Chapter 241
Chapter 241
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 241
Chapter Title: 92. Overlord's Banner (9)
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Yuri had subdued the Black Knight.
Even if her mental state hadn't been entirely stable, it was clear proof that her prowess ranked among the top of the Ten Strongest.
"What will you do now?"
"......"
"You can't save Ivar."
Yuri stated firmly.
He had fought against black magic. Through that experience, he had felt in his bones what black magic was and just how insidious it truly was.
A body corrupted by black magic could not be restored. Death was the only respite it could offer them.
"If it's just for your own satisfaction, I won't stop you. But that path would only prolong Ivar's suffering."
"Right......"
"Fighting against black magic is the true way to honor Ivar. You have to grant him peace."
"I understand. But......"
"There's no room for buts! Those buts piled up to create this crisis!"
"......"
The Black Knight, who had been silent, suddenly spoke up.
"What's your relationship with Ekaterina?"
Yuri was caught off guard by the abrupt mention of her name.
He tried to stay composed, but his voice cracked.
"W-what?"
Yuri's eyes darted around in fluster before he cleared his throat under the Black Knight's steady gaze. He scratched the back of his head as he gathered his words.
"Why bring her up out of nowhere......?"
"Just curious."
"Why?"
"I just asked."
"There's no such thing as 'just'!"
"It seems your world has no room for buts or justs."
"Ugh......"
Yuri realized she had turned the tables on him.
He had pressed her relentlessly on Ivar, so she countered by bringing up Ekaterina.
But why Ekaterina of all people? How did the Black Knight know she was a sensitive topic for him?
"May I ask why the Imperial Princess's name came up so suddenly? She's got nothing to do with me."
"Is that so?"
"Yes."
The Black Knight shrugged.
"Who knows......"
Yuri stared intently into her pupils. She was tall, so their eye levels were nearly even.
The Black Knight blinked her green eyes, which resembled Ekaterina's.
"Just something I heard."
"Heard what?"
"You'll find out when you reach the imperial capital."
"What is—"
Ekaterina was in the imperial capital.
Yuri had no idea what she was up to.
"Never mind."
Yuri shook his head to clear his worries. Thinking about Ekaterina was always a losing battle. She was a woman beyond his predictions from the start.
That's why his previous life had been such a ordeal.
"Do you really have something with Ekaterina?"
"No. Stop changing the subject. Let's talk about Ivar."
"You're the one changing the subject, Yuri Brioll. Ekaterina must be a sore spot for you."
"No!"
"She is for me."
The Black Knight smirked.
"Talking about His Majesty makes me uncomfortable."
Yuri suddenly felt like a petulant child.
In contrast, the Black Knight seemed like a mature adult acknowledging her own flaws.
"It's natural for a bastard child to crave their parents' love. Yet His Majesty always looked after me in secret. As his daughter and subject, it's only right that I can't let go of his hand. I may not be able to proclaim it openly, but I am undoubtedly his daughter."
Yuri stood silently for a moment before speaking.
"I apologize."
"For what?"
"For my rude words."
"Good, apologize."
"It wasn't sincere. I said it to provoke you."
During his fight with the Black Knight, Yuri had spoken carelessly about Ivar to goad her.
He was just another person to Yuri, but to her, he was her father.
He had assumed their relationship was poor because she was illegitimate, but that wasn't the case. Ivar had apparently been a decent father in his own way.
The Black Knight laughed.
"It's fine. Provoking an opponent is standard strategy. Without it, you wouldn't have landed that punch on my face."
"Who knows?"
"Oh?"
"I held my own pretty well......"
"So you're proud of punching me in the face?"
"Come on, between us."
"What are we to each other?"
"Fellow members of the Ten Strongest."
Yuri scratched the back of his head as he eyed the faint bruise on the Black Knight's face.
He felt a bit sorry for swinging without mercy. Fortunately, as one of the Ten Strongest, the mark wasn't too severe.
Yuri kicked at a stone on the ground.
"Doesn't a brutal fight between the Ten Strongest make it all the more meaningful?"
The mountainside where they had battled was utterly devastated. Not a single tree stood intact, and every rock was shattered.
It was hard to believe such destructive combat had ended with a feeble punch.
The Black Knight burst into laughter.
"Fine, let's call it that."
"By the way, are you heading straight back to the Empire?"
"Yes."
"Isn't that dangerous?"
"Yuri Brioll. I may have lost today, but I am the Black Knight."
She meant she was confident she could escape even if the Empire turned hostile.
"So don't worry. Thanks to you, I've made up my mind."
"Understood."
Yuri asked the question that had been nagging him.
"Have you ever seen Cedric?"
The Black Knight shook her head.
"No, not in person. Some officials who know his face have been saying strange things."
According to her, the Emperor had vanished at some point, and Crown Prince Yugen had taken over his duties. There were even dubious rumors of Cedric being spotted in the palace occasionally.
The Black Knight had her own intelligence network probing the Emperor's condition. Through palace servants who accessed the depths, she learned his body was changing into something inhuman.
But that intel was from before he was fully isolated, so she had no idea what he looked like now.
Then suddenly, an order stamped with the Emperor's seal arrived.
It ordered her to go to the small kingdom alliance and thwart Brioll's schemes, promising unlimited troops.
But sensing something amiss, she had left the Empire alone.
"I just wanted to cross swords with you. Didn't think I needed my knights. You're not the type to dodge a fight."
