Chapter 16
Chapter 16
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: 8. One Who Transcends Heavenly Mandate
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Yuri."
As he left the ballroom, Cedric called out to him.
"Brother."
"What were you thinking?"
Rarely, Cedric's face was flushed. It was uncommon for him to show such excitement.
"It's fine."
"Fine?"
"I had no choice."
Yuri grinned.
"Was I supposed to just watch Ena die?"
Cedric looked down at him quietly, then let out a long sigh.
"Really..."
"No choice, right?"
Cedric ruffled Yuri's hair.
"This guy..."
Yuri felt a strange emotion wash over him. It had been so long since Cedric had messed up his hair like this.
He had always missed that touch.
"Yuri."
"Yeah."
"Want me to help?"
Cedric asked with a serious expression.
How exactly did he plan to help?
Yuri couldn't read his exact intentions, but he knew that if Cedric set his mind to it, he could make anything happen.
His brother, Cedric, was someone who could do anything.
"No."
But Yuri shook his head.
"I started this, so I'll finish it myself."
"Got it. Just... don't get hurt."
"Don't worry."
"Alright."
Cedric patted Yuri's cheek and gave a small smile.
"I believe in you. Yuri Brioll."
"Of course. What about the ball?"
"I'll handle it."
Fiore wasn't the type to smooth over the atmosphere, so Cedric had to step in.
"Go rest."
"Okay."
Watching Cedric's back as he returned to the ballroom, Yuri steeled his resolve.
Even at such a young age, he already knew how to soothe and lead people.
If the Empire hadn't invaded, what kind of kingdom would Brioll have become under Cedric's rule?
"This time, I'll get to see it."
Just as he had stepped into the duel to save Ena, he would stand against the Empire to protect the future Brioll that Cedric would build.
Tomorrow's duel was no issue for Yuri at all.
No matter who the opponent was.
The next day.
Hernando, heading to the training grounds to observe the duel trial, ran into Saned along the way.
"Hello."
Hernando greeted him warmly.
He had the look of an ordinary middle-aged man, but Saned was a capable leader of the Royal Guard in the kingdom of knights, Brioll.
"Sir Hernando. Are you headed to the training grounds by any chance?"
"Yes."
"I see. Well, this is..."
Saned scratched the back of his head, looking troubled.
"Were you at the ball yesterday?"
"Of course."
"Is the rumor true?"
"Rumor? What rumor?"
"Well..."
After hearing Saned's explanation, Hernando couldn't help but chuckle.
Yuri's actions were undoubtedly heroic. What prince would challenge the Empire to a duel to save a maid?
But as the rumors spread, the truth seemed to have gotten twisted quite a bit.
"The prince dirtied the imperial prince's robes and blamed it on the maid? And the second imperial prince scolded him directly, demanding he prove his innocence?"
"I thought it was nonsense too, but..."
Hernando laughed out loud again and explained the situation.
"It was the opposite, actually."
"I figured as much..."
"Though that version is more entertaining."
He could already imagine Yuri's reaction to hearing the garbled tale—it was amusing just thinking about it.
But unlike Hernando, Saned still looked full of worry.
"No matter the circumstances, I'm concerned about the duel ahead."
"What do you think, Sir Saned?"
"His Highness has exceptional talent, but even a squire from the Empire's Imperial Guard can't be taken lightly."
"Have faith in the prince."
"You trust him a lot."
"I've seen plenty."
"I hope it turns out as well as you say. What a bolt from the blue..."
By the time they finished talking, they had arrived at the training grounds.
Saned asked a Royal Guard member who was already there.
"His Majesty?"
"He'll be here soon."
Not knowing what might happen, only select personnel were allowed to observe the duel.
Excluding Fiore, there were a few priests and mages like Hernando for emergencies, and a handful of Royal Guards—that was it.
On the Empire's side, they had brought numerous armed knights, along with Georg and even Ekaterina.
