Chapter 205
Chapter 205
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 205
Chapter Title: 82. Friend (3)
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Yuri headed toward the royal castle with Fenek.
The atmosphere was chaotic.
The residents rolled their eyes as if wary of everything around them, and when they spotted Yuri's group, they averted their gazes with frightened expressions.
Children usually trailed after knights, but here they hid behind their parents' legs instead.
Yuri glanced at Fenek.
"What's going on? Is this neighborhood always like this?"
"No, it's changed recently."
Brioll and Gyeol were different, but the Holy Kingdom was known as a nation that upheld the teachings of the gods, with relatively little class discrimination.
Yet this scene resembled the Empire.
The imperial palace where Yuri had stayed was filled with nobles and wealthy folk, so discrimination wasn't obvious, but in other parts of the Empire, treatment varied greatly by status.
Yuri clicked his tongue.
"The mood's heavy."
"We need to set things right."
They rode for several days and finally arrived at the Holy Kingdom's royal castle.
The city was clean and well-kept. White buildings reminiscent of temples lined the streets, and statues praising the gods stood at every corner.
Upon entering the castle, Yuri's group unpacked at a nearby inn as Fenek led the way.
Judging by the subtle exchange of glances with Fenek, the innkeeper seemed connected to the secret society he had mentioned.
"It's safe here."
"Does that mean other places aren't?"
"The royal guard is roaming around executing suspicious elements. Get reported on any pretext, and it's a hassle."
"I see."
The more he heard, the stranger it seemed. It didn't match the Holy Kingdom Yuri knew.
"What do we do now?"
"We'll move at night. The Holy Knight is waiting for you, Your Highness."
"The Holy Knight?"
"Yes. Hide here until then."
Yuri was stuck in the inn. Sitting in his room, pondering what lay ahead, the day soon began to fade.
When night fell, Fenek knocked on the door. Yuri stepped out with Guilty sheathed at his waist.
"Follow quietly."
Yuri gestured toward the other group members' rooms, but Fenek shook his head.
"Just us."
The two slipped out of the inn separately. The streets were nearly deserted at night. They kept their heads down and walked the darkened paths.
Soon, they reached a tavern with lights on.
Most places in the Holy Kingdom's capital shut down at night, but this one buzzed with customers.
Yuri sat down with Fenek.
"What? Here for drinks?"
"No. Wait here a moment. It's part of disguising our identities."
"Disguising how?"
"I'll be back."
"Huh?"
"Stay seated."
Fenek tapped the table while looking at Yuri, then stood and left.
Yuri stared blankly at his retreating back, then raised a hand.
"Hey, over here!"
A server approached.
To hide his royal nobility, Yuri adopted a rough tone.
"Hey, buddy. My throat's parched like a drought. Hit me with a cold beer!"
"Ah, sure."
Yuri downed the frosty beer while waiting for Fenek.
"This hits the spot. Where'd that Fenek guy go?"
As Yuri grumbled, someone suddenly sat across from him.
"Uh, no empty seats. Mind if I join you for a bit?"
Yuri slammed down his mug and wiped his chin with his sleeve, smirking crookedly.
"Who the hell are you, plopping down at my table uninvited?"
"Pardon?"
"These broad shoulders of mine already make this table cramped. You think I'll be comfy with you squeezing in too? Get lost!"
Working with a secret society meant outsiders could ruin everything.
His innate royal poise wasn't easy to conceal, so Yuri scowled fiercely to chase the man off.
But the guy wasn't one to back down.
"Hey, come on. A spot this big, and you call it cramped? You serious?"
"What?"
"You're too much. Think you can bully me 'cause I'm alone? You look pretty built yourself. Just picking on me 'cause I'm scrawny?"
"That's not it..."
"Bro!"
He waved toward the tavern entrance like he'd been waiting. A burly giant appeared right away.
The man strode in and loomed over Yuri.
"What's up, little bro?"
"This skinny punk insulted me."
"What?"
"Asked to share the table, and he spews filth I can't repeat, telling me to scram. If it's a no, just say no—why the abuse? What'd our mom ever do to him?"
"No, wait, when did I ever say that kind of thing..."
The giant's face twisted in rage.
"How dare he!"
His face bristled with beard stubble like thorns—a tigerish look.
It closely resembled the "Jabid" disguise Jared had used before.
"Did you really? Young fella."
"N-No, I didn't."
"Why lie?"
"I really didn't."
"This won't do. Hey, bro!"
Now the giant waved outside. Another man, short and stocky, marched in promptly.
"What's up, little bro?"
"This skinny punk humiliated the third bro."
"You little shit..."
Suddenly surrounded by three brothers, Yuri realized.
They were already seated around him at even intervals, like a group.
"No way..."
Glancing around, every seat in the tavern was taken. Newcomers lined up outside.
He got their game.
Spotting an easy mark to cut in line and steal a seat from.
And that mark was him.
"Ugh..."
Had he ever seemed like an easy target in his life? Guilty writhed at his waist, itching for blood.
But Yuri held back.
"Fine. Let's share."
