A massacre unfolded.
Yuri didn't let a single orc die easily. He allowed the soldiers and knights to hack at them until their rage subsided.
If an orc resisted, Yuri personally sliced its tendons and threw it aside.
The reaction of an orc facing death was no different from that of any human.
"They're creatures that eat humans and use them as playthings. Don't feel an ounce of pity."
With this, Yuri once again imprinted his presence across the Allied Army.
He had to be someone they could trust as an ally, and fear as an enemy.
Through these executions, Yuri proved that he shared the same heart as his comrades, and at the same time, engraved fear with his cruelty.
"Th-thank you for your hard work."
When Yuri returned, soaked in blood, even Froin, the knight of Bursen who was on familiar terms with him, greeted him in an awkward voice.
Yuri grinned and tossed him a glove drenched in orc blood.
"Uwah!"
"What? Your clothes are already filthy anyway."
"You startled me by throwing it so suddenly!"
"A knight should at least pretend not to be surprised."
"Y-yes..."
When Ragna suddenly entrusted him with the disposal of the orc prisoners, it's not that Yuri wasn't flustered.
But he wasn't just an eighteen-year-old boy as he appeared—he was a seasoned mercenary who had wandered the bottom after losing his country.
He knew well what to do in moments like this.
"A sudden test, huh..."
Yuri thought of Ragna.
When he slaughtered the orcs mercilessly, Ragna's face, which had initially seemed startled, slowly broke into a satisfied smile.
What did he expect from the prince of another country?
Perhaps, he was even considering taking him under his command.
"Thank you for your efforts."
As he was lost in thought, Ragna's adjutant suddenly approached.
"His Highness sent this. It's a potion that aids recovery."
"Ah, thanks. Tell His Highness I'm grateful."
"Yes. Also, there's something else."
"Hm?"
"This is a personal request of mine…"
"A request?"
"Please don't overdo it, and stay healthy. The prince has high hopes for you."
"…What?"
"Well then, I'll take my leave."
Watching the retreating figure of the adjutant, Yuri felt something was off.
He heard two knights chatting as they passed by.
"They say the Empire's princess is incredibly beautiful?"
"Don't even get me started. Her skin's white as snow, and her eyes shine like intricately carved emeralds. I only saw her from afar, and I completely froze."
"What about her personality?"
"They say she's gentle and angelic."
"Wow…"
It felt like Yuri had been struck on the head.
Before he realized it, he turned toward Ragna—and their eyes met.
Ragna gave a pleased nod and a warm smile. It was by no means the kind of look one gave a stranger.
Yuri became afraid of how Ragna's attitude was becoming increasingly familiar.
"No way…"
***
Yuri returned to the Briol camp.
"Where's Moyong Chan?"
"He's eating."
"It's not mealtime, though?"
"He said he was hungry."
"Well done. Where is he?"
Yuri immediately went to Moyong Chan.
Seeing Yuri, drenched from head to toe in blood, Moyong Chan wrinkled his brows as he buried his face in his food tray.
"Orc stench. Get away. Shoo."
"That's how battlefields are, aren't they?"
Yuri sat down next to him.
"Please, eat more. How long were you starved?"
"Orc bastards didn't feed me properly."
"You've had a hard time. Those damn orcs. Rotten bastards."
"Hey Prince, the soup's salty."
"I'll get a fresh one right away."
The knights of Briol watching the scene felt betrayed.
Who would've thought the unruly Yuri could be so good at catering to someone else's whims? It wasn't that he couldn't do it—he simply chose not to.
Especially Jared was furious, clenching his fist and plotting his future.
"If I become one of the ten strongest, he'll grovel to me too. Just wait and see…"
With his stomach full, Moyong Chan asked for a bath.
Yuri granted every request. He heated the water, provided clean clothes and a sword.
To emphasize Moyong Chan's allegiance, he deliberately gave him supplies from the Briol army.
After washing and shaving off his scruffy beard, Moyong Chan looked like a different person. His eyes were sharp, but his features were quite handsome.
"Feels like I'm alive again."
Yuri lit a campfire and sat across from Moyong Chan. It was time for a serious conversation.
"Lord Moyong Chan. How did you end up captured by the orcs?"
"First, I need to ask you something."
Moyong Chan's eyes sharpened.
"How the hell did you push back that orc shaman?"