It was an asymmetrical lineup caused by the presence of Fiore Brioll, the exceptional Swordmaster.
If he harbored killing intent, no one could stop him, so they had matched numbers as best they could.
"That boy's the opponent, huh."
"Yes."
Hernando looked at the boy standing across from Yuri.
He appeared three or four years older than Yuri, with a well-balanced build.
"Hm..."
Saned let out a low groan.
"The opponent's aura is remarkably stable."
"Is it?"
"For a squire to wield a sword so proficiently... as expected of the Imperial Guard."
The boy was swinging his sword through the air at an incredibly fast speed.
The Empire's Imperial Guard was one of the continent's premier fighting forces. Even their squires were said to be as strong as average knights.
How would this duel end?
He should be worried, but instead, Hernando felt his heart racing.
"Sir, why are you smiling?"
Saned asked quietly. It wasn't a rebuke—he genuinely seemed curious.
"Look."
Hernando pointed at Yuri.
Seated casually, he showed no sign of tension. He even winked upon noticing their gazes.
Saned couldn't help but smile too.
"You see what I mean?"
"I do. Still, my mind isn't at ease."
"No major incidents will happen. His Majesty is here, after all."
"I suppose so."
Hernando gave Saned a vague answer, but the real reason for his smile was something else.
He was just enjoying it.
Yes, it started then.
From that day he lost all his money to the prince at the card table, his heart had been pounding ever since.
"We're ready over here. How long are you planning to swing that sword at empty air?"
Yuri stretched and asked.
The boy showed no direct reaction. Instead, he swung his sword with an even fiercer aura.
Georg laughed.
"No need for more prep?"
"I'm good to go right now."
"Very well."
With a nod of his chin, the boy nodded as well.
"I'm ready too."
"Good."
Georg said to Fiore.
"Shall we begin?"
Fiore nodded.
All unnecessary formalities were skipped. The moment both took combat stances, Fiore started the duel.
It was a trial in name only—a brawl where they swung swords until one could fight no more.
With two immature boys clashing, any outcome wouldn't be surprising.
"Begin."
Immediately, the clash of metal rang out.
Hernando thought the scene unfolding before him felt strangely unreal.
Who could have imagined it?
The young third prince dueling the Empire's great warrior to save a maid who had dirtied the imperial prince's red robes.
One who should have died lived, and one who should live stood on the brink.
What magic could be more wondrous than this?
A strange gleam appeared in his eyes.
"Mm..."
Saned groaned softly.
Even to Hernando, who knew little of swordsmanship, the opponent's skill was clearly high.
The match hadn't tilted decisively, but it was obvious Yuri was struggling.
"Hernando."
For the first time since taking his position, Fiore spoke.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"What do you think?"
"Of the duel?"
"Yes."
"You can see better than I can."
"I'm curious about your opinion."
"I..."
Hernando answered honestly.
"Don't know."
Those words carried many meanings.
Fiore's expression didn't change.
"Hernando, you said coming to Brioll was following the will of heaven."
"Yes."
"I'll ask again. Is it time to leave?"
Hernando shook his head.
"No."
"I see."
Fiore smiled faintly.
It wasn't the expression one would expect while watching a duel with his son's life on the line.
"Good. Because you didn't say you were leaving."
"There you go again, praising this lowly mage so highly. I'm humbled."
"Lowly? Nonsense."
People saw Hernando as merely a battle mage skilled in combat spells.
That was only half true.
To stand beside a monster like Fiore, simple combat magic wouldn't suffice.
"You are a Grand Wizard."
The official rank bestowed by the Magic Tower was 'Grand Wizard.'
A being one step above the 'Master Wizard,' said to work miracles.
To earn the title of Grand Wizard, one needed a unique 'proprietary path of magic' that no one else could imitate.
Hernando's realm was the 'Heavenly Mandate Observation Ritual.'
He had been granted the magic to glimpse fates from the world itself.
"Should I take that to mean nothing bad will happen?"
