Bernard spoke.
"I've heard everything."
"Already?"
"His Majesty and I are closer than the prince thinks."
"I didn't know."
"The deepest scar on my body was left by His Majesty."
"Ah, right..."
"You saw it yourself."
Yuri nodded.
Bernard was originally a wandering swordsman who roamed around, challenging the strong to duels.
The reason he ended up staying in Briol was none other than his father, Fiore.
Young Yuri had also witnessed that duel.
Bernard had charged in like a mad demon, and although Fiore tried to show some mercy, Bernard was a strong swordsman as well, so holding back even slightly wasn't enough to stop him.
So, in the end, Fiore stabbed Bernard in the stomach.
Bernard's eyes had gone wide with disbelief as he stared blankly at Fiore, then collapsed, blood pouring from his body—a scene that still lingered vividly in memory.
When Bernard had risen from his sickbed, he had been insistent.
'Fight me again!'
Due to his persistent demand, Fiore eventually agreed to duel Bernard once a year, in exchange for him teaching the princes.
Cedric, after reaching a certain level, trained with the Captain of the Royal Guard, Sanned, and Joshua had no interest in the sword at all, so now Yuri was Bernard's only student.
"Bernard."
"Yes."
"At first, I thought you were just a heartless beast of a swordsman..."
"Please, go on."
"But now, haven't you grown fond of me?"
Yuri said.
From what he remembered, Bernard would soon leave Briol.
He wanted to stop him.
"If my father refuses to duel with you anymore, will you leave?"
"Of course."
"Bernard."
Yuri put on a sad expression.
He didn't feel much emotional stir, but with age came enough experience to at least feign sorrow in his eyes.
He deliberately let his voice waver.
"You're my teacher."
"Yes..."
"I think Briol needs a swordsman like you. Someone unorthodox, who fights like a back-alley thug, with sticky, snake-like, and vicious swordsmanship."
"Is this you trying to keep me here?"
"Of course."
"Doesn't sound like it."
"You'll be dueling my father again soon, and I bet you'll lose miserably, as always."
"..."
"And then, tired of you, he'll declare he won't duel anymore..."
"Why do you think that?"
"It just feels that way. Like he doesn't want to torment poor Bernard anymore..."
"Why are you saying this?"
"I'm telling you to stay."
Yuri said.
"Briol needs you."
Bernard looked at him quietly. Yuri didn't look away.
The two stared into each other's eyes for a while.
Surprisingly, Bernard agreed to the negotiation without resistance.
"Very well."
"Really?"
"Then, what will you give me in return?"
"Me?"
"There must be terms."
"Well..."
Yuri scratched his head.
He was a prince in name only—he had nothing to offer. At best, he had vague knowledge of the future, which would be hard to use to persuade anyone right now.
But then Bernard spoke first.
"I'll propose the terms."
"What?"
"Erich Briol's swordsmanship."
A demand befitting a sword demon.
Yuri looked troubled.
It wasn't because it was difficult to teach someone the swordsmanship of his ancestor.
"That's going to be tough."
"I don't mind if you haven't mastered it completely. I've taken that into account."
That was partly true.
Yuri had only experienced Erich Briol's swordsmanship through a dummy, not fully made it his own.
But there was a bigger reason.
"That's not it. Even if you see it, it won't help."
"Why not?"
"That swordsmanship is one with the mana Method."
The two were usually treated as separate things.
The mana Method was like an assisting force, and it never overshadowed swordsmanship.
But Erich Briol's swordsmanship wasn't so much a form of swinging a sword—it was more like a manifestation of the mana Method.
In other words, 'Heart-Soul Slash' was both a sword technique and a mana Method.
It was such a novel approach that even Yuri wasn't sure if he was learning it properly.
Bernard's gaze shifted.
"I've never heard of such a thing."
"I hadn't either until I saw it."
"Well, Your Highness is inexperienced, so everything must seem new to you. But I am Bernard, the sword demon."
