Chapter 23: March (2)

“Acting like orcs… how disgraceful.”

Yuri tightened his grip on his sword hilt.

Shortly after, he received word that all troops were in position.

“All set.”

“Good.”

It wasn’t necessary to go to such lengths against mere bandits, but Yuri wanted the troops to experience a coordinated maneuver before facing the orcs.

“Hey.”

Yuri lowered the spyglass and looked back.

The trained horses were lying on their sides to remain undetected, and behind them, the knights lay flat on the ground.

He had told them to hide—and they had taken it quite literally.

“Is it comfortable lying like that?”

“No, sir.”

“Let’s go.”

“Huh?”

“I said let’s go.”

Yuri sprang to his feet. He no longer cared whether the bandits spotted them or not.

“Get up.”

He had his horse rise. It was a beautiful black steed. The animal stood powerfully, snorting and pawing at the ground.

The knights stared, mouths agape, watching Yuri mount.

“If you’re slow, you miss your share.”

Without hesitation, Yuri spurred his horse forward.

“Eh?”

“Eh—what?”

The knights stood frozen, watching in disbelief as Yuri galloped alone toward the bandit camp.

“W-what are you doing? After him—now!”

“All units, move!”

They scrambled to get their horses up, but Yuri was already far ahead.

He raised his sword and shouted:

“FULL CHARGE!!!”

His voice, infused with mana, echoed across the plain. Yuri leaned forward, increasing speed.

Several bandits, weapons in hand, stared in astonishment, their faces full of confusion.

Yuri shouted,

“Nice to see you, friends!”

The black horse leapt over the camp’s defenses, crashing into the midst of the bandits.

***

“Prince!”

Jared, who had been frantically searching for him, soon found Yuri in the middle of the bandit camp.

“You’re late.”

Yuri waved a hand. He was sitting atop a bandit pinned down in front of a campfire.

“This guy says he’s the boss. See the gold bracelet?”

“Yes, I see it.”

“Seems he was doing pretty well for himself.”

“Yeah…”

“Damn bastard.”

Yuri nudged him with his foot, and the bandit groaned.

Jared let out a deep sigh. He’d rushed here just to find Yuri.

“Why do you act on your own like that? It’s dangerous.”

“Then you should’ve followed me on time.”

Yuri picked up a skewer roasting over the fire.

“Looks like it was dinner time, huh?”

He asked the bandit while stepping on him. The man replied, voice trembling.

“Y-yes…”

“What kind of meat is this?”

“Lamb meat.”

“Thought so.”

Yuri took a bite without flinching, then frowned.

“Hey, don’t you have any salt?”

“No caravans have come through lately…”

“So, nothing to steal, huh?”

“N-no, it’s not that…”

“Oh really?”

Yuri took another bite of the meat.

Despite having grown up in the royal palace, it was hard to believe the third prince was so used to field life. He acted like a lifelong wandering veteran.

Yuri offered a skewer to Jared.

“Eat.”

“No, thank you.”

“Don’t tell me you can’t eat this.”

“I can.”

“Sure. What would a palace-raised royal guard know about life in the field?”

“…”

“Click your tongue if you want—but you’re in for a rough life.”

Jared was bewildered but kept quiet. Arguing would only lead to more trouble.

Raymond arrived after Jared.

“Prince.”

“Oh, Sir Raymond.”

He too had been surprised by Yuri’s sudden charge, but as a veteran knight, he quickly regained composure and followed without delay.

“The bandits?”

“Completely wiped out. Some were killed, but the rest were captured.”

“And our side?”

“No casualties.”

“Well done. Truly the invincible army of Briol. Give yourselves a round of applause.”

Raymond let out a forced laugh.

The army hadn’t done much. The bandits were already fleeing with no will to fight. And the one responsible for that outcome was right there before them—the third prince.

Raymond asked Yuri, who was still chewing meat while nudging the bandit leader with his foot.

“Are you going to keep doing this?”

“Doing what?”

“Charging in first.”

“Depends on the situation.”

To Raymond’s ears, that sounded like a yes. He sighed and patted Jared on the shoulder.

“Looks like you’re in for a rough time.”

“Excuse me?”

“Always stay by the prince.”

“You mean charge with him?”

“You got it.”

“And you’re just letting it happen?”

