Chapter 253: Reunion (2)

At the village entrance, the Order of Vengeance stopped without going in.

The place wasn’t big enough to comfortably host the entire order.

It was better to set up camp outside and spend the night there than to inconvenience the residents.

Yuri, accompanied by Jared, was the only one who entered the village on foot.

The locals weren’t surprised to see two knights appear suddenly—news had already spread that Briol’s army would be passing through the Confederation of Small Kingdoms.

In fact, they even greeted them with smiles and warm welcomes.

“Greetings! I’ve heard much about your fame. It’s an honor. Hahaha…”

“Will you be spending the night here? Please feel free to rest.”

“If you need anything, just say so.”

Though small, the village was well-kept, and the people seemed hospitable. The village chief couldn’t stop bowing to Yuri.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Your Highness. Incredible that the Prince of Briol comes in person. I hope nothing here causes you any discomfort…”

Yuri smiled kindly.

“Don’t worry so much. We’ll rest quietly and leave. But could you arrange fodder for the horses and some food? Of course, I’ll pay well.”

“Of course. Just say the word.”

“We’ll need…”

While they spoke, some village children were peeking at them from a distance.

Jared playfully waved them over, and the children, shy at first, slowly approached.

“These kids… they look like troublemakers.”

With that, he picked up the smallest one and lifted him into the air. The boy’s eyes went wide in surprise, and Jared tossed him upward before catching him again.

The height he reached was only possible thanks to a knight’s strength.

“Uwaah!”

“Be good when you play.”

“Yes!”

In front of their idol, the children behaved like obedient lambs.

“Jared, you’re good with kids.”

Yuri smiled, and the village chief nodded.

“Well, normally they don’t listen to anyone, but in front of you they become so docile. They should behave like this all the time, eh?”

The children pretended not to hear.

Amused, Yuri ruffled one boy’s hair and gave him some coins to buy a treat.

Watching them run off, Yuri commented,

“That boy seems talented.”

“The tall one?”

“Yes.”

“It wouldn’t be a bad idea for him to start training with a sword.”

The village chief, intrigued, joined in.

“That lanky one? His name’s York—his father’s a very agile hunter. Could he become a good knight?”

“If he works hard, yes.”

“That’s a relief to hear. He’s always been the most troublesome, and I’ve worried about his future…”

“This is a small village, but it seems peaceful. That’s probably thanks to you.”

“No, no, I’m embarrassed.”

The chief bowed his head.

“I’ve heard a lot about the Empire and the black magic. I hope you defeat those bastards. Ignorant folks like us just want the world to live in peace.”

“Your wish is the same as mine.”

Yuri smiled.

“I’ll do everything I can to make it so.”

“Thank you very much.”

After talking, Yuri arranged for their cooperation.

Soon, the village men brought firewood, food, and horse fodder to the Order of Vengeance camp.

Night fell.

On another day, Yuri might have gone to the tavern for a drink, but this time he focused on preparing for the coming battle.

The order, gathered around campfires, busied themselves checking their gear.

Jared, studying a map lit by firelight, spoke.

“Now that I see, this village belongs to Konzed.”

“Konzed?”

“Remember in The Chronicles of the Tyrant King? It was one of the areas corrupted by black magic.”

“Right… not a good sign.”

The night was dark, the moon hidden behind clouds; only the campfires and the village lights glimmered in the distance.

“The Empire’s being too quiet… and with this being Konzed, it’s even more suspicious.”

“What do you mean?”

“If they wanted to make a move, this would be a good time.”

“Is that your intuition talking?”

“What do you think?”

“Well… when you say it, it makes me uneasy. Feels like someone could jump out to attack at any moment.”

“Are you scared?”

“Of course not.”

“Oh, really?”

Yuri stood and swung his sword, Guilty.

“Good thing you’re not scared.”

“Seriously?”

Jared also stood.

The other knights, seeing them, took up their weapons and began scanning the surroundings.

“You’re joking, right?”

“You still don’t feel it?”

“Feel what?”

A faint light shone in Yuri’s eyes. Jared recognized it—that was the sign Yuri was using Mind Domain.

That meant he had already seen something.

And if Yuri had seen it, it could only be creatures born of black magic.

Yuri gripped Guilty and looked into the forest’s darkness. Then, a flash of light appeared.

“Watch out!”

As Yuri shouted, a fireball shot toward the order.

The campfire exploded, sending sparks flying. Two knights rolled on the ground engulfed in flames while others doused them with water.

“A mage! Everyone on guard, another one’s coming!” Jared shouted.

They had no mages with them to move faster. They’d thought dispelling magic wouldn’t be needed while crossing the Confederation—but that was a mistake.

Yuri unleashed Soul and Heart Slash.

Sword energy surged outward, disrupting the flow of mana.

“Get ready. They’re closing in.”

He could feel the enemy’s presence—dark, damp, like the black hosts he had faced in his past life.

The Empire was already ready for war. This attack was a warning.

Soon, the enemies charged the Order of Vengeance.

In the gloom, swords clashed with ringing force.

Whenever someone passed near the fire, their silhouette flashed for an instant before fading back into darkness.

Then, another fireball came from afar.

“Magic again!”

Normally it could be dispelled easily, but without mages it was different. Yuri kicked aside an enemy blocking him and rushed toward the projectile, cutting it apart with Soul and Heart Slash.

“Where do you think you’re going!”

The fireball split, and flames wrapped around him, but Yuri pressed forward under the protection of his technique.