"Well…"
Yuri recalled the situation.
No one else had even seen the orc shaman properly. But he could see him, and even harm him.
He had a guess why.
The name of the mana method he harbored was Heart-Soul Slash.
Yuri opened his mouth.
"I believe it's because of the mana method I learned."
"An internal energy method, huh…"
"It's different from regular mana methods."
"Hmm…"
Moyong Chan looked Yuri up and down and then stood up.
"Draw your sword."
"Excuse me?"
"Show me that internal energy method, no—the mana method—yourself."
His expression was serious.
Yuri nodded and walked beside the campfire.
Moyong Chan examined Yuri's body as if he could see through his insides.
"I'll go first."
"Alright."
The energy of Heart-Soul Slash sharpened toward Moyong Chan.
Yuri stepped forward and swung his sword. Moyong Chan blocked. Yuri attacked again. Their blades clashed once more.
A normal exchange of blows continued.
Then suddenly, Yuri sensed something alien from Moyong Chan.
Heart-Soul Slash immediately responded.
A loud rupture rang out.
The two stood still, swords pressed against each other.
"You…"
Moyong Chan's eyes were wide.
"Where in the world did you learn that technique?"
Yuri was equally surprised.
"You're suddenly speaking so clearly."
"W-what nonsense is that?"
"I understand. I'll tell you about the mana method, so you tell me something too."
"Tell you what?"
"Why were you captured by the orcs?"
Moyong Chan's gaze deepened.
He stared at Yuri for a moment, then smirked.
"Fine. But only if you answer first."
"You're suddenly slurring again… don't tell me, you've been faking not speaking the common tongue all along…"
"Wanna die?"
"No, sir."
Yuri sat back down with Moyong Chan by the fire. They cleared the area to speak privately.
Raymond had tried to assign guards, but Yuri refused. If Moyong Chan had murderous intent, having guards wouldn't make a difference.
As he threw logs into the fire, Yuri spoke.
"I learned the mana method from my progenitor."
"What?"
"I'm the third prince of Briol."
Yuri briefly explained the mana method he found in the dungeon, the legacy of the progenitor. Moyong Chan showed interest in Erich, the progenitor of Briol.
"Erich Briol, huh…"
Moyong Chan closed his eyes.
"Considering the era, it all makes sense…"
"Yes."
"Us meeting like this… must be fate, I suppose."
"…Sorry?"
"My plan was getting interrupted, so I figured I'd just beat the bastard to death to see what he was."
"Your pronunciation is…"
"What about my pronunciation?"
Moyong Chan stood up.
The distant knights flinched at his movement.
Ignoring them, Moyong Chan stepped in front of Yuri.
The flickering firelight cast shadows across his face.
"Listen well."
"Yes."
And then, something unexpected happened.
Moyong Chan bowed his head to Yuri.
"Moyong Chan, the last true disciple and head of Qingcheng Sect, as well as its Guardian of Dharma, pays respects to the descendant of an old benefactor. Qingcheng Sect has not forgotten its friendship with the Heaven-Conquering Sword Saint."
He lowered his posture, placing one palm over his fist.
Caught off guard by the sudden gesture, Yuri was instead the one left flustered.
"W-why are you doing this… and your pronunciation is so clear…"
"That's enough."
"Yes."
"It's all ruined anyway."
Releasing the posture, Moyong Chan kicked Yuri in the rear as he sat.
"Qingcheng Sect is finished."
"Why take it out on me…"
"There's no one left in this age who still lives by destroying evil… No more Taoists or anything. The martial world has fallen…"
He muttered to himself and slumped back down. Then he looked at Yuri. His expression was gentler than before.
"You really don't get what's going on, do you."
"That's right."
"Let me explain."
His pronunciation was still off, making it hard to understand, but to summarize Moyong Chan's explanation:
He came from the East.
He was from a sect called Qingcheng.
Long ago, there was a swordsman from the West who fought the greatest martial artist of the East in a battle that shook the heavens and earth. They fought to a draw.
That Western swordsman was Erich Briol, and the greatest martial artist was the leader of Qingcheng Sect at the time.
The two recognized one another and became friends.
Erich Briol stayed with Qingcheng for a long time, sharing his enlightenment of the sword with the greatest master of the East.
Then, some demonic cult or whatever began to rise in power.
