Chapter 108
Chapter 108
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 108
Chapter Title: 47. Wrong Encounter (3)
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“You... you bastard...”
Yuri felt a swirl of complicated emotions as he looked at him.
Pride mixed with pity, joy tangled with discomfort—these conflicting feelings welled up inside him.
“You, in the end...”
He'd only just seen his face now, but the man's build matched the black-clad figure from back then perfectly.
To think someone who'd grown into such a fine swordsman was peddling drugs... A pang of regret rose in Yuri's chest, and he shook his head.
“You've grown up like this.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Exactly what I said.”
Jared prodded Yuri in the side.
“Who's this guy?”
“Don't you remember him?”
“Huh?”
“It's that kid from back then.”
A long time ago, Yuri had dueled Georg's champion in a trial by combat.
The imperial guard's squire had been older and bulkier than Yuri, but Yuri had overpowered him with flashy swordplay.
He'd even spared the man at the end by twisting his blade aside.
“The kid I beat in that duel trial.”
“Ah, that guy from back then?”
The man bristled.
“I wasn't beaten.”
Yuri took a fresh look at him.
He hadn't expected that old connection to resurface here.
For the squire of the imperial guard to grow up so sharply dressed... Is this what time does?
This unexpected reunion in the Imperial Library's depths, while hunting a drug dealer, drew Yuri into nostalgic memories.
“You got totally wrecked back then...”
“It wasn't that bad.”
“You were this scrawny, and now you've bulked up...”
“I was bigger than you even then.”
“Snapping back just like your sword style. You'd flail wildly whenever I attacked, then get smashed to bits and run off crying...”
“I didn't cry, and I wasn't smashed.”
“Sure, whatever.”
“It's not 'whatever'—it's the truth.”
“Fine, fine. Since we've run into each other again, at least tell me your name.”
“You didn't even know my name?”
“I figured you for some minor extra who wouldn't last. Wasn't worth remembering.”
“Hoo...”
He let out a long sigh. As if mirroring his mood, the lantern flickered, scattering their three shadows in disarray.
“It's been six years, so let me introduce myself properly. I'm Hassan.”
“Hassan, huh? Suits an assassin more than a knight.”
“Does a name like that even exist?”
“You get the vibe.”
There was a reason Yuri kept needling him.
Hassan held a lantern in one hand and a thick bundle in the other.
As Yuri eyed his getup, a thought struck him.
The Imperial Library's basement held forbidden areas even imperial kin couldn't enter freely. If drugs were really being made in the palace, was there a better hideout than this?
So Yuri was provoking him on purpose, watching for reactions.
“Suspicious...”
And every time he prodded, Hassan seemed to hide the bundle behind him.
Yuri craned his neck to peek.
“Yeah, suspicious...”
“W-what's suspicious?”
“That bundle you're hiding...”
Hassan fully concealed it.
“Nothing for Your Highness to concern yourself with.”
“Oh?”
“I heard about the commotion. If you've come all the way from the Empire, why not just stay quietly and leave?”
“Pretty bold tone.”
“It's not just the tone.”
Hassan narrowed his eyes sharply.
“See you in the tournament. It'll be different this time. I'll defeat Your Highness.”
“Ho...”
Yuri stroked his chin.
“You think you can even face me?”
“I won't be eliminated. Unless Your Highness drops out first, we'll fight. I promise.”
“Can you keep that promise?”
“Of course.”
“What if you can't?”
“That won't happen.”
“Hypothetically.”
“Want to make a bet?”
“Yeah. If we don't fight in the tournament, you'll do one thing I say.”
“Fine.”
“Promise?”
“I promise.”
He must have trained hard since then—his confidence had grown.
But Yuri wasn't entering the tournament.
He couldn't fathom why everyone assumed he'd participate so naturally.
Yuri pointed his thumb at himself.
“In that case, I win the bet.”
“Pardon?”
“I'm not entering the tournament.”
“Pardon?”
Hassan's eyes widened.
Yuri drove the point home logically.
“I'm not competing, so no matter who gets eliminated, we won't fight. Your condition's already fulfilled.”
“That's ridiculous...”
“Now, my demand: hand over that bundle!”
Yuri blocked the path like a bandit demanding toll.
Hassan looked flustered.
“Why... why are you doing this?”
“Hee hee hee, you can't pass!”
Watching this, Jared nodded vigorously and muttered.
“As expected, Your Highness is a genius at screwing with people.”
Hassan glanced around in dismay.
Yuri stepped closer.
“You wouldn't cause a ruckus in the heart of knowledge itself, right? Bump into a shelf, and it'll domino all the way to the entrance—Princess Katrina might get hurt.”
“You damn robber...”
“Just wanna peek. What's wrong with that? Hiding treasure or something?”
Yuri strode forward and snatched the bundle. Hassan sighed and backed away, as if giving up resistance.
“You'll regret this.”
“I don't do regrets.”
“You have to keep this secret.”
“Show me.”
Yuri untied the knot.
“Uh...”
He peeked inside, then quickly covered it back up.
“Hmm...”
Unable to believe what he'd seen, Yuri lifted the cloth again, then tied it shut tight once more.
“Ahem...”
He handed the bundle back to Hassan.
“Hassan. That...”
“Don't misunderstand. I'm just running an errand.”
“For who...?”
“No reason to tell you that.”
“Hmm...”
“Please keep the secret.”
“Yeah...”
Yuri stepped aside to clear the path.
“You must be busy. Go on.”
“Yes.”
Hassan bowed slightly to Yuri and headed for the entrance.
