Chapter 48
Chapter 48
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: 23. Swordsman of the Distant Sea
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A brutal slaughter unfolded.
Yuri didn't let a single orc die easily. He let the soldiers and knights hack away at them until they vented their fury.
If an orc resisted, Yuri would personally sever its tendons and toss it aside.
The reactions of orcs facing death were no different from any human's.
"These are the bastards who eat humans and use them as playthings. Don't feel any pity."
With this, Yuri reimprinted his presence on the entire Allied Forces.
He had to be a reliable ally and a terrifying enemy.
Through the executions, Yuri proved his solidarity with his allies while simultaneously instilling fear through his brutality.
"Th-that was hard work, sir."
When Yuri returned splattered in blood, even Proin, a knight from Bursen who'd grown close to him, greeted him awkwardly.
Yuri grinned and tossed his blood-soaked gauntlet at the man.
"Whoa!"
"What's the big deal? Your clothes are already filthy."
"You startled me throwing it like that."
"A knight should at least pretend not to flinch."
"Y-yes, sir..."
When Lagna suddenly assigned him to handle the orc prisoners, Yuri hadn't been free of panic.
But he wasn't the eighteen-year-old boy he appeared to be. He was a seasoned mercenary who'd wandered the gutters after losing his kingdom.
He knew exactly what to do in situations like this.
"A sudden test, huh..."
Yuri thought of Lagna.
At first, Lagna had looked shocked as Yuri brutally killed the orcs, but soon a satisfied smile spread across his face.
What did he want from another kingdom's prince?
Maybe he was thinking of taking him under his wing.
"Well done."
Lost in thought, Yuri suddenly noticed Lagna's adjutant approach.
"His Highness sends this. It's a potion good for recovery."
"Ah, thanks. Tell His Highness I appreciate it."
"Yes. And, well..."
"Hm?"
"This is just my personal hope..."
"Hope?"
"Please don't push yourself too hard and stay healthy. We have high expectations of you, Prince."
"What?"
"I'll be going now."
Watching the adjutant walk away, Yuri felt something was off.
He overheard two passing knights chatting.
"They say the Empire's princess is stunningly beautiful?"
"Don't even get me started. Her skin's white as snow, and her eyes sparkle like finely cut emeralds. I froze up just seeing her from afar."
"What's her personality like?"
"They say she's incredibly kind and angelic."
"Whoa..."
It felt like Yuri had been struck on the head.
He unwittingly turned toward Lagna and met his gaze.
Lagna nodded with a pleased smile. It wasn't the look you give a stranger.
Yuri grew afraid of how intimate Lagna was becoming.
"No... this can't be..."
Yuri returned to the Brioll camp.
"Where's Moyong Chan?"
"Eating."
"It isn't mealtime."
"He said he was hungry."
"Good work. Where is the man?"
Yuri headed straight to Moyong Chan.
The man, face buried in his mess tin, scowled at Yuri covered in gore.
"Smells like orc. Go cook. Shoo."
"Isn't that just how battlefields are?"
Yuri sat beside him.
"Eat more. How many days has it been since you last ate properly?"
"Dem orcs didn't give me no decent grub."
"You must have suffered. Those damn orcs. Filthy bastards."
"Prince, soup's too salty."
"I'll have a fresh pot made right away."
The Brioll knights watching this felt betrayed.
Who could've guessed the willful Yuri could cater to someone like that? It wasn't that he couldn't—he just chose not to.
Jared, in particular, clenched his fist in rage, biding his time.
"Once I reach the Ten Strong, he'll grovel to me too. Just you wait..."
With his belly full, Moyong Chan wanted a bath.
Yuri fulfilled every demand. He heated water, provided clean clothes and a sword.
To emphasize his affiliation, Yuri deliberately used Brioll supplies.
Once Moyong Chan washed up and trimmed his bushy beard, he looked like a different person. His features were handsome, though his eyes were sharp.
