Chapter 135: The Sea’s Treasure (2)

Yuri’s group enjoyed a restful break in Jose’s territory.

After spending a peaceful day, they drank by the sea accompanied by sashimi or simply rested all day doing nothing.

Freed from accumulated fatigue, everyone began to feel much better.

“I feel lighter than ever.”

“Me too.”

“I think I even handle the sword better.”

And it wasn’t just their bodies that had recovered.

The battle experience gained in Adelein had settled in their subconscious, deepening their understanding of the sword. All the members of the group seemed to have leveled up at least once.

Thus, two days passed.

While Yuri was lounging in a rocking chair on the balcony, Jose approached.

“Your Highness.”

“Ah, Sir Jose.”

“I think it’s time to head out, don’t you think?”

“You mean your master?”

“Yes.”

“Perfect.”

Yuri stretched and rose from the chair. Then, he picked up Guilty, which he had leaned against the side.

“Let the others rest. Let’s go quietly, just the two of us.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Is your master very old?”

“Hahaha… well, you’ll see when you meet him.”

“That just makes me more curious.”

They slipped out of the mansion silently. Jose walked without a word toward the coast.

Orphen wasn’t a large city. Once they left the center, there were barely any people in sight.

The typical scenery of a coastal town spread before them. On the horizon, fishing boats lay still, while seagulls soared above.

Before long, they arrived at a sheer cliff overlooking the sea.

“I didn’t know this place existed.”

Because it jutted out over the sea, standing at the edge of the cliff offered a completely unobstructed view.

There was nothing in the way—just sky and sea. Yuri spread his arms and let out a long sigh.

“Ahhh…”

Two different shades of blue were divided by the horizon, making it impossible to tell where the sky ended and the sea began. A sense of freedom welled up in him, clearing his chest.

Undoubtedly, it was a landscape worthy of Brusen’s pride.

Yuri said.

“So, Sir Jose.”

“Yes?”

“Is this sea your master?”

“Hahahahaha…”

Jose burst out laughing.

“Well, not exactly, but yes. You could also say this sea is my master.”

Then he stood beside Yuri.

“But my real master is right here.”

Jose thumped his chest. Yuri smiled and nodded.

“Yourself?”

“Yes. Exactly. I became strong on my own.”

“Quite the genius.”

“Not as much as Your Highness.”

“You’re not as good as me.”

“Hahahahaha!”

“I’m joking.”

“It’s fine.”

“No. Seriously…”

Yuri shook his head.

“You really are a genius.”

Few people described Jose as a genius. But in truth, he was the knight to whom that title suited best.

His natural strength and physique were only part of his abilities.

The fact that he became one of the Ten Greats in his previous life wasn’t just due to that, but also his extraordinary understanding of swordsmanship and mana, which far surpassed the average.

“So this master wanted to meet me?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Since when?”

“Who knows. Maybe from the beginning.”

“We’ve crossed swords many times, haven’t we?”

“That’s not what I mean.”

Jose smiled mischievously and added.

“I mean a real fight.”

Yuri let out a wry smile. It was the same with Moyongchan; it seemed that the stronger someone was, the more they wanted to face him.

Yuri placed his hand on Guilty’s hilt.

“All right. Let’s do it.”

Jose’s proposal wasn’t light. This time would be different from previous duels. But not once did he think of avoiding it.

“Thank you.”

“I have a question. Why are you doing this? You’re already stronger than me.”

“Well, that…”

Jose scratched his head.

“You really don’t get it?”

“No.”

“That frustrates me a little.”

“Why?”

“Has Your Highness never wanted to fight someone weaker than you, just out of interest?”

“Not that I recall.”

Jose smiled.

“Do you know why? Because you’ve never met someone with more talent than you. Including me.”

“I’m not so sure. I value you highly.”

“Haha…”

“I mean it.”

“Then, allow me to ask another question.”

Yuri looked at him. Jose had a meaningful smile.

“When do you think Your Highness will surpass me?”

“That…”

“You probably think it won’t take too long, right?”

Yuri couldn’t deny it. He couldn’t give a specific date, but deep down he believed it would happen.

Unlike his past life, in this one he was training with all his strength every moment. And because of that, he didn’t feel like his limit had been defined.

Sometimes, he even felt that maybe one day… he could surpass his own father, Fiore Briol.

Maybe that’s why… even though Jose was clearly stronger, he didn’t feel distant.

Yuri showed a vague expression, and Jose smiled broadly.

“Of course, I don’t plan to let that happen so easily.”

Yuri also smiled.

“So today you want to crush me completely?”

“You know the saying, ‘cut the grass and pull out the root’?”

“Sir Jose, you’re more fearsome than I thought.”

“Hahaha, just kidding. What I mean is…”

While choosing his words, Jose slowly drew his sword.

“I just want to feel something… by facing a swordsman like Your Highness in front of this sea that made me who I am.”

“Feel something, huh…?”

Yuri raised his sword Guilty in front of him.

“That almost sounds poetic.”

“Don’t misunderstand me, Your Highness. I have no intention of letting you surpass me.”

“Oh yeah? Well, I plan to show you what defeat tastes like today.”

“Hahahaha!”

“No reason to wait. I’ll beat you today.”

“Bring it on.”

They both squared off at the edge of the cliff, pointing their swords at each other.

