Chapter 95
Chapter 95
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 95
Chapter Title: 43. Now Again (2)
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Yuri headed to the outskirts of the imperial capital with Rolang and Jared in tow.
A squat, dark gray stone mansion rose imposingly before them. At first glance, it resembled a fortress on the border, surrounded by unkempt garden trees that seemed planted more for show than care.
As soon as Yuri appeared, the knight standing at the entrance bowed in greeting.
"His Highness is waiting for you."
Ragna had invited him upon hearing that Brioll had arrived.
He wanted to meet Yuri before the grand banquet hosted by the emperor.
"You may keep your weapons."
"Much appreciated."
It was a sign of trust in Yuri.
Yuri's group passed through the front gate with their weapons equipped and entered the grounds.
The gardens stretching left and right along the path were overgrown with lush vegetation.
The knight explained.
"His Highness doesn't care for grooming them. Says it feels too artificial."
Ragna's gardens appeared neglected at first glance. But upon closer inspection, the arrangement felt meticulously planned.
It somehow suited the mansion's owner.
Soon, Yuri spotted Ragna.
He was shirtless, his sweat-slicked upper body on full display as he sparred with knights. Several took turns facing him.
When Ragna's strike sent his opponent's wooden sword flying and knocked him down, another knight immediately stepped in.
The close exchanges continued.
Though Ragna's skill was exceptional, even he couldn't fend off multiple knights forever. His movements gradually slowed.
The bout ended as Ragna yielded his neck to his opponent.
"Can't do anything about age, huh."
Ragna shrugged toward Yuri. Yuri chuckled softly.
"You can't complain about age after putting on a show like that."
"I'm serious. Back in the day, I could've gone at it all day."
The waiting knights already looked exhausted, as if they'd been through several rounds.
Yuri eyed Ragna's well-developed upper body. Muscles unbecoming of his age were marked here and there with scars.
He truly seemed an unlikely brother to the emperor.
"Let's sit and talk."
Ragna headed to the tea table beside the training grounds. Yuri sat across from him, while Rolang and Jared stood guard behind.
The knights' gazes toward the two were sharp. Especially toward Rolang, where their stares concentrated.
They seemed to harbor a competitive spirit toward Brioll's famed knight.
"So, Yuri. How've you been?"
"Well enough."
"Not missing the battlefield?"
"Not in the slightest."
"I missed it. Wasn't it fun back then?"
"I was plenty busy in Brioll. Sounds like Your Highness was just bored."
"Spot on. Hahaha..."
Ragna burst into laughter as he looked at Yuri.
How many people could he converse with so casually? Perhaps that's why he held a particular fondness for Yuri.
"Heard you stirred up trouble right after arriving in the capital."
"My childhood friend was peddling drugs, of all things. He was a decent sort back in Brioll..."
"Sounds like you're subtly chiding the empire over it."
"Perish the thought, Your Highness."
"The empire's in an uproar over that mess anyway. Do you know what that drug even is?"
"A drug's a drug, isn't it?"
"Two kinds are circulating, and the problematic one's this."
Ragna raised his hand, and a servant handed him a small pouch.
Ragna opened it and poured its contents onto the table. Yuri narrowed his eyes at the scattered blue crystals.
It was the same drug Gott had been clutching.
"It's making the rounds among nobles, especially the young heirs."
"Just like with my friend."
"No surprise there. Because this..."
Ragna pinched a large crystal between his fingers and rubbed it. It emitted a faint glow as powder trickled down.
"...sharply heightens human senses in an instant. Not just the five senses, but sensitivity to mana too."
Yuri grasped the implication immediately.
"People train while using this?"
"And pop it before exams or spars. Doping effect, you see."
"There must be a source producing it. Where?"
"We're trying to find out. We've commissioned the Magic Tower; results should come soon."
"The Magic Tower?"
"Doesn't it click when you see it?"
Yuri stared at the blue crystals. Something had seemed off from the start.
"Mana stones?"
"Seems they're an ingredient."
As Ragna said, this was a magically produced drug. Not the work of some low-rent street gang—something with deeper backing.
"You mentioned two kinds earlier. Is the other similar?"
"The remaining one's cruder, but the composition's alike. Almost like they segmented their target market."
"Clever operator."
"Yuri, that's why I have a favor to ask."
Ragna smiled.
"Can you track down who's making this?"
"Me, personally?"
"Can't gauge how deep it's infiltrated, so trustworthy hands are scarce."
The fact that Ragna himself was stepping in, rather than the emperor, suggested the palace was dragging its feet.
Yuri pondered briefly, then nodded.
"I'll do what I can. If I can borrow Your Highness's authority, that is."
"Naturally."
Yuri was already hunting traces of dark magic lurking in the empire.
With Ragna's mandate for the investigation, he could pursue it more aggressively.
The drug angle could always be brushed off as a dead end.
"Here."
Ragna beckoned, and the servant handed over a palm-sized paper bearing Ragna's seal.
It authorized Yuri to investigate crimes disrupting the empire on Ragna's direct orders.
"Magically coated, so it won't tear easily. Keep it safe."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
"Now, out with it."
Ragna propped his chin on his hand.
"You must want something."
Yuri looked up from stowing the paper.
He'd accepted because it aligned with his goals, but Ragna mistook it for him hiding demands.
"Not mentioning it upfront makes it seem like something minor but essential..."
Ragna had misread Yuri's demeanor.
Yuri shook his head.
With nothing pressing at the moment, better to rack up goodwill than force a concession.
