Gid was teeming with all sorts of people. Merchants, of course, as well as mercenaries guarding them, and fugitives on the run from their sentences all mingled together.
People glanced sideways at Yuri and Ernando, whispering among themselves. The word Briol could be faintly heard.
It seemed the rumors had already spread.
"This city only exists thanks to the orcs, to be honest."
Ernando rambled on.
"There's a talisman market here. They trade in things from the East, or strange curiosities no one's heard of. And the ones who bring them are orcs. Orcs plunder goods in the East, which are then taken again by bandits or hunters and sold here. Isn't that fascinating?"
"Is that why you came along?"
"Aw, don't be like that. I just dropped by since we were already here. Let's check it out together later."
As they walked, the talisman market came into view. A long line of stalls stretched out, selling unidentifiable items.
Ernando eagerly examined everything.
"That's a totem. It contains orcish sorcery."
"Does it work?"
"Barely, but I can sense some magic. Its effect is, well, it induces a state of excitement?"
"Stimulates, you mean?"
"Yes."
"Like a war drug?"
"Exactly. Though it's weaker than that. Nothing here really qualifies as an artifact…"
"What about this?"
"That's just trash."
The stall owner's expression twisted.
Ernando, seeing his rough-looking face, cleared his throat and slipped behind Yuri.
"It may have artistic value, perhaps."
"Looks like a kid's toy."
"Right?"
The owner suddenly shouted.
"Get lost!"
The two fled at once.
Yuri wandered through the market, carefully inspecting the stalls. In truth, there was one specific item he was hoping to find.
"Can't see it."
"Yeah, looks like the bandits took them all."
When Yuri first ambushed the bandits, one of the sentries had been wearing a red gemstone necklace.
He'd interrogated the bandit leader and learned its use.
It was an item that lured orcs.
No one knew exactly why, but when orcs sensed the aura of the gem, they would suddenly go berserk and charge.
They had been throwing their men out as bait to track the orcs' approach.
Upon hearing the explanation, Yuri had kicked the leader senseless.
That guy had probably been handed over to Gid's guards by Raymond by now.
"He said he got it from Gid's talisman market…"
"If even a lowly bandit knew about it, then they're all probably gone."
There were plenty of odd trinkets, but none of the crucial items he was looking for.
With no real results, the two left the talisman market.
On the opposite side, the entertainment district opened up. Since the city wasn't large, restaurants and inns were all clustered together.
Briol soldiers were patrolling the area.
"Wait, look, there's a gambling den over there."
Ernando pointed to a tavern. Through the half-open door, they could see cards being dealt.
"Looks like even our soldiers are playing."
"Really?"
Yuri frowned.
"Briol's soldiers, gambling like this… I can't overlook it."
"Right?"
"I'll personally punish them."
"Let's go."
Ernando clenched his fist.
"We can't have a unit without discipline."
"Exactly."
***
Sibylla had just finished a serious conversation with Gid's lord and rose from her seat.
The Holy Knights were waiting for her.
"Are the talks over?"
"Yes."
Sibylla nodded, her expression unreadable.
Though she maintained a cordial relationship with the Holy Knights, they weren't exactly close.
The Holy Knights were loyal to Larsson, her brother and the heir to the throne.
"And what about that prince of Briol?"
"He left ahead of us."
"I see."
"Fenek, the main unit is holding up fine, I assume?"
"Of course."
Fenek nodded. With his handsome, smooth face, he was the one leading the Holy Knights dispatched for this Allied Army mission.
"Hard to believe such a weirdo is a commander. I guess Briol's reputation as a nation of knights is a thing of the past."
Sibylla didn't respond. Instead, Fenek's adjutant agreed with him.
"Exactly."
"And with how sloppy his attire is, you'd believe it if someone said he was just a stray mercenary."
"His behavior was even worse."
"I hope we don't have to fight alongside Briol's army. They'll only get in the way."
Sibylla interjected.
"Badmouthing others is unbecoming."
"So what? Who cares?"
Fenek continued speaking without concern.
In name, Sibylla was the commander of the Holy Kingdom's forces, but the Holy Knights followed him.
"After this orc subjugation is over, I get the feeling Briol's going to lose a prince."
"That's harsh. Watch your tongue."
Fenek grinned slyly.
"Yes, yes. Understood."
"Let's return to the inn."
They had secured the most expensive inn in Gid. It wasn't much cleaner than anywhere else, but it was still better than sleeping in a barracks.
