Chapter 105
Chapter 105
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 105
Chapter Title: 46. Academy (4)
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The moment the lecture ended, Rolang and Jared swiftly kidnapped Edran and dragged him to an empty classroom they'd learned about from Dale's cooperation, where they threw him to the floor and bound him in an instant.
Terror filled Edran's eyes.
Yuri drew a dagger from his bosom. It was the Flameblade, one of the Four-Wheeled Swords.
He dragged it long along the wall, sending sparks flying.
Then he pressed the blade to Edran's cheek.
"Warm, isn't it?"
"Mmph......"
"Cooperate, and it'll stay that way. Otherwise......"
Yuri shook the Flameblade. A bluish flame flickered to life and vanished.
"It'll get hot."
Edran nodded frantically. His eyes were already glistening with tears.
With that terrified look, it seemed like this would be over quickly.
"What a boring interrogation this'll be......"
Yuri muttered as he removed the gag from Edran's mouth.
Edran gasped for breath. In a trembling voice, he asked,
"Wh-what do you want with me......"
"You know it, and I know it. So why pretend you don't?"
Yuri grabbed him by the hair.
"If you don't talk properly, it'll scar."
"I'll talk. I'll talk."
"Good. Then first, what do you think I'm curious about?"
"That's......"
As Yuri brought the Flameblade to his face, terror widened Edran's eyes.
"It's Famia. Because of Famia."
"So you do know."
"I'm sorry. I'm really sorry."
"Why'd you do it?"
"Just curiosity."
"Look at that......"
Yuri swung the Flameblade through the air again.
A faint flame like a heat haze rose around the blade. It was small, but hot enough to warm the surrounding air.
The moment the Flameblade neared Edran's face.
"I'll talk!"
"Should've done that from the start."
Yuri pulled the Flameblade back. A portion of Edran's sideburns had been singed.
It hadn't touched his skin, but the heat had flushed his cheek red.
"You get that this isn't a joke, right?"
Edran nodded frantically.
He had just seen no flicker of emotion in the third prince's eyes.
If he hadn't opened his mouth, his face would have been twisted by burns.
"Now, spill it."
Yuri lifted the corner of his mouth and stroked Edran's head. Then he personally trimmed the burned sideburns with the dagger.
"Who put you up to it?"
"That......"
Edran wanted to lie. But the third prince's gaze staring him down made it impossible.
The heat from the dagger at his ear finally forced his mouth open.
"The ducal house......"
"Duke?"
"The Elgast ducal house......"
A familiar name emerged.
That shiny Oliver from the banquet was from the Elgast family.
"Oliver?"
At the mention of the name, fear shadowed Edran's face. He couldn't speak aloud and merely nodded.
"What exactly did that guy say?"
"Uh......"
"The reason for approaching me."
Once his mouth was open, Edran had no choices left. They weren't close enough for any code of honor anyway.
Before the dagger in Yuri's hand could draw nearer, he answered immediately.
"Use a woman, or any means necessary, just get close to Your Highness and drug him somehow......"
"The reason?"
"I don't know."
"Really don't know?"
"Y-yes. We're not that close......"
"Be more honest."
Yuri leaned in close to Edran's face. He stared steadily into his eyes.
Edran's pupils shook uneasily.
"Lie, and I'll stab you right away."
Yuri's voice rumbled low.
"When Oliver demanded that, what were you thinking inside?"
"Th-that it was unfair, I didn't want to harm Your Highness......"
"More honestly than that."
The tip of the Flameblade touched Edran's cheek. The skin split, and a bead of blood welled up.
"You must've wondered alone why that bastard Oliver would order something like this."
"I just......"
"Humans are made to imagine things. Like how your burned, twisted face is playing in my head right now."
"Th-that, that."
"Speak."
"I......"
Edran stammered as he opened his mouth.
"I thought maybe it was because of Princess Ekaterina. Th-that's what I figured."
"The princess?"
"Just my own guess. Not certain."
"Why her?"
"Oliver likes the princess. N-naturally, she's beautiful."
"What does that have to do with me?"
"The princess showed interest in Your Highness. I-I don't know details, but Oliver said so once. That she was interested. So I thought Oliver was targeting you out of jealousy. That's all. Really."
Yuri tossed the Flameblade upward and caught it repeatedly.
"I see......"
It made sense that Ekaterina would be curious about him.
Having led the Allied Forces to victory, he was currently the hottest man in continental high society.
That was objective fact.
And the ever-curious Ekaterina would surely have looked into what kind of man Yuri Brioll was.
That was the problem.
Almost inevitably, men around Ekaterina developed feelings for her.
For self-important types like Oliver, it was even worse. He probably saw Yuri as a potential rival and schemed accordingly.
It was Edran's speculation laced with his own thoughts, but Yuri saw plenty of plausibility.
He'd experienced similar things multiple times in his previous life.
"Got it."
"That's everything I know. Really......"
"Alright. Calm down, Edran."
Now it was time to ask about something else.
"Next question."
"Yes?"
"Where'd you get that drug? From Oliver too?"
Edran squeezed his eyes shut.
Yuri didn't press further. All resistance had vanished from him now.
After a moment to gather his words, Edran spoke.
"Please believe me. I really don't know much. The seller......"
He took a few deep breaths and continued.
"Appears out of nowhere at night."
"What?"
