Chapter 136: The Sea’s Treasure (3)

In Jose’s mansion, Laurent, Jared, Simon, and Guinness were resting sprawled out, completely relaxed.

The day was beginning to darken.

Perhaps because they had been traveling for so long, that rest after such a time felt exquisite.

“Where are His Highness and Sir Jose?”

“That’s true, we haven’t seen them in a while.”

“They probably went for a walk. Shall we play a round of cards among ourselves?”

“Oh, sounds good.”

During the campaign against the Alliance, card games had become a huge trend among Briol’s soldiers.

Even Laurent, who didn’t even know the rules, had learned to play with some ease.

They even dragged one of the mansion’s servants into the game, and the match grew even larger.

Under Jared’s direction, they set a table in the middle of the hall and began to deal the cards.

And soon, victories and defeats began to take shape.

“This is my game!”

“Ah…”

“No way…”

Simon and Guinness kept winning. They may have been inferior to Laurent and Jared in fencing, but at least in cards, they were absolutely superior.

Even the mansion’s servant couldn’t hide his astonishment.

“Do Briol knights only know how to play cards?”

“You could say it’s part of a Briol knight’s basic training.”

“Pardon?”

“The water from above always drags the one below.”

“Let’s go again.”

“As a good man of Brusen, you don’t know the word surrender.”

“You’ll see.”

At that moment, Yuri and Jose returned to the mansion.

“Ah, they’re back.”

Since everyone was looking at their cards, they didn’t pay them much attention.

“Eh? And why are they dressed like that…?”

Laurent stood up upon seeing their state, but Jared, sitting beside him, grabbed his clothes and forced him to sit back down.

“Sir Laurent, focus. We can’t afford any more losses.”

“But… they’re in really bad shape…”

“What’s in bad shape is our wallet!”

“Ah…”

“They probably just went off to have fun. Come on, let’s keep going.”

The servant also wanted to go greet them, but Jose gestured with his hand.

“Keep doing your thing. I need to talk to His Highness.”

“Yes, understood.”

In the end, both Laurent and the servant returned their focus to the cards.

“Hmm…”

“Mmm…”

Thus, Yuri and Jose, with their clothes in tatters and leaning on each other, had no choice but to drag themselves down the corridor.

Seeing the four knights so engrossed in their cards, Yuri clicked his tongue.

“Looks like we’ll have to bathe quickly and join in.”

“Hahaha…”

Because both had such high control, they had been able to restrain themselves enough to avoid serious injuries.

Though they did receive a few cuts, none were severe. On the way back, they passed by a small temple and healed themselves. So, setting aside their battered appearance, their bodies were in perfect shape.

“Your Highness, I was going to the baths. Shall we go together?”

“Oh, there’s a bath?”

“Yes.”

“Perfect.”

When they arrived, the hot water was already prepared.

Yuri and Jose immersed themselves together in the hot bath. As they entered the water, the accumulated fatigue from the battle seemed to vanish completely.

Through the steam, Jose’s imposing muscles could be seen. Yuri touched his shoulder.

It was as hard as steel.

“W-why are you touching me so much?”

“Do you lift weights?”

“In my free time, yes.”

“Muscle training is also part of a knight’s life.”

“We can train together next time.”

“I don’t think we can handle the same weights.”

Amid that light banter, they both relaxed.

The hot water loosened their muscles. The wounds closed by the sword also stung in a pleasant way.

“Sir Jose.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“It was a good fight.”

“I agree.”

Thanks to that duel, Jose had grown a lot. And Yuri as well.

“Speaking of which, about the result…”

Yuri, leaning back, spoke.

“How about we keep it a secret?”

Jose smiled.

“Do you think so?”

“Yes. No need to talk about it.”

“Fine by me. But wouldn’t it be good for your reputation?”

“I’m not interested.”

“True…”

Jose dipped his hand in the water.

“Right now, Your Highness is at war.”

“War?”

“Yes. You’re fighting against that unknown black magic.”

“I suppose it could be seen that way.”

“Then it would be better to save your strength. A strategy of deception, right?”

They had fought each other by the sea of Brusen.

And the result was a draw.

Jose was the knight closest to being among the Ten Greats. That a prince as young as Yuri managed to tie with him was a fact hard to believe for anyone.

“You held back.”

“Only at the beginning.”

“That still counts. So, did you get what you wanted?”

“Yes. I’m very grateful. Haha…”

“I’m grateful too. Thanks to you, I realized several things.”

They both felt firsthand how much they had grown from that experience. From the first clash of swords to the last, they had reached a new level.

It was a synergy between two geniuses—Yuri Briol and Jose Aratur.

Jose, washing his face with the hot water, asked.

“And now, what will you do?”

“I’ll return to Briol.”

“And what do you plan to do there?”

“Prepare myself.”

“Your Highness really is at war.”

“I wasn’t the one who started it.”

“And what will you gain if you win this war?”

At Jose’s question, Yuri looked at him. Jose wore a slight smile on his face, but his eyes were completely serious.

He spoke with sincerity.

Jose had faced enemies like Okua, Gert, and the Demon Flower alongside Yuri.

It would be stranger if he hadn’t noticed something. Yuri sank a little deeper into the water and replied.

“There’s nothing to gain. I just don’t intend to lose.”

“And if you lose, what will you lose?”

“Everything.”

Yuri pointed to his own chest with a finger.

Then pointed at Jose.

“I would lose everything.”

His voice was filled with conviction. Jose had already turned completely to face Yuri.

“What His Highness is preparing for… is it really that terrifying?”