When the Holy Knights stepped into the streets, the townspeople's gazes turned toward them.
"This city's a dump…"
Fenek muttered.
To him, who had lived a luxurious life in the capital of the Holy Kingdom, the entire city of Gid looked like a stable.
"No, worse than a stable."
"Right? Our horses are way cleaner than this."
"People here are worse off than beasts."
The knights chuckled among themselves.
Sibylla ignored their words and walked ahead.
The real filth was in their words and deeds. This world simply had places that were forgotten, and people who had no choice but to live in such places.
Just as they hadn't been born nobles for any particular reason, the people of this city were the same.
Thinking that the title of "Holy Knight" given to them was shameful, Sibylla made her way toward the inn.
"What the?"
Fenek spoke with irritation.
At some point, the streets had become crowded with people.
"It's Briol's army."
The adjutant quickly explained. His eyes scanned the area busily.
"They're doing as they please. Looks like they let their troops roam the city."
"Soldiers should stay outside. No discipline at all."
Sibylla spoke.
"Let's not cause any trouble and just head up."
"They're the ones likely to cause it."
"They're soldiers from another nation. If any conflict arises, I won't let it slide."
"Yes, yes. Don't worry. We'll just have a light drink among ourselves."
Sibylla went up to the inn first.
Fenek gathered a few of the Holy Knights he was close with.
The adjutant said,
"I'll go get the drinks. It's not like there's any real liquor around here anyway."
"Do that."
They moved as a group onto the streets. Briol's soldiers glanced at them.
"Briol's soldiers are rude."
Fenek muttered.
In the Holy Kingdom, commoners didn't make eye contact with nobles. But Briol's soldiers looked at them like they were just passersby.
"When the ones at the top are rotten, the rest follow."
"Well said."
Fenek chuckled at the adjutant's remark.
The third prince of Briol they had met earlier didn't resemble royalty at all. Not just in attire—his manners lacked any sense of dignity.
What would someone like that do when facing orcs?
"How disgraceful it'll be. Hah…"
Suddenly, a loud cheer erupted nearby.
It was so loud that Fenek flinched reflexively.
"What's with the noise?"
The ruckus was spilling out from a tavern. Laughter, jeers, and fists pounding on tables echoed loudly.
Fenek frowned.
"Check it out."
The adjutant went in to look and quickly returned.
"It's a gambling den."
"What?"
"Briol's soldiers are playing cards. The stakes seem high—a crowd's gathered around a single table."
"Those bastards…"
Fenek grinned coldly. The Holy Kingdom forbade gambling.
"As a knight of the Holy Kingdom, I can't overlook this."
Fenek took off his helmet, tucked it under his arm, and walked toward the tavern. He threw the door wide open.
But no one paid him any attention.
"..."
A crowd had gathered at one table.
The tavern owner was all smiles, carrying beers nonstop, and each time a card was flipped over, the soldiers watching would shout.
"Hey there."
Fenek spoke. His voice was drowned out by the noise.
"Did you not hear me…"
At that moment, the outcome of the game was decided.
The man, who had been sitting with his back to Fenek, suddenly jumped to his feet and raised both hands high in the air.
The soldiers erupted in cheers, while the others seated at the table grabbed their heads in despair.
Seeing this scene twisted Fenek's mood.
This time, he shouted again, infused with mana.
"What do you think you're doing!"
His voice rang out powerfully, echoing through the entire tavern.
The room went silent in an instant.
Fenek exhaled slowly, savoring the silence, then stamped the floor once with his boot.
"I asked, what do you think you're doing?"
His voice lowered further.
Staring at the table, he continued.
"Do you all think you're here on vacation? Even if this is a foreign nation, I can't overlook this. Do you think the Allied Army is some kind of joke…"
As Fenek was speaking, the man who had been standing with his back to the entrance turned toward him.
A rare head of jet-black hair entered his view.
"You…"
Fenek's voice trailed off.
The face glaring at him looked exactly like the third prince of Briol he had met earlier.
Fenek fell silent.
"What's this guy on about?"
The one who had just won big—Yuri—tilted his head.
"What did you just say?"
Fenek was too flustered to respond.
He hadn't even imagined that someone of royal status would be sitting here playing cards with the soldiers.
He kept staring, wondering if it might just be someone who looked incredibly similar.
Yuri frowned in annoyance.
"What's your name?"
The adjutant quickly stepped in.
"I-It seems there's been a misunderstanding, Your Highness."
