Who would have thought Count Sadeur's banquet would end like that?
After a sleepless night, the Briol forces departed from Sadeur Castle early the next morning.
"Your Highness."
Before leaving the castle, Jaime stopped Yuri.
"Take this one with you."
It was Cory, the one who had translated for the orc. He stood beside Jaime, his head lowered deeply.
His face was hidden under a hood, his entire body tightly wrapped—his small frame was the only visible feature.
"Cory, was it?"
Jaime nodded.
"Yes. You saw him last night."
"How is his health?"
"He's weak, but there are no issues."
"And his character?"
"Obedient, gentle."
Jaime added with a soft smile.
"A rare thing, really."
"I see."
Yuri nodded and turned to Cory.
"Cory."
"Yes?"
"Can you ride a horse?"
"I, I cannot."
"Then you'll have to learn."
Then he turned to Jaime.
"Could you give us a horse? I'll pay for it."
"No need. Take it."
Cory was flustered by the sudden decision, but he didn't seem to have the courage to refuse.
Jaime gave him a small pony that matched his build.
"Someone who knows the orc language is a valuable asset."
"Thank you, my lord…"
Cory awkwardly grabbed the reins.
Even atop the pony, his eyes barely reached Yuri's.
After a moment of hesitation, Cory spoke to Yuri.
"My lord, I must tell you something in advance…"
"I know."
"Pardon?"
"Don't worry about it."
"No, I mean…"
"Here. Take this."
Yuri handed him something—it was a pair of gauntlets made of high-quality leather.
"This is…"
Cory looked down at the gauntlets, then bowed and tried to return them to Yuri.
"These are too much for me…"
"I said, take them."
"But…"
"You little—"
Yuri pulled the whip from his saddle and smacked Cory's pony. The pony took off running.
Cory screamed as he held onto the reins.
Yuri laughed as he watched him go.
"Will he be alright?"
Ernando suddenly popped his head in from behind. Like a proper mage, he had been appearing and disappearing throughout the march.
"No reason he wouldn't be."
"If they find out, the soldiers won't like it."
"I'm taking him. What can they do about it?"
Yuri placed a hand on Ernando's shoulder.
"Perfect. Ernando, you take care of him."
"What?"
"A mage needs a squire too."
"Why me…"
He trailed off awkwardly. But to Yuri, it looked like this was exactly what he'd been hoping for.
Sure enough, Ernando's face lit up.
Just like at the gambling table—he was terrible at hiding his emotions.
"Cory's useful, so take good care of him."
"Well, if you say so… hehehe…"
Ernando hummed cheerfully. Yuri started to worry about Cory.
"You're not going to do anything shady, right?"
"How can you say such a hurtful thing…"
"Then I'll trust you."
Yuri mounted his horse. The other knights were already waiting for him.
"Your Highness. You're here."
Their attitude had changed from before.
Last night, even amidst a troubling situation, Yuri had stayed composed and skillfully managed the people.
A bold and calm demeanor commands respect. Yuri had proven he wasn't a coward, at the very least.
As he spurred his horse forward, Yuri spoke cheerfully.
"Beautiful morning, isn't it?"
"Yes…"
But the knights' voices were subdued.
With shadows under their eyes, it seemed they had tossed and turned all night, replaying what they'd seen.
Yuri laughed aloud.
"Now, let's resume the march."
Before leaving the castle, Yuri looked back.
Jaime was watching him from atop the wall.
Yuri placed a hand over his chest and offered him a gesture of gratitude. Jaime also bowed deeply.
Thanks to Jaime, the young knights had gained firsthand experience with orcs—and had fueled their hatred toward the enemy.
Yuri had gained everything he needed.
He murmured Jaime's name.
"Jaime Theodore…"
He had a strange madness in him, but Yuri liked him.
"This time, he won't die."
Now that he was leading his forces to join the Allied Army, Jaime wouldn't fall victim to the orcs again.
Yuri turned to Cory, who was riding alongside Ernando.
