Chapter 225
Chapter 225
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 225
Chapter Title: 89. Ronin (1)
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Yuri's orc subjugation was over. What had once been a task for the massive Allied Forces was now handled by a small knight order.
Of course, the numbers and quality couldn't compare to the previous orcs, but it was still an achievement worth commemorating.
When Yuri returned to Balshard, Marie Rose welcomed them back with fireworks.
"You must be tired."
"Not at all."
Yuri flashed a casual grin, as if it were nothing.
Marie Rose had prepared a feast for them. Yuri's group and Balshard's knights celebrated their victory with fine food and drink they hadn't enjoyed in the field.
Marie Rose went around to her knights, praising their hard work.
"You all did great. Fighting those orcs must have been tough, right?"
"N-no, Duchess."
To Yuri, she was a friendly comrade, but to Balshard's regular knights, she was an untouchable magic duchess.
"Did you really wipe out everything on the map?"
"Yes. Truly. We even took out things that weren't marked."
Before they set out, Marie Rose had given Yuri a map marking the orc settlements. It was dotted with countless targets.
She'd handed it over personally, but even she hadn't expected them to clear it all in such a short time.
"You all must have had it rough."
"No, it was Your Highness who endured the most."
"Oh?"
Marie Rose glanced back. Yuri was sitting with his knights, chatting and bursting into laughter.
He always seemed sullen, but when it mattered, he could brighten the mood like that.
Marie Rose asked in a subtle tone.
"How was he? Brioll's Highness?"
"His Highness..."
The knight who received her question gazed into space, reminiscing. Then, with a flushed face, he murmured.
"He was truly someone worthy of respect."
"Oh?"
"He's younger than me, so his strength is one thing, but the way he leads people..."
"Impressive?"
"Yes. He makes you feel like you could face any battle at his side. Is there any royal in the world who fights at the front like that?"
"Yeah, that's him. Hehe..."
Marie Rose chuckled softly, as if she were the one being praised.
"That cute Highness of ours said he pulled it off because you all fought so hard."
"Really?"
"Of course. He was singing your praises."
"H-His Highness..."
Balshard's knights looked at Yuri with moved expressions.
As a group of men suddenly sent him fervent gazes, Yuri—eating in the distance—raised an eyebrow and met their eyes, the intensity reaching him.
He said something.
The distance muffled the sound, but everyone could read his lips.
'What're you staring at?'
Balshard's knights only gazed at him with even warmer smiles.
In the end, Yuri awkwardly averted his eyes with a sour look.
It was rare for Yuri Brioll to look away first. That showed just how fervent the knights' stares were.
Seeing the scene, Marie Rose let out a laugh.
"Looks like you had a good time."
She personally commended each knight for their efforts before rising. Then she approached Yuri and spoke again.
"Suit your taste, Your Highness?"
"Why were those guys glaring at me earlier? What happened? They weren't badmouthing me, were they?"
"Quite the opposite. They were looking at you with respect."
"Didn't feel respectful. More like insolent."
"Hehe..."
Marie Rose laughed as she sat beside him.
"Here."
She raised her hand and beckoned. A servant approached with something on a tray—pastries.
"A gift."
"What's this?"
The pastries Marie Rose prepared were long and coated in precious chocolate.
"Long, and covered in chocolate."
"They're called Pepero. In some regions, it's a custom to give these to those who return victorious from war."
"Pepero, huh. Feels familiar."
"The long shape resembles a spear, right? It's to honor the victor's valor."
"Yeah, thanks. I'll take it."
"Just words? Isn't that a bit half-hearted?"
"That's why I went orc-hunting for you. Isn't brushing me off with Pepero half-hearted on your part?"
"Suppose so?"
"Right?"
"Fine. What can I do for you?"
"Nah, nothing..."
"Anything you want, I'll make it happen. Just say the word. Hehe..."
"No. We agreed to fight together, so that's enough..."
"Hurry up and tell me."
"Nothing."
Francesco, watching their exchange, poked at his food with sad eyes.
"Ugh..."
Simon, beside him, patted his shoulder.
"Lord Francesco."
"Yeah..."
"Why the sudden disappointment?"
"It happens. Whatever."
"You'll find someone who suits you, Lord Francesco."
"I used to be pretty hot stuff back in the day..."
"As hot as His Highness?"
"Well..."
They were enjoying Balshard's final banquet like that.
The hall doors opened, and someone entered.
"Uh..."
Everyone at the tables tensed.
His expression was off.
"Having a good time, I see."
His salmon-pink hair gleamed brighter under the lights. It was Inariel, one of the Ten Strong, the great archmage.
Gripping his staff, he scanned everyone in the hall.
Yuri greeted him.
"Long time no see, Lord Inariel."
"The kid's here too."
His youthful appearance made the words feel oddly mismatched.
"The world's on the brink of chaos, and here you all are, laughing and chatting..."
The archmage's angry tone, honed by the Ten Strong rank, tensed the room.
