Chapter 180: The Knights of Briol (2)

The knights of Briol didn’t know Yuri very well, but Yuri knew them perfectly.

They were comrades he had fought shoulder to shoulder with to the point of exhaustion in his past life.

In other words, they were brothers-in-arms who had shed blood together.

That’s why, at times, Yuri couldn’t help but smile when he saw them.

“Sir Ainzer.”

“Yes.”

“Cut down on refined grains and increase your intake of meat and vegetables. Well, you probably eat enough meat already, so better increase the vegetables.”

“If I don’t fill up on bread, I don’t have strength.”

“That’s just a feeling. If you do as I say, your body will feel lighter and better. That belly…”

Yuri gave a few pats to his belly.

Even Ainzer, who had a tough face, felt embarrassed by Yuri’s bluntness.

“Shouldn’t you get rid of this?”

“R-really?”

“Of course. It’s something people often overlook, but for a knight, diet is a fundamental part.”

“I’ll keep it in mind.”

They were observing the approaching imperial army from atop the wall.

Although their conversation seemed casual, battle was imminent.

“I guess tonight’s dinner will be those imperial bastards.”

“Haha, you’re right.”

Ainzer laughed, though he kept glancing sideways at Yuri.

No matter how experienced a knight was, standing on the brink of war always brought nerves.

Even more so with such a powerful enemy. And this time, they were facing the Empire itself.

But the third prince showed no sign of fear.

On the contrary, he cracked jokes to ease the tension, as if he were beside a knight more experienced than himself.

Ainzer scratched his cheek and spoke.

“When will His Majesty arrive?”

“They say he’s on his way. Seems he has things to take care of.”

Yuri didn’t know the details either. Fiore had delayed his departure, saying he had something to do with Cedric.

Suddenly, he remembered Laurent’s warning. He had been oddly cautious about Cedric.

However, even Laurent hadn’t been able to clearly explain the reason.

It left Yuri with a faint unease, but it wasn’t enough to jump to conclusions without evidence.

The Cedric Yuri knew had always been someone he could trust.

“So if we manage to hold this battle, Father will take care of the rest.”

“I see.”

Ainzer nodded.

“We just have to hold out today, and everything will be resolved.”

“Exactly.”

“That sounds good. Very good.”

Then Ainzer turned around.

The knights stood lined up on the wall. Behind them, the soldiers clutched their weapons with tense faces.

Yuri, pointing out even the smallest details, demonstrated his deep knowledge of fortress defense.

Thanks to that, even though the enemy was several times larger in number, they had built a solid defense.

Bezos was now an impregnable fortress.

“Everyone’s on edge.”

“Then you should shout at them a bit.”

“Can I really dare to do that?”

“If not you, then who?”

“Why not Your Highness?”

“I’m the kind-hearted commander. You’re the fierce one.”

“Oh no, I don’t want to be hated!”

“Then there’s no helping it.”

Yuri looked at the marks he had prepared in advance.

Thanks to repeated training, the exact range of their arrows had been precisely calculated.

Once the enemy stepped into the marked zones, arrows would rain down.

Of course, they wouldn’t inflict heavy casualties on well-armored knights, but it was enough to disrupt their focus.

The smallest details made the difference. Every time swords clashed, the price paid was a life.

That was why even the tiniest elements had to be prepared with utmost care.

That was war.

“The enemy is approaching.”

Yuri said.

He was at one of the four gates of Bezos, the one facing the heaviest enemy concentration. Even the flag of the Black Knights was flying among their ranks.

It was clear that the fiercest fighting would take place there. For the soldiers assigned to that section, it seemed like a stroke of bad luck.

Yuri spoke in a casual tone.

“Think you’re unlucky?”

In the silence before war, his voice rang out from the top of the wall.

Yuri continued.

“Why this section? Why against the Empire? Why did you pick up a sword and become soldiers? Wouldn’t it have been better to farm the land?”

The soldiers laughed at his words.

Yuri stepped forward and leapt onto the railing, becoming clearly visible.

His black hair fluttered in the wind.