"Cory."
"Yes."
"Do you hate orcs?"
Cory hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
"Yes."
"Good. I'll make sure you get to see plenty of them die."
"Yes, my lord."
"Sir Raymond."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"How's the pace?"
"Faster than expected."
"Excellent. There must be bandits beyond the border, right?"
"Of course."
"Let's hit them along the way—as long as it doesn't hinder the march."
Raymond chuckled once and nodded.
"Yes."
***
The Briol forces soon reached the border.
The soldiers stationed at the edge of the kingdom gave off a completely different air—one unique to those constantly engaged in real combat, steeped in blood.
Yuri found the commander and obtained a map of the surrounding area.
It was detailed with trade routes, bandit hideouts, and known orc sightings.
"From here on, we're outside of Briol."
Yuri gathered the troops and spoke.
"From now on, it wouldn't be strange for enemies to appear at any time. If anyone's still relaxed, you'd better steel yourselves now."
The soldiers tensed.
Though there were some veterans, most were facing their first real battle—and the same applied to the knights.
"Let's go."
Led by Yuri, the Briol army crossed the border.
A dry plain stretched before them. Not a soul in sight.
The distant horizon waited for them.
"Jared."
At Yuri's call, Jared rode forward from the rear.
"Yes."
"From now on, you're the scout."
"What?"
Yuri unfolded the map, pointed to their current location, then tapped the area Jared was to recon.
"But this isn't the direction of Gide…"
"We left early, so a little detour is fine."
"Wait. This symbol…"
Jared checked the legend on the map's edge.
"Bandits?"
"They're the scum who disturb the border and threaten merchants."
"They'll probably run if we show up."
"No, we'll pursue and kill them. Even if we miss them, destroying their base will pressure them."
Yuri patted Jared's chest.
"Hey, look behind you."
Jared turned around. Tension was evident on the faces of the young knights and the soldiers trailing them.
Only Laurent was looking at Yuri with fierce eyes.
Yuri turned back.
"Nervous, aren't they? Of course, someone like you, Jared, a gifted prodigy, probably breathes battle like air…"
"Got it."
"But I'm just a young, unremarkable prince. I need a warm-up."
"I said I got it."
"You're too good with a sword. You genius types just can't relate to the rest of us…"
"I said I got it!"
Grabbing a copy of the map and a compass, Jared immediately rode off.
"You little—!"
Yuri pulled a telescope from his coat and tossed it. Jared caught it mid-ride without slowing.
As he watched Jared gallop toward the horizon, Raymond approached.
"That's a good idea."
"Right?"
"Yes."
Raymond stroked his beard.
"Even a light skirmish is better than none. It's good to get experience in how to fight."
"You're the only one who understands my deeper intentions."
"Hahaha…"
He added casually,
"You didn't seem very surprised last night."
"Did I?"
"Yes."
"I was surprised."
Raymond pointed to Jared, who was now just a tiny dot in the distance.
"Come to think of it, I've heard you favor that young man."
"Favor? I just keep him around."
"According to Sir Sanned, ever since he met you, he's been growing at a terrifying pace. Not many in the royal guard can face him now."
"I made a man out of him."
"I didn't know much about you before, Your Highness, but now I feel like I understand even less."
"Sounds like you didn't expect much."
"Well, that's true."
"What does Genard know anyway? That bastard talked behind my back a lot, didn't he?"
"Ahahahaha…"
"Sir Raymond."
Yuri looked at Raymond.
He was a man who had spent as many years on the battlefield as the deep wrinkles on his face.
This kind of knight was like an old sword.
Dull and unimpressive when sheathed, but razor-sharp once drawn.
Yet, if no proper master came along, it would stay in that sheath forever.
"Mind if I ask a boring question?"
"Ask anything."
"Why do you fight?"
"The reason I fight."
Raymond widened his eyes, then scratched his chin.
"It's been a long time since I was asked that. For a knight, why he fights…"
"Such is the era."
