When Yuri opened her eyes, someone was sitting beside her.
“Water.”
A bottle was handed to her immediately.
But she couldn’t drink it lying down. She asked again.
“Help me sit up.”
The other person refused.
“Get up on your own, Yuri Briol.”
Only then did she recognize who it was.
Lifting her head while still lying down, she saw Sibylla sitting there.
She wore a worn, stained uniform, showing signs of long military service.
“What’s going on?”
“I came because Briol requested a priest. I’m skilled in sacred law, after all.”
“Here in person?”
“There’s something I need to check.”
“Check?”
Yuri slowly sat up.
Pain radiated through her entire body. Her meridians hadn’t healed yet.
For someone like Yuri, who was used to manipulating mana daily, the pain in her energy channels was worse than any muscle injury.
“Did you lie about your age?”
Leaning against the wall, Sibylla asked.
Yuri gave a bitter laugh.
“What nonsense is that?”
“From what you do, it seems that way.”
“I’m eighteen.”
“Impossible.”
Yuri chuckled softly.
She understood where Sibylla was coming from.
Sibylla had been recognized as gifted since childhood—a talent worthy of being called a prodigy. But Yuri had achieved heights far beyond even Sibylla’s.
Still, what could she do?
Her body was eighteen, but she was living a second life.
“You’re a monster, aren’t you?”
“Something like that. How long was I out?”
“Two days.”
“What?”
Yuri instinctively pulled forward but grabbed her shoulder in pain.
“You slept that long?”
“Yeah.”
“So during that time…?”
“We marched. I carried you lying down.”
Yuri looked at Sibylla.
There was no way a knight of her caliber could be dragged around for two days without knowing what was happening.
“I put you to sleep with magic so you could recover. Used a fine levitation spell on the carriage so you wouldn’t wake up. The knights took great care of you.”
Her tone held a hint of envy.
Yuri forced herself to move and stepped out of the bed.
“This must be hard…”
“I’m fine.”
Sibylla didn’t insist on stopping her. Every knight had their own way.
She cast a healing potion on Yuri once more.
Yuri stood up and picked up Guilty, who was leaning nearby.
“Can you support me?”
With Sibylla’s help, Yuri stepped outside the barracks.
The sun was setting.
The sunset cast long shadows over the allied army’s camp.
After a long campaign, most soldiers’ uniforms were stained with blood, but the twilight softened the stains.
“Looks like you’ve been fighting nonstop.”
“That’s right.”
“Let’s wake you up.”
“We managed fine without you.”
Sibylla shrugged.
“Lord Raymond commanded Briol well.”
“Of course.”
“Most of the fighting was handled by the Empire. They fought fiercely. It seemed like the knights were holding back until now.”
“The Empire is pretty sneaky.”
“Better to rest and recover than to push too hard and risk spreading illness. Look over there.”
Sibylla pointed toward the horizon.
Flags fluttered near the skyline.
Yuri’s mouth fell open.
“We’re almost there.”
The allied forces had reached a point where they could see Okua’s troops.
“You’ve arrived. Finally.”
It had been a long journey.
They left Briol, passed through border cities, shook off the orc ambushes, and now stood before Okua’s lair deep in the grasslands.
“Prince, you’re awake.”
“Glad you’re safe.”
“Thanks to you, I’m alive!”
Soldiers who spotted Yuri greeted her as they passed by. But these were unfamiliar faces.
“They’re soldiers from the Holy Kingdom.”
“What? Has my popularity gone up?”
“Your deeds have spread. You’ve earned a reputation, even killing that monster digging tunnels.”
More soldiers from other nations recognized Yuri and showed respect. The atmosphere was different from before. Yuri waved back.
She smiled wryly.
“There’s one last battle left. People need someone to rely on.”
Among the allied forces, tales of various knights’ valor circulated.
The soldiers created heroes to overcome their fear of the formidable Okua.
Yuri said,
“Sibylla.”
“Yeah?”
“Can I ask you a favor?”
“What is it?”
She had been pondering this for a long time.
Now that the allied campaign was nearing its end, she couldn’t put it off any longer.
Yuri said,
“Pretend to be dating me…”
Sibylla’s eyes widened in surprise.
Her large eyes soon calmed back to their usual size.
“W-what are you talking about all of a sudden?”
