Chapter 60: Monster (2)

When Yuri opened his eyes, someone was sitting beside him.

“Water.”

A canteen was brought to him immediately. But he couldn’t drink while lying down, so he asked again.

“Help me sit up.”

However, the other person refused.

“Get up on your own, Yuri Briol.”

Only then did he recognize who it was. He lifted his head while still lying down and saw Sybilla sitting beside him. She wore ordinary clothes, already stained and worn from the long campaign.

“What are you doing here?”

“They asked for a priest from Briol, so I came. I’m good with holy magic too.”

“You came in person?”

“I had something to confirm.”

“Confirm?”

Yuri slowly sat up. His whole body ached. His mana channels still hadn’t healed.

For someone like him, used to manipulating mana daily, that hurt more than a pulled muscle.

“Did you lie about your age?”

As he leaned against the wall, Sybilla asked the question. Yuri let out a dry laugh.

“What kind of nonsense is that?”

“It’s just, seeing what you’re capable of, it’s hard to believe.”

“I’m eighteen.”

“No way…”

Yuri chuckled. He understood how she felt.

Sybilla had also been recognized from a young age. Her talent bordered on genius. But Yuri had achieved far greater feats, even compared to her.

Of course, he was only eighteen physically. But this was his second life.

“You’re a monster.”

“Something like that. How long did I sleep?”

“Two days.”

“What?”

Yuri suddenly jolted forward and grabbed his shoulder.

“I slept that long?”

“Yes.”

“So, during that time…”

“We kept marching. We carried you.”

Yuri looked at Sybilla.

There’s no way an experienced knight could have been dragged around for two days unnoticed.

“We put you to sleep with magic so you could recover. They even put a light suspension spell on the wagon so you wouldn’t wake up. The knights were really worried about you.”

She said it with a tone that carried a hint of envy. Yuri forced himself to move and lowered his feet to the ground.

“That must’ve been rough…”

“I’m fine.”

Sybilla didn’t stop him. Every knight has their own way. She cast another healing spell on him.

Yuri stood up. Then he picked up Guilty, which had been resting nearby.

“Help me?”

With Sybilla’s support, he stepped out of the tent. The sun was about to set. The rays of dusk stretched across the Allied camp.

After the long campaign, most of the uniforms were stained with blood, but the red glow of sunset softened the sight.

“Judging by your face, they haven’t stopped fighting.”

“Exactly.”

“And no one woke me up.”

“We managed without you.”

Sybilla shrugged.

“Raymond led Briol well.”

“As he should.”

“Most of the fighting was handled by the Empire. They’re impressive when they get serious. Until now, they’d been holding back.”

“The Empire’s always been a bit cunning.”

“It’s better to recover properly than to burn yourself out. Look over there.”

Sybilla pointed into the distance. Flags waved on the horizon.

Yuri’s eyes widened at the sight.

“We’ve arrived…”

The Alliance had advanced far enough to now see the forces of Okua.

“Finally…”

It had been a long journey.

From leaving Briol, through border cities, fighting orcs—now they stood before Okua, hidden deep within the plains.

“Your Highness, you’re awake?”

“Glad to see you safe.”

“Thanks to you, we survived!”

Several soldiers greeted him as he passed. But he didn’t recognize their faces.

“They’re soldiers from the Holy Kingdom.”

“What’s going on? Did I become popular?”

“Word spread about what you did. You achieved a lot—and even found and killed the monster that was digging tunnels.”

More and more soldiers from other nations greeted him. The atmosphere had shifted. Yuri raised his hand in return.

Yuri smiled and said,

“It’s because the final battle is near. They need someone to rely on.”

Within the Alliance, stories of brave deeds by many knights were circulating.

To face an enemy as powerful as Okua without fear, the soldiers were making their own heroes.

Yuri spoke.

“Sybilla.”

“Hmm?”

“Can I ask you something?”

“What is it?”

It was something he’d been thinking about for a while. With the campaign nearing its end, he couldn’t put it off any longer.

Yuri said,

“I want you to da—”

Sybilla’s eyes widened.

“—te me. I mean, pretend to date me.”

Her eyes, which had gone wide, returned to normal.

“W-what are you saying all of a sudden?”

“I want you to pretend to be my girlfriend.”

“Why?”

Yuri sighed.

