Chapter 121: Inheritance (1)

Yuri left the Imperial Capital at dawn.

Since he hadn’t announced his departure, no one knew he was leaving.

Only the capital guards—yawning under the morning sun—were startled when Yuri appeared at the checkpoint and immediately bowed to salute him.

Birds circled overhead, flapping their wings.

Gatensha lay slightly off the road leading to Adelein, but since Jose had fled there to avoid Jonathan’s objections, they had no choice but to detour and pick him up.

Yuri remarked,

“Gatensha… I have a bad feeling.”

“Why?”

Cory asked, walking beside him. Though he still limped, he now had the physique of a true warrior—proof of Hernando’s training.

There’s a saying that a healthy mind lives in a healthy body; for a mage whose inner world manifests in reality, having a strong body was as important as learning magic. Seeing how Cory had improved so much so quickly made Yuri think that saying was true.

“Just a hunch. But tell me, Cory, how did you train so your body improved so fast?”

“Druid…”

“Roid?”

Yuri jumped back, alarmed—it was the name of a banned muscle-growth potion strictly prohibited everywhere.

“No, druid.”

“Steroid?”

“Uh, no—druid.”

“Druid what?”

“Just a druid, a friend of nature.”

“Oh…”

“Hernando said druids have a way to communicate with bears by strengthening their bodies, and that’s what he taught me.”

“So that’s it?”

“I like being healthy.”

Simon and Guinness, trailing behind, looked fatigued, while Cory—carrying a heavy pack—looked fine.

“Did Hernando not teach you magic?”

“Magic? No…”

“Just body training?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm…”

They were on their way to face Death Knight Gert—Hernando had left them, saying he had other business. Cory was now their only mage. Yuri began to worry.

“It’s fine. With Jose along, we’ll figure something out.”

They soon reached Gatensha. Though not as large as the capital, its walls were strongly built and red flags flew. A small but sturdy town.

The guards recognized Yuri’s group.

“Welcome to Gatensha. The prince’s reputation precedes you. Lord Laurent, congratulations on your tournament victory. How long do you intend to stay?”

“Not long. We might leave today.”

“Understood.”

They entered the town. Yuri went straight to find Jose.

When he asked for a burly knight, the locals pointed without hesitation toward the largest tavern.

Inside, Jose was drinking nonstop as a waiter struggled to carry away stacks of empty glasses.

“Jose.”

“Oh, Your Highness.”

Jose stood as Yuri approached. Despite drinking heavily, he showed no signs of intoxication.

“You arrived earlier than I expected.”

“Did you come here just to drink?”

“Haha…”

He scratched the back of his neck, embarrassed.

“Sometimes one wants to drink alone. Since we’ve been traveling together all this time, I needed some space.”

“Makes sense. Want me to leave?”

“No need. Now that you’re here, we can…”

At that moment, they heard a commotion outside the tavern. The rest of their party waited outside, but an imperial knight squad appeared to be addressing them.

Jose smiled.

“Well, this just got interesting. Go see what’s going on, Prince. I’ll enjoy my solitude.”

“Today you’re more unbearable than usual, Jose.”

“Hahaha, indulge me.”

Yuri patted Jose on the shoulder and headed to the entrance—overhearing the conversation:

“Is this an invitation? Sounds more like an arrest.”

“Don’t be mistaken—this is an invitation from the feudal lord.”

“Invitations by sword, now?”

“We haven’t drawn them yet—they’re in their scabbards.”

“Same difference. They came in armor.”

“If we were here to fight, would we be talking like this?”

“Are you provoking us?”

Jared argued with one of the knights. When Yuri arrived, Jared opened his arms wide.

“Prince, these men say we may come and go as we please.”

“They say the feudal lord of Gatensha has invited you and asked us to escort you politely. I beg you to go with me.”

“Is that how you invite someone?”

Even Simon and Guinness—and even Laurent, who rarely lost composure—frowned.

“Such rudeness. Was this lord’s invitation truly his idea?”

When Laurent stepped forward, the knights’ pressure dissipated. The prestige of the tournament champion carried weight.

“Yes, indeed.”

Laurent looked to Yuri as if asking him to decide. Yuri spoke:

“No.”

Everyone—knights included—was surprised.

“I won’t go.”

“Prince, declining an invitation is—”

“What? Will you force me?”

Yuri advanced, tapping the pommel of his sword at his side. The knights backed off.

“Yes, what was his name… Zaire Enekin—that’s the lord here, right? If he’s acting so rude, he must be desperate to see me.”

“He only asked us to escort you politely.”

“Trying to take revenge for what happened to his predecessor?”

The knights stiffened.

“That accusation’s excessive.”

“You’re the ones who are excessive—appearing heavily armed in force, expecting to be followed like nothing.”

“Prince, remember you’re in the Empire.”

“So what?”

“It’d be better not to cause trouble if you’d like to leave safely…”

Before the knight finished, Yuri kicked him in the stomach. The armor dented; the knight flew, entangling with his companions and sprawling to the ground.

“How impudent…”

“Kuh…”

“That bastard got the message. Did he send you to get slapped, prince?”

Yuri had guessed this would happen as soon as the knight order arrived. Rather than respond clumsily, he sent them flying immediately.

“More will come now, right?”

