Chapter 34
Chapter 34
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: 17. Magic Cannon
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"Why me only..."
Jared glanced at Hernando and Rolang, who were sitting beside him.
"......"
They were men far removed from any interest in women. Jared nodded to himself in understanding right away.
"I'll be careful."
Even so, Jared's gaze wandered toward the Bursen delegation, no different from before.
Yuri let out a sigh. Rehabilitation's falling short.
In the meantime, Marirose approached the Brioll table.
"You do know how to drink, right?"
"Of course."
"It's fine wine."
She leaned in close to Yuri and tilted the wine bottle. Red liquid filled the round glass.
Marirose's hair, the color of wine, swayed gently by his ear.
"Please enjoy."
Her face drew near Yuri's. She smiled brightly, her warm breath brushing his cheek.
"Thanks."
But Yuri showed no reaction.
He had no real interest in Marirose to begin with. What concerned him was the war ahead.
Balsard, like Gide, served only as an advance supply base, not actual combat strength.
So to Yuri, the Bursen knights who would fight alongside them were far more important.
Having finished his thoughts, Yuri spoke up.
"Bursen, huh..."
His voice carried loudly.
"I've heard the name a few times. Haha..."
The sudden mention drew the Bursen group's attention to Yuri. Tension rippled through the air.
Yuri savored the brief silence, swirling his wine glass.
"A bumpkin who doesn't even know good wine..."
Their expressions shifted.
Tucked away in a corner of the continent geographically, Bursen had long endured insults from other nations as a backwater full of hicks.
So the infamous Brioll third prince was finally hurling abuse, just as rumored.
Bursen knights were never mild-mannered.
The moment they began rising from their seats—
Yuri continued.
"It's embarrassing for me to say, a man with no taste for fine wine..."
The knights, who had tensed their legs, hesitated awkwardly.
"A bumpkin who doesn't even know good wine" had been self-referential, not aimed at Bursen.
Yuri pressed on.
"But personally, I found Bursen's rum far tastier than wine. Manly stuff, you could say. Haha."
The Bursen knights sat back down.
A classic ploy: feign a push to draw them in subtly. Textbook social finesse.
And proof was in how their hearts began tilting toward this young third prince.
Brioll truly was the land of knights—bold spirits who enjoyed rum still lingered.
But it was too soon to relax.
"That said."
Yuri spoke again.
"The booze is fine, but the people there? Not so much. Heh heh."
Silence crashed down at the abrupt insult.
Marirose's mouth fell open, and the Bursen knights froze, unsure when to erupt.
One finally bellowed belatedly.
"Hey!"
His glare was fierce.
"You lost your mind?!"
Yuri faltered at the unfamiliar dialect.
He knew some Bursen regions retained local speech, but hearing it firsthand was new.
The commander leading their unit reined him in.
"Calm down."
"Captain, the Brioll prince insulted us."
"Stay cool-headed."
The commander remained composed.
"Heart hot. Head cold. That's Bursen."
"Urgh... Sorry."
Yuri eyed him closely.
Nobles grew sensitive in situations rubbing shoulders with foreign troops. Yet he kept his cool despite the slight.
"The third prince's provocative words... intriguing."
The man called captain stood. Not tall, but solidly built.
He turned to his group.
"Two possibilities. First: As rumored, Brioll's third prince is a wastrel who can't read the room and picked a fight with us valiant Bursen knights."
"N-No way...!"
"Then our answer's simple: Teach him a lesson."
The Bursen knights clenched their fists. Quick on the uptake.
"Second possibility: Testing Bursen knights ahead of the alliance formation."
"Testing us, how dare he...!"
"It's war, lives on the line. Checking if allies are reliable is natural. And our answer's the same either way."
"Our answer...?"
He grinned at Yuri.
"Prove our strength directly."
A duel setup formed in an instant.
Marirose, watching, lit up. She poured herself wine, sipping in anticipation of the show.
"I'll guide you to the training grounds."
Like an eager spectator at a performance.
Yuri rose and introduced himself to the Bursen group.
"Yuri Brioll. Third prince of Brioll and commander of Brioll forces."
"Jonathan Eagle. Count Krill, captain of the Shark Knights, and current Bursen commander."
"Expecting an apology for my rudeness?"
"No need. Just prove your words wrong myself."
"A real man."
"That's Bursen."
Yuri glanced at Rolang and Jared. Rolang's eyes gleamed; Jared looked annoyed.
"Fine. I'm sending these two."
"But Your Highness..."
"Dirty work's for the subordinates. That's Brioll."
"Pardon?"
Yuri pulled Rolang and Jared to their feet.
"Two on two, sparring matches. Fair enough."
Marirose led them to an open courtyard inside the castle.
"Right here."
A maid stood by with a tray of fruit and wine.
Marirose swirled her glass, reveling in the sudden event.
"Prince Yuri?"
"What."
"Did you really pick the fight on purpose? To test Bursen's strength?"
"Let's say that."
"Wow, a man's world. Crashing heads to earn respect, huh?"
"Can't trust unreliable allies at your back on the battlefield—gets you killed."
"Cool. Thrilling."
Marirose downed her wine with a laugh.
Drinking like water—alcohol dependency seemed likely.
Yuri looked away.
Three Bursen knights caught his eye.
There was reason Yuri targeted Bursen.
Two among them would rise to fame across the continent.
And one would go beyond fame, claiming a seat among the Ten Strong.
