Chapter 66: Blood, sweat and tears (2)

Okua retreated with his army.

The Alliance had secured victory.

As soon as the battle ended, Ragnar summoned all the commanders to discuss the next steps. Opinions were divided.

Some wanted to attack the orcs immediately, while others insisted on reorganizing the troops first.

“We must strike now,” said Sybilla.

“We can’t give them any more time. There will be no rest until we kill Okua.”

Objections arose immediately.

“We’re too exhausted. We need to regroup.”

“We must rest.”

But others opposed that idea.

“I agree with Her Highness the Princess. If we’re exhausted, the enemy is too. Besides, we’re fighting on their turf. Giving them time only benefits the ones who know the terrain.”

“Okua could be planning something. We must act now, Your Highness.”

Jonathan of Brusen and Wolf of Liberta supported Sybilla’s proposal.

The three major kingdoms after the Empire all backed the immediate offensive.

Naturally, all eyes turned to Yuri.

“I…”

Sybilla looked at him with a resolute expression, as if she trusted his judgment completely. From the beginning, it had been Yuri who pursued the fleeing orcs and massacred dozens.

Now, he carried the expectations of those three kingdoms.

Yuri opened his mouth.

“I believe we should rest.”

It was an unexpected statement. Ragnar observed him with interest. Even those who had supported resting looked surprised.

“Oh…”

Given his usual nature, everyone had expected Yuri to support an immediate attack. But instead of meeting their expectations, he gave the opposite answer.

No one knew what had caused this change, but for those who needed time to regroup, it was welcome news. They were drained from the battle.

“Well said, Prince Yuri.”

The faction calling for rest praised him. On the other hand, Sybilla, Jonathan, and Wolf looked at him as if they couldn’t comprehend it. Yuri spoke again.

“I think you misunderstood what I said.”

“Huh?”

“You just said we need to rest…”

Yuri looked each member of the rest-supporting group in the eye and said.

“I meant you should go rest your feeble brains.”

It was a line that instantly killed the mood.

“You’re so tired you can’t think straight. If all you’re going to say is nonsense, you might as well step back and rest. Yes, let’s rest.”

Enjoying the impact of his words, Yuri continued.

“Didn’t we all rush here because we feared Okua might use dark magic? Okua only roared twice, and we didn’t even see the orc’s main camp! And yet you want to rest without knowing what’s happening over there? Then rest for life. Dig a hole, cross your arms over your chest, and lie down. I’ll personally throw dirt over you.”

“That’s too far.”

“And still valid. Suggesting rest now insults the comrades who died fighting. Are you saying that because we’re tired, we should take a breather? Did they sacrifice themselves for that? We have no right to be tired. Not while Okua still lives.”

Yuri said it with conviction. He was just as certain they had to attack immediately.

“My master, Moyongchan, one of the Ten Greats, once said the following.”

At that moment, Moyongchan was up there, facing Okua. On the surface, it looked like a battle of stares, but an invisible fight was happening between them. The fact that neither had moved showed they were evenly matched.

“Okua has already reached the level of the Ten Greats.”

With those words, the room fell silent. If Moyongchan said so, there was nothing more to add.

“Leave it to me.”

Finally, Ragnar, who had listened silently, spoke. He was smiling in satisfaction.

“I hadn’t told you this. I gathered several mages to observe Okua’s camp. They report that a sinister energy is rising there.”

Yuri looked at Ragnar. Revealing that information right after the debate meant he was watching how the commanders would react. What was he trying to confirm?

“It’s better to end this before it’s too late.”

With those words, the meeting concluded.

Ragnar stood up.

“The orcs also suffered heavy losses. Aside from those who fled yesterday, there aren’t many forces left to reinforce them. We’ll go and cut off their breath.
We march at dawn.”

The meeting ended.

The commanders left Ragnar’s tent. Just as Yuri was about to step out, Ragnar signaled him.

Yuri stopped. Once everyone else was gone, they were alone.

