Rise of the Fallen Kingdom’s Third Prince — Chapter 327: Extra. The Great Escape of Yuri! (3)

Chapter 327: Extra. The Great Escape of Yuri! (3)

After⁠‌‌ playing with the⁠‍ children for quite‌ a while, Yuri‌ returned to Maryrose,‍ panting.

“Huff,‌ huff… See? Now‌ this is an⁠ important matter, isn’t⁠ it?”

“It‌ is.”

“Children⁠⁠‍ are… huff… the⁠⁠ future of the‍ nation.”

Maryrose⁠‌ smiled and gently⁠ patted his head.

“I’ll⁠ give you that.”‍

At‌ that moment, Laurent‌‍ came back, already⁠ cleaned up, with‍⁠ a sharp look‌‌ in his eyes.‍‌ Yuri turned away‍⁠ to avoid his gaze.

“This humiliation… I’ll pay‌⁠ you back for‌‍ it.”

“Are‌‍‍ you declaring war on those children?‍‌ I didn’t expect‌‍ that from you…”‍

“…”⁠⁠

“Anyway,‍ we’ve accomplished something⁠ important here. Now…”⁠⁠

His⁠ voice trailed off. He was still⁠‌⁠ a fugitive. He‍ had said he‍‍⁠ had an “important matter,” but the⁠ truth was there⁠ had been no⁠‌ plan at all.‍‍ To keep traveling‍ the world, he‌ needed to come⁠⁠ up with another‍⁠ weighty reason. He‍ couldn’t stay forever‍‍ at the House of Love.

For⁠ this escape—or rather,‍⁠ this adventure—to continue,‍‌ I need another⁠ pretext.

“An‌‍‍ important matter…”

“Another⁠ one?”

Maryrose was watching him‍ in amusement.

“Go‌‌ on, say it.”⁠‌

“Well…”
Yuri shifted uneasily,‌ searching for ideas.⁠

“Cory…”⁠‍

“Yes?”‍⁠

“Could‍‌ it be you‍‌‍ have a broken⁠⁠ water pipe or‍ something?”

“Everything⁠ works perfectly.”

“A⁠‍ broken piece of furniture, maybe?”

“The‌‌ carpenter takes care‌‌‌ of that.”

“Well,⁠⁠ something I could‍ help with…”

Cory cleared his throat.‌‌⁠

“Your⁠ Highness, although I respect you greatly,‍ as the person‍‌‍ in charge of‌ the House of Love I must‌ tell you something…”‍

“Uh-huh.”⁠

“If‌‍‍ you stay here⁠‌ too long, you’ll‌ attract unnecessary attention.‍ That wouldn’t be⁠‍‍ good for the⁠ children or the‍ patients.”

“Oh,‌ really?”

“I hadn’t mentioned it,‌‌ but there have‌ already been several⁠ reporters trying to‍‌ jump over the‌‍ fence.”

“Wow…”⁠‍

Yuri‍ was a celebrity‌⁠ on a continental⁠ scale. Those close‌ to him wouldn’t⁠ admit it, but⁠‍ he had taken‌‌ first place—by a margin beyond the⁠‍ error range—in the‌‍ “Most Admired Person‌ on the Continent”‍ poll. His easygoing‍‍ personality, which made‍⁠ no distinction in‌‌ status, made him⁠‌‌ even more approachable,⁠‌ and people followed‍‍ him wherever he‍ went.

If⁠ word got out⁠ that he was‌ at the House⁠ of Love, crowds‌⁠ would flood the place.

“The‌‍ life of a celebrity is exhausting…”‍

“They say there are⁠⁠⁠ even reporters now‌ who chase famous‌⁠ theater actors or nobles in search⁠ of scandals. I suppose people are⁠ just bored.”

“That’s‍ because there’s too⁠ much peace.”

The‌ continent was enjoying‌⁠ unprecedented peace and‌ prosperity.

The⁠ experience of the‍ “Anti-Imperial Alliance” had‍ stopped wars between‍⁠ nations, and the⁠‌‌ rights of the‍ commoners who had⁠‍ participated in the⁠ war were expanded,‌ allowing people of‍⁠ all ranks to‍ excel in various‌ fields. This led‌ to new forms⁠ of cultural expression.⁠⁠

Among them was the‌‌ rise of gossip‌‌ journalism. Nights in the Imperial Capital‌⁠ already had branches‍‌ in every country,‍⁠ publishing sensationalist articles.‍ A scandal involving‌‌ a public figure⁠‍ could spread across‌‍‍ the continent in a matter of hours.

“Hmm…”‌

Yuri‌ was thinking when‍‍ Cory smiled gently.⁠

“That’s‌ exactly why… I have a personal‍‌‍ request for you.”⁠‌

“Oh,‌ really?”

