Rise of the Fallen Kingdom’s Third Prince — Chapter 254: Reunion (3)

Chapter 254: Reunion (3)

It was strange.

The‍ clumsy sword movements⁠⁠ of that swordsman were like those‌ of someone with‌ nothing left to‍‌‌ lose.

His‌ footwork seemed awkward,‍⁠ as if he‌‍ were already injured,‌ yet he held‌ nothing back and‍ continued attacking aggressively.⁠⁠‌

The‌ Imperial knights couldn’t‌⁠‍ cope with his‌ technique and fell‌⁠ back, being cut‌ down one after⁠⁠⁠ another without even‌‍ being able to⁠ counterattack.

When‌⁠ the corpses began‍‍‍ to pile up,‍ the Imperial knights‍⁠ grew wary.

Yuri‍‍ whistled.

“He⁠‍ doesn’t seem to⁠‌ be in his‍ right mind, but⁠‍ the skill is‍ real.”

Having‌⁠ someone this capable‍‌⁠ here at this‌‍⁠ moment could be⁠‍ considered a stroke‍⁠ of luck.

While‌‍ Yuri assessed the⁠‌‍ situation, the Imperial‌‌ knights surrounded him.⁠‌⁠ Altered by black‌‍ magic, they were⁠⁠ unbound by pride‍ or honor and‌ didn’t bother with‍ the pretense of⁠⁠ single combat.

Seeing‍ the swordsman’s style—completely‍‌ ignoring defense—it was‍ clear this was⁠ a dangerous situation.⁠‍

Yuri⁠ sensed it was‌‌ time to step‍ in.

“Hey!”‌⁠

Shouting‌‌ sharply, Yuri lunged‍‌ in and struck‌‌ one of the‌⁠ knights surrounding the‌‌ swordsman from behind.‍ The enemy, caught‍‍ off guard by‍ the ambush, rolled‌‌ across the ground⁠⁠ in a cloud‌ of dust.

With⁠ one opponent down,‌ the Imperial formation⁠ loosened.

Spinning‌⁠‍ Guilty in a circle, Yuri approached‍ the swordsman.

“Hey,⁠ bandage guy.”

“……”⁠‌‍

“Given‍ the situation, how⁠⁠ about we fight⁠‍ together?”

The‌ bandaged swordsman only stared at him‌ without a word.‌‍

Yuri⁠‍ didn’t press for‌‌ an answer. Just⁠⁠ from seeing the way he wielded his sword, it⁠ was clear he‌ wasn’t ordinary.

Shrugging,‍‍‍ Yuri swung his‌‌ blade.

Even‍‍ the slightest graze‌ from Guilty tore‌ armor and sent‌⁠ blood spraying.

“It’s‌‌‍ Yuri Briol! Kill‍ him!”

“Take‌ them both down!”⁠

Yuri‌‌ shifted smoothly between⁠‌‍ attack and defense,‌ guarding himself effectively.‍ The bandaged swordsman,‌ in contrast, seemed‍⁠ unconcerned about taking hits, relentlessly going‍ for his enemies’‌ vital points.

Their‌‍‍ styles were different, but equally hard⁠ to deal with.⁠

Wielding‍ Guilty, Yuri rolled‍‌ across the ground⁠ to slip past‌‌ the enemy’s reach,‌ then sprang to‍‌‌ his feet and‌‌ unleashed a wide⁠‌ slash. The body‍ of a knight—who⁠‌ hadn’t even seen⁠‌ him coming—was split‌⁠ in two from the groin upward.⁠‌‌

Dodging‍ the spray of‍⁠‌ blood, Yuri saw⁠ two Imperial knights⁠ rush him, raising⁠ their swords like⁠‍ twins before swinging‍ them down with‍ force.

That‍⁠ gave them great power, but left far too many‌‌ openings.

And‍ they were slow.‌⁠

Yuri‌⁠ gathered Chaos energy‍ and sped up‍ his body. He‌‌⁠ advanced before their‌ swords could fall,⁠ piercing both of‍‍ them through the⁠ chest and stepping aside. Their blades⁠ slammed into empty⁠⁠ ground, and the‌‌ two collapsed, bleeding‌ from their chests.

“Slow.”‍

With⁠‌ that mocking word,‍‌‌ Yuri spun. Attacks⁠‍⁠ came from front‌‍ and back. Yuri‌ ducked, and the‍ two knights, unable‍‌ to stop, struck‌‍⁠ each other.

Armor‍ shattered and blood⁠⁠‍ sprayed.

As⁠‌‌ soon as they⁠‌‌ fell, Yuri slipped between them and,‍‍‍ with a single‌ stroke, took the‌‍ heads of two⁠‌ more enemies at‍‍ his level.

“Stop‍ rushing in blindly!⁠‍ Corner them!”