"I don't know details. I was walking a back alley at night when he suddenly appeared and offered a drug that'd help with swordsmanship—wanted to know if I'd try it."
"Explain in detail."
"Black robe and hood, so I couldn't see his face. They move like ghosts. Said they'd kill me if I talked about them."
"Better than dying by my hand, though."
Yuri patted his shoulder to reassure him.
"Besides, you think I'd go hunting them alone?"
"Yes?"
"The Empire's aware of the severity and already mobilizing. No matter how hidden they are, they'll get caught eventually. Just give me the info."
Those words seemed to ease him, as Edran slowly exhaled.
"Just like I said. First time, he gave it as something to boost swordsmanship, and curiosity got me. Then......"
"And?"
"I sold it around, saying it helped with swordsmanship and magic. Made pocket money, and it was fun having them under my thumb."
"Sold a lot to students?"
"Y-yes. Especially swordsmen and mages, since it aided their progress......"
"How do you contact the sellers?"
"I don't know. They don't show if I look for them. Only appear when they want. Sometimes even met in my family garden."
"Not normal."
"Yes, exactly."
"Still dealing lately?"
"A-after Gott got caught by Your Highness, somehow they knew and sent a warning. Told me never to speak of it. Haven't seen them since."
"I see."
"Really. Not once after that."
"Got it."
Having grasped the gist, Yuri nodded. Before wrapping up, he asked Edran one more thing.
"Anything else you want to add?"
"Eh?"
"Anything trivial, just spill what you know. If something you hid comes out later, you'll regret it."
"N-no, give me time to think......"
Edran clutched his head with his hands.
"Did you really tell me everything?"
"Y-yes. Everything. That......"
Edran's eyes darted around.
"Oliver knew I was getting drugs. I wasn't selling much, so I wondered how he found out."
"And?"
"Yes. That's it."
"Alright."
Yuri released Edran.
"Edran."
"Yes?"
"What happened today stays our little secret."
"O-of course."
"If it gets out, it'll hurt Oliver's feelings—not to mention the drug dealers'."
"Yes. Right."
"I'll stay quiet too, so just keep your mouth shut."
"Yes."
"And finally......"
As Yuri untied the ropes, he grabbed the remaining length and strangled Edran with it.
"Gurk......"
"Including Gott and Dale—no more messing with Brioll kids. Got it?"
"Egh......"
"Answer."
"Yes......"
Edran clawed at the rope with his nails.
"Remember that."
Yuri released his neck, and Edran coughed convulsively. Saliva dripped from his mouth.
Yuri ruffled his hair.
"Hurt a lot? Sorry. I'm short-tempered."
"N-no, not......"
Yuri straightened Edran's disheveled clothes from the binding.
"There, all good."
Yuri grabbed Edran's chin and lifted his head. Their eyes met again.
Yuri's black eyes reflected in Edran's pupils.
The atmosphere was chilling. His gaze was cold and ruthless enough to make the other man tremble.
Yuri smirked in satisfaction.
Then Edran stammered,
"I-I really told you everything......"
"I know."
Yuri grabbed his shoulders and pulled him up. Legs buckling, Edran barely mustered strength in his knees to stand.
As Yuri smoothed the wrinkles in Edran's collar, he said,
"Edran, it started rough, but if things go well, we could be good friends someday."
Like Sven Gain in similar cases. Of course, he'd need the will to reform himself.
"Take care. Greet me if we meet again."
"I will."
"We'll head out first. Wait and leave later so it doesn't look suspicious."
"Yes."
As Yuri turned, Rolang and Jared, who had stood guard, followed suit.
Rolang gave Edran a cold glance, while Jared pointed two fingers at his own eyes, then at Edran—meaning he'd be watching.
Edran nodded blankly.
The moment they left the classroom, Yuri sighed.
"The Empire's complicated."
"Tell me about it. Catch one, and more filth comes trailing up."
"Exactly."
He missed the relatively straightforward Brioll.
"Still, we got a lead. Time to dig into that Oliver bastard."
"Ducal house won't be easy."
"We'll figure something out during the tournament."
Like any other nation's delegation, Yuri's group planned to stay in the Empire until the tournament ended.
They soon met the dean and exchanged greetings. He beamed, grasping Yuri's hands warmly.
"Everyone's raving about your lecture. Thank you."
"No trouble at all."
"And......"
He smiled.
"Don't be too hard on them. They're at that thoughtless age."
Yuri looked at the dean. He must have noticed them taking Edran.
The dean waved reassuringly.
"Well, they did wrong, so it's natural for you to step in."
"My apologies."
"Not at all. Someone had to do it. Thanks for handling Gott too. It was our duty as teachers, but......"
"Glad to hear that."
True to form as the academy's dean, he wasn't ordinary.
Yuri finished the pleasantries and left the academy.
The streets were abuzz.
"Oh right, today's the deadline."
The cutoff for tournament entrants to submit applications was today.
The capital's citizens buzzed about who would pair with Ekaterina.
Yuri chuckled dryly.
Pretty flowers come with thorns.
Whoever won, tangling with Ekaterina meant plenty of hardship.
Yuri teased Rolang and Jared.
"Shame one of us didn't enter—would've raised Brioll's name. Too bad."
Roland nodded.
"Yes. I'll make Brioll's name resound."
"Huh?"
Yuri looked at him.
Rolang met his eyes with a strange smile.
"I submitted an application, Your Highness."