Chapter 206: Friends (4)

Just as Yuri swallowed hard, that man straightened up confidently and replied.

“I am the Pope.”

Yuri instinctively stood up. At that moment, just as he was about to bow and force his usually upright spine to bend.

“It’s a joke.”

He showed his palm, as if asking him not to bow.

“I said it because I thought you’d be disappointed. I’m just a low-ranking temple official. I was only with these two in case they caused trouble.”

“Ah…”

“I don’t have a big secret or a hidden identity. I’m just an ordinary citizen living a quiet life.”

“Your name?”

“Luther.”

“I see, Luther. A pleasure.”

Yuri sat back down and extended his hand for a handshake.

“Citizens like you are the true backbone of the Holy Kingdom.”

“Backbone? Isn’t that too small?”

“That’s exactly why it’s the perfect metaphor. You made me tense my back muscles for nothing.”

Yuri lightened the mood.

“Well then, now that we have three great figures and two grains of wheat gathered here, let’s speak seriously.”

Fenek and Luther exchanged confused looks. Francesco and Umstein, however, laughed with satisfaction.

“If you want to be treated like a great figure, you have to be successful. Like me, I’m Holy Knight.”

Said Francesco while scratching his ear with crossed legs. Umstein nodded.

“Or be born a dwarf, like me.”

The two laughed as they looked at each other, though their demeanor didn’t exactly inspire confidence. Still, Yuri found them likeable.

After all, though he was now living his second life seriously, he too had once drifted through life doing everything on a whim. Perhaps that’s why he felt a certain affinity.

Yuri smiled knowingly.

“Well then, outcasts… I mean, eminences, let’s make a plan. I’ll talk to Sybilla. If it doesn’t work, we stab her and run.”

“Ohh…”

“Sounds good…”

But then Fenek shook his head.

“No, that won’t do.”

“Why not?”

“That’s your plan? Talk to her, and if it doesn’t work, stab her and run?”

“Isn’t that what you’re planning anyway? Try to persuade her. If it fails, eliminate her.”

“Well yes, but…”

Yuri clicked his tongue.

“Well, I suppose you already have a plan prepared. Tell me.”

“We’ve ruled out persuasion. We’re selecting the ideal place for the assassination. Everything is being prepared meticulously…”

“See? You said no, but in the end, it’s still ‘if it doesn’t work, stab her.’”

Francesco and Umstein nodded.

“Exactly. That’s the core of it.”

Fenek sighed in resignation.

Yuri’s explanation was so blunt and unfiltered he felt compelled to argue, but deep down, the basic structure of the plan was the same.

It couldn’t be helped.

“Still, it sounds too crude. It’s not the same as having a solid, well-thought-out plan.”

“Then let’s talk details. Why so pessimistic?”

“Ugh…”

Fenek sighed.

Back in the alliance days, Yuri Briol had been a firm and reliable figure. But now, joking like this, it was hard to take him seriously.

He felt like punching him.

“You look like you want to punch me. Francesco, is this the discipline of the Holy Kingdom?”

“In my day, it wasn’t like this.”

“Of course, when the example disappears, so does the respect.”

“True.”

Fenek didn’t want to waste more time. He stood up and clapped his hands.

“Let’s speak seriously.”

“Yes.”

“Since Your Highness is here, we’ve added the option of trying to persuade the queen. We don’t know if it’ll work, but at least we’re considering it.”

Yuri nodded.

“It’s worth a try.”

Although, in truth, Yuri didn’t believe he could change Sybilla’s heart. Inside, he was already almost convinced it would be impossible.

She wasn’t a fool. Quite the opposite—she was extremely intelligent. If she’d made a decision, it was because she had thought it through.

Yuri only wanted to confirm it with his own eyes.

“Sorry…”

Said Umstein.

“I think this is all my brother’s fault.”

Yuri looked at him.

He remembered him saying something odd at the tavern. Something about his brother trying to sell a family treasure to nobles.

He hadn’t taken it seriously then, but knowing now that Umstein was a dwarf, the story sounded very different.

Yuri asked.

“What do you mean by that?”

“Just what I said…”

Umstein scratched his head.

“My brother tried to sell one of the dwarves’ treasures to a noble.”

“And who was this noble? And what did he try to sell?”

“The noble was that Larsson guy.”

Yuri stared at him, stunned. Larsson wasn’t just any noble—he had been the most powerful man in the Holy Kingdom.

“And what happened then?”

“Larsson died.”

“Then case closed, isn’t it?”

“But Sybilla wants revenge.”

“Explain this properly.”

Fenek responded.

“Umstein’s brother, Glutenshtein, tried to sell a dwarven treasure to Larsson in exchange for… marrying Sybilla.”

Yuri looked at Fenek, then at Umstein. The latter scratched his head, embarrassed.

“That’s right… I’m so ashamed I can hardly tell it.”

“And what did Larsson say?”

“He said yes.”

“What?”

“The treasure was so valuable he accepted without hesitation. But Glutenshtein, upon seeing Sybilla, became infatuated with her. So he made marriage a condition for handing over the treasure. And that Larsson, just as crazy as my brother, agreed without question.”

“And that’s how Sybilla lost it?”

“Yes. As soon as Larsson died and she took the throne, she threw my brother in prison. And now she’s threatening us to hand over the dwarves’ treasure.”

“And what is that treasure?”

“Dwarven metal and the forging technique.”

“Hmm…”

“It’s something extremely valuable.”

“I see.”

It was said that dwarven metalworking techniques far surpassed those of humans. If that technology fell into other hands, war would become much more difficult.

“So that’s the story.”

“Yes.”

Yuri nodded. Everything now made sense in his mind.