The‍ enemy formation shifted.

Unable‌‌‌ to keep up‌⁠ with Yuri’s pace,‌‍‌ the Imperial knights⁠‌ began to focus‍⁠ on encirclement over direct assault.

Retreating,‌⁠ Yuri ended up‍ back-to-back with the‍ bandaged swordsman, who‌‌ was in a similar situation.

“Hey,⁠‍ bandage guy.”

Yuri‌ spoke with a wry smile.

“Since we’re here, why⁠⁠‌ don’t we get‍⁠ out of this‍⁠‍ together? Sound good?”

The‍‍ bandaged knight didn’t⁠⁠⁠ answer. Yuri thought‌ he heard the‍⁠‌ faint grinding of⁠⁠‍ teeth.

“You’ll⁠‌ hurt yourself like‌ that.”

“Shut‌ up and fight.”‌‌

It‍‍‍ was the first‌‍ time he had‍ heard his voice.⁠‍⁠ It was rough,⁠⁠ harsh but strangely⁠ familiar.

As‌⁠ Yuri tried to‍‌⁠ recall, the Imperial‌‌‍ knights charged again.⁠

“I’ve‍‌‌ got your back,⁠ bandage guy!”

Yuri⁠ and the swordsman⁠ fought back-to-back, guarding‍‍ each other’s rear.‌⁠ Not having to‍⁠ worry about what‍ was behind them‌‌ made the fight‍‌‍ far easier.

Yuri⁠‌ could swing his‌ sword freely.

And‌‍⁠ curiously, he found that he worked‍‍⁠ extremely well with‍⁠‌ this stranger.

Even⁠‌‌ standing back-to-back, their‍‌ movements never tangled—a‌ rarity in such chaotic close combat.‌⁠‍ It was as‌ if they could‍ read each other’s⁠ minds, perfectly complementing⁠‍ one another.

The⁠⁠ Imperial knights, thrown‍ off by this‍‌ coordination, couldn’t make⁠⁠⁠ use of their‌ numbers and suffered even heavier losses.‌⁠‌

With⁠ an odd sense⁠⁠ of familiarity, Yuri⁠‌ kept fighting. His‌⁠ sword aura, as⁠‌ strong as that‍ of a master⁠ among the Ten⁠ Greats, tore through‍‌ enemy armor.

“Hey,‍⁠⁠ bandage guy.”

Yuri⁠ lifted his sword⁠‌⁠ and asked,

“Have‌⁠ we met before?”‌

His‍‌ appearance and style⁠‍ were completely unfamiliar,‌ yet it felt‍‍ like he knew‌ him well.

The‌‍ bandaged swordsman didn’t‌ reply, only swinging⁠‍ his weapon harder,‌ showing even greater⁠⁠ skill as the‌ battle went on.‌

Together,‌ they soon completely‌ overwhelmed the Imperial⁠⁠‌ knights.

Yuri⁠ thought he’d like‍‍‍ to have someone⁠‍ like this on‍ his side.

“Phew…”‍⁠

Before‌⁠‌ long, almost all⁠‍ the enemies had⁠‍ fallen. The remaining‌‍ Imperial knights in‍‌ the village had gathered here to⁠ trap them, so‌‍‍ they didn’t need‍ to run through‌ the streets.

“Retreat!”⁠

The‌‌ Imperial knights fled.‍‍

Yuri‍‌‍ lowered his sword tip and caught‍⁠ his breath.

He‍⁠ wanted to chase‍‍‌ them down and finish them, but‍‌⁠ the villagers’ safety came first.

He⁠‌⁠ turned to look⁠‌ at the bandaged‍‍⁠ swordsman.

The⁠ man, equally exhausted,‌ was catching his⁠ breath. During the battle, some of his bandages had‌ been cut away, revealing grotesquely deformed⁠ skin.

Yuri⁠ smiled at him.‌‍

“We‌ work well together,‍⁠ don’t you think?”

“……”‍

“How‌‍ about joining me?‌‍ I’ll pay you‌ well.”

The⁠⁠‍ bandaged swordsman stared‌‌‌ at him, and⁠ something seemed to‌‍ glint in his eyes.

Sensing⁠⁠‍ the hostility radiating‌‌ from him, Yuri⁠ tilted his head.

“Do⁠ we have some‍ unfinished business, you‍⁠‌ and I?”

The‌⁠ man spoke.

“Figure‌ that out for‍ yourself.”

His‍‍‍ voice was still‌‌‌ rough and hoarse,‌‍⁠ but it felt‌‍ familiar.

From‍‍ the skin visible‌‍‌ between the bandages,⁠ Yuri guessed that⁠ due to some⁠⁠⁠ past incident, his‍‍‍ body and vocal⁠ cords had been severely damaged.