"Ah, right..."
"If I don't know it, then no one on the continent does."
"Impressive, impressive."
"Yes, I am quite impressive."
Yuri made a sour face.
Lately, he'd realized Bernard's personality was lighter than he remembered.
This must have been what he was like all along. They hadn't spoken much in his previous life, so Yuri hadn't known him properly.
The images of people he remembered may have all been misunderstandings.
Thinking that way, regrets about the past came flooding back again.
"I regret it."
The words slipped out before he knew it. Bernard smirked.
"Do you mean how rudely you treated me?"
"I should've told Father to fire you somehow..."
"..."
"Just kidding. Enough of that nonsense."
Yuri said.
"So, if I show you my ancestor's swordsmanship, you'll stay in the kingdom?"
"You want me to stay?"
"Of course."
"Why?"
"I told you earlier."
"Answer sincerely."
"Fine. Like you said, it's because you're Bernard the sword demon."
"Oh..."
"Can't I just say I admire your swordsmanship?"
"You just said no more nonsense."
Bernard stepped closer.
The constant tension he usually carried on his body was gone.
"Please be honest with me."
"About what?"
"You've changed suddenly. And you went to Sword Mountain and even found a dungeon."
"So?"
"His Majesty said it was because of a dream."
Yuri frowned, wondering just how much his father had blabbed.
"Don't worry. No one else knows. He told me for educational purposes, since I'm your teacher."
"That's a relief."
"In any case, you saw a great war in your dream."
"That's right."
"And Briol was destroyed."
"They couldn't even put up a proper resistance."
"Very well."
Bernard nodded.
"If you show me the swordsmanship, I'll stay. And one more thing."
"One more?"
"Call me teacher and speak formally."
"Are you serious?"
"Yes."
"You really want me to speak respectfully to you?"
"It's not that valuable."
"Yet you'll stay?"
"Because I believe in your premonition."
Yuri looked at Bernard.
So he was saying he believed in the dream?
"You believe in my dream?"
"Yes."
Bernard lifted his sword and ran his hand up and down the blade.
A strange light flickered in his eyes.
Enchanted eyes.
It was a sight Yuri had seen before.
Just like in that strange moment his father had once shown, he could tell Bernard's fate was also bound to the sword.
"The sword will change fate."
His voice dropped low.
"I've seen this sword change life and death countless times. That's why I believe a mysterious power dwells in swords. And you, Prince, were born with sword talent. What you saw might truly be what's to come..."
Yuri was a little moved.
Who else would believe such a lie so earnestly?
"Even if it's not true, it doesn't matter. It's my choice. So, even if it's a half-finished swordsmanship, I'll accept it as a condition and stay in Briol. I owe His Majesty, after all."
Yuri nodded deeply.
"Well thought, Bernard."
Since returning to the past, he had done his best to change the future. It seemed those efforts were beginning to bear fruit.
Not only had he obtained the legacy of his ancestor, but he had also succeeded in holding onto Bernard, who was originally fated to leave the kingdom.
With a wide smile on his face, Yuri said,
"Good. I'll show you. The 'Heart-Soul Slash' of Yuri Briol."
"Honorifics."
"Th… yes."
Yuri barely managed to correct himself.
"I will show you, sir. Bernard-nim?"
"Teacher."
"Ugh. Teacher..."
"Good."
Gritting his teeth, Yuri stepped back with a wooden sword in hand. Bernard also swung his wooden sword through the air.
Yuri took his stance, but just then, Bernard spoke up.
"Your Highness."
"Hmm?"
"'Hmm,' really?"
"Got it, got it. What is it?"
"There's one thing you got wrong."
Thinking it was a correction on his form, Yuri looked down to examine his posture.
But Bernard brought up something else.
"Though His Majesty did defeat me, he didn't say he was tired of me, nor did he pity me."
"What are you talking about…"
Bernard casually lifted his shirt. Blood had faintly seeped through the bandages wrapped around his abdomen.
