Chapter 9: Confession (2)

Bernard spoke.

“I’ve heard the whole story.”

“That fast?”

“His Majesty and I are closer than the prince thinks.”

“I didn’t know.”

“The deepest scar on my body was caused by His Majesty.”

“Ah, I see…”

“You saw it yourself.”

Yuri nodded.

Bernard was originally a wandering swordsman who challenged the strong to duels.

What kept him in Briol was none other than Yuri’s father, Fiore. Even young Yuri had witnessed that duel.

Bernard had charged like a demon, and although Fiore tried to hold back, Bernard was a formidable swordsman, not someone who could be stopped with half-measures.

In the end, Fiore had stabbed him in the abdomen.

Yuri still vividly remembered Bernard, eyes wide in disbelief, collapsing in a pool of blood.

When he recovered, Bernard was persistent.

“Fight me again!”

After repeated requests, Fiore finally agreed to duel him once a year in exchange for Bernard training the princes.

Cedric, after reaching a certain level, trained with the captain of the guard, Saned.

Joshua never had an interest in the sword, so Yuri was now his only student.

“Bernard.”

“Yes.”

“At first, I thought you were a heartless beast, a killer with a sword…”

“Go on.”

“But now, I think I’ve grown fond of you.”

Yuri said.

As he recalled, Bernard would soon leave Briol. He wanted to keep him.

“If my father decides not to fight you again, will you leave?”

“Of course.”

“Bernard.”

Yuri put on a sad expression.

He didn’t truly feel emotional, but with his life experience, he could easily fake sorrowful eyes.

On purpose, he softened his voice.

“You are my master.”

“Yes…”

“I believe Briol needs a swordsman like you. Someone unorthodox, who fights like a back-alley thug—with a slippery, serpentine style.”

“That was an attempt to make me stay?”

“Of course.”

“Doesn’t sound like it.”

“Soon you’ll face my father again, and surely lose miserably.”

“……”

“And once he gets tired of you, he’ll say he won’t fight you again…”

“Why do you think that?”

“Just a hunch. Maybe he doesn’t want to keep hurting poor Bernard…”

“Why are you saying all this?”

“Because I want you to stay.”

Yuri said.

“Briol needs you.”

Bernard stared at him. Yuri met his gaze. They looked at each other for a moment.

To Yuri’s surprise, Bernard agreed without resistance.

“Alright.”

“Really?”

“Then what will you give me in return?”

“Me?”

“There must be terms.”

“Well…”

Yuri scratched his head.

Even as a prince, he had nothing to offer. At most, knowledge of the future, but even that was hard to explain right now.

However, Bernard spoke first.

“Then I’ll set the terms.”

“What?”

“The sword technique of Erich Briol.”

It was a fitting request from a master swordsman. Yuri felt uneasy.

Not because it was inappropriate to teach an ancestor’s technique.

“That’ll be difficult.”

“I know you haven’t fully mastered it. I’ve taken that into account.”

And that was true to an extent.

Yuri had experienced Erich Briol’s technique through a dummy, but he hadn’t truly made it his own.

However, there was a more important reason.

“That’s not it… It just won’t be of use to you.”

“Why not?”

“That technique is tied to the Mana Method.”

Normally, the Mana Method was seen as support. It never interfered with sword techniques.

But Erich Briol’s wasn’t merely a sword style—it was a direct manifestation of the Mana Method.

In other words, Soul Slash was both a technique and a Mana Method.

It was so innovative that even Yuri hesitated to learn it.

Bernard’s eyes changed.

“I’ve never heard of that.”

“Neither had I.”

“Of course, you’re young, so everything seems new. But I am Bernard, the Demon of War.”

“Ah, I see…”

“If I don’t know about it, no one on the continent does.”

“Impressive, impressive.”

“Yes. I’m quite impressive.”

Yuri frowned.

Lately, Bernard seemed lighter than he remembered. Maybe he had always been like that, but in his past life, they hadn’t talked enough for him to notice.

Maybe many of his memories of people had been wrong.

That thought brought a wave of regret for his past.

“I regret it.”

The words slipped out unintentionally.

Bernard chuckled.

“Regret treating me poorly?”

“I should’ve convinced my father to kick you out…”

“……”

“Just kidding. Enough of that nonsense.”

Yuri said.

“So, if I show you my ancestor’s technique, will you stay in the kingdom?”

“So you want me to stay?”

“Of course.”

“Why?”

“I already told you earlier.”

“Answer me sincerely.”

“Fine. Just like you said—it’s because you’re the swordsman Bernard.”

“Hooh…”

“Can’t I say I admire your sword skills?”

“Didn’t you just say no more nonsense?”

Bernard stepped closer.

The constant tension that usually surrounded him was absent this time.

“Be honest.”

“About what?”

“The prince has changed suddenly. He went to Sword Mountain and discovered a dungeon.”

“So what?”

“His Majesty says it was because of a dream.”

Yuri frowned.

‘How much did my father spill?’

“Don’t worry. No one else knows. He told me for educational purposes, since I’m your master.”

“Good to know.”

“Anyway, he said you saw a great war in that dream.”

“Yes.”

“And that Briol was destroyed.”

“They didn’t even put up a decent fight.”

“I understand.”

Bernard nodded.

“If you show me the technique, I’ll stay. And one more thing.”

“Another one?”

“Call me master and speak to me respectfully.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes.”

“Do you really want to be addressed formally that badly?”

“It’s not really valuable.”

“And you’ll still stay?”

“Because I believe in your intuition.”

Yuri looked at Bernard.

Was he saying he believed in his dream?

“You believe in my dream?”

“Yes.”

