Chapter 26: Salvation (1)

When night fell, Yuri returned to the Briol army’s tents outside the city walls.

Raymond was sitting in front of the campfire, poking at the embers with a stick.

“You’re back early.”

“I saw enough.”

“And I bet you earned enough too.”

“The rumor’s already going around?”

“Hahaha…”

Yuri sat across from him. Each time the flames flickered, the wrinkles on Raymond’s face became more pronounced.

Even counting past lives, he was older than Yuri. That meant experience.

Yuri picked up some dry twigs from the ground and tossed them into the fire.

Raymond spoke first.

“I heard you ran into Fenek.”

“Fenek?”

“The Holy Kingdom’s knight.”

“That’s his name? I didn’t know.”

“He’s a skilled knight.”

“Didn’t seem like it.”

“Skill isn’t always shown in personality. He’s arrogant, but capable. The problem is, that skill is limited to swordsmanship.”

“Whatever. Laurent’s better.”

Raymond let out a hearty laugh.

“Well, Briol’s knights are the exception, of course. Speaking generally.”

There was pride in his voice. Yuri laughed too.

“Wouldn’t it be better to sleep in Gid?”

“I’m fine.”

Yuri glanced over his shoulder. There was a makeshift tent set up with tarps.

“That’s enough for me.”

“Very humble.”

“On the battlefield, that’s a luxury.”

When he roamed as a mercenary, sleeping on the ground was the norm. Stones for pillows, the sky for a roof, and his comrades’ groans for a lullaby.

“That’s right. This is a battlefield.”

Raymond caressed the sword by his side.

“The war will begin soon. Aren’t you afraid, Prince?”

“Yes, I’m afraid.”

Yuri answered honestly. No human could feel nothing when facing a blade brimming with murderous intent. That hadn’t changed from his past life to this one.

“But there’s something bigger than that fear.”

Raymond’s eyes widened, then he nodded.

“A great answer. You always manage to surprise me.”

“Don’t start with that just yet. There are many more surprises to come.”

“I look forward to them.”

Raymond smiled, the corners of his eyes creasing.

Yuri noticed he had grown quite comfortable with him. He wondered if Raymond had children.

“The moon is beautiful. Even if you’re not of age yet, care for a drink?”

“You’ve got liquor?”

“I brought a few bottles just in case.”

“You’re always prepared.”

“It’s good wine.”

“My favorite.”

“I’ll fetch it right away.”

Just as Raymond was standing, the gates of Gid’s castle opened, and someone on horseback galloped straight toward the camp.

The rider kicked up a cloud of dust and quickly dismounted in front of them.

“Prince, forgive the intrusion.”

It was a messenger sent by the local lord.

“It’s fine. What’s going on?”

“The lord sent me with news. The Holy Kingdom’s main army was attacked by orcs.”

Yuri clicked his tongue. What he’d feared had just happened. Once you crossed the border, you couldn’t afford to let your guard down.

Raymond, who was beside him, asked:

“But it wasn’t someone from the Holy Kingdom who came. It was you.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“The lord of Gid sent you personally?”

“He did.”

The situation was clear.

Raymond gave a bitter smile.

“They’re full of pride.”

“Seems that way.”

The Holy Kingdom wanted to handle the matter on its own, but the feudal lord, concerned, sent a messenger.

It wasn’t something he was supposed to get involved in. It could even prompt an official complaint from the Holy Kingdom later. Still, the lord decided to inform Briol.

Yuri felt sympathy for him.

“Thank the lord for me.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Raymond.”

“Yes?”

“Before we drink that wine, how about a walk?”

Raymond smiled like a young man.

“Gladly.”

“They might treat us like intruders.”

“I’m used to it. Even in my own domain, I was.”

“After this war, leave that crap behind.”

“Hahaha…”

Yuri asked the messenger:

“What’s your name?”

“Roy.”

“Roy, can I ask you a favor?”

“Of course!”

