Chapter 229
Chapter 229
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 229
Chapter Title: Bezos Recapture (3)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The ronins' food—black bean noodles—captivated Yuri's taste buds.
"Impressive..."
Cheonun clasped his hands in a fist salute and said,
"We have plenty of ronin dishes. Jjampong, sweet-and-sour pork. I'll treat you to them later."
"Looking forward to it."
And so, the ronin unit under Yuri's command fueled themselves with the flavors of home and relentlessly ambushed the Empire's supply convoys heading to Bezos.
Even as the Empire gradually bolstered their escorts, Yuri would infiltrate alone when needed, set fires, and slip away, causing massive disruptions to their logistics.
Above all, the constant raids left the Empire's garrison in Bezos utterly exhausted. With enemy attacks coming day and night without respite, they were forced to stand ready for sortie at all times, their nerves frayed to the breaking point.
Soon, rumors spread from the east about a horde of beggars.
Exaggerations piled on, transforming the Easterners from mere humans into enigmatic beings—half-human, half-goblin.
The Empire suspected Brioll's machinations but had no effective counter.
In the meantime, Brioll's army completed its muster and marched on Bezos.
"Now we join the main force."
Yuri declared to the ronins, his lips still stained with black bean sauce.
"Your Highness."
"Hm?"
"Your mouth..."
Cheonun handed him a cloth. Yuri wiped his mouth late and cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Anyway, this guerrilla life ends now. Time for a proper fight."
The ronins' numbers had dwindled slightly. Some died in battle, others lost their heads for breaking discipline.
Those who remained were far more disciplined.
"Not hit-and-runs anymore—this'll be full-scale war. You hot-blooded Easterners aren't thinking of running scared, are you?"
Everyone shook their heads at Cheonun's translation.
"No, sir!"
By now, the ronins could handle basics like "Yes, sir" and "No, sir" in the continental tongue.
"I can't promise survival. But live through it, and wealth and honor follow. This isn't the East. No matter your origins, results earn rewards. Same pay as Brioll regulars! Got it?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Equal work! Equal pay!"
"Equal work! Equal pay!"
Brioll's army had already assembled, fortifying their camp.
When Yuri arrived with his ronins, Einscher Yustam came out to greet them.
"Your Highness! It's been too long."
"Indeed. Sir Einscher."
"Ho..."
Einscher instinctively scanned Yuri from head to toe. An insolent move, perhaps, but Yuri didn't mind.
Yuri flexed his arm instead and asked,
"Impressive, right?"
"Yes, Your Highness. You've grown even more."
"Still young enough to."
Yuri was barely into his early twenties. His body had room to develop, and his swordsmanship climbed endlessly.
Einscher beamed.
"Perfect. We could take Bezos right now."
"Naturally."
Yuri glanced back. Bezos Fortress loomed in the distance. Fall it, and the Empire's expeditionary force loses its anchor, crumbling apart.
Then Brioll becomes the aggressor in turn.
"What's the plan?"
"No need to drag it out. We hit tomorrow."
"You sure?"
"Of course."
Yuri nodded toward Inariel, who had come with them.
"Lady Inariel here will help."
"Ah..."
Einscher bowed to Inariel. He'd heard of the elf grand magus who looked like a boy.
"A pleasure to work with you."
Inariel nodded curtly.
"Lady Inariel here can..."
Yuri grinned wide, slung an arm around Inariel's shoulders—then flinched at the look in his eyes and dropped it, continuing,
"...blow away a wall like it's nothing. No worries. Real mage—no dispel can stop her."
"Ooh..."
"Once the wall's down, we charge by strength order. Me first, naturally."
"For real?"
"Naturally."
"That sounds risky..."
Einscher feigned gravity, then his eyes gleamed.
"The Empire's done for!"
Yuri and Einscher burst into laughter.
Perhaps because Yuri's effective age, with his past life, put him in middle age, he clicked oddly well with Einscher.
"Good. Can I stand behind you, Prince?"
"You'll want Francesco the Ten Strong there."
"He can't wield mana properly yet."
"Show some respect."
"Third, then?"
"Figure it out."
Brioll boasted elite knights. Freaks like Yuri were rare, but the rest outclassed any other nation.
Then Jared, standing behind Yuri, cleared his throat.
"As for me, Your Highness's guard—I'm confident in my skills."
"You?"
"Yes."
"Seriously?"
"Of course. Sir Einscher, seems you've packed on a gut..."
"Oh? Care for a spar?"
As they bantered, other knights crowded in.
"What's this?"
"Strength order?"
"Obviously me..."
Forgetting to welcome Yuri back, they devolved into heated arguments over pecking order.
Watching, the ronins murmured among themselves.
[So many peak masters...]
[Any sect would get crushed.]
[We won't lose this war.]
Soon, new clothes and gear were issued to the ronins.
Shedding their rags, they exuded a chilling menace—like mercenaries forged in endless battlefields.
Yuri gave them a new name.
"From now on, you're the Foreign Legion. Outsiders now, insiders someday."
"Yes, sir!"
"Plain 'Foreign Legion' is dull. Let's call you the Legion of Terror."
"Yes, sir!"
"Strike fear in the enemy."
"Long live Prince Yuri!"