If‍ that was the‌ case, perhaps before‌‍ he suffered those‌‌ injuries, he had⁠⁠‌ been someone Yuri‌ knew.

“Do‌ you know me?”

Yuri‍ asked him.

Then,‌⁠ instead of an‌ answer, a sword‍ flew at him.‍⁠⁠

Yuri‌⁠ dodged to the‍ side at the‍‍ sudden charge and‌‌ deflected the attack‍ with Guilty.

In‍ terms of skill,⁠⁠ Yuri was far‌ superior. That’s why he thought that‌ after crossing swords‌⁠ a few times, he could subdue⁠‌⁠ his opponent.

However,‌‌ the enemy’s peculiar⁠‍ swordsmanship caught him off guard—instead of‍‌ defending, he countered attacks with his⁠‍ own offensives.

Yuri‍ said,

“I‍‍‍ don’t know anyone‌ who wields a sword like that…”‍‍

Then‍‌⁠ the man pointed‌ his sword at⁠ him and replied,‌

“Your‌‌ father was sealed away by Cedric.”‌‌

At‌ those unexpected words,‍ Yuri’s eyes widened.⁠

“What?”‌

“Cedric⁠‌‌ told me to‍‌‌ tell you that.⁠⁠ Now I owe‍‌ him nothing.”

“Who are you?”

Yuri’s⁠‌ voice grew grave.‍‌ Over Guilty, his⁠‌‍ sharp aura shimmered.‌

“Do‌ you know me?”⁠

The‌‍‍ bandaged swordsman gave‍ a short laugh.⁠ Then he looked⁠‌⁠ up at the‍‌⁠ sky. In the‍⁠ dark night, the‌ moon was barely⁠ visible behind the‌ clouds.

“Back‍ then, the moon‌‌‌ was beautiful.”

The‌⁠ moment he heard‍ those words, strength‍ left Yuri’s hands.⁠⁠

It‌ was different.

But‍‌ at the same time, it was‌‌ similar.

The‍‌ aura he radiated,‍⁠ the way he‍‌ wielded his sword—everything⁠ was different.

Even‍⁠‍ so, Yuri knew.‍‍‌

The⁠ one who had⁠‌ left him with the words: “Isn’t⁠⁠ the moon beautiful?”⁠‌

“Laurent?”⁠

***⁠⁠‍

Cory⁠‍ was chopping wood‍‍ for a few⁠ coins.

In‌‌ the process, he‌‌ had to use‍⁠ magic to drive⁠ off a direwolf,⁠‍ yet even then,‍‍ the village chief⁠‍ and the villagers‌ showed him no‌‌‌ kindness.

“Here’s your pay.”

“It’s…‍⁠ not much…”

“When⁠ you used magic‌ earlier, you damaged the fence. I had to deduct‍‍ it, didn’t I?”⁠

“But⁠ thanks to me,‌⁠ no one was‌‌‌ hurt.”

“We⁠ could have hunted‍⁠ those wolves ourselves.”⁠

The⁠‌ chief looked at‍⁠‍ him coldly.

Cory‌ clearly remembered how‍‌ that man had trembled in fear‍⁠ when the direwolf appeared, but he‌ said nothing and simply accepted the‍ money.

“Yes.”⁠

At‍⁠ least it would‌‌ be enough to cover Laurent’s treatment‍⁠ and expenses.

On‌⁠ his way back,‍ he ran into the scar-faced mercenary⁠ again.

Every‌ time he appeared,‍‌‍ Cory noticed how‌ the villagers looked⁠‌ at him with⁠‌ caution.

It was curious—both of⁠‌ them were mercenaries,‌⁠ yet the attitude‌ toward that man and toward him‌‌‍ was completely different.‌⁠‍

“Hey,⁠‌ useless. Is it⁠‍ true you killed‍‌‌ the direwolf?”

“Yes.”‌

“You⁠‍ could’ve let me take down one‌ of them.”

The‍‌‌ mercenary chuckled mockingly.‌⁠

“If‍⁠ they’d seen blood⁠ and you finished it off, they’d‌ fear you a little. But since‌ you did it‍‌ all yourself from‍‍ the start, they⁠‍ don’t value it.”‌⁠‍

“But‌‍ someone might have‍ gotten hurt.”

“And‌ what of it?”‌‌

The⁠ mercenary looked down‍ at him.

“This‌ way, you got⁠‍ yourself out of‌‌ trouble.”

“Are‍⁠‍ you telling me‍ to let someone‍ die for my‍‌‌ own benefit?”

“You’re‌ still useless.”

“Stop‌ calling me that.”‌⁠

“No,‍ it suits you.”⁠

They‌‍ walked side by‌ side.

Cory didn’t know why this man followed⁠ him, but he‌ felt calmer than‌‍ when walking alone.⁠⁠ There were no children bothering him,‌⁠ no villagers whispering⁠‌‍ and looking down⁠ on him.

