He figured he had repaid the favor well enough.
After landing on the ground, Yuri looked around.
The weary soldiers could no longer give chase and slowed down.
The Briol knights, who had been striking the enemy, also gradually came to a stop.
The battle was coming to an end.
"So this is as far as it goes."
The corpses of the Holy Kingdom's soldiers were visible, but just as many orcs lay toppled on the ground.
Given the circumstances, it had been a well-fought battle.
Some straggling orcs resisted despite their injuries, but the Paladin Order that followed behind either killed or subdued them.
Yuri spotted an orc pretending to be dead.
"Hey."
"..."
"Hey. Not gonna get up?"
He kicked it in the butt.
With a shriek, the orc suddenly lunged at him. Yuri parried a few attacks, then severed its leg. The creature crumbled and began crawling across the ground. He stomped its nape and pinned it down.
Sibylla, who had been nearby, looked at Yuri.
"Did you leave it alive on purpose?"
"Yeah. Gotta interrogate it."
"An orc?"
"There's a translator."
"A translator for orcs?"
Sibylla widened her eyes.
"Where'd you find someone like that?"
Yuri grinned. It was thanks to Jaime assigning him Cory.
"Count Sadeur."
"Oh, you mean the Scarred Wolf..."
Sibylla murmured the nickname as if understanding everything.
Jaime's reputation was well-known even in other countries.
Wiping Guilty's blade on the orc's clothes, Yuri spoke.
"Anyway, I guess we can call this the Allied Army's first victory."
While troops from various nations gathered toward Balshad, they had successfully repelled the orcs' first ambush.
It might be an event worthy of the history books.
Yuri raised Guilty high.
"Here!"
The knights of Briol gathered.
There was reverence in their eyes.
Jared already knew of Yuri's skill, and Laurent had always admired him, but the rest of the knights were astonished by his prowess.
It was a level hard to believe for someone just eighteen.
"Your Highness."
Raymond, speaking on behalf of their sentiments, opened his mouth.
"I witnessed Your Highness's deeds firsthand in the previous Allied Army."
Yuri smiled.
"Really?"
"Yes. It felt just like watching His Majesty back then."
A remarkable compliment.
"And with this battle, Your Highness has earned the trust of the Holy Kingdom's forces. I now fully understand why His Majesty entrusted the Allied Army to the Third Prince. I look forward to serving under you."
Raymond was a seasoned knight.
Being acknowledged by someone like him felt especially rewarding.
"Likewise, I look forward to working together."
Yuri turned his eyes and locked gazes with Laurent. The young knight's eyes sparkled even more brightly.
Yuri quickly averted his gaze, feeling uncomfortable.
Though he tried to ignore it, Laurent's blonde hair kept lingering in the corner of his vision.
"Well done, everyone."
"Yes, sir!"
Not only Yuri's reputation, but Jared's had also risen. He had performed nearly on par with Laurent today.
While the knights of Briol gathered to discuss the fruits of battle, Sibylla approached and expressed her gratitude once more.
"On behalf of the Holy Kingdom, thank you all for your support. And most of all, Yuri, I owe you my life. Thank you."
This time, Sibylla extended her hand first. Yuri took her hand and shook it.
Yuri asked,
"So what will you do now?"
"We're going to regroup and return to Gid together."
Yuri decided to return immediately. There was no reason to stay.
"All right. We'll head back."
"We'll take the captured orcs with us."
"Thanks."
With a whistle, the horses gathered from the corner. The knights mounted up one by one.
Yuri stroked the mane of his black steed.
"Your Highness. May I ask something?"
A young knight approached Yuri, riding beside him.
"What is it?"
"Are you and the Holy Kingdom's princess acquaintances?"
"No?"
"But you spoke informally to her. When did that happen?"
Nearby ears perked up.
The mood turned playful. The knight who asked had a mischievous smile.
"The princess seemed awfully gentle with Your Highness..."
"You little..."
"Bonds formed on the battlefield are wonderful, aren't they?"
"Shut up."
"I've had my share of romances, and I can tell this one is definitely..."
"You'll die."
"She's a beauty, isn't she? Aren't you interested, Your Highness?"
"No."
"Aw, come on..."