“Pretend we’re a couple.”
“Why?”
Yuri sighed.
“I don’t want to ask this either. I hate owing people favors.”
“It’s all because I’m too good at what I do…”
Yuri explained the terrifying situation.
Ragna favored her so much he was trying to marry her off to his niece, Yekaterina.
There was no pressure now because of the war, but once the campaign ended, Ragna would tighten his grip.
“I have to get ahead of it.”
If a prince of the Empire sets his mind on you, there’s no easy way to escape.
The worst part was that, on the surface, the offer looked too good to refuse.
Sibylla’s reaction was the same.
“Why? The princess is famous for her beauty, kind personality, and her family and wealth are far better than yours. Isn’t that good for you?”
“No, I’m a prince too…”
Yekaterina’s background was undeniably impressive.
“I don’t care about royal blood. And from what I see, her kindness is all an act.”
“What about her looks?”
“Sibylla, are you going to live off her face? People care more about what’s inside.”
“You really think that…?”
Sibylla narrowed her eyes and smiled.
Yuri hesitated.
It was an expression she rarely showed—if anything, it was sly.
What made it worse was how briefly it appeared before vanishing.
“So what about me? Am I just going to end up with some guy because of you?”
“You’d be better off. When you return after the campaign, your brother won’t leave you alone. He’ll try to marry you off to some fat noble. If you’re linked to me, he won’t dare.”
“That’s just your opinion.”
“Fine, fine…”
Yuri sighed.
She expected Sibylla to demand something in return.
The Sibylla who once insisted on formal greetings on first meeting had grown a lot.
“So, what do you want?”
“Um…”
Sibylla said,
“A wish.”
“What?”
Yuri shook her head.
“What are you talking about?”
She never made reckless deals promising to grant wishes.
One wrong guarantee could ruin a family or collapse society. Offering something as extreme as a wish could bring disaster.
“Are you scared I’ll ask for something impossible?”
“It’s not fear, it’s just common caution.”
“I don’t need anything right now. How am I supposed to respond to a sudden request with no warning?”
“Well…”
“If you don’t want to, just say so.”
Sibylla’s tone was firm.
Yuri shook her head.
Still, a wish was out of the question. She’d have to think of another plan.
Just then, a hearty voice called from behind.
“Yuri! You’re awake!”
The last person she wanted to see was approaching with a big grin.
“I was just about to report to the Empire. Yuri, sleeping on the battlefield? You’re crazy.”
“T-thank you, Your Highness.”
“And my niece has been following the allied news closely, especially your exploits. Yuri Briol, what a remarkable fellow.”
Ragna slung an arm around Yuri’s shoulders.
Before she was completely overshadowed, Yuri desperately glanced at Sibylla.
Wish or no wish, let’s do it your way.
Sibylla nodded with that sly expression she’d flashed earlier.
Yuri already regretted the decision.
But it was too late. Things were spiraling out of control.
“Your Highness, greetings.”
“Oh, a princess from the Holy Kingdom. What was your name again?”
“Sibylla Arsaint.”
“Right. Are you close to Yuri?”
“More than just close.”
“If more than close…”
Sibylla smiled brightly, a look Yuri had never seen before.
She grabbed Yuri’s wrist, which Ragna was holding.
“We’re seeing each other with mutual feelings.”
Ragna’s gaze shifted to Yuri.
His friendly hold turned into a headlock. Yuri groaned.
“Ugh…”
“Is that true?”
“Yes.”
Ragna’s grip tightened briefly. Yuri tapped him.
An aide standing nearby spoke up.
“Your Highness, the third prince just woke up…”
“Right, of course.”
Ragna released her.
“Prince Briol and the princess of the Holy Kingdom. A fitting pair.”
“Thank you.”
“It’s natural for young men and women to meet.”
Ragna cleared his throat, a hint of disappointment in his voice but no further complaints.
“We’ll discuss this later…”
“Later?”
“Don’t you want to?”
“No.”
He quickly shifted the conversation back to the allied campaign.
“Anyway, you’ve probably heard the situation.”
“Yes.”
“Okua is just ahead. We plan to rest well before advancing.”
Yuri nodded, looking toward Okua’s camp alongside Ragna.
The allied campaign was nearing its end.
It was a moment filled with deep emotion.
