Chapter 269: Resonance (1)

After annihilating the imperial army on the eastern front, Yuri gathered the prisoners and tied them up.

Hernando, Maryrose, and the Mage Corps, summoned from the rear, attempted to extract the trace of black magic energy dwelling in the prisoners’ marrow, but it was not easy.

At that moment, an idea occurred to Yuri.

“What if we use this?”

“What is that?”

“It’s a tool for expelling evil energies. It’s called Bokmajubal.”

“Huh?”

It was an artifact of unknown origin that Yuri had obtained from some Eastern merchants.

It consisted of a metal bowl and a wooden mallet. When the mallet was rubbed against the rim, it produced a strange sound that had the effect of calming the spirit. In addition, it was said to drive away impurity.

Hernando mocked Yuri.

“So His Majesty also believes in those things. We call that pseudo-magic.”

“Pseudo-magic?”

“It has no real basis, but they tricked Your Majesty into believing it had magical properties. Those merchants swindled you good, hahahaha…”

Yuri replied.

“What are you talking about? I’ve seen it work.”

“Sure, sure… That’s called the placebo effect. It’s not real magic, but due to psychological factors one believes it really works. How naïve our lord is.”

At Hernando’s continued mockery, Yuri’s gaze turned cold.

Jared nudged Hernando.

“Sir Hernando, it seems you’ve lost your survival instinct.”

“Ah, yes. After this great victory I got carried away. But come on, are you going to tell me rubbing that bowl will dispel black magic energy? Hahahaha…”

Yuri restrained himself. If he reacted violently to such a cheap taunt, it would be like admitting Hernando was right.

“Come. I’ll show you in person.”

Yuri stood before the group of prisoners that had been giving Hernando a headache.

They sat with expressionless faces, showing none of the desperation normally seen in captives.

Hernando commented.

“With those faces they look like they’re wearing masks. We’ve managed to purify some, but with little efficiency. Also, many lose almost all their memories. Black magic is incredibly persistent.”

“Darkness will never be able to overcome light. Remember that, Hernando.”

“Huh?”

Yuri’s hand moved.

Unlike before, after studying the technique to play the Bokmajubal, now he did it without clumsiness. With his eyes closed, he moved his hands as if caressing the bowl, with an almost sensual touch.

The mallet slid along the rim as if licking it.

Uuuuuuuung…

A faint yet clearly defined vibration spread out.

Hernando’s eyes widened. He knew it as soon as he heard it.
It was different.

“Huh…?”

The others present also changed their expressions and looked at Yuri.

They were all masters, whether in swordsmanship or magic, experts in handling mana.

They realized that Yuri was applying a level of technique as precise as in swordplay, and that this finesse was amplifying the Bokmajubal’s resonance.

One wave overlapped another, and on top of that, yet another.

Uuuuuuuuuung…

The air rippled, and everyone’s heads seemed to sway.

At first, those listening felt uneasy as they noticed the vibration penetrating without resistance into their deepest selves.

But little by little, the resonance caressed their entire being, undoing emotional knots they hadn’t even known they had.

The negative energy began to dissipate.

Hernando, absorbed in the performance, looked at the prisoners. Something was crossing their faces.

An emotion.

Surprised by the unexpected effectiveness of the Bokmajubal, Hernando was speechless, and at that moment Yuri recited:

“The Heart Sutra of the Perfection of Wisdom — when the Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara was practicing deeply the perfection of wisdom, he contemplated that the five aggregates are empty, and thus overcame all suffering. Oh, Shariputra! Form is no different from emptiness, emptiness is no different from form; form is, in itself, emptiness, and emptiness, in itself, is form…”

It was an Eastern chant he had heard from a ronin.

The man had told him that if he recited it while playing the Bokmajubal, the effect would be multiplied, and had given him the phonetic transcription.

Yuri read it while playing even more majestically. The sound filled the entire area.

The resonance grew more and more, rising as if preparing to leap toward a peak.

And then, Yuri struck the bowl’s resonance point.

Deeeeeeng.

It was neither too strong nor too weak—the exact force to make the center vibrate.

The Bokmajubal trembled as if there were an earthquake, producing a pure sound that seemed to break and scatter tribulations.

Even Hernando had to admit it.

It was real.

“It’s… it’s real.”

Yuri, with a gentle smile and a compassionate face, nodded.

“That’s right.”

“Ah…”

Of course, the Bokmajubal did not completely remove black magic. But its vibration noticeably neutralized it.

While savoring the echo, Yuri commented.

“The sages of the East created a truly magnificent tool.”

“No way…”

“We must use the Bokmajubal against the Empire.”

Yuri placed a hand on Hernando’s shoulder and made him look at the prisoners.

“Look at them.”

It wasn’t that the situation had completely changed, but the effect was there.

The proof was right before their eyes.

One of the prisoners, still with a vacant expression, was crying.

“They can also be considered victims of black magic.”

“Yes.”

“Hernando, make good use of it.”

“Understood.”

Yuri handed him the Bokmajubal and turned around.

“Where are you going, Your Majesty?”

“I’m going to interrogate.”

“Ah, yes.”

Yuri had an unresolved matter.

He headed to a tent covered with several layers of cloth, guarded by several knights of the Order of Vengeance.