"You look ready to live now."
Yuri lit a campfire and sat across from him. Time for a serious talk.
"Sir Moyong Chan. How did you end up captured by the orcs?"
"First off, you gotta show me dat mana method double."
Moyong Chan's eyes sharpened.
"How da hell you kill dat orc shaman?"
"Well..."
Yuri recalled the moment.
Others hadn't even properly seen the orc shaman. But he could see and damage it.
He had a hunch why.
The mana circulation method he wielded was called Heart-Soul Severing.
Yuri spoke up.
"I think it was because of the mana circulation method I learned."
"Inner power method, huh..."
"It's different from ordinary ones."
"Hmm..."
Moyong Chan scanned Yuri up and down, then stood.
"Draw yer sword."
"Pardon?"
"Show me da inner power—er, mana method yerself."
His expression was grave.
Yuri nodded and stepped out by the fire.
Moyong Chan eyed every inch of him, as if peering inside.
"I'll go first."
"Come on."
The aura of Heart-Soul Severing sharpened toward Moyong Chan.
Yuri lunged, swinging his sword. Moyong blocked. Yuri attacked again. Swords clashed once more.
An ordinary exchange continued.
Then, suddenly, Yuri sensed something alien from Moyong Chan.
Heart-Soul Severing reacted instantly.
A massive burst echoed.
They stood locked blade-to-blade.
"You..."
Moyong Chan's eyes widened.
"Where the hell did ya learn dat technique?"
Yuri was surprised too.
"Your speech cleared up all of a sudden."
"Wh-what nonsense."
"Got it. I'll tell you about the mana method, so you tell me too, Sir Moyong Chan."
"Tell ya what?"
"Why were you caught by the orcs?"
Moyong Chan's gaze deepened.
He stared at Yuri, then smirked.
"Fine. If yer monster proves worthy."
"You're twisting your pronunciation more now. Are you faking not knowing the continental tongue...?"
"What're ya yappin' about?"
"Nothing."
Yuri sat back by the fire with Moyong Chan. They cleared the area for privacy.
Raymond wanted guards, but Yuri refused. If Moyong meant harm, guards wouldn't matter.
Yuri tossed wood into the flames and said,
"I learned the mana circulation method from my ancestor."
"What?"
"I'm the third prince of Brioll."
Yuri briefly explained the mana method from the dungeon, found by the founder. Moyong showed interest in Erich Brioll.
"Erich Brioll, eh..."
Moyong closed his eyes.
"Considerin' da era, it fits..."
"Yes."
"Guess our meetin' is fate or somethin'."
"Pardon?"
"I was gonna smash ya for ruinin' my plans, see what kinda punk ya were..."
"Your pronunciation..."
"What 'bout it?"
Moyong stood.
The distant knights flinched as he moved.
Ignoring them, he stood before Yuri.
Firelight flickered shadows across his face.
"Stand proper."
"Yes."
Then, something unexpected happened.
Moyong bowed to Yuri.
"Moyong Chan, last direct disciple and sect leader of the Qingcheng Sect, guardian elder, pays respects to the descendant of my old benefactor. The Qingcheng Sect has not forgotten its bond with the Heaven-Defying Swordsman."
He wrapped his fist in his palm and lowered his stance.
Yuri panicked at the sudden gesture.
"Wh-why are you doing this...? And why's your speech so perfect...?"
"Up to here."
"Yes."
"Everything's gone to hell anyway."
Relaxing his bow, Moyong kicked Yuri's butt while he sat.
"Qingcheng Sect's kaput."
"Why take it out on me...?"
"Where're the guys makin' a livin' demon-huntin' these days...? No daoists, nothin'. The martial world’s rotten..."
He grumbled to himself, then plopped back down. His expression was milder now.
"Ya seem to get da gist."
"Yes."
"I'll explain."
His slurred speech was hard to follow, but Moyong Chan's story boiled down to this:
He hailed from the East.
