Chapter 190
Chapter 190
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 190
Chapter Title: 77. Crossroads (3)
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Yuri tossed a few questions at Enoch. Though accompanied by a bit of violence, the interrogation proceeded fairly smoothly overall.
"What kind of tea did you drink?"
"Pardon?"
"What tea did you have while talking with Ekaterina?"
"I'm a knight. I don't remember the exact type of tea."
Thwack.
"Remember now?"
"C-Come to think of it... it was something like Earl Grey."
"Earl Grey?"
"Yeah."
Thwack.
"Why'd you hit me?"
"Why drag it out when you could've just said it? You like getting hit or something?"
"What nonsense is that!"
"Anyway, back to it. Did you drink the Earl Grey straight, or as milk tea?"
"I think it was mixed with milk."
"How was it mixed?"
"Huh?"
"How did you mix the milk and Earl Grey?"
"Why ask something so obvious? Just pour in the milk and..."
Enoch's eyes widened mid-sentence.
"C-Come to think of it..."
"Anything unusual about it?"
"Yeah!"
Enoch flipped over, propping up his torso with a bounce of his hips. Bound as he was, that was the extent of his emotional display.
"At first, I thought it was some quirky habit. She made it into milk tea, but suddenly..."
"No stirring, just shake it?"
"Exactly! She told the servant not to stir but to shake it! The servant brought a shaker like it was routine, shook it up and down to froth it up, and served the foamy milk tea. It was really..."
"You know how to enjoy it properly, right?"
"Huh?"
"Anyone who really knows milk tea does it that way."
As he replied, Yuri bowed his head and pressed his forehead. His suspicions were confirming as fact.
Ekaterina must have returned to the past just like me.
He recalled her green eyes staring intently at him.
"Hoo..."
But if his guess was right, she likely didn't have complete memories like he did.
Because he was the one who'd tricked her into shaking her milk tea.
People who know how to drink milk tea do it that way—he'd joked about it, and Ekaterina had believed him completely, doing it for a while.
She'd even convinced herself it really tasted different. She seemed so sincere that he couldn't bring himself to tell her the truth for a long time.
Eventually, when he confessed it was all a lie, her face turned beet red, and she pummeled him with her fists.
Of course, not one hurt...
"Yuri Brioll. Why the suddenly wistful look?"
"It's nothing."
After that, Ekaterina never shook her milk tea again.
"If her memories are incomplete, it makes sense she'd stay put..."
"Muttering to yourself again?"
"Enoch. Are there many knights who follow Ekaterina like you?"
"You keep calling me so casually. Yuri Brioll."
Thwack.
"Ow!"
"You're calling my name too."
"Huh, so I am?"
Enoch shook his head and continued.
"Of course there are. Plenty of knights smitten by Her Highness's beauty and kind heart."
"Doesn't the Crown Prince keep them in check?"
"Beats me. I don't know the palace intrigue that deep."
"Useless."
"What'd you say?"
Yuri reached his conclusion.
Ekaterina had returned to the past like him.
But her memories were probably incomplete.
Yuri had more questions.
Why would Ekaterina, part of the Empire, help him?
Could this be reverse intel instead?
"Enoch."
"Yeah?"
"Why go so far as to send you to help me?"
"No idea. But personally? She seemed to feel some guilt toward you."
"Guilt, huh..."
Yuri smirked.
"Got it."
Whatever the case, he could confirm it by meeting Cedric in person.
"Interview over."
"Releasing me now?"
"No."
"I'm done here. Gotta head home soon..."
"Says who?"
Yuri opened the interrogation room door.
"Jared. Lock this guy up."
"Yes, sir!"
"Wait! Yuri Brioll!"
He started wailing. Yuri sighed.
"Enoch, you useless idiot!"
"Why the sudden insult again!"
"You think the Empire will welcome you back with open arms if you're released right away? Or suspect you've colluded with Brioll?"
"Well..."
"If getting charged as a spy and slurping beef stew through your nose in the palace dungeon is your dream, I'll let you go."
"No, that's not..."
"Then stay put."
"What if I approach like I barely escaped?"
"Just rest up before you go."
"Okay."
Enoch glanced at his bound body.
"Could you at least loosen these...?"
"Jared. Toss him in."
"Yes, sir!"
"Hey, young fellow. Jared, was it? You, right now... Mmph!"
"Gag him too."
"Got it."
After locking up Enoch, Yuri headed straight to the ramparts.
Night had already fallen.
In the distance, lights flickered in the Imperial army's camp.
Just like the Brioll forces, they were likely healing from the day's battle wounds while preparing for the next clash.
"Jared."
"Yes."
"Can't step away, can I?"
"Hm..."
Jared crossed his arms, gazing in the same direction as Yuri.
Drums echoed faintly now and then from afar.
"Yes."
Jared said firmly.