But Yuri replied nonchalantly.
"Lord Inariel, are you sulking?"
"What?"
"Because we started the feast without you..."
"No."
"Where've you been? You look haggard. Have a seat."
Servants brought fresh utensils and food for Inariel. His expression visibly softened as he promptly sat.
Hernando, sitting near Yuri, muttered.
"Lord Inariel gets sharp when he's hungry."
Marie Rose quietly agreed.
"Right? He acts just like he looks—such a kid."
Inariel shot them a sharp glare, and they pretended not to notice.
Yuri rose and approached Inariel.
"Long time no see."
"Yeah."
Inariel chewed his food, then lifted his wine glass. Despite his boyish looks, he drank quite fittingly.
Inariel had come to Balshard at Hernando's call, confirmed the parchment's existence, then vanished somewhere alone.
After being away for a while, he'd suddenly reappeared.
"I've been researching the Demon's Grimoire. Seeing the replica gave me some ideas."
"Any progress?"
Inariel paused his utensils.
"Not sure. But I learned one possibility."
He spoke with distant eyes.
"Destroy the Demon's Grimoire, and I might be able to return to the World Tree Forest."
"Is that so?"
Yuri's reaction wasn't strong.
He didn't know much about elves or the World Tree Forest they'd hidden in. All he knew was that inside and outside the forest were disconnected, preventing Inariel's return.
But it seemed deeply meaningful to Inariel.
"The World Tree might even open."
"You mean the elves will come to the continent?"
"Yes."
"Hm..."
Yuri thought for a moment, then said.
"They won't all have prickly personalities like you, right?"
Inariel ignored it and continued.
"The elves might have created and entered the World Tree Forest because of that Demon's Grimoire in the first place."
Yuri looked at Inariel. This was unexpected even for him.
"Is that right?"
"Just my hypothesis, but high elves knew of the Demon's Grimoire long ago. They probably thought it could one day destroy the world. So they separated the space to distance themselves from it. Separated spaces drift further apart the longer they remain divided."
"Ah..."
Yuri nodded.
If Inariel's words were true, the Demon's Grimoire had plagued the world even when elves lived among humans.
"I hope that's the case."
Yuri looked at Inariel.
"Then, once we destroy that Demon's Grimoire together, you can go back too, right?"
"Perhaps..."
Inariel, lost in thought, soon nodded.
"Maybe."
As he said it, Inariel smiled like a boy.
Seeing that expression, Yuri paused. It was the first time since they'd met that he'd smiled so genuinely.
Yuri stared at Inariel for a while, then smiled back.
"It will be. Lord Inariel."
"Yeah. So do your part."
"I will."
He reverted to his usual prickly self. But the image of his face was etched deeply in Yuri's mind.
Inariel longed for his kin.
If they won this war, his wish could come true too.
"Lord Inariel, I'll make it happen."
"Don't grab my hand. It's annoying."
"Feel my sincerity?"
"Not interested."
Yuri laughed and offered his wine glass. Inariel squinted slightly but clinked glasses without protest.
"Lord Inariel."
"Hm?"
"When war breaks out, I need one big fireball from you."
"..."
Yuri's group prepared to leave Balshard and return to Brioll.
Marie Rose sorted her workshop and delegated authority to a trusted subordinate. Balshard was a well-structured city, so it would run smoothly in her absence.
Francesco could handle mana again but hadn't regained his full power. The demonic energy inside him was cleared, but his body still needed time to adapt.
Inariel showed unusual motivation. To ordinary eyes, he seemed the same, but Yuri and Hernando could tell.
Inariel even urged them to hurry back.
Jared, Simon, and Guinness honed their skills through daily spars.
When the time came, they departed Balshard.
Hernando, Marie Rose, and Inariel joined the group. They mounted up and began the journey back to Brioll.
Once they returned, the war would truly begin.
Yuri planned to retake Bezoss immediately.
"Huh?"
Racing across the plains, Yuri spotted a caravan.
It wasn't Rick's group from before.
"The flag's Ireine Merchant Company."
"They must've made a killing with Eastern goods."
The last Yuri heard of Ireine, she was in the Empire's capital.
No contact since.
He didn't know how she was running things now, but encountering her caravan on the plains suggested heavier focus on Eastern trade.
"But..."
Jared, peering through a spyglass, spoke up.
"This time, it doesn't look like goods."
"Let me see."
Yuri took the spyglass and observed.
Under the fluttering Ireine Merchant Company flag, people in unfamiliar garb walked.
Yuri muttered.
"Easterners?"
They all carried weapons, moving lightly. Like Muyongchan, they were martial artists—what you'd call murim folk.
Yuri turned to his group.
"Curious?"
"Not really?"
"Knew it. Let's go!"
At Yuri's decision, they spurred their horses toward the caravan. Meeting people on the plains was refreshing and intriguing.
But the caravan seemed to misunderstand their intentions.
Seeing Yuri's group approach on horseback, the Easterners shouted something and charged with weapons drawn.