Chapter 245
Chapter 245
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 245
Chapter Title: 94. The Mage's Desire (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Artem uttered Yuri Brioll's name, and thus the hikers learned his true identity.
Flustered, Yuri brushed it off vaguely and hurried down the mountain, but what had happened atop Jenel Mountain was impossible to hide even if he wanted to.
The tale of ascending Saint Artem spread from mouth to mouth, and with Yuri's role as the baptizer thrust back into the spotlight, rumors swirled that he was an apostle chosen by the gods.
Yuri had always been famous to begin with.
But now, having completed the Tyrant's Chronicles and performed a religious miracle to boot, his fame pierced the heavens.
And then Yuri Brioll made a declaration to the entire continent.
"The Empire is dominated by the wicked power of black magic, casually performing forbidden rituals like human sacrifice. Brioll cannot stand idly by. The Holy Kingdom, Burzen, Liberta, and the Central League of Small Nations unite in condemning the Empire."
This was the first time the Empire's ties to black magic had been publicly addressed.
Yuri's warning spread through every newspaper across the continent, making everyone aware of black magic's existence.
But the Empire remained silent.
Some refused to believe Yuri.
"Black magic? They just made that up, right?"
"If it existed, why hasn't anyone said anything before?"
"The mage in our territory says there's no such thing."
"Magic is magic. What's this black magic nonsense? This isn't some novel."
Mentions of black magic sparked endless debates.
Given the massive implications, all eyes on the continent naturally turned to one place.
The Magic Tower.
It held the greatest authority in all matters magical—a cradle for mages, a school for mages, a home for mages.
Yet the Master representing the Magic Tower never appeared.
***
Yuri berated Hernando.
"What are you doing now? You acted like you'd find him any second."
"Well... um..."
"Where the hell is this Magic Tower Master?"
"I don't know."
"Hernando!"
Yuri bellowed.
"Find him now!"
Hernando's eyes widened in shock as he backed away.
"Why have you become so hot-tempered?"
"Success does that to you!"
"I-it does?"
"Jealous? Then get famous yourself."
"Yes, sir..."
Right now, Yuri was the continent's top celebrity.
Before, it hadn't been to the point where everyone on the street recognized him. But now, with portraits describing his appearance flooding the markets, he couldn't even walk the streets bare-faced.
Yuri leaned back in his chair and muttered.
"One word from the Magic Tower Master, and the Empire's cornered."
The current situation was highly encouraging.
In his previous life, the continent's nations had floundered in chaos, responding disjointedly until the Empire crushed them one by one. But now, they were united in wariness toward the Empire's aggression.
Beyond Brioll and the three other nations plus the small nations' league, envoys from various countries had approached Brioll, inquiring about future plans.
The entire continent was on guard against the Empire.
And the Empire, for whatever reason, kept silent.
Yuri wanted to seize this chance, mobilize the Magic Tower Master, and nail it shut for good.
"But the guy's nowhere to be found. You think something happened to him?"
"Impossible. If the Magic Tower Master met harm, the whole Tower would know."
"Then why don't you know where this great man is?"
"How should I?"
"Sigh..."
Yuri looked up, and a server rushed over like a shot.
"Can I help you?"
"Beer here. One mug."
"Right away!"
Yuri and Hernando were currently seated in a tavern in Brioll's capital.
With his face uncovered, crowds had gathered just to see Yuri.
But due to his royal status, no one approached beyond a certain distance—they only watched from afar, causing no disturbance.
The tavern owner was grinning ear to ear.
"So, Sir Hernando, you're declaring you can't do the job. Admitting your own incompetence."
"Technically, yes, but..."
"Incompetent fool!"
"Your Highness, with all these people watching, mind your words..."
"Oh?"
"Of course."
"Watch this."
Yuri slammed the table and stood.
All eyes focused on him.
Yuri glared down at Hernando as if furious but holding back, then muttered shortly.
"Incompetent fool...!"
His voice wasn't loud, but it rang clearly through the tavern.
The citizens were all swayed by Yuri's words.
Not blaming Yuri's conduct, but rather echoing him, they began condemning Hernando's incompetence.
"That guy's sitting in front—incompetent, huh."
"Making His Highness upset..."
"Looks incompetent."
"Incompetent fool...!"
"He's incompetent now. Call him Incompetent."
"His Highness drinking with Incompetent. His Highness is too kind."
In an instant, public opinion was manipulated by Yuri.
Hernando gaped.
"This can't be..."
"Told you. Jealous? Get famous."
"I've never been called incompetent in my life. I, Hernando, am a genius acknowledged by the Magic Tower..."
"Got it. So where's the Magic Tower Master?"
"I don't know."
"Incompetent fool."
"Urk..."
Hernando bit his lip.
Yuri wasn't entirely wrong. Hernando felt a deep self-loathing.
A Grand Wizard still hadn't located the Magic Tower Master. It meant he couldn't unravel the magical barriers the Master had set.
"Maybe you're right. I'm just an incompetent fool..."
"Pitiful, wallowing in self-pity."
"Incompetent and pitiful..."
Hernando slammed his head on the table. The crowd stirred again.
"Daring to lift his head arrogantly in His Highness's presence..."
"Incompetent, pitiful, and rude to boot..."
"What's his name? What does he do?"
"Even putting up with a subordinate like that—His Highness is incredible..."
Any normal person might feel burdened by such absurd worship, but Yuri shrugged off others' opinions.
