Chapter 61
Chapter 61
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: 29. Connections (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"They say the Allied Forces' popularity across the continent has hit its peak these days."
A fellow knight remarked.
Proin, who had been polishing his sword, tilted his head.
"How so?"
"Because they've been racking up victories nonstop."
"How would people on the continent even know that?"
The knight looked at Proin as if he couldn't believe his ears.
"You never used a communication orb before?"
"No..."
Proin furrowed his brow.
"We're so far out here—how could those things still connect?"
A pair of communication orbs was designed for long-distance contact, but distance limits still applied. They cut out after crossing just one or two borders.
The fellow knight sighed.
"That's why they say you send words to Brioll and men to the Empire. How long has it been since the Empire invented long-range communication orbs? You seriously didn't know?"
"For real?"
"The Empire's been reporting everything with them the whole time."
"No kidding?"
Proin's eyes widened.
"Where do they even sell those?"
"They don't. And even if they did, we couldn't use them. They guzzle mana stones like crazy. Apparently, the receiver in the Empire is this big."
He gestured with his arms to emphasize the size.
"I see. So I couldn't even borrow one from the Empire for a bit, huh?"
The knight snickered.
"Dying to contact your fiancée?"
"W-what are you talking about?"
Proin's face flushed a little as he shook his head. The knight clapped him on the shoulder.
"Obviously not. Even if you could, all comms route through the Empire's magic division anyway. Useless for us."
"Got it. Just testing the waters. For the record, it's not my fiancée—I'm curious about my territory's situation..."
"Sure, sure."
"I'm serious."
"I said I get it."
Proin had gotten engaged right before joining the Allied Forces. He'd declared he'd propose once it was over.
The knight continued.
"Anyway, thanks to all that leaked intel, the Allied Forces' rep has skyrocketed. When we get back, the ladies might pin flowers on us."
"Is that why you joined? A true knight fights without expecting reward."
"Look at Mr. Perfect Knight over here."
"That's the Bursen way."
"Cut that out. We're getting ribbed by the other kingdoms."
"I don't care about that. That's..."
"No more Bursen pride."
"No Bursen spirit, huh."
Suddenly, a group of knights in black armor passed by the Bursen camp.
"More orcs?"
"Looks like it."
Ragna, who had left Brioll in charge of scouting until the showdown with Okua, had dispatched an Imperial knight order.
They always returned with dark crimson blood staining their black plate.
"Were they hiding their strength all this time?"
The Empire's knights were that devastating—enough to spark such rumors.
Just as the orcs had suddenly brought some mystery monster, the Empire had unleashed its full might.
With the final battle looming, both sides were no longer holding back, hammering away at each other openly.
"How long are we just gonna keep staring each other down...?"
"Won't be long."
For days, the orcs and Allied Forces had eyed each other's banners beyond the horizon.
Skirmishes broke out now and then, but nothing beyond small-scale clashes.
"They say Brioll's prince woke up, so they'll probably charge soon."
"No way the Empire's waiting around because of that kid."
"Kid? Watch your mouth. And you forgetting what the third prince has done so far?"
Proin, who was friendly with Yuri, called out the tone. The knight scratched his head.
"Fair point, but..."
"If he hadn't taken out that ancient worm, we wouldn't be lounging around like this."
The monster that had plagued the Allies through tunnels in the last battle was called an ancient worm.
Records had turned up in an Imperial library—an extinct creature from ages past.
Yuri's sudden plunge into the orc horde, blasting the thing to shreds with a mana explosion, had left an indelible mark on the Allied knights.
An eighteen-year-old royal, heedless of his own safety, diving into the heart of enemy lines.
If that didn't stir something in you, you weren't a knight.
"So how'd he even know there was a monster underground?"
"Instinct, probably."
"Instinct?"
"That prince has it in spades. Guy's a genius."
"True, you've sparred with him a few times..."
"Speaking of, maybe I should go say hi. You coming?"
Proin sheathed his sword and stood.
The fellow knight shook his head.
"Pass."
"You'll regret it."
"I said I'm good."
Proin headed off alone.
As he reached the Brioll camp, soldiers recognized and greeted him. Helping each other out during the campaign had made faces familiar.
Thinking about it, this was pretty unusual.
Allied troops from multiple nations bonding like this? Rare occurrence.
Suddenly, a sound like a pig being slaughtered rang out.
"Kyaaaaah!"
"Not like that."
"Hraaah!"
"Too weak."
"Die! Die already!"
"That's overkill..."
Rolang from Brioll was drilling a peer with wooden swords.
Quite the gap between them—Rolang was clearly instructing.
"That must be the Sven guy..."
Brioll's prince had once mentioned handing off some Liberda noble's kid named Sven or something to Rolang.
Strange times.
You could run into folks from all over in the Brioll camp. Knights too proud to step outside their own turf wandered in and out here casually.
Hell, he himself was proof—Bursen knight thinking these thoughts.
"Hahaha! Great energy! Sir Sven!"
Loitering nearby, watching Rolang's lesson, was a burly knight.
Proin pretended not to see and walked past.
Hose had practically been living in the Brioll camp lately.
"Sir Proin."
"Ah, hello, Sir Raymond."
Raymond was a seasoned, wise knight. He commanded in Yuri's absence.
"Here to see the prince?"
"Yes."
"He's got company right now—might have to wait a bit."
"Of course. How's the prince doing?"
"Hahaha, fit as a fiddle. Not a scratch."
"Glad to hear it."
Proin stopped with Raymond in front of Yuri's tent.