"Tsk…"
Yuri looked Fenek up and down, as if he were pathetic.
It was a humiliating moment for Fenek. Something stirred in his chest.
He didn't even care what Sibylla thought, but to be looked down on by some third prince of a foreign nation was too much.
Fenek calmed his breathing and put on a cold expression.
"Your Highness."
"You still have something to say?"
"We're on our way to war."
"And?"
"This kind of behavior harms not only Your Highness, but also your soldiers. Without military discipline, you'll all die meaningless deaths."
Fenek's gaze landed on Yuri's hand. It was smooth and clean, with not a single callus.
That explained it.
He smirked as he spoke.
"What Your Highness should be holding is not a card, but a sword. Though I doubt you've ever gripped one properly."
"You little…"
Yuri laughed dryly and stared at him.
Fenek was irritated by that look.
It was a face that seemed to be wondering what to do with such a pitiful opponent—as if it should've been his expression to wear, not the prince's.
After sizing Fenek up, Yuri spoke with a sneer.
"A powdered little brat sure has a lot to say…"
At that, a few soldiers couldn't help but chuckle.
Fenek's face turned red.
He was vain about his appearance and often applied a light white cream to his face.
"It shows. Hey, you're off to your great war, huh? You think you need makeup for that?"
"Please refrain from personal attacks."
"What did you say to me just now?"
Yuri took a step forward. The sword hanging from his waist swayed.
"That's it. You're done for today…"
As Yuri marched forward, the Holy Knights standing behind Fenek stepped aside.
Someone stood there.
"What's going on?"
It was Sibylla. She was in her casual attire, having taken off her armor.
"Sir Fenek. Didn't I tell you not to cause trouble?"
Even he couldn't ignore her in front of another nation's people.
Fenek lowered his head.
"My apologies."
"Let's go."
"Yes."
Just before turning around, he spoke to Yuri.
"I'll step down for today. I wish you luck."
"I've already got enough luck. Don't need yours too. See?"
Yuri scooped up a handful of coins from the table. The soldiers jeered.
Fenek glared at Yuri and twisted his lips before turning away.
Following him, the rest of the Holy Knights exited the tavern.
Sibylla, left alone, let out a sigh.
"I apologize on his behalf."
"You don't need to."
Yuri shrugged.
"You've got it rough. Must be a pain dragging guys like that around."
"I'll repay this debt next time."
Sibylla gave him a short smile, then left the tavern.
Yuri watched her go and shrugged again.
The Holy Kingdom seemed more twisted than he'd thought.
"Well, not my problem."
He returned to his seat.
"Hey, next player, step up."
"Wait a second, Your Highness."
"Ernando, you lost everything. Move aside."
"Can I get a cut, at least?"
"No such thing. Come on, we need a new player. Anyone?"
"I-I'd like to join."
"You any good?"
"I may not look it, but they used to call me the Card Demon of Euzeth."
"Euzeth? You from that Genard guy's neighborhood?"
"Well…"
"Hope you're ready."
"N-No, I hate that guy too!"
"Genard's lackey!"
"No, I'm not!"
***
As Fenek exited the tavern, he cursed under his breath.
That so-called third prince of Briol really rubbed him the wrong way. He didn't like how close he seemed with Sibylla either, or how casually they spoke.
Trying to calm himself, he walked on, when he noticed a few knights on the roadside glaring at him.
"Those guys…"
They were knights of Briol.
Word of the tavern incident must have spread already—their eyes brimmed with hostility.
"That's Laurent."
The adjutant whispered.
"Laurent?"
"Yes. Laurent Flandre of Briol. I saw him at a swordsmanship tournament."
"Still just a brat."
He had heard the name before.
The eldest son of Count Francaise, Laurent had been famous for his swordsmanship since childhood. He had even won the youth sword tournament hosted in the Holy Kingdom. His character was said to be knightly and upright.
"Birds of a feather, huh. That Laurent must be defending his pathetic third prince just because they're from the same country."
Suddenly, one of the knights beside Laurent started to step forward toward Fenek. But Laurent placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Don't, Jared."
"Understood."
Fenek let out a small laugh.
Laurent was one thing, but some nobody whose name he'd never even heard trying to step up in front of him? The bravado was laughable.
"What should we do?"
"Leave them be. They'll learn the truth in time."
Fenek gave a sideways glance at Laurent and Jared, then moved on.
A knight's worth was ultimately proven on the battlefield.
And that night—
News arrived that the main forces of the Holy Kingdom had come under attack.