Yuri continued visiting the slums even after their first meeting, extending his goodwill to Asana.
Having owed her life to Daisy, she did her best to repay Yuri in any way she could.
What Yuri wanted was clear.
Thus, Yuri became Asana's employer.
"Did you follow Guillermo?"
"Yes."
"He's got light footsteps. What about Gorio?"
"I delivered the warning."
"How?"
"I left a letter by his bedside while he slept."
"With a knife?"
"Yes."
"Well done."
After making money through Rein, Yuri roped Gorio in.
At first, Gorio tried to pull a trick, but once Asana was sent, he complied obediently.
"Gorio listens to you well."
"I just dislike him for no reason."
"You two get along, then."
To keep him from harboring any ulterior motives, Yuri would periodically send warnings through Asana.
In her past life, she had crushed Gorio—and in the end, she ended up tormenting him again this time.
It was an ironic fate.
"Your Highness."
Asana slowly opened her mouth. She wasn't usually the one to speak first.
"Are you really going?"
"Yes."
Asana was worried about him.
"Please be careful."
"We'll see."
Yuri shook his head.
"You talk like it's someone else's problem."
"What do you mean?"
"You're coming too."
Asana's eyes widened for a moment, then returned to a blank expression.
"Yes."
Asana rarely showed emotion, but having spent a long time with her, Yuri had learned to read her expressions to some extent.
She looked relieved.
Like a dog worried about its master.
"You'll be able to follow me well, right?"
"Anywhere is better than where I came from."
The Assassin cult was hidden deep in the middle of a desert. A grassland would be nothing in comparison.
"Good. I'll be in touch."
"Yes."
Just as she had appeared, Asana vanished again. It was a strange technique.
He had asked her before how she did it, but she had kept her mouth shut.
Back during his mercenary days, he had heard a rumor: the Assassin cult's sorcery was actually a form of spirit magic.
Back then, he had doubted the existence of spirits, but now that he had returned from death, there was little left he couldn't believe.
"I'll have to ask her properly next time."
Muttering to himself, Yuri placed his sword on the table.
Four daggers.
And one sword.
With the necessary equipment in place, his confidence surged.
"Orc…"
He now felt eager to meet it.
***
The official campaign against the orcs had been declared. Under the banner of the allied army, the continent was ablaze. Those seeking wealth and glory were heading east.
"Yuri. Come back safely."
"Yes, elder brother."
Before the departure ceremony, Cedric had come to see him. His face was full of concern.
Yuri pounded his chest.
"Don't worry. I'm invincible."
"I know your skills well, but I still can't help worrying."
"I'll raise the name of Briol high."
"Good."
Cedric adjusted his glasses with a gentle smile. He had been deeply immersed in his studies lately, saying his eyesight had deteriorated.
"You should take a break from studying sometimes. Take care of your eyes."
"I will."
"I don't believe you."
"Then let's make a deal. I'll take it easy on the studying. You'll be careful. Deal?"
"Alright."
Yuri smiled brightly.
Just looking at Cedric made him envision a bright future for Briol.
If it weren't for the Empire, they might've enjoyed an age of peace like never before.
"Yuri."
"Yeah?"
"Come here."
Cedric pulled him into a hug.
Though Yuri had grown, Cedric was still taller, so his face was buried in his brother's shoulder. He felt warmth in that embrace.
For some reason, his chest tightened.
Over Cedric's shoulder, the flag of Briol fluttered atop the spire.
Watching the lined-up knights and soldiers below it, Yuri steeled his resolve.
He had returned to the past to protect all of this.
"I'll be back."
"Alright."
He patted Cedric on the back and walked toward the troops. The knights and soldiers turned to look at him.
This was not the place of someone seeing them off, but the one departing.
This is where he belonged.
"Everyone's eyes are a bit fierce."
Not many knights welcomed Yuri.
A boy who had achieved nothing was being entrusted with their lives just because he was a prince—who would be pleased about that?