After receiving the guards’ salute, he went inside.

Asana was tied up.

Yuri took a chair, turned it around, and sat astride it, resting his chin on the backrest as he looked at her.

“Hmm…”

She was asleep, her head completely drooped forward, but soon she sensed Yuri’s presence and slowly lifted her head.

Asana looked at him in silence for a moment before speaking.

“Aren’t you going to say anything?”

“I’m at a loss for words.”

At that, she gave a faint smile.

“Well, actually it’s not necessary for Your Majesty to speak. I’m the one who should speak.”

“And what are you going to say?”

“An apology.”

“I don’t know…”

Yuri shrugged.

“I don’t think there’s any need.”

“Won’t you accept it?”

“Try.”

Asana was still under the influence of black magic. But in her case, it wasn’t like with the other imperial soldiers, whose reason was controlled or whose emotions were erased.

In her case, they had only stimulated the negative emotions she already harbored in her heart.

“Sorry for betraying you.”

Asana spoke.

Normally, she barely showed any expression, but that day she kept a faint smile on her face.

“But I had no other choice. I met him.”

“Who?”

“Lord Cedric.”

“Ah, of course.”

“He showed me the power of black magic. Your Majesty, we cannot win. Even if you fight with all your strength, in the end, the Empire will prevail.”

Yuri could imagine how the Empire had recruited her.

Cedric must have used black magic to crush her will and plant despair in her, striking at the weak points in her heart.

It was just as he had anticipated.

Yuri nodded.

“I see.”

“To stop Lord Cedric, it would take a being like a god. But such a thing doesn’t exist. That’s why I betrayed you. I’m sorry.”

“No.”

When Asana finished speaking, it was Yuri who uttered words of apology.

“I’m the one who’s sorry, Asana.”

She looked at him, not understanding.

“Forgive me, Asana.”

“Why?”

“Because I used you.”

“If you mean investigating the imperial palace, I did that of my own will. You don’t have to apologize.”

“That’s not what I mean.”

Yuri pulled the chair a little closer to Asana and, lowering his voice, whispered.

“Asana, do you know how I found out you had betrayed me?”

“From the letter you received…”

“I already told you it didn’t say anything important.”

Yuri was telling the truth.

The letter he received right when Asana returned contained nothing significant, just a routine report on the situation in Briol.

His conclusion that she had betrayed him was his own judgment.

“Then how did you know?”

“Just by looking at you. Especially your eyes.”

Asana tilted her head, not understanding.

“You always had a look of nostalgia or regret. But the last time we met, it wasn’t like that. Even though you tried to hide it, you seemed happy. To me, it was clear you were excited.”

“And what does that have to do with anything?”

“That I caused it on purpose.”

“What?”

Yuri gave a bitter smile. And then he confessed what he had kept hidden.

“I made you fall in love with me.”

Asana’s eyes widened.

“What do you mean?”

“Asana, you were a very talented assassin. To be able to use your skills, and to easily notice if you betrayed me, I deliberately won your favor. It wasn’t difficult. I knew that, raised in an order of assassins, you were actually starved for affection. So I was careful with how I treated you.”

“…”

“Did you know from the start?”

“Of course. For quite some time.”

“…”

“But since we were never going to be together, you always had that melancholic look. And yet, the last time we met you seemed happy. I suppose Cedric made you a promise.”

Yuri touched his chin.

“If you betrayed me and I was captured, he would give me to you, right?”

“…”

“I always thought this moment might come. So, Asana, you have nothing to apologize for. I’m the one who used you from the start.”

Having said that, Yuri stood up.

Although there was some exaggeration in his words, most of it was true.

After earning her trust, Yuri had bound Asana to him with full awareness of her feelings, without feeling the slightest guilt.

After all, he had returned to the past to win the war against the Empire, and if using someone else’s emotions could help him, he would accept it without hesitation.

His eyes glimmered.

Asana looked at him, unable to say anything, her lips slightly parted.

“Asana, so the apology is mine to make.”

“I… I…”

“Your role ends here.”

Yuri straightened up.

“When the war is over, then I’ll accept a slap or a stab. But not yet. So until then, rest. Once you’re free from the black magic, you’ll be fine.”

Asana called out to him, but he ignored her and left the tent.

The dry wind rushed in.

Yuri scratched his head.

“Hmm…”

All around stretched the landscape devastated by war.

He had reclaimed the eastern front and annihilated much of the imperial army. His counterintelligence operation using Asana had been a success; it was time to advance into the Empire in earnest.

He had no time to worry about trivial matters.

“Phew…”

Yuri let out a long sigh.

Then, suddenly, someone spoke behind him.

“That when the war is over you’ll accept a slap or a stab?”

Turning, he saw Laurent.

He had been healed by Inariel and had regained his handsome face from before, though his expression remained cold and cynical.

“Were you listening?”

“By chance. I was passing by and overheard.”

“Oh, really?”

“…”

Laurent stared at him intently before twisting a smile.

“Save one for me too. And just so you know, I wouldn’t stop at a slap.”

“Huh?”

“Keep that in mind.”

And, turning away, Laurent walked off.

Yuri watched him go and couldn’t help but smile.