"Of course not."
"I'll return to the capital and investigate further. If there's resistance in the palace, I might make contact."
"Then we're allies now?"
"Allies?"
"My enemy is the Empire for now, but deeper in, it's black magic and Cedric. Along with Yugen and his cronies who follow him."
"I see."
"Don't you need to kill the ones who harmed His Majesty, Lady Black Knight? Same enemies make us friends."
"So it does."
"Yes."
"Fine, let's call it an alliance."
"Good."
Yuri extended his hand. The Black Knight stared at it for a moment before grasping it firmly in a handshake.
Yuri shook her hand up and down.
"By the way, care to share your name now?"
"My name?"
"Black Knight isn't your real name."
The Black Knight's eyes crinkled in a faint smile.
"Curious?"
"Naturally."
"I'm Elizabeth. His Majesty named me himself, just like my half-siblings."
Yuri's eyes widened as he looked at her faint smile.
"Elizabeth......"
It had a beautiful ring yet carried strength. Ivar seemed to have a knack for naming.
Yuri smiled at her face.
"Elizabeth. It suits you perfectly. A beautiful name."
At his words, Elizabeth stared at his face for a while.
Yuri tilted his head.
"Why?"
"Is this how you seduce Ekaterina?"
"Pardon?"
"Trouble is, I don't want to ruin my relationship with my little sister."
"Don't joke."
Yuri waved it off with a laugh. Elizabeth smirked too.
"Does Lady Ekaterina know your true identity, Lady Elizabeth?"
"No. Only His Majesty and a select few know about me."
"I see."
"That aside, I keep a good relationship with her. Any message for her? All letters to the capital are censored now. I could help."
"Well...... No, I have no connection to her, so no letters."
"Right."
"Instead, could you pass one to someone else?"
"Of course."
"There's a woman named Ireine......"
Lacking paper, Yuri relayed a few words for Elizabeth to deliver. Nothing sensitive even if overheard.
"That's all?"
"Yes."
"Sounds like code."
The Black Knight nodded.
"You'll complete the Overlord's Banner soon. Congratulations."
"We'll see. The real fight starts now."
Elizabeth picked up her fallen mask from the ground.
She forcibly straightened the part shattered by Yuri's punch and held it to her face. It was warped but wearable.
As her pale face vanished into the black iron, it looked like the moon slipping behind clouds.
Yuri recalled their first meeting. He hadn't seen her face but assumed from her voice she was a pretty boy like Rolang. Instead, she was a female knight, half-sister to Ekaterina and daughter of Ivar.
What a strange connection.
Watching secrets from his past life unravel one by one, Yuri realized how much he still didn't know.
"Well, I'm off."
"Take care."
Sending away someone who'd come so far after beating her felt uneasy. Yuri wanted to help a little.
"Uh, do you have traveling money?"
"......"
"Or maybe some jerky......"
"Enough."
And so Elizabeth departed.
Watching her receding figure, Yuri muttered worriedly.
"Subduing the Black Knight will skyrocket my fame. Too much notoriety could be trouble."
Yuri found his hidden horse in the corner and mounted it.
Their battle had been long but not a full day. Though night fell, Yuri pressed on without stopping.
Only at dawn did he reach the final kingdom, Endia.
"Huff, huff......"
The horse was exhausted, not him, but Yuri panted dramatically as he approached the gates. The guards recognized him and saluted.
"Yeah."
"Please enter."
The Revenge Knights must have arrived first and paved the way.
Yuri passed through the gates into the castle.
One guard trailed him closely.
"I'll escort you. What'll it be? Unpack and rest, or join right away?"
"No time for rest."
Yuri spurred his horse forward without hesitation. His aura surged.
Fresh off subduing the Black Knight and forging an alliance, he brimmed with motivation.
He wanted to complete the Overlord's Banner and declare war on the Empire.
"Where are my knights?"
"I'll show you. They're all together."
"Oh......"
They seemed fully prepared already.
Yuri revised his opinion of Jared. He hadn't realized the man had such business acumen to set up for the Overlord's Banner duel upon his arrival.
"Good. Let's go."
"Yes, sir."
The guard led him deeper into the castle.
Shouts echoed from within, including familiar voices.
They were already engaging in verbal sparring.
"Those guys......"
Yuri smiled warmly. Knights needed spirit. Even thrown into enemy territory without backup, they hadn't lost their fire.
"Right this way."
"Hm?"
But they weren't heading to an arena—instead, deeper into the castle.
"A trap?"
"Pardon?"
The guard stopped before massive iron doors guarded by two knights.
"We've been waiting."
They grinned and opened the doors.
Revealing...
"Long live Brioll! Long live Endia!"
"May our friendship endure forever!"
"Drink up, drink!"
A feast in full swing.
The Revenge Knights were already drunk, arm-in-arm with unfamiliar Endian knights, belting out rowdy songs.
The presumed king danced with food stains all over his clothes.
"......"
Yuri asked the guard beside him.
"The Overlord's Banner duel......?"
"Oh, your knights held it right after arriving yesterday. Man, Brioll knights are something else. We lost clean, three to zero. Embarrassing! Haha!"
"Did they... not mention me?"
"Nah. Sir Jared said you might be delayed, so we should party first......"
"......"
Yuri grabbed a honey-glazed apple from the table and hurled it at Jared, who was dancing in the distance.