“I’ll leave it to you.”

“My pleasure.”

Yuri focused on Jose.

Since meeting in the alliance army, they had spent a lot of time together. They’d trained together often as well.

But they had never fought with such seriousness before. In Yuri’s mind, calculations began forming—Jose’s strengths and his own.

In general terms, Jose had the upper hand. But if Yuri focused on the areas where he excelled, it wasn’t impossible to find an opening.

Yuri made the first move.

“Fighting with the sea as a backdrop… it’s got its charm.”

“Then let’s do it again in the future.”

“Who knows? Will you still want to face me by then?”

“Oh, I’m more worried about Your Highness.”

As Jose spoke, Yuri struck like lightning.

A wave of sword energy swept toward the lower flank.

Jose didn’t dodge but lowered his sword to block. From his posture, Jose should’ve been at a disadvantage, but instead, it was Yuri who was pushed back.

A monstrous force.

Yuri wasn’t fazed and kept up the assault. He circled to the edges, aiming at difficult angles. But all his attempts were blocked.

Then it was Jose’s turn. He launched a wide slash.

Before the blade even touched him, the sound of the air being sliced echoed in Yuri’s ears.

The moment he realized he couldn’t dodge, he braced Guilty with his whole body. The impact hit him squarely, pushing him several steps back. The ground was etched with a long line.

Yuri shook out his numbed arms and said.

“Hard to believe that’s human strength.”

“Thanks for the compliment.”

“But battles aren’t won with strength alone.”

“Show me.”

Yuri advanced again without hesitation. He spun a full circle, using the momentum to clash against Jose’s sword.

A loud crash echoed.

The clashing of blades filled the air again and again. The intensity of their strikes reached a point where a single misstep could mean death.

And still, the sea remained calm. With the vast ocean behind them, they continued to exchange blows without pause.

“You’re fighting well. Hahaha!”

“Still feel like laughing?”

“But Your Highness is smiling too.”

“That’s because I’ve got room to breathe.”

“Doesn’t look like it!”

Their swords crossed. Jose, who had slashed in an arc, quickly recovered and aimed again. Yuri matched his stance.

They didn’t allow even a second of pause, attacking each other relentlessly.

Jose chuckled. This was the moment he’d been waiting for.

He wanted to face Yuri Briol—this brilliant genius—alone, before the sea of Orphen, where he’d grown up.

That alone was enough to inspire him. And now, that wish was coming true before his eyes.

“Thanks for this fight, Your Highness.”

“I’m the one who should thank you.”

Jose had met many geniuses.

Even Laurent and Jared, who traveled with them, were talented enough to serve in any cavalry across the continent.

But the third prince was different. It wasn’t about understanding the sword better or being faster. It was something beyond the physical.

He shined.

And that light spread outward.

That was the only way to describe it.

“Is that all, Your Highness?”

Jose provoked him as he swung his sword at Yuri.

Most knights avoided direct confrontation with him. They preferred to dodge and look for an opening.

The third prince had done the same at first. But whenever Jose, for various reasons, delivered a perfectly orchestrated attack like a work of art…

The third prince didn’t step back. He answered with his sword, as if it was a chance too good to pass up.

Of course, Yuri couldn’t fully handle it. He always lost the clash.

It might seem like a foolish decision at first glance. But in each of those moments, he absorbed something—growing in real time.

The Yuri fighting now wasn’t the same as the one at the start of the duel. And the one clashing swords next time would be different again.

He was a truly fascinating opponent.

Something in Jose’s chest began to burn. A mix of excitement and revelation.

He didn’t quite know what it was. But he did know this moment was taking him to a new peak.

Jose spoke as if making a declaration.

“Your Highness. I’m going to get more serious now.”

“Yeah? Then so will I.”

Time to level up.

“Be careful.”

“Worry about yourself.”

A torrent of mana surged from Jose’s body like a mountain, while the third prince generated a swirling vortex with his spins.

And still, the blows didn’t stop. Waiting for the other to finish their technique was for friendly duels. In a real fight, they sought the slightest opening to land a hit.

Jose laughed again.

“Can’t stop smiling a bit?”

“I’d like to, but I can’t. Hahahaha!”

“You’re not holding back, right?”

“Of course not.”

The truth was, he did hold back at first. If he’d gone all out from the beginning, the fight would’ve ended quickly.

So he started slow and gradually raised the intensity. The third prince kept up.

And now they were here. No more holding back.

This was, without exaggeration, a battle between equals.

Each time they exchanged blows, Yuri surprised him with something unexpected.

It wasn’t just about technique. Even as a person, his responses were different. And those differences were reflected in his sword.

Jose once again felt that radiance emanating from Yuri illuminate him. Challenging him had been the right call. This fight alone had brought him to a new understanding.

Jose shouted.

“At this rate, I’m going to win!”

“Probably.”

“And you’re just gonna let that happen?”

“Of course not. I’ll have to use my secret technique to beat you.”

“That excites me.”

“Don’t you have one too?”

“Of course I do.”

“Show me.”

“You want to see it?”

They both stopped, swords pointed at each other. Their eyes locked. For the first time since the duel began, a deadlock.

Suddenly, the wind blew.

They both swung their swords at the same time.

That day, the people of Orphen witnessed something unusual above the calm sea—a human whirlpool rose above the water.