As usual, Cory had his hood pulled low over his face. But Graham seemed to know who he really was.
“Have you ever met a half-orc?”
“Yes. I was part of the last allied forces, after all.”
Yuri sat down beside Cory.
Cory, caught between Graham and Yuri, hunched his shoulders slightly.
Yuri draped an arm over his shoulder and gently stroked his head over the hood.
“You’re keeping up with your magic lessons, right?”
“I’m trying, but it’s difficult. Sorry.”
“Good, you should be sorry.”
“I’ll work harder.”
“Don’t just work hard—do well.”
Yuri glanced at Graham.
“Sir Graham, what exactly did you ask Cory?”
Graham was about to speak, but Cory beat him to it.
“Well, you asked if I could kill an orc. You asked other things too, but…”
It was rare for Cory to speak first when he hadn’t been asked.
“And I said yes.”
His voice was firm.
Yuri looked at Cory.
Though his appearance was rough and orc-like, his heart was human.
“I lived in an orc clan until Count Saidor took me in. That’s not a reason I can’t kill orcs—it’s actually a reason I can. Even if orc blood runs through my veins.”
Yuri understood what he meant.
In his past life, Cory had been a mercenary, wandering the most dangerous battlefields.
He had seen a lot.
He felt no sympathy for orcs.
Yuri gripped Cory’s shoulder and shot a pointed look at Graham.
“Hey, why are you trying to crush our Cory’s spirit?”
“Huh?”
“Sir Graham, I thought well of you, but this is disappointing. Asking such a grim question. Cory is a precious talent who will become a great mage someday.”
“Wow, Your Highness?”