Chapter 168: Human Hunt (2)

Yuri scratched the back of his head.

“Well, we picked the wrong fight.”

The man laughed.

“Yeah. Now you get it?”

“And who are you?”

“Why don’t you tell me who you are first? Then I’ll spare your life. How about surrendering to the Empire? I like you.”

“Oh.”

Yuri glanced at Laurent and Jared, shrugging.

“The situation changed.”

“Yeah.”

“Let’s run!”

“Yes!”

“Yes!”

With that, Yuri immediately turned to flee.

However, the man in front of him drove his sword toward Yuri’s back.

Yuri tried to dodge, but the attack was stronger than expected, forcing him to roll across the ground.

“You’re rough.”

“Did you think I’d let you escape?”

“You, you… you’ll see.”

Yuri pointed Guilty at the man as he backed up.

“I’m the Beast of Briol, Jared.”

“Jared? Never heard that name.”

Jared, behind him, looked at Yuri, but Yuri ignored the accusing glance and kept going.

“And the two behind me are my subordinates, Simon and Guinness.”

“Don’t know them either. They say Briol’s a land of knights, but if even no-names are this skilled…”

“And who are you?”

“I’m Elpeso, commander of the 9th Squadron of the Empire.”

“You Imperials are obsessed with numbers, huh? Why’s everything numbered?”

“The Empire is logical and orderly.”

“I see.”

As soon as he answered Elpeso, Yuri kicked the ground, kicking up dirt. Elpeso swung his sword in a wide arc to block.

In that instant, Yuri and the others turned and began to flee.

“Let’s go!”

But Elpeso wasn’t about to let them get away. He immediately gave chase and targeted Jared’s leg as he ran in the rear.

Jared jumped to avoid it but ended up rolling across the ground.

“Don’t die, Guinness!”

Even in such chaos, Jared admired Yuri’s quick thinking in changing names.

Elpeso’s next target was Laurent. He struck toward his limbs with his sword.

Laurent managed to block all the attacks with precise defense, but he was pinned in place.

Sparks flew between the two swords. Laurent was beginning to falter.

Yuri quickly scanned the surroundings and noticed faint movement in the distance.

They had to escape now.

He remembered Moyongchan’s advice and smiled slightly.

‘Now I’ll receive the Cut the Soul and the Heart.’

His vision plunged into the realm of spiritual will. Elpeso was pressing Jared and Laurent, their silhouettes flickering in black and white.

Yuri stepped forward, cloaking himself in the chaos of that power.

“Hey!”

Yuri slashed at Elpeso, who was blown back by the impact.

Yuri didn’t let him go, chasing immediately and embedding a sword wave into his falling body.

Elpeso rolled to dodge. The blade missed by an instant, hitting the ground and sending earth flying.

Like slicing through a chopping board, Yuri’s sword relentlessly pursued Elpeso.

As he rolled, Elpeso pushed off the ground and leapt.

“Not bad!”

Using a tree for leverage, Elpeso launched himself directly at Yuri. The chaotic aura of Guilty boiled at a level Elpeso couldn’t handle, but he pressed on fearlessly. Yuri respected that.

The two swords clashed.

Overpowered, Elpeso dropped to one knee.

“Kh!”

Yuri grinned.

He had always had to rely on speed and technique to beat stronger foes.

But this time was different. Elpeso was the one who had to lose.

In this position, the fight felt absurdly easy.

“So this is what it feels like?”

Yuri swung again. The aura twisted like a whip and shot straight at Elpeso’s side.

Alarmed, Elpeso leapt back.

“You got stronger out of nowhere? What did you do?”

As he fine-tuned the chaos within, Yuri adjusted his perception.

He had to become more familiar with this power.

“Answer, Jared!”

“Right.”

From afar, Jared looked at him. Yuri nodded.

“I’m not just Jared.”

“Huh?”

“Call me the Beast of Briol, Jared.”

“Still clinging to that nickname? Fine, Beast of Briol, Jared.”