"My answer is an old one too, I'm afraid."
"I'll listen."
"For the peace of Briol."
He chuckled awkwardly.
"That's it. Was that a dull answer?"
"No."
Yuri grinned.
"Sir Raymond."
"Yes."
"From now on, you'll fight for that reason alone."
Raymond looked at Yuri, who kept his gaze forward as if he hadn't noticed.
"I promise."
And with that, he spurred his horse forward.
"Maintain your pace. I'll go ahead and return shortly."
"Where are you going?"
"I just don't trust Jared."
"Your Highness!"
"Don't worry."
Yuri spurred his horse.
The air outside the border rushed past his entire body.
The wind, sharp as a whip, felt rather pleasant. His old instincts returned.
Back then, he had fled to a land where everything was lost—but now, it was different.
"The peace of Briol, huh…"
A good answer.
Yuri laughed aloud as he rode.
***
Jared scanned the distance with the telescope.
"Hey."
"Don't talk to me."
"I asked if you see anything?"
"Yes."
"Let me see too."
"I'm still looking."
"I gave it to you, you know…"
"You assigned me the scouting duty, remember?"
"You've grown, Jared."
Yuri snorted and then kicked the man tied tightly behind them.
"Mmff! Mmmf!"
"Quiet, before I plug your nose too."
"…"
The bandits had their own watchmen, however crude.
Yuri and Jared had captured one, pressed a blade to his throat, and forced him to guide them to the bandits' hideout.
"This isn't the spot marked on the map."
"They move around."
"So, what do we do?"
Yuri approached the man and pulled the gag from his mouth.
"Hey."
"Y-Yes."
"You said there weren't any other lookouts, right?"
"Yes."
"Why are you the only one?"
"If you ask why, I… I don't know…"
"You think you can cover every direction by yourself?"
"No, sir."
"Then why are you out here alone?"
"I really don't know…"
As Yuri interrogated him, something caught his eye.
"What's this?"
He shoved his hand into the man's collar and pulled something out.
It was a necklace with a red gem.
Not something you'd expect a bandit to carry.
"Is it yours?"
"No."
"Then?"
"The boss gave it to me…"
He added,
"Everyone assigned to watch duty wears one."
At that, Jared furrowed his brows.
"Is it a magical item?"
He pointed his sword at the man.
The blade pressed against his throat, and the bandit trembled in fear.
"P-Please spare me, sir!"
"Answer me. Is it an artifact that transmits voices?"
"I-I don't know! I don't think it has that kind of function. I don't even know what it does!"
"Then why do they make you carry it?"
"I-I really don't know…"
Yuri shrugged.
"Well, we'll ask directly."
He looked back. Nothing was visible.
The Briol forces were probably approaching slowly from behind the hills.
"I'll stay here. You go relay my orders."
"You're staying here alone?"
"Yes."
"It's dangerous."
"That's an order."
Yuri stuffed the gag back into the man's mouth as he spoke.
"When I say jump, you jump."
"But…"
"Go."
"…Understood."
Yuri unfolded the map.
"Here, here. We'll split our troops and position them here. Their escape route is obvious. We block it, surround them, and wipe them out. Tonight, we'll let them host us."
"Yes."
"At most, it'll be a test run to see if commands are delivered properly."
"Understood."
The bandit group's size wasn't even comparable to the army Yuri had brought.
With several knights included, it would be an easy fight.
"I'll return quickly."
Jared stood reluctantly, then ran to his horse, tethered some distance away.
And not long after, he returned with a group of knights.
Yuri let out a sigh.
"Why so loud?"
"Just in case, I brought the knights first."
"At this rate, you'll get us caught."
"I kept our presence as hidden as possible."
"Fine. Good work, Jared."
Yuri peered through the telescope at the bandits' camp.
There were no particular signs of awareness. The ragged bandits were moving about lazily.
From time to time, people being used like slaves came into view. Likely captives—and possibly even citizens of Briol.