Chapter 205: Friends (3)

Yuri headed to the royal castle alongside Fenek.

The atmosphere was tense.

The townspeople looked around as if expecting an imminent attack and, upon seeing Yuri’s group, averted their gazes with fearful expressions.

Where children would normally run after knights, now they hid behind their parents’ legs.

Yuri looked at Fenek.

“What’s going on here? Has this place always been like this?”

“No. This has changed recently.”

Though different from Briol, the Sacred Realm was also known for having a relatively low level of discrimination, being based on divine teachings.

But what they were seeing now looked far too much like the Empire.

In the imperial capital where Yuri had been, most were nobles or wealthy, so inequality wasn’t as visible. But in other regions of the Empire, treatment varied drastically by status.

Yuri clicked his tongue.

“What a heavy atmosphere.”

“We have to change it.”

After several days on horseback, they arrived at the royal castle of the Sacred Realm.

The city was clean and well organized.

There were rows of white buildings reminiscent of a temple, and statues praising God stood on every corner.

Once inside the castle, Yuri’s group stayed at a nearby inn, per Fenek’s instructions.

From the looks exchanged with the innkeeper, Yuri guessed that this inn was connected to the secret organization Fenek had mentioned.

“We’re safe here.”

“Does that mean we’re not safe elsewhere?”

“The royal guard patrols for undesirable elements. Any excuse is enough to get you reported, and that only brings trouble.”

“I see…”

The more he listened, the less he recognized the Sacred Realm he once knew.

“So what now?”

“We’ll move at night. Holy Knight is waiting.”

“Holy Knight?”

“Yes. Until then, stay hidden here.”

Yuri had to remain confined in the inn. While thinking about what was to come, the day faded away.

When night fell, Fenek knocked on his door.

Yuri strapped his sword Guilty to his waist and left the room.

“Follow me quietly.”

Yuri gestured toward the rooms of his companions, but Fenek shook his head.

“Only we’re going.”

They slipped out of the inn discreetly. By night, the streets were nearly deserted.

They walked with their heads down through dark alleyways.

Before long, they arrived at a lit tavern.

In the Sacred Realm’s citadel, most places closed at night, but this one was still packed with patrons.

Yuri sat beside Fenek.

“What is this? Did we come to drink?”

“No. Wait here for a bit. We’re setting up our cover.”

“What cover?”

“I’ll be back.”

“What?”

“Just stay seated.”

Fenek tapped the table and got up.

Yuri watched him walk away in disbelief, then raised his hand.

“Hey!”

A waiter came over.

To hide his true identity as royalty, Yuri used a vulgar tone.

“Hey, buddy! My throat’s drier than the desert! Bring me an ice-cold beer!”

“Ah, yes, right away.”

While waiting for Fenek, Yuri downed a chilled mug of beer.

“Damn, this is really good… Where the hell did that idiot Fenek go?”

He was grumbling when suddenly someone sat across from him.

“Excuse me… the place is full. Mind if I sit here for a bit?”

Yuri lowered the mug and wiped his mouth with his sleeve, twisting his mouth in annoyance.

“And who the hell are you to sit at my table without asking, huh?”

“Pardon?”

“Look at this broad chest of mine! This table’s already small just for me! And now you wanna sit here too? You think I’m gonna be comfortable or what? Get lost already!”

Since they were working covertly, they couldn’t afford for strangers to interfere.

Yuri, aware that his noble bearing was hard to hide, pretended to be rude and aggressive to drive the man away.

But the other guy wasn’t a fool either.

“What a nasty guy! Are you seriously saying there’s no space at this table? Are you for real?”

“What?”

“You looking down on me ‘cause I’m alone? You look like you’ve trained hard, so you think you can treat me like this just ‘cause I’m skinny?”

“It’s not that…”

“Brother!”

He yelled toward the tavern entrance.

And instantly, a huge, muscular guy marched in and stood in front of Yuri.

“What’s up, brother?”

“This jerk insulted me.”

“What?”

“I asked to share the table and he swore at me and told me to buzz off. What did our mother ever do, huh?”

“Hey, I never said that…!”

The big guy wrinkled his face fiercely.

“How dare you?!”

He had a rough beard sharp as needles: he looked like a tiger.

His face strongly resembled the “Javid” disguise Jared had used once.

“So it’s true, huh, kid?”

“N-no… it’s not true.”

“Why are you lying?”

“I swear I didn’t say that!”

“No way… Brother!”

This time the big guy called out, and another short, burly man came in.

“What’s up, brother?”

“This pale guy insulted the youngest.”

“Would you look at this guy…!”

Suddenly, Yuri found himself surrounded by the three brothers. And then he realized.

They were perfectly positioned, like they had planned for all four to sit together.

“Don’t tell me…?”

He looked around. Not a single table was empty. New customers were already waiting outside.

He understood their intention. They wanted to take the seat from an easy target—and that target was him.

“Tsk…”

Had he ever looked like an easy target in his life? Guilty, at his waist, trembled with desire to shed blood.

But Yuri held back.

“Fine. Let’s share the table.”

“After insulting my brother? You think you can just stay like nothing happened? Get outta here!”

“Listen.”

Yuri opened his eyes wide.

“I know your little game. But I’ll let it slide today. So let’s not make a scene and just share a beer. It’s on me. This beer is to die for.”

Since things had escalated this far, the best move was to avoid trouble until Fenek returned.

The three looked at each other and finally nodded. The eldest brother, the shortest one, smiled.

“You’re a reasonable guy, after all.”

Yuri raised his hand.

“Hey, waiter! Three ice-cold beers for these fine gentlemen! And one more for me!”

Soon, four mugs were placed on the table. The four drank together.