"I'm married to Briol."
"Pardon?"
"Just remember that."
Yuri scoffed.
Talk of romance made his skin crawl.
All because of that woman.
He shook his head violently, trying to erase a face from his mind.
Romance?
What a joke.
"You see,"
"Yes?"
"I don't love."
"…Excuse me?"
The knight who had spoken looked bewildered.
"Move out!"
Yuri spurred his horse forward. The knights called out, but Yuri ignored them.
Though he had the face of a boy, his mind was that of a mature man. He wouldn't waste time on such futile emotions.
"Tch..."
Suppressing rising memories, Yuri wiped his nose.
Blinded by a mere fling, he had once brought down Briol. He would never make that mistake again.
"Your Highness! Wait for us!"
Soon, the knights caught up and began riding alongside him.
The wind blew through their hair.
Yuri muttered.
"I wish it would rain."
Of course, he wouldn't use an umbrella.
That's something only people with nothing to wash away would use.
***
Gid was peaceful.
Except for the few knights who had fought, no one else knew what had transpired.
Yuri rested in a tent, and the younger knights, back in Gid, enjoyed the leisure they didn't know when they'd have again.
"Did it really happen like that?"
"Yeah."
Those who had fought alongside Yuri chattered about the earlier battle. After all, it had been their first clash with orcs.
Everyone hung on their every word.
"His Highness suddenly vanished, then appeared ahead and, in the pit…"
There were tales spreading of how the Holy Kingdom's Paladin Order had nearly met its end, but had been miraculously saved by their commander, Yuri.
"Unbelievable."
"It's true."
"Then what about all those rumors before?"
"Guess they were nonsense. Seems His Majesty's blood really runs through the Third Prince."
Most were still skeptical, but with Laurent personally vouching, they couldn't deny it.
"Laurent, really?"
"Of course."
Laurent nodded.
All eyes were on him.
Though he usually didn't drink, today he raised a glass, swept up in the mood.
"I was deeply moved by His Highness today. Not just his swordsmanship, but his spirit—it was truly something else."
"His spirit?"
"They say His Highness is married to Briol."
"What?"
"And that he doesn't love."
"What are you talking about?"
"That solemn knightly code of his..."
"Is he sane?"
"They say the hardest thing is to find a sovereign worth serving. In that sense, I must be an incredibly fortunate knight."
"He's getting worse..."
Laurent, who had originally followed Yuri, had now become utterly devoted to him.
"Eh, screw it. Drink!"
"Drink!"
And there were eyes quietly watching that scene.
"What can I get you, miss?"
At the tavern owner's question, the woman watching Laurent looked away and pointed to the menu.
"Stew."
"No drink?"
"No."
"All right."
Her manner was suspicious, but the owner didn't care.
That was just how Gid was. It only got noisy when Briol's army entered the city—originally, this place was a haven for fugitives.
"Here you go."
The woman observing Laurent—Asana—silently brought a spoonful of stew to her mouth.
It seemed her employer, Yuri, had performed impressively.
That wasn't surprising.
Even to her, someone who had mastered the art of assassination, Yuri's swordsmanship was excellent.
But the talk about being married to Briol, or that he didn't believe in love—those words kept bothering her.
Though they had worked together as employer and employee, they had never built a personal relationship. Perhaps that's why hearing stories about Yuri from others made her all the more intrigued.
"I had no idea the Third Prince was that skilled."
"Weren't there weird rumors going around?"
"Guess they were just nonsense. That's how rumors are."
"He was so good at cards, I thought he was just a playboy. I can't figure him out."
Asana agreed with that.
To her, Yuri Briol was an incomprehensible person.
Five years ago, he had suddenly appeared with money, inquired about Daisy's illness, and saw through Asana's capabilities.
After she began working for Yuri, it had been one surprise after another.
He used the Rein Company to amass a massive fortune, brought in someone named Gorio, and took control of the underground.
His own combat abilities were also outstanding.
Whenever they met and talked, she could feel his mana growing stronger by the day.
And now, he had volunteered to join the Allied Army. He had willingly walked into a battlefield that everyone else avoided.
He was truly an unknowable man.
"And did you see that? He spoke informally to the Holy Kingdom's princess."