Driven by a single-minded determination to undo the failures of his past life, Yuri had joined the Allied Forces. And so far, he had never been defeated, advancing all the way to the gates of Okua. This was undeniably a far better outcome than before.
The Allied Forces had united, and they had even acquired a weapon called Moyongchan.
Confidence surged within him—this time, they could succeed.
Ragna spoke up.
“When this war ends, the whole continent will know your name.”
Yuri agreed with him.
He had joined the Allied Forces and earned a string of brilliant victories.
Moreover, through countless experiences, he had reached a level where he could stand shoulder to shoulder with the continent’s most formidable knights.
At this rate, it seemed he could achieve his goals.
With that hope in his heart, Yuri bowed respectfully to Ragna.
“Your Highness’s name will also be known far and wide.”
“It has to be,” Ragna said with a grin. “Though, of course, that’ll be after we take Okua.”
“Indeed.”
“But I’m not worried.”
Ragna glanced at Sibylla and continued.
“The Empire, Briole, the paladins of the Holy Kingdom, and heroes from across the continent have gathered. There’s no way we’ll lose to some orcs. Those disgusting creatures, who don’t even know where they came from, need to be wiped out completely.”
Yuri nodded silently, recalling the origins of the orcs he had seen back in the old steppe kingdom.
“I intend to propose stationing troops there even after the Allied Forces disband.”
“You mean…?”
“To establish an organization that will continue to hunt and manage the orcs, so they can never regroup.”
Ragna’s words sounded like a revival of the ancient hunter clans from the old kingdoms preserved in memory.
Perhaps history was destined to repeat itself.
Yuri approved of the idea.
“That’s a wise plan.”
In his past life, the orcs had acted as if connected to the Empire.
If such a force could be eliminated early on, the future balance of power on the continent would shift dramatically.
“Exactly. It’s good for the Empire, and for the kingdoms bordering the steppes as well.”
Yuri realized anew that Ragna did not share the Emperor’s views.
The more successful the Allied Forces became, the more displeased the Emperor would be.
By now, he was probably in a foul mood, snapping at those around him.
Yuri decided to probe.
“Any news from the Empire?”
“Oh, that monster from before? It seems there are records of it. How the orcs came to control an extinct creature…”
In the Empire’s most noble and secretive place—the Imperial Palace—there was a salon for the Empire’s elite. It was a space designed for renowned figures from various fields to socialize.
But over time, its purpose had faded. Now, it was little more than a gathering spot for gossip-loving socialites.
“Have you heard the latest about the Allied Forces? It’s truly fascinating.”
“How are things at the front?”
“They’re preparing for the final battle.”
“They’ve never been defeated, right?”
“Prince Ragna is incredible, as expected.”
Lately, the Empire’s attention was fixed on the Allied Forces led by Prince Ragna.
“They say the orcs have tamed some kind of burrowing monster. What on earth is going on…?”
“I even heard the orcs are using dark magic.”
“Maybe they’ve resurrected an ancient beast through some strange ritual?”
“They say the orcs captured elves and stole their magic.”
“But elves don’t leave the forest, do they?”
“Probably kidnapped.”
All sorts of unverified rumors swirled.
Just then, someone opened the salon door and entered.
It was an official from the Magic Department, bringing news from the Allied Forces.
All eyes turned to him.
“Good day. I bring fresh news.”
“What is it?”
Enjoying the attention, he paused for effect before speaking slowly.
“It concerns the third prince of Briole, who has been playing a major role in the Allied Forces.”
“Yuri Briole, you mean?”
“Yes. It seems he’s courting a princess from the Holy Kingdom.”
“Excuse me?”
“The prince of Briole and a princess of the Holy Kingdom?”
“A romance blossoming on the battlefield?”
News of others’ love affairs was always a source of delight.
The atmosphere in the salon instantly grew lively.
Everyone’s minds raced with speculation. They eagerly spun their guesses into new rumors, treating them as fact.
Then—
“Is that true?”
A soft, beautiful voice drifted into the salon.
Though quiet, it carried undeniable presence, and the room fell silent.
The Magic Department official turned to see who had spoken, his face paling.
“Your Highness.”
It was Ekaterina, the Emperor’s daughter and the Empire’s most celebrated beauty.
She smiled, hiding her face behind a fan.
“Would you care to tell me more about this story?”