Chapter 147: The Swamp (1)

After saying goodbye to Joshua, Yuri headed straight for the city gates. The residents of Française recognized Laurent and greeted him.

“Good morning, young master.”

“You’re back?”

“You mustn’t leave Française!”

Laurent responded with a smile and a kind word for each one. Yuri suggested he go see his family, but Laurent refused until the end.

“You won’t regret it later?”

“My parents will understand. I can see them another time.”

“I suppose so…”

As they chatted, they reached the gate, but the atmosphere was strange. A crowd was gathered at the entrance, murmuring.

Yuri sensed it immediately.

“It’s a fight.”

“Excuse me?”

“If there are so many people gathered, it’s because there’s something to see. And most likely it’s a fight, don’t you think?”

“Makes sense.”

“Since it’s the city gate, it must be a dispute between the guard and a visitor, or between visitors.”

Yuri’s group approached on horseback. The people made way. Yuri asked the guard watching from behind.

“What’s going on?”

“Ah, Prince. Young master. Good morning. Leaving already?”

“Yes, we’re finished here.”

“Please wait a moment. There’s someone causing a commotion…”

“Someone daring to start a fight with the guard on Briol’s soil? Who is it?”

“Well…”

But then, from the other side of the guard, a familiar voice was heard.

“I’ve come just to see the prince! I’m here to see Prince Yuri!”

Everyone present turned to look at Yuri.

Even Laurent and Jared looked at him. Yuri brought his hand to his forehead and sighed.

“And why are you two looking at me?”

“Because we don’t want to get involved.”

“Are you embarrassed by Sir Jose?”

“A little…”

“Not gonna lie.”

“Got it.”

Yuri stepped forward. Seeing him, the guards blocking Jose recognized him and, a bit unsure, stepped aside.

Lying in front of the gate, Jose was still shouting.

“I’ve lost my ID badge, but I’m Jose of Brusen! Jose Aratur! I’m not a suspect! I came to see Prince Yuri!”

“Sir Jose.”

“I’m here to meet Prince Yuri…!”

Jose, who hadn’t stopped shouting, suddenly fell silent. Then he jumped to his feet.

“Prince!”

“Sir Jose. Why all the fuss?”

“Hahaha… how embarrassing.”

“If you didn’t have your badge, you could have just waited at the entrance.”

“Well…”

Jose scratched the back of his head as he stood up. Lying down, he looked like a crouching tiger, but standing, he resembled an embarrassed bear.

“I didn’t know how long the prince would stay. And if you started drinking… wouldn’t you feel bad if I wasn’t there?”

He wanted to join quickly in case the three of them went drinking together. Yuri smiled faintly.

“There won’t be time for that. I plan to leave right away.”

“Ah…”

Jose nodded.

“Well, it doesn’t matter. If I’m with you, even a roadside beer will taste good.”

“You’re coming with us?”

“That hurts. Aren’t we already in the same boat? You shouldn’t be asking me that. Were you planning to leave without me? I’m disappointed.”

“You’re from Brusen, I thought it’d be wrong to drag you into this.”

“I’m half Brusen, half Briol.”

“Half and half… how generous.”

“Hmm… let’s call it 60% Brusen and 40% Briol.”

Yuri chuckled and patted his shoulder. Then he turned to the guards.

“Seems there was a misunderstanding. I appreciate your diligence to the end. Keep protecting Française well.”

“Yes, sir!”

The guards of Française bowed respectfully to Yuri’s group. Now with four members, the group left Française behind.

As they rode, Jose, as if suddenly remembering, pulled something from inside his clothes.

“Ah, Prince.”

“Yes?”

“There’s a letter for you. Miss Ena asked me to deliver it.”

“A letter…?”

Jose handed him the letter. There was nothing written on the envelope, but from the seal, Yuri recognized the sender.

He opened the letter and read its contents.

“Sybilla, I see.”

The other three instinctively glanced at the letter. Given Yuri’s past with her, everyone wondered if it contained any sentimental expressions.

Yuri didn’t show it to anyone and read it alone.

“Hmm…”

After a moment, he drew his fire sword and burned the letter. The paper turned to ash in the air, and the others watched with blank expressions.

“That wasn’t necessary…”

“It was a confidential letter.”

“Excuse me? What did it say?”

“You don’t need to know.”

With that, Yuri spurred his horse to move faster.

The letter wasn’t long. She wrote that back in the Holy Kingdom, she was facing various difficulties.

Apparently, Larsson, the next heir to the throne, was constantly harassing her.

But it was something she had to overcome on her own. Once Larsson settled on the throne, things would likely calm down.

“Hmm…”

Even so, Yuri couldn’t shake the concern from his mind. Although the content was dry, the mere fact that she had written the letter meant she was under emotional pressure.

“I should write her a reply.”

Murmuring to himself, Yuri unfolded the map over his saddle. The route to Joachim would require crossing several countries.

To avoid going through the Empire, they’d have to take a detour.

“Won’t Joachim have already fallen by the time we arrive?”

“No.”

Yuri shook his head.

“Sir Graham won’t move so quickly.”

Graham was in command of the troops. Yuri didn’t know why the Emperor had entrusted him with the army, but Graham was not in favor of this war.

So his advance was methodical.

Instead of rushing, he moved carefully, trying to minimize damage.

“That’s true, but it’s said the 5th Cavalry Division has already headed to Joachim’s capital. With Joachim’s forces, won’t it be hard to resist?”

Jose spoke with a worried tone. And he was right. Joachim didn’t have enough strength to stop even a single cavalry division from the Empire.

Until recently, that is.

But now things were different. Joachim’s knights had been reborn as mountain warfare experts under Yuri’s command. They weren’t just knights anymore but had been reorganized into a new type of unit.