From a sect called Qingcheng.
Once, a swordsman from the Western Regions arrived. He fought the East's supreme master to a draw in a world-shaking battle.
That swordsman was Erich Brioll, and the supreme master was Qingcheng's sect leader.
They recognized each other and became friends.
Erich stayed long in Qingcheng, sharing sword insights with the supreme master.
Then, some demonic cult or whatever rose up.
Erich helped his friend crush them.
Their divine prowess and epic friendship became legend in the East.
"Dat's how it went."
Yuri was moved.
"Such a connection...!"
Yuri seized Moyong Chan's hands.
"We're no strangers, then."
The veil lifted from one of the Ten Strong—a foreigner now bound by ties. Great news.
Yuri shook his hands vigorously.
"I'll call you senior! Senior Moyong Chan!"
"Senior, my ass..."
As a side note, Qingcheng collapsed from outdated management.
Left alone, Moyong carried on the sect's legacy, wandering to slay demonic evils.
"An ill star rose in da Western skies. I came here for heaven an' earth's peace..."
He'd warned others, but corrupt Eastern sects ignored him for worldly gains.
"So you came alone? Abandoning wealth and glory?"
"Wealth an' glory? Just face for leavin' Qingcheng..."
With the sect gone and only pride left, Moyong headed West alone.
Tracking dark auras led him to Okua, the orc chieftain.
He believed the ill star belonged to Okua.
"I planned to disguise as a sacrifice to get to Okua."
"A sacrifice?"
His following testimony was shocking.
Yuri could hardly believe it.
"Human sacrifice proves dat bastard's deep in dark sorcery."
Okua offered human lives for rituals. Moyong planned to infiltrate as one, then strike.
"You serious? Not just lying now?"
"Ya think I got time for dat, punk?"
"Your speech again..."
It was beyond Yuri's expectations.
But it fit perfectly.
In his past life, Moyong repeatedly hit Okua for unknown reasons.
This explained his obsession, and how Okua grew strong enough to kill him.
"But you an' yers came an' ruined it all."
"Ruined? Doesn't the East have a saying—turn disaster to fortune?"
"How ya know dat?"
"It's in books."
In his mercenary days, he'd met an Easterner. Not top-tier, but clever. The guy quoted Eastern proverbs; Yuri memorized a few.
"Brioll and Qingcheng are like brothers now."
"Suddenly?"
"Our founders were sworn brothers, so we should join forces."
"Not quite sworn..."
"Look."
Yuri stood, arms wide. Beyond his shoulders, countless Allied banners fluttered in the plains wind.
"We gathered this army to crush Okua. Let's kill him together."
"Hmm..."
Moyong closed his eyes, deep in thought.
Yuri was determined to convince him.
In his past life, Moyong acted alone and became Okua's sacrifice. Yuri couldn't let such a man die in vain.
Demon-hunting, he'd called it casually, but it was remarkable.
A warrior like Moyong roamed without reward for the world's sake.
More knightly than self-proclaimed knights. A true knight from the East.
"I'll grant you honorary knighthood. 'Brioll Knight' commands respect anywhere. Free pass on this continent."
"Hmmm..."
"I'll give you a stake in my merchant guild. Once Okua's dead, East-West trade booms—you'll reap wealth and fame."
"Oho..."
"I'll join Qingcheng as a lay disciple. Accepting a famed prince like me—what honor! Qingcheng's name rises."
"Not even close."
"Your speech..."
After much deliberation, Moyong spoke.
"I got one condition."
"Name it."
His eyes were solemn.
"After Okua's done, you fight me fair an' square."
"Me?"
"Yeah."
Yuri paled.
"I don't wanna die..."
"Don't chicken out."
Moyong clammed up after that. After agonizing, Yuri accepted.
He wouldn't actually kill him, right?
"So that's it, then?"
"Yer conditions an' mine—both accepted. Good deal."
"Huh?"
"Yer my disciple now."
"What?"