"You insult my brother and now want to sit? Huh? Vacate and beat it!"
"Buddy."
Yuri glared.
"I see your trick, but tonight I'm yielding. No hard feelings—let's just have a beer. My treat. This stuff's killer."
With things this far, best not to cause a scene until Fenek returned.
The three exchanged looks, then nodded.
The short eldest grinned.
"A reasonable guy."
Yuri raised his hand.
"Hey! Ice-cold beers for these three gents that'll freeze their throats! Nah, four including mine!"
Mugs soon lined up before them.
The four clinked and drank.
"Holy Kingdom brew's the best. Holy Brewery's been on point lately."
"Nah, bro. Grace Brewery tops Holy."
"Faith Brewery's better, bros."
Yuri chimed in.
"Brioll's Knightly Brewery takes the cake, fellas."
Beer made friends of all. They bonded over their favorite brews.
More mugs flowed, and red flushes colored their faces.
The eldest spoke.
"Hey, young fella. Sorry about earlier."
Yuri shook his head.
"No sweat, buddy. That's life, right?"
"You carry a sword like a real martial artist. Why give up the seat so easy? We don't seem that scary."
Yuri gave a wry smile, downed his beer, and replied.
"Times like these."
"What times?"
"Shadows over the Holy Kingdom. No more kids playing till night. Gloomy days. Folks lose their slack naturally, right, buddy?"
The three eyed Yuri. He lifted his mug and continued.
"What I saw weren't three thugs stealing seats, but three lonely guys seeking a spot to belong, even in this tavern."
Silence hung over the table.
The quiet second bro suddenly thrust out his palm. Yuri slapped it with a smack.
"Sorry."
"No problem."
"You're right, kid. Truth is, I'm kinda unemployed. Used to hold the top spot everyone respected, but after an accident, I lost my edge and started floundering. My crew hides the incident to avoid shame without me, so I fake being fine, but behind my back, I'm yesterday's news..."
"Tough break, buddy."
Yuri clinked mugs with him.
Then the short eldest spoke.
"Me? I had real brothers. Not these two—blood kin. But the bastard up and gets lured, tries selling our family heirloom to some bigwig. Botches it, ends up in jail. Now it's all on me. Real tough."
"That's rough, buddy."
Yuri clinked with the eldest too.
Finally, the unassuming youngest piped up.
"Me..."
"You?"
"Just following these two. No backstory. People don't believe it, but I live hassle-free. No real worries."
"Lucky bastard."
Yuri didn't clink with him.
"A world where smooth sailing breeds envy—that's the Holy Kingdom."
The second bro asked Yuri.
"What about you, kid? Your story?"
"Me?"
"Eyes like you've got one."
"Well..."
Yuri smiled wryly.
"My big bro tried killing our dad. Might've succeeded—who knows. Everyone vanished after. Total mess of a family."
"Damn..."
"Gods..."
"My condolences."
The four drank in silence.
"Another round?"
"Sure."
"Yeah."
"One more cold one..."
That's when Fenek reappeared after ages.
He looked down at Yuri and the trio.
No outward emotion, but his eyes held a hint of pity.
"Drinking, are we?"
Yuri said,
"Sorry, man. These guys just joined..."
The second bro snapped,
"What, can't we have a drink? Huh?"
"Time to go."
"Life's shit enough—can't we just beer with this guy? Jealous?"
"Let's move."
"Ah, for fuck's..."
They seemed to know each other.
Yuri alternated glances between them. Fenek sighed, leaned toward Yuri, and whispered,
"This is the Holy Knight."
"Huh?"
***
Leaving the tavern, they headed to a nearby alley, opened a shabby door, and descended underground.
A vast, clean interior appeared—nothing like the rundown exterior suggested.
Yuri sat and pointed at the three flushed faces.
"So this guy's the Holy Knight? For real?"
Fenek, beside him, nodded.
"Yes."
"I pictured him neater, slimmer—like a pretty young Rolang type..."
"He used to be."
The Holy Knight bristled.
"What's wrong with this? I'm proud of it."
"Beer on your beard."
"Ahem..."
"Allow me. This is Holy Knight Francesco."
Yuri shook hands with Francesco.
"Nice to meet you. Yuri Brioll."
"Francesco. Another round later..."
He mimed tilting a mug with a goofy grin—hardly a top-tier holy knight.
Fenek introduced the eldest next.
"And this is Dwarf Umstein."
"Pleased."
"Plea..."
Mid-handshake, Yuri's eyes widened at him.
"What?"
"Umstein."
"No, before that..."
"Dwarf."
"Why?"
Umstein's eyes bulged.
"Why? Born that way."
Earlier it hadn't registered, but now: not just short—big nose, bulging eyes, subtle differences from humans.
Dwarves, like elves, were legendary races. Elves had the Last Elf Inariel and their World Tree forest, but dwarves? Even their existence was murky.
Just legends of them hiding underground in some mountains.
"Gods..."
Yuri's gaze shifted to the youngest.
Holy Knight and legendary dwarf revealed.
The last one's identity? Unimaginable.
At last, his mouth opened.