Cory was taken aback, but Graham, knowing it was a joke, chuckled softly.
“My apologies for the intrusion.”
“Alright then. Mind if I ask you something?”
“Go ahead.”
“Why did you choose to serve without pay?”
“Hmm…”
Yuri had a rough idea.
Graham was a knight who upheld his principles. He wouldn’t bow to power or commit injustice.
Most likely, he had refused an unreasonable order or something along those lines.
Graham lowered his gaze.
“It’s nothing special. I just stopped something I believed was wrong.”
Yuri pressed for more details.
“What exactly was it?”
“I can’t say.”
“Come on, between us, what’s the harm?”
“…No.”
“No?”
“Yes.”
“Fine. Then how about this—who sentenced you to serve without pay?”
“That too…”
“Sir Graham.”
Yuri patted Cory on the back, giving him a knowing look.
“You’re putting our Cory on the spot…”
Flustered, Cory defended Graham.
“Your Highness, Sir Graham just came to ask about the orcs…”
“It’s fine. Besides, if I want to know who handed down the sentence, I can find out one way or another.”
Even without all the details, Yuri had managed to find out who had sentenced Graham.
Graham gave a wry smile.
“Very well. I’ll tell you.”
He looked up at the sky.
“Princess Yekaterina.”
Yuri thought to herself.
Why does she keep coming up here?
When they reached the hills, the stench of orcs hit them.
This wasn’t a metaphor.
At every turn along the Federation army’s path, human corpses with their bellies slit were impaled on poles.
Some had been torn apart, likely leftovers from the orcs’ feast, and maggots swarmed the spilled entrails.
Ragna laughed aloud.
“Interesting. Is this how the orcs welcome us?”
Yuri stepped forward.
“Your Highness, I’ll go and burn them.”
“Do so.”
Leading the knights, Yuri set fire to the bodies as she came across them.
Watching the flames consume the corpses, she stroked her horse’s mane.
“Orcs leave the bodies until they rot.”
“Why?”
“Maybe it’s like how humans decorate with animal hides.”
That was orc culture.
They just did it.
What humans found disgusting was a point of pride for them.
The closer they got to the orc encampment, the more barren the land became. The earth cracked, and plants withered.
“Feels like a desert.”
“What’s with this place?”
“I heard orc waste poisons the soil.”
“Those bastards really do everything.”
The knights chatted as they set more corpses ablaze, the smell of burning flesh thick in the air.
Further ahead, they came upon a place littered with even more bodies.
A steep cliff surrounded the pile of corpses, and the path the Federation army had to take led into a narrow gorge enclosed by low cliffs.
Yuri stopped.
“Wait.”
“Yes?”
“Hold position.”
She called back two knights who had been moving forward without thinking.
“Dyke! Guiness!”
“Yes?”
“Return!”
“Understood…”
At that moment, an arrow flew through the air.
They swung their swords reflexively but were caught off guard and couldn’t block it properly.
An arrow lodged in Guiness’s arm.
“Damn it!”
They quickly retreated. Yuri ordered the entire knight squad to fall back.
Above on the cliff overlooking the Federation army, an orc stood holding a bow.
“Are you alright, Guiness?”
“Yes…”
“Don’t get distracted on the battlefield.”
“Sorry.”
He lowered his eyes.
No need to press further—he was already feeling the weight of his mistake.
“Don’t keep making me worry.”
Yuri’s cold tone carried a hint of warmth.
Guiness bowed his head even deeper.
“I’m sorry…”
“Simon, Dyke.”
“Yes?”
“Protect Guiness.”
“Understood.”
Since repelling the ambush earlier, the three young knights had been supporting and relying on each other.
Yuri half-raised herself in the saddle and scanned the cliff above.
“This isn’t good.”
The path ahead was vulnerable to attack. They could be rained on from above at any moment.
Fortunately, the cliff’s summit wasn’t wide, so the orc numbers there were probably limited.
“A gorge…”
She’d fought a similar battle in a past life.