As guardians of the Alloy Mountains, they were called the “Owl Brigade.”

“I heard they received training, but… will they manage? Sword skills don’t improve overnight…”

“War isn’t a duel. And killing the enemy doesn’t rely solely on a sword.”

Even with the occasional fragmented reports, Yuri could clearly visualize what was happening in Joachim.

The 5th Cavalry Division, eager for merit, would pause for a moment at the forest surrounding Joachim’s royal castle.

They might have been cautious, but likely, thrilled at the idea of conquering Joachim, they advanced carelessly.

To the Owl Brigade, they were perfect prey.

The Empire’s knights, never exposed to such warfare, would surely be confused and not know how to respond. They might even try a frontal charge against those “unsportsmanlike tactics.”

Yuri was convinced Joachim hadn’t fallen. In fact, it was probably putting up a fierce fight against the Empire.

“Surely the Empire is getting a beating. I trained them myself. Now they’ll pay the price for underestimating Joachim’s commandos.”

Although they knew Yuri had trained Joachim’s knights, the other three didn’t know the details since it was confidential, so they could only tilt their heads in confusion.

“That much? What exactly did you teach them…?”

It couldn’t be just confidence. Yuri had achieved too much so far.

If he said he’d do something, he really did it. That’s why none of the three dared take his words lightly.

Yuri gave a faint smile.

“The spirit of Briol.”

“The spirit of Briol?”

Not just Jose, but even Laurent and Jared—born and raised in Briol—tilted their heads in confusion.

“What’s that?”

At Jared’s question, Jose looked at him.

“A Briol native who doesn’t know the spirit of Briol? Jared, are you serious?”

“And do you know it, Sir Jose?”

“Well, no.”

“Me neither.”

“I’m from Brusen, you know?”

“Then do you know the spirit of Brusen?”

“No…”

Yuri clicked his tongue.

“Youngsters these days, tsk…”

Jared looked at him skeptically.

“The spirit of Briol, you see…”

“What is it?”

“I’d like to tell you, but you’re not ready yet.”

“Huh?”

“I’ll tell you another time. But right now we have something urgent to do.”

“Are you changing the subject?”

“It’s something really important.”

“What is it?”

“The disguise.”

Yuri said.

“It won’t look good if we go straight to Joachim and fight on their side, don’t you think?”

“Well… yeah, I suppose.”

If Briol’s third prince openly helped Joachim, it was obvious how the Empire would react.

Given the continent’s uncertain political situation, there was no need to draw enemy attention unnecessarily.

Yuri knew the enemy, but the enemy didn’t know him yet. He had to maintain that advantage.

“Isn’t it enough to change hair and eye color and wear a mask like before?”

“Fool!”

“Huh?”

“It’s not enough to change appearance. If we suddenly show up as highly skilled warriors like us, don’t you think the Empire will be suspicious?”

“Well, that’s true…”

“That’s why we need a story.”

“A story?”

“A believable backstory. Something that seems reasonable. It doesn’t have to be elaborate, but it must be convincing.”

“Sounds complicated.”

“Don’t worry.”

Yuri tapped his temple.

“I’ve already thought of everything. But first, let’s change our faces.”

***

Just as Yuri had said, Joachim was brilliantly resisting the imperial attack.

Since ancient times, there had been a legend that the forest surrounding Joachim’s royal castle protected its king.

And as if that were true, the Owl Brigade used that forest to bring the 5th Cavalry Division to the brink of annihilation.

The division couldn’t rest anywhere due to arrows flying from all directions, and if they stepped wrong, they fell into traps.

Joachim’s knights hid so well that sometimes they would jump out of the very underbrush one had just passed, to strike from behind.

The commander of the 5th Division gritted his teeth. His body was also covered in wounds.

“Damn it…”

“Are you alright?”

“Those sons of…!”

The Owl Brigade never offered the kind of battle they wanted. Every time they tried a frontal sword clash, the enemies withdrew.

And if they gave chase, arrows would rain down or they’d fall into traps.

“We have to retreat.”

“Retreat… before Joachim?”

He was furious. He had lost too many knights. If he returned like this, he would face harsh reprimands. He’d probably have to resign from his post as commander.

“Joachim…?!”

When he tried to stand, he staggered. His body collapsed into the bushes.

The vice-commander ran toward him.

“Commander?”

“My body…”

That’s when he understood.

“It’s poison.”

“Huh?”

“They used poison…”

He remembered that a trap had cut his skin. It must’ve been poisoned.

“Hold on… I have to activate the mana method. Protect me.”

“Yes, sir.”

The commander sat down and invoked his mana method.

The energy of a lion began to combat the poison that had infiltrated his body.

Sweat poured down his forehead.

Even though a knight of his level wouldn’t fall easily to poison, his resistance had dropped drastically due to the constant strain on both his body and mind.

“C-Commander.”

“…”

“Commander!”

The commander, deep in concentration, opened his eyes at the vice-commander’s shout. And his face immediately twisted in rage.

“Damn it…”

Joachim’s knights had surrounded them. At another time, no matter how many they were, he would’ve been able to strike them down.

But now he couldn’t even move properly. The poison was spreading quickly through his body. If he fought in that condition, death was inevitable.

From among the enemies, someone stepped forward.

“Commander of the 5th Division, aren’t you?”

“Who are you?”

“I’m Gonte Murchin, leader of the Owl Brigade.”

“And a third-rate knight like you dares…?”

“I’m not third-rate, actually.”

Gonte shrugged.

“If it bothers you so much, then win!”

The last thing the commander saw was that irritating smile, and the darkness of the sack that fell over his head.