Rise of the Fallen Kingdom’s Third Prince — Chapter 326: Extra. The Great Escape of Yuri! (2)

Chapter 326: Extra. The Great Escape of Yuri! (2)

“How⁠ did you know⁠⁠ I’d come to⁠‌ see Cory? Even‍ Cory himself didn’t⁠ know.”

“Isn’t‌ it obvious?”

Maryrose,‌‍ a woman with⁠ red hair and‍⁠‌ captivating beauty, ran‍⁠ a hand through⁠ her hair and‌‍ smiled.

“Who‍‍ else would you⁠ come to see?”⁠

“No way. I’ve got‍ friends all over‍‌ the continent!”

“Yes,‍‍ but first you’d‌ convince Sir Laurent,‍ and then you’d‌ come to see‌ Cory.”

“You’ve got me figured‌⁠ out…”

“Isn’t that only natural⁠ between us?”

Maryrose‍⁠ stepped closer and‌ wrapped an arm‌ around Yuri’s neck.⁠⁠ Jared and Laurent,⁠ who were standing⁠ nearby, instinctively stepped‌ back.

“So,‍ darling, how long‍‌ do you plan‍ on taking to‌‍ come back after‍ you’re done having‌‌ fun?”

“N-no…‌‍ it’s not like‍‍ I’m going to⁠⁠ have fun, I already left a note saying it⁠‌⁠ was something important.”⁠

“In that case…”

Maryrose‍ stood on tiptoe,‍‍‍ gave him a kiss, and smiled⁠ sweetly.

“Can‌‌‌ I come with you for this⁠‌⁠ important thing?”

“O-of⁠‍ course.”

And so, with Maryrose included, there were‌⁠‍ now four of⁠ them heading to‍ visit Cory.

“Now‌⁠ that I see it, this place‌‍ is quite large.”‍

“That’s‌ because Cory goes⁠ big when it’s‍ for a good‌ cause. And to⁠‌ think there were‌⁠ people who once‌ called him a traitor…”

“…”‍⁠⁠

Cory‌‌ was running the‍‍ “House of Love,”⁠ a place for⁠‌‍ orphans and people‍‌‌ with disabilities.

With⁠⁠‌ his sacred language‌‌ of affection, an⁠‌ unprecedented gift that⁠‍ had saved the⁠ continent, Cory had⁠‍ earned the reputation‍‌‍ of a saint.‍⁠

On‍‌ top of that,⁠ his essay book⁠⁠ Approved as Human⁠‍ had moved thousands‍ of readers and‌‍ become a bestseller.‌‌⁠

It‌ was said that‍ on the day it was published,⁠‌ sobs could be‌ heard in the‍ streets of many‍⁠ cities.

When‍‌‍ he opened this⁠ center, donations began⁠ pouring in from⁠ everywhere, and even‌‍‍ the temple allocated‍⁠‍ a special budget⁠‍ to support him.⁠

Thanks‍ to that, the‍ “House of Love”⁠‌ grew larger and⁠ larger. Now, Cory‌ was a symbol‍⁠ of human compassion.‌

“Brothers‌⁠‍ and sisters, what‌ brings you here today?”

As⁠ soon as they‍ reached the entrance,‍ a woman dressed⁠ in white greeted‌ them. Although the‍ institution wasn’t directly⁠ affiliated with the‌⁠⁠ temple, many volunteers were believers, and⁠ it showed in‍ their way of‍ speaking and acting.‌

“We’ve‌ come to see‌ Cory.”

“Sir‌ Cory is currently⁠ in sacred word⁠ training…”

“We’ll‌ wait. If you‍‌‌ tell him Yuri‍ Briol has come,‍ he’ll come out.”⁠‌

“Huh?”⁠‌

The‍ woman instantly recognized‍ him, surprised, and‌‍ let the group⁠ through.

The‍ friendship between Yuri⁠⁠ Briol, who had‌ destroyed demons with his sword, and‌ Cory, who had‍ driven out darkness⁠‌ with light, was‌ well known.

“P-please, come in!”

The⁠⁠ moment they entered‍ the “House of‌‍ Love,” a pleasant sensation wrapped around‌‌ them completely.

The‍‍ whole place was‌‌ under the power‍⁠ of the Sacred‍ Word of Affection, which made anyone feel uplifted, recover‍⁠ faster, and experience⁠ other positive effects.‌

Thanks‌‌‍ to that, the‍ sick improved and⁠‌ the children grew‍‍ up healthy and‌ happy.

“Everything‍‌ here is just‌ like before.”

“It’s‍ thanks to Sir⁠‍ Cory’s constant effort.”‍‌‌

“No‍⁠⁠ problems, right?”

“No,⁠‍ none.”

“And⁠⁠ the budget is‌ enough?”

