Chapter 203: Friends (1)

Yuri departed with the Order of Vengeance, leaving Briol in haste.

Meanwhile, the battle between Brusen and the Holy Kingdom intensified.

Casualties were increasing, and towns were collapsing. On the front lines, graves were dug daily to bury the dead.

Jared clicked his tongue.

“How unfortunate. Haven’t those people died yet? The ones we fought with in the alliance…”

“It’s hard to tell.”

They knew Sybilla and Jose were still alive. Occasionally, news about them arrived through the newspapers.

But there was no way to know what had happened to Jonathan and Froin of Brusen, or to Fenek of the Holy Kingdom, who were not very well known.

It wouldn’t be surprising if they were already buried somewhere. That’s war.

“Are you worried?”

“A little.”

“If they’ve already died, all we can do is offer them a drink in front of their graves. That’s human fate.”

“Pff…”

Jared turned his face to look at Yuri’s profile.

That Yuri Briol whom he followed, his lord, now a member of the royal family, sometimes behaved like a veteran who had been through every war, regardless of his age.

“You have no heart.”

“What?”

“You should say something more passionate, like: I’m going to save them all!”

“What nonsense. All humans die.”

“That’s true.”

“And now we’re going to kill more people. If you don’t want to die, you have to kill.”

“Who’s going to die this time?”

“Who knows…”

Yuri didn’t respond.

Since deciding to head to the Holy Kingdom, he had had a bad feeling.

Sybilla had shocked the world by suddenly ascending as queen of the Holy Kingdom, and later, by making the unusual decision to invade Brusen, she had shaken the continent once more.

The fate of those who strayed from the path always ended up converging at a single point.

And if black magic was involved, all the more reason.

Yuri shook his head and spoke.

“Whoever it is… we’ll end up killing someone.”

“Isn’t there any way to avoid it?”

“The world doesn’t work like a fairy tale. There’s no time for chatting. Let’s move faster!”

After saying that, Yuri spurred with his heels. His horse began to gallop faster.

Jared followed grumbling, and soon the entire Order of Vengeance behind them accelerated as well.

When he caught up, Jared spoke again.

“Prince. Prince.”

“I told you to call me Your Highness.”

“Oh, right.”

“Or, if you don’t like that, call me brother.”

“No, thanks.”

At Jared’s expression of disgust, Yuri burst out laughing.

“Don’t you know how to hide your expression?”

“I can’t.”

Every time Yuri asked him to call him brother, Jared’s face contorted completely.

Not only did he dislike the word itself, but it also humiliated him to feel that Yuri genuinely considered him a younger brother.

And indeed, Yuri saw Jared as a clumsy brother in need of guidance.

Jared grumbled.

“And you’re younger than me…”

“Do you really think I’m younger?”

“What are you talking about? I’ve seen everything since you were this small.”

“And yet, you lost to me.”

“That’s not true.”

“Look ahead.”

“Huh?”

“When riding a horse, you must look forward even if you’re talking.”

“Ugh…”

Jared looked up.

In the distance, by the roadside, there was a group camping. Jared instinctively placed his hand on the hilt of his sword.

“Bandits?”

“No.”

“Then what?”

“You only know how to swing a sword, but you lack experience. You should start calling me brother.”

“Then who are they?”

“Mercenaries. And with them, a caravan.”

The flags raised by that group bore the emblem of a mercenary group.

Three knots hung from their pole: the mark of the Three Knot Mercenaries, a rank only granted to those who had proven their skill.

In the past, Ivan had pretended to be one of them in Adelein. But this time, it seemed they were real certified mercenaries.

“They could be bandits disguised as mercenaries.”

Jared had also thought of Ivan and made that hasty conjecture.

Yuri sighed.

“Do you really believe that?”

“Why not?”

“Don’t you see the caravan’s flag?”

Jared shifted his eyes.

“Oh…”

It was the symbol of the Elaine Trading Company, impossible to mistake for any Briol citizen.

Below, wagons were parked, loaded with goods.

“There’s no way a band of bandits would make it this far. They must be real mercenaries and merchants. Jared, start using your head.”

“Yes, yes. Your Highness.”

Yuri and the Vengeance Squad approached the group. One of the mercenaries came forward and addressed Yuri.

“Hey, knights! What mission are you on?”

Yuri slowed his horse and responded.

“And who are you, and where are you headed?”

“Come on, if one shares, so does the other. Why don’t you go first, knight?”

“If you answer first.”

“And how can I trust you?”

“Seems like you like to argue. Then there’s nothing more to say.”

When Yuri tried to ride past, the mercenary hurriedly caught up.

“Wait, wait! Such a picky man. We’re headed to Brusen, as you can see, we’re mercenaries hired by the Elaine Company. Is that enough?”

“Name of the mercenary group?”

“Even if I tell you, I doubt you’d know it.”

“Let me be the judge of that.”

“We’re the Raven Mercenaries.”

Yuri’s indifferent eyes flashed with a different hue. He silently observed the mercenary for a moment, then raised his gaze to examine the others one by one.

“Is something wrong?”

“If you’re the Raven Mercenaries, then you must have been active in the north.”

“Oh! You’ve heard of us?”

“I’ve heard rumors.”

“Are we that famous? We just came down here for work. You know how chaotic things are lately. And you, sir?”

“I’m Yuri Briol. I’m on my way to mediate between Brusen and the Holy Kingdom.”

“What…?”

At his response, the mercenary’s eyes widened. As he processed what he’d just heard, he took a step back, even more surprised.

“Yuri Briol, as in the third prince of Briol?”

“I’m now a member of the imperial family. You must address me as Your Highness.”

“I didn’t realize I was speaking to someone so distinguished. I apologize for my manners.”

He gave a rather clumsy bow.

