Chapter 61: Circle (1)

“They say the Alliance is currently at its peak popularity across the continent.”

A fellow knight made the comment.

Froin, who was polishing his sword, tilted his head.

“And how do they know that?”

“Because they keep winning battles.”

“And how does the continent find out?”

The other knight looked at him as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

“Have you never used a magical communication orb?”

“No…”

Froin frowned.

“We’ve come this far, and those still work?”

Magical communication orbs worked in pairs and allowed long-distance communication, but their range had limits. Crossing one or two borders would break the connection.

His companion sighed.

“That’s why they say messages should be sent to Briol, and then relayed to the Empire. Don’t you know the Empire developed long-range communication orbs ages ago?”

“Really?”

“They’ve been using them to send reports for a while.”

“No way…”

Froin’s eyes widened.

“Where can you get one?”

“They’re not for sale. And even if they were, we couldn’t use them. They require a ridiculous amount of mana stones. They say the Empire’s receiver alone is this big.”

“Yeah? Then I guess borrowing one from the Empire is out of the question, huh?”

His companion chuckled.

“You trying to contact your fiancée?”

“W-What are you talking about?”

Froin blushed slightly as he shook his head. His companion patted him on the shoulder.

“Of course not. And even if you could, the message would go through the Empire’s Ministry of Magic anyway, so what’s the point?”

“You’re right. It was just a thought. And it’s not for my fiancée—it’s to check on how things are in my territory…”

“Sure, sure.”

“I mean it.”

“I said okay.”

Froin had gotten engaged before joining the Alliance. He’d declared that he would formalize the marriage proposal after the war.

His fellow knight remarked,

“In any case, thanks to all the news spreading around, the Alliance’s popularity has skyrocketed. When we return, the ladies might greet us with flowers.”

“You joined the Alliance expecting that? A knight should fight without seeking reward.”

“How noble. A model knight.”

“That’s how we do it in Brusen.”

“Enough of that. Go preach in another country.”

“I don’t care what people think. That’s just—”

“Don’t say ‘Brusen’ again.”

“The spirit of Brusen is unbreakable!”

Just then, a squad of knights in black armor passed in front of Brusen’s camp.

“Another patrol against the orcs?”

“Looks like it.”

Until now, Ragnar had tasked Briol with reconnaissance missions. But now, before the showdown with Okua, the Imperial squad had been deployed.

They always returned with their black armor soaked in dark blood.

“Were they hiding their strength this whole time?”

The Imperial squad’s destructive power became a common talking point.

Just as the orcs had suddenly brought out a monstrous creature, the Empire had finally unveiled its full power.

With the final battle ahead, both sides stopped holding back and were now going all in.

“How long is this staring match going to last?”

“Not much longer.”

For several days, the orcs and the Alliance had simply stared each other down from across the horizon.

Occasional skirmishes broke out, but they were minor clashes.

“They say the prince of Briol has woken up. The assault will start soon.”

“And the Empire’s been waiting this whole time for that kid?”

“Kid!? Watch your mouth. Have you forgotten what the third prince has done?”

Froin, who had a bit of rapport with Yuri, scolded his fellow knight’s tone. The other scratched his head.

“Well, you’re right…”

“If not for him, we wouldn’t be resting this peacefully right now. Remember the Ancient Worm?”

The underground monster that had ravaged the Alliance in the last battle was called the Ancient Worm.

Records in the Imperial library confirmed it as an ancient creature long thought extinct.

Yuri had leapt into the middle of the orc army and blew it apart with a blast of mana.

That moment left a deep impression on the Alliance’s knights. An eighteen-year-old prince who threw himself into the enemy’s heart, ignoring his own safety.

If that didn’t stir something in you, you weren’t a true knight.

“Yeah… but how did he know something was underground?”

“Instinct, I guess.”

“Instinct?”

“That prince can do it. They say he’s a genius.”

