Chapter 203
Chapter 203
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 203
Chapter Title: 82. Friend (1)
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Yuri departed from Brioll in haste alongside the Revenge Knights.
In the meantime, the battle between Burssen and the Holy Kingdom had intensified.
Casualties were mounting, villages lay in ruins, and the front lines saw soldiers digging graves every day just to bury the dead.
Jared clicked his tongue.
"What a shame. Those people probably haven't died yet, right? The ones we fought with in the Allied Forces..."
"Who knows."
He knew Sibylla and Hose were still alive and kicking. News of them trickled in through the papers from time to time.
But for lesser-known figures like Burssen's Jonathan and Proin, or the Holy Kingdom's Fenek, there was no way to tell.
They could already be buried somewhere, and it wouldn't be surprising.
That was war.
"Worried?"
"A little."
"If they're already gone, just pour a drink on their graves. That's how fate works for people."
"Huh..."
Jared turned to glance at Yuri's profile.
The Yuri Brioll he served—now a royal commander—sometimes acted like a grizzled veteran who'd seen it all, far beyond his years.
"No affection at all."
"What?"
"You should say something hot-blooded like, 'I'll save them all!' or whatever."
"Nonsense. Everyone dies eventually."
"True enough."
"And we're off to kill someone else. If you don't want to die, you kill first."
"So whose head are we taking this time?"
"Who knows..."
Yuri didn't answer.
From the moment he'd decided to head for the Holy Kingdom, a vague premonition had been nagging at him.
Sibylla had stunned the world by suddenly ascending as the Holy Kingdom's queen, then shaken the continent again by declaring war on Burssen—an utterly outrageous move.
The paths of those who strayed always converged at one point.
Especially if dark magic was involved.
Yuri shook his head, trying to dismiss the thought, and spoke up.
"Who knows. We'll end up killing someone, I suppose."
"Can't we avoid killing?"
"The world doesn't flow like a fairy tale. No time for chit-chat. Let's pick up the pace!"
With that, Yuri spurred his horse forward. His mount broke into a faster gallop.
Jared grumbled as he followed, and the entire Revenge Knights contingent trailing them sped up in response.
Catching up to Yuri, Jared called out again.
"Your Highness. Your Highness."
"I told you to call me 'Your Highness'."
"Oops."
"If that's too much, call me 'bro'."
"No thanks."
Yuri burst out laughing at Jared's horrified expression.
"Can't control that face of yours?"
"Nope."
Every time Yuri suggested "bro," Jared's face twisted dramatically.
It wasn't just the term he hated—it felt humiliating, like Yuri truly saw him as a little brother who needed looking after.
And truthfully, Yuri did think of Jared as a somewhat deficient younger sibling he had to watch over.
Jared muttered under his breath.
"Younger than me, and yet..."
"You think I'm actually that young?"
"What are you talking about? I've known you since you were a little kid, Your Highness. Er, Your Grace."
"And you got thoroughly schooled by me even back then."
"No, I didn't."
"Eyes front."
"Pardon?"
"When riding, keep watch ahead even while talking."
"Ugh..."
Jared looked up.
In the distance, along the roadside, a group of people had set up camp. Instinctively, his hand went to his sword hilt.
"Bandits?"
"No."
"Then what?"
"You only know how to swing a sword—no real experience. Guess I'll have to make you call me 'bro' after all."
"What are those guys?"
"Mercenaries. And that's a merchant caravan beside them."
The flag they had raised high bore a mercenary company's emblem.
Three knots dangled from the pole—a mark of Triple-Knot Mercenaries, reserved for those whose skills had been officially recognized.
Ivan had once disguised himself as one back in Adelwein, but unlike then, these seemed like the real deal.
"Could be bandits posing as mercenaries."
Jared, apparently reminded of Ivan, offered his clumsy take.
Yuri sighed.
"As if."
"Why not?"
"You see that merchant flag?"
Jared rolled his eyes.
"Oh..."
It was the unmistakable symbol of the Ireine Merchant Company—no Briollan could miss it. Wagons loaded with goods were parked beneath it.
"No bandit gang would go that far, so it's the real thing. Mercenaries escorting merchants. Jared, think properly from now on."
"Y-yes, Your Grace."
Yuri and the Revenge Knights soon drew near the group.
One mercenary stepped forward and called out to the passing Yuri.
"Hey there, what kind of knights are you?"
Yuri slowed to a walk and replied.
"And you? Who are you, and where are you headed?"
"Come on, you first if you're going somewhere."
"You first, then."
"How do I know you're trustworthy?"
"Guess you like bickering. No point talking more, then."
"Wait up."
As Yuri moved to pass, the mercenary hurried after him.
"You're a tough one. We're headed to Burssen. As you see, we're mercenaries hired by the Ireine Company. That good enough?"
"Your company's name?"
"You won't know it anyway."
"I'll judge for myself."
"Raven Mercenary Corps."
A spark lit in Yuri's previously impassive eyes. He stared at the mercenary for a moment, then scanned the others.
"W-why? What's up?"
"The Raven Mercenary Corps operated up north, didn't they?"
"Oh, you know us?"
"Heard rumors."
"We're that famous? We came down chasing work. Place is a mess these days. And you?"
"Yuri Brioll. On my way to mediate between Burssen and the Holy Kingdom."
"Pardon?"
The mercenary's eyes widened at Yuri's response. Mulling it over, he stepped back, eyes bulging further.
