It was an orc shaman, blindfolded with cloth and holding a wooden staff.
That orc had no physical form.
It had color, but it was faint as if faded by light, and even when reaching out, it couldn't be touched.
The orc quietly stared at Yuri.
"I asked who you are."
The orc twitched its lips, then suddenly moved sideways. Yuri's gaze followed it. The orc's expression twisted further.
It looked as if it wasn't supposed to be seen by Yuri, but had been discovered and was now flustered.
"What the hell?"
Come to think of it, it was strange.
An orc was wandering around inside the barracks, but no one paid it any attention.
Yuri realized he was the only one who could see the orc.
"What are you?"
Yuri swung Guilty. The orc's figure scattered like a wave being parted, then reassembled.
The orc flinched and backed away in surprise.
"So it can be hit, huh."
The orc mumbled something, but no sound came out.
"Hey, you there."
Yuri called over a passing soldier.
The soldier ran up to Yuri.
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Reach your hand out here."
"Sorry?"
"Just try touching the air right here."
"Yes…"
The soldier moved as instructed. But his hand passed right through the orc.
"A-Are you punishing me, sir? I didn't do anything wrong…"
"It's not that."
Yuri gave the soldier another command.
"Here, swing your sword at this spot."
"Is there something here?"
"Just do it."
The soldier swung his sword, but nothing changed. Unlike when Yuri swung, it didn't even ripple or scatter momentarily.
The orc shouted something again, though no sound could be heard.
"Your Highness, why are you making me do this…"
"Here."
Yuri raised his sword and pointed to the orc's face.
"There's a ghost."
"Sorry?"
"Seems like only I can see it."
"What do you mean…"
"I see ghosts."
The soldier took a step back. He was the type afraid of spirits.
Yuri gave a sinister smile and whispered,
"This one's licking its lips while looking at you. Must be targeting you. Looks like you've committed quite a sin. Just what did you do?"
"I-I'll be going now."
The soldier bowed his head and bolted in the opposite direction.
Yuri sighed, worried about the discipline in Briol.
"Did he really come here with a guilty conscience?"
He looked up again at the orc.
The orc had stood still despite the series of tests Yuri performed. Likewise, it seemed to be observing Yuri.
The orc reached out, trying to feel Yuri.
"Hands off."
Yuri swung Guilty. The orc's figure rippled more intensely.
It seemed there was some effect, as the orc stepped back and gripped its staff tightly.
"One that only I can see, huh…"
Yuri continued thrusting with Guilty as he advanced. The orc kept retreating.
There was no blood, but its figure kept getting fainter. It was clearly working.
The orc turned and began to flee.
Yuri dashed after it. A sudden chase broke out.
The thing had no physical form, so it passed freely through obstacles in the barracks. Yuri had to dodge and leap over things, falling several times in the process.
"Your Highness, what are you doing!"
"Chasing an orc!"
"Sorry?"
But no one else could see what Yuri was seeing.
"I'll reveal your identity."
That was when it happened.
The orc suddenly exuded black haze from its body, then turned and lunged at Yuri.
Startled, Yuri stopped and swung Guilty.
The orc didn't care and wrapped Yuri in black haze. A chilling sensation spread through his whole body.
"What the…"
And with that, the orc vanished like smoke.
Yuri rubbed his forearm. The coldness still lingered.
He checked his meridians.
An impure energy had spread throughout his body.
But when he activated his mana method, it was immediately pushed out and cleansed by the energy of the heart-soul slash.
"What was that?"
Did he really just fight an orc ghost?
The only person worth discussing something like this with would be a mage.
Yuri grabbed a tray of food and barged into Ernando's tent.
"Ernando…"
It was right as he opened the tent flap.
"..."
Several knights and soldiers, including Ernando, were seated around a table.
They froze in shock, eyes wide, at Yuri's sudden entrance.
"Y-Your Highness…"
The soldier sitting closest to the entrance panicked and dropped a card.
Yuri picked it up and checked the rest of the soldier's hand.
Not a bad hand.
"Hey."
"Y-Yes."
"Hold this and go stand in the corner."
"Yes, sir."
Yuri handed the soldier his food tray. The soldier quickly retreated to the back, sensing the mood.
"Now then, let's see how good Sir Jared's hand is…"
Terrible.
"Out."
Yuri stood Jared up and kicked him hard in the butt. Jared stumbled and dashed out of the tent.
"Next, Sir Stegen, was it? Let's see your hand…"
"Y-Your Highness."
"Nice hand. You can go."
"Um…"
"You're not disappointed, are you?"
"No, sir!"
The knight ran off.
Yuri checked each participant's hand one by one—if the hand was good, he let them go, if it was bad, he hit them once.
Finally, only Ernando was left.
He clutched his hand of cards tightly with a solemn expression.
"Your Highness… Surely you won't use violence on me…?"
"No."
Yuri pulled an empty chair, turned it around, and sat with the backrest forward.
"I've got something to ask."
"Th-Thank goodness. What would you like to know?"
"I just saw something weird at the barracks…"
"Playing cards isn't weird."
"Not that."
Yuri explained the unidentified orc he encountered.
Ernando tilted his head for a moment, then leaned forward with a serious expression.
"A shamanic spell. Seems an orc shaman came to observe the Allied Army."
"A spell?"
"Yes."
Ernando crossed his arms, falling into thought.
"An invisible incarnation, huh…"
"So, is it powerful?"
"No, not exactly. But there is something suspicious."
He picked up the cards from the ground and started organizing them as he continued,
"Now I know what I need to do tomorrow."