Yuri turned, back to the enemy and facing his allies.

And he said.

“If anyone is thinking that, get it out of your head. The ones who’ll regret it won’t be us. The ones who’ll regret it are those imperial bastards who will die at our hands today.”

Then he pointed to a soldier.

“You there! What’s your name?”

“Noah!”

“Alright, Noah. How many are you planning to kill today?”

“Uh, that’s…”

“How many?”

“At least two!”

“Only two?”

“No, no! Three! Even if I die, I’m taking at least three with me!”

“That’s it!”

Yuri pointed toward the Imperial lines.

“They’ll be the ones regretting it! Like those three who’ll die at Noah’s hands today! I bet they’ll close their eyes wondering why they had the misfortune of meeting a lunatic like him! Right, Noah?”

“That’s right!”

The soldiers roared.

“And the rest of you too! Tonight those bastards will regret fighting the lunatics of Briol! They’ll curse their emperor! Those weaklings will finally realize how rotten Briol’s temperament really is!”

The cheers intensified.

That fervor spread beyond the fortress gates, reaching the other troops stationed elsewhere.

The entire castle of Bezos boiled with energy. Suddenly, an imperial standard-bearer approached.

It was the final formality, to deliver a last warning. Yuri shouted once more.

“Look over there! How chivalrous the Empire’s lords are, sending such a polite envoy! Must be coming to ask if we want to surrender…”

Yuri jumped down, snatched a bow and arrow from a soldier, and climbed back up to the edge.

He shot the standard-bearer and killed him with a single arrow. The startled horse galloped back toward the imperial camp, dragging the corpse behind.

Yuri shouted,

“That’s our answer!”

The soldiers erupted in cheers.

“That guy who just died must be cursing the heavens for arriving in Bezos the day Yuri Briol was in command! So enough with the weak thoughts! Make those imperial bastards regret it to tears!”

The imperial army immediately sounded its war horn.

They began to advance.

Shielded soldiers led the charge, followed by spring-loaded jumping devices.

Elsewhere, a heavy battering ram moved forward under escort.

“Everyone to your positions!”

Yuri’s voice rang out clearly along the wall. At the same time, the standard-bearers in each sector began to wave their flags.

The signals were relayed with perfect coordination, and the archers drew their bows and aimed toward the sky.

Yuri glanced over his shoulder.

Atop the bell tower, knights trained in archery were hidden, waiting.

From the start to the end of the war, they would have one target only—the enemy commander.

“Wait.”

When Yuri murmured softly, the standard-bearers relayed the signal again.

They held their breath. Seconds of tense silence passed.

The imperial army reached the markers.

But Yuri did not give the order.

“Wait, wait, wait…”

Yuri muttered, eyes locked on the enemy.

Firing now wouldn’t have much effect. Yuri was waiting for the perfect moment.

Everyone was tense. They wanted to release their arrows immediately, but Yuri still hadn’t given permission.

Then, in a single instant—

“Now.”

As soon as he spoke the word, the standards rose in unison.

Orders were relayed simultaneously, and the archers along the wall released their strings.

Arrows flew in arcs through the sky and rained down on the enemy.

Some raised shields to block them, but not all could be stopped—many slipped through the gaps.

Blood began to spill. The war had begun.

“Let’s go—this is war!”

Yuri shouted as he climbed back up the edge of the wall.

“Your Highness, it’s dangerous.”

Said Jared, protecting him from behind. But Yuri paid no mind.

“It should be. That’s war.”

He even said it with a lively tone. Soon, enemy arrows flew upward in response.

Yuri brandished Guilty, and a shield-like energy burst from the sword, deflecting them all.

The ones flying off to the sides were blocked by guarding knights and shield-bearers.

No casualties yet. Both sides were exchanging volleys of arrows nonstop.

Briol’s soldiers, positioned high up, had the advantage—but the Empire far outnumbered them.

Despite the damage from arrows, the Imperials advanced with relentless determination.

Soon, the jumping devices were in place.

“Stop them!”

Yuri shouted. But the Empire had planned for this too, and it wasn’t enough.