“Well…”

It wasn’t something he wanted to ask. He didn’t like owing anyone favors.

“All of this happened because things went too well for me…”

Yuri explained the situation. That Ragnar, in his favor, was planning to marry him to his niece, Yekaterina. A terrifying idea.

Right now, because of the war, there was no pressure. But once it ended, Ragnar would undoubtedly pounce.

“I want to act before it’s too late.”

If an Imperial prince proposed, there wouldn’t be many ways to escape. The worst part was that from the outside, it looked like a great opportunity for Yuri.

Sybilla thought the same.

“Why not? The princess is famous for being beautiful, kind, and her family and fortune are better than yours. Wouldn’t it be good for you?”

“Come on, I’m a prince too…”

Though Yekaterina’s lineage was overwhelming.

“I don’t need royal pedigree. And that sweet personality is just a façade.”

“And her face?”

“Sybilla. Are you going to live just looking at her face? What matters is the heart.”

“Do you really think that…?”

Sybilla narrowed her eyes and smiled. Yuri froze.

It wasn’t an expression she usually showed. If he had to describe it—cunning.

And the fact that it had flashed for just a second made it all the more unsettling.

“And what if I end up with a fake boyfriend because of you?”

“That would actually help you. When you return triumphant with the Alliance, do you think your brother will sit still? He’ll probably want to marry you off to some noble. If a rumor spreads that you’re dating me, he can’t do anything.”

“You say that…”

“Yeah, I know…”

Yuri sighed. That meant she wanted something in return.

Sybilla, who had once demanded bows like it was nothing, had matured quite a bit.

“Alright. What do you want?”

“Hmm…”

Sybilla replied,

“A wish.”

“What?”

Yuri shook his head.

“What are you talking about?”

He never made careless deals like granting wishes.

One poorly worded guarantee could destroy a family or collapse a society. Offering something as risky as a “wish” could bring unforeseen disasters.

“Are you afraid I’ll ask for something absurd?”

“It’s not fear, it’s common sense.”

“It’s just—I don’t need anything right now. If you suddenly ask me a favor without warning, what am I supposed to do?”

“That…”

“Forget it if you don’t want to.”

Sybilla stood firm. Yuri shook his head again.

Even so, granting a “wish” was completely out of the question. Under those conditions, he had to think of another alternative.

He was considering some options when a loud voice sounded behind him.

“Yuri! You’re awake!”

It was the person he least wanted to see at that moment, approaching with a big smile.

“I was just about to send a report to the Empire. Yuri, sleeping on the battlefield… you really are insane.”

“T-thank you, Your Highness.”

“And wouldn’t you know it, my niece is very interested in Alliance news—especially everything you do. Yuri Briol, what an incredible young man!”

Ragnar threw an arm over his shoulders. Before being completely trapped by the man’s bulk, Yuri shot a desperate look at Sybilla.

‘Wish or whatever, fine. Do what you want.’

Sybilla nodded, showing that cunning smile she had revealed for only a second before.

Yuri was already beginning to regret his decision. But it was too late. Things had already spiraled beyond control.

“Your Highness. A pleasure to see you.”

“Oh, the princess of the Holy Kingdom—what was your name again?”

“Sybilla Arsaint.”

“I see. Are you close to Yuri?”

“Actually, we’re more than close.”

“More than that?”

Sybilla beamed at Ragnar with a radiant smile she had never shown before.

And she took Yuri’s wrist, still trapped under Ragnar’s arm.

“We’re dating.”

Ragnar turned his gaze to Yuri. The arm over his shoulder turned into a headlock. Yuri groaned.

“Urgh…”

“Is that true?”

“Yes…”

Ragnar squeezed harder. Yuri had to tap out in surrender.

One of the officers nearby intervened.

“Your Highness, the Third Prince has just awakened…”

“Oh, right.”

Ragnar let go.

“The prince of Briol and the princess of the Holy Kingdom… make a fine couple.”

“Thank you.”

“It’s natural for young people to fall in love.”

Ragnar cleared his throat. Though he seemed a bit disappointed, he didn’t voice further complaints.

“We’ll talk about this later…”

“Later?”

“Don’t you like that?”

“No, not at all.”

He immediately changed the subject to the Alliance.

“Anyway, you know how things stand, right?”

“Yes.”

