Chapter 245: The Mage’s Wish (1)

Artem had said the name Yuri Briol, and so, the hikers found out who he was.

Embarrassed, Yuri came up with an excuse and quickly descended, but what had happened at the summit of Mount Zenel was something he couldn’t hide, no matter how much he wanted to.

The story of Saint Artem’s ascension spread by word of mouth, and with the reappearance of his role as “the Baptist,” rumors spread that Yuri was an apostle chosen by divine will.

Yuri was already a famous figure in his own right.

But now, with the Power of the Tyrant King complete and a religious miracle behind him, his fame skyrocketed.

It was then that Yuri Briol declared to the continent:

“The Empire is ruled by black magic, a malevolent power, and performs forbidden rituals such as human sacrifice as if they were normal! Briol will not allow it. The Holy Kingdom, Brusen, Liberta, and the Central Union of Small Kingdoms have united to condemn the Empire.”

It was the first time someone had officially mentioned the Empire’s connection to black magic.

Yuri’s warning was published in newspapers across the continent, making the existence of black magic common knowledge.

But the Empire remained silent.

Some didn’t believe Yuri’s words.

“Isn’t that black magic stuff just made up?”

“If it really existed, don’t you think someone would’ve said something before?”

“The mage in our region says there’s no such thing.”

“Magic is magic, what’s this about black magic? Is it a novel or something?”

Mentions of black magic sparked countless debates.

And since it was such a major issue, the attention of the continent turned to one place.

The Magic Tower.

It was the highest authority on everything related to magic. The cradle of mages, their school, their home.

And yet, the Master of the Magic Tower did not appear.

***

Yuri was scolding Hernando.

“Hey, didn’t you say you’d find him any moment now? So what the hell are you doing?”

“Well, um… mmm…”

“Where the hell is that supposed Master of the Tower?”

“I don’t know.”

“Hernando!”

“Find him already!”

Hernando flinched, widened his eyes, and stepped back.

“Why are you so explosive lately?”

“That’s how people get when they’re successful!”

“Ah… really?”

“If it bothers you, become famous yourself!”

“U-understood…”

Yuri was, at that moment, the most famous figure on the continent.

Before, not everyone recognized him on the street. But now, with so many portraits of him circulating, he couldn’t walk the streets with his face uncovered.

He leaned back in his chair and murmured.

“With just a word from the Master of the Tower, the Empire would be cornered.”

The current situation was very promising.

In his past life, the nations of the continent responded to the chaos in a disorganized way and ended up being destroyed by the Empire.

But this time, they all shared the same concern over the Empire’s rise.

In addition to the four countries allied with Briol and the Union of Small Kingdoms, many other nations had sent envoys to discuss potential measures.

The whole continent was watching the Empire with suspicion. And for some reason, the Empire still remained silent.

Yuri wanted to seize that opportunity to strike a definitive blow, even by mobilizing the Master of the Tower.

“But that guy won’t show up. Could something have happened to him?”

“Impossible. If anything happened to the Master of the Tower, the entire institution would know.”

“Then how the hell does no one know where someone that important is?”

“That… I couldn’t tell you.”

“Ugh…”

Yuri raised his head, and a waiter immediately rushed over.

“Would you like something?”

“A beer, please.”

“Right away!”

Yuri and Hernando were seated in a tavern in Briol’s capital. Since his face wasn’t covered, a huge crowd had gathered just to see him.

However, as a member of royalty, no one dared to get too close, and everyone simply watched him from afar without making a scene.

The only one delighted with the situation was the tavern owner.

“So, Sir Hernando, you’re telling me you can’t do the job I asked. Is that how you’re going to admit your incompetence?”

“If you put it that way… I suppose so.”

“Useless!”

“Your Highness, there are many people watching, you should moderate your words…”

“Oh yeah?”

“Of course.”

“Then watch this.”

Yuri slammed the table and stood up. Instantly, every eye turned to him.

