Chapter 23
Chapter 23
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: 12. March (2)
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“Doing something even orcs would pull off.”
Yuri gripped Guilty tight.
Soon, word came back that the entire unit was in position.
“They say preparations are complete.”
“Good.”
There was no need to go this far against mere bandits, but he wanted the troops to get a feel for coordinated maneuvers before facing the orcs.
“Hey.”
Yuri lowered his spyglass and turned around.
The trained warhorses were lying on their sides to avoid detection by the enemy, with the knights flattened prone behind them.
He’d told them to stay out of sight, and here they were.
“Comfy lying down like that?”
“No, sir.”
“Let’s go.”
“Pardon?”
“I said let’s go.”
Yuri sprang to his feet. It didn’t matter anymore if the bandits spotted him.
“Up.”
Yuri roused his own horse. It was a sleek black stallion. As if it had been waiting for this, the beast leaped up with a snort and pawed the ground.
The knights stared blankly as Yuri mounted up.
“Fall behind, and there won’t be any shares left for you.”
Yuri spurred his horse without hesitation.
“Huh?”
“Wh-what?”
And so the knights watched, dumbfounded, as Yuri charged solo toward the bandit camp.
“What are you lot doing? Follow him—now!”
“Everyone, move!”
They hurriedly got their horses up. But Yuri was already far ahead.
Yuri raised his sword high and bellowed.
“Full charge!”
His mana-infused voice echoed across the plains.
Yuri leaned low and urged more speed.
A few bandits clutching weapons stared at him in a daze.
They looked utterly confused.
Yuri shouted.
“Nice to meet you, friends!”
His black steed vaulted over the bandits’ barricade and crashed into them.
“Your Highness!”
Jared, who had been searching frantically for Yuri, soon spotted him smack in the middle of the bandit camp.
“You’re late.”
Yuri waved.
He was sitting atop one of the bandits he’d flattened by the campfire.
“This one’s the boss, apparently. See the gold bracelet?”
“Yes, I see it.”
“Looks like they hit the jackpot.”
“Yes...”
“Bastard.”
Yuri stomped his foot, tormenting the bandit. The man groaned in pain.
Jared let out a long sigh. He’d rushed over in a panic looking for Yuri.
“Why do you always act on your own like this? It’s dangerous.”
“Then follow me on time.”
Yuri picked up a skewer of meat roasting over the fire.
“Guess it was dinnertime. Right?”
Yuri pressed his foot down on the bandit as he asked. The man’s voice trembled as he replied.
“Y-yes, that’s right...”
“What kind of meat?”
“Lamb.”
“I see.”
Yuri bit into the meat casually. Then he furrowed his brow.
“Hey, no salt?”
“No caravans passing through lately...”
“So you couldn’t steal any, is that it?”
“N-no, not that.”
“Then what?”
Yuri took another bite.
The third prince, raised in the palace, shouldn’t be used to field rations, yet he carried himself like a grizzled veteran who’d roamed his whole life.
Yuri offered Jared a skewer.
“You eat too.”
“I’m fine.”
“What, can’t stomach this stuff?”
“I can eat it.”
“Figures. The Royal Guard, coddled in the palace, knows nothing of the field.”
“...”
“Tsk tsk. You’re in for a rough ride ahead.”
Jared was dumbfounded but decided to shut his mouth. Talking back would only hurt him.
Raymond arrived next.
“Your Highness.”
“Ah, Sir Raymond.”
Raymond had been startled by Yuri’s sudden charge but, true to his experience, quickly regained composure and caught up fast.
“The bandits?”
“Wiped out. A few died, but we captured the rest.”
“Our casualties?”
“None.”
“Well done. The invincible Brioll army indeed. Deserves a round of applause.”
Raymond gave a wry chuckle.
The army hadn’t done much. The bandits had already lost the will to fight and were fleeing.
And the one who made that happen was the third prince right in front of him.
Raymond asked Yuri, who was gnawing meat while grinding the bandit boss underfoot.
“Planning to keep leading the charge like that?”