His lantern light faded into the distance.
Jared asked.
“Your Highness. What the hell was in there to make you react like that?”
“Well...”
Yuri stared into the deep darkness of the Imperial Library where Hassan had emerged.
“It was a porn collection.”
“Pardon?”
Jared blinked. The sacred words coming from the Imperial Library were beyond imagination—he needed time to process.
Yuri continued.
“And pretty extreme stuff...”
“Uh...”
“Open-minded, without prejudice...”
“What does that mean?”
“Who knew the Imperial Library even had things like that...”
Yuri raised the lantern high. The light reached farther, illuminating endless shelves.
“Since we're here, wanna explore more of the library?”
“Sure.”
Yuri and Jared wandered deeper into the Imperial Library.
It held every kind of book imaginable.
Then they stumbled on a section organized by swordsmanship. They spent a while fumbling through pages in the dark.
Yuri was surprised at how many ancient sword manuals there were.
“Amazing.”
“Outdated compared to now, but a few are worth noting.”
“Reading in the dark's bad for your eyes...”
“Rare chance to come here. Might as well.”
Yuri spotted an intriguing book.
The title was One-Point Thrust.
The entire volume explained a single technique. The text wasn't printed—it was handwritten and illustrated by someone.
“Ho...”
The concept was fresh.
Mastered well, it could be a new sure-kill move after his spinning sword flurry.
But it cut off abruptly at the end.
The last line read:
「I perfected the One-Point Thrust, but space ran out, so I won't write it here.」
And that was it.
No sequel on the shelf or anywhere.
Yuri trembled with rage as he checked the author. An unfamiliar name.
“What a infuriating bastard.”
Lost in reading, time slipped by unnoticed.
Yuri tapped Jared's shoulder as he pored over a book.
“Jared.”
“Yes.”
“What's got you so engrossed?”
“Swordsmanship.”
“Don't read that crap. Learn from me.”
“Pardon?”
“Let's go.”
“Understood.”
They finished their books and retraced their steps.
As they neared the entrance, Katrina's clear voice rang out. She was chatting with the elderly librarian.
Katrina spotted Yuri and waved.
“Oh, you're back?”
“Yes.”
Yuri glanced around. No sign of Hassan.
“By the way, who was that you met earlier...?”
“Ah, someone came to borrow a book.”
“They lend them out?”
The old man sitting with Katrina smiled faintly.
“To imperial kin, yes.”
Hassan wasn't imperial kin. But he'd said it was an errand, so his master must be.
Katrina explained.
“He's one of the Crown Prince's shadows. He comes to the Imperial Library on His Highness's behalf sometimes. Yugen loves books.”
Yuri and Jared exchanged looks. Jared whispered.
“Your Highness, that porn from earlier...”
“Quiet.”
“Yes.”
Yuri cleared his throat.
“Just curious... What kind of books does the Crown Prince like?”
“No idea. We don't check what imperial kin borrow...”
“I see. Ahem...”
Katrina tilted her head.
“What's wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“Shall we head out then?”
“Yes.”
She bid the librarian farewell.
“We'll be going now. See you, Parkinson.”
“Yes, Princess.”
They left the Imperial Library. Emerging from the dark into the fading sunset was dazzling.
Katrina smiled and asked.
“Want to look around more?”
“No, I'm good. It's getting late.”
They boarded the carriage and left the palace.
Yuri had been lost in thought the whole time.
Seeing him quiet, Jared whispered in his ear.
“Your Highness, what are you thinking?”
“Just thinking.”
“That porn from earlier...?”
“Shut it.”
Truth was, he was right. Yuri was pondering the porn collection.
Not reminiscing over the cover, of course.
His flustered reaction was fake—he wasn't fool enough to miss the disguise.
A perfect way to fluster someone and gloss over if the bundle's contents were exposed.
What could disguise the Crown Prince's secret porn better than porn itself?
Yugen Ivarna Grangzaiyen.
Mulling him over, the carriage suddenly stopped.
They'd arrived at Katrina's mansion.
They disembarked one by one. Twilight had fallen, dimming the surroundings.
Yuri bowed to Katrina.
“Thank you so much today, Princess.”
“No need.”
“I'll repay this debt.”
“You don't have to.”
“It's late. I'll take my leave.”
“Hmm...”
Katrina stared at him intently, then spoke.
“Yuri.”
It was the first time she'd called his name. She'd said she'd drop formalities once closer. Yuri replied calmly.
“Yes, Princess.”
Katrina smiled.
Her eyes crinkled softly.
“Want some bread before you go?”
Rolung looked up at the building.
It was a towering high-rise like a spire. Lights hung in rows, shining brilliantly.
A famed restaurant in the imperial capital. Even nobles struggled to afford it.
A staff member greeted him promptly.
“I'll guide you.”
Inside, a pulley elevator awaited.
Rolung rode it to the restaurant's top floor.
The staff said.
“It's an honor to show you the penthouse. Reserved for esteemed guests only.”
The doors opened as he finished.
Rolung was momentarily speechless.
Beyond the panoramic glass walls stretched the imperial capital's nightscape.
Stars clustered in the night sky, while colorful lights traced the city's contours below. Fireworks occasionally burst from the streets, dazzling the eyes.
A breathtaking view that made the heart race.
No jewel, however radiant, could compete if placed here.
But that was Rolung's misconception.
“Your guest awaits.”
Rolung turned at the staff's words—and forgot words again.
An existence more radiant than the backdrop, more beautiful than the night view embracing the capital, awaited him.
“You're late.”
Ekaterina smiled at Rolung.