"Your Highness."
Jared stepped beside him.
"Sir Ernando is going to be late."
"Why?"
"He drank too much yesterday…"
Surprisingly, Ernando had volunteered for the allied army. While Yuri welcomed the fact that such a mage had joined, the unclear reason behind it left him uneasy.
"I still don't get it."
"Get what?"
"Why did Ernando volunteer? He won't even be able to gamble in the allied army."
"Exactly."
Yuri shook his head.
Ernando hadn't changed in the past five years.
On the other hand, Jared had.
Yuri looked him up and down.
"What are you staring at?"
"Nothing."
He had grown remarkably. He had already surpassed the level he had in the previous life.
Before, he had the lifeless eyes of a dried fish, but now, there was real fire in them.
"You turned out well."
"Thank you."
"I raised you."
"I grew on my own."
"Nope, I raised you."
"Let's say you did."
Yuri snorted.
How could Jared possibly know—how pathetic Yuri had been in his past life.
"What's the point in saying it?"
The one who truly grew was Yuri himself.
It might have been his second life, but still—he had done it on his own.
"And now, someone else…"
Suddenly, someone was approaching.
He thought he was imagining things, but the person was walking straight toward Yuri.
A face he knew well, yet felt unfamiliar.
Yuri, uncharacteristically, tensed a little.
This was their first meeting in this life.
Someone who felt both close and distant.
Laurent Flandre.
He stood before Yuri.
In their past life, they had been bound by various ties.
And in the end, he had taken Yuri's head.
Recalling that scene made his chest feel far from calm.
Who else, if not him, had seen his own headless body slump to the ground, bleeding?
"..."
Yes, this bastard was the one who beheaded him.
It suddenly irked him all over again.
Yuri lifted his chin arrogantly, raising an eyebrow as if to ask what business he had.
"What do you want?"
At that, Laurent knelt on one knee and bowed his head.
"I greet the Third Prince."
His manner was so polite that it caught Yuri off guard.
"Uh, y-yeah."
Laurent continued.
"I've long wanted to meet you."
"Huh?"
"But circumstances didn't allow it, so I ask your generous understanding for the lateness of my greeting."
"Well… that happens. It's fine."
Yuri swallowed.
In his past life, he had come to claim his head. So what was it this time…?
"I have admired you."
"What?"
Laurent lifted his head.
His eyes sparkled.
Had he a more menacing face, it wouldn't have been so strange—but he was pale and handsome like a courtesan. The way he looked up made Yuri uncomfortable.
"Ever since I heard of the incident five years ago, I've always wanted to meet the Third Prince."
Five years ago—he meant the duel against the Empire's agent to save Ena.
It had been a heroic act, but few knew the full circumstances at the time.
In fact, it had been maliciously distorted.
They said the prince had made the agent throw the duel on purpose, or that Yuri, having been thoroughly beaten, shrank into silence afterward.
Even the motive behind the duel had been warped from all angles, so Yuri's reputation hadn't improved much since.
There was a reason people gave him such looks.
But Laurent seemed to know the true story.
"To take up the sword to protect your own… it was a model act of chivalry."
"I was kind of like that, huh?"
"Yes. I heard the full story from my father, who at the time served His Majesty closely. Do not be swayed by the slanders of fools."
"Yeah, you're right."
"Since then, you have been my idol. I volunteered for the allied army just to meet you in person."
"Well done, well done."
"It's an honor to be with you!"
Earning Laurent's favor wasn't bad, but the relationship seemed to be progressing in an awkward direction.
Yuri helped Laurent to his feet.
"Come now, rise, Laurent. I've heard of your fame too. They say you'll surpass your father, Sir Lian."
"I'm still very lacking."
"I'll be counting on you. The future of Briol rests on your shoulders."
"Such praise is beyond me!"
"No, let's do our best together."
"Yes!"
"Alright, alright."
"I shall take my leave. It was an honor!"