Praise or blame—he used it all for his goals.
Right now, leveraging fame to discipline Hernando.
Showered in the crowd's contempt, Hernando shrank and mumbled softly.
"Your Highness, you didn't drag us to the capital just for this, did you...?"
"Figured it out?"
"Terrifying man...!"
Then it happened.
A commotion erupted at the tavern entrance where the crowd gathered, and people parted to the sides.
Yuri and Hernando turned.
It wasn't fame or status that cleared the path.
Beauty alone.
Marie Rose Antre.
Valsard's magitech engineer approached Yuri and Hernando.
Instead of her usual ornate dress, she wore practical clothes for mobility. Yet her stunning looks shone through, and citizens couldn't block her path, yielding aside.
Marie Rose strode straight through the crowded tavern without a care.
She leaned slightly, gazing down at Yuri with a seductive smile.
"Your Highness. Here you are."
"Yeah."
"Shall we head out now?"
"Let's."
"This incompetent Hernando's making Your Highness suffer needlessly."
"Tell me about it."
"Hey, Marie Rose, you're with me too..."
"Shut it."
Marie Rose silenced Hernando with a finger, then continued.
"It's clear this incompetent Hernando can't find the Magic Tower Master with his magic. Your Highness will have to go yourself. Maybe that's what the man wants."
Yuri nodded.
"Yeah. No reliable subordinates, so I have to move again."
"Poor Your Highness, with such incompetent aides..."
Hernando protested to Marie Rose.
"By that logic, you're incompetent too, no?"
Yuri shook his head.
"Marie Rose isn't my subordinate."
"Then what is she?"
"Marie Rose is..."
Before Yuri could finish, she jumped in.
"Companion."
Hernando glanced at Yuri. Yuri, about to say 'collaborator,' cleared his throat and nodded.
"Something like that."
"Got it, Sir Hernando? You're a subordinate. I'm a companion. So accept your incompetence as one."
"I've been accepting it since before you arrived..."
Hernando sighed deeply.
"Fine. To the Magic Tower. I doubt it'll change anything with Your Highness going, but let's see. If not, even you'll be incompetent."
"Me?"
Yuri stood and said.
"Hernando. I don't see what's right in front of me."
"No kidding."
"Think I'd settle for 'if it works, great; if not, oh well' like you?"
Something flickered in Yuri's eyes.
"I'm not playing around. No waiting politely for some Master to be convinced. Fighting the Empire demands more."
He still remembered the previous life's war.
No time for leisure.
No dragging feet waiting for consensus.
If the Magic Tower Master wouldn't emerge, Yuri was prepared to tear the Tower down until he did. For stopping the Empire and averting tragedy, he'd do it gladly.
That was what battling black magic meant to Yuri.
"Let's go."
"Now?"
"Told you. No time."
"You drank your fill, though."
"Fuel."
Yuri grinned, downed the rest of his beer, tossed gold on the table, and sprang up.
Outside, about ten knights waited with horses.
The Vengeance Knights.
They'd been waiting for Yuri from the start.
Yuri mounted first, signaling the knights to mount in unison. The simple motion brimmed with precision.
"His Highness and the Vengeance Knights..."
"Whoa..."
"So cool."
"That's the rumored..."
The crowd gasped in admiration. Cheers rose too.
Jared, waiting, grinned at the late-arriving Hernando.
"Had your fill of punishment, Sir Hernando?"
"Yes. Something like that."
"Let's go."
Marie Rose and Hernando mounted as well.
As Yuri gripped the reins, Jared joked.
"Your Highness. Isn't drunk riding a crime?"
"I'm above the law."
"Hahaha..."
"Move out."
"Yes, sir!"
Yuri and the Vengeance Knights tore through the capital streets in a flash.
Brioll had a Magic Tower too.
Not large, but all Towers were connected anyway.
Yuri and the Vengeance Knights headed for Viscount Ustan's territory, Matehorn.
***
Word of Yuri's approach must have preceded him—the gates stood open.
While Yuri spoke with the welcoming Viscount Ustan, the Vengeance Knights traded glares with Matehorn's knights.
Sword-bearers were all cut from the same cloth; eyes met, tempers flared.
But there were exceptions.
"Why the stares? Heh heh..."
Tirbo scratched his head innocently, drawing even lax Jared's sigh.
He truly didn't look the heir to a prestigious count's family.
"Sir Tirbo."
"Yes?"
"Act more knightly."
"What's knightly?"
"Chin up, eyes sharp. Glower steadily. No grinning. Grins make you look weak."
"But His Highness always smiles..."
"His Highness smirks, not smiles."
"T-then I'll smirk too. Like this?"
"Don't. You look dumb."
"Yes, sir..."
"They're already pointing at you!"
"Sorry..."
Of course, Matehorn had knights who'd fought alongside at Bezos Workshop Battle.
They greeted Jared and the Vengeance Knights warmly. But one group of unfamiliar knights still glared.
Jared asked.
"Why do those guys keep staring?"
"Ah, them..."
A middle-aged knight from Bezos gave an awkward smile.
"Know of Parsont?"
"Parsont? You mean where the Parsont Knight Academy is?"
"Exactly."
Parsont was an Empire frontier territory housing the Parsont Knight Academy—one of the Empire's three major knight cradles, responsible for much of its knightly might.
"Matehorn has an agreement with them. We send select knights regularly."
"So..."
"Yeah."
The middle-aged knight grimaced.
"Empire exchange knights."