At Jose's estate, Laurent, Jared, Simon, and Guinness were lying sprawled out, resting.
Night was falling.
Perhaps because they had been traveling around for so long, this rare moment of rest felt incredibly sweet.
"Where did the prince and Sir Jose go?"
"Right? I haven't seen them for a while."
"Must've gone out for a stroll. Should we play a round of cards?"
"Ooh, sounds good."
During the Allied Army campaign, card games had become wildly popular among the Briol knights.
Even Laurent, who hadn't known the rules at first, could now play fairly well.
They even roped in a passing servant from the estate, and the game got bigger.
Under Jared's lead, they placed a table in the center of the hall and started dealing cards.
Wins and losses were decided.
"That's it!"
"Ah…"
"No way…"
Simon and Guinness kept winning money. Compared to Laurent and Jared, they were no match in swordsmanship, but in card games, they were utterly dominant.
Even the estate servant clicked his tongue in disbelief.
"Do Briol knights only play cards?"
"It's a basic skill for Briol knights."
"Excuse me?"
"The lower waters flow where the upper waters lead."
"Let's go again."
"As expected of a man from Bursen. Doesn't know how to give up."
"Just wait and see."
While all this was going on, Yuri and Jose returned to the estate.
"Oh, you're back."
Since they were in the middle of checking their hands, the others didn't show much interest in the two.
"Huh? Why are you both dressed like that…"
Laurent tried to stand upon seeing their disheveled state, but Jared grabbed his sleeve and pulled him back down.
"Sir Laurent, you need to focus. We can't afford to lose more."
"They look like a mess, though…"
"What's really a mess is our wallets!"
"Ah…"
"They probably went out to have fun somewhere. Let's keep playing."
The servant also tried to greet them, but Jose waved him off.
"Get back to what you were doing. I've got something to discuss with the prince."
"Yes, understood."
In the end, both Laurent and the servant returned their focus to the card game.
"Mm…"
"Hmph…"
And so, Yuri and Jose, dressed in tattered clothes and supporting each other, had to trudge along unnoticed.
Watching the four knights absorbed in their card game, Yuri clicked his tongue.
"Guess we'd better wash up quickly and join them."
"Hahaha…"
Because both of them had reached high levels of skill, they had been able to hold back just enough not to injure each other seriously.
They did suffer some wounds, but nothing that required major treatment, so they had stopped by a small temple on the way back for healing. Aside from their wrecked appearances, their bodies were perfectly fine.
"Prince, I was thinking of heading to the bathhouse. Would you like to come with me?"
"Oh, there's a bathhouse?"
"Yes."
"Sounds good."
When they arrived, hot water was already prepared.
Yuri and Jose soaked themselves in the hot bath. The fatigue from their earlier battle melted away in the warmth.
In the thick steam, Jose's large muscles came into view. Yuri reached out and felt his shoulder. It was as hard as iron.
"Wh-Why are you touching me like that?"
"You been lifting?"
"I do a bit in my free time."
"Strength training's essential for a knight."
"Let's train together next time."
"I doubt we'd match in weight."
With such idle banter, they eased their weariness.
The hot water relaxed their muscles. Even the wounds from their swordfight, now healing, throbbed in a strangely pleasant way.
"Sir Jose."
"Yes, Your Highness?"
"That was a good match."
"I feel the same."
Through this duel, Jose had grown. And the same was true for Yuri.
"By the way, about the result…"
Yuri, leaning back against the wall, spoke.
"Shall we keep it a secret?"
Jose laughed.
"Shall we?"
"Yeah. No need to announce it."
"I'm fine either way. Wouldn't it help your reputation?"
"Not really."
"Well, true…"
Jose scooped up water with his hand.
"Your Highness, you're in the middle of a war right now, aren't you?"
"A war?"
"Yes. You're fighting that unknown black magic."
"I suppose you could put it that way."
"Then, hiding your strength is the smart move. It's a deception tactic."
The two had faced off in front of the sea of Bursen.
And it had ended in a draw.
Jose was the knight closest to the ten strongest. For such a knight to end in a draw with a young prince—anyone hearing that would doubt their ears.
"You went easy on me."
"Only at the start."
"That still counts. So, did you get what you wanted out of it?"
"Yes. Thank you. Hahaha…"
"I'm grateful too. I had a realization, thanks to you."
Clashing swords, they had experienced firsthand how much they had grown through this. From the moment they first crossed blades to the last, they had reached a different level entirely.
It was a synergistic effect, born from the meeting of two prodigies—Yuri Briol and Jose Aratur.
As Jose splashed his face with hot water, he asked,
"So, what will you do now?"
"Return to Briol."
"And once you're there?"
"Prepare."
"You truly are at war, Prince."
"I didn't start this war."
"What will you gain if you win this war?"
At Jose's question, Yuri looked at him. Jose was smiling faintly, but his eyes weren't laughing.
He was asking seriously.
Jose had fought alongside Yuri against enemies like Okua, Gert, and the Devil's Flower. It would be stranger if he hadn't realized something by now.
Yuri sank deeper into the water and answered.
"There's nothing to gain. Only something not to lose."
"What happens if you lose?"
"Everything."