“Want to know how I got stronger all of a sudden?”

“Your mana method?”

“No.”

Yuri gripped Guilty tightly.

“It was the burning patriotism that consumes me.”

“What… what?”

That was the end of the conversation. Yuri lunged and slashed Elpeso’s side. He blocked with a vertical guard.

Then the sword’s aura exploded.

“Argh!”

Yuri had detonated it on purpose. It was a technique that usually caused mana backlash in the user and wasn’t to be used lightly. He’d once used it against orcs and ended up in trouble.

But now, controlling the chaos, Yuri could handle the explosion. The torn mana spread in a radial burst straight toward Elpeso.

Elpeso stumbled back, bleeding all over. But it wasn’t over yet.

Yuri calmly raised Guilty and slashed downward again. Elpeso blocked, but the aura exploded once more.

“Kraaah!”

Each time their swords clashed, mana fragments exploded. There was no way to defend against it.

Seeing Yuri’s sword, Elpeso felt an instinctive fear.

“What the hell is this…?”

Yuri raised the chaos pouring from his body. The sword’s aura shimmered with a dark, ominous hue.

“Stop resisting. Or I’ll have to kill you.”

Elpeso lowered his sword, panting. His eyes assessed Yuri sharply.

“You got this strong all of a sudden… it means this isn’t your normal state.”

Elpeso took a long step back and raised his sword.

“Which means you can’t maintain it for long.”

Yuri frowned.

“Am I wrong, Beast of Briol, Jared?”

He was spot-on.

Yuri still hadn’t mastered chaos. He couldn’t even say for sure it could ever be fully assimilated.

Not only could he not maintain it long, but forcing it risked being consumed by the demonic state Moyongchan had warned him about.

Yuri didn’t reply—just shrugged.

Then lunged forward again.

“I nailed it, didn’t I?!”

Elpeso shouted, but Yuri ignored him.

Cornered, people stall by talking. Yuri had done the same before. He just needed to finish him quickly.

However, Elpeso no longer clashed swords. He weaved and dodged with skill.

It looked like they’d catch him, but no. Time was running out.

Yuri glanced at Laurent and Jared. Their expressions were grim.

Chaos started acting on its own, disobeying Yuri’s will.

Yuri made a decision.

“Simon, Guinness!”

“Yes!”

“Execute the plan!”

“Understood!”

Elpeso narrowed his eyes. While carefully watching Yuri’s group’s movements, he looked around nervously.

“Could that plan be…?”

At that moment, Yuri swung his sword. This time, at a low angle.

He slashed diagonally downward, causing the ground to explode and a dense cloud of dust to rise.

Then immediately turned and ran.

“Retreat operation.”

The three bolted away while Elpeso stood bewildered.

From behind, his voice echoed.

“Catch those three! They won’t get far!”

Elpeso’s voice rang with echoing fury.

***

The day was beginning to darken.

“Kh…”

Yuri, who had been running through the mountain, stopped for a moment, leaning against a tree, his head lowered.

“Are you okay?”

“No.”

Yuri looked back.

Elpeso and the knights he led were persistent. They kept trying to encircle the direction Yuri’s group had taken.

That’s why they needed to leave quickly, but staying conscious was hard. It was a side effect of the chaos.

“I think we should rest.”

Laurent and Jared nodded. It wasn’t just Yuri.

After so many battles and fleeing from Elpeso, they were also exhausted.

“Let’s get some sleep. The Empire must be tired too.”

“Damn…”

Yuri sighed.

“For now, let’s hide.”

They searched for a suitable spot, dug a hole, and crawled inside, covering it with branches.

And they took a short rest. Yuri closed his eyes.

And shortly after, he opened them again.

“…”

It was already morning. Yuri shook his head and crawled out of the hole.

Laurent and Jared were already packing up the gear.

“Are you feeling alright?”

“Yes, I slept well.”

“Your Highness…”

Laurent approached.

“You don’t look so good.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Your eyes are bloodshot.”