Erich Briol helped his friend defeat them.
The divine presence they displayed and the bond of their legendary friendship were passed down in the East as legend.
"That's how it all happened."
Yuri was moved.
"What a fateful connection…!"
Yuri grabbed both of Moyong Chan's hands.
"We're not strangers at all!"
He had now formed a connection with one of the Ten Strong, the veiled Outsider. It was very good news.
Yuri shook his hands up and down.
"I'll call you senior. Senior Moyong Chan!"
"What do you mean, senior…"
On a side note, Qingcheng Sect went bankrupt due to outdated management.
Left alone, Moyong Chan was on a demon-hunting mission to uphold the legacy of the sect by killing beings tainted by evil.
"An ominous star rose over the West. I came all this way to restore balance to heaven and earth…"
He gave warnings, but the other sects of the East, blinded by worldly wealth and fame, ignored him.
"So you came alone? Abandoning riches and glory?"
"Riches and glory, my ass. All that's left of Qingcheng is pride…"
With his sect destroyed and nothing but pride remaining, Moyong Chan came alone to the West.
Tracking a dark energy led him to an orc chieftain named Okua.
Moyong Chan believed that the ominous star in the western sky was connected to Okua.
"I planned to pose as a sacrifice and get close to him."
"A sacrifice?"
What followed was shocking testimony.
Yuri found it hard to believe.
"Human sacrifice is proof that bastard's already consumed by black sorcery."
Okua was offering human lives as sacrifice for his rituals. Moyong Chan disguised himself as a sacrificial offering to infiltrate and attack Okua.
"Are you serious? You're not just making this up, right?"
"Do I look like I've got time to waste, you bastard?"
"There it is again, the pronunciation…"
Yuri hadn't expected any of this.
But it all made sense.
In his past life, Moyong Chan had repeatedly gone after Okua.
The reason had been unclear.
But if what he said was true, it explained why he was obsessed with Okua, and how Okua grew stronger and eventually killed him.
"But you guys came along and ruined everything."
"Ruined? There's a saying in the East—'turn misfortune into blessing.'"
"How do you know that?"
"It's in books."
Back during his mercenary days, he had met a guy from the East. He wasn't incredibly skilled, but occasionally pulled off some mystical techniques.
That guy often quoted Eastern proverbs. After hearing them repeatedly, Yuri grew fond of a few and memorized them.
"Briol and Qingcheng should be considered brothers."
"Where's that coming from?"
"Their founders swore brotherhood, right? Then we should fight together."
"They didn't actually swear brotherhood though…"
"Look."
Yuri stood and spread his arms. Beyond his shoulders, countless flags of the Allied Army fluttered in the plains wind.
"We've gathered this massive force to subjugate Okua. Let's kill him together."
"Hmmm…"
Moyong Chan closed his eyes, sinking into thought.
Yuri was determined to convince him no matter what.
In his past life, Moyong Chan acted alone and ended up as a sacrifice to Okua. He didn't want to see such a man die meaninglessly again.
He called it an exorcism.
He spoke of it lightly, but it was no trivial thing.
A warrior of Moyong Chan's caliber wandering the world, asking for no reward—wasn't that far more knightly than those who claimed to be knights? He was, in every way, a knight from the East.
"I'll grant you an honorary knighthood. As a knight of Briol, no one will look down on you anywhere. It's basically a free pass on this continent."
"Hmmm…"
"I'll give you a position in a merchant guild I personally have a stake in. Once Okua is dead, East-West trade will resume. Wealth and fame will be yours."
"Ooooh…"
"I'll join the Qingcheng Sect as an outer disciple. Accepting a renowned prince like me—how honorable is that? Qingcheng's name will rise once more."
"That's not true at all."
"There's the pronunciation again…"
After much thought, Moyong Chan spoke.
"I have one condition."
"Please tell me."
His gaze was solemn.
"Once Okua is dead, you fight me properly."
"Excuse me? Me?"
"Yes."
Yuri's face went pale.
"I don't want to die…"
"Don't act pathetic."
With that, Moyong Chan clamped his mouth shut. After deep consideration, Yuri accepted his condition.
He wouldn't actually kill him… right?
"Then that's the end of it?"
"Your proposals and mine, both accepted. That was a good negotiation."
"…Sorry?"
"You're my disciple now."
"…What?"