The mercenaries’ tactic was simple: climb the cliff and eliminate the enemy. Yuri’s unit, always tasked with the most dangerous jobs, had carried out that mission.
Yuri turned back and informed Ragna of the situation.
“What should we do?”
“I’ll climb up and clear them out.”
“Confident?”
“Yes.”
Since Yuri had scouted the terrain, it was natural she’d take on the task.
The Federation army halted at a suitable spot and fired arrows upward. The orc group occupying the area scattered.
Yuri lightened her armor and led the knights to the cliff’s base.
“Follow me.”
“Yes!”
Once again, Yuri took the lead.
She summoned her mana method and began climbing the cliff. The rock was solid and easy to grip.
Yuri ascended the wall without hesitation.
“Be careful!”
Suddenly, a shout came from below.
Large rocks were tumbling down from above.
The Federation army fired arrows again.
Between the falling boulders and the arrow storm, Yuri pressed herself close to the cliff.
A rock grazed past her by mere inches. Without hesitation, she moved again.
The summit was drawing near.
Just as her fingertips touched the top, she paused briefly and grabbed the hilt of her sword strapped to her back with her other hand.
An orc’s face suddenly appeared.
Yuri wasted no time swinging her sword. The orc’s severed head tumbled down.
She was splattered with the orc’s blood.
“Ugh.”
Spitting out blood and saliva, she leapt forward.
Standing atop the cliff, she was surprised by the number of orcs. Their shields were bristling with arrows shot by the Federation army.
The orcs spotted Yuri and scowled fiercely.
“Come on, you bastards!”
The orcs dropped their shields and drew their weapons. Yuri pointed her sword, Guilty, forward.
“Why aren’t you coming?”
She glanced down.
“The bastards…”
The knights were still down there, unable to climb the cliff as quickly as expected. It would take a long time for them to arrive.
They needed to buy time.
Thinking she should add more rock-climbing training, Yuri charged forward.
“Briole!”
“Akuaakkai! Akumetum!”
Several orcs charged at once.
With each battle, Yuri’s senses sharpened.
She simultaneously tracked the weapons flying toward her.
Dodging to the side, she swung Guilty.
The mana of her Soul Slash flared wildly, as if alive. The sword’s energy tore through the orcs’ leather armor and tough skin.
“Graaah!”
The orcs’ gaze shifted to Yuri as she dodged aside.
She took a few more steps.
From her vantage point, the entire battlefield was clear as if viewed from above. She could easily tell how to move to avoid being surrounded.
Yuri sliced the leg of an orc turning toward her. The creature lost its balance, and its axe plunged into the ground.
She tried to finish it off, but more orcs rushed in. Yuri retreated without hesitation.
The fallen orc was trampled to death by its own kind.
Yuri shouted toward the cliff.
“When are you coming up?!”
There was a limit to how long she could stall.
Realizing Yuri was buying time, some orcs began running toward the cliff again.
“They’re coming!”
Just then, two knights arrived.
Laurent and Jared.
They met the orcs at the summit and immediately swung their swords.
The clash of steel echoed.
More knights soon joined. Close combat erupted.
“The ground’s too narrow! Use the terrain!”
Strength alone wouldn’t win against the orcs. The knights pushing weapons against each other were mostly being pushed back.
Yuri helped a knight in danger.
“Watch out.”
“Thank you!”
“This is how you do it.”
An orc angrily charged Yuri. She seemed ready to counterattack but instead sidestepped. The orc stumbled near the cliff’s edge.
Yuri kicked its back.
The orc’s scream echoed as it fell, ending with a thud.
“Orcs have big movements. Use their openings.”
“Yes, yes!”
Yuri looked up.
Briole was traditionally a land of knights. Their forces were formidable.
The orc-adapted knights gradually gained the upper hand, pushing orcs off the cliff one after another.
After finishing the fight, Yuri signaled to continue advancing.
Ragna gladly gave permission.
“It’s not over yet. Weapons up.”
“Yes!”
There was no time to rest.
Yuri led the knights forward.
The orcs on the cliff were caught off guard by the sudden enemy appearance.