“Well…‌ I’m not entirely⁠‍ sure…”

Further‌ in, as they passed through a gate, they saw‌ children playing on⁠ the grass, watched‌ over by volunteers⁠‍‌ in white.

In⁠‌ another area, some⁠⁠ injured people were‍‍ practicing rehabilitation exercises,⁠‍ repeating movements slowly.

“Do‌ you want me‍⁠ to take you‍⁠ inside?”

“No,⁠ it’s fine. We’ll‍‍ wait here.”

“All‌ right. I’ll go‌ inform Sir Cory.”‌‍⁠

As‌ they walked through‌‌⁠ the grass, Yuri‌⁠ and the others‍⁠ took in what‍‌ Cory had accomplished.‍

“The⁠ war left many‌ orphans, but thanks‍‍⁠ to Cory, most of them were‍‌ taken in. And not just here—there⁠ are many other‌ places inspired by⁠ him.”

In‌ one corner there‌ was a large‍‍⁠ commemorative stone, engraved‌ with the names‌‍ of organizations that‍ shared Cory’s vision⁠⁠⁠ and the affiliated⁠⁠ centers that had‌ opened across the‍ continent.

Among‌‍ them, Yuri recognized⁠‍‍ several familiar names.

Maryrose⁠⁠ ran her fingers‌ over one inscription.⁠

“Oh, here’s the Alliance‌‍ Comrades Association.”

“Yes.‌ They’ve now become⁠‌ a volunteer organization.⁠‍ They say ‘once‌ a member of⁠‍ the Alliance, always‌ a member of‌‍ the Alliance.’”

The‍‍ Association, led by‌‌⁠ Raymond, now carried out all sorts‍‌ of social activities.‍‍

Just‍ then, a group⁠ of children running through the grass‍ bumped into Maryrose.‍

A small girl tripped⁠ and fell at‍ her feet. Even‌ though her knee⁠‍ was bleeding, she clenched her teeth‍⁠ to keep from‍‌ crying.

“Oh…”⁠‍

Maryrose‍ bent down and‍ patted her head.‌‍‍

“Doesn’t‌⁠ it hurt?”

“I’m fine.”

“Come⁠ here.”

She‌ used magic to‌‍‌ heal the wound.‍⁠⁠

In seconds, the bleeding⁠ stopped and the⁠ skin closed, leaving⁠⁠ the knee good‍‌ as new.

“Wow!‍ Are you a mage?”

“That’s‍ right. Isn’t it‍ amazing?”

“Wow…‍ wow…”

The⁠ girl touched her‌‌ knee in awe.‍

“How‌ can I be a mage?”

“You‍‌ have to study,‌ like I did.”‍⁠

“Study?”⁠

The⁠⁠‌ girl shook her‌ head vigorously.

“I‍⁠ don’t want to!”‍

With‍‍ that, she turned‍‍ and ran back⁠⁠ to her friends.⁠

Jared⁠‍‌ laughed.

“That’s‌‌⁠ a nice scene.”‍

“Hmm…”⁠‍

“Your‌⁠ Majesty?”

“Hm?”‍⁠‍

“What‌ are you thinking‍ about?”

“Nothing.”‍

Yuri‌ shrugged. Seeing Maryrose⁠‌‍ with the little‌ girl made him imagine what it⁠ would be like‌‌ if they had‍⁠⁠ a child together.‌

“Hmm…”‌‌

While‍ she laughed at‍ the sight of‍ the children running,⁠ Laurent, who was⁠ watching Yuri, said:‌⁠

“It’s about time, don’t‌‍ you think?”

“Huh?”‍‌

“If⁠ you want, I can be the‍ godfather.”

“I‍ haven’t said anything—who‌‍‍ gave you permission?”‍‍⁠

Jared⁠‌‍ cut in.

“Your‍ Majesty, I’ll join‌‌ too.”

“You‌‌‌ bastards…”

Joking‌‌ back and forth,‌‌ they heard a familiar voice.

“Oh,‌⁠⁠ oh, you’ve come!”‍

Cory,‌‌ short in stature‍ and walking with⁠ a slight limp,‌ came hurrying over.⁠‌⁠

“Long‍ time no see,‍‍‍ Cory!”

“Yes!⁠‌ Long time no‌‍ see, Your Majesty, Sir Jared, Sir‌ Laurent! And Lady⁠‌ Maryrose!”

Overjoyed,⁠‌ he welcomed them,‌ and they all‍ sat down at⁠ a tea table⁠ in the garden.⁠

“Shall‍‍ I bring you‍‍ something to eat?”⁠

“No‍‍ need. That’s for‍‌ the children, and‍ I’m sure the‍‍ budget’s tight…”

“No, we have plenty⁠⁠‍ of money. Hehehe…”‍

“That⁠⁠ donation money is⁠ for the center,⁠ you can’t just⁠ spend it like⁠‌⁠ that…”

“It’s⁠‍ not donation money, it’s mine.”

