Chapter 255
Chapter 255
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 255
Chapter Title: 97. Reunion (4)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Yuri scanned the bandaged swordsman up and down.
A lot had changed. His face was marred, his stance was stooped, and even the way he wielded his sword had grown rough.
But now that he recognized him as Rolang, it was unmistakable.
“Rolang, right?”
Yuri stepped toward him.
“What have you been up to all this time...”
But the moment Yuri approached, a sharp blade aura came flying at him.
It wasn't just a warning—it aimed precisely for his throat.
Yuri deflected the attack with Guilty and stared at Rolang.
“What the hell are you doing?”
“Yuri Brioll.”
“Yeah?”
The clear voice of the Rolang he remembered was gone.
Cold eyes gleamed through the bandages wrapped around his face.
Yuri realized this wasn't the Rolang he once knew.
“Don't call my name.”
Yuri halted in his tracks.
Anyone else, and he would've scolded them for talking nonsense and forced his way in to subdue them. But this was Rolang.
Among those closest to him, Rolang was the one he trusted most.
If Rolang said no, then it was no.
“Got it.”
So Yuri stopped right there.
Without a word, he could infer plenty from Rolang's appearance.
In Franchese, Rolang had lost everything.
He must have been wounded there, turning into this version of himself.
And it was all because of Cedric.
Rolung had suspected Cedric, but Yuri hadn't believed him.
That was how they'd grown apart.
Yuri didn't know the details of what happened in Franchese, but one thing was clear: this Rolang was no longer the one he knew.
Yuri gripped and released Guilty's hilt repeatedly.
He wasn't so weak as to feel guilt over things beyond his control.
If someone else tried to pin the blame for Franchese on him and hurled accusations, Yuri would've sneered and drawn his blade.
But this was Rolang.
To Yuri, Rolang had always been an exception.
“Should I apologize?”
Yuri asked.
Rolang's face twisted for a split second, then he lunged at Yuri.
There was none of the refined, elegant swordsmanship Yuri remembered. Just merciless strikes that disregarded his own safety.
As he swung Guilty in response, Yuri thought to himself.
Rolang had grown stronger.
His style was rougher, but his technical skill hadn't regressed at all. His power and speed had increased. It might look reckless at first glance, but every offense and defense was meticulously calculated. His talent had continued to evolve.
But Yuri had grown even stronger.
Rolang, realizing this, gritted his teeth and spat.
“You monster.”
“Rolang.”
The two locked blades, glaring at each other from close range.
Through the bandages, Yuri could now see the twisted skin more clearly.
Yuri smiled faintly.
“Your speech is better like this.”
“What?”
“Why didn't you talk like this sooner? Following me around calling me 'Your Highness' this and that was annoying. This feels more familiar.”
“Don't act so relaxed while running your mouth.”
“Act? Please.”
Yuri pushed harder, forcing Rolang back. Rolang twisted his blade aside and tried to grab Yuri, aiming to flip him over.
But Yuri spun like a top, reversing the move and slamming Rolang to the ground.
Rolang hit the dirt after one full rotation and groaned.
“Urgh...”
“Rolang.”
Yuri looked down at him.
“I'm sorry.”
“Shut up.”
Rolang kicked off the ground from his pinned position, flipping Yuri over and mounting him. Straddling Yuri's body, he growled.
“Don't pretend to be sorry.”
“Rolang, you know better than anyone.”
Yuri didn't resist, just met his gaze.
“I don't pretend.”
“Damn it!”
Rolang swung his fist down.
But Yuri blocked it with his hand.
Yuri chuckled softly.
“See? I didn't dodge.”
Rolang threw a few more punches. But Yuri blocked them all or slipped away cleverly.
Soon, Rolang—flailing in the mount position—grabbed Yuri by the collar, panting heavily.
“Yuri Brioll.”
“Yeah.”
“You should've figured it out first.”
Rolang seized his throat.
“He blabbed about fighting the Empire, but the real enemy was right beside you. You should've seen it.”
Yuri looked up at Rolang.
Rolang tightened his grip around Yuri's neck and continued.
“You should've been the first to realize Cedric was that kind of bastard.”
His hand clenched harder.
“If not, you should've at least believed me.”
Rolang swung his fist. This time, Yuri didn't block.
Yuri's head snapped to the side.
He spat out blood-mixed saliva, then looked at Rolang.
“I'm sorry, Rolang.”
Rolang stared down at him, then his shoulders began to shake as he laughed.
After chuckling to himself for a while, he stood up.
“Damn it all...”
Rolang staggered over and picked up his sword from where it lay.
“Whatever. Doesn't matter now. Whether you die or the world ends. I don't care.”
“Yeah.”
“Your father’s been locked up by your brother.”
Yuri, who had only just gotten to his feet, turned to look at him.
“Cedric sealed him with some unknown magic. He said to tell you. Said he wants to crush your hope.”
“Thanks for passing it on.”
“We won't meet again. This was just coincidence. Go fight your brother and die, or win and save the world. Do whatever.”
With that, Rolang turned and walked off into the distance.
Yuri watched his back.
He wanted to grab him, but it didn't seem like what Rolang wanted.
“Hoo...”
Yuri just ruffled his own hair.
After pondering for a moment, he stood and shouted after the retreating figure.
“Hey! Rolang!”
“Hey.”
Kori was hiding in the shadows, watching Yuri and the villagers, when someone suddenly spoke up.
“What're you peeking at like that?”
He turned to see the mercenary who hadn't shown up in a while. The scars on his face stood out more than usual today.
The mercenary glanced in the direction Kori was watching and smirked.