“Where’s Krow?”

“You know the captain too?”

“I’ve heard the captain of the Raven Mercenaries, Krow, is quite capable.”

Yuri knew Krow very well. He had been his comrade in a past life.

“I’d like to speak with him for a moment. Everyone, halt.”

The entire Order of Vengeance approached the group of mercenaries and stopped their horses.

The mercenaries, who at first hadn’t shown much caution, began to tense up.

It was natural—the members of the order Jared had gathered were all high-level warriors. Although the Raven Mercenaries were also quite strong within the guild, faced with the overwhelming presence of the squad, they recognized the difference in level.

“Mmm…”

Yuri also observed the merchants from the Elaine Company. He didn’t recognize anyone—those who worked these routes were usually low-ranking employees.

Soon after, Krow appeared.

“You called for me?”

He was a young man to be the captain of a mercenary group. He wore long, loose brown hair, and his face visible between the strands was quite handsome.

“Do you know me?”

“I’ve heard of you.”

“In Briol?”

“I travel a lot.”

“I see…”

Krow tilted his head slightly.

“So… you’re the third prince from the rumors…?”

“Your Highness.”

“Ah, right. It’s an honor that someone like Your Highness has heard of me.”

“You’re heading to Brusen, right?”

“Yes.”

Yuri had assumed as much from the beginning.

At a glance, they were carrying military supplies, and in large quantities. Given the direction they were headed, their destination could only be Brusen or the Holy Kingdom. Since Yuri had ordered the Elaine Company to focus its support on Brusen, that cleared up the doubt.

Yuri made Krow a proposal.

“When you arrive in Brusen, how about taking on a job for me?”

“Pardon?”

“Once you finish your work with the Elaine Company, come find me. I’ll give you a mission. I’ll pay you well. You won’t regret it.”

Being hired by a high-ranking noble meant a mercenary’s skill and reliability were being recognized.

And if the employer was royalty, it meant even more.

Krow replied.

“Ah, of course. May I ask what kind of job?”

“Do mercenaries do anything other than fight?”

“Ah…”

He paused for a moment.

If it was a mission assigned by a member of Briol’s royal family who was mediating the war between Brusen and the Holy Kingdom, it was surely related to the conflict.

It was dangerous.

But he didn’t hesitate for long.

“I’ll do it.”

The higher the risk, the greater the reward.

Yuri smiled.

“If all goes well, I’ll introduce you to a high priest from the Holy Kingdom.”

“Huh?”

“He’s quite skilled at healing. Worth meeting.”

Krow widened his eyes and looked at Yuri.

“What is it? Not interested?”

“No, it’s not that…”

“Then it’s settled.”

“Thank you.”

“No need to thank me. I’m just offering fair pay for the job.”

Yuri knew Krow well.

While Yuri roamed the battlefield seeking death, Krow did it to earn money.

There was only one reason Krow needed that money. He had a sick younger sister. Her treatment cost a fortune. After many years of effort, he managed to gather the money, but time had passed. His sister died.

Not long after, Krow also died on the front lines.

In Yuri’s former unit, no one was without a tragic story.

Sometimes, those who had lost their reason for living died in absurd and hollow ways.

Krow had been a good guy. Yuri had even thought it would’ve been better if he himself had died in Krow’s place.

“Hey… did you investigate me?”

Krow asked.

Very few people knew his sister’s story. But Yuri had mentioned a high priest as if he knew exactly what he needed.

Krow felt confused.

Yuri shrugged.

“You overestimate yourself. You think I’d do that?”

“No, no… I must’ve been mistaken.”

“I just heard your name before, and now we crossed paths by chance. That’s all—coincidence.”

“Coincidence…?”

“Yes. A coincidence.”

Yuri smiled broadly and gave him a firm pat on the shoulder. In his past life, he used to comfort Krow that way whenever he was feeling down.

“I have to go. I’m in a hurry. When you finish your job, come find me. I don’t know where I’ll be then, but finding me will be your responsibility.”

And Yuri turned around.

“Resume the march!”

“Yes, sir!”

Krow watched his back blankly.

He was younger, and royalty, but it felt like he had just spoken to someone far more experienced.

Under Yuri’s command, the squad moved as one. That flawless formation made it clear how well he led his men.

“See you later.”

With a slight glance, the imperial prince of Briol, Yuri Briol, departed.

“Wow…”

Krow was still standing there, stunned, when one of his subordinates approached.

“He looks young, but what a presence… And those knights following him are imposing too. I’ve never seen decent nobles before, but I guess royalty is different.”

“No. He’s the one who’s different.”

“You think so?”

“Yuri Briol, right?”

Krow repeated the name quietly.

“Coincidence, huh…?”

Running into a royal on the road, having that royal offer him a job, and as part of the reward, promising to introduce him to a high priest…

It was something like a miracle.

“Hey, do you believe in God?”

“I told you I was born into a religious family. Aren’t you the one who doesn’t believe?”

“Starting today, I’ll believe.”

“Why?”

“Seems like God sent me one of His messengers.”

“What are you talking about…?”

“Let’s go. We have to move. Everyone, on your feet!”

Krow shouted suddenly.

“Pick up the pace! Pack everything, we’re leaving as soon as possible!”

The merchants from the Elaine Company protested, but Krow ignored them.

“Getting there early benefits your company too, right?”

“But everything’s so exhausting… we should go slower…”

“You won’t die from exhaustion, so get up.”

“If you work so arbitrarily, no one will speak well of you.”

“I don’t need anyone to speak well of me anymore.”

“What did you say?”

“Move it, slackers! Think I don’t notice you dragging your feet to milk your pay? Want me to report it to headquarters?”

Krow was impatient.

If that encounter was a gift from God, he had to seize it before it slipped away.

“Let’s go already!”