"Take care."
Finally sending Laurent off, Yuri took his place at the front of the knights' ranks.
He wasn't in a bad mood.
"Hmph, hmph…"
He thought Jared looked at him funny midway, but ignored it. That guy had grown too used to him and forgotten how precious he was.
Soon, the horn resounded.
The knights straightened up, and the soldiers raised their spears high.
For this departure ceremony, under the watchful eyes of the nobles, Yuri was to receive the dispatch orders from Fiore.
Eventually, Fiore appeared.
He stood at the highest point of the platform, looking down at Yuri.
"We shall begin the departure ceremony."
His voice wasn't loud, but it carried a commanding weight across the area.
"Yuri, come forth."
Yuri climbed the steep stairs and stopped at a spot where he had to look up at Fiore.
Fiore held a neatly folded piece of silk. The dispatch orders must have been inside.
The moment he received it, Yuri would officially become the commander of this expeditionary force.
The lives of all these troops would be his burden.
"Nervous?"
"No."
"Look behind you."
At Fiore's words, Yuri turned.
The entire army filled his view.
Spears and blades raised to the sky.
Tense eyes gleaming from beneath helmets.
All of it was directed at Yuri.
The thudding heartbeats and trembling breaths of the entire force turned into a massive weight pointed squarely at him.
Not everyone would return alive.
But at the very least, he would not let them die without reason.
Is there nobility in death?
There is.
In his past life, he had closed his eyes in the most disgraceful way imaginable.
So now, he would ensure such a death would not be repeated.
Turning back, he looked at Fiore.
Fiore examined Yuri's face.
"You're not afraid, huh."
"Of course not."
"Confident?"
"Yes."
"Will you accept the dispatch orders?"
"Of course."
In Fiore's once relaxed eyes, a spark suddenly flared.
"Take them."
At that moment, Yuri's vision went black.
It was so dark he couldn't see anything.
Wondering what had happened, he looked more closely—and saw something hazy and pale approaching from the distance.
As it neared, it turned bright red.
Yuri realized it was death.
But he couldn't move. An overwhelming killing intent advanced toward him.
Was it unavoidable?
No.
Something moved him.
His core squeezed out mana. Blood vessels connected, and the current of mana pounded through his body, drawing forth a single movement.
Thought and action became one.
The darkness receded.
Yuri slowly lifted his eyelids, dazed.
Fiore's sword, Northern Wind, was being blocked by his own sword, Guilty.
A faint smile rose on Fiore's lips.
"You managed to receive it."
Yuri stood there, dazed, overcome with shivers.
"This is your substitute for the dispatch orders."
What had he just received?
Was this the realm his father had reached?
It was a scene Yuri had never even imagined.
Fiore's voice snapped him back to his senses.
"Return safely."
"Yes."
Yuri nodded.
Rather than a mere slip of paper, Fiore had used a single sword strike to test and prove Yuri's worth.
The shredded dispatch orders rode the wind and flew off to some part of the royal capital of Briol.
"It's all up to you now."
Leaving those words, he descended the platform.
From this moment forward, everything was entirely Yuri's responsibility.
Just when had he come to trust him this much? Truly a man who did things his own way.
"Well then…"
He could've just descended the stairs and started the march eastward right away.
But Yuri didn't do that.
He stayed on the platform and looked back at the troops.
Everyone was waiting for him to speak.
Yuri grinned and opened his mouth.
"I am Yuri Briol."
His voice rang out.
The commander's view was a curious one.
He could see every single face clearly. Not one showed a hint of welcome.
It didn't matter.
Respect was not something to be pleaded for, nor begged for.
"Believe in me."
He added just one word of advice.
Everyone looked startled by the declaration.
Yuri laughed aloud, then raised Guilty toward the distant eastern sky.
"All forces, march!"
The army began to move.
Yuri curled up his lips.
This was the beginning.
The Empire would not get a single thing it wished for.