Yuri pointed to his chest with a finger.
Then pointed to Jose.
"I'll lose everything."
His voice was filled with conviction. Jose now turned his entire body toward Yuri.
"That thing you're on guard against… is it really that terrifying?"
"Okua and the Devil's Flower… those are just the beginning."
"Where did those things come from?"
Jose's questions were growing more profound.
Yuri smiled.
"Sir Jose."
"Yes?"
"Will you join me?"
"Well…"
"If you do, I'll tell you everything."
There was already trust between Yuri and Jose. If not, how could two men from different countries have traveled together for so long?
Jose was a knight Yuri could trust.
And Yuri wanted him to join his cause.
Of course, even if left alone, Jose would one day come to clash with the Empire. Their expansion targeted the entire continent.
But by then, it would be too late.
Yuri grinned and said,
"About the enemy we truly have to fight."
"Can't you tell me first?"
"For security reasons, no."
"You're being very secretive."
"I have to stay alive. What if you go spilling it somewhere?"
"The opponent you're so wary of, is it the Empire or something?"
At that, Jose burst out laughing.
Yuri, feeling a little flustered, gave a stiff smile and followed along.
Their laughter echoed through the bathhouse.
"Very well."
"Hm?"
"I'll join you."
"Just like that?"
"You suggested it because you trust me, didn't you? And I've come to know enough about you too. There's no need to hesitate."
"Sir Jose…"
"I trust you, Prince."
Yuri was a little moved.
The other knights who followed him were from Briol, but Jose had a different nationality, and different things to protect. Not to mention, he was a powerful knight nearly among the ten strongest. Gaining the trust of such a person was no small thing.
"Then tell me. Who is the enemy you're so afraid of?"
Yuri answered immediately.
"The Empire."
"Excuse me?"
"The Empire."
"I was just joking earlier… Seriously though. Hahaha…"
"The Empire."
"No, what are you talking about?"
"I said, the Empire."
"What about it?"
"Black magic has taken over the imperial palace."
"What?"
"The black magic has tainted the palace. In terms of the leadership being seized, it's a far more serious situation than Adelvine."
"Are you serious?"
"To tell you more, the Allied Army was a decoy, with defeat already assumed. Thanks to our efforts—specifically, mine—we broke the palace's plan and won."
"That…"
"You saw what Okua looked like, didn't you?"
"Yes."
"All of it was black magic. If things had gone as the Empire planned, Okua—offered as a sacrifice, along with the Allied Army—would've become monstrously powerful and torn the remaining nations to shreds."
"If what you say is true, what's their purpose? Are they trying to conquer the continent?"
"Who knows what goes on in a madman's head?"
"Haa…"
Jose sighed, looking up at the ceiling.
Yuri patted his shoulder.
"I'm counting on you. We're going to fight to save the world."
"I'm starting to regret this."
Yuri chuckled low.
"Sir Jose, I know a fair bit about Bursen's customs now. I even knew about the full course, right?"
"Mm…"
"Bathing together is how people from Bursen show trust, right? You intended to join me from the start, didn't you?"
"How do you know Bursen so well?"
"I read it in a book."
In truth, he had learned it in a past life from a fellow mercenary from Bursen. They had trusted each other enough to guard each other's backs on the battlefield.
Even back then, he had been forced into forging friendship through a bath.
The problem was, that mercenary had been a woman.
"Is it okay to leave your territory behind?"
"It runs just fine without me."
"Good to hear."
"Shall we depart tomorrow?"
"You're quite eager."
"I've just realized how serious this is."
"Hahaha…"
"You're incredible, handling all of this."
Jose scratched his head.
"The Empire, huh… That's some pressure."
"We still don't know how much they've been overtaken. There might be people even within the Empire who can help us. Like…"
Thinking of Ragna, Yuri trailed off. His mood sank. He paused for a moment before naming someone else.
"Like Sir Graham, for example."
"Yes."
"Even someone like the Black Knight might help us."
"I heard he's loyal to the Emperor."
"That's true, but from what I've seen, he seems like a good man."
"You've met him?"
"Yeah."
"What was he like?"
"You wouldn't stand a chance."
"Hey, we'll see about that if we ever cross swords."
"You'll know when you do."
"I don't think so."
"Hahahaha…"
Yuri closed his eyes.
He felt glad he had come to Bursen.
"Sir."
"Yes?"
"Let's go there again next time."
"Did it leave an impression?"
"Yeah. The scenery was beautiful."
"If the Empire's treasure is Princess Ekaterina, then Bursen's treasure would be this sea of Orphen."
"Cough, cough…"
"What's wrong all of a sudden?"
"Swallowed wrong."
***
After leaving Orphen, Yuri's group visited the royal capital before heading to Briol, to meet the King of Bursen.
The king was a hearty man. He welcomed Yuri's party with great enthusiasm, and when Jose said he would be following Yuri, the king had Jose recite an oath of loyalty to Bursen and then willingly let him go.
"Sir Jose."
"Y-Yes, Your Majesty."
"Betrayal means death. Death!"
"Of course. My country is Bursen."
"Glad to hear it. And Prince, don't go getting too attached to our Jose now."
"Hahaha, of course not. Sir Jