Chapter 207
Chapter 207
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 207
Chapter Title: 82. Friend (5)
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Yuri reflexively swung Guilty backward.
Feathers scattered in the air.
Flutter.
A white bird took flight with the sound of flapping wings and landed on Sibylla's shoulder.
He had thought someone grabbed the back of his neck, but it was the bird brushing against it.
Sibylla greeted it.
"Hello. Long time no see."
"Sibylla. When did you become a bird trainer?"
"It just happened. And you? When did you start imitating a rat?"
She acted as if she had known Yuri was there from the start.
"You were hiding pretty well."
"And you were imitating a king pretty convincingly."
"Imitating?"
Sibylla looked up.
"I'm not imitating. I'm the real king."
"Doesn't seem like it."
"What do you mean?"
"Just what I said. Doesn't seem like it."
"What kind of game are you playing right now?"
Sibylla stared at Yuri. Then she let out a sigh.
"Ah, I shouldn't get dragged into this. Yuri Brioll. You're always like that."
"Pretending to be calm now? You're not just good at king impressions."
"Get to the point. No more word games."
"This is the point. Why are you imitating a king?"
"I told you. I am the king."
"The king was Larson."
"That guy's dead."
Sibylla glared at Yuri.
"Did you sneak in here like a rat pup just to pick fights? You should be grateful I'm even talking to an intruder."
"Fine."
Yuri conceded immediately. In unfavorable situations, prodding with words was his habit.
"One question. Why attack Burssen?"
"Ah, is that why you're here?"
"Of course not. My friendship with you and worry for you are far bigger factors, but I'm asking in passing."
"Sure."
As the two conversed, Guldenstein huddled in the corner. Sibylla shot him a glance before speaking.
"Aras is our land."
"That's it?"
"What other reason would there be?"
"For example, the Empire might have offered to assassinate Larson in your place, put you on the throne, and then asked you to attack Burssen."
"Ha..."
"Huh, no response. Was I right?"
"I'm too dumbfounded to reply."
"That's not like you."
"Why do you keep spouting nonsense?"
"Did you decide to rip out that friend's tongue?"
"Decide is too formal. I just did it."
Sibylla glared at Guldenstein.
"This is all because of him."
"Got it."
Yuri crossed his arms and approached the bars.
Sibylla looked unchanged from before. She was exactly as he remembered. Yet something felt off.
A tremor stirred deep in Yuri's eyes.
His vision shifted into the Heart-Soul realm. The space was no longer a dim dungeon. In the blinding white glow, he could see their true forms.
Sibylla and Guldenstein's outlines flickered vaguely.
Soon, Yuri's eyes returned to reality.
"What was that just now?"
"Huh?"
"You just... something..."
"What? I just looked at you pitiful things. You and that dwarf..."
Yuri clicked his tongue.
"Sibylla."
"What."
"Your circumstances are tragic, and revenge is your business. But my enemy is the Empire. To stop them, your kingdom's alliance can't break. The Holy Kingdom picking a fight over Aras and attacking Burssen can't happen."
"And what will you do about it?"
Yuri recalled their first meeting.
She was the same as back then, armored in her heart to puff herself up.
"I'll stop you."
"How?"
"You'll find out soon. And..."
Yuri stared piercingly at Sibylla, arms still crossed.
"..."
His unwavering gaze flustered her.
"What are you staring at?"
Yuri silently held her gaze. In the silence, her face flushed.
"Spit it out if you have something to say."
"Sibylla."
"Yeah."
"Remember the Wish Coupon?"
Once, she had taken one from Yuri in exchange for pretending to be his lover. Several had been issued, and recovering them was tricky even for him.
"Use it now."
"Huh?"
"Our fates seem to have diverged. The coupon's expired. Can't use it anymore, so if you want to, do it now."
Sibylla stared at Yuri quietly.
Their eyes met.
She said nothing.
Yuri nodded.
"Alright. That's the end."
With that, he turned and headed for the stairs.
Sibylla spoke.
"Did I say I'd let you go quietly?"
But her words lacked force. Yuri just waved dismissively.
Guldenstein, who had been still, started groaning again. He seemed to believe Yuri would save him.
"Ugh! Uuuugh!"
"Shut up. Handle that dwarf yourself."
After Yuri failed to persuade Sibylla, the plan accelerated.
Yuri took Jared, Simon, and Guinness with the secret society's help to the site hiding the dwarf's treasure.
It was a mountain not far from the royal castle.
Holy Kingdom soldiers guarded it, but their numbers were few, making infiltration easy.
A cave lay within.
"You weren't there to persuade, were you?"
"Pardon?"
"From what I heard, you just traded barbs."
