Chapter 44: The Black Dog (3)

It was an orc shaman with his eyes covered by a cloth and a wooden staff in hand.

This orc had no physical body. Though it had color, it was faint—faded like light—and couldn’t be touched, no matter how hard one tried.

The orc simply watched Yuri in silence.

“I asked who you are.”

The orc twisted its mouth and suddenly shifted to the side. Yuri followed its movement with his eyes, and the orc’s face contorted further. It seemed annoyed, as if it wasn’t supposed to be seen by Yuri—but had been.

“What the hell…?”

Come to think of it, it was all very strange. An orc was walking around the camp, and no one was paying attention to it.

Yuri realized he was the only one who could see it.

“What are you?”

Yuri swung Guilty.

Then, like a mass of water breaking apart, the orc’s body scattered and then reformed.

The orc recoiled in fear.

“So I can hurt it.”

The orc mouthed something, but no sound came out.

“Hey, you!”

Yuri called out to a passing soldier. The soldier ran over.

“Yes, Prince?”

“Hold your hand out here.”

“Pardon?”

“Just touch the air right here.”

“U-understood…”

The soldier did as Yuri said. But his hand passed right through the orc without noticing anything.

“Is… is this a punishment? I haven’t done anything wrong!”

“It’s not that.”

Yuri gave another command.

“Here, swing your sword.”

“There’s something here?”

“Just do it.”

The soldier swung his sword, but nothing happened. It didn’t even scatter like when Yuri struck.

The orc mouthed something again, though it still couldn’t be heard.

“Prince, why are you making me do this…?”

“Right here.”

Yuri raised his sword and pointed it at the orc’s face.

“There’s a ghost.”

“W-what…?”

“I think I’m the only one who can see it.”

“Excuse me…?”

“I can see ghosts.”

The soldier backed away. He was the type who feared spirits. Yuri wore a somber expression and murmured darkly.

“He’s licking his lips while staring at you. Probably wants you. Must’ve committed a serious sin… What did you do, huh?”

“E-excuse me, I must go.”

The soldier bowed and bolted in the opposite direction. Yuri sighed, concerned about Briol’s army discipline.

“Maybe he really did do something bad…”

Then he looked back at the orc.

It was still there, watching him, despite everything Yuri had done to test its presence.

It seemed to be observing him in return.

The orc reached out, as if to touch him.

“Get that hand away.”

Yuri swung Guilty again. The orc’s body shook more violently.

Though it didn’t bleed, its form was growing increasingly faint. It was definitely working.

The orc turned and fled. Yuri took off after it. Suddenly, it became a chase.

Since it had no body, the orc passed through obstacles in the camp without issue.

Yuri, on the other hand, had to dodge, jump, and even fell several times.

“Prince, what are you doing?!”

“I’m hunting an orc!”

“What…?”

But no one else could see what Yuri saw.

“I’ll figure out what you are.”

Just then, the orc released a cloud of black smoke and suddenly lunged at Yuri. Caught off guard, Yuri raised Guilty and counterattacked.

The orc wrapped him in that dark mist, ignoring the strike. Then, a cold chill swept through Yuri’s entire body.

“What the hell…?”

With that, the orc vanished like smoke. Yuri rubbed his forearm. He could still feel a shiver.

He checked his energy flows. A kind of impurity had spread through his body.

But once he activated the Soul and Heart Sword, it was wiped out without a trace.

“What the hell was that…?”

Had he really fought an orc ghost? There was no better person to talk to than a mage. Yuri grabbed a food tray and headed to Hernand’s camp.

“Hernand…!”

Just as he opened the tent flap—

“……”

Around the table, Hernand, several knights, and some soldiers were playing cards. They all froze, eyes wide at Yuri’s unexpected appearance.

“P-Prince…”

The nearest soldier dropped a card in shock. Yuri picked it up and looked through the rest of his hand.

It was a good hand.

“Hm.”

“Y-yes.”

“Go stand in the corner with this.”

“Yes.”

Yuri handed his tray to the soldier, who stepped back obediently.

“Let’s see Sir Jared’s hand…”

It was terrible.

“Out.”

Yuri lifted him up and kicked him in the butt. Jared stumbled and ran off.

“Next. Sir Stegen, was it? Let’s see your cards…”

“P-Prince!”

“Nice hand. You can go.”

“B-but…”

“You’re not complaining, are you?”

“Of course not!”

And the knight fled.

Yuri checked everyone’s hands. If it was good, he let them go; if it was bad, he hit them. Only Hernand remained.

He clutched his cards solemnly.

“Prince… You wouldn’t use violence against me, right?”

“No.”

Yuri dragged over a chair, sat on it backwards, and rested his arms on the backrest.

“I just want to ask you something.”

“T-that’s a relief. What would you like to know?”

“I just saw something strange in the camp…”

“Cards aren’t strange, I swear.”

“No, not that.”

Yuri explained what had happened with the strange orc. Hernand, who had initially frowned, grew serious and leaned forward.

“That was sorcery. Most likely an orc shaman came to scout the allied army.”

“Sorcery?”

“Yes.”

Hernand folded his arms thoughtfully.

“An invisible avatar, huh…?”

“Is it strong?”

“Not really. But there’s something suspicious…”

He picked up the cards from the floor and continued speaking.

“I know what I need to do tomorrow.”

“Throw a fireball like Maryrose did.”

“That was only possible near Valshard. Obvious spells like that are easily countered.”

On the battlefield, mages rarely unleash their full power. They’re easily neutralized by other mages.