“Your‌‍‌ book still sells?”‍

“It⁠‍ was recently made‌‍‌ into a play,⁠ and I made‍‌⁠ a lot from the royalties. Hehehe…”⁠

“A…‌ a play?”

The‍ success of Approved‌ as Human was⁠ overwhelming.

“So,‍⁠⁠ what brings you‍ here?”

“Cory,‌‍ you wound me.‍⁠ Do we need‌⁠ a reason to⁠ see each other?”‌

“No, but it seems⁠ like you were⁠ running away from‍‍ something…”

“What?”‍‌

Maryrose let out a laugh.

“Cory,‍ you nailed it!”‌

“Well, I already know⁠⁠‌ the gentleman.”

“This man wants to use you as‌‌ an excuse,” Maryrose‍ said, and she‍‌ told him what‌ had happened at⁠‌ the palace: that‌ Yuri, overwhelmed by⁠‍⁠ work, had left‍⁠‍ a vague note‍ saying he had⁠ something important to⁠⁠⁠ do and had‌‌⁠ run away.

Yuri‍ lowered his head,⁠⁠ but Cory defended‍⁠ him.

“O-of‌⁠ course coming here is important. For‍ the imperial consort⁠‍⁠ to visit a charitable center is⁠‍ very valuable. Not just for the‍ Empire, but for‌ the whole continent.‌ It will be‌‍ an example for‌⁠ everyone and increase interest in social‍‌‍ welfare.”

“Cory,‍ you don’t have‌‌⁠ to sugarcoat it‍⁠ so much.”

“I’m‌ not sugarcoating it,‌ I mean it from the heart.”‌‍

“Ugh…”

Moved,⁠ Yuri shook his⁠‌‌ hand.

Maryrose‌‌ crossed her arms.⁠⁠

“All‌ right, let’s say‌ it’s something important.”⁠

“Don’t say it like‌ it’s a favor—it‍ really is.”

“Then‌⁠ do something.”

“Huh?”⁠‍‌

“Do⁠‍ something that justifies‌‌ abandoning state work.”⁠

“Hmm…”‌‍‍

Yuri‌ knew she was right. For the‍ visit to the‍‌ “House of Love”‍‌ to truly be⁠ meaningful, it wasn’t‍ enough to just‌‌ show up. He⁠‌⁠ had to do‍ something.

“Of‍ course!”

Yuri‌ jumped to his feet.

“I‍ came here to⁠ recognize the efforts‍ of our Cory‌‍ and the volunteers,‍ and to support‍ the most vulnerable‍ in society.”

“Really?”

“Come‌ on, Laurent, Jared.⁠⁠ Follow me.”

Laurent⁠‍ and Jared sighed‍ and reluctantly stood⁠ up.

“Watch‌⁠ closely. You’re about to see what⁠⁠ I’m going to‌⁠ do here!”

Soon⁠ after, Yuri gathered‌⁠ the children and⁠‌‌ began performing tricks.‌‌

He⁠‌‍ juggled four gleaming‍ daggers, while Jared,‌‍ at his side,⁠ spun plates balanced‍ on the tips⁠ of two swords,⁠ one in each⁠ hand.

The‍‌ reaction was explosive—the‌⁠ children clapped and‌ shouted.

Yuri decided to level‌ it up.

“Hey,‌⁠⁠ bring me a harmonica!”

And⁠ so, while still‌‍‌ juggling, he started‌⁠ playing the harmonica.⁠⁠

Pee-ree-ree-ree,‍‍ pee-ree-ree-ree.

“Waaaaaah!”⁠‍

The⁠ children’s eyes were fixed on him,⁠‌‌ prompting Jared to⁠‍‍ protest.

“Using‌‍ tricks—is that fair‍‍ play?”

“If⁠ it bothers you,⁠⁠⁠ pee-ree-ree-ree, you play‌‌ too, pee-ree-ree-ree.”

“I⁠‍ don’t know how‍‍ to play the⁠‍‍ harmonica!”

“Then‌‍⁠ nothing can be‍ done, pee-ree-ree~.”

“Damn it…! Bring me another sword to⁠‌‍ balance on my‌‍ forehead!”

Now‌‌ Jared was spinning another plate, balanced‍‍ on a sword‍ he held with⁠⁠ his forehead. With‌ three plates spinning in total, his‌ comical appearance had the children bursting⁠‌ with laughter.

Maryrose,⁠‌‍ watching with a hand on her⁠⁠ forehead, eventually smiled.‌‍

“Really…”‍‍‌

Cory,‍‍ beside her, also‍‌ laughed.

