Chapter 118
Chapter 118
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 118
Chapter Title: 51. Falling Flowers (1)
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Yuri had anticipated that Rolang might try to hand him the medal.
Given what he'd seen of Rolang so far, it was entirely plausible.
The problem was the emperor.
He'd even staked a promise before the tournament. If Rolang just casually gave the medal to Yuri, the emperor might feel his dignity had been slighted. He could even misconstrue it as Yuri having put Rolang up to offering it as tribute.
Yuri had no desire to get on the emperor's bad side.
That's why he'd subtly hinted for Rolang not to do it, just in case.
But Rolang ignored all of Yuri's efforts and rushed straight over to him.
"All these victories are thanks to Your Highness. It's only right that I offer this to you."
"Uh, alright..."
Part of him wanted to hurl the medal away, but with everyone's eyes on them, he had no choice but to reach out and accept it.
The silent arena began to fill with applause.
"Is that the Brioll knight...?"
"What loyalty."
"Handing all the glory to his lord—something you don't see much in the Empire these days."
The crowd praised Rolang's actions.
Yuri wore a reluctant expression as he glanced toward where the emperor sat.
Ivar was stroking his chin with a peculiar look on his face, gazing down at Yuri and Rolang.
Lowering his voice, Yuri scolded Rolang.
"Rolang."
"Yes."
"I told you not to give it to me."
"I still wanted to."
"No, I..."
"Please forgive me."
With him putting it that way, Yuri couldn't press further. He just let out a sigh.
In any case, with the tournament winner having offered his medal to someone else, the event could be considered fully concluded.
Petals rained down from the sky, and fireworks burst overhead.
And so the tournament came to an end.
Rolang was called back to the stage and soon surrounded by the Empire's nobles who'd watched the matches. He responded to them with a smile. Moments like these really drove home that he was the scion of a prestigious house.
Yuri stood from his seat, planning to slip away quietly.
He suddenly felt eyes on him and turned to see the emperor watching.
He gave a light bow in greeting. The emperor nodded back.
"Jared."
"Yes."
"What do you make of the emperor's expression?"
"Hm..."
Pretending to stretch, Jared sneaked a glance at the VIP seats and replied.
"He looks pleased."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"That's even worse."
Yuri sighed and began leading his group away.
The audience raised their hands toward him, cheering wildly.
"Brioll! Brioll! Brioll!"
Even the Imperials chanted Brioll's name, congratulating Yuri, the medal's new owner.
As he watched Rolang Flandre dash toward Brioll's third prince to offer the medal, Emperor Ivar felt a strange mix of emotions.
He'd been mentally preparing himself for the possibility that the knight might become his son-in-law, only for the man to suddenly scamper off and present the medal to his own lord instead.
The third prince hesitated awkwardly before accepting it.
Both the knight and his master were exceptional.
"I want him."
He murmured to himself while stroking his chin.
Rolang's effortless tournament victory had piqued his interest, but Yuri Brioll—who inspired such loyalty in a man like that—was even more tantalizing.
Testimony from the Third Knight Order's commander had confirmed Yuri's skills surpassed even Rolang's. He was a talent whose potential seemed limitless.
Ivar called for his daughter.
"Ekaterina."
"Yes."
"How does it feel to be turned down?"
"No big deal. At least I don't have to resent you for it, Father."
"Hahaha..."
Ivar burst into laughter.
"Lucky, huh? Yeah, I'm relieved too."
Regardless of Ekaterina's response, Ivar continued.
"If Rolang had offered the medal, I might've regretted it forever."
He thought about Brioll's third prince.
Six years ago, his second son had returned from Brioll raving about an intriguing prospect.
He'd seen great promise in the third prince and suggested securing him early if possible. But Ivar hadn't paid it much mind back then.
How could he possibly acquire Fiore Brioll's son?
Marriage was the only option, but Ekaterina was too valuable a card to play on some Brioll third prince.
It just didn't balance out.
So he'd let it go in one ear and out the other.
Yet now, six years later, meeting the man face-to-face made Ivar rue that decision. He was a prize in every way.
"Well, better late than never."
Ivar smiled.
The Empire held sway over the entire continent, and he was the emperor who ruled it utterly.
Whatever he desired, he could have.
Be it an object or a person.
Gazing at Yuri's back as he hurriedly left the arena, Ivar smiled.
"Yuri Brioll, eh..."
After sending Rolang back to the hotel to rest, Yuri headed straight to the Mage Tower with Jared.
Today was the day he was set to meet Inariel.
He didn't know much about the parchment infused with black magic, but he'd promised to look into it separately for Yuri and Hernando.
Then, just before the tournament began, word had arrived.
Inariel had found something.
That's why Yuri's steps were so hurried. He was more eager for what Inariel had to say than for the emperor's medal tucked in his pocket.
"Your Highness, what will you do with the medal?"
"Sell it? Could fetch a good price."
"You can't sell a medal from the emperor."
"Melt it down, then."
"That'd be a shame."
They bantered idly as they entered the Mage Tower.
He'd learned late why the tower had no guards.
The rows of identical wooden doors each connected to a mage's workshop. Without a mage's permission, unauthorized entry was impossible from the start.