“Can you stop him?”

“Well, no…”

“Then go with him.”

Jared was exasperated. Yuri’s reckless charges had now been officially accepted as a tactic. Yuri stood up, laughing.

“Tie up the bandits and leave them here. We’re sleeping in this spot tonight.”

“Understood.”

“Hey.”

Yuri nudged the bandit chief, still lying on the ground.

“Where’s your tent?”

“O-over there.”

“The biggest one?”

“Yes.”

“Perfect.”

Yuri turned to Jared.

“Sir Raymond, gather Hernand and the senior knights. Bring them there. We’re discussing the future.”

“Understood.”

“And you, chief.”

“Y-yes?”

“Keep roasting meat. Open all the stores.”

“T-that…”

“Wanna die?”

“N-no!”

“If you burn any, you die.”

Yuri left Jared in charge.

“Jared. Make sure he doesn’t burn the meat.”

“Yes…”

“Stab him every time he burns one.”

“…”

“Do it right.”

Yuri kicked the bandit leader’s rear and headed toward the tent.

Watching him go, Raymond spoke up.

“The prince has quite the skill.”

“Yes.”

“Was he hiding it?”

“More like… he never saw a reason to show it. Everyone in the royal guard already knew.”

“I see.”

Raymond fell silent in thought.

Though he’d only seen him from afar before, the third prince showed no hesitation. Each time he swung his sword, bandits’ limbs flew.

Even covered in blood, he smiled like nothing had happened. Not many could act like that on their first campaign.

“Well…”

Many said Fiore’s blood had thinned in his sons. But perhaps that wasn’t true.

In the plains where his father had made his name fighting orcs, his son now stood—ready to spread fear.

“Sir Jared.”

“Yes?”

“This allied army might be more interesting than I expected, don’t you think?”

Jared sighed.

“I don’t know… more than interesting, I think it’ll make you cry.”

“Haha…”

“Let’s hope Sir Raymond can talk some sense into him.”

“Even I’m not that confident.”

***

The soldier handing out food jumped in surprise when he suddenly came face-to-face with a boy with black eyes.

“P-p-prince!”

“Why are you so startled?”

“N-no reason at all.”

There were rumors that the third prince ate the same rations as the soldiers, but no one expected him to actually show up.

“Give me a good portion.”

“Y-yes, sir!”

“No, wait. If you give me too much, the others will notice. Give me a reasonable amount.”

“U-understood.”

“But don’t make it exactly the same either. You know that feeling of ‘about the same but just slightly more generous’?”

“Ah… yes, I get it.”

“That’s too much meat. They’ll think I gave you a signal.”

“Sorry.”

“Don’t apologize. You did well.”

“Thank you.”

Yuri insisted on eating the same food as everyone else, regardless of rank. Thanks to that, the overall quality of the rations had improved.

With tray in hand, Yuri looked around and approached a group of knights. One of them was complaining.

“I can’t believe we have to eat this crap on the ground…”

Yuri sat down next to him. Without realizing his presence, the knight continued speaking.

“Why do we have to eat the same as the soldiers?”

Another knight responded.

“Exactly. I bet he’s eating something special on his own.”

“Of course. Who does he think he is just because he’s a prince?”

Yuri tore a piece of bread, placed it over the meat broth, and began eating with a spoon without saying a word.

“If it weren’t for that third prince, we wouldn’t even be here. Just because that brat got involved, my father sent me to make a good impression.”

“Same for me.”

“This is suffering.”

While they chatted, one of the knights noticed Yuri and froze. He tried to signal the others with his eyes, but they were too immersed in the conversation.

“That Jared guy acts all high and mighty just because he’s close to the prince…”

“We should teach him a lesson. The royal guard doesn’t have noble blood, right?”

“Exactly. And it’s just the third prince. He doesn’t matter.”

The conversation was getting more and more interesting. Another knight who had noticed Yuri turned pale. Yuri motioned for him to stay quiet, and he nodded.

Yuri slowly stood up with his tray and quietly walked away.

“That Jared or whatever his name is—we’ll teach him a good lesson.”

“Let’s plan something for tonight.”

“Perfect.”

“When they see his subordinate in that state, the prince will get the message too.”

They were very confident. A few other knights agreed. Jared seemed to be in trouble.