The Ten Strong: deterrence by name alone.
Proof of near-peak strength on the vast continent.
Building ties with such promising talents would pay dividends later.
"Manly friendships start with a fight."
Yuri muttered with a grin.
Meanwhile, Rolang faced a Bursen knight.
"Rolang."
"Proin."
The one who'd yelled first.
His accent was subdued now. Dialect only emerged in excitement, it seemed.
"Rolang, I've heard the name plenty. But I won't go easy."
Rolang nodded.
"I'll give my all."
Gripping his sword, Rolang shed his usual puppyish gleam around Yuri.
He'd made a name as a boy knight, winning countless tournaments.
The continent's certified genius—that was him.
As Rolang raised his blade, upright aura flowed from arm to edge.
Watching, Yuri placed a hand on Jared's shoulder.
"Watch closely."
"Yes."
Jared's eyes darted busily.
Meeting monsters like Yuri and Rolang taught him his own talent was nothing. So he pushed to keep up.
Jared focused, tracking Rolang's movements.
"Impressive..."
Flawless.
Rolang embodied the word as a knight.
Mana pure, stance perfect, responses textbook-standard.
His opponent Proin was the opposite.
Sword dangling loosely, upper body hunched forward, glaring like a wolf.
"You've trained well with the blade."
Proin prowled Rolang's perimeter, wild beast eyeing prey.
"You young masters are all the same."
Proin lunged suddenly.
Blinding speed.
Rolang didn't rush. He parried, angling to counter toward the throat.
"Predictable!"
Proin dropped low as if waiting, spinning acrobatically for Rolang's legs.
Or tried to.
Proin couldn't advance further.
Rolang's blade tip tracked down, still at his throat.
"......"
Proin froze, looking up at Rolang.
Victory clear.
Rolang calmly sheathed his sword.
"Another round?"
Yuri whistled.
"Precision incarnate."
Such erratic attacks rattled most foes.
Not Rolang.
Even as Proin ducked and spun, Rolang calculated exchanges flawlessly, certain his strike landed first.
Making Proin look like a lone fool flailing.
"Damn..."
Proin retreated.
Not a bad choice. Orthodox swordsmen often crumbled against unorthodoxy.
Lack of flair rigidified their forms.
But Rolang wasn't that type. No need for tricks—he stuck to the path.
Unyielding to feints, choosing only truth. An unbreakable wall.
"Sir Rolang. Again?"
"Yes."
Proin's demeanor grew respectful.
The Bursen group watched more seriously now.
They clashed again.
Proin flashed moves to find openings.
Rolang countered calmly, as if privy to every trick.
All paths blocked.
Proin conceded.
"I lose."
Rolang sheathed and bowed.
Yuri clapped. Marirose joined, and Bursen applauded in respect.
Jonathan said,
"As expected of Brioll. Land of knights—truly impressive skill."
Yuri downplayed it.
"Too kind. Rolang's the standout. Without me and him, it'd be a mess."
"I see."
"Bursen won't back down so easily, right?"
"Of course. Can't just lose. Hose, you're up."
"Yes."
The replacement knight was massive. Powerhouse evident at a glance.
He shouldered a huge blade, glaring at Jared.
Yuri brightened at Hose.
Hose Aratour.
The future Ten Strong knight.
"Hose, eh? Looks strong just standing there. Build alone tells it— aura's no joke."
Jonathan smiled proudly.
"Proin was our weakest, actually. Hose is our unit's strongest. Aims for Bursen's top spot."
"Knew it. Honored to face such a knight. Show me Bursen's full might."
"Naturally."
"Alright, Jared."
"Yes?"
"Go."
Jared eyed Yuri.
"Wait, hold on..."
Jared tried backing away, but Yuri shoved his back.
"No..."
Something was off.
That loss? Hose's eyes burned with unyielding resolve.
No blades crossed, but Jared knew.
We're screwed.
"This is..."
"Begin."
The duel started.
Hose was orc-strength with human skill. Unbound by swordplay, he wove in barehand techniques freely.
No clean exchanges like before—this was brutal melee.
Jared's skill shone, but couldn't overcome Hose's raw power.
He resisted fiercely, only to be overpowered, dragged across the dirt.
"Huff... huff..."
"That's enough."
Jared slumped, nose bleeding.
Hose gave a thumbs-up.
"Impressive for your age. Holding out against me like that—Brioll's truly the knight's land."
"......"
Patronizing praise after thrashing him. Jared wiped his nose and stood, blood smearing his hand.
"Learned a lot... thanks."
Jonathan clapped.
"Sir Jared, was it? Great match. Losing to Hose is no shame. Haven't seen someone endure so well in ages. Fought valiantly despite the loss."
"Thank you..."
Just rolled in the dirt pathetically, yet praised. Jared wasn't sure how to feel.
Thus, Brioll and Bursen drew even.
"One win, one loss..."
Yuri stepped forward, offering Jonathan his hand.
"A draw."
"A draw it is."
They shook.
Proven reliable for watching each other's backs in battle—now comrades.
Marirose waved, and "alliance forged" shimmered in the air.
"Awesome. Wow."
Marirose beamed.
Future alliance troops might spar at her prodding.
Yuri eyed her.
"Fun's over. Business time?"
"Business. Sure. Lots of kinds. My office?"
As Marirose beckoned, Jonathan cut in.
"Haha, mind if I join?"
"What..."
Marirose shot him a glance, then nodded.
"Fine."