“Right, you’ve crossed swords with him a few times…”

“Speaking of him, I’m going to say hi. You coming?”

Froin sheathed his sword and stood. His companion shook his head.

“I’ll pass.”

“You’ll regret it.”

“I’d rather rest.”

Froin went alone.

When he reached Briol’s camp, the soldiers recognized and greeted him.

During the campaign, there had been so much cooperation that many now recognized each other by face.

Thinking about it, it was unusual. It wasn’t common for a joint army from so many countries to build such bonds.

Suddenly, a shriek like a pig being slaughtered rang out.

“Yaaah!”

“No, not like that.”

“Huaaap!”

“Still not enough.”

“Die! Just die already!”

“That’s too much…”

It was Laurent of Briol, swinging a wooden sword at another young knight.

The difference between them was obvious. Laurent seemed to be training him.

“That’s Sven or whatever, right…?”

The prince of Briol had once mentioned leaving a young noble from Liberta—Sden or Sven—in Laurent’s care.

It was interesting.

Upon entering Briol’s camp, one found knights from many nations. Even those notoriously proud who never left their corners mingled here with ease.

And here he was, Froin of Brusen.

“Haha! Great spirit, Sir Sven!”

Watching the practice was a massive knight. Froin pretended not to notice and walked on.

Jose had practically moved into Briol’s camp recently.

“Sir Froin.”

“Ah, good day, Sir Raymond.”

Raymond was a wise veteran knight. When Yuri was absent, he led the troops.

“Here to see the prince?”

“Yes.”

“He has visitors at the moment, so you’ll need to wait a bit.”

“Of course. How is the prince?”

“Haha. He’s doing great—perfect condition.”

“Glad to hear it.”

Froin stood next to Raymond outside Yuri’s tent. Several knights in white armor guarded the entrance. They were paladins of the Holy Kingdom.

Even those guys, famous for their pride, were stationed at Briol’s camp. It made one curious about what the prince of Briol was really like.

“What are they here for?”

“Who knows.”

The paladins looked at Froin strangely.

‘Just as unpleasant as always,’ he thought.

Froin stared back, not backing down. A one-man stare-down against several.

Raymond just smiled beside him. Soon after, the tent opened, and Yuri stepped out, accompanied by one of the paladins.

“Oh, Froin?”

“Pleasure to see you, Your Highness. I came to greet you—I heard you’d awakened.”

“As expected of a knight of Brusen—always so loyal.”

“Brusen and loyalty go hand in hand!”

Froin smiled as he looked at the man accompanying Yuri.

It was Fenek, leader of the paladins. He usually carried himself with arrogant pride, but in Yuri’s presence, his demeanor was extremely respectful.

“Prince. I’ll take my leave. Thank you for responding to my request.”

“Think nothing of it.”

“Personally, I hope this won’t just be a contract but something more genuine.”

“Don’t get your hopes up. That won’t happen.”

“Haha…”

He even tried to seem charming.

He was even trying to seem friendly.

Froin never imagined that Fenek, who always wore an arrogant and rude expression, would act like that.

“Seems like another visitor has arrived, so we’ll take our leave.”

“Yes. Thank you for coming.”

“Not at all. Take care until then.”

“If we meet on the battlefield, we’ll help each other.”

“Of course.”

Fenek bowed and withdrew with his entire squad.

As he walked away, he locked eyes with Froin. His expression instantly hardened, and he looked at him with disdain, as if staring at someone beneath him, before continuing on.

Froin let out a dry chuckle.

“Prince, what did you do to make that jerk behave like that?”

“Sir Fenek was indeed quite arrogant.”

“So you knew.”

“He almost died once, but I saved him. Since then, he’s been more respectful. Froin, you should save someone’s life too.”

“What?”

Yuri smiled as he looked at the retreating backs of the paladin squad.

“Deep down, that guy’s got a good heart.”

“Wow…”

Froin shook his head. Being around the prince of Briol constantly challenged his sense of logic.