“Is that the famous Yuri Brioll? Look at that. The ones who treated you like dirt are acting all nice in front of him. Anyone would get the wrong idea.”
The mercenary spoke sharply.
Kori ignored him and turned away.
He'd planned to head straight to Yuri, but somehow, it felt like now wasn't the time.
The mercenary followed.
“Hey, where you going?”
“My business.”
“Don't we still have things to talk about?”
“What things?”
“He woke up because you did what I said, right?”
“Ah, yeah.”
“Time to uphold your end now, isn't it?”
As the mercenary instructed, Kori had mixed the herbs, and Rolang really woke up. In return, Kori promised to grant him one request.
Without looking at him, Kori said.
“Go ahead. I'll do what I can.”
“Hm, I'll tell you what I want later.”
“When's later? What if I'm not here?”
“Won't take that long.”
“Still, give me a hint.”
“Tonight, maybe?”
“Fine. Come find me. If we miss each other, oh well...”
“Got it.”
“But why do you keep following me...”
No response. When Kori turned, the mercenary was gone again. He really came and went as he pleased.
Kori sighed and headed to the inn where Rolang was staying.
The two who'd come from the temple were lodging there. The owner clearly disliked them but took the extra coin without complaint.
Rolung, now conscious, sat by the window gazing outside.
Rolung spoke.
“It got noisy out there. What's going on?”
“Who knows? Maybe because Brioll's knights arrived. I saw His Highness Yuri too.”
Rolung's eyebrow twitched. He stared at Kori silently.
Kori shrugged.
“I didn't know either.”
Rolung glared at him wordlessly for a moment, then stood and left the room.
Everyone was doing their own thing.
Left alone, Kori flopped onto the bed and sank into thought.
Then he fell asleep.
When he opened his eyes again, it was dark outside.
Rolung was gone.
Rubbing his eyes in surprise, Kori jolted awake.
What if His Highness Yuri had left?
He rushed out of the inn and asked the villagers—who still disliked him—where Yuri and the Brioll knights were. They said they'd pitched camp outside the village.
Kori hurried there.
He saw Yuri and the knights sitting around a campfire.
It felt just like old times.
When they traveled with the Allied Forces, they'd gather like that at night to prepare for the next day's battle.
Days filled with nothing but fighting, but Kori missed them.
As he approached Yuri, lost in memories—
A fight broke out.
Kori hid in shock.
Magic was flying through the darkness.
Kori tried to cast Dispel, but someone beat him to it, shattering the spell.
It was Inariel, the grand mage with salmon-colored hair and a youthful face.
He was undoubtedly a better mage than Kori.
Kori watched Inariel in action and stayed hidden, unable to step forward.
With Inariel's arrival, the Brioll knights gained the upper hand. Yuri left for the village to save people. Kori remained crouched in the bushes, unmoving.
“Hey, idiot.”
The mercenary spoke from behind Kori.
“What're you doing? Weren't you going to Yuri Brioll?”
“Yeah.”
Kori turned.
“But since you're here, I won't.”
Looking up at his face, Kori added.
“Cedric.”
The scarred mercenary looked down at Kori and began to laugh. His lips stretched into a gruesome grin.
“When did you figure it out?”
“Who knows?”
“Smarter than I thought.”
“I get that a lot. Looks can be deceiving, right?”
Kori stood and started walking toward the village.
“Let's talk while we walk. So, what's your wish?”
“I'll tell you soon.”
“Wanna chat with me or something?”
“Yeah.”
The two walked along the village outskirts.
Sounds of fighting echoed from afar.
Kori had vaguely sensed the mercenary tailing him wasn't ordinary. He couldn't pinpoint why, but the mana and the power of his words made him wary.
At first, he thought it was his imagination. Then it hit him.
This man reeked of black magic.
Guessing he was Cedric was half intuition.
“You must sense it now.”
“Sense what?”
“My face. My appearance.”
Cedric grinned wickedly. His face was still that of a scarred, ugly mercenary.
“Isn't this the kind of human you wanted to be?”
“...”
Kori didn't deny it.
He'd always been ignored, met with looks of disgust.
Even after becoming a mage, nothing changed.
Yet people who scorned him cowered before big, rough-looking guys. Like this mercenary—intimidating build, scarred face—and they fawned over them in fear.
Sometimes, he wanted to be like that.
“I observed you. Wondering what talent a hideous half-orc like you had to make Yuri keep you around.”
“No talent at all.”
“But you can use Words of Power...”
Kori tensed.
He was toying with him now, but if he knew about the Word Agency, Cedric might try to take it.
“Don't worry. That crap doesn't faze me. Words of Power are just empty power.”
Cedric placed a hand on Kori's shoulder.
“Watching you, I found something interesting.”
“What?”
“Time to collect on our deal. My request is simple: answer my last question honestly.”
“Honestly?”
“Yeah, honestly.”
The mercenary's face shifted into Cedric's.
Handsome, refined, beautiful.
And Cedric excelled in every way. Kori couldn't understand why someone so blessed would dabble in black magic and evil deeds.
Cedric's voice whispered in Kori's ear.
“You. You were happy seeing what happened to Rolang. Admit it.”
Kori's face hardened.
“I...”
“I can read hearts. You were genuinely thrilled seeing Rolang disfigured. Right? I've never seen such pure joy. That's why I approached you.”
Kori looked at Cedric. His face resembled Yuri's.
But now he saw it.
Cedric was ugly.
And he himself was uglier.
“You were happy seeing Rolang turn ugly. Weren't you, Kori?”
Kori answered.
“Yes...”