“So you’re going to be officially recognized as a direct disciple of the Cheongseong faction?”
“Did that include everything?”
“Exactly.”
“Uh…”
Yuri protested.
“Actually, I already have a master. A ruthless man known as the Sword Demon…”
“Since you’re from the main family, it’s fine. You can be his disciple and mine too.”
“No…”
“Main family disciples get special treatment. Do you know how valuable I am? Consider yourself lucky.”
“Yes…”
In the end, Yuri became a direct disciple of the Cheongseong faction and took Moyongchan as his second master.
The next day, Yuri brought Moyongchan to meet Ragna.
Ragna sized Moyongchan up from head to toe. With his beard shaved and dressed in clean clothes, he looked like a different person from yesterday.
“Looking sharp.”
“I made sure he was well taken care of.”
“Seeing him in Briol’s uniform means the deal’s done?”
“He’s agreed to join our forces.”
“Good.”
Ragna nodded.
“I’ll leave the matter of the outsider to you.”
“Thank you for trusting me.”
Then, an aide whispered something to Ragna.
Yuri’s sharp hearing caught the faint words.
“If we’re not careful, Briol could end up with two of the Ten Strong…”
He was worried Moyongchan might fully integrate into Briol.
Ragna patted the aide on the shoulder.
“The alliance army comes first. Do you think you can handle the outsider?”
“Not exactly…”
Thankfully, Ragna was supportive.
He entrusted much of the responsibility to Yuri, who had proven himself by taking the lead so far.
Of course, he must have been confident in the empire’s strength.
More than half of the Ten Strong were either affiliated with or friendly to the empire.
Yuri relayed what he had heard from Moyongchan.
When he mentioned the human sacrifices, Moyongchan’s expression twisted in disgust.
“Absolutely revolting…”
Hernando, who had heard about it the night before, was also deeply troubled.
He had locked himself away in the barracks, saying he needed to investigate further.
Ragna muttered a curse against the orcs, then looked up.
“The outsider. It must be true.”
Moyongchan nodded.
Though his behavior might seem rude, the Ten Strong didn’t abide by worldly formalities.
Yuri watched Ragna’s reaction closely.
He didn’t seem overly shocked by the orcs’ atrocities. There was an unexplainable restlessness beneath the surface.
Could it be that Ragna knew something about dark magic that Yuri didn’t?
Suppressing his curiosity, Yuri simply bowed his head.
“I’ll return to camp and await orders.”
“Good.”
As Yuri turned to leave, the aide stopped him.
“Your Highness, I have a request.”
“What is it?”
“Sir Graham wishes to see you…”
“Sir Graham?”
Though he was currently serving without rank, Yuri still treated him as a knight.
“Yes. Sir Graham… that Graham.”
“I’ll go immediately.”
“I’ll guide you.”
Yuri sent Moyongchan to Briol’s barracks and followed the aide.
Graham was in charge of deciding the fate of the half-orcs and human prisoners.
Passing by the imperial soldiers standing guard in a line, they heard screams.
Some prisoners were mentally broken, unable to distinguish humans from orcs, trembling in constant fear.
A priest stayed nearby, but their shattered minds showed no sign of recovery.
“Sir Graham.”
Yuri greeted him, and Graham bowed his head.
“Your Highness, sorry to trouble you.”
“No trouble. What’s the matter?”
“I wanted to ask about the half-orcs’ fate.”
If they were orcs, they were to be killed; humans were to be released. But half-orcs were a gray area.
“What would you have done, Your Highness?”
“So that’s why you called me.”
Yuri was taking in a half-orc named Cory.
“Yes. I was curious about your thoughts.”
“Well…”
Graham was a man of chivalry, but not a saint. If necessary, he wouldn’t hesitate to spill blood.
Killing half-orcs was certainly an option for him.
Yuri looked over the survivors.
Not a single one was unscathed. He scanned them one by one.
Suddenly, he felt a gaze.
A woman crouched on the ground.
As Yuri approached, her eyes lifted to meet his.
“Can you speak?”
“Yes.”
She was gaunt but her eyes were alive. At least her mind was still intact.
“I overheard the conversation. You’re blaming the half-orcs, right?”
