Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: 12. March (1)
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Who could have imagined that Count Sidoor's banquet would end like that?
After a sleepless night, the Brioll army set out from Sidoor Castle early the next morning.
"Your Highness."
Before departing the castle, Haime stopped Yuri.
"Take this one with you."
It was Cory, the interpreter for the orc's tongue. He stood by Haime's side, head bowed low.
His face was hidden under a hood, his body wrapped tightly, revealing only that he was small in stature.
"Cory, was it?"
Haime nodded.
"Yes. You saw him last night."
"Is he healthy?"
"His stamina is weak, but no issues otherwise."
"Temperament?"
"Meek and obedient."
Haime added with a faint smile.
"Rare for his kind."
"I see."
Yuri nodded and turned to Cory.
"Cory."
"Yes?"
"Can you ride a horse?"
"N-No, I can't."
"Then you'll have to learn."
He then said to Haime.
"Lend me a horse. I'll pay for it."
"No need. Consider it a gift."
Cory looked flustered by the sudden decision, but he didn't have the courage to refuse.
Haime provided a small pony suited to Cory's size.
"Someone who knows the orc tongue is valuable manpower."
"Th-Thank you, my lord..."
Cory awkwardly took the reins.
Even mounted on the pony, his eye level wasn't much different from Yuri's on foot.
Cory hesitated for a moment before speaking to Yuri.
"My lord, there's something I should tell you in advance..."
"I know."
"Pardon?"
"Don't worry about it."
"No, it's not that..."
"Take this."
Yuri handed him something—a pair of finely crafted leather gauntlets.
"These are..."
Cory looked down at the gauntlets, then bowed his head and offered them back to Yuri.
"Th-They're too good for someone like me..."
"I'm giving them to you."
"But..."
"You little..."
Yuri drew the whip from his saddle and cracked it against Cory's pony. The pony bolted forward.
Cory screamed as he clutched the reins.
Yuri watched his retreating figure and chuckled.
"Will he be alright?"
Hernando poked his head out from behind. True to form as a mage, he appeared and vanished at will during the march.
"Why wouldn't he?"
"If they find out, the soldiers might not like it."
"What can they do if I'm the one bringing him along?"
Yuri placed a hand on Hernando's shoulder.
"Perfect timing. Hernando, you keep him with you."
"Pardon?"
"Even mages need a squire."
"Why me..."
He trailed off, looking troubled. But to Yuri, it seemed like he'd shown up precisely for this.
As proof, Hernando's face broke into a wide grin.
He was hopeless at hiding his emotions, just like at the gambling table.
"Cory has his uses, so take good care of him."
"If you insist that much, I suppose I have no choice. Heh heh heh..."
Hernando hummed a tune. Yuri began to worry for Cory.
"You won't do anything shady, right?"
"What kind of talk is that..."
"Then I'll trust you."
Yuri mounted his horse. The other knights were waiting.
"Your Highness. You've arrived."
Their attitude had changed.
Last night, Yuri had kept his composure amid the chaos and deftly controlled the men.
Such boldness and calm inspired respect. He'd proven he was no coward, at the very least.
Yuri spurred his horse forward with a cheerful tone.
"Good morning. Isn't it?"
"Yes..."
The knights' voices, by contrast, were subdued.
Dark circles shadowed their eyes—they'd clearly lain awake mulling over what they'd seen.
Yuri laughed aloud.
"Alright, let's march again."
Before leaving the castle, Yuri glanced back.
Haime watched him from atop the walls.
Yuri placed a hand over his heart and bowed in thanks. Haime returned the gesture.
Thanks to Haime, the young knights had gotten their first taste of orcs—and stoked their hatred for the enemy besides.
Yuri had gained everything he needed.
He murmured the man's name.
"Haime Sidoor..."
He carried a strange madness, but Yuri liked him.
"He won't die this time."
With Haime joining the Allied Forces at the head of his army, there'd be no orc to murder him.
Yuri called out to Cory, riding alongside Hernando.
"Cory."
"Yes."
"Do you hate orcs?"
Cory hesitated, then nodded.
"Yes."
"Good. You'll get to see plenty of them die."
"Yes, my lord."
"Sir Raymond."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Is the pace alright?"
"Faster than expected."
"Excellent. There should be bandits beyond the border, right?"
"Of course."
"We'll hit them on the march, as long as it doesn't slow us down."
Raymond chuckled once, then nodded.
"Yes."
The Brioll army soon reached the border.
The soldiers guarding the kingdom's outermost edge had a different air about them. The unique stench of blood from constant real combat hung in the air.
Yuri found the commander and obtained a map of the area.
It detailed merchant routes, bandit hideouts, and orc sighting spots.
"We're outside Brioll from here on."
Yuri addressed the assembled troops.
"Enemies could appear anytime. If you've been slacking, tighten up now."
The soldiers tensed.
Veterans were mixed in, but most were green. The knights were no different.
"Let's go."
The Brioll army crossed the border under Yuri's lead.
A barren plain stretched out. No sign of human life.
The distant horizon awaited them.
"Jared."
At Yuri's call, Jared spurred his horse forward from the rear.
"Yes."
"You're on scout duty now."
"Pardon?"
Yuri unfolded the map, pointed to their position, then tapped the area for Jared to recon.
"This isn't toward Gide..."
"We left early. A detour won't hurt."
"Wait. This mark..."
Jared checked the legend at the map's edge.
"Bandits?"
"Vile scum disrupting the border and preying on merchants."
"They'll just run if we go."