“Yuri.”

“Yes?”

“Don’t you have anything to say to me?”

Ragnar, still seated, looked at him. Yuri thought for a moment and replied:

“Hmm… Thank you for your hard work?”

“Hahahahaha!”

After so many shared battles, a bond had formed between them. Across the continent, there were likely few who could joke around with an imperial prince this way.

Yuri laughed with him and sat back down.

“Do you distrust me?”

As he spoke, Yuri scanned the now-empty seats. His gaze lingered briefly on the spots belonging to the countries that had opposed the immediate attack, then returned to Ragnar’s face.

“Do you think the orcs are trying to sow division?”

“It’s possible.”

“Yuri.”

“Yes?”

Ragnar stood and approached him.

“What kind of person do you think I am?”

“A great imperial prince.”

“That’s true, but…”

He laughed and sat on the table next to Yuri.

“More specifically—do you think I’m rational or emotional?”

“Both.”

“Do you think I have good judgment when it comes to reading people?”

“Of course. You have excellent intuition.”

“And why do you think that?”

“Because you value me.”

Ragnar burst out laughing again, then ruffled Yuri’s hair.

“If only you had been born in the Empire, it would’ve been perfect. Yuri, I’ll arrange your marriage with Yekaterina. That way you’ll have imperial blood and the most beautiful woman on the continent.”

“Marriage should be based on mutual love, shouldn’t it? I doubt Her Highness is interested in me.”

“What if Yekaterina wants to marry you?”

“I already have a girlfriend.”

“I don’t believe it.”

“Huh?”

“Hmm, forget it.”

Ragnar pulled something from his chest. A necklace with a blue gem—at first glance, a valuable magic crystal. He murmured some words, and a wave of mana spread out.

Yuri felt the sound from inside and outside completely disappear.

“Can you keep what I’m about to tell you a secret?”

“Yes.”

“It may sound crazy telling you this, someone not even from the Empire, but I’ll trust my gut.”

Ragnar sighed and spoke.

“There’s someone within the Empire using dark magic.”

Yuri looked up. An unexpected revelation with serious implications.

“I don’t know who it is yet. But I found traces before the Alliance mobilized.”

“Then the formation of the Alliance was a trap from the start?”

“It might have been.”

Ragnar smiled.

“But I didn’t back down. No matter what conspiracy there was, the orcs had to be eliminated. It’s also not clear if the orcs are connected to the Empire’s dark magic.”

“Do you think there’s a traitor within the Alliance?”

“I have suspicions, but no proof. And there’s no time to uncover them.”

Yuri nodded. He now understood why Ragnar had called him.

“I’ll keep watch.”

“That’s it.”

It was something Ragnar couldn’t do himself. And he couldn’t entrust it to the Empire’s knights either. That’s why he asked Yuri.

“Yuri.”

“Yes?”

“When this war is over, come visit me in the Empire.”

Yuri smiled.

“Of course.”

***

The day dawned.

The Alliance began its march. The orcs’ main camp was not far.

Upon reaching the edge of a low hill range, the enemy settlement came into view in the distance.

“They’re well-prepared,”
commented Raymond.

“This won’t be easy,”
said Yuri, glancing back.

The number of knights had visibly dwindled. Exhaustion and stress were etched onto everyone’s faces.

Yuri’s eyes fell on Simon and Guinness. Of the three knights who always accompanied him—Simon, Guinness, and Dyke—Dyke had died. The faces of the two young men were grim.

It was something that, for those who walked the path of a knight, would eventually come.

“We’re going to kill Okua.”

Yuri’s voice echoed across the entire formation.

“Those who went before us didn’t die in vain. We’ll make their sacrifice mean something.”

There were no shouts of encouragement as before—only a heavy silence, filled with murderous intent, that spread through the entire army.

Yuri turned his gaze forward. The orc army had erected barriers and an improvised wall—likely built using human techniques, with the help of their prisoners.