"She's a princess?"
"You didn't know?"
"I thought she was just a knight."
"His Highness is as handsome as they say."
"Come on, it's not like that. His Highness has such a gentle nature. He even eats with the soldiers."
"I thought he was sneaking food on the side."
"No, not at all. The cooks said so. Though, he does take a lot of meat."
"Well, that's understandable..."
Asana absentmindedly spooned in more stew and then set her spoon down. Listening to the gossip was entertaining, but she had something else to do.
She pushed the stew away and called the tavern owner.
"Owner."
"Yes?"
"I'd like to ask something."
"What is it?"
"Come here."
His annoyance was plain.
Asana took out a silver coin and placed it on the table. The owner's demeanor immediately changed.
"Whatever you need."
He folded his hands and smiled.
Asana flipped the silver coin in the air and asked,
"I'm looking for someone. Dark brown hair, carries a sword, doesn't speak continental tongue very well. And his swordsmanship is top-notch."
"Well, I see a lot of people..."
"Try to remember."
Asana shook the silver coin.
"If he passed through Gid, he would've come here."
"Dark brown hair, sword… that's pretty common..."
"He struggles with the continental language."
"Hmm..."
Furrowing his brow in thought, the owner suddenly clapped his hands.
"Oh! Now that you mention it, someone comes to mind."
He rolled his eyes as if searching his memory.
"Not sure about the hair color. He had a hood. Don't remember if he had a sword, but his continental tongue was definitely awkward. Of course, lots of guests like that stop by, so I can't say for sure if it's the one you're looking for..."
"Tell me everything you remember."
"He ordered risotto and asked for no spices. Specifically said no lemongrass. But…"
"But?"
"You know how busy the tavern gets? I ignored him and added it anyway, and he almost drew his sword on me. Oh, that reminds me—he did have a sword. Right. Almost got a hole in my chest."
"..."
"I apologized, and he muttered something. Didn't sound like continental tongue. But I could tell it was a curse."
"Anything else?"
"He asked the way to Balshad. Couldn't pronounce it properly. I laughed and mimicked him, and he realized and almost drew again."
"Bold of him."
"You gotta know where to stretch your legs before you lie down. I could tell, rough as he was, that he wasn't a bad guy. Just a bluff. Heheh..."
Asana narrowed her eyes. A man she'd rather not deal with.
"Anyway, that's all. He left right after. A drifter."
Nodding, Asana pocketed the silver coin and stood up.
"Huh?"
The owner held out his hands. Asana shook her head.
"Didn't you say to know where to stretch your legs?"
"Pardon?"
"Did I really look like someone who was going to pay?"
"Hey, girl."
He scowled.
"If you keep this up, I'll get angry too. You know where you are right now?"
"Your tone changed."
"This is Gid, Gid. You think all those girls in the brothel came willingly? Lucky for you, there are plenty of open spots there..."
Asana's eyebrow twitched.
In that instant, the tavern owner felt something slice past his neck.
His heart dropped.
"Uh, uh..."
Trembling in fear, he groped at his neck. Fortunately, there was no injury.
"Next time, it'll be real."
Instead of his throat, a clump of his shaggy hair fell to the floor.
Clearly, this woman had struck from the front. Yet his neck was untouched, while the hair beyond it was cut clean through.
It made no sense.
Which only meant—this woman before him was no ordinary person.
"My apologies."
The owner quickly bowed his head.
In a city of fugitives beyond the border, all kinds passed through. To survive, you had to know whom not to mess with.
"P-please forgive me..."
"You've got no eye for people. Watch yourself from now on."
"Yes, yes..."
Asana patted the trembling man's shoulder and stepped outside the tavern.
The streets of Gid, with Briol's army now present, were livelier than ever.
Asana slipped into the back alleys to avoid the crowd.
"Balshad, huh..."
Her employer Yuri's path overlapped with hers. It seemed she could complete her task while keeping an eye on his safety.
That was fortunate.
In any case, Asana had to find him.
A swordsman from the Eastern Continent with dark brown hair.
A man who held one of the continent's top ten warriors.
Known only as the Outsider.
Somewhere in this vast land, Yuri was searching for him.