Thanks to the Briole knights opening the way, the Federation army’s advance quickened.
Soon, Yuri reached the cliff’s edge where there was nowhere further to go.
They had fully secured the high ground.
“Phew…”
The view opened wide, revealing the orc encampment in the distance.
It was the fortress of Kurui they had to destroy.
It looked well-prepared, with sharp logs densely planted between barricades.
“The scale is impressive. Almost as strong as the Federation army.”
“What do you think? Can we take on all those orcs?”
“I’m not fighting alone.”
“That’s true.”
The Briole knights tied ropes to the rocks and used them to descend to the ground. As they reached the bottom, all eyes turned to the troops.
Just then, the Holy Kingdom’s forces were passing through.
“Aren’t you making too much of a fuss?”
Sybilla approached and spoke.
“Any injured knights? I can send a cleric.”
“Hmm…”
Yuri glanced back. No one had died, but a few knights were limping.
“Alright. Thanks.”
Though Hernando and Jemain were with her, it wasn’t a bad idea to have some rapport with the priests of the Holy Kingdom. They were valuable allies.
Once they were clear of the canyon, the allied forces were setting up camp.
“See you later.”
“Good work.”
Yuri headed back to the Briol army’s barracks, where tents were already pitched.
The sun was setting.
She entered her own tent, where a messenger followed and reported.
“There’s a commanders’ meeting tonight. It’ll be held at the general commander’s tent.”
“Got it. Also, the Holy Kingdom said they’ll send priests to treat the wounded. Make sure they’re well taken care of.”
“Understood. Should we send meals there as well?”
“No, I’ll go myself.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Yuri sat down on her cot.
The real battle would begin tomorrow. She gently stroked the hand of Guilty, who was resting beside her.
“Hmm…”
The light inside the tent flickered slightly.
“That’s strange.”
Yuri muttered. The lamp flickered again, casting wavering shadows around them.
“Why are you here again?”
She looked up to see Asana suddenly appear.
She perched on the edge of the table, watching Yuri.
“I tracked the stranger.”
“And?”
“There. Over there.”
Asana pointed toward the wall—the direction where the orc army was camped.
“Was the stranger an orc?”
“Not exactly, but they’re with the orcs.”
“So they’re cooperating with the orcs?”
“Quite the opposite,” Asana said calmly.
“They’re prisoners.”
“Prisoners?”
Yuri tilted her head in confusion.
Unless Okua had intervened, there was no way a member of the Ten Strong—like this stranger—would be taken prisoner.
“They must want something.”
“What’s their angle?”
“We tried to sneak in, but the allied forces tightened security when they arrived. We can still try. What do you want to do?”
“Hold position.”
Yuri shook her head.
“This works out. I’ll meet them myself and find out.”
“They seem to be pretending to be prisoners with some purpose. If the allied forces ruin the plan, they might get angry. Be careful.”
“Can’t be helped…”
Yuri scratched the back of her head.
Dealing with someone as powerful as one of the Ten Strong meant taking risks.
“Anyway, the stranger’s goal is Okua.”
Being captured was probably part of that plan.
So if she helped the stranger alongside the allied forces, it would be beneficial.
The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
“If possible, when the battle starts tomorrow, go inside and confirm the stranger’s status.”
Asana stared at her silently.
“Why?”
“I’d rather protect the prince.”
“I didn’t hire you as a bodyguard. I’ll protect myself.”
Asana blinked, then nodded.
“Understood.”
“Good.”
Yuri stood up.
“Since you’re here, want to grab some food? The cooks make a good meal.”
“No, thank you.”
“Today’s menu is…”
When Yuri turned back, Guilty at her side, Asana was already gone.
Yuri looked around the tent and chuckled softly.
“Impressive.”
Then she stepped outside.
The moon was rising in the sky.
Nearby, food was being distributed. Yuri started walking toward the crowd.
“Huh?”
She stopped.
Something was standing there.
Yuri looked up.
“You are…”
It was incomprehensible.
“What are you?”
A dark orc stood before her.