“Okua and the Demon Flower were just the beginning.”

“And where did those things come from?”

Jose’s questions were starting to dig deeper.

Yuri smiled.

“Sir Jose.”

“Yes.”

“Will you come with me?”

“Well…”

“If you decide to join, I’ll tell you.”

There was already trust between Yuri and Sir Jose. If not, how could they have traveled together for so long coming from different nations?

Jose was a knight one could trust.

Yuri wanted him to join his cause. Of course, even without interference, Jose would end up facing the Empire someday. Its expansion threatened the entire continent.

But by then it would be too late. Yuri smiled mischievously.

“About the enemy we really need to fight.”

“Can’t you tell me first?”

“For safety, no.”

“How secretive.”

“I want to stay alive too. What if you let it slip?”

“If it’s someone His Highness fears that much… is it the Empire?”

Then, Jose burst into laughter.

Yuri, slightly uncomfortable, joined his laughter with a forced smile. Their laughter echoed in the bath.

“Alright.”

“Hmm?”

“I’ll join you.”

“That easy?”

“Wasn’t it His Highness who made this offer because he trusts me? After all this time together, I know you well enough. There’s nothing to think about.”

“Sir Jose…”

“I trust you, prince.”

Yuri felt moved.

The other knights who followed him were from Briol, but Jose was from another country, with different duties and loyalties. Furthermore, he was a knight near the level of the Ten Greats. Earning his trust was a true honor.

“Then tell me. Who is this enemy you fear so much?”

Yuri answered without hesitation.

“The Empire.”

“Excuse me?”

“The Empire.”

“I said it as a joke before… but are you serious? Hahaha…”

“The Empire.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Black magic has taken over the imperial palace.”

“What did you say?”

“Black magic has corrupted the court. The situation is even more serious than in Adelein, because they’ve taken control of the head.”

“Are you serious?”

“And one more thing—the Alliance was used as bait, a planned defeat from the start. We only won because I disrupted the palace’s plans.”

“That…”

“Do you remember Okua’s condition?”

“Yes.”

“It was all black magic. If the Empire’s plan had gone well, Okua, after absorbing the Alliance, would have turned into a monster that would have ravaged the rest of the continent.”

“If what you say is true, what exactly are they planning? To conquer the continent?”

“Who knows what’s going through a madman’s mind.”

“Haah…”

Jose let out a long sigh, staring at the ceiling. Yuri patted his shoulder.

“I’m counting on you. Let’s fight to save the world.”

“You’re making me want to take it back.”

Yuri laughed softly.

“Sir Jose. I know a lot about Brusen customs. Even about the banquet.”

“Hmm…”

“Bathing together is one way people from Brusen show trust, right? You were planning to join from the beginning, weren’t you?”

“How do you know so much about Brusen?”

“I read it in a book.”

The truth was, he had learned it in his past life from a mercenary companion from Brusen. They trusted each other so much they had each other’s backs on the battlefield.

Even then, he had to strengthen their friendship through a somewhat forced bath.

The problem was, that mercenary had been a woman.

“Is it okay to leave your land unattended?”

“It works fine without me.”

“That’s a relief.”

“Let’s leave tomorrow.”

“You’re really fired up.”

“I just grasped the gravity of the situation.”

“Hahaha…”

“Impressive. You’ve been dealing with all this.”

Jose scratched his head.

“The Empire, huh? Just the name is imposing.”

“We don’t know to what extent it’s been corrupted. But there must still be people inside who can help us. For example…”

Yuri thought of Ragnar, but his mood dampened. He paused, then mentioned another.

“Someone like Sir Graham.”

“Yes.”

“Maybe even the Black Knight could be useful.”

“I heard he serves the emperor.”

“That’s true, but when I met him, he seemed like a good person.”

“You’ve met him?”

“Yes.”

“And how was it?”

“Nothing like you.”

“Ha, we won’t know until we fight.”

“You’ll know when you see him.”

“No, I don’t think so.”

“Hahaha…”

Yuri closed his eyes. He was convinced that he had done well in coming to Brusen.

“Sir Jose.”

“Yes.”

“We must go back there someday.”

“Did you like it?”

“Yes. The scenery is beautiful.”

“If Princess Yekaterina is the treasure of the Empire, then the sea of Orphen is the treasure of Brusen.”

“Cough, cough…”

“Are you alright?”

“Just swallowed wrong.”

***

After leaving Orphen, Yuri’s group headed to the royal castle to meet the king of Brusen before returning to Briol.

The king was a vigorous man. He welcomed Yuri’s group with great hospitality, and when Jose announced he would be accompanying them, the king asked him to swear loyalty to Brusen before letting him go.

“Sir Jose.”

“Yes, yes, Your Majesty.”

“Betrayal means death, death!”

“Of course. My homeland is Brusen.”

“I’m glad to hear that. And you, prince, don’t get too attached to Jose.”

“Hahaha, of course. He’ll only be traveling with me for a while. It’s part of the friendship between Briol and Brusen.”

“That’s a relief to hear. I’m sorry I couldn’t treat you better on such a sudden visit. But next time… yes, next time I’ll give you the Brusen banquet. Do you know what that is? The king of Brusen himself will offer it to you!”

“The banquet?”

“Yes, the banquet.”

“I see…”

Already knowing the truth about the banquet, Yuri’s group could only laugh awkwardly.

“By the way, is the king of Briol doing well?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Sure, if anyone knows how to be well, it’s him. Give him my regards.”

“I will.”

“Ah, and one more thing. I’ve heard that… there’s a delegation from Joachim in Briol. Since when are you so close?”