"Nothing like that. Call it my goodwill toward Your Highness."
Ragna eyed Yuri.
"Look at this guy."
"That's a thought you keep to yourself, isn't it?"
"Planning to hit me up for something big later..."
"Not at all."
"Hmph..."
Ragna gave Yuri a suspicious look.
"Hmmm..."
"Keep that up, and I walk."
"No, no."
"Then just trust me."
"Fine."
By now, the other knights wore odd expressions, surprised by the pair's easy camaraderie.
Ragna wiped down with a towel and donned his shirt.
"Since you're here, stay for a meal. Sir Rolang, Sir Jared—been well?"
Ragna greeted the two standing behind.
"Yes, Your Highness. Thank you."
"Thanks to you, we've managed."
"Hardly my doing. Hahaha..."
More tables were set, and preparations began for a meal beside the training grounds.
Watching the scene, Yuri suddenly noticed something. He turned to Ragna.
"Hm? Why the stare?"
"Your Highness... by any chance..."
Yuri pointed at the table.
"More guests?"
Among the tables, the largest one had golden tableware set for Ragna.
But there were three chairs.
After Ragna and Yuri sat, one would remain empty. With only three chairs, no one else fit—and they wouldn't lay out such finery for just anyone.
"Guests? No idea what you mean..."
His awkward demeanor confirmed it. Yuri's instincts flared with warning.
The hairs on his body stood on end, tension crawling down his spine.
"Any reason for a sudden visitor..."
Then a servant approached and whispered to Ragna.
Ragna glanced at Yuri, then feigned surprise.
"Well, well."
Yuri sighed. He knew Ragna's next line without hearing it.
"My niece dropped by unannounced, says she wanted to see me."
He'd braced for an eventual encounter upon arriving in the empire.
But not like this.
He'd expected something like their past meetings—a brief crossing at a formal event, as mere attendees.
He should've been warier of Ragna. A misstep.
"They say she's stunning. I'm curious."
Jared whispered. Yuri elbowed his side instead of replying.
"Ugh..."
Ragna returned from briefly stepping away, beaming brightly.
"She's on her way. Since it's come to this, why not all greet her? What say you?"
Ragna asked Jared—not Yuri—with lively enthusiasm.
"Of course, Your Highness. It's our house's honor to meet the princess famed as the continent's most beautiful."
"Glad you're thrilled. I didn't expect her suddenly either. What a coincidence to catch you all together."
He kept stressing the coincidence.
Yuri sat with a sour expression, steadying his mind. He even circulated his Mana Method to maintain composure.
This life, they were nothing to each other. No developments ahead. Treat her like any other royal—with courtesy. Easy enough.
Yet his heart wouldn't settle.
"Yuri, you alright?"
"Of course, Your Highness."
Blame couldn't fall on Ragna. Yuri forced a smile.
"Just startled by the coincidence."
"Y-yeah? Hahaha..."
Ragna's awkward laugh trailed off as he peered past Yuri's shoulder.
"Ah, here she comes."
With his back to the gate, Yuri saw the others' gazes shift.
A light sparked in Rolang's eyes; Jared's jaw dropped. Even Ragna's knights looked dazed.
As if something awe-inspiring stood behind Yuri.
Yuri slowly turned.
Platinum hair cascaded brilliantly.
He recalled first meeting Ekaterina. Memories romanticize, but not this time. She approached unchanged from that moment.
Eerily like the instant his heart had been stolen in his past life.
Even her outfit matched.
The red dress she favored bloomed like a rose. Yet even its deep hue paled against her snow-white skin and emerald eyes.
Her half-lidded gaze beneath long lashes swept the area, then widened upon spotting Yuri.
Her smile seemed to saturate the entire scene with color.
"Yuri Brioll."
She called his name, and a breeze swept in as if the world itself acknowledged him.
"Fancy meeting Brioll's third prince again. How delightful."
Her voice replayed perfectly from his memories.
Yuri willed his frozen body to rise and bowed toward Ekaterina.
"The honor is mine, meeting the empire's treasure, Your Highness."
The meal proceeded uneventfully. Ekaterina simply joined beside Ragna; little else changed.
She listened quietly at first, occasionally asking Yuri about the allied forces.
"Is that true? Must've been tough."
"Not at all."
Each time, Ragna's pleased gaze irked Yuri.
Ekaterina smiled as she asked.
"I hear we're the same age. To shine so on the battlefield—impressive."
Ragna chimed in.
"Always charging at the vanguard. Brave fool. Thought he'd lost his mind."
Yuri shook his head.
"Just doing my duty."
"Modest or sincere? Someone had to, but did it have to be you, Your Highness?"
"No. It was my obligation."
"First I've heard anyone say it like that."
Yuri knew Ekaterina well. Her bright facade masked a sharper view. Praise like this always hid intent.
"They say your swordsmanship is remarkable. So, perhaps..."
Ekaterina flashed her signature alluring smile.
"...will you enter the imperial tournament?"
"We'll see."
Yuri had no plans to compete. He hadn't come to flaunt his skills.
"One moment."
Ragna stood, leaving Ekaterina and Yuri alone at the table.
Yuri felt the awkwardness, but Ekaterina seemed unfazed.
She propped her chin, staring intently. The pose that addled men's minds.
"Winner of the tournament gets a medal, you know?"
"So I've heard."
"Yuri."
She called his name suddenly.
As Yuri met her eyes, Ekaterina smiled.
Her crimson lips parted.
"Will you give it to me?"