“Go back to Gid and find the knights of Briol. They’re probably at the tavern. Tell them to come immediately — I’ll accept whoever gets here first.”

“Understood.”

“No need for formalities, just go now.”

“Yes!”

Roy mounted his horse at once and galloped off.

The dust he kicked up drifted off toward Gid.

***

As soon as word spread that the main army had been attacked, Sybilla donned her armor.

Fenek and the holy knights, who had been drinking, returned hastily.

Fenek pressed the messenger.

“What’s the situation?”

“I don’t know. When I escaped, they were still fighting.”

The messenger’s clothes were stained with blood.

He said he barely managed to shake off the orcs chasing him.

“How many were there?”

“Not many, but they were all monsters…”

“As expected.”

Ordinary soldiers also learn mana sword techniques, but at a basic level. Orcs, on the other hand, are born with superhuman strength. Unless one is at a knight’s level, it’s impossible to face one in direct combat.

Sybilla stepped in.

“We must depart before there are more casualties.”

“Understood.”

Fenek nodded.

They couldn’t be defeated before even joining the allied forces. The honor of the Holy Kingdom was on the line. They quickly prepared and mounted their horses.

The feudal lord arrived in a hurry upon hearing the news.

“You’re leaving immediately, Your Highness?”

“That’s right.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to ask for help from Briol’s army…?”

Fenek, standing behind her, protested.

“What are you saying? The Holy Kingdom handles its own matters. Do you think we’d lose to orcs?”

“That’s not it. I just want to minimize the casualties…”

“If we cooperate half-heartedly, they’ll only get in our way. If they’re not on our level, they’ll just slow us down.”

“Ah…”

Fenek was still annoyed about what had happened with Briol earlier. He was also overly confident in his own skills. He believed they could resolve this on their own.

Sybilla agreed with him.

“Don’t worry, my lord. Everything will be fine.”

“I hope so… still…”

Concern lingered on the lord’s face. Sybilla deliberately averted her gaze. She didn’t want to appear weak by asking another country for help even before joining the alliance.

With renewed resolve, she mounted her horse.

“We are the Holy Kingdom’s sacred knights.”

She grasped the sacred object hanging from her neck and activated a divine spell.

“Lord, your servant rides into battle. I ask you to guide my back.”

A white light burst from Sybilla’s body.

The light enveloped her and her horse, then spread outward. Thanks to the blessing, their speed and energy increased.

She grabbed the reins and shouted boldly:

“Let’s ride!”

Leading the charge, Sybilla galloped out through the castle gate with the Holy Kingdom knights.

Though startled, the townsfolk quickly moved aside. They rode out of Gid.

Suddenly, Sybilla saw Briol’s camp set up outside the walls. She recalled the face of Yuri Briol, who had warned about the threat of a surprise attack. In the end, his judgment was correct.

Sybilla murmured,

“Maybe we shouldn’t have gone ahead.”

Originally, the entire army was supposed to arrive at Gid by tomorrow morning. But Fenek had insisted on coming early to meet the lord, and she had agreed without thinking much.

She never imagined something like this would happen overnight. She regretted her hasty decision.

But there was no time for regrets. Now, she had to focus on what was in front of her.

Sybilla began calculating how the battle would unfold.

“Fenek.”

“Yes.”

“According to the messenger, an orc leader is commanding the others. Attack him as soon as we reach the field.”

“Understood.”

Fenek nodded.

“Shall we attack together?”

“Yes.”

He didn’t like following her orders, but he wasn’t foolish enough to cause conflict in this situation.

Fenek shouted to the knights riding behind him.

“As soon as we see them, charge without hesitation! You’ll break the line, and the princess and I will strike the enemy leader!”

“Yes, sir!”

As they rode, they reorganized their formation.

The holy knights advanced to prepare for the impact, while Sybilla and Fenek followed behind.

The Holy Kingdom’s main army wasn’t far off.

“There.”

The lead knight spoke.