"Drop a fireball like Mariloz."
"That was only possible because it was near Balshad. Obvious spells like that are easily countered."
In war, it was rare for a mage's firepower to be used. That's because it could be easily blocked by another mage.
So, mages on the battlefield were primarily used to suppress enemy mages.
In Mariloz's case, she was able to summon fireballs because, as an Archmage Duke, she had overwhelming control over the Balshad region.
"I can't say for sure, but it seems they're using forbidden power. It looks like black magic…"
"Black magic?"
"Yes."
Ernando thought for a moment before speaking.
"I'll focus on dispelling the shaman's trick tomorrow."
"Can't you just drop a fireball?"
"That's something only Mariloz can do."
Yuri tilted his head.
He remembered the incredible firepower Ernando had shown in his past life. Back then, he destroyed everything—dispel or not.
Was the situation different now?
"Is black magic that dangerous?"
"Not really. The Mage Tower finished researching it long ago. As long as it's handled properly, it's actually easier to deal with."
"Reassuring."
If Ernando said that much, there was probably nothing to worry about.
Yuri stood up.
"Well then…"
A soldier was standing in the corner, still holding the tray. When he met Yuri's gaze, he gave an awkward smile.
"Please, eat."
"Thanks."
***
Morning came.
The Allied Army wasn't in a rush. Rather than using tricks, their intention was to face the enemy head-on and break them. The same went for the orcs.
The Allied Army prepared to attack, and the orcs reinforced their defenses.
Yuri mounted his horse and stood with the knight order.
This time, their task wasn't to charge directly, but to pass by the enemy's camp and draw their attention.
Of course, if an opening appeared, they would go in.
"Nervous?"
At Yuri's words, the knights looked at him.
"No need to be."
He put strength into his voice to boost the unit's morale.
"It's the same as always. Just keep up with me, and by the time you do, it'll all be over."
With that, Yuri raised his spear. The knights mirrored him and raised their spears high.
Briol's banner fluttered in the wind.
"Briol!"
Yuri shouted, and the Briol army roared in response. Their voices echoed across the plains.
Right next to them, the Bursen troops shouted Bursen's name.
The fervor spread.
Each unit called out their country's name in turn, building up morale.
The entire Allied Army was stirring.
The names of the thirteen countries gathered from across the continent shook the plains in succession.
Yuri shouted again.
"We're taking the lead this time too. Any complaints?"
"None, sir!"
"Any cowards who want to hide behind others?"
"None, sir!"
"Any cowards afraid of arrows?"
"None, sir!"
"Do you want to be the first to cut down an orc?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Do you want to wipe out those ugly bastards to make sure they never dare look at Briol again? Count Sadeur won't be indulging in his nasty hobbies anymore!"
The knights burst into laughter.
Yuri turned his eyes.
A trumpet was sounding from the Imperial Army's camp.
The battle was about to begin.
Yuri inhaled deeply.
How many would die?
How many soldiers would lose their lives?
Among the knights who just laughed, how many would die?
They would kill and be killed again.
He would have to watch people die, and die again.
Could he say he had no part in it?
Yuri stepped forward.
One step, two, three more. Soon, no one stood ahead of him.
Being at the front.
That was the least he could shoulder.
Yuri charged forward.
"Briol!"
At that signal, the knight order advanced.
Not just Briol, but the knight orders from other countries with the same mission shot out from the main force like awls.
Arrows rained from the orc camp.
Yuri immediately pulled the reins. His horse turned, and the Briol knights veered in unison.
Arrows struck the path they had just vacated.
"Stay sharp!"
The Briol knight order advanced as if charging, then turned away. They ran sideways, skimming the orc barricades.
As the distance closed, the arrows' trajectories straightened.
"Keep your heads clear and follow me!"
Arrows continued to target the knights. From behind, there were cries of horses and the thud of someone falling.
Yuri clenched his teeth and gripped the reins.
"Run!"
He glanced back.
The main infantry force had begun its charge. While the knights drew attention, the real clash had begun.
"Now…"
They could either retreat and enter through the breach made by the main force, or find an opening to break through.
Yuri lifted his gaze.
He saw the defenses thinning little by little.
"Your Highness!"
A voice called to him. He turned to see the knight order of Bursen, who had launched the feint alongside Briol, approaching.
"Shall we break through together?"
Yuri couldn't help but smile.
That knight from Bursen didn't seem to have retreat in his vocabulary.
Then Briol couldn't afford to fall behind.
"Are you up for it?"
"Of course!"
The two knight orders began to run side by side.
At the head of Bursen's charge was Jose. Because of his massive size, his horse looked strained.
Yuri shouted to him,
"Sir Jose! Don't tell me you're charging just because your horse is too tired!"
"Oh dear, you've figured it out!"
"Better move before the horse collapses!"
"I'm in a hurry, a real hurry!"
"Then let's go!"
"Let's go!"
Yuri turned his horse's head, and Jose followed right behind.
They charged side by side toward the orc barricade. Charging straight into it would get the horses impaled on sharpened stakes.
But they didn't stop.
"Ready?"
Yuri brushed the horse's mane and hung his lance on the saddle. The trained horse snorted in response, understanding its rider's intent.
The stakes were near.
Yuri lifted his foot onto the saddle.
The horse changed direction.
Yuri leapt without hesitation. Jose did the same.
As the horses veered to the side, the knights soared over the barricade and landed inside the orc camp.
Like a swarm of locusts descending.
Yuri shouted to his horse,
"See you later!"
Then he rolled once to absorb the impact and raised Guilty high.