“It‌⁠ might even be⁠⁠ something very important.”‍‌

“Important?”‍

Yuri‍‍‍ leaned forward.

“Tell⁠ me, Cory.”

“Not⁠ long ago, a child arrived at‌‌ the center… but⁠⁠ this child is⁠ from the East.”‌

“Yeah?⁠ Is he having‌‍ trouble adapting? Needs⁠‌⁠ a tall godfather?”‍

“No,‍⁠ that’s not it…”

Cory‌⁠‍ glanced around, as‌‍ if afraid someone might overhear his⁠ story.

“The‌ truth is… the‌ child was brought‍ here by an Eastern swordsman.”

And‍ Cory told him what had happened.⁠‌

It‌‍‌ was a night‍‍ of rain and‌‍‌ thunder. A dying‍⁠‍ man, carrying something‌ wrapped in a cloth, collapsed at the entrance to⁠ the House of‌‍ Love.

When‌ the guard shook‍⁠ him, he heard him stammer in‍‌ broken continental tongue:‌

“Th-this⁠‍ child… noble blood⁠ of the East…⁠‌‍ noble lineage… must…‍‌‍ live…”

The man died after‌⁠ those words. His⁠ abdomen was covered in deep wounds—enough⁠ to have killed‌ him long before—but‍⁠ with superhuman willpower,‌ he had made⁠‌ it all the‍‍ way there.

The‍ guard opened the‌⁠‍ bundle, and inside‌‌‍ was a baby‍‍‌ sleeping peacefully.

“A⁠ child…?”

A lightning flash lit‌ his face, and⁠‌ the contrast between‌ the blood-soaked blanket⁠⁠ and the baby’s‍‌‍ calm seemed to foreshadow a fate‍⁠ dyed in red.‌‍⁠

“That‌ happened?” Yuri asked,‌⁠ swallowing hard.

“Yes…”⁠⁠

Cory‍‍ confirmed.

“If⁠‌ that were all, I wouldn’t be‍‌ too worried. Every⁠ child here has⁠ a hard story.⁠ But…”

He⁠ pulled something out.⁠

“This came with the‍ baby.”

It‌ was a book⁠‌‍ and a dagger.‌‌

The‍‌ book was very‍ worn, with a title in an‌ unreadable Eastern language.‍‌ Inside were illustrations‍ similar to those‍‌ used to explain‍⁠ methods of mana‍‌ manipulation, but the text was clearly⁠ written in martial‍ arts code.

“And‍ also…”

Cory⁠‌‌ showed the dagger.‍ The gold scabbard‍‍ was inlaid with‍ jewels and shone‌‍⁠ brilliantly.

Shiing.⁠⁠

When‍⁠ drawn, the blade‌ was almost translucent‌‍ like crystal, with‍⁠ golden inscriptions whose⁠ meaning was unknown.‍

Whatever⁠‍ it was, it‌⁠ was clearly a relic of incalculable⁠‌ value.

“There’s‍ definitely more to this…”

“I‍ see…”

Yuri‌⁠ frowned. He knew‍ a little about‌‍‍ the situation in‍‍‍ the East—besides the⁠ martial sects, there⁠⁠‌ was a great‍ empire ruled by⁠‍ an emperor, and⁠⁠ both forces maintained‍‌ a non-aggression pact.⁠

“Cory… you’re not suggesting‌‌‌ that I…”

“Exactly.”

Cory⁠ smiled.

“For⁠‍⁠ the sake of⁠ this child, I want you to⁠ discover the meaning‍‌ of this book‌⁠ and dagger. And⁠ if we’re going‌‌‍ to turn to‍ someone for translation,‍ it should be‌ someone we can‌‍ trust.”

A trustworthy Easterner.

Of‍‌‌ course there was one.

Hearing⁠ Cory’s request, Yuri⁠ smiled to the‍‌ side.

“No‌ helping it. For‍ the peace of‌‍ the East, I’ll⁠⁠⁠ have to personally visit Master Moyongchan.”⁠‍‍

Currently,‍ Moyongchan had established‍ the Blue School‌ sect in Liberta,‍‌ where he taught‍ his disciples. Living⁠‍ there were not‌⁠ only Cheongun, a former ronin, but‍⁠‍ also Simon and⁠ Guinness, who assisted‌‌ him in his⁠‌‍ work.

“Cory,‍ count on me.”

Thanks‍‌ to Cory, Yuri’s escape still had‍ its spark.

Yuri⁠ turned to Maryrose.‍‍⁠

“Coming‍ with me?”

“No.”‌

Maryrose⁠ smiled with a trace of mockery.⁠‍‌

“You⁠‍⁠ like it so‍ much I’d better step aside and⁠ give you a clear path without‍⁠‍ getting in the‌⁠ way.”