He stared at Hernando with blazing eyes, but as if he couldn’t yell freely, he simply muttered firmly.

“Fucking useless…”

He didn’t say it loudly, but his tone was clear enough to echo throughout the tavern.

And his words didn’t go unnoticed.

No one criticized Yuri. On the contrary, everyone began to scold Hernando as if they had witnessed the same failure.

“That guy must be the incompetent one.”

“How dare he upset His Highness?”

“He looks useless.”

“Damn useless!”

“That guy is an incompetent now. Let’s call him that, the Incompetent.”

“The Incompetent drinking with His Highness… How kind His Highness is.”

In an instant, public opinion was manipulated by Yuri.

Hernando opened his mouth.

“No way…”

“Told you. If it bothers you, get famous.”

“In my whole life, I’ve never been called incompetent. I, Hernando, am a genius recognized by the Magic Tower…!”

“Fine. Then tell me, where is the Master of the Magic Tower?”

“I don’t know.”

“Useless.”

“Ggh…”

Hernando bit his lip.

Yuri’s words weren’t entirely wrong. Hernando felt a sting of shame.

The Grand Sorcerer still hadn’t found the Master of the Tower. In other words, he hadn’t managed to dismantle the spell cast by that Master.

“Maybe he’s right. Maybe I really am just useless…”

“Seeing you wallow in self-pity is even sadder.”

“Useless and pathetic…”

Hernando slumped his head on the table. Immediately, the crowd started murmuring again.

“How dare he act like that in front of His Highness!”

“Useless, pathetic… and even rude!”

“Who is that? What’s he doing here?”

“That His Highness even protects him… He’s truly admirable…”

A normal person would’ve been overwhelmed by such irrational devotion.

But Yuri didn’t care about others’ opinions, so he just shrugged. Whether praise or criticism, he used them as tools.

At that moment, he was using his fame to reprimand Hernando.

Surrounded by the crowd’s scorn, Hernando muttered with a trembling voice.

“Don’t tell me… you summoned me to the capital just for this…?”

“You just figured that out?”

“You’re terrifying…!”

Just then, a stir broke out at the tavern’s entrance, and people began stepping aside.

Yuri and Hernando looked over.

It wasn’t fame or status that made people part.

It was beauty.

Maryrose Antret.

The mage from Valshard approached Yuri and Hernando.

She wasn’t wearing her usual elegant dress, but rather comfortable clothes to move around in.

But her beauty couldn’t be hidden, and the citizens didn’t dare block her path.

Maryrose walked naturally through the crowded tavern interior. She stopped beside them, smiled enigmatically, and looked at Yuri.

“Your Highness. There you are.”

“Yes.”

“Shall we go?”

“Let’s.”

“Because of this incompetent Hernando, Your Highness has had to suffer…”

“That’s right.”

“Hey, Maryrose! You’re also with—”

“Shut your mouth.”

Maryrose raised a finger to stop Hernando and continued.

“With this incompetent’s magical capacity, it’s clear he can’t find the Master of the Tower. There’s no other option but for Your Highness to go in person. Maybe that’s exactly what that person wants.”

Yuri nodded.

“Yes. Since I don’t have a single reliable subordinate, once again I have to make a move.”

“What a pity for Your Highness. Surrounded by such useless people…”

Hernando retorted indignantly.

“If you put it that way, aren’t you also one of those unreliable subordinates?”

Yuri shook his head.

“Maryrose is not my subordinate.”

“Then what is she?”

“Maryrose is…”

Before Yuri could finish, she quickly responded.

“A companion.”

Hernando looked at Yuri, surprised. He, who was about to say “collaborator,” coughed and nodded.

“Well, it’s the same thing.”

“You see, Sir Hernando? You are a subordinate. I am a companion. So as a subordinate, accept your incompetence.”

“I already had before you arrived…”

Hernando sighed deeply.

“Alright. Let’s go to the Tower. I don’t know if anything will change just because Your Highness goes… But let’s go. If it doesn’t work, Your Highness will be an incompetent too.”