“His⁠ Highness has a gift for attracting‌ people anywhere.”

“I‌ didn’t expect it‌ to be in‌ this way.”

“Will‌ Sir Laurent do⁠⁠‍ something too…?”

“‘Darkened Laurent’?”

Since his personality had‌ turned more surly, those who had‌ known him before had started calling‌ him that, though‍‍ he had no‍ idea.

Finally,‍ Laurent appeared.

Unlike⁠⁠ Yuri and Jared,‍ he didn’t stoop⁠ to clowning around.‌‌

A volunteer at his‌ side announced.

“Sir‌‌ Laurent will perform‍ a demonstration of cutting tomatoes blindfolded.⁠ One by one,‌ come and throw‌ him a tomato!”⁠

Laurent covered his eyes‌ with a thick⁠ cloth and, with a hand gesture,‍‌ invited them to‍⁠ throw.

The children, one by‍‌ one, took tomatoes‍‍ from a sack‌ and threw them.‍‌ He sliced them‌‌ cleanly in two⁠⁠‍ with ghostly precision.‍

Since⁠‍ this wasn’t just⁠⁠ a show to‌ watch but one‍ they could participate‌⁠ in, the children’s‌‌ attention shifted entirely‍⁠ to Laurent. Soon,‍‌ they formed a line to throw.⁠‍

“Here‍‍ you go!”

No⁠ matter the speed,⁠ Laurent cut them⁠ all cleanly, then⁠‍ handed out the‍‌⁠ halves to the‍‍‍ children.

“…”‍

Yuri and Jared, now‌ ignored, stopped their tricks.

“What⁠‍ an empty feeling…”⁠

“Indeed.”‌

“Jared.”‍‍‍

“Yes.”‌

“You weren’t planning on just standing there,‍‍ were you?”

“Of⁠‌‌ course not.”

The⁠ two, jealous of‍ Laurent’s popularity, came⁠ up with a plan to take‌ him down.

They⁠ mingled among the‌‌ children and egged‍ them on.

“Understood?”‍

“Yes!”⁠⁠

“Do‌‌⁠ exactly what I told you.”

They⁠‌ moved aside the‌ volunteer keeping order.⁠

“Uh,‍ well… I don’t⁠ know if…”

“It’s‍⁠ fine, I’ll take‍⁠ responsibility.”

Laurent⁠ kept slicing tomatoes, but there was no more order:⁠‍ the children surrounded‌ him, each with‌‌ tomatoes in hand.‌

He‍‌‌ sensed something strange,‍⁠ but Yuri distracted‌ him so he‍‍⁠ wouldn’t spot the⁠⁠ problem.

At‌ that moment—

“Now!”⁠⁠‍

Dozens of tomatoes flew‌ from all directions.‍ Each child threw⁠ with different force‍⁠ and speed.

“Tsk!”‍

But‍‌‍ Laurent was Laurent‍ Flandre—before Yuri appeared,‍ he had been considered Briol’s greatest‍‍ sword genius, and‌ today his name‌⁠‍ was among the‍ new Ten Greats.‍

In‍‌ an instant, he‌ cut all the‌⁠ tomatoes in the‍ air.

“U…‍⁠ uaaaah…”

“That‌‌ man’s amazing!”

“So‌⁠ cool!”

His‌ sword tirelessly intercepted⁠ the red projectiles,⁠ and the applause‌ grew. Yuri and‍‍ Jared’s envy reached‌⁠ its limit.

“Die,‍‌ you popular star!”‌‌

Both⁠⁠ threw tomatoes slicing⁠⁠ through the air‌‌‌ straight at him.‌ Feeling real danger,⁠⁠⁠ Laurent ignored the‍‍‍ children’s tomatoes and‌ cut only the‍ two meant to‍⁠ “kill” him—or so⁠‌‌ he thought.

Paf!‌

A sound impossible for⁠‌ a tomato rang‌ out, and in‌‌ that moment, the‌ children’s tomatoes hit‌‍⁠ him full on.⁠‍‍

Juice‍ splattered all over⁠ him.

“Pwahahaha!”‍⁠⁠

Yuri‍‌ and Jared laughed‌ uncontrollably.

Laurent ripped off his‌‌‍ blindfold.

“Yuri Briol!”

But‌ the tomatoes kept⁠⁠ raining down. One⁠ hit him in⁠ the forehead, juice‍ dripping down his⁠ face.

“…”⁠

Through‍‌ the red in‌‌ his eyes, he‌ spotted Yuri and⁠⁠‍ Jared fleeing in⁠‍‌ the distance.

“Now⁠⁠‍ he can’t stop!”‌⁠

“Here,⁠‌‍ more tomatoes!”