“Hehehe…”

Yuri let out a low chuckle. Whoever ended up winning, it was going to be quite the show.

“Prince?”

As he walked and ate at the same time, Raymond approached him looking alarmed.

“P-prince!”

“What is it?”

“Well…”

“Oh.”

Eating while walking—regular soldiers didn’t even do that. It was a habit from his mercenary days, when he lived without rules.

“You see…”

Yuri tried to justify himself.

“I was so focused on what’s coming that I didn’t want to waste time sitting to eat.”

“Ah, I see.”

Raymond nodded sincerely, which only made Yuri more embarrassed.

“Well then, Prince.”

Raymond changed the topic.

“About our next destination, Gid.”

“Yes.”

They planned to pass through the city of Gid on the plains before heading to the allied army’s rally point in Valshard.

“Seems we’ll meet up there with an army from another kingdom. They’re on a similar route and timeline.”

“Which one?”

“The Holy Kingdom.”

Yuri tried to recall.

The Holy Kingdom was a theocracy, where the pope ruled as monarch and the entire country followed the sacred order.

They had a unique magical system called “sacred magic,” or as they themselves called it, “holy law.”

Yuri nodded.

“Great. If we get along, they’ll heal our wounded, right?”

Ordinary mages could use healing spells too, but sacred magic was far more effective.

“I’m not so sure about that…”

“We brought a priest too, didn’t we?”

“Yes.”

“How is he?”

“Not very good.”

The Briol army also had a priest sent by the temple.

“Bring him. I want to ask him something.”

“Understood.”

Soon, the priest arrived.

He looked surprised to find Yuri eating casually while sitting on a rock.

“You’re here?”

“Yes, Prince.”

“You seem to be struggling.”

“It’s nothing.”

The priest hadn’t shaved, his beard was long, and his white robe was dirty and stained. He looked quite unkempt.

“Did you graduate from the seminary?”

“Yes, I did.”

“Then you must know people from the Holy Kingdom.”

“W-well… sort of.”

He glanced around nervously before continuing.

“I only keep occasional contact with a few.”

“That’s fine. Do you know anything about the army the Holy Kingdom sent?”

The tense priest finally relaxed his expression.

“Ah, I see why you called me. I’ll tell you what I know.”

He explained calmly, and the information turned out to be unexpected.

“The princess is coming?”

“Yes. I heard the news before leaving. It’s not confirmed, but likely.”

Yuri hadn’t paid close attention to the allied army’s makeup in his previous life. He knew Briol’s movements but didn’t bother with the other kingdoms.

Now he wondered if the princess from the Holy Kingdom was participating because the future had changed or if she had always been destined to. The fact he didn’t even remember her name suggested the latter.

“Did she usually get involved in these things? Or did she decide to join suddenly?”

“Well…”

According to the priest, the second princess of the Holy Kingdom had shown talent in holy law since she was young. She was also skilled with a sword and joined the Holy Knight Order, quickly rising in the ranks. People praised her highly.

Because of that, the crown prince saw her as a threat, and their relationship was poor.

The prince constantly criticized her, and in response, she wanted to prove her worth.

“I expected it too. I think most people did.”

“I see.”

Yuri nodded.

Given all that, she had probably joined the allied army in his past life as well.

And met her end on the plains.

“Have you seen her in person?”

“I saw her from a distance when I was in the seminary.”

“What did you think?”

“Well, that…”

The priest avoided a direct answer, but his expression said it all. He didn’t seem to have a favorable impression.

“Thanks for the info.”

“It’s nothing.”

Yuri patted him on the shoulder.

After chatting a bit more, Yuri realized the priest was fairly worldly for a holy man. Someone like that could be useful.

“The will of God isn’t limited to the Holy Kingdom. Keep serving Briol well.”

“Y-yes, sir!”

“What’s your name?”

“Jermaine. Ha ha…”

“Jermaine.”

Yuri decided to reward him.

“From now on…”

“From now on?”

Jermaine looked at him expectantly.

“Ask the cook for extra food. If you say my name, he’ll give it to you.”

“Eh?”

“Trust me.”

“W-who, me?”

“No need to thank me so much.”

Yuri patted his back with a smile.

“You can go now.”

“Yes, sir…”

“Thanks for the information.”

“Yes…”