“Where⁠ are you going?”‍‍

“To⁠‍ the temple.”

“Ah,‍‍ I heard you’ve‍‍ got someone there.”‍⁠‍

“Why‍ are you following‌ me?”

“I‍‍ want to see⁠‍ him.”

“Huh?⁠ Don’t come.”

Still,⁠‌‍ the man followed.

Cory‍⁠‌ felt uneasy, but‍⁠ was pleased to‌⁠‌ see that the⁠ priest who always⁠ treated him with‌⁠ disdain averted his‍ eyes and said⁠‌‍ nothing when he‍⁠ saw the mercenary.⁠‍

Cory‍ checked on Laurent,‍‍⁠ who was still‍ lying down, and⁠ changed his bandages.‌‌‍ The mercenary showed⁠‍ no disgust at‍⁠ the sight.

“Why‌ are you taking‍ care of this⁠ guy?”

“Because⁠‌‍ he’s my friend.”‍

“Friend?”

The‌ mercenary smiled.

“So‍‍ people like you‍‌ call each other⁠ friends? I guess‍ that works.”

“…”‌‌

“Idiot.‌⁠ He’s already healed.”

“Huh?”‍⁠

“His body’s fine, he‌ just hasn’t woken‌⁠‍ up. He doesn’t‌ need to be⁠ hospitalized. That priest‍‌ is bleeding you‍ dry. You’re a pathetic fool.”

Cory⁠‍ looked at him‍‍ with suspicion.

“You⁠‌‌ don’t believe me?”‍‌‌

“How⁠‍ can I be sure?”

“All⁠‌ right, then let’s‍ make a deal.”⁠‍

“What‍⁠ kind of deal?”‌⁠

“I’ll‍ tell you a mix of herbs‍⁠ to wake him‌ up. In exchange,⁠‌ when he wakes,‌⁠‍ you’ll do something‌ I ask.”

Seeing⁠⁠ Cory hesitate, the‌ mercenary smiled, his‌‍ scar twisting.

“It‌⁠ won’t be anything you can’t do.‍ Why would I ask for something‍‌‌ like that?”

In‍ the end, Cory⁠⁠ agreed.

Just‍⁠ as he said, Laurent regained consciousness‌‍ and got up‍ immediately.

The⁠⁠ priest’s protests, insisting⁠ he still needed‍ bed rest, were silenced with a single swing of his sword.

After that, Cory tried to find the⁠ mercenary, but he had disappeared.

He⁠‌⁠ decided to hide‍⁠ from Laurent the⁠⁠ fact that Yuri‌‍ might come to‍⁠ this village, and‌ stayed there.

Time‍‌‌ passed.

And⁠ finally, Yuri appeared‍‍‌ in the village.⁠

Cory‍ wanted to go‌ see him right⁠ away.

But, for some reason,‌ he couldn’t.

“Greetings!⁠‍ I’ve heard so‍ much about you,⁠ it’s an honor.⁠‌ Hahaha…”

“Will‍ you be staying‍⁠‌ here tonight? Rest⁠ as much as‌‌ you like.”

“If you need anything, just say the‍ word.”

The‌‍ villagers who had⁠ once despised and‍‍ ridiculed him now‌ acted like good‌‌ people in front‌ of Yuri and⁠‌ his order of‌⁠‌ knights.

The⁠ village chief was‍ the most excessive.‍‌

“It’s‌‍ an honor to‍ meet you, Your‍‍ Highness. I can’t⁠‍ believe the prince⁠ of Briol would‍‌ come here in⁠ person. I hope‍ you’re not uncomfortable‍ in any way…”⁠‍‍

They‌⁠‍ had treated Cory⁠‌ in the worst‍ way, yet before⁠‌⁠ Yuri the chief⁠⁠ acted as if‍‌ he were a kind-hearted man.

And‍⁠‍ it wasn’t just‌‌ the adults.

Even⁠ the children who‌‌ used to harass⁠ and chase him‌ acted like harmless‌ little rascals before‌ Yuri.

They⁠‌ even seemed to enjoy themselves when‌ Jared lifted them⁠ up in his‍‌⁠ arms, as if⁠‍‌ they were innocent‌ children.

Yuri’s‍‌‍ and the chief’s‍ voices reached Cory.‍⁠

“The village is small⁠‍ but seems peaceful.‌ Surely that’s thanks to you.”

“Oh‌⁠ no, not at‍ all. I’m embarrassed.”‌⁠

Cory‌‌ stared at the⁠ scene, stunned.

Everyone‌‍ in the village⁠ seemed like completely different people.

They⁠⁠‌ were no longer the same ones‍ who had shown‍ him contempt and‍⁠ hatred.