“Like what?”
“I mean, always charging first?”
“Depends on the situation.”
To Raymond’s ears, that meant yes.
He sighed and clapped Jared on the shoulder.
“Looks like you’re in for it from now on.”
“Pardon?”
“Stick close to His Highness always.”
“Charge alongside the prince?”
“You got it.”
“You’re just going to let him?”
“Can you stop him?”
“No, but...”
“So we go with him.”
Jared despaired. Yuri’s reckless charge had just been validated as tactics.
Yuri chuckled once, then stood.
“Tie up the bandits and dump them here. We camp tonight.”
“Understood.”
“Hey.”
Yuri nudged the prone bandit boss with his foot.
“Where’s your tent?”
“O-over there.”
“The biggest one?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
Yuri turned to Jared.
“Sir Raymond, pick out Hernando and the senior knights and bring them to that tent. We’ll discuss what’s next.”
“Understood.”
“And you, boss.”
“Yes?”
“Keep grilling meat. Open the whole warehouse.”
“Th-that’s...”
“Wanna die?”
“No, sir!”
“Burn any, and you die.”
Yuri tasked Jared with oversight.
“Jared, watch the meat. Make sure nothing burns.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Stab him with your sword for every one that does.”
“...”
“Do it right.”
Yuri kicked the bandit boss’s rear and headed for the tent.
Watching his back, Raymond spoke up.
“His Highness has impressive skill.”
“Yes.”
“Were you hiding it?”
“Less hiding, more not bothering to advertise. The Royal Guard all knew.”
“I see.”
Raymond fell into thought.
He’d only glimpsed it from afar, but the third prince showed no hesitation. Every sword swing severed limbs.
Bathed in blood, he’d grinned like it was nothing.
Not many could pull that off on their first outing.
“Indeed...”
People chattered that Fiore’s blood had thinned in his children’s generation. But apparently not.
On these plains where his father made his name against the orcs, it seemed the son would carve his infamy next.
“Sir Jared.”
“Yes.”
“This allied force might be more entertaining than expected. Don’t you think?”
Jared sighed.
“Who knows. Might be more cry-worthy than fun for you.”
“Hahaha...”
“Please convince him well, Sir Raymond.”
“Not confident myself.”
A soldier handing out rations startled at the sudden appearance of the black-eyed boy.
“P-prince?”
“Why jump?”
“N-no reason.”
He’d heard rumors the third prince ate the same as the troops, but never dreamed he’d show up for real.
“Pile it on.”
“Y-yes, sir!”
“No, too much—people will notice. Make it moderate.”
“R-right.”
“But not exactly the same.”
“Y-yes...”
“Like the others, but a tad more generous. You get it?”
“Yes, got it.”
“Too much meat. They’ll think I signaled you.”
“Sorry.”
“No apologies—you did good.”
“Thank you.”
Yuri insisted on identical rations regardless of rank, which was improving overall quality.
Yuri wandered with his tray, then headed to a cluster of knights.
One was grumbling.
“Having to eat this slop on the ground...”
Yuri plopped down beside him. The knight didn’t notice and kept going.
“Why should we eat what the soldiers get?”
Another chimed in.
“Right? He’s probably got special grub.”
“Bet so. Thinks he’s all that ’cause he’s prince.”
Yuri tore bread into his meat stew and shoveled it in with a spoon.
“Wouldn’t be here if not for that third prince. Little brat steps up, and my dad sends me to make up numbers.”
“Same for me.”
“What a hassle.”
While they ranted, one knight spotted Yuri and froze.
He signaled desperately, but the two were lost in their chat.
“That Jared guy’s gotten cocky hanging with the prince...”
“We’ll sort him out. Royal Guard ain’t even noble stock, right?”
“Exactly. And third prince? Barely counts. Number three’s nothing.”
Interesting stuff.
The other knights who’d noticed Yuri were pale. When Yuri mimed zipping lips, one nodded.
Yuri stood with his tray and walked off slowly.
“Let’s teach that Jared punk a lesson first.”
“Tonight work?”