“In⁠‌ the way? What⁠‌‍ are you talking‌‍‍ about?”

“Besides,‌⁠⁠ I have my‍‍ own matters to⁠⁠‌ attend to.”

“The‌‌ transcendental interpretation?”

“That‍‍ too, but mostly‌⁠ it’s because Inariel⁠ asked me for⁠‍ something.”

“Yea…”‍

Inariel⁠ was investigating the‌‍ Forest of the‍ World Tree. Just‍ as she suspected that the elves‍‌ had left because‍‌ of the demonic‌ grimoire, after the‍‍‍ war, signs of‌ the World Tree‍‍ began appearing in the continental jungle.‍‍⁠ However, the interior‍ was still sealed⁠‌‌ off, and magical‌⁠ studies were required‌⁠ to enter.

“I⁠ hope Lord Inariel‍ gets to reunite‍ with his people.‍ That would be‌‌ a touching scene.‌ Even though he‍⁠⁠ looks like an‌‍ old man, by‍‍ elven years he’d⁠ still be barely‌ a young man,⁠‌ right?”

“Well, he says if‍ he finds the⁠ parents who abandoned‌ him, he plans‌‌ to blast them far away with‍‍ magic.”

“That would also be‌‌ touching, in its⁠⁠ own way.”

“Anyway…”‍

Maryrose⁠ stood up and‌⁠⁠ walked over to‍‌ Yuri, giving his⁠‌ hair a few⁠⁠ gentle pats.

“Be⁠ careful.”

“I‍ will.”

They⁠ both smiled. Jared,⁠‍‌ watching the scene,‌ muttered irritably.

“Tch,‍⁠‍ I think I should get married⁠ too…”

“Pff…”‌⁠

“Laurent,⁠‍‍ did you just‍ laugh at me?”‍

“No.”‌

“Hmm…”‌‍

Yuri⁠ stood up.

“For‌ the peace of‍⁠‍ the East, and‍ to find that⁠ child’s lineage, we’ll‍ depart for Liberta⁠‌ tomorrow.”

“Yes,⁠‍‍ sir.”

“So‌ today we’ll keep⁠ helping the children.‌ Jared, get those⁠ plates ready again!”⁠‌

“Fine,⁠‌ fine…”

“And‍‌ Laurent…”

Yuri‍‌ gave him a mischievous smile.

“You⁠ and Cory will‌ have some time‌ to reconcile.”

“What?”‌

“Take‌ a walk and‌ talk.”

“That…”⁠

Cory‌‌ smiled softly.

“I’d‍⁠ be happy to.”‌

“M-me‍ too…”

“You‌ sound uncomfortable.”

“No.”‌

“Am⁠⁠ I the one‌‍‌ making you uncomfortable?”‌

“No.”⁠‌

***

After‌ spending the whole‍‍ day playing with‌‌ the children, at⁠ dawn the next⁠ day Yuri’s group⁠ left the House of Love. Maryrose had returned to‍‍ the imperial palace‍ the previous night, and only Cory‍⁠ came to see⁠ them off.

“Cory,‌ I’ll come visit⁠⁠ you again!”

“Visit⁠⁠ me?”

“No,‍ no, it won’t‌‌ be a leisure⁠‍‍ visit. If anything happens, let me‌⁠ know. I’ll drop⁠‍⁠ State affairs to help. The House‌ of Love is⁠⁠ a symbol of‍‍ the continent’s peace.”

“I’ll be waiting.”

Cory‍‍ also shook Laurent’s hand. No one‍‍‌ knew what they‍⁠‍ had talked about⁠ the day before, but Laurent seemed‍ much more at⁠‌ ease around him.‌‍⁠

Yuri and Jared exchanged a satisfied smile.‍⁠⁠

“Cory’s‍‌‌ way too kind.⁠⁠ If it were me, I’d never‍ forgive someone who⁠⁠ called me a traitor…”

“Exactly.⁠‍ At the very‌ least, I’d make⁠⁠⁠ them hand over⁠ a finger.”

And‍ with that, they‌ said their farewells.‌⁠

“Goodbye!”

“Come‌‍‍ back soon!”

“Take⁠ care!”

“Yes!”⁠‌‌

Mounted on the same⁠‌‌ black steed from‌ the Alliance days,⁠⁠ Yuri continued the‍ journey.

Jared,‍‌ leading the way,⁠‌‌ remarked,

“I⁠ have a bad‍⁠‍ feeling.”

“What‍‍ is it?”

“I‌‍‍ feel like this escape won’t end⁠‍ in a simple⁠⁠ way.”

“That’s⁠ good.”