“Anyway, I just came to greet you since I heard you were awake.”

“Thanks.”

“I saw it that day. First, you unleashed a mana explosion, and then you drew a spiritual slash with your sword.”

“That was luck. I’m still not at the level to use that properly in real combat.”

“Even so…”

Yuri was only eighteen.

Laurent, who had dominated sword tournaments and was called the next great knight, was already in his twenties. But Yuri had already reached a similar level at such a young age.

If not for the Alliance, no one would have known a monster like him existed.

“When the war ends…”

Froin looked at Yuri and asked,

“Can I visit Briol?”

Yuri burst into hearty laughter.

“Of course, anytime.”

“I’ll bring my fiancée. By then, she’ll probably be my wife.”

“Any family of my friend is welcome.”

“Friend? That… that’s quite the honor.”

Froin was surprised to hear that word. Yuri smiled broadly.

“If two people cover each other’s backs on the battlefield, what else could they be but friends?”

“Haha…”

Froin had once met the prince of Brusen. He wasn’t like Yuri. He treated his knights like toys, never sharing anything on a human level.

They were complete opposites.

If that prince had come to the Alliance, he would have made a fool of himself. Froin might not have even been able to raise his head from the shame of being from Brusen.

He began to envy the knights of Briol.

“Froin, that’s why you can’t die. Survive.”

“Of course. I’ll come back alive… for my fiancée—”

“Wait!”

Yuri covered his mouth.

“Don’t tell me you were about to say you’d propose to her when you return.”

“Of course I was…”

“Don’t.”

“Why not?”

“Call it a hunch. If you say that, I feel like something bad will happen.”

“Huh?”

“You’re just like Rodain. You don’t watch plays, do you?”

“No.”

“Then watch one later with your wife. You’ll see what happens to the character who says that.”

“Alright…”

Not really understanding, Froin just nodded.

“Anyway, want to meet my master?”

“Your master?”

“Moyongchan.”

Yuri said the name of the one he called master without hesitation.

“Moyongchan is your master?”

“That’s how it turned out.”

Froin was once again surprised.

He knew Yuri had brought Moyongchan to the Alliance. But more than that, choosing an Eastern warrior as a master—even if he was one of the Ten Greats—was a bold decision.

He grew curious about what path this prince would take from now on.

“You once fought him as a seaman. Want another shot?”

“No, thank you.”

Froin shook his head.

“My sword wasn’t a sea, just a stream. I’ve got a long way to go before challenging him again.”

“That’s fine too.”

The two walked together. Near the tents, the knights of Briol were training.

They used wooden swords, but the level was so high it almost looked like real combat. Before the final battle, they were sharpening their instincts to the utmost.

Seeing that scene, Froin felt the tension rise within him. And he smiled.

“I’m really glad I came to the Alliance.”

“Right?”

Yuri looked at him closely. He was a knight with great potential.

But in his previous life, Yuri had never heard of his name. He knew Jonathan and Jose, but Froin hadn’t existed in that future.

He had probably died during the Alliance campaign.

“Froin. The Alliance is going to win.”

It was both a promise and a declaration. He would fix the mistake that was the fall of the Alliance.

And make sure a knight named Froin existed in the future.

“When the war ends, we’ll all drink together.”

“Of course.”

“Don’t you dare be absent.”

“Same to you, Prince.”

Yuri thought about what would come after the war. He had formed friendships with the Imperial commander Ragnar, the Holy Kingdom, Brusen, Liberta, and many other powers.

He had also forged ties with several smaller kingdoms and city-states. Those connections would be crucial in resisting the Empire in the future.

Yuri was convinced.

Even though the Empire had started the campaign against the orcs, in the end, it would be Briol that held the greatest unity.

“Froin.”

“Yes.”

“I’ve decided. If you’re ever in danger, I’ll save you at least once.”

“And if you’re ever in danger, I’ll definitely come to your aid.”

“Let’s see who ends up owing whom first.”