“Me?”

Yuri stood up and said.

“Hernando. At this moment, there’s nothing I’m not willing to do.”

“How surprising.”

“Do you think I’ll just let it slide if it doesn’t work? As if it doesn’t matter?”

Something flashed in Yuri’s eyes.

“I’m not playing. I’m not going to politely wait for that so-called Master to be persuaded. That’s not the attitude to fight the Empire with.”

He still remembered the battles of his past life.

He had no intention of showing leniency. Nor did he plan to wait forever for others’ approval.

If the Master of the Tower didn’t come out, Yuri planned to tear the Tower down until he did.

If that’s what it took to prevent the tragedy and face the Empire, he would do it without hesitation.

Fighting black magic, to Yuri, meant that.

“Let’s go.”

“Already?”

“I told you. I don’t have time.”

“But you sure drank…”

“That was fuel.”

With a smile, Yuri downed the remaining beer in one gulp, left some coins on the table, and stood up abruptly.

Upon leaving the tavern, a dozen knights were already waiting on horseback.

It was the Order of Vengeance.

They had been waiting there from the start.

Yuri was the first to mount his horse, and the knights followed instantly. It was a simple action, but with impeccable discipline.

“His Highness and the Order of Vengeance…!”

“Wow…!”

“How impressive!”

“Are they the ones from the rumors…?”

People watched in awe. Some even applauded.

Jared, who came out after Hernando, gave him a smile.

“Well, did you enjoy your punishment, Sir Hernando?”

“Yeah, well… something like that.”

“Let’s go.”

Maryrose and Hernando mounted as well.

While Yuri took the reins, Jared joked.

“Your Highness. Isn’t riding drunk a crime?”

“I’m above the law.”

“Hahahaha…”

“Let’s go.”

“Yes, sir!”

Yuri and the Order of Vengeance rode swiftly through the capital streets.

There was also a Tower of Magic in Briol.

It wasn’t very large, but all the Towers were interconnected.

Yuri and the Order of Vengeance were headed to the fief of Ainzer Yustam, Matehorn.

***

News of Yuri’s arrival had already spread, so the castle gates were open.

While Yuri conversed with Ainzer Yustam, who had come out to receive him, the Order of Vengeance exchanged tense glances with the knights of Matehorn.

After all, when sword-bearers lock eyes, friction is common.

Though there were exceptions.

“Why are they looking at me like that? Hehehe…”

Tirbo, with his awkward demeanor, scratched his head. Even Jared, who was usually laid-back, sighed.

He truly didn’t seem like the heir of a prestigious count family.

“Sir Tirbo.”

“Yes?”

“Show a more dignified knightly demeanor, please.”

“What’s a knightly demeanor?”

“Raise your chin, open your eyes wide and look straight ahead. And don’t smile like that. If you smile, they’ll underestimate you.”

“But His Highness is always smiling…”

“His Highness doesn’t smile, he sneers.”

“T-then I’ll sneer too. Like this, right?”

“Don’t. You look like an idiot.”

“Yes, sir…”

“They’re already pointing fingers at you!”

“I’m really sorry…”

Of course, there were also knights in Matehorn who had fought alongside them in the battle of Bezos.

They greeted Jared and the rest of the Order of Vengeance warmly. But a group of unknown knights continued to glare at them with hostility.

Jared asked.

“Who are those guys that keep staring at us?”

“Ah, those…”

A middle-aged knight who had been in Bezos gave an awkward smile.

“Have you heard of Parsent?”

“Parsent? The territory with the Parsent Knight Academy?”

“Yes.”

Parsent was a region located on the outskirts of the Empire, famous for its knight training academy. It was one of the top three breeding grounds for the Empire’s military elite.

“Matehorn has an agreement with them. It regularly sends knights there.”

“So…?”

“That’s right.”

The middle-aged knight smiled wryly.

“They’re knights trained abroad, in the Empire.”