The knight couldn’t answer. He clutched the dented part of his armor while panting and coughing up blood nonstop.

Just as Yuri had said, the rest of the order of knights who had been waiting behind the building appeared right away. Yuri’s group drew their swords.

The residents fled, and the street was left empty. The quiet streets of Gatensha were filled with tension in an instant.

“Well…”

Jose, from inside the tavern, raised his glass.

“Need help?”

“No.”

Yuri nodded. Then he pointed at one advancing knight.

“If he wants to see me, he can come himself.”

“Your Highness, if this escalates, it won’t end well.”

“Why do you think that?”

Yuri chuckled.

“I don’t mind. Let it begin. Maybe it’ll do some good—just like my father did.”

“W-what are you—!?”

With that, the tension tightened further. More than twenty bloodthirsty knights stared him down, but Yuri’s group remained unmoved.

Jared whispered to Laurent.

“What’s going on here?”

“Old grudges.”

“Grudges?”

“The king killed a Gatensha knight in the past.”

“And?”

“That knight was the son of the current lord.”

“Huh?”

“The current lord is the son of the dead knight.”

It was inherited resentment.

Six years ago, Fiore had personally decapitated a Gatensha knight.

The then-emperor didn’t punish him, and Fiore returned to Briol unscathed. Now Prince Georg had used that in Gatensha to pressure Fiore. It remained a stain on the Enekin family.

The current lord, Zaire Enekin—grandson of that slain knight—had sent his knights as soon as he learned Yuri had entered his territory. His motive was clear he wanted to humiliate him at any cost.

“His Majesty wasn’t someone who killed lightly.”

“They say that man was trash.”

“I thought so…”

Although they spoke in low voices, those nearby could hear them. The knights’ faces twisted.

They began hurling insults at Laurent and Jared, but Yuri stepped in.

“I’m the one responsible here. Shouldn’t you be speaking to me?”

“You’ll regret this.”

“Who?”

Yuri shrugged.

“If you’ve got the guts, fight. If you’re just going to bark, then get lost. What are knights doing acting so pathetically?”

“…”

“I said it clearly. If he wants to see me, let Zaire Enekin come in person.”

“You’re calling for disaster.”

“Don’t talk formally to me, idiot.”

When Yuri stepped forward, the knight flinched in surprise.

“If you’re going to cower, don’t pretend to be brave.”

His face turned red.

After all, Yuri had floored one of his companions with a single kick, so he was tense inside. They said he had fought in the alliance, and apparently, it wasn’t a lie.

“Understood.”

At his signal, one of the knights withdrew, likely to report to Zaire.

Yuri murmured,

“Everyone should know why my father did it.”

The Gatensha order fell silent. The death of the current lord’s father was indeed the result of his own actions.

Drunk, he had challenged Fiore—famed for his swordsmanship—and, receiving no response, dared to harass Yuri’s mother, now deceased.

It took talent to provoke even the calm Fiore. Even then, Fiore was lenient.

“I won’t do anything while you’re drunk. Come back sober tomorrow, and we’ll fight as you wish.”

But the next day, though terrified, the man believed Fiore wouldn’t dare kill an imperial noble. He also trusted his own sword skills.

Thus, he faced Fiore as agreed.

The result was clear. Fiore cut off his head.

“Aren’t you all ashamed as well?”

“…”

“And now the son is making a fool of himself. Must run in the family…”

“I’ll report that remark to the lord.”

“Oh, yeah? Go ahead.”

While Yuri was provoking them, the feudal lord appeared on horseback.

Zaire was a man just past thirty.

The Enekin family inherited sword talent, and he was no exception.

He had a robust build and sharp gaze. Dismounting without a word, he crossed his arms and looked Yuri up and down. It was as if he was sizing him up.

His hostile intent was obvious.

“What are you staring at?”

“The little prince is quite bold.”

“Little?”

“Ah, sorry. It’s just that you still smell green.”

Zaire smiled arrogantly.

“If that offended you, I apologize. Since you’ve come to my territory, would you like to visit the castle and share a meal…?”

“Hey. Don’t beat around the bush. You came to fight, didn’t you?”

“Does it seem that way? I merely…”

“What a pain. I was just looking for a punching bag like you to try something new I learned.”

“You should watch your mouth. Such poor manners.”

“As if you have any.”

Yuri approached steadily. Zaire didn’t back down.

Yuri muttered,

“I’m in a hurry…”

He was irritated. The guy was just looking for excuses to provoke a fight.

If he truly wanted revenge for his father, he should just say so outright. All this theater was pathetic.

Yuri’s hand moved.

Snap!

Zaire stood dumbfounded.

So did everyone else. Yuri had slapped him.

“I gave you a reason. You’re welcome.”

“D-did you just…?”

“I challenge you to a duel.”

“You slapped me…?”

“It’s your fault for not dodging it. If you can’t even avoid that, how are you going to dodge my sword later?”

Zaire’s face turned red. His arrogant demeanor crumbled, and his true self showed.

His lips trembled, and his brow furrowed.

Yuri continued.

“Why didn’t you just ask to fight from the start? Were you embarrassed to challenge a brat?”

“I’ll make you regret this, little prince.”

“Regret…?”

Yuri burst into laughter.

“And how are you going to do that if I cut off your head?”