The imperial knights advanced in formation. Then, stepping onto the launchers, they were hurled into the air by the springs’ force.

“Get ready!”

Yuri shouted.

Imperial knights soared through the sky.

Yuri could see their faces clearly, as if time had slowed. In them was a mix of wonder from flying and tension from battle.

He had said he’d make the enemy regret it—and now he was doing just that.

The first one to come at him, Yuri struck with his sword.

It wasn’t easy due to the momentum, but he managed to break the knight’s balance. The man slammed into the railing.

Yuri tried to finish him off with a kick.

“Uaaaagh!”

The knight screamed, hanging on to the railing with both hands.

Yuri stared him in the eye and stabbed Guilty through the visor of his helmet.

Blood splattered, and the knight fell.

“Kill them all!”

Alongside Yuri, the knights of Briol fought atop the wall.

Not many enemies could perform such jumps. However, some imperial knights carried grappling hooks with thick ropes.

They were trying to secure them so the rest could climb up from below. Yuri rushed to the edge and looked down.

Taking advantage of the chaos, other troops were already scaling the walls. Laurent, beside him, approached.

“Your Highness?”

“I’ll cut the ropes.”

Yuri was about to cut them when an imperial knight lunged at him.

But Ainzer Yustam killed the enemy before he could reach him.

“They’re climbing?”

“Yes.”

Yuri channeled energy into Guilty and sliced the rope. The climbers fell instantly.

But it wasn’t enough. Ropes were hooked all along the wall, and soldiers were climbing from every corner.

“Perfect.”

Arrows rained from above, swords flashed at the flanks, and from below the enemy swarmed up like ants, while the battering ram struck the gates at steady intervals.

It was total chaos. That was war.

Imperial knights soared through the air again. Some launched so hard they landed beyond the wall.

In such cases, many died from the fall or were severely injured.

“Where do you think you’re going!?”

“This is our fortress, damn imperial!”

Perhaps fueled by Yuri’s speech, the Briol knights shouted fiercely and drove the Imperials back with force.

The battle raged on.

Yuri kept fighting the knights flying up to the wall.

“The other gates?”

“They’re holding up well.”

“I see…”

At that moment, an imperial knight launched straight toward Yuri.

He landed on the narrow railing with flawless movement. Yuri instinctively knew—this one was strong.

“Are you Yuri Briol?”

“And you are?”

“I’m Armut, commander of the Eighth Squadron.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he charged. With a single slash, his cutting energy swept outward in all directions.

Not only Yuri, but also the knights nearby were pushed back.

An exclusive space formed for the two atop the wall.

“I’ll kill you and take this castle.”

“Oh? Go ahead, if you can…”

But just then… One of Briol’s knights stepped in.

“Who the hell are you to mess with the prince? Looks like you’re just some nobody!”

Apparently, he was a baron from a rural region.

He winked at Yuri and shouted,

“We Briol folk aren’t soft!”

He launched himself at the commander of the Eighth Squadron in Yuri’s place.

“I don’t care if you’re a commander or whatever! Who the hell do you think you are challenging our prince like that?”

He fought Armut with such ferocity that the man, surprised, was pushed back.

They clashed several times with neither gaining the upper hand.

Yuri asked Laurent,

“What’s that baron’s name?”

“Moren Esh? Moren Edu? Something like that…”

“And why’s he so good at fighting?”

“Apparently he’s got real skill.”

Yuri nodded and looked around.

“Mmm…”

He felt moved.

Compared to his past life, they were fighting far better. He wondered if Briol had always been this strong.

One of the knights raised his sword and shouted,

“Briol!”

Instantly, cries erupted everywhere.

“Briol!”

“Briiooool!”

“For Briol!”

Imperial knights fell from the wall.

Those still climbing were kicked back into the void, and those flying in were intercepted by Briol’s knights and thrown into fierce battles.

“Die, imperial bastard!”

An imperial knight fell, struck down.

Yuri smiled at the sight, then raised Guilty and looked ahead again.

It wasn’t time to let down his guard yet.

The war had only just begun.