Francesco spoke to Yuri, who was peeking at the cave entrance from hiding.
"What do you mean?"
"You didn't convey true feelings. Neither you nor that queen have much social grace."
"Me?"
Yuri chuckled.
"Then how would you have persuaded her, Francesco?"
"Oh, Sibylla. I understand your heart. I'd have done the same in your shoes. Anyone would."
"Pardon?"
"Just say it, even if it's lip service."
"What's the point?"
"Sigh..."
"Sigh..."
They sighed in unison.
"Any guarantee Sibylla will come here?"
"She'll come herself. She doesn't trust others."
Yuri nodded.
"Curious about this treasure."
"You'll see when we get there."
Holy Kingdom soldiers guarded the entrance too. But Umstein knew another tunnel leading inside.
Yuri's group barely squeezed through the narrow passage, barely wide enough for one person.
Something was there.
"This is..."
Yuri raised his torch.
A house-sized mass sat there, its surface smooth. Mixed colors swirled—black, silver, occasional red. Up close, it resembled a starry night sky.
"What is this?"
Yuri had imagined a mighty weapon for a dwarf's treasure. But this was just a pretty rock.
Umstein answered.
"A meteorite."
"Pardon?"
Yuri's eyes widened.
"Meteorite. When we spot one falling, we dwarves go retrieve it. It contains minerals not found here."
"This is it?"
"Yes. And this was an unexpected haul. Who'd think the metal we dwarves prize most would clump this big?"
"What metal?"
"Legendary metal. We call it orichalcum."
"Ah..."
Yuri had heard whispers of it, but thought it myth.
"Dwarves found this?"
"Yes. Our ancestors hid it here, and my brother and I discovered it. But that fool offered it to the Holy Kingdom's king—that queen—for a deal."
"Ah..."
"Truly foolish..."
Yuri gazed blankly at the orichalcum.
"What can you make with this?"
"Anything."
Jared chimed in.
"Weapons too?"
"Of course. Weapons from this slice through any steel."
"Wow..."
Its size suggested many weapons.
Yuri muttered.
"Weapons from this could even take on the Empire..."
Then, commotion erupted at the entrance. Yuri's group scanned around and hid behind a rock outcrop.
"Isn't today not the queen's visit?"
"Indeed."
Their expected day hadn't arrived yet. But Sibylla appeared suddenly.
She entered with knights, dragging Guldenstein behind.
Umstein clenched his fists.
"Kuh..."
Sibylla looked up at the meteorite in awe.
"This the meteorite?"
"Auuu..."
Guldenstein nodded.
Sibylla touched its surface.
A strange glow rippled from it. Yuri and Umstein beside him widened their eyes in shock.
Sibylla stroked it, nodded, and smiled.
"Perfect."
She dismissed her subordinates.
"Everyone out."
"Pardon?"
"Leave me alone. Stay outside until I call."
"Y-yes."
"You stay."
She kept Guldenstein.
Once the knights left, she asked him.
"Can you smelt this?"
"Au..."
"Good. Can you shape it as I want?"
She extended her hand.
Incredible—the black aura from her fingertips spread like mist, forming a shape in the air.
A tentacled monster.
"Like this?"
Guldenstein nodded, too terrified to look properly.
"Yes."
Watching, Yuri muttered.
"Shall we now?"
"What?"
Francesco asked back.
They weren't here to act today. Just scouting the path and planning.
They lacked force for battle.
"Francesco. We could fight, right?"
"Well..."
He'd lost his Ten-Strong power, but retained some combat ability.
Yuri said.
"Sibylla's tainted by black magic."
That day, in the Heart-Soul realm, a black core grew in her body. She was corrupted.
And this traced back to his brother, Cedric.
"Leave her, she'll grow stronger. And who knows what she'll do with that meteorite. Stop her before she acts."
Sibylla planned a grotesque statue from it.
Her intent was baffling.
So Yuri wanted to intervene sooner.
"Risky..."
"A few more knights change nothing."
With that, Yuri invoked Heart-Soul Severing. Mana swirled around him.
Francesco's face changed.
"No... you..."
Once a Ten-Strong holy knight, he recognized Yuri's power instantly.
"Far stronger than I thought."
"Yes. Let's go."
Sibylla must have sensed Yuri's aura too.
Dark energy flooded the cave.
Yuri stood.
As Heart-Soul Severing surged, the pressing darkness scattered.
"Sibylla. Hi? Meet again."
"Yuri Brioll."
Sibylla scowled.
"Hiding there? Didn't expect you here. With those rat pups."
Yuri shrugged.
"You changed tastes quick? Making that freakish statue? Why not model after me? My face used to suit you better."
"Nonsense."