Even with the memories of his past life, Yuri couldn’t imagine what horrors lay within.

Then an order came from the Empire. The Alliance began descending the hills slowly.

There were no ambushes. The orcs were also preparing for the final clash.

“Hernando.”

“Yes, Your Highness?”

“Do you sense dark magic?”

“I can’t say for sure.”

Yuri glanced at Cory, who stood beside Hernando. Originally, he had been an orc-language interpreter sent by Heime. But now he was Hernando’s apprentice.

A half-orc mage—surely not destined for an easy life.

“If the dispel fades, cast immediately.”

“Understood.”

“And the master?”

“Grandmaster Moyongchan is performing ungijosik.”

“Ungijosik?”

“It’s an Eastern technique to sit and regulate mana flow.”

It seemed Moyongchan was also preparing for the final confrontation.
From afar, Okua looked like a monster. He didn’t even resemble an orc anymore.

“I see.”

All necessary preparations had been made. The soldiers were instructed. Only each one’s resolve—and the war—remained.

Yuri rode up to the front of the formation and turned his horse toward the rest.

“This is the final war!”

Thousands of eyes focused on him. Among those gazes, he seemed to glimpse the faces of those who were no longer there.

Yuri took a deep breath and spoke again.

“I have nothing more to say!”

The troops of Briol let out a low chuckle. Yuri laughed with them and continued.

“Let’s survive! And when we return, the drinks are on me!”

Some scattered cheers rang out. Yuri turned his gaze forward again.

Movement began in Okua’s camp—they were surely also getting ready to defend.

There would be no time to catch their breath. A war horn blared, marking the start of battle. The Alliance adopted its predetermined formations and advanced.

This time, Briol was not at the front. Quite the opposite. Their role was to stay in the rear and launch a surprise charge when the time came.

The Alliance entered the orcs’ range. Arrows rained down.

Some knights managed to deflect them, but several soldiers fell.

Blood pooled on the ground, and the hurried footsteps of those behind trampled over the lifeless bodies. The blood of their comrades stained their military boots.

Yuri watched from the rear. Briol advanced step by step.

“Aaaaaah!”

Screams and shrieks echoed everywhere.

The squad clashing with the orc lines unleashed their energy in waves of sword strikes, and the orcs charged to hold their ground. A head—whose, it was impossible to know—flew into the air.

Yuri didn’t take his eyes off the battlefield. Soon, he identified a weak point.

“Prepare yourselves.”

There was a sector where the orc numbers were noticeably thinner. Yuri lowered himself in the saddle, waiting for the fighting there to escalate even more.

One of the soldiers in that area cried out in pain. That was the sound of war.

It was time.

“Briol!”

Yuri shouted and spurred his horse. That was the signal.

The knights of Briol suddenly veered off course, broke formation from the flank, and charged forward with full force.

“Your Highness!”

Laurent was already at his side. His riding skill had improved since last time.

“I’m glad I can fulfill my promise in this final battle.”

Laurent, who had vowed to ride beside him at the vanguard, was finally keeping that promise.

“Jared’s still far back.”

“I never made any promises!”

A little farther behind, Jared followed. And behind him, the knights of Briol rode as if unwilling to fall behind.

Their speed was overwhelming.

“Briol is entering!”

Upon seeing them, the Alliance troops fighting at the front stepped aside. But those trapped by the orcs hadn’t seen their arrival.

“Everyone, move aside!”

In that instant, Yuri locked eyes with an orc who had a soldier skewered on his spear. He grabbed the lance hanging from his saddle.

The orc shouted something, but it wasn’t heard. Yuri’s spear pierced through the dead soldier and into the orc’s body, lifting them both into the air.

Flesh flew in all directions, and the fluids pouring from their wounds rained down.

A drop landed on Yuri’s cheek and slowly slid down. As he continued killing orcs without pause, Yuri asked himself.

Was that drop blood, sweat… or perhaps, a tear?