“Perfect.”
“Seeing his man roughed up should snap the prince out of it.”
They were fully in sync. A few other knights nodded along. Looked like Jared was in for trouble.
“Heh heh heh...”
Yuri chuckled low. Whoever won, it’d be a fun show.
“Your Highness?”
As he walked along fiddling with his spoon, Raymond hurried over with a flustered look.
“Whoa, Your Highness?”
“What?”
“Well...”
“Oh.”
Eating while walking with a tray—even regular soldiers didn’t do that.
A habit from his rough mercenary days slipped out.
“Th-this is...”
Yuri made excuses.
“Got caught up pondering what’s ahead. Felt like even sitting for meals was wasting time, so I hurried...”
“Ah, I see.”
Raymond nodded readily, making Yuri even more embarrassed.
“Anyway, Your Highness.”
Raymond changed the subject.
“About our next stop, Gid.”
“Yeah.”
They planned to pass through the plains city of Gid on the way to Balshard, the allied forces’ muster point.
“We’ll likely meet another kingdom’s army there. Similar route and timing.”
“Who?”
“The Holy Kingdom.”
Yuri searched his memories.
The Holy Kingdom was a theocracy where the pope served as king, the whole nation devoted to the Holy Church.
They had a unique magic system called holy magic—or “divine law” by them.
Yuri nodded.
“Perfect. We get friendly, they’ll heal our wounded, right?”
Regular mages could heal too, but not as effectively as holy magic.
“Not sure about that.”
“Didn’t we bring a priest?”
“Yes.”
“How is he?”
“Not great.”
The Brioll army had a field priest from the temple.
“Fetch him anyway. Got questions.”
“Understood.”
The priest arrived soon.
Seeing Yuri perched on a rock wolfing down food, he looked quite shocked.
“You’re here?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“You look beat.”
“No, I’m fine.”
The priest hadn’t shaved, his beard unkempt; his white robes were filthy. He looked disheveled all around.
“You graduated priest school, right?”
“Yes.”
“Got friends in the Holy Kingdom?”
“W-well, sort of.”
He glanced around before continuing.
“Just occasional contacts...”
“Fine by me. Know anything about their contingent to the allied forces?”
The tense priest finally relaxed.
“Ah, that’s why. I’ll tell you what I know.”
The priest explained calmly.
Unexpected info.
“A princess?”
“Yes. Heard it just before we left—not confirmed, but likely.”
Yuri didn’t know allied forces details from his past life. He tracked Brioll’s internals but ignored foreign affairs.
Wonder if the future changed to send the princess, or if she was always fated to go.
Her name didn’t ring a bell, so probably the latter.
“She usually step up for stuff like this? Or sudden decision lately?”
“Well...”
According to the priest, the Holy Kingdom’s second princess had shown holy magic talent since childhood. Skilled in swordsmanship too, she joined the holy knights and stood out. People praised her gifts.
That drew jealousy from the crown prince, her heir rival. Their relationship soured.
Against his constant nitpicking, she wanted to achieve something big.
“Most expected her to do this.”
“Got it.”
Yuri nodded.
If so, she probably joined the allied forces in his past life too.
And died on these plains.
“Seen her?”
“From afar in priest school.”
“What’s she like?”
“Well...”
He dodged direct words, but his expression said it all. Not a great impression.
“Thanks for the intel.”
“No problem.”
Yuri clapped his shoulder.
After chatting, Yuri realized this priest was unusually worldly for one. Useful type.
“God’s will isn’t just in the Holy Kingdom. Keep serving Brioll well.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Name?”
“Jemaine. Haha...”
“Jemaine.”
Yuri decided to give him a perk.
“From now on...”
“From now on...?”
Jemaine’s eyes lit with expectation.
“Tell the cooks to load you up. Drop my name—they’ll hook you.”
“Pardon?”
“Trust me.”
“Y-yes?”
“Don’t thank me too much.”
Yuri grinned and patted his back.
“Go on.”
“Y-yes...”
“Thanks for the info.”
“Y-yep...”