“Yes. Maybe…”
“Kill them.”
Before Yuri could respond, she said it plainly.
“Kill them all.”
Her voice was quiet, but filled with rage.
“Everyone feels the same way.”
“The half-orcs…”
“Did it.”
The woman clenched her sleeve tightly.
“They did the same things. Everything the orcs did, and worse. We were their only scapegoats.”
Yuri fell silent. Another woman nearby spoke up.
“They killed my little brother. For fun.”
She buried her face in her knees, never looking up again after those words.
Everyone was silent, but Yuri could feel the rising hatred.
The first woman spoke again.
“You’re the prince of Briol, right?”
“Yes.”
“Take revenge.”
Her voice faltered briefly, then sharpened again.
Her fierce eyes stared straight at Yuri.
“Take revenge. Don’t waste time with idle talk with the empire. If you have any conscience, kill every orc and half-orc, you bastard. If you have a conscience…”
A soldier nearby moved toward the woman, but Yuri stopped him.
“Where are you from?”
“Rhein.”
Yuri closed his eyes.
A small territory near Saidor.
It made sense now.
These survivors were from countries bordering the steppes and the frontier. Many must have been from Briol.
“What’s your name?”
“Jane.”
“Jane. Were there many from Briol?”
“There were, but most are dead. Some committed suicide. We buried them every day. Every time, we had to gather their shattered bodies…”
His ears rang.
He had a duty. And he had sworn to uphold it.
Yuri knelt down, lowering himself to Jane’s level.
He summoned the spirit of Gilty.
Meeting Jane’s bewildered gaze, Yuri bowed his head.
“On behalf of Briol, I apologize.”
He just wanted to right the wrongs of his past life.
But that wasn’t all.
There were things that should have been done but weren’t.
Responsibilities forgotten, abandoned by all, left desolate on the barren steppes.
“And I promise.”
She probably wouldn’t live long. Her broken body was unlikely to heal.
She might even die on the way back home.
So there was only one thing he could offer.
“I will repay you in kind.”
A fitting price.
Revenge.
To make sure she felt his resolve, Yuri held her gaze until the end.
“I, Yuri of Briol, swear this oath with all the honor I possess.”
Jane’s eyes flickered.
Then, she gave a faint nod.
“Keep your promise.”
Then she slumped down.
Jane said no more.
It was as if she had exhausted her life force. Her breath was shallow, as if the vitality he’d sensed was a lie.
She had summoned her last strength to say those words.
Not just for herself.
Yuri stood.
Graham and the aide watching the scene exchanged a look of regret.
“Sir Graham.”
“Yes?”
“As a member of the alliance army, as the prince and commander of Briol, and as a representative of the innocent Briol citizens who suffered, I strongly urge the execution of these creatures.”
“Understood.”
Graham nodded.
“Your Highness, one more request. May I take Cory with me?”
Graham seemed determined to make the final selection among the half-orcs.
“Very well.”
“Thank you. And I will fully consider your wishes.”
“Thank you.”
Yuri nodded and turned away.
He returned to Briol’s barracks and entrusted the matter to Raymond.
“Send envoys to every country bordering the steppes and the frontier.”
“Yes.”
Yuri ordered that the survivors be reported.
Whether they were helped or used as propaganda to fuel hatred against the orcs, each nation would decide for themselves. And that alone would put pressure on Graham.
Raymond’s expression darkened as he heard Yuri’s explanation.
“So that’s what happened. I’ll send a report to His Majesty.”
“Make sure to inform Brother Cedric as well.”
“Understood.”
Cedric would wisely assist the returning survivors.
Yuri thought of his respected eldest brother and calmed his heart.
“He must be doing well.”
Now, the alliance army was heading straight into the heart of the steppes, where Okua awaited.
A massive battle was about to unfold.
Just imagining the fight made Yuri’s head spin.
On the vast plains, brutal hand-to-hand combat would rage, bodies piling up like mountains. There would be no chance to retreat.
“Phew…”
Yuri let out a long sigh and turned his gaze.
In the distance, the faint clashing of swords and armor could be heard.
“What’s this?”
As he approached, he saw knights lined up in a long row.
Beyond them, Moyongchan was sparring.