“The best beer is from the Sacred Realm, no doubt. The Sacred Brewery’s been doing a great job lately.”

“No, brother. The best is from Grace Brewery.”

“I thought Faith Brewery’s was better, sirs.”

Yuri chimed in.

“The best brewery is the Cavalry Brewery of Briol, gentlemen.”

When people drink, they all become friends. Gradually, sharing stories about the beers they knew, the four men grew closer.

More mugs came and went, and their faces were now flushed from alcohol.

The eldest of the three brothers said:

“Hey, kid… sorry about earlier.”

Yuri shook his head.

“It’s nothing, sir. That’s just life, isn’t it?”

“I can tell you carry a sword. You look like you know how to fight… why didn’t you face us? You didn’t seem scared.”

Yuri gave a bitter smile, took a sip of beer, and replied:

“These aren’t the times for that.”

“What do you mean, not the times?”

“The Sacred Realm has grown dark. That Sacred Realm where children used to play late into the night doesn’t exist anymore. These are grim times. And when the world grows dark, it’s natural for people’s hearts to narrow too, don’t you think, sir?”

The three of them looked at him. Yuri raised his mug and continued:

“What I saw just now wasn’t three thugs trying to steal my seat, but three lonely men looking for a place for themselves—even if it’s in a tavern like this.”

Silence took hold of the table.

Then, the second brother—the big guy who looked like a bandit—extended his palm.

Yuri gave him a strong high five.

“Sorry.”

“No problem.”

“What you said is true. You see, I’m actually unemployed. I used to be on top, someone well-known. But I had an accident, lost my skills, and started drifting. My comrades hid what happened to me so they wouldn’t be looked down on because of me. So I pretended everything was fine, but behind my back, they treat me like trash…”

“I’m sorry to hear that, sir.”

Yuri clinked his mug with his.

Then, the eldest brother—the shortest one—spoke up too.

“I had a brother. Not these two… a real one. But one day, like he was cursed, he decided to sell the family heirloom to a noble. Everything went wrong and he ended up in prison. Now all the burden’s on me. I feel completely lost.”

“I’m sorry, sir.”

Yuri clinked his mug with his as well.

Finally, the youngest brother, who hadn’t spoken until now, opened his mouth.

“I…”

“And you?”

“I just did what these two told me to. I don’t have a story or anything. No one ever believes me when I say this, but… I live peacefully. I’ve got no worries.”

“What a bastard, sir.”

Yuri didn’t clink his mug with him.

“Living without worries has become something to envy. That’s the Sacred Realm today.”

Then the second brother asked Yuri:

“And you, young man… what’s your story?”

“Mine?”

“You’ve got that look… like someone who’s been through a lot.”

“Well…”

Yuri gave a bitter smile.

“My older brother tried to kill our father. Maybe he already did—I don’t know. They both disappeared afterward. A totally dysfunctional family.”

“Damn…”

“Holy crap…”

“My condolences.”

The four raised their mugs and drank in silence.

“Should we get another round?”

“Good idea.”

“Perfect.”

“One more, ice-cold!”

Just then, when it seemed like Fenek would never come back, he suddenly appeared.

He looked at Yuri and the three brothers.

Though he didn’t show any expression, his eyes held a faint air of disappointment.

“I see you’re drinking.”

Yuri said.

“No, sorry. It’s just that these gentlemen sat with me and…”

Then the second brother spoke up.

“What’s the problem, huh? Can’t we drink in peace?”

“Get up.”

“Life’s crap, okay? We were just having a few beers with this friend. What’s it to you?”

“Let’s go.”

“Oh, for God’s sake!”

They seemed to know each other. Yuri looked at both of them with suspicion.

Fenek sighed and whispered to him:

“That man is Holy Knight.”

“Huh?”

***

They left the tavern, walked down a nearby alley, opened a rickety door, and descended into a basement.

Despite what the outside suggested, the interior was spacious and clean.

As soon as he sat down, Yuri pointed to the three men whose faces were still red from alcohol and asked:

“You’re telling me this guy is Holy Knight? Seriously?”

Fenek, sitting beside him, nodded.

“Yes.”

“But wasn’t Holy Knight supposed to be more… refined, slim, with that dashing vibe like Laurent…?”

“He used to be.”

Then Holy Knight frowned.

“And what’s wrong with that? I’m not ashamed of who I am.”

“You’ve got beer foam in your beard.”

“Ahem…”

“Let me properly introduce him. This is Holy Knight Francesco.”

Yuri shook his hand.

“A pleasure. I’m Yuri Briol.”

“Francesco. Anytime, we’ll grab another…”

He made a drinking gesture with a crooked smile. He didn’t seem like one of the Ten Greats or a sacred paladin at all.

Fenek continued the introductions.

“And this is Umstein, a dwarf.”

“Nice to meet you.”

“Much pleasu—”

Yuri, who was casually shaking his hand, looked at him in surprise.

“What?”

“Umstein.”

“No, I mean the part before that…”

“He’s a dwarf.”

“What?”

Umstein widened his eyes.

“What do you mean, what? I was born a dwarf, that’s all.”

He hadn’t paid attention before, but now he noticed that not only was he short—he had a prominent nose, intense eyes, and subtly different features from a human.

Dwarves, along with elves, were considered legendary races.

In the elves’ case, it was known that Inariel, the last of his kind, lived in the World Tree Forest.

But with dwarves, not even their existence was certain. Only legends said they lived deep within the mountains.

“Holy hell…”

Yuri then looked at the youngest brother. He already had in front of him Holy Knight and a legendary dwarf.

He had no idea what to expect from the youngest.

Finally, the young man opened his mouth.