Several paladins in white armor stood guard. Holy Kingdom's holy knights.
Even these prideful types showed up in Brioll's camp. Made you wonder what Brioll's prince got up to in his downtime.
"What's their deal here?"
"Beats me."
The holy knights gave Proin odd looks.
Bunch of flavorless pricks.
Proin stared right back without flinching.
A one-vs-many staring contest ensued.
Raymond just chuckled from the sidelines.
Soon the tent flap opened, and Yuri emerged with one paladin.
"Oh, Proin?"
"Good day, Your Highness. Came to pay my respects now that you're awake."
"Bursen knights sure are loyal."
"'Loyal' starts with 'u-ri'—that's us Bursen!"
Proin grinned as he sized up the man with Yuri.
It was Fenek, leader of the holy knights. Always strutting with his nose in the air, but polite as could be around Yuri.
"Your Highness, I'll take my leave. Thanks for the answer."
"No big deal."
"Personally, I'd love if it wasn't just a contract but genuine."
"Won't happen, so don't get your hopes up."
"Hahaha..."
Forcing a hearty laugh, even.
Never thought smug-eyed Fenek had it in him.
"Looks like you have another visitor, so we'll head out."
"Sure. Thanks for stopping by."
"Our pleasure. Stay healthy till then."
"We'll help each other out on the battlefield."
"Naturally."
Fenek bowed and led his holy knights away in a group.
As he passed Proin, their eyes met—his face hardened, and he gave him a disdainful once-over like looking at an inferior.
Proin let out a hollow chuckle.
"Your Highness, what'd you do to make that smug bastard act like that?"
"Fenek can be arrogant, yeah."
"You know it."
"Saved his life once—fixed that right up. Want me to save yours too, Sir Proin?"
"Pardon?"
Yuri smiled, watching the holy knights' retreating backs.
"Deep down, the guy's good-hearted."
"Uh-huh..."
Proin shook his head. Hanging with Brioll's prince really shook your common sense.
"Anyway, came to greet you now that you're up."
"Appreciate it."
"Saw it all back there. Mana explosion, then sword aura to top it off."
"Got lucky. Not battle-ready yet."
"Still."
Yuri was only eighteen.
Rolang, who swept sword tournaments and was hailed as the next generation's star knight, was in his twenties. Yet Yuri had achieved this much already.
If not for the Allies, no one would've known about this monster.
"Once the Allied Forces campaign ends..."
Proin looked at Yuri.
"Mind if I visit Brioll?"
Yuri burst out laughing.
"Of course—anytime."
"I'll bring my fiancée. She'll probably be my wife by then."
"Family of my friend is always welcome."
"Friend? That's too good for me."
At "friend," Proin stared in bewilderment. Yuri grinned.
"If not those who watch each other's backs on the battlefield, who else would you call a friend?"
"Haha..."
Proin had met Bursen's prince once.
He wasn't a knight like Yuri. Treated his order like toy soldiers—no human connection whatsoever.
Worlds apart.
If that prince were here, it'd be a sight. Might've been too ashamed of his Bursen ties to show his face.
Proin envied Brioll's knights.
"Sir Proin, that's why—don't die. Survive."
"You too. I'll make it back to my fiancée..."
"Hold up!"
Yuri clamped Proin's mouth shut.
"You weren't about to say you'll propose when you get back, were you?"
"Obviously..."
"Hold it. Hold it."
"Why?"
"Just a hunch. Say that, and you'll get burned."
"What do you mean?"
"You're just like that Rodaine guy. Haven't seen any plays?"
"No."
"Watch one with your wife later. See what happens to the fool who says that."
"Will do."
He had no idea why, but nodded anyway.
"Want to meet my master?"
"Master...?"
"Moyong Chan."
Yuri named him without hesitation.
"Ah, Moyong Chan is your master?"
"Kinda happened that way."
Proin was shocked again.
He knew Yuri had roped Moyong Chan into the Allies. But making a foreigner from the East—Ten Supremes or not—his master? Bold move.
Already curious what path this prince would carve ahead.
"Didn't you and the sea folk have that epic duel before? I could set something up."
"No need."
Proin shook his head.
"My sword's a stream, not the sea. Still a long way to the mouth. I'll challenge Master Moyong Chan again then."
"Fair enough."
They walked together.
Near the barracks, Brioll knights were sparring.
Wooden swords, but the exchanges were razor-sharp, inches from live combat.
Honing their battle sense to a lethal edge before the final fight.
Watching sharpened Proin's own tension.
He grinned.
"Makes me glad I joined the Allies."
"Right?"
Yuri eyed Proin quietly.
Promising knight, bright future.
But in his past life, Proin was unknown. Jonathan and Hose were famous; Proin was new to this timeline.
Probably died in the Allies.
"Proin. The Allied Forces will win."
It was a vow, a declaration.
He'd fix the Allies' original failure.
And ensure a knight named Proin existed in the future.
"When the war ends, we'll all raise a glass together."
"Count on it."
"No skipping out, or you're done."
"You neither, Your Highness."
Yuri pictured life after the Allies.
Bonds with Ragna the Imperial commander, the Holy Kingdom, powerhouses like Bursen and Liberda.
Plus ties great and small with minor kingdoms and city-states.
These connections alone would counter the Empire hugely down the line.
Yuri was confident.
The Empire started this orc subjugation, but Brioll gained the strongest ties from it.
"Proin."
"Yes."
"Gut feeling. If you get in danger, I'll save you once."
"Same here. If you're in a pinch, I'll come running once."
"Let's see who owes who first."