The ronins, who'd stuck to "yes," "no," "affirmative," "negative," suddenly cheered. Yuri eyed Cheonun.
Cheonun smiled.
"Taught them 'long live.' War chant—essential."
"Well done."
"Long live Your Highness!"
"Yes, long live!"
Yuri clapped Cheonun's shoulder. A promising talent.
"Tomorrow's a long day. Rest up."
"Yes, sir!"
Yuri toured the camp afterward, checking troops.
Many faces from prior battles remained.
He treated all equally, regardless of rank, so soldiers welcomed him warmly.
Night fell.
Yuri gathered key officers to plan tomorrow's battle.
Bezos was just the start. No plans to stall.
"We attack at dawn. Dinner in Bezos Castle. Sound good?"
Yuri's plan was simple, bold.
As told to Einscher: Inariel shatters the wall, Yuri leads elites through. The rest pour in, slaughter all.
"Just charge and kill, huh."
"Like it?"
"Yes, sir."
The battle's outcome would soon reveal itself.
As dawn broke, Brioll's army advanced.
Empire troops manned Bezos's walls, bows drawn.
Standoff.
"Hm..."
At the fore, Yuri eyed the fortress.
Tall, sturdy walls. A true iron bastion—impregnable by ordinary means.
Last time, they'd yielded to the Empire only due to Fiore's disappearance, Fransez's tragedy, and Yuri's illness—not fallen in battle.
Yuri glanced at Inariel beside him.
"Lady Inariel."
"Yes."
"Feeling good today?"
Inariel gripped his staff, gazing skyward.
Clear blue skies, picture-perfect white clouds.
He blinked, then replied,
"Good."
"Glad to hear."
"Can I wreck that castle a lot?"
"Uh..."
Yuri squinted at Bezos.
"It's our castle, so... moderately. Moderately, please."
"Moderately?"
"Enough to enter easily—no heavy troop losses, but wall down. You get me?"
"Tricky."
"Moderately, moderately."
"Worst spell ever."
Inariel chuckled, nodding.
"Fine. Moderately."
Yuri grinned.
"Yes."
War, with countless lives at stake—yet Yuri felt no tension. Fear or guilt? Too far past that.
Yuri raised his sword.
Horns blared.
Simple tactics—no complex signals needed.
Yuri spurred forward.
Knights followed in wedge formation toward the wall.
"All advance!"
Siege engines rolled to distract.
Empire archers atop the walls shifted targets frantically.
Bows wavered.
Yuri glanced at Francesco right behind.
Expressionless.
"Battlefield after so long—how's it feel?"
"Been a while."
"Thoughts?"
"..."
Francesco widened his eyes at the fortress. Mana stirred in him, faint light spreading.
He recovered his old prowess faster than Yuri expected.
"Not bad."
Francesco was no longer the mana-less has-been lamenting on the streets.
Returning to his Holy Knight days.
"You're awfully serious today."
"Cut me slack—just this once. Big day."
Shunned as washed-up without mana, this battle let him proclaim his return as a Ten Strong Holy Knight to the continent.
"Anyway, when's the magic?"
"Good question."
Plan: Yuri charges, Inariel times the wall-blast perfectly.
But no signs yet.
Marie Rose's spells once had fireballs blazing overhead for reassurance. Now? Nothing. Felt empty charging blind.
"Hmm..."
Yuri gripped the reins.
"Prod Lady Inariel a bit."
"How?"
Yuri kicked hard.
"Just run!"
"Yuri!"
Yuri surged ahead.
As he broke into gallop from measured pace, Francesco and knights accelerated belatedly.
Brioll's lines rippled like waves from the front.
"Charge!"
Yuri crouched low.
His horse snorted, speeding up.
Empire troops atop the walls sharpened into view. Vast wall stretched endlessly—nowhere to flee.
"What?"
"What's he doing?"
The Empire panicked instead.
Wall solid, no magic signs as Inariel described.
But Yuri charged without doubt.
Raising Guilty, he roared,
"For Brioll!"
Cheers erupted on cue, rippling back. The whole army chanted Brioll's name.
"For Brioll!"
"For Brioll!"
"Briooool!"
Empire loosed arrows.
Dozens aimed for Yuri's throat—none hit. His sword shield repelled all.
Francesco called,
"Yuri!"
"Yes!"
"Slow down!"
"Keep running!"
"No signal yet..."
Francesco's voice faded. He slowed.
Wall loomed—no magic.
Collision course.
Yuri ignored, spurring as if to smash straight in. His horse pressed on fearless.
Foes and allies gawked.
He looked suicidal.
Max speed, barreling to the wall.
Impact imminent.
Time slowed for Yuri.
Bricks enlarged, rough texture and scars from past battles visible—marks of dead soldiers.
Beyond that.
Something impossible.
A wave shoved his body.
"Ah..."
The wall lifted.
Unbelievable.
Like a toy castle hoisted.
As if designed to detach.
The wall rose into the sky.
Yuri laughed.
The Empire soldiers' dumbfounded faces, magnified—too hilarious to hold back.
They stood frozen, unprepared.
Yuri never slowed.
Accelerated more.
Wall overhead as he passed the line.
A lion leaping into sheep.