Yuri touched his eyelids.

“Don’t suppose there’s a mirror…?”

“Here you go.”

Jared pulled a small hand mirror from his pocket and offered it.

Yuri and Laurent immediately looked at him. Jared raised both hands in protest.

“What’s with that reaction? You asked for it.”

“You carry that with you?”

“Isn’t that a bit prejudiced?”

“My mistake. ‘Beast of Briol’ is too much for you. You’re more like… ‘Pocket Heartthrob of Briol.’ No, wait, your face doesn’t even fit that.”

“Come on, give it back.”

“No.”

Yuri looked at his eyes in the mirror.

“Sometimes even a mirror has the right to reflect someone like me.”

Just as Laurent had said, his eyes were red. Yuri frowned and returned the mirror.

“Didn’t you sleep?”

“I did.”

“Are you sure?”

“I had a bad dream.”

After covering the hole again, Yuri geared up and picked up Guilty.

“Let’s go.”

It was early, and the morning dew dampened the leaves. The three’s boots slipped slightly on the wet grass as they moved quickly.

The mountain, still asleep, was silent.

“Don’t make any noise.”

The three moved stealthily.

Elpeso’s squad was an elite vanguard unit, so their numbers weren’t large.

And they were probably exhausted from the pursuit. Many were likely asleep or in poor condition.

“There.”

Yuri suddenly stopped.

“See them?”

A little farther ahead, through the bushes, an imperial knight could be seen sitting.

As always, they were in a group of four. They were eating jerky and crackers, chatting animatedly.

Not all soldiers can stay tense like their commanders want.

Yuri crept forward silently. Little by little, the voices became audible.

“Weren’t there just three of them?”

“Yeah, but they say even the captain was overwhelmed.”

“He got injured, but he’s fine. So the others must be messed up too.”

“Briol’s got nothing besides that Fiore guy.”

“Isn’t Briol supposed to be a land of knights?”

“It’s just a dump.”

Yuri watched them. They even had their swords unfastened and were relaxing carelessly.

Yuri gave a look. Laurent and Jared nodded and spread to the sides.

Yuri drew the bow from his back once more.

“Captain said we’d move out at sunrise…”

“We are moving. Breathing. Talking.”

The imperial knights laughed heartily. That scene eased Yuri’s mind.

Compared to the Empire’s Black Army he had seen in his past life, these were no terrifying foes.

That army felt like a war machine; these lacked both discipline and mental strength.

He aimed.

Once he confirmed Laurent and Jared were in position, he released the string. The arrow flew silently and pierced the enemy’s neck.

“Commander Elpeso’s a commoner, that’s why he yells so much… kehk…”

“What are you…”

“Urgh…”

One of the knights collapsed, blood spewing from his mouth. The others, busy with their things, realized too late and widened their eyes in shock.

“We’re unde—”

One didn’t even finish his sentence.

Laurent and Jared pounced like lightning, swinging their swords. One died instantly; the other two tried to grab their weapons off the ground.

Yuri already had another arrow ready and fired.

Another kill, the arrow in the back of the neck.

“You… you…”

The last knight trembled in fear. Laurent and Jared pinned him down.

Yuri approached.

“Don’t they teach you in the Empire not to take off your helmet?”

“I-I…”

Most of those Yuri had killed with arrows hadn’t been wearing helmets.

“Could it be… you’re the Beast of Briol, Jared?”

“No. Now I’m the ‘Pocket Mirror of Briol.’”

Yuri joked and then kicked him in the chest.

“Hey, I’ve got a few questions. Answer. For every second you hesitate, I’ll cut a finger, a leg, an arm… in that order.”

The interrogation didn’t take long. Yuri granted the knight’s plea for a quick death.

After lightly covering the bodies, Yuri turned to Laurent and Jared.

“Laurent, Jared.”

“Yes.”

“Yes.”

“Shall we?”

Yuri smiled.

“The three of us alone… let’s dismantle the Ninth Squadron.”