Chapter 252
Chapter 252
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 252
Chapter Title: 97. Reunion (1)
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Brioll's streets were plastered with official notices everywhere.
Each one featured a portrait of Yuri Brioll wearing a large bowler hat, pointing straight ahead in a bizarre illustration.
Beneath it, the text read:
"Brioll wants you. Enlist now."
The oversized bowler hat was the symbol of Brioll's recruiters. It was an ad using Yuri Brioll to rally soldiers.
No one was unaware that a war deciding the continent's fate was about to erupt.
Newspapers and magazines relentlessly condemned the Empire. They claimed the emperor was preparing his army for war, and if they sat idle, their lands would become battlefields—they had to strike first.
People feared war.
But this time, it was different.
Brioll—and the anti-Empire coalition beyond it—was led by the incarnation of victory, an undefeated hero who had never known defeat.
Yuri Brioll.
People held onto hope.
Of course, it would be a grueling, brutal war. Everyone knew that.
But those who survived to the end would be guaranteed wealth and honor.
Veterans would become heroes who saved the nation, praised for generations.
Even death would be a noble sacrifice.
Word spread that the Empire had begun persecuting foreigners, especially Briollians. No one doubted their atrocities would stay confined to imperial soil.
If they didn't fight, they'd be trampled. For their families, their loved ones, and their homeland, they had to take up the sword.
Enlistments surged.
In one Brioll city, a recruiter screening volunteers tilted his head at the man before him.
"You look a bit advanced in years. Sure you're up for it?"
"I'm fine. I'm a veteran of the Allied Forces."
"Ah, I see. Welcome aboard. Are you a resident of this territory?"
Veterans were always top priority. The recruiter immediately pulled out the roster of local Allied Forces vets.
"Yes."
"Name?"
"Raymond."
"Let's see, Raymond..."
The recruiter's finger stopped. His eyes widened.
It wasn't some foot soldier—it was a knight.
"Sir Raymond?"
"That's me."
"This is for regular soldiers. You should go to the lord separately for a proper position..."
"I've decided to serve as a common soldier."
"Pardon?"
The recruiter looked up. The knight's wrinkled face bore a faint smile.
"There are people I need to fight alongside on the battlefield."
He jerked his chin backward.
Only then did the recruiter notice the volunteers lined up behind Raymond, all wearing the same badge.
The symbol of the Allied Forces Veterans' Association.
"As president of the Allied Forces Veterans' Association, I've decided to join this war with my members."
"Ah..."
The recruiter stared for a moment, then extended his hand.
"As a Brioll soldier, I thank you for your decision, sir."
"Thank you."
"In fact, I dare to ask—will you dedicate yourself once more for Brioll's victory and our homeland?"
"Of course."
"For Brioll!"
The recruiter shouted, leaping to his feet.
"We'll handle you all separately."
Soon, a new figure appeared and led away Raymond and the veterans.
At first, it seemed like special treatment for Allied Forces vets.
But they had other plans.
"Before deployment, we have a small favor to ask."
"For Brioll, gladly."
"Let's start with some light basic makeup."
"Makeup?"
"Can't have you looking pale—it'd seem like we're mistreating you. Haha..."
"Don't tell me..."
They planned to use the Allied Forces Veterans' Association name to boost enlistments.
Raymond and the veterans ended up touring the city, drawing cheers from the crowds.
The publicity was a resounding success.
News of a retired old knight from the Allied Forces taking up the sword again for Brioll set young blood boiling.
Brioll prepared steadily for war.
Far more systematically than in Yuri's previous life.
Meanwhile, Yuri wasn't just sitting idle.
He led the Revenge Knights ahead of schedule, leaving Brioll first as the vanguard to establish the anti-Empire coalition's front lines.
Cori handled all the village chores for the bedridden Rolang.
Even after they learned he was a mage, their treatment improved only slightly—the basic contemptuous glares remained.
Villagers pointed fingers as he passed.
Kids called him a monster.
Yet Cori never snapped at them once.
"Are you an idiot?"
As Cori approached the guild office that connected mercenaries with clients, a mercenary at the entrance blurted it out.
"Pardon?"
"You're a mage, but you just take this villagers' scorn lying down?"
"Uh..."
The mercenary was a rough-looking man with a facial scar.
Cori had crossed paths with him a few times; guild staff said he was pretty skilled.
"What can I do? I just ignore it."
"Heard you're half-orc, but you talk smooth."
Strangers often gawked at Cori's eloquence, reacting like they'd met a talking beast.
Cori chuckled.
"I limp, but my mouth works fine. Lucky, huh?"
"Mages must be smart. So why let it slide? They disrespect you because you don't retaliate. Don't you get it?"
"No need to go that far..."
"Respect comes from fear."
The man stood, lighting a cigarette.
"With a face like that, how are you such a pushover? You're a weird one."
"What do looks have to do with personality?"
"Get enough hate, and you sharpen up. I did as a kid. But after this scar, hassles dropped. Funny, right?"