“Okua is just ahead. We plan to advance after a good rest.”

Yuri nodded and looked in the direction of the enemy camp alongside Ragnar.

The Alliance’s campaign was nearing its end. It was an emotional moment.

He had joined with the purpose of correcting the mistakes of his past life. And so far, they had reached Okua’s doorstep without a single defeat. A far greater achievement than in his previous life.

The Alliance was united, and they had a weapon called Moyongchan.

This time, he was confident they could win. Ragnar spoke.

“When this war ends, the whole continent will know your name.”

Yuri agreed. Since joining the Alliance, he had racked up major accomplishments.

And after all those experiences, he now stood on equal ground with the continent’s top knights.

He felt that if things continued this way, he would achieve his goal.

With that hope in his heart, Yuri bowed to Ragnar.

“Your Highness’s name will also echo across the continent.”

“As it should.”

Ragnar smiled.

“Of course, that’s if we capture Okua.”

“Of course.”

“But I’m not worried.”

Ragnar looked at Sybilla and continued,

“With the knights of the Empire, Briol, and the Holy Kingdom gathered here, we can’t lose to mere orcs. Those filthy creatures—no one even knows how they were born—but they must be exterminated.”

Yuri, recalling the origin of the orcs he had seen in the ancient prairie kingdom, nodded silently.

“When the Alliance campaign ends, I’ll propose keeping troops in the region.”

“You mean…?”

“To establish an institution that continues hunting and controlling orcs, so they can’t reorganize.”

His words echoed the revival of the ancient hunter corps from the kingdom. Perhaps this was how history repeated itself.

Yuri approved of the idea.

“It’s a great decision.”

In his past life, Okua had moved as if allied with the Empire. If such forces were eliminated early, the future of the continent would be completely different.

“Exactly. It’ll benefit both the Empire and the kingdoms near the prairie.”

Yuri reconfirmed that Ragnar was not aligned with the Emperor. The more successful the Alliance was, the more of a thorn in the Emperor’s side it would be.

The Emperor was probably in a bad mood right now, taking it out on his subordinates. Yuri tried probing with a question.

“No news from the Empire?”

“Oh, that monster… Apparently, it was recorded in ancient archives. No one knows how the orcs managed to control an extinct creature.”

***

In the noblest and most exclusive corner of the Empire.

The Imperial Palace.

There existed a special salon reserved for the Empire’s most prominent figures. A gathering place for the elite across various fields.

But over time, its purpose had degenerated. Now it was merely a spot where the curious gathered to indulge in gossip.

“Have you heard the latest news from the Alliance? It’s so exciting.”

“What’s the situation?”

“They say the final battle is approaching.”

“They haven’t lost even once?”

“His Highness the Imperial Prince is amazing.”

Lately, the main topic of interest in the Empire was the campaign led by Prince Ragnar.

“They say the orcs are using a monster that digs tunnels. What kind of thing is that?”

“I also heard the orcs are using black magic.”

“Could they have revived some ancient monster using weird methods?”

“I heard they captured elves and stole their spells.”

“But elves don’t leave the forests, do they?”

“They must have kidnapped them.”

Rumors, without any clear source, spread uncontrollably. At that moment, someone opened the salon door.

It was an official from the Ministry of Magic, responsible for delivering news from the Alliance.

All attention turned to him.

“Good afternoon. I bring fresh news.”

“What have you got?”

Enjoying the suspense, the official took his time before speaking.

“The Third Prince of Briol, who has played a key role in the Alliance…”

“Yuri Briol?”

“It’s said he’s dating the princess of the Holy Kingdom.”

“What?”

“The Prince of Briol and the Princess of the Holy Kingdom?”

“A love blossoming on the battlefield?”

Romantic tales always stirred excitement. The atmosphere in the salon grew electric.

In the minds of those present, countless stories began to unfold. They spoke as if their speculation were facts, creating even more rumors.

At that moment,

“Is that true?”

A soft and beautiful voice echoed through the salon. It wasn’t loud, but its commanding presence instantly silenced the entire room.

The official from the Ministry of Magic paled when he saw who had spoken.

“Your Highness…”

The Emperor’s daughter and the woman considered the most beautiful in the Empire—Yekaterina.

She was smiling behind her fan.

“Would you mind telling me more about that story?”