It was an orc shaman, blindfolded with cloth and clutching a wooden staff.
But the orc had no real substance.
Though it had color, it was faded and faint, like a washed-out shadow. Reaching out, Yoori’s hand passed right through it.
The orc simply stared at Yoori.
“I asked you—who are you?”
The orc twitched its lips, then suddenly shifted sideways. Yoori’s gaze followed, and the orc’s expression twisted further, as if caught and embarrassed at being seen.
“What the hell?”
Come to think of it, this was strange.
Orcs were wandering around the barracks, yet no one seemed to notice.
Yoori realized he was the only one who could see this orc.
“What are you?”
Yoori cast a spell—Guilty. The orc’s form wavered like ripples in water, scattering briefly before reforming.
Startled, the orc took a step back.
“Does it actually hurt?”
The orc muttered something, lips moving, but no sound came through.
“Hey, you there.”
Yoori called out to a passing soldier.
The soldier hurried over.
“Yes, Your Highness?”
“Reach out your hand here.”
“Huh?”
“Try touching the air.”
“Y-yes…”
The soldier did as told, but his hand passed right through the orc.
“Are you punishing me? I didn’t do anything wrong…”
“No, it’s not like that.”
Yoori ordered the soldier again.
“Try slashing here with your sword.”
“Is there something there?”
“Just do it.”
The soldier swung his sword, but nothing happened. Unlike when Yoori had struck, the orc didn’t even flicker or scatter.
The orc muttered again—still silent.
“Your Highness, why are you making me do this…?”
“Here.”
Yoori raised his sword, pointing at the orc’s face.
“There’s a ghost.”
“Huh?”
“Seems only I can see it.”
“What do you mean…?”
“I see ghosts.”
The soldier took a step back, clearly afraid of spirits.
Yoori whispered with a sinister smile.
“This thing’s licking its lips looking at you. It’s probably targeting you. Looks like your sins are pretty heavy. What exactly did you do?”
“I—I’ll be going now.”
The soldier bowed quickly and ran off in the opposite direction.
Yoori sighed, worried about the discipline in Briol.
“Is this guy really some sinner?”
He looked back up at the orc.
Despite all the tests Yoori had put it through, the orc stood still, watching him just as intently.
The orc reached out to grope Yoori.
“Hands off.”
Yoori cast Guilty again. The orc’s form flickered, growing larger for a moment.
Whether it actually hurt or not, the orc took a few steps back, clutching its staff.
“So, it’s only visible to me…”
Yoori kept stabbing with Guilty as he advanced. The orc kept retreating.
No blood appeared, but its form grew increasingly faint. The spell was definitely working.
Suddenly, the orc turned and fled.
Yoori gave chase. A sudden pursuit had begun.
Since the orc had no real body, it passed freely through obstacles in the barracks. Yoori dodged and leapt over them, stumbling several times.
“Your Highness! What are you doing?”
“Catching that orc!”
“Huh?”
But no one else could see what Yoori saw.
“I’ll reveal your true nature.”
At that moment, the orc exhaled black mist, then suddenly spun around and lunged at Yoori.
Startled, Yoori stopped and swung Guilty in defense.
The orc ignored it, wrapping Yoori in the black haze. A chill spread through his entire body.
“What the…?”
Then, just like smoke, the orc vanished.
Yoori rubbed his forearm. The cold lingered.
He checked his energy flow.
A tainted aura had spread through his body.
But when he activated his mana method, the pure energy of his Soul Slash quickly cleansed it away.
“What was that?”
Had he really just fought an orc ghost?
If there was anyone to discuss this with, it would be a mage.
Yoori grabbed a tray of food and stormed into Hernando’s barracks.
“Hernan—”
Just as he opened the tent flap—
“…”
Around the table sat Hernando and several knights and soldiers.
They froze, eyes wide in surprise at Yoori’s sudden appearance.
“Wow, Your Highness…”
The soldier closest to Yoori dropped a card in his fluster.
Yoori picked it up and glanced at the rest of the soldier’s hand.
Not bad.
“Hey.”
“Yes, yes?”
“Stand over there with these.”
“Yes.”
Yoori handed the soldier his tray. The soldier quickly backed away.
“Now, let’s see how good Sir Jared’s hand is…”
Pathetic.
“Get lost.”
Yoori pulled Jared up and kicked him hard in the backside. Jared staggered and ran out of the barracks.
“Next, Sir Stegen. Your hand is…”
“Wow, Your Highness.”
“Not bad. You’re free to go.”
“Uh…”
“Don’t look so disappointed.”
“No, sir!”
The knight fled.
Yoori checked all the players’ hands. Good hands passed; bad hands got a smack.
Finally, only Hernando remained.
He clutched his cards tightly, wearing a solemn expression.
“Your Highness, you don’t mean to use violence on me…?”
“No.”
Yoori pulled over an empty chair and sat down, leaning forward.
“I have a question.”
“Th-Thank goodness. What is it?”
“I just saw something strange in the barracks…”
“The cards aren’t strange.”
“No, not that.”
Yoori explained about the mysterious orc he’d encountered.
Hernando tilted his head, then grew serious and leaned in.
“It’s a curse. Looks like an orc shaman came to scout the allied forces.”
“A curse?”
“Yes.”
Hernando crossed his arms, deep in thought.
“An invisible spiritual form…”
“Is it powerful?”
“No, not really. But there’s something suspicious about it.”
He picked up the cards from the floor and continued.
“I think I know what I need to do tomorrow.”
“Like asking Marilose to drop fireballs?”