Bernard lifted his sword and traced its length with his eyes. His gaze turned strange.

That enchanted look—it was a scene Yuri had seen before.

Just like that eerie moment his father had shown him, Yuri realized Bernard’s fate was also bound to the sword.

“The sword can change fate.”

His voice deepened.

“I’ve seen countless times how this sword determines life or death. That’s why I believe it holds a mysterious power. And you were born with a natural talent for the sword. What you saw might truly happen…”

Yuri felt slightly moved. Who else would believe such a lie from him so readily?

“Even if it’s not true, it doesn’t matter. It’s my choice. So even if the technique is incomplete, under that condition, I’ll stay in Briol. Besides, I owe His Majesty a debt.”

Yuri nodded firmly.

“Good decision, Bernard.”

Since returning to the past, he had done everything he could to change the future. At last, he was starting to see results.

He had not only obtained the founder’s legacy, but also managed to keep Bernard, who had once been destined to leave the kingdom.

Yuri smiled broadly.

“Alright. I’ll show it to you. Yuri Briol’s ‘Soul Slash.’”

“With respect.”

“That… yes.”

Yuri forced the words.

“I will show you… Sir Bernard.”

“Master.”

“Gh… Master…”

“Very good.”

Yuri gritted his teeth, stepped back, and raised his wooden sword. Bernard also swung his wooden sword in the air.

Yuri took his stance, but Bernard suddenly spoke.

“Prince.”

“Yes?”

“‘Yes?’”

“Alright, what is it?”

“There’s something you’ve misunderstood.”

Yuri thought he was about to correct his form, so he glanced down to check his posture. But Bernard spoke of something else.

“It’s true that His Majesty defeated me, but he didn’t grow tired of me or feel pity.”

“What are you saying…?”

Bernard lifted his shirt slightly. Through the bandages wrapped around his abdomen, a faint bloodstain was visible.

It was clearly a sword wound.

And there was only one person in the palace capable of delivering such a wound.

“Huh?”

“I had a duel with His Majesty yesterday. He said he’s counting on me from now on.”

“What?”

“He also said I’m an exceptional swordsman and that he always enjoys fighting me. He suggested that for at least ten more years, we continue discussing the sword together.”

Yuri was left stunned.

The change he thought he had caused had already begun earlier, at a much deeper level.

Bernard had intended to stay all along.

“That bastard…!”

“With respect.”

Bernard swung his sword. Yuri took several hits to the thigh and started hopping in pain.

“Ouch…!”

“Show me the founder’s technique.”

“Damn it!”

“With respect.”

“I was talking to myself!”

“Yes?”

“Yes…”

“Good. Show me.”

Yuri sighed deeply.

“Pay attention.”

He connected his will to the core in his heart. Mana spread through his entire body.

“I’m going to attack.”

“Yes.”

Yuri looked straight at him.

He thought about cutting him down.

With the beat of his heart, mana surged from the core. Countless mental images for attacking the enemy flashed before him. Yuri selected the one he thought most effective.

Was it mana first? The body? Or his imagination?

Maybe everything happened at once. Yuri’s world tilted toward the image of cutting the enemy.

But just before he could strike, his vision warped violently.

Blocked.

“Prince.”

Bernard, who had stopped the sword, wore an expression Yuri had never seen before.

He was bewildered.

Yuri had never seen him like that.

“What is it?”

“Try again.”

“Understood.”

He was so surprised, he slipped into informal speech without realizing it.

“And…”

Bernard hesitated a moment before speaking.

“Focus your thoughts on one thing. Your sword is trembling. You still don’t have the ability to see multiple paths at once.”

This time, Yuri was the one surprised.

That was Bernard. With just one look, he immediately grasped the essence of the Soul Slash and gave him advice.

Yuri felt ashamed of himself for wasting a master like him in his previous life.

With a bitter smile, Yuri adjusted his grip.

“Alright. Let’s go again.”

***

“It’s changing.”

Yuri murmured.

Without his direct involvement, his father Fiore had retained Bernard.

That hadn’t happened in his previous life. Could it have been thanks to his dream story?

The fact that the future was slowly changing gave him hope.

But there was still much to do. The power of the Empire, even in hindsight, had been abnormally strong.

The Black Legion. He had to stop them.

“Without fail.”

“Yes, without fail.”

He hadn’t noticed when, but Ena had entered and repeated his monologue.

“This time you mustn’t cause trouble.”

“This time?”

“Last year you caused a disaster!”

“What disaster?”

Yuri tilted his head, confused.

He didn’t clearly remember his childhood. Every day had been chaos, so he didn’t even know which incident Ena was referring to.

“Since you caused trouble daily, you don’t even know which one I mean, do you?”

“Exactly.”

“Of course! So, for the sake of this loyal maid, ask for a raise, prince.”

“Aren’t you already the highest-paid among the maids?”

“Because I’m the only one who can put up with your temperament, prince.”

“I’ve been pretty calm lately, haven’t I?”

“Precisely because of that!”

Ena trembled as if nervous.

“Just imagining what kind of disaster you’re planning with such calm makes me feel like my life is shortening. I think I’ll have a nervous breakdown.”

“You’re good at making things up.”

“Making up? Why do you think I’m like this? Because in one week…”

Ena stretched both hands toward the wall.

“It’s the royal ball!”

A lavishly decorated ceremonial uniform was hanging there.

It was so ostentatious, Yuri couldn’t even look at it directly. He covered the outfit with both hands.

“Ugh…”

“You must dress properly and meet some lovely young noblewomen.”

“I don’t want to. I’m not going.”

“That’s not going to happen. His Majesty entrusted me with that mission.”

The Royal Ball.

He hated it.