It was clearly a sword wound.
And in the royal palace, there was only one swordsman capable of doing that to Bernard.
"Huh?"
"I dueled His Majesty yesterday. He told me to take good care of things from now on."
"What?"
"He also said dueling is always a pleasure since I'm such a great swordsman. He said let's spend another ten years discussing the sword together."
Yuri stood dazed.
The changes he had caused were already beginning in deeper places than he realized.
In other words, Bernard was already destined to stay.
"You bastard…"
"Honorifics."
Bernard swung his sword. Yuri got hit on the thigh several times and jumped up and down.
"Ugh…"
"Show me the ancestral swordsmanship now, please."
"Damn it!"
"Honorifics."
"I was talking to myself!"
"Excuse me?"
"Sir."
"Yes. Please demonstrate."
Yuri let out a deep sigh.
"Watch closely."
He synchronized his will with the core located at his heart. Mana surged throughout his body.
"I'm attacking now."
"Yes."
He stared at Bernard.
He imagined cutting him down.
In sync with his heartbeat, mana burst forth from the core.
Countless images of striking the enemy surfaced.
Yuri grabbed hold of what he thought was the most efficient one.
Was it mana first, or the body first?
Or was it his imagination?
Perhaps, all of them happened at once.
As Yuri's world moved toward the scene of cutting down his enemy, just before he could reach his goal, his vision warped heavily.
Blocked.
"Your Highness."
Having blocked the sword, Bernard wore an expression Yuri had never seen before.
It was confusion.
Yuri had never once flustered him.
"Why?"
"Try again."
"Got it."
He was surprised enough that he slipped back into casual speech without realizing it.
"And…"
After a brief hesitation, Bernard said,
"Focus your thoughts. Your sword is wavering. Your Highness is not yet capable of seeing multiple paths."
This time, it was Yuri who was surprised.
Of course it was Bernard.
With just one look, he understood the Heart-Soul Slash and even gave advice.
Yuri felt ashamed of his past self, who had wasted time despite having such a teacher by his side.
He smiled bitterly, gripped the wooden sword tighter, and said,
"Alright. I'm going again."
***
"It's changing."
Yuri murmured.
He hadn't stepped in directly, and yet his father, Fiore, had taken the initiative to keep Bernard.
That hadn't happened in his previous life.
Could it be that his dream story had gotten through?
The fact that the future was slowly changing gave Yuri hope.
But the road ahead was still long.
Even thinking back on it now, the Empire's military power was strangely overwhelming.
The Black Army.
They must be stopped.
"Absolutely."
"Yes, absolutely."
At some point, Ena had entered the room and echoed his murmur.
"Absolutely, you mustn't cause any trouble this time."
"This time?"
"You caused trouble last year, remember."
"What trouble?"
Yuri tilted his head.
He didn't remember everything from his childhood. Every day had been one mishap after another, so he wasn't even sure what specific trouble Ena was referring to.
"You've caused trouble every day, so of course you don't know which one I'm talking about, right?"
"Correct."
"Of course. So please recommend a pay raise for your loyal maid, Your Highness."
"I already heard you're getting the best treatment among the maids."
"Well, that's because I'm the only one who can put up with your temper."
"I've been quiet lately, haven't I?"
"That's exactly it."
Ena trembled, as if nervous.
"Just thinking about how big the trouble will be this time, since you're being so quiet, feels like it's shaving years off my life. I think I'm getting a nervous breakdown."
"You're good at making things up."
"Making things up? Why do you think I'm like this? Anyway, in a week…"
Ena raised both hands and pointed to the wall.
"There's the Royal Ball!"
A lavish ceremonial outfit was hanging there.
It was so gaudy that Yuri couldn't even bear to look at it—he covered it with both hands.
"Ugh…"
"You'll wear that properly and meet the lovely noble ladies."
"No. I'm not attending."
"That's not happening. His Majesty entrusted it to me."
The Royal Ball.
He hated it.