That’s why mages are mostly used to counter other mages. In Maryrose’s case, she had absolute magical control over the Valshard area, which allowed her to cast those fireballs.

“I can’t be sure, but it seems they’re using forbidden magic. I think it’s dark magic…”

“Dark magic?”

“Yes.”

Hernand thought for a moment, then said,

“Tomorrow I’ll take care of dispelling that shaman’s tricks.”

“Can’t you just rain fire from the sky?”

“Only Maryrose can do that.”

Yuri tilted his head.

He remembered the incredible power Hernand had shown in his past life.

Back then, he didn’t need to dispel anything—he just destroyed everything. Maybe the circumstances were different now?

“Is dark magic really dangerous?”

“Not particularly. In fact, it’s been thoroughly studied by the Magic Tower. As long as you respond properly, it’s easy to handle.”

“That’s reassuring.”

If Hernand said it with that confidence, there was no need to worry.

Yuri stood up.

“Well then…”

In the corner, the soldier was still standing with the tray in his hands. When he made eye contact with Yuri, he smiled awkwardly.

“Enjoy your meal.”

“Thanks.”

***

Dawn had broken.

The allied army did not rush. Their intention wasn’t to rely on tricks, but to break the enemy head-on and with honor. The same applied to the orcs.

The allied army prepared for the assault, while the orcs reinforced their defensive lines.

Yuri mounted his horse and lined up with the cavalry squad.

This time, it wasn’t a direct charge, but a maneuver to approach the enemy camp and draw their attention.

Of course, if an opportunity arose, they would break in immediately.

“Nervous?”

The knights looked at him after hearing those words.

“No need to be.”

He put strength in his voice to lift the unit’s morale.

“This will be just like always. Just stick close to me, and before you know it, it’ll all be over.”

As he said this, Yuri raised his lance. The knights followed suit.

Briol’s flag fluttered in the wind.

“Briol!”

When Yuri shouted, the army of Briol let out a war cry. That roar echoed across the plain.

Immediately, the Brusen army positioned beside them also shouted the name of their country.

That fervor spread.

Each unit shouted their nation’s name one after another, boosting morale. The entire allied army surged in unison.

The names of thirteen nations of the continent echoed across the plain one by one.

Yuri shouted again.

“This time, we’ll take the lead again. Anyone object?”

“None!”

“Any cowards who want to fight hiding behind others?”

“None!”

“Any cowards afraid of arrows?”

“None!”

“Who wants to be the first to cut off an orc’s head?”

“Yes!”

“Who wants to wipe out every last bastard among those orcs?”

“Yes!”

“Then we won’t let those ugly sons of bitches set foot in Briol again. Count Sidor won’t be able to keep up his damn hobbies!”

The knights burst out laughing. Yuri glanced away.

From the imperial camp, the sound of a trumpet rang out. The battle was about to begin.

Yuri inhaled deeply. How many would die?

How many soldiers would he lose? How many of those now laughing would die?

He would have to kill and kill again. And watch death repeat itself.

Could he say he was separate from all of that? Yuri stepped forward.

Then another step, and another. No one was left in front of him.

To stand on the front line—that was the least he could do.

Yuri dashed to the front.

“Briol!”

That was the battle cry. The cavalry squad charged forward. Not just Briol, but the squadrons of other nations with the same mission surged out like lances from the army’s mass.

From the orc ranks came a rain of arrows.

Yuri immediately turned the reins. His horse veered, and the Briol squad shifted in unison.

Arrows struck the ground where they had just passed.

“Stay alert!”

The Briol squad, feigning a direct charge, changed course. They galloped parallel to the orc fortifications.

As they drew closer, the arrows flew straighter.

“Keep focused!”

Arrows continued to rain down. Behind them came neighs and screams of fallen soldiers.

Yuri clenched his teeth and gripped the reins tightly.

“Run!”

He glanced back.

The infantry of the main force was still advancing. While the squad drew enemy attention, the frontal assault had begun.

“Now…”

It was time to retreat and break through any opening the main force could create—or take advantage of any gap in the enemy’s defense.

Yuri looked up. He could see the defenses gradually weakening.

“Prince!”

At the call of his name, he turned and saw the Brusen squad, also part of the diversion, approaching.

“Shall we go in together?!”

Yuri burst out laughing. Apparently, that Brusen knight didn’t know the word “retreat.”

In that case, Briol couldn’t fall behind.

“Ready?!”

“Of course!”

Both squads began to gallop side by side. At the front of Brusen rode Jose. His body was so massive his horse looked like it was at its limit.

Yuri shouted to him,

“Sir Jose! Don’t tell me you’re charging in just because your horse is about to give out?”

“Haha, you caught me!”

“Then we better move before it collapses!”

“It’s urgent, urgent!”

“Then let’s go!”

“Let’s go!”

Yuri turned the reins, and Jose followed immediately. Both of them charged at the orc camp walls. If they hit head-on, their horses would be impaled by the sharpened stakes.

But they didn’t stop.

“Ready?”

Yuri stroked the horse’s mane and hooked his lance to the stirrup. The well-trained horse understood the order and snorted.

They neared the stakes. Yuri pushed off from the stirrup.

The horse turned just in time. Yuri leapt without hesitation. Jose did the same.

As their horses veered off, the knights soared over the barricade and landed inside the orc camp.

Like a swarm of locusts descending.

Yuri shouted to his horse,

“See you later!”

Then he rolled once on the ground to soften the impact and raised Guilty.