"Yuri Brioll—as in, Brioll's third prince?"
"Now a royal commander. Call me 'Your Grace'."
"I had no idea I was speaking to someone so esteemed. My apologies."
He offered a clumsy bow.
"Where's Kro?"
"You know the captain too?"
"Heard the leader of the Raven Mercenary Corps, Kro, is pretty skilled."
Yuri knew plenty about Kro, the captain of the Raven Mercenary Corps.
In his past life, they'd fought together as mercenaries.
"Let's talk a bit. Everyone, halt."
The knights came to a stop beside the mercenaries.
The mercenaries, initially nonchalant, tensed up as the knights halted.
And for good reason—the Revenge Knights assembled by Jared were all top-tier fighters. Even the Ravens, strong in mercenary circles, could sense their prowess.
"Hmm..."
Yuri eyed the Ireine merchants. No one he recognized. Those handling direct caravans were usually low-level staff.
Soon, a man named Kro appeared.
"You called for me?"
For a mercenary captain, he was young. Shaggy brown hair framed a handsome face.
"Do you know me?"
"Heard rumors."
"From Brioll?"
"I've wandered far and wide."
"I see..."
Kro tilted his head.
"Well, if even the rumored third prince..."
"Your Grace."
"Ah, yes. An honor that the rumored Your Grace knows me."
"Headed to Burssen, right?"
"Yep."
Yuri had guessed their destination from the start.
War supplies at a glance, and plenty of them. This route pointed to Burssen or the Holy Kingdom, and per Yuri's wishes, Ireine was focusing support on Burssen.
Yuri made Kro an offer.
"When you reach Burssen, how about taking a job from me?"
"Pardon?"
"Once your Ireine gig ends, come find me. I'll have work for you. Generous pay—you won't regret it."
Being hired by high nobility was as good as a stamp of skill and reliability for a mercenary.
From royalty? Even better.
Kro replied.
"Sure. Sounds good. What kind of job?"
"What else do mercenaries do but fight?"
"Ahh..."
He pondered briefly.
A job from Brioll's royal commander mediating Burssen and the Holy Kingdom? Probably war-related.
Dangerous.
But he didn't dwell long.
"I'm in."
The riskier, the bigger the payout.
Yuri smiled.
"If things go well, I'll introduce you to a high priest from the Holy Kingdom."
"Pardon?"
"They're experts in healing. Someone worth knowing."
Kro stared at Yuri, eyes wide.
"Why? Not interested?"
"No, it's not that..."
"Then we're good."
"Thank you."
"No need for thanks. Just promising compensation for the job."
Yuri knew Kro well. Unlike Yuri, who'd wandered battlefields courting death, Kro dove into danger for money.
And Kro had one reason for the cash: a sister bedridden with illness. The cost was astronomical. He'd scraped it together after ages of toil, but too late—she died anyway.
Not long after, Kro fell in battle.
No one in Yuri's old unit lacked a backstory, and sometimes they'd die pointlessly, as if life held no meaning.
Kro was a good guy.
Yuri had even thought it would've been better if he'd died instead.
"H-hey, by any chance..."
"Yeah?"
"Did you look into my background?"
Kro asked.
Only a handful knew about his sister. Yet Yuri had mentioned a high priest like he knew the whole story.
It left Kro dumbfounded.
Yuri shrugged.
"Paranoid much? You think I'd do that?"
"No, sorry. Must've been my mistake."
"I've heard your name before, and we crossed paths by chance on the road. Just fate."
"Fate... fate..."
"Yeah. Fate."
Yuri grinned and clapped Kro hard on the shoulder—just like he used to when Kro was down in the dumps in their past life.
"I've got to hurry on. When your job's done, find me. No clue where I'll be, but that's on you."
Then Yuri turned.
"We're moving out!"
"Yes, sir!"
Kro stared blankly at his retreating figure. Younger and royal, yet it felt like dealing with a worldly elder.
Under Yuri's command, the knights moved as one. Their disciplined formation spoke volumes of his leadership.
"See you later."
With a casual wink, Brioll's royal commander, Yuri Brioll, departed.
"Whoa..."
A subordinate approached the dazed Kro.
"Looks young, but that presence is no joke. Him and those knights—all radiating killer intent. Never seen proper nobles like that. Guess royalty's different."
"He's the different one."
"You think?"
"Yuri Brioll."
Kro mulled over the name.
"Fate..."
Running into royalty on the road, getting a job offer out of nowhere, with a high priest hookup as bonus pay.
A miracle.
"Hey. You believe in God?"
"Me? Lifelong believer. You always said you didn't."
"Starting today, I do."
"Why?"
"Feels like God sent a messenger."
"What're you on about...?"
"Let's go. Time to move. Everyone up!"
Kro suddenly bellowed.
"Pick up speed! We're hauling ass—pack it up!"
The Ireine merchants protested, but Kro ignored them.
"Getting there faster helps your company too, right?"
"Still, this is rough. We should go slow..."
"Won't die from a little hardship. Up."
"Handling things so recklessly won't get you good recommendations later."
"Don't need your recommendations anymore."
"What?"
"Move it, you lazy bastards. Think I don't know you're dragging your feet to milk the pay? Want me to tell headquarters?"
Kro was in a rush.
If it was fate from the gods, he had to seize it before it slipped away.
"Come on, let's go!"