“As‌‍ long as it‌ stays at this‍‌ level of loafing‌ around, sure… but…”⁠⁠

“Loafing?”‍

“I’ve‌ been traveling with‍⁠⁠ you long enough‍ to notice that‍ trouble follows you.”⁠⁠

“Well,⁠ there’s a reason⁠ they call me‌‌ the Son of‌‌‌ the Storm.”

“I’m⁠ worried that in‍⁠ Liberta another problem‌‌ will start, which‍‍‌ will drag us⁠ into yet another,‍‌ and in the⁠ end… into a new great war.”‌‍‌

“Tsk,⁠‍⁠ Jared, that’s worrying‍ too much. As⁠‍ long as I’m‍‍ here, there won’t⁠ be any war.”‍

It⁠‌ wasn’t empty boasting.

In‍ practice, the continent’s‌‌ military strength was‍‍‌ monopolized by Yuri.⁠‌‍ He was the‍‍ strongest warrior of‍‍ all, and his father, Fiore—who wandered‍ with Bernard—was second.⁠‌⁠ The rest of‍ the “Ten Great”⁠‍ level fighters had‌‌⁠ blood ties, friendships,‍‌ or training history⁠ with Yuri. A single word from⁠‌ him could stop a conflict.

“For‌ now, maybe… but…”‍

Jared‍‌ frowned, still uneasy.‌‌⁠

“There‌ could be a World Expansion Event.”‌

“What’s‌⁠ that?”

“Let’s⁠ get to Liberta first.”

The⁠⁠‍ matter involved the‌ East. And while‌‌⁠ Yuri was friends‍⁠⁠ with the leader‍‍⁠ of the Murim‌‌ Alliance, unexpected things‌⁠‍ could happen.

Yuri⁠ dismissed Jared’s concerns.‌

“Please…‍ I’ve eaten, drunk,‌ and crossed swords‍⁠⁠ with the leader of the Murim‌ Alliance. And not⁠ only that—I’m on great terms with‍‍ the Nine Great Sects; I even‌⁠‌ gathered their masters‍⁠ and gave them‌‌⁠ lessons.”

“Lessons?⁠‍ Didn’t you just⁠‍ knock them unconscious?”‍⁠⁠

“You⁠‍‌ learn from getting⁠ hit, too. Anyway,‍‌ even if something‍⁠ happens in the‌‌ East, I’ll handle‍‍ it. Elaine also⁠⁠ has ties to‍‍ the Eastern imperial‍ family.”

“Hmm…”⁠

Laurent,‍ who had been‍⁠‌ silently listening, spoke.

“You’re‌‍⁠ very sure of yourself, Yuri Briol.⁠⁠ If something happens, it’ll be your‍‍ responsibility.”

“Why?”‌

“Because⁠‌‍ yes, it’ll be your fault.”

“Fine, fine, whatever you‍ say. I’ll take‌⁠ care of everything,⁠‌ so stop worrying.‍ Hah, you’re acting⁠ scared… Did you‍ forget who I am? I’m Yuri⁠‌ Briol.”

***⁠

“It’ll⁠‌‍ be your responsibility.”‍‌

“Take‌ responsibility, sir.”

“…”‌⁠

Laurent‌ and Jared crossed‌‌ their arms and‌ took a step‍‍ back.

“Ugh…”‍⁠

Sighing,⁠ Yuri walked forward⁠ with tired steps‍ and spoke weakly.⁠

“Guys,‌ I’m Yuri Briol.”

At⁠ that, the burly⁠‍ men surrounding him⁠ burst out laughing.‌‍

“Well,‍ so you’re Yuri‌ Briol. Nice to⁠ meet you. I’m⁠‍ Yuri Briol’s grandpa, and you, brat,⁠ are getting a good beating from⁠ your elders today.”

“If‌‌ you’re Yuri Briol,‍‌ then the one⁠ next to you‌‍ must be Jared,‍ and the other‌ Laurent, right?”

“All‌‍‌ three famous ones‌ together! Today’s a lucky day.”

“Let‌‍ us warn you, we don’t discriminate‌‍ when it comes‌ to killing. We’re⁠⁠ the Mad Dogs‍ of Aloy—that’s us!‍⁠ Now hand over everything you’ve got!”‍

To‍⁠ get to Liberta⁠⁠ faster, Yuri’s group⁠ had decided to‌‍ cross the Aloy⁠⁠ mountain range, passing‍‌ through Joachim’s territory.‌⁠ And on that⁠⁠‌ path, they stumbled⁠ into an old, long-forgotten memory.

Yuri‌‍ muttered,

“Well,‍‌ look at that,‍⁠‌ running into bandits…”‍‍

“Bandits?‌⁠ Don’t lump us⁠⁠ in with that‍ trash!”

“Then‌ what are you?”

“Call‍ us the Green⁠⁠ Forest Gang!”