A dwarf named Glutenshtein had offered dwarven metal and forging techniques in exchange for Sybilla, and Larsson, blinded by greed, had accepted. But then he was killed by an enraged Sybilla.

And now Sybilla was trying to extort Glutenshtein to steal the dwarves’ technology.

“All right, Mr. Francesco.”

“Hmm?”

“Now I’m curious about your story.”

“Mine? What story?”

Yuri recalled what he’d said at the tavern.

“You mentioned you had an accident and lost your abilities.”

“Ah, yes. Damn it…”

“What happened?”

“One day, I just couldn’t use mana anymore.”

“What?”

“Since then, I haven’t been able to fight. That’s it. The temple is hiding this information. It’s not that I retired by choice—I’m just a piece of trash.”

Francesco shrugged.

Yuri observed him for a moment before nodding.

“I understand.”

Then he looked at Fenek.

“All right. So what was the plan you all came up with?”

“According to Mr. Umstein’s words, Glutenshtein is not exactly a man of strong character. He said he’ll probably reveal the treasure’s location soon. We planned to wait there and assassinate the queen when she shows up.”

“And where is that place?”

“That…”

Umstein answered.

“The details are confidential. I’ll tell you later.”

“Understood.”

Yuri nodded.

“Before that, I want to meet with Sybilla. Is there any opportunity to do so?”

“That will be difficult. She hardly ever goes out…”

“Give me her schedule. I’ll find the moment myself.”

***

Yuri clearly remembered the infiltration and stealth techniques he had learned from Asana.

He didn’t possess her mysterious ability to vanish into shadows, but moving like an ordinary assassin was within his abilities.

From the beginning, his natural agility had been exceptional, so he trusted himself.

Yuri leapt over the palace wall.

A guard saw him but pretended not to. According to Fenek, he was a member of the secret organization. Apparently, more and more people were collaborating with them.

That could only mean one thing: Sybilla had failed to win over the hearts of the people.

“Huff…”

Yuri pulled out the map of the Holy Kingdom’s palace hidden in his chest.

“The tower should be here.”

Sybilla had locked Glutenshtein in a tower and was said to personally interrogate him regularly. It was also known that she did so alone, without any attendants.

Yuri planned to confront her at one of those moments.

He set off immediately. Although the palace was beautiful, he had no time to admire it.

In the distance, the tower loomed.

Yuri moved through the corners of the palace. Surprisingly, there weren’t many people walking around, which made it easier to move.

In Briol, there were always servants working everywhere, but the Holy Kingdom’s palace was unusually quiet, almost empty.

He finally reached the vicinity of the tower. It was guarded by soldiers.

Yuri pulled out the oil and matches he had prepared, chose a nearby storage building, and set it on fire.

The response was immediate. As soon as a column of black smoke began rising, the tower’s guards panicked and rushed to action.

They called for reinforcements, brought water, and began dousing the flames.

Taking advantage of the commotion, Yuri climbed the outer wall of the tower, opened a window, and slipped inside.

The interior was completely silent.

“Is it empty?”

Yuri murmured.

There was literally no one. He climbed the stairs but sensed no presence.

He continued ascending until he reached the top of the tower.

There, someone was imprisoned.

Yuri called out.

“Glutenshtein?”

The dwarf jerked his head up.

He resembled Umstein, though slightly different. Either way, he had the short stature and large nose typical of his race.

He remained seated on the floor, staring at Yuri with vacant eyes.

“Your brother sent me. So stay quiet and don’t make a sound. When Sybilla comes up, I’ll take care of everything. Don’t be afraid.”

At his words, the dwarf only nodded. He seemed even quieter than Umstein.

Yuri looked outside.

Voices and commotion echoed from the effort to extinguish the fire. He hid in a corner of the tower and erased his presence.

A short while later, faint sounds began to echo from below.

Yuri swallowed.

He was about to come face to face with Sybilla after a long time, and felt a certain tension.

More than that, she was now a potential enemy. If something went wrong, he’d have to kill her.

‘What if she’s no longer the same? What if she’s been corrupted by black magic?’

Various possibilities crossed his mind. Finally, the rhythmic footsteps reached the floor where Yuri was hiding.

He peeked out carefully.

Sybilla was there. She hadn’t changed at all from the woman he remembered.

She wore royal attire, which made her look more majestic, but the rest was the same.

“Glutenshtein. Have you considered my proposal?”

Sybilla’s voice echoed.

“If you accept what I offer, I’ll forget everything and you’ll be rewarded. I’ll even let you return to your people.”

She stood with arms crossed, watching from the other side of the bars.

“Hmm?”

Yuri sighed in relief.

He had feared she might be a completely different person, but her voice was still the same as ever.

Just as he was about to rise—

“Aggh… agh…”

A horrible sound shattered the silence. Yuri turned his head.

It was Glutenshtein trying to speak. But that wasn’t language.

Yuri realized.

Glutenshtein had no tongue.

“What are you saying? I can’t understand a thing.”

Sybilla leaned in. Glutenshtein mumbled something again.

“Aggh…”

Sybilla sighed, opened the gate, and entered the cell. She approached the dwarf.

He recoiled in fear.

“Stay still.”

At Sybilla’s command, he froze. And looked in Yuri’s direction.

Yuri gestured for him to stay silent, placing a finger to his lips.

“My proposal. Have you thought about it?”

Sybilla looked down at him, arms crossed.

“Why won’t you answer?”

She tilted her head, confused.

“Do you think that rat will come to save you?”

At those words, Yuri’s eyes widened.

Sybilla was still looking at Glutenshtein.

In that moment.

Something grabbed him by the neck.