“I can see them.”

In the distance, the Holy Kingdom’s banners waved.

Sybilla felt a sense of relief. The flags hadn’t fallen. That meant they hadn’t been wiped out yet.

“And the orcs?”

The lead knight looked through a spyglass.

“They’re engaged in battle!”

“And the troops?”

“They’re holding formation!”

The front line gradually came into view. The battle was intense.

Each time the orcs swung their massive weapons, the soldiers were pushed back.

The few knights still fighting gave it their all, but each one was overwhelmed by two or more orcs. Human and orc bodies lay scattered across the field.

Sybilla clenched her teeth.

She had never fought an orc before. She hadn’t even seen one in person. But there was no time to analyze.

She instantly tensed her entire body.

White mana burst from her. She and her horse were bathed in light.

This was the Holy Kingdom’s exclusive mounted charge technique — rider and mount becoming one in the charge.

“Increase speed!”

With the arrival of the holy knights, the Holy Kingdom’s soldiers regained their morale.

“Reinforcements!”

“The knights’ order has returned!”

But it didn’t last long.

As she charged toward the orcs, Sybilla felt her body tilt.

“Ah…?”

She didn’t feel the impact of the ground.

She realized something was wrong, but it was already too late. The knights in front were falling one after another. It was a trap.

She plunged directly into the pit. Horses and people, armor crashing into armor, all tangled together.

Sybilla hit her head against another knight’s armor. For a moment, her mind went blank. Her vision blurred, and a buzzing filled her ears.

She couldn’t stay upright.

“This can’t be…”

She forced herself to stay conscious.

“Everyone, come to your senses!”

Even her own voice sounded distant.

She leaned on her sword to stand up.

“It’s a trap!”

The orcs had dug a wide pit. But up until the moment they fell, it hadn’t looked like a trap at all.

It was obvious something else was at play.

“An orc shaman…”

She murmured the name. She had heard that among orcs, there were beings similar to sorcerers. Ones who could drive their own kind into frenzy or confuse the enemy’s vision.

They’d fallen far too easily.

Sybilla kicked a knight writhing at her feet.

“Get up, now!”

Fenek also stood up behind her. He encouraged those around him. The knights began to regain their senses.

Most of the horses had broken legs.

“Get out of here immediately!”

Although the pit was deeper than expected, it wasn’t impossible to climb out of.

But suddenly, Sybilla noticed a strange smell. The ground was slick and wet.

“It’s oil.”

She looked up.

Above the pit, an orc held a torch. On its repulsive face was something resembling a mocking smile.

Something was wrong. As she saw the torch being thrown, Sybilla felt her heart sink.

A thousand thoughts raced through her mind.

Should she slash it? That would scatter sparks. Should she catch it? She couldn’t jump in her current state.

She had never imagined the orcs capable of preparing such an elaborate trap and luring them into it. One misstep. The price was death.

She shut her eyes tightly. Suddenly, a childhood memory flashed in her mind.

The day she first manifested her divine power, everyone praised her. But when she defeated her brother in a sword match, those admiring eyes turned hostile.

Ever since her mother died, she had always been alone in the palace. The so-called representatives of God she’d met in the Holy Kingdom were nothing like the God they claimed to serve.

So, does paradise even exist? When that torch falls, will her soul be reduced to ashes with her body?

I want to live.

That was the only thought that remained.

An instant stretched into eternity.

“Sybilla.”

At last, a voice called out to her.

“Open your eyes.”

Sybilla lifted her eyelids.

“Ah…”

It was like magic. She’d shut her eyes for just a moment — and when she opened them, everything had changed.

Instead of a falling torch, the body of a decapitated orc was crashing into the pit.

Instead of the mocking orc, a young man stood above them holding a torch.

The orc’s body hit the bottom. Blood from its severed neck splashed onto the oil. No one said a word.

It was the third prince of Briol.

Yuri Briol looked down at them with a smile.

“What funny faces they have.”