"Who knows..."
Hernando reflected on the past.
He had first come to Brioll, as mentioned, due to the signs of heaven.
Through the Heavenly Mandate Observation Ritual, he met the one closest to the world's fate.
Fiore Brioll.
People thought he was near the continent's strongest.
But Hernando, who could glimpse the world's fate, knew better.
He wasn't near it.
He was the strongest.
The continent's supreme martial power.
If he wielded his sword, even the Empire wouldn't kneel easily.
Every decision he made shook the world's fate.
Yet Fiore never flaunted his power, simply pursuing the path of the sword endlessly.
The signs of heaven stabilized, and the strongest sword remained sheathed.
There might have been no more reason to stay in Brioll.
Then, one day.
He lost all his money to the third prince at the card table.
Everything.
He tried to win, but lost.
It was the first time he'd lost money in a game he'd taken seriously since acquiring his proprietary magic.
For a mage of Heavenly Mandate Observation to lose cards to a mere thirteen-year-old boy? Impossible.
He could tell an opponent's hand with a glance.
But that kid revealed nothing.
No fortune at all.
"In Your Majesty's view, who is stronger?"
"The opponent."
"I see."
When he climbed the sword mountain with Yuri, he had witnessed something too.
He'd called it a casino to Yuri, but that was a lie.
A burning Brioll.
A knight wielding a sword.
Bleeding from every inch of his body, yet never yielding, swinging his sword in desperation.
How could he not recognize it?
The black hair and eyes were symbols of the Brioll royal family, and that arrogant gaze was unmistakably the third prince's.
The vision ended with him collapsing in despair.
Even then, Hernando hadn't been fully convinced.
He suspected it might be an illusion.
But after seeing Yuri's mad antics outside the palace, Hernando impulsively activated the 'Heavenly Mandate Observation Ritual.'
A miracle he didn't know when he'd use again, wasted on peering into a single boy's future.
And yet.
He saw nothing.
It wasn't just fortune.
The boy had no fate.
Trembling anew at what that implied, Hernando spoke.
"Your Majesty. I actually thought it was time to leave."
He had come to Brioll following the signs of heaven.
The one with the greatest heavenly mandate was lost to the sword, letting his era slip by.
He thought their fates had diverged.
But now he knew.
The one he was truly meant to meet wasn't Fiore Brioll.
"But it seems not."
In the place he sought heavenly mandate, he met one who defied it. Was this the world's call?
Or had the third prince defied heaven to summon him?
He would watch with his own eyes.
Whether the world's fate would devour him, or he would devour the world's fate.
Hernando's heart pounded uncontrollably.
"Here's to continued cooperation."
Suddenly, a low cry erupted.
It was the Empire's great warrior.
The boy staggered back from Yuri's piercing strike, tripped, and fell.
Yuri seized the advantage with bizarre movements and brought his sword down.
Hernando saw it.
The boy's fate—a flower bud gathering dew to bloom—suddenly withered black.
As Yuri's sword plunged, the brilliant path of one man's heavenly mandate twisted into ruin.
In that inescapable moment of death.
Then, again.
"Ah...!"
The fully withered bud lifted its head toward the sun once more.
After the reversal of life and death, the boy's fate regained its light.
Saned muttered.
"My god. Twisting the blade in that situation..."
Yuri had launched an unavoidable strike, but twisted its path just before piercing the opponent's throat.
Life to death, death back to life.
A chain of survival.
To Hernando, every moment was a miracle.
"How was it?"
"I lost."
The Empire's great warrior admitted defeat.
Hernando smiled brightly.
A being beyond the world's fate.
Every step Yuri took defied destiny.
Life and death intertwined in an instant. Not only that, but the fortunes of all watching the duel crumbled to ash.
Even Hernando's own observed future dissolved into utter chaos.
Yuri Brioll.
One Who Transcends Heavenly Mandate.
What was his role, and how would he reshape the world's fate?
And.
Five years passed.