A brutal slaughter unfolded.
Yuri didn’t let a single orc die easily. She made sure the soldiers and knights kept hacking away until their formation broke apart.
If an orc resisted, Yuri herself would sever its tendons and toss it aside.
The orcs’ reactions to death were no different from those of humans.
“They feast on humans and treat them like playthings. Don’t waste a shred of sympathy on them.”
With this, Yuri firmly reestablished her presence across the entire allied army.
She had to be someone they could trust as an ally, but a terrifying force when faced as an enemy.
Through her executions, Yuri proved she shared the same resolve as her comrades, while simultaneously revealing a ruthless streak that instilled fear.
“Th-thank you for your hard work.”
When Yuri returned, drenched in blood, even Proinjo, a knight close to Brusén, greeted her awkwardly.
Yuri smiled wryly and tossed him a glove soaked in orc blood.
“Whoa!”
“What’s the big deal? Your uniform’s already filthy.”
“You startled me by throwing it all of a sudden.”
“A knight should at least pretend not to be surprised.”
“Y-yes…”
When Ragna suddenly entrusted her with disposing of the orc prisoners, Yuri hadn’t been entirely unshaken.
But Ragna wasn’t just some eighteen-year-old boy on the surface—he was a seasoned mercenary who had drifted through the lowest rungs after losing his country.
He knew exactly how to handle situations like this.
“A sudden test, huh…”
Yuri thought of Ragna.
As she brutally slaughtered the orcs, the look on Ragna’s face shifted from shock to a satisfied smile.
What was he expecting from a prince of another land?
Perhaps he was already considering taking her under his command.
“Good work.”
Lost in thought, Yuri was approached by Ragna’s adjutant.
“His Highness has sent this. A potion to aid your recovery.”
“Ah, thank you. Please convey my gratitude to His Highness.”
“Yes. And, if I may…”
“Hm?”
“This is a personal request…”
“A request?”
“Please don’t overexert yourself. The prince’s potential is great.”
“What?”
With the adjutant’s retreating back in view, Yuri felt a strange unease.
Nearby, two passing knights chatted.
“They say the empire’s princess is incredibly beautiful.”
“Don’t even mention it. Her skin’s as white as snow, and her eyes shine like finely cut emeralds. Even from a distance, I was frozen in place.”
“How’s her personality?”
“Very kind, like an angel.”
“Wow…”
Yuri felt as if she’d been struck in the head.
Without realizing it, she turned toward Ragna—and their eyes met.
He nodded with a pleased smile. It was not the look one gives to others lightly.
Yuri grew fearful of Ragna’s increasing intimacy.
“No… this can’t be…”
Yuri returned to the Briol camp.
“What about Moyongchan?”
“He’s eating.”
“Isn’t it past mealtime?”
“He said he was hungry.”
“Good. Where is he?”
Yuri went straight to Moyongchan.
He had his face buried in his tray, but upon seeing Yuri covered in blood, he frowned.
“Smells like orcs. Get away. Ugh.”
“Isn’t that what battlefields are like?”
Yuri sat beside him.
“Eat more. How many days have you gone without food?”
“Those orc bastards didn’t feed me properly.”
“You’ve been through a lot. Those nasty orcs, bad guys.”
“Prince, the soup’s too salty.”
“I’ll have some fresh soup brought right away.”
Watching this, the knights of Briol felt betrayed.
Who would have thought that the unruly Yuri could be so considerate of others’ feelings? It wasn’t that she couldn’t—it was that she simply chose not to.
Especially Jared, who clenched his fists in anger, already plotting for the future.
“When I become one of the Ten Strong, she’ll be groveling to me. Just wait and see…”
With a full stomach, Moyongchan wanted to bathe.
Yuri granted all his requests—heating water, providing clean clothes and a sword.
To emphasize his affiliation, she deliberately gave him supplies from the Briol army.
After washing and trimming his unruly beard, he looked like a different man. His eyes were sharp, and his features were handsome.
“Looks like you’ll survive this.”
Yuri lit a campfire and sat facing Moyongchan. It was time for a serious conversation.
“Moyongchan, how did you end up captured by the orcs?”
“First, I gotta explain something.”
Moyongchan’s eyes sharpened.