"Everyone's fighting hard, but the Imperial forces are strong. That's fact. His Majesty faces the Black Knights and Empire elites, so you need to command from the walls."
Being too competent was a problem.
Yuri was handling what should have been a veteran knight's role.
Not just taking it on—he did it too well, and now the entire force depended on him.
If he left now, could they handle another Imperial assault?
"My mistake."
He couldn't do everything alone.
He should have delegated roles earlier, but he'd stepped up too much.
"Is it because of Enoch earlier? Heading to the palace to see the Crown Prince?"
"Yeah."
"Send a letter."
"Need to see his face."
"Hmm..."
Jared nodded.
"I get it. Sir Rolang said something similar lately. He's been off. And from him, of all people."
"Right?"
"Go."
"Huh?"
"My call. Better if you do."
"Hm..."
"You look doubtful."
"You said I had to stay."
"That was then. This is now. Want logic?"
"Shoot."
"If we lose without one prince, we lose anyway."
Yuri eyed Jared's profile as he stared at the horizon.
"What if we really fall?"
"We can't. Look—border or palace? Palace is the heart. If the Crown Prince is compromised, even colluding with the Empire, Brioll's in deep shit now. Not just one castle."
Jared thumped his chest.
"Go quick, come back calm, and fight easy. Clear mind swings the sword clean. Kill five instead of ten? You're useless then. Got it?"
"Jared."
"Yes."
"You're really..."
"Touched?"
"One lucky bastard."
"Pardon?"
"From inhuman scum to human thanks to me. Can't say it better than good fortune."
"Not the time for praise?"
"Praise for what?"
"Sigh..."
"Anyway, explain to Father well."
"Huh?"
"Skip Enoch. Say urgent business at palace. Explain later, back soon. Tell him good."
"Sudden? Never talked to His Majesty."
"Do it now."
"As escort, shouldn't I go?"
"Time's tight. Long tail slows you."
Yuri turned.
"I'm off."
"Prince? Right now?"
"Yeah."
Yuri didn't hesitate.
He went to the stables, mounted his black steed, and rode out.
"Good luck."
Watching Yuri gallop away, Jared stood dazed.
"Whoa, he's really going."
Yuri rode southeast toward the capital.
Using the Mana Circulation Method to deflect air resistance, his horse charged unhindered.
How long had he ridden?
Suddenly, a fork in the road appeared with a weathered signpost.
One path led to Franchese, the other to the kingdom's heart.
Rolang had likely stopped here before turning toward Franchese.
Not far.
A bit more, and Franchese would appear. Maybe detour quick.
Yuri pondered.
Franchese was blockaded, but asking soldiers if Rolang passed should be fine.
"..."
Yuri gripped the reins.
No need for Franchese now. Can't waste time. Priority: palace, clear suspicions.
He spurred the horse.
It bolted again.
As Yuri vanished, fierce wind howled, rattling the old signpost until it crumbled amid dust.
Only the crossroads remained.
Rolang stared at the mansion.
A place he'd known since childhood, yet it felt alien now.
In his memories, it always gleamed white under sunlight.
But today, thick clouds shrouded the sky, casting eerie shadows over the entire estate. The building seemed faded to ashen gray.
Rolang approached the gate in the surrounding wall. No knights to greet him.
"Sir Knight. Do we really have to go in?"
Stephanie spoke from behind. Rolang nodded curtly.
"Just check and leave."
"Yes..."
Stephanie wanted to flee Franchese, but Rolang had business. They'd agreed: visit castle, then leave immediately.
Rolang pushed the handle.
The iron-barred door creaked open unpleasantly.
Stepping inside, he sensed hostility.
"Stay back."
He warned Stephanie and drew his sword.
Zombies lurking revealed themselves.
Their skin melted horrifically, as Stephanie had warned—the stronger variants.
Rolang had learned fighting zombies: the stronger pre-death, the stronger undead. Tough ones bore knightly traces.
Zombies charged fast.
Rolang raised his blade.
Though grotesque, most faces were familiar.
Franchese knights who'd called him young master.
As he cut them down, Rolang thought:
Maybe I die here today.
Gazing at dismembered zombies, he lowered his sword tip. To Stephanie behind the door:
"Stephanie. Hide here."
"Pardon?"
"I'll be back."
"S-Sir Knight. Let me come too..."
"No."
He turned.
"If I don't return, run."
"Huh? Alone, how..."
Rolang didn't answer.
Frightened, Stephanie glanced around, then slipped into the small guard post by the entrance he'd cleared.
"Come back quick..."
Ignoring her voice, Rolang crossed the garden to the mansion front.
He sensed zombies crouching in the dark.
Franchese—and House Flandre—had fallen.
Rolang accepted it anew.
As the last survivor of House Flandre, he had to end it himself.
He stepped inside.