Yuri deftly opened the door and stood before Hernando's workshop.
No matter how many times he saw it, it was indistinguishable from a real forest.
"You're here."
Inariel was sitting cross-legged in front of Hernando's log cabin, deep in meditation.
Spotting Yuri, he rose. The cabin door opened, and Hernando came rushing out.
Yuri exchanged formal greetings with Inariel before cutting straight to it.
"You found something about the parchment?"
Inariel chuckled.
"Straight to the point, eh? You must be in a real hurry."
"Yes. Very."
"They say the more urgent the matter, the more you should circle back. Might apply here."
He picked up the backpack from the floor.
"I asked my old friends about it. If they'd ever seen a parchment imbued with black magic."
"And?"
"Got an interesting story in return. Can't verify it myself, but it rang true enough."
Yuri urged him on with his eyes.
With the tournament over, his time in the Empire was running short. He could linger longer, but it might arouse suspicion.
He wanted solid leads while he was here on official business.
Inariel spoke.
"Adelbine."
The unexpected name made Yuri look up.
"They say that parchment surfaced when Adelbine fell."
Adelbine was already a ruined kingdom.
Destroyed by none other than the Death Knight.
Adelbine had a knight named Gerth, its mightiest warrior. After some manner of death, he was resurrected—even stronger, a monstrous being.
He attacked all living things indiscriminately.
No one could stop him.
Adelbine crumbled, its people scattered. The capital became a barren wasteland, echoing only with the Death Knight's eerie breaths—a land of death.
Gerth, who doomed an entire nation, earned infamy enough for a spot among the Ten Strongest.
"They say Gerth became the Death Knight because of black magic. Did that parchment turn him?"
Inariel shrugged at Yuri's question.
"Hard to say without seeing it myself. But it's not impossible."
"Who told you this?"
"Can't say."
"I see..."
It was too vague to count as a real lead.
They'd searched far and wide in the Empire but found little. And the one clue that emerged pointed to Adelbine—hardly helpful.
"Wish I could take something useful back from the Empire."
Yuri thought of Ragnar.
He was looking into palace affairs. So busy lately that Yuri hadn't seen him. He hadn't even attended the tournament.
How was the investigation going?
"Hold on."
Suddenly, Inariel raised a hand.
"Someone's here. Check outside the workshop."
Hernando tilted his head curiously and headed to the tower-connected entrance.
Opening the door revealed a man standing outside—an unfamiliar face to Yuri, likely a tower mage.
His face was flushed.
"Sir Hernando."
"What is it...?"
"Urgent business."
The tower mage spoke to Hernando, whose expression quickly hardened.
He turned to look at Yuri.
Yuri tilted his head.
Hernando rarely wore such a grave look.
Snatches of the conversation drifted over.
"...this might mean inspections for visiting mages. Please don't take offense and stay cautious..."
Hernando nodded to the mage, who said a few more words, bowed, and left.
The door closed.
Yuri asked Hernando.
"Hernando, what was that about? Why the shock?"
"Your Highness."
"Yeah?"
"Don't be too startled by what I say."
"What?"
"Ah..."
"Spit it out."
"Well..."
Catching Hernando's gaze, Yuri began to feel uneasy.
"Your Highness."
"Tell me already."
"Prince Ragnar..."
"Prince?"
"He's passed away."
"What?"
Yuri blinked in disbelief.
Hernando's words didn't sink in right away.
"No, why?"
He struggled to stay composed. His hands trembled faintly.
"No reason given."
"The prince..."
Yuri had warned Ragnar about suspicions surrounding the crown prince. Ragnar had promised to investigate personally and report back.
That was their last exchange.
Yuri had worried it might be dangerous, but not like this.
He recalled his previous life.
This wasn't the time for Ragnar to die.
Far too soon.
Just as Yuri's changes had altered the future in many ways, Ragnar's fate had been overturned too.
Yuri had saved those meant to die before.
But this was the first time someone who was supposed to live had died around him.
"It's not widely known yet, but rumors are spreading. There'll be fallout."
"Right..."
Not just anyone—the emperor's own brother.
"For now..."
Yuri ran a hand through his hair, lost in thought. His mind was too jumbled to think straight.
"We need to confirm the cause of death."
"Wouldn't it be better to stay quiet?"
"No, I can't do that."
"Your Highness..."
"Don't worry. I won't do anything reckless."
"Yes..."
Fiddling with Guilty's hilt, Yuri said,
"Jared."
"Yes."
"Follow me."
"Understood."
He bowed to Inariel in farewell and promptly left Hernando's workshop.
As the door shut behind them, Hernando let out a long sigh.
"What will happen now...?"
Ragnar's death shocked him too.
This wasn't how the man was supposed to go.
Had the black magic's master killed him as he closed in on the truth?
If that speculation held, the danger was greater than imagined.
If even a royal prince could be assassinated, the imperial family might truly be compromised by black magic.
Hernando glanced over. Inariel looked unfazed.
"You're taking it well."
"What's to be surprised about?"
He shook his salmon-colored hair.
"With black magic in play, anything can happen."