“How the hell did you manage to drive off that orc shaman?”
“Well…”
Yuri replayed the events in her mind.
Others hadn’t even gotten a good look at the orc shaman, but she had seen him clearly and dealt damage.
She had a guess why.
The mana method she wielded was called Simhoncham—Soul Severance.
Yuri spoke.
“I think it’s because of the mana method I learned.”
“Inner power absorption, huh…”
“It’s different from ordinary mana methods.”
“Hmm…”
Moyongchan sized her up from head to toe, then stood.
“Show me your sword.”
“Huh?”
“Show me this inner power absorption, or rather, your mana method.”
His expression was serious.
Yuri nodded and stepped beside the campfire.
Moyongchan examined her body as if he could see inside.
“I’ll go first.”
“Go ahead.”
The energy of Simhoncham sharpened toward Moyongchan.
Yuri stepped forward and swung her sword. Moyongchan blocked it. She attacked again. Their blades clashed once more.
A straightforward exchange of blows.
Then, suddenly, Yuri sensed something alien in Moyongchan’s energy.
Simhoncham immediately revealed it.
A loud explosion echoed.
They stood locked, swords crossed.
“You…”
Moyongchan’s eyes widened.
“Where the hell did you learn that martial art?”
Yuri was surprised too.
“You’re suddenly so articulate.”
“W-what kind of story is this?”
“Alright. I’ll tell you about the mana method if you tell me something too.”
“What do you want to know?”
“Why were you captured by the orcs?”
Moyongchan’s gaze deepened.
He stared at Yuri quietly, then twisted his mouth.
“Fine. If you’re really serious about this.”
“You’re suddenly slurring your words more—are you pretending not to understand the continental language?”
“Shut up.”
“No, I’m not.”
Yuri sat back down by the campfire with Moyongchan. She cleared the area so they could talk alone.
Raymond wanted to assign guards, but Yuri refused. If Moyongchan harbored murderous intent, guards wouldn’t make a difference.
Yuri tossed some firewood into the flames and said,
“I learned the mana method from my ancestor.”
“What?”
“I’m the third prince of Briol.”
Yuri briefly explained the founder’s mana method she had found in the dungeon. Moyongchan showed interest in Erich Briol, the founder of Briol.
“Erui Briol, huh…”
Moyongchan closed his eyes.
“Considering the era, that makes sense…”
“Yes.”
“I guess our meeting is fate.”
“What?”
“I was about to kill some bastard who interfered with my plans…”
“Your pronunciation…”
“Pronunciation, what about it?”
Moyongchan stood up.
His movement made the distant knights flinch.
Ignoring them, he stood before Yuri.
The campfire flickered, casting shadows across his face.
“Show me.”
“Yes.”
Then something unexpected happened.
Moyongchan bowed to Yuri.
“I, Moyongchan, last direct disciple, head of the Qingcheng Sect, and its protector, pay my respects to the descendant of my old benefactor. The Qingcheng Sect has not forgotten its friendship with the Heavenly Sword Swordsman.”
He clasped his fist with his palm and lowered his stance.
Yuri was taken aback by the sudden gesture.
“W-why are you doing this… and why is your pronunciation so precise…”
“That’s enough.”
“Yes.”
“It’s all ruined anyway.”
Moyongchan relaxed and kicked Yuri’s seated hip.
“The Qingcheng Sect is finished.”
“Why take it out on me…”
“Who these days makes a living by destroying evil? No masters, no sages left. The martial world’s fallen…”
He muttered to himself, then plopped back down, looking at Yuri with a gentler expression than before.
“You really don’t understand what’s going on, do you?”
“No, I don’t.”
“I’ll explain.”
Though his pronunciation was rough and hard to follow, Moyongchan’s story boiled down to this:
He came from the East.
He belonged to the Qingcheng Sect.
Long ago, a swordsman from the West came to the East and fought the greatest swordsman of the Qingcheng Sect in a battle that shook heaven and earth, ending in a draw.
That Western swordsman was Erich Briol, and the Eastern master was the head of Qingcheng Sect.
They recognized each other and became friends.
Erich Briol stayed with Qingcheng Sect for a long time, sharing swordsmanship insights with the Eastern master.
Then a demonic cult or some such force rose up.