“Alright…”
The knights took turns facing Moyongchan in orderly fashion.
After exchanging a few strikes, the knight inevitably collapsed, and Moyongchan, showing no sign of fatigue, immediately switched to the next opponent.
“It’s an honor to face one of the Ten Strong!”
“Exactly.”
“Thank you!”
They rejoiced as if the wounds Moyongchan dealt were badges of honor.
Not only Briol’s knights but even those from other countries had gathered, and the line never ended.
“You.”
“Yes?”
“You’re out.”
“Why…?”
“We don’t let the sick fight.”
“Ugh…”
Jose, who had once been saved by Moyongchan, stood in line with his shoulder wrapped in bandages and a splint, only to be sent outside.
Yuri approached him.
“Sir Jose.”
“Ah, Your Highness.”
Jose’s face lit up.
“How’s your shoulder?”
“Perfectly fine, Your Highness. And how are you?”
“As you can see, I’m in one piece.”
“That’s a relief.”
Jose rubbed his shoulder.
Kuruui’s axe had struck right on his right scapula. Though protected by a mana method, it would be a while before he could fight properly again.
“Oh, and Sir Hernando came by.”
“Did he?”
“He’s quite skilled.”
Jose had apparently snuck out of the barracks to tend to him.
“With a little more rest, I should be ready to fight again.”
“Fight?”
“Of course.”
“Hmm…”
Honestly, he looked like he needed to rest, but Yuri hoped someone of Jose’s caliber would rejoin the front lines somehow.
Yuri instinctively reached to touch Jose’s shoulder but, noticing his condition, patted his back instead.
“Be careful, alright?”
“Thank you for your concern.”
“And Jonathan?”
“The captain’s holed up in the barracks, poring over maps all day.”
“I see. I should go check on him.”
As they talked, Proin from Bursen stepped up before Moyongchan.
He shouted, “To our guest from the East, I shall personally show you the fierce waves of Bursen!”
“Waves?”
“There’s a sea at the western edge. I’ve honed my swordsmanship riding those waves!”
Suddenly, he switched to speaking in Hao-che.
“What’s with that?”
“He gets self-conscious when there’s a crowd.”
It seemed he wanted to put on a show in front of the assembled knights from various nations.
“The sea, huh…”
Moyongchan reacted.
He closed his eyes, lost in thought.
“The sea…”
“Is there a sea in the East as well?”
“Of course.”
“That’s wonderful to hear.”
“I love the sea too.”
Moyongchan drew his sword.
“In the southern night sea, one mortal jewel is one…”
“Ohhh…”
Proin and Moyongchan chatted animatedly about their respective seas before settling into their stances.
Of course, Proin didn’t last long.
After just two exchanges, he faltered, dropped his sword, and collapsed, unable to keep his balance as if suffering a concussion.
“Ugh, to be beaten by the waves of Bursen…”
“Your swordsmanship is no match for the fresh water, not the sea.”
“W-what…”
“But…”
Moyongchan stepped closer, looking down at Proin.
“Even fresh water will one day become the sea.”
Then he turned away.
Proin seemed moved by his words, shuddered once, bowed silently to Moyongchan, and left.
Jose said, “He’s just embarrassed and wants to leave quickly.”
“I see.”
This time, another knight stepped forward.
Watching the sparring, Yuri murmured, “Thank goodness.”
Moyongchan’s duels with the knights were like private lessons. His willingness to do this suggested he was committed to fighting alongside the allied forces against Okua.
Suddenly, Moyongchan stopped.
“…”
His eyes fixed on something, his expression strangely tense.
Yuri thought he was looking at her, so she met his gaze, but when his eyes shifted, she turned around.
“What’s going on here?”
It was Hernando.
He had been holed up in the barracks but now wandered over casually.
“Is that the foreigner?”
“Yes.”
“Then why is he staring at me like that…”
Hernando ducked behind Yuri, then peeked out.
“Is he glaring?”
Moyongchan kept his gaze locked on Hernando.
The latter avoided eye contact, then gave an awkward smile.
“I’m embarrassed…”
Moyongchan finally spoke.
“My name is Moyongchan. May I know the name of the great knight before me?”