The mercenary tapped his facial scar. The blade mark looked menacing.
"Just venting frustration."
"Thanks for the advice. But I'll keep ignoring it."
"Are you really that nice, or just fooling yourself...?"
The mercenary snickered.
"Guys like you end up the darkest inside. Wouldn't be shocked if unexplained disappearances popped up here."
Cori ignored him and entered the guild office.
The seated clerk frowned at Cori, then greeted him. Personal feelings aside, from the clerk's view, Cori was invaluable for handling even minor tasks.
"Welcome. Need work?"
"Yes."
"Let me see..."
The clerk scanned the request list.
"Nothing much. Oh, chopping trees on the village approach road. Pay per tree. Interested?"
Mercenaries didn't always fight—odd jobs were more common.
But tree-chopping was rare busywork.
"Heard you're a mage. You swing an axe?"
"Yes..."
"No? Fine, nothing else right now."
"I'll do it."
Cori nodded. With Rolang's medical bills, he couldn't be picky.
"Why chop trees, though?"
"Word is Brioll troops are passing through. Better clear the road just in case—they'll come if it's good."
The clerk said cheerfully.
Armies passing meant business for villages—outside war, it was positive, as provisioning troops spurred spending.
Cori's eyes wavered.
"Brioll troops?"
"Yeah."
The clerk glanced at Cori, then stamped papers.
"War's starting soon. Guild'll get busy. So, taking the job?"
"Y-Yes."
Cori signed quickly, then asked.
"When do the Brioll troops arrive? Is it definite? Who's commanding?"
Cori couldn't sway Rolang's stubbornness, so he'd stayed with him instead of returning to Brioll alone.
But now Rolang teetered on death's edge.
Maybe meeting Yuri could heal him. Then they could return to Brioll together.
The clerk stamped the form, replying.
"No idea. Just rumors. Nothing solid. Off you go."
"Ah, okay."
Cori stepped out.
The earlier mercenary was still there.
He flicked his cigarette butt, asking.
"Chopping trees?"
Cori didn't want to answer but nodded since the man followed.
"Yes."
A scoff.
"Idiot?"
"Huh?"
"If tree-chopping hits the guild, check it out first. Tsk."
"Why?"
"Don't know beasts roam these woods?"
"Uh..."
"Direwolves show up while chopping, you just stand there?"
Cori got it then.
"They're using 'tree-chopping' to get a mage escort dirt cheap. Bet that jerk inside got a fat cut."
"M-Maybe not on purpose?"
"Moron."
The mercenary laughed.
"Drop the innocent act. Not my problem anyway."
He waved and vanished.
Cori stared blankly at his back, then limped off.
He was right. He'd been used again.
If he'd scared them with magic like the mercenary said, maybe this treatment. But Cori didn't want that.
"Hoo..."
As he walked, village kids tailed him again.
"Monster! Monster!"
"Don't talk to it. It kills people and eats hearts."
"Real monster."
"Ugly!"
Cori ignored them, limping on. The kids lost interest and scattered.
At the village entrance, the headman directed tree-chopping.
Spotting Cori, he scowled.
"What're you here for? Chopping?"
"Yes."
"Fine. Whatever."
The headman smacked his lips.
"Get to it then."
"Okay."
"Pay per tree."
"Uh, the axe?"
"Axe?"
The headman snorted.
"Show up empty-handed for chopping?"
"I'm a mercenary. You provide gear."
"Bring your own axe for chopping. Tsk."
He clucked his tongue, hand out.
"Rental fee to borrow."
"Rental fee?"
"Yeah. Think axes are free?"
Now Cori was mad.
"I'll pass."
"You signed at the office."
"Cancel it."
"Unilateral breach means demerits. I'll blacklist you from this village. Headman has that power."
Cori eyed him.
He wanted to leave, but Rolang's condition prevented it.
Cori sighed.
Didn't they worry he'd snap with dark intent? He wasn't top-tier mage, but could easily kill normals.
The mercenary's words echoed.
Showing weakness let them exploit him.
Cori clenched, then unclenched his fist.
"Fine."
He rolled up his sleeves.
"I'll pay rental. Lend the axe."
"That's better."
The headman grinned.
"Chop hard."
To arrive early, Yuri pushed the Revenge Knights relentlessly.
To encircle the Empire's north, the Holy Kingdom and Burzen would hold the lower left, Liber on the lower right, and Brioll with minor states in the center, forming the defensive line.
Jared, map spread beside him, chattered.
"This is the shortcut. Village soon—stay overnight?"
"Procure supplies if possible."
"Village is small; might not work."
"Fine either way. We're stocked."
"Yes."
Yuri glanced back. The Revenge Knights followed in formation.
"Not tired already?"
"No, sir!"
"Battle soon—don't rush it!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Overnight in the next village!"
"Yes, sir!"
"For Brioll!"
"For Brioll!"
Yuri spurred ahead faster.
Soon, the village appeared in the distance.
Recently logged, the approach road was neatly cleared.