Erich Briol helped his friend defeat them.
The divine power and legendary friendship they displayed became a legend in the East.
“That’s how it happened.”
Yuri was moved.
“Such a connection…”
She grasped Moyongchan’s hands firmly.
“We are not strangers.”
One of the Ten Strong, a mysterious outsider, had just become an ally. It was wonderful news.
Yuri shook his hands up and down.
“I’ll call you senior. Senior Moyongchan!”
“Senior? What’s that…”
Side note: The Qingcheng Sect collapsed completely due to outdated management.
Left alone, Moyongchan was carrying out an exorcism mission, honoring the legacy of the Cheongseong faction by eliminating those tainted by evil spirits.
“A sinister star has risen in the Western lands. I’ve come all this way for the peace of heaven and earth…”
He warned them, but the other Eastern sects, drunk on worldly wealth and fame, turned a blind eye.
“So you came alone? Forsaking riches and glory?”
“What riches and glory? All that’s left of Cheongseong is pride…”
With his sect already fallen, Moyongchan came west alone, clinging only to his honor.
Tracking the dark energy led him to Okua, the orc chieftain.
Moyongchan believed the ominous star in the western sky was tied to Okua.
“My plan was to disguise myself as a sacrifice and get close to Okua.”
“A sacrifice?”
What followed was shocking testimony.
Yuri found it hard to believe.
“Human sacrifice is proof that he’s already drunk on dark magic.”
Okua offered human lives as sacrifices for his sorcery. Moyongchan intended to pose as a sacrifice, get taken in, then strike.
“Are you serious? You’re not lying now, are you?”
“Do I look like I have time to lie, you bastard?”
“Your pronunciation again…”
Yuri hadn’t expected this at all.
But it all fit together.
In his past life, Moyongchan had repeatedly attacked Okua.
The reason was unknown.
His explanation clarified why he was so obsessed with Okua—and how Okua grew strong enough to eventually kill him.
“But then you showed up and ruined everything.”
“Ruined? There’s an Eastern saying: ‘Turn misfortune into blessing.’”
“How do you know that?”
“It’s all in the books.”
Back when he was a mercenary, Yuri had met someone from the East. Not the most skilled, but occasionally clever.
That guy often quoted Eastern proverbs, and Yuri had grown fond enough to memorize a few.
“Briol and Cheongseong aren’t brothers, are they?”
“Suddenly?”
“Their ancestors swore brotherhood. We should stand together.”
“We weren’t exactly sworn brothers…”
“Look.”
Yuri stood and spread his arms wide. Beyond his shoulders, countless alliance banners fluttered in the grassland wind.
“We’ve gathered a massive force to hunt down Okua. Let’s kill him together.”
“Hmm…”
Moyongchan closed his eyes, deep in thought.
Yuri was determined to persuade him.
In his past life, Moyongchan had acted alone—and ended up as Okua’s sacrifice. Yuri didn’t want such a man to die so pointlessly.
He called it an exorcism mission.
Moyongchan spoke as if it were no big deal, but it was remarkable.
A warrior of his caliber wandering the world without seeking reward.
More knightly than those who called themselves knights. Truly, a knight from the East.
“I’ll grant you the title of Honorary Knight. Being a Briol knight means respect everywhere. It’s a free pass on this continent.”
“Hmm…”
“I’ll offer you a position in a merchant guild I have shares in. Once Okua’s dead, trade between East and West will resume—you’ll gain wealth and honor.”
“Oh…”
“I’ll join Cheongseong as an adopted disciple. To accept a noble like me is a great honor. It’ll raise Cheongseong’s name.”
“Not at all.”
“Your pronunciation again…”
Moyongchan, deep in thought, finally spoke.
“I have one condition.”
“Please.”
His gaze was serious.
“After Okua falls, you fight me properly.”
“Excuse me? Me?”
“Don’t chicken out.”
Yuri’s face went pale.
“I don’t want to die…”
“Stop whining.”
Moyongchan sealed his lips after that. Yuri agonized but accepted the offer.
Surely he wouldn’t actually kill him.
“So that’s settled?”
“You accepted my terms and mine. Good deal.”
“Eh?”
“You’re my disciple now.”
“Eh?”