"No, we pursue and kill. Even if some escape, wrecking their lair will pin them down."
Yuri thumped Jared's chest.
"Hey, look behind you."
Jared glanced back. Tension etched the faces of the young knights and trailing soldiers alike.
Only Rolang shot Yuri an intense gaze.
Yuri turned away.
"Everyone's on edge, right? Of course, for a talent like you, Jared, combat's as natural as breathing..."
"Understood."
"I'm just a young, inept princeling who needs a warm-up."
"I get it."
"Don't get cocky just 'cause you swing a sword well. Geniuses can't comprehend us mortals..."
"I said I got it!"
Jared snatched the map copy and compass, then galloped off.
"Here!"
Yuri tossed him a telescope from his pocket. Jared caught it mid-ride without looking back.
As Yuri watched Jared race toward the horizon, Raymond approached.
"A fine idea."
"Isn't it?"
"Yes."
Raymond stroked his beard.
"Even light skirmishes—better they experience how to fight."
"Only you grasp my deeper intent."
"Hahaha..."
He added casually.
"You weren't much fazed last night."
"Seemed that way?"
"Yes."
"I was shocked too."
Raymond pointed to Jared, now a speck.
"Speaking of, I hear Your Highness favors that one."
"Favor? I just keep him around."
"Sir Saned said he grew fearsome after meeting you. Few in the Royal Guard can match him now."
"I made the man."
"I thought I knew you, Your Highness, but you're full of surprises."
"Guess you didn't expect much."
"Fair to say."
"What does Genad know? Bet he badmouthed me plenty."
"Hahaha..."
"Sir Raymond."
Yuri eyed him.
He was a man who'd spent as many years on battlefields as wrinkles on his face.
Knights like him were like old swords.
Unimpressive in the sheath, but razor-sharp when drawn.
Yet without a worthy master, they stayed sheathed forever.
"Mind a dull question?"
"Ask away."
"Why do you fight?"
"Why I fight."
Raymond's eyes widened, then he scratched his jaw.
"Haven't heard that in ages. To a knight, why we fight..."
"These are the times."
"My answer's an old one, nothing more."
"I'm listening."
"Brioll's peace."
He grinned sheepishly.
"That's it. Dull, eh?"
"No."
Yuri grinned back.
"Sir Raymond."
"Yes."
"From now on, you'll fight solely for that."
Raymond stared at Yuri. Yuri gazed ahead, ignoring the look.
"I promise."
Then he spurred forward.
"Keep the pace. I'll ride ahead a bit."
"Where to?"
"Can't fully trust Jared."
"Your Highness!"
"Don't worry."
Yuri kicked into a gallop.
The air beyond the border whipped across his body.
The wind felt like a welcoming lash. Memories of the past surged back.
Back then, he'd fled to forsaken lands with nothing left.
Now was different.
"Brioll's peace..."
A fine answer.
Yuri laughed as he rode.
Jared scanned the distance through the telescope.
"Hey."
"Don't talk. You'll spook the horse."
"Can you see?"
"Yes."
"Let me see."
"Still looking."
"I gave you that..."
"You assigned me recon."
"You've grown, Jared."
Yuri snorted and kicked the man bound tight behind him.
"Mmph! Mmph!"
"Shut it before I gag your nose too."
"..."
The bandits had sentries, for all their worth.
Yuri and Jared had captured him, pressed a blade to his throat, and coerced directions to the lair.
"Doesn't match the map."
"They move their dens."
"So, what now?"
Yuri removed the gag from the man's mouth.
"Hey."
"Y-Yes."
"You said no other lookouts besides you?"
"Yes."
"Why just you?"
"I don't know why..."
"Can one guy watch every direction?"
"No."
"Then why alone?"
"I really don't know..."
In the questioning, something caught Yuri's eye.
"What's this?"
Yuri reached into the man's collar and pulled out an object.
A necklace with a red gem.
Ill-suited for a bandit.
"Yours?"
"No."
"Then?"
"The boss gave it to me..."
He added.
"Everyone on watch duty wears one."
Jared's brow furrowed.
"Enchanted item?"
He pressed his sword closer.
The blade at his throat terrified the bandit.
"P-P-Please spare me, sir."
"Answer. Is this an artifact that transmits voices?"
"I-I don't know. No such function. I don't even know what it is."
"Then why carry it?"
"I don't..."
Yuri shrugged.
"We'll ask the boss ourselves."
He glanced back. Nothing in sight.
The Brioll army would be approaching slowly beyond the hills.
"I'll stay here. Go relay my orders."
"You'll stay alone?"
"Yes."
"Dangerous."
"That's an order."
Yuri gagged him again.
"Do it."
"But..."
"Now."
"Understood."
Yuri spread the map.
"Here, here. Split the troops here. Their escape routes are fixed. Block them, encircle, annihilate. We'll bunk with them tonight."
"Yes."
"Probably just testing if orders go through clean."
"Got it."
The bandits' numbers couldn't compare to Yuri's force.
With plentiful knights, it'd be an easy fight.
"I'll hurry back."
Jared rose reluctantly and ran to his tethered horse.
Soon, he returned leading a squad of knights.
Yuri sighed.
"What's with the fanfare?"
"Brought knights just in case."
"You'll give us away."
"Hid our presence best I could."
"Fine. Good work, Jared."
Yuri peered at the bandit camp through the telescope.
No unusual signs. Ragtag bandits milled about idly.
Occasionally, people treated like slaves caught the eye. Captives, perhaps even Brioll citizens.