Through the red glare, he saw a staff shining in the distance. The mage spotted him and turned to flee.

Yuri was about to give chase, but—

“You’re not getting through.”

Someone blocked his path. A high-level knight, smiling arrogantly.

“So you’re the brat who became one of the Ten Greats. Nice face.”

“You like it?”

“You’ve no idea what it took to get to this backwater because of you. Let’s see how good you really are.”

“Who sent you?”

“How stupid—you think I’d tell you that?”

“Your words are harsh. Has black magic dulled your fear?”

“And what are you gonna do about it, idiot?”

Yuri raised Soul and Heart Slash high and brought it down hard on the man’s sword.

The sudden impact made the opponent drop his weapon. Yuri grabbed him by the hair.

“That’s how it’s done, you arrogant bastard.”

“Huh?”

Then he smashed the man’s jaw with his sword hilt. With the sound of breaking bones, the man’s body collapsed. From his gaping mouth spilled several teeth and foamy blood.

Yuri didn’t kill him; he left him on the ground—maybe he could be interrogated later.

At that moment, when Yuri looked up again, several fireballs whizzed past him.

Their target was the Order of Vengeance. It was too late to stop them.

Yuri clenched his teeth.

Then—it happened.

The fireballs flying through the air scattered and extinguished all at once, leaving only faint traces of flame drifting in the darkness.

“Dispel?” Yuri muttered.

He turned his head toward the point where the mana disturbance had originated. There stood a comrade he could never mistake.

Yuri spoke his name.

“Inariel.”

Though he looked like a boy with salmon-colored hair, he was in truth a far older elven mage.

The Great Archmage Inariel.

With the unhurried composure of someone out for a stroll, he raised his staff. Then, as though smoke were dispersing, the darkness receded and the light he summoned began to illuminate the surroundings.

Revealed within were enemies clad in black armor.

“Hmm, so they’re from the Empire.”

“How did you get here?”

“I heard you had gone to the front, so I followed.”

“It’s been a while since I last saw you.”

“I had my own matters to handle.”

After Yuri had asked him to find the Master of the Magic Tower, Inariel had disappeared. He hadn’t shown himself in a long time, and Yuri assumed he was off doing something on his own.

Yuri guessed.

“If you appeared right after I left Briol, does that mean you actually have a strained relationship with Lord Sidherst?”

“Shut your mouth, brat.”

With that, Inariel lifted his staff.

“There’s no time for useless chatter. Something’s happening in the village.”

“Eh?”

“Looks like they plan to wipe it out entirely.”

“I’ll go immediately.”

Yuri gripped Guilty.

“Take care of cleaning up the ones here first.”

“As you wish.”

Hearing the curt reply, Yuri simply turned away.

This great archmage with the youthful appearance might seem cold in demeanor, but it was only on the surface—he never ignored others’ hardships.

“I’ll leave it to you.”

“Fine.”

Yuri ran toward the village, shouting to rouse the people.

“It’s an enemy attack! Everyone, flee!”

In the darkness, Imperial knights were moving.

Yuri rushed toward the direction where he felt their presence. Those men in black armor were striking the villagers without discrimination.

Yuri clenched his teeth.

The ones being killed were innocents—all because he and the Order of Vengeance had stayed there.

Even in war, there were basic unwritten rules—to avoid killing innocent civilians as much as possible.

But the Empire ignored such principles.

The coldness with which they took human lives without even blinking was characteristic of black mages.

And Yuri thought he knew who was behind this—Cedric, the demon seeking to deceive him and seize the world.

Yuri gripped Guilty. The sword vibrated in response to his will.

“Your opponent is here!”

Shouting, he charged, running through a knight who was trying to force open a house door.

The edge of the Cut of the Soul and the Heart, driven by fury, pierced the breastplate as though it were tofu.

The Imperial knight collapsed without a sound. Inside the slightly open door, a family huddled together, trembling.

“Stay hidden.”

Yuri turned immediately.

There were plenty of enemies to deal with, and no matter how hard he tried, casualties were inevitable.

He needed to save every second.

It would have been good to have support at that moment—but it seemed the battle outside the village was still ongoing.

Suddenly, Yuri heard the sound of weapons clashing within the village. His eyes widened.

It wasn’t a simple exchange; the clashes rang out again and again. Whoever it was, there was a swordsman capable of holding off Imperial knights inside the village.

If someone could buy time, the damage to the villagers could be reduced.

Yuri silently gave thanks and vaulted over a wall toward the nearest cluster of enemies.

The Imperial knights were heading somewhere.

“There’s that monster!”

“Send more men!”

“Damn it, we’ve run into some strange guy…”

Pushing off the wall, Yuri leapt and landed in front of them.

“Monster… I’ve been called that plenty of times.”

“Yuri Briol!”

“That’s right, that’s me.”

Yuri smiled and raised his sword.

Upon Guilty, a whirlwind of energy spun endlessly.

“I’ll be the one to handle you.”

“Ghh!”

“Attack!”

The sword’s whirlwind swept across the ground. Flesh and blood splattered as their defenses were torn apart.

After cutting down several knights in an instant, Yuri turned his head.

He meant to go help that mysterious swordsman they had called a monster. If he could fight Imperial knights, it would be worth joining forces.

Yuri pressed forward, cutting down the nearby enemies. Finally, he spotted someone surrounded by a group of knights.

It was a swordsman with his face wrapped in bandages.