“That was only possible near Valshad. Such blatant magic is easily countered.”
Magic was rarely used for direct firepower on the battlefield. Other mages could easily neutralize it.
Instead, battlefield mages were used to suppress enemy mages.
Marilose, as a mage commander, had overwhelming control over the Valshad area, allowing her to summon fireballs.
“I can’t be sure, but it seems to be using forbidden power. Probably black magic…”
“Black magic?”
“Yes.”
Hernando paused, then said,
“I’ll focus on dispelling the shaman’s tricks tomorrow.”
“Why not just drop fireballs?”
“That’s only Marilose’s style.”
Yoori frowned.
He remembered Hernando’s overwhelming firepower in his past life—he’d smashed through everything, dispel or no.
Was the situation different now?
“Is black magic really that dangerous?”
“Not so much. It was studied thoroughly at the Mage Tower long ago. If you handle it properly, it’s actually easier to counter.”
“That’s reassuring.”
If Hernando said that, Yoori felt he had nothing to worry about.
Yoori stood.
“Well then…”
In the corner, the soldier holding the tray stood awkwardly. When their eyes met, he gave a shy smile.
“Please, eat.”
“Thanks.”
Morning came.
The allied forces didn’t rush. They intended to break through honestly, not by trickery. The orcs were doing the same.
The allies prepared to attack; the orcs reinforced their defenses.
Yoori mounted his horse and stood with the knights.
This time, they wouldn’t charge straight in but ride past the enemy lines to draw attention.
Of course, if an opening appeared, they’d break through.
“Nervous?”
Yoori’s voice drew the knights’ eyes.
“No need.”
He raised his voice to boost morale.
“It’s the same as before. Just follow me closely, and it’ll be over before you know it.”
He lifted his spear. The knights raised theirs in unison.
The Briol banner fluttered in the wind.
“Briol!”
Yoori shouted, and the Briol troops roared back, their voices echoing across the plains.
Nearby, the Brusenn troops answered with their own battle cry.
The fervor spread.
Each unit shouted their nation’s name in turn, raising spirits.
The entire allied army stirred.
The names of thirteen nations from across the continent thundered over the grasslands.
Yoori shouted again.
“We’re leading the charge again. Any complaints?”
“No, sir!”
“Anyone want to hide behind others’ backs like cowards?”
“No, sir!”
“Anyone afraid of arrows?”
“No, sir!”
“Who wants to be the first to cut down an orc’s throat?”
“Yes!”
“Who wants to wipe these ugly bastards off the face of Briol forever?”
“Yes!”
“We’ll make sure those ugly dogs never set foot in Briol again. Count Saidor won’t get to enjoy his sick games anymore!”
The knights laughed.
Yoori turned his gaze.
From the Imperial army’s camp came the sound of trumpets.
The battle was about to begin.
Yoori took a deep breath.
How many would die?
How many soldiers would fall?
How many of the knights who just laughed would be killed?
They would die, and kill again.
They would watch death and killing unfold.
Could he say he had no part in it?
Yuri stepped forward.
One step. Two steps. Three steps more. And then, there was no one ahead of him.
To be at the very front.
That was the smallest duty he could bear.
Yuri spurred his horse forward.
“Briol!”
At that signal, the knights charged out.
Not only Briol’s squad, but the knights from other nations assigned the same mission burst out from the main force like spears.
Arrows rained down from the orc lines.
Yuri immediately pulled the reins. His horse turned sharply, and Briol’s knights wheeled in unison.
Arrows thudded into the path they had just vacated.
“Stay alert!”
The knights advanced as if to charge, then twisted aside, sweeping along the orc barricades and leaping to the flank.
As the distance closed, the arrows flew in straighter trajectories.
“Keep your wits and follow me!”
Arrows continued to target the knights relentlessly. From behind came the sound of a horse’s scream and someone collapsing.
Yuri gritted his teeth and tightened his grip on the reins.
“Run!”
He glanced back.
The infantry of the main force had been steadily pressing forward. While the knights drew the enemy’s attention, the clash had already begun.
“Now…”
They had to either fall back and enter the lines the main force had broken through, or find a gap to slip into.
Yuri lifted his gaze.
He could see the defenses thinning little by little.
“Your Highness!”
Turning at the call, he saw Bursen’s knights approaching alongside Briol’s, launching a feint charge.
“Shall we break through together?”
Yuri smiled.
It seemed there was no option to retreat for Bursen’s men.
If that was the case, Briol would not lose.
“Feeling confident?”
“Absolutely!”
The two squads began to run side by side.
Jose led the front of Bursen’s line. His massive frame made his horse look strained.
Yuri called out to him.
“Sir Jose! Are you pushing forward because your horse is exhausted from your weight?”
“Oh dear, you noticed!”
“We need to move fast before the horse collapses!”
“It’s urgent, very urgent!”
“Then let’s go!”
“Let’s do this!”
Yuri turned his horse’s head, and Jose followed immediately.
They charged side by side toward the orc encampment’s barricades. If they went straight in, their horses would be pierced by the sharpened stakes.
But they didn’t stop.
“Ready?”
Yuri ran his hand through his horse’s mane and slung his spear over the saddle. The trained horse understood and snorted.
The stakes loomed closer.
Yuri lifted his foot from the stirrup.
The horse veered.
Without hesitation, Yuri leapt up. Jose did the same.
As their horses veered aside, the knights vaulted over the stakes and plunged into the orc lines.
It was like a swarm of locusts descending.
Yuri shouted to his horse.
“See you later!”
He rolled once to absorb the impact, then raised his spear.