Chapter 217: Gratitude Toward the Master (2)

The two sword energies did not rush forward. They advanced slowly, distorting the air as they moved.

Like lightning flickering inside storm clouds, occasional thunder could be heard between the two auras.

Yuri’s vortex, which dragged and twisted everything in its path, and Moyongchan’s tranquil sword aura, which stilled whatever it touched, soon overlapped.

All the spectators were tense. If two such powerful energies clashed, it would surely cause a massive explosion.

However, nothing happened as they expected.
There was only a flash of light.

“……!”

No deafening crash was heard.

Only a high-pitched ringing, like an ear-piercing whine, filled their ears.

When both energies collapsed, wind burst in all directions. With that single flash, the two forces wore each other down to nothing, perfectly canceling each other out in strength and direction.

All the spectators witnessed was the meeting and extinguishing of two great powers, followed by the roaring wind in their wake.

“Ugh…”

“The wind…”

The gusts swept across the land. The sudden rise of sand clouded everyone’s vision.

Not many could grasp the meaning of the clash. But all could sense something extraordinary had happened.

One of the Ten Greats—the outsider from the East, Moyongchan.

And Yuri Briol, the prince of the Kingdom of Briol, who might very well become the next of the Ten Greats.

Their battle left no room for others to even dream of reaching such a level.

When the dust settled, the two still stood facing each other.

“Wow…”

“Not just Moyongchan… the prince of Briol is amazing too.”

“Is that even possible…?”

“To reach such skill at that age…”

“If you don’t have talent, just die already…”

Everyone murmured something. Some knights gripped their sword hilts tightly.

They couldn’t contain the excitement swelling in their chests.

It was a spectacle that gave them goosebumps. How could someone achieve such a thing with just a sword?

The pinnacle every knight dreamed of stood before them, alive and real.

But the ones at the heart of that miracle weren’t particularly impressed.

Yuri spoke.

“Master.”

“What?”

“I held back.”

“I should be the one saying that.”

“I don’t think so.”

“I do.”

“No way.”

“Yes way.”

Both lowered their sword tips and caught their breath.

“Anyway, it’s clear that you’ve grown tremendously thanks to the power of chaos. You couldn’t have done this otherwise.”

“I didn’t have time, but had a long road ahead… I had no choice. There are no other paths for me.”

“Why are you carrying so much on your shoulders?”

Moyongchan clicked his tongue.

“Even so, you know it’s your burden to bear.”

“Yes.”

“Understood.”

“But your pronunciation…”

“What about it?”

“Hey…”

“What?”

Moyongchan’s pronunciation had turned odd again.

Yuri understood for sure now. Moyongchan was doing it on purpose.

When focused in battle, his pronunciation was perfect. But the moment he relaxed, it reverted to being clumsy.

“Haa… whatever.”

“Good.”

“Thanks for your effort.”

“You too… hezfraste.”

The two masters laughed and bowed with closed fists in mutual respect.

***

Moyongchan stayed in Liberta to raise the level of the knights. The reason behind his decision didn’t differ much from Yuri’s purpose.

“The world is saturated with evil.”

In his battle against Donchich, Moyongchan had realized this deeply.

The three ogres had been completely corrupted by darkness, turned into grotesque beings.

And Liberta’s knights were not ready to face them.

As a master of the Blue Star Sect, dedicated to eradicating evil and protecting good, Moyongchan had decided to train the knights of Liberta to preserve the balance of the world.

Otherwise, that country would collapse in the coming war against the Empire.

“Now, the knights of Liberta have already reached a decent level.”

“Yes.”

“My goal is for those boys to be able to handle Donchich on their own.”

Although Moyongchan had been away for a time, his ultimate goal remained winning the war against the Empire.

“Didn’t they say Donchich had fled?”

“The moment I leave, he’ll reappear.”

“How crafty…”

Yuri nodded.

Around them, the knights were training by balancing on one leg while swinging their swords.

It was a practice to improve body stability.

Since Moyongchan had many to train, he didn’t teach directly but focused on guiding the knights so they could learn on their own.

Only those with real talent received personal instruction.

“In any case…”

While the knights trained, Yuri and Moyongchan continued their conversation.

“You said there’s a metal that can resist black magic?”

“Yes. We’ll be able to start distributing it soon.”

“I see. Perhaps that’s the method to restore balance to the world.”

“And also…”

They talked about what had happened, their future plans, and about black magic.

On that last topic, not even Moyongchan could offer much advice.

It was something Yuri had to face on his own.

“I wasn’t of much help, was I?”

“But you brought peace to my heart.”

“I see…”

Yuri cleared his throat before speaking.

“With your permission, I’ll take my leave. I’m in a hurry to depart.”

“You’re going to Valshard?”

“Yes.”

“Very well. Give my regards to the great Hernando.”

Moyongchan still treated Hernando like an illustrious figure. Yuri knew Hernando wasn’t an ordinary mage, but still had trouble understanding why Moyongchan held him in such high regard.

“Master… Is Hernando really that amazing a mage?”

“Tch tch. Still can’t see it?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Then continue living in ignorance.”

“…Understood.”

Yuri tilted his head, confused. It seemed Moyongchan could see something he couldn’t.

Before leaving, Moyongchan placed a hand on Yuri’s shoulder.

“Yuri Briol. Remember this. Darkness cannot overcome the light.”

Yuri looked up.

It was a clichéd phrase, but coming from someone like Moyongchan, it carried a different weight.

Darkness cannot overcome the light. As a master of the Blue Star Sect who had traveled the continent to root out evil, it seemed he truly believed those words.

Yuri smiled broadly and nodded.

“Yes. I’ll remember.”

“Good.”

Yuri bid farewell in the Eastern custom, with a closed fist as a sign of respect.

The nearby knights imitated him. Especially Simon and Guinness, his former students, did so with great precision.

“Ah, and you. Yes, you.”

Before he left, Moyongchan called out to Francesco.

“Y-y-yes… me?”

Francesco, once one of the Ten Greats but now without mana, still felt intimidated by Moyongchan.

“The world stays in balance.”

“Hmm?”

“If you regain what you lost, you won’t be the same. So be prepared.”

After saying that, Moyongchan turned around. Francesco tilted his head, puzzled.

“What did he mean by that?”

Yuri answered for him.

“I think he meant that if you recover your mana, you’ll be even stronger than before.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Yuri patted him on the shoulder.

“Going through this can also be seen as an opportunity. How many people get to experience life without mana? If you train now, when you recover it, you’ll be much more efficient.”

“Ah…”

“Though, considering you spent most of the time drinking, the effect might not be that great.”

Francesco scratched his head.

“I never thought I could be cured…”

“Opportunities are for those who are ready. It might never come, but if you’re not prepared, you’ll miss it when it does.”

“I know, I know.”

“Let’s go.”

Yuri and his group mounted their horses.

Just before departing, the knights of the Windstorm Squadron bid them farewell.

“Safe travels!”

“Thanks for showing us so much!”

Yuri and his companions set off again toward Valshard.

***

Although the orcs had been eliminated by the alliance, they hadn’t completely disappeared. Small groups still hid and attacked travelers.

“Pathetic.”

Yuri spoke as he kicked the corpse of an orc.

“They’re weak.”

“Sure looks like it.”

“Are they weaker than before? Or are we just stronger?”

“Both.”

The orcs no longer had the same fighting spirit.

With Okua, their absolute leader, gone, and the powerful beasts he had summoned dead, only the weakest orcs remained, ones barely recognized as orcs at all.

There were hardly any strong orcs left to intimidate knights. Most were clumsy brutes with only physical strength.

“Still, there are more than I expected.”

“That’s their nature.”

Yuri wiped Guilty on the orc’s body and said,

“With their numbers down, they’re reproducing like cockroaches.”

“Will they ever be what they were?”

“They say troops are stationed in the plains, but the Empire’s not what it used to be…”

Yuri recalled the memories of the old hunter he had absorbed.

It was precisely because orcs were that kind of species that hunters like him existed, keeping their population in check from the plains.

“Once we defeat the Empire, we’ll have to deal with them too.”

“By then, orcs will seem laughably easy to beat.”

“Probably.”

As they sat among the orc corpses, Yuri spotted a group approaching in the distance.

“What’s that…?”

“A caravan.”

Yuri could see farther than the others.

“Who are they?”

“Who else?”

Yuri smiled.

“It’s the Elaine Company.”

The caravan spotted them and slowly began steering in their direction.

“Why are they coming toward us? What if we were bandits?”

“They saw us through a spyglass.”

“So?”

“I don’t look like a bandit.”

“Ah… right.”

The caravan of the Elaine Company approached.

Up close, it was quite large—many wagons and many people traveling with them.

They stopped at a safe distance, and from the group, a man with a kind expression approached Yuri’s party.

“Good afternoon.”

“Afternoon.”

The man hesitated briefly at Yuri’s casual tone, then smiled politely.

“If I’m not mistaken, are you His Highness, Yuri Briol, Prince of the Kingdom of Briol?”

“Right on the mark.”

“Black hair, handsome face, outstanding physique, and that relaxed attitude. Matches exactly the description I heard.”

“And who said that?”

“Well…”

He smiled.

“Everyone talks about Your Highness that way.”

Jared, listening behind them, held his breath.

“Wow…”

Francesco, more shameless, said bluntly,

“That was over the top.”

Yuri apologized on their behalf.

“Forgive their behavior. Mediocre people tend to be jealous of their betters. I hope your generous heart can understand these poor souls.”

“Hahaha…”

“By the way, what’s all this?”

“Oh, this.”

Although caravan cargo was usually confidential, the man answered without hesitation since Yuri was royalty from Briol, where the Elaine Company’s headquarters was.

“Eastern goods.”

Immediately, Yuri’s entire group showed interest.

“Ah, so they’re from the East, not Valshard?”

“That’s right. Ever since our president established relations with the East, we’ve been sending caravans regularly.”

“Looks like you’ve brought a lot…”

“There hasn’t been trade in years. Both continents are eager to see each other’s products. Prices are through the roof everywhere. Even our stock has soared. Hehehe…”

“I see.”

If that stock was rising, so was Yuri’s wealth, since he and Elaine owned the majority of the company’s shares.

He asked casually,

“If you’re not in a big hurry, would you show us some of the goods?”

“Of course. In fact, we’ve been on a long journey, and we were planning to rest anyway.”

The man nodded cheerfully.

“And after you cleared these orcs for us, it would be unforgivable not to show Your Highness our products.”

He spoke pleasantly and knew how to win people over. Yuri, pleased, patted him on the shoulder.

‘This guy is one of those talents growing my fortune.’

“Thanks.”

“Please wait a moment, Your Highness. We’ll set up camp here for the night!”

Yuri looked up at the sky. Though still early, sunset wasn’t far off.

“Let’s stay here tonight. Sound good?”

“Of course. It’s an honor!”

“What’s your name?”

“Rick.”

“Alright, Rick. Nice to meet you.”

“The honor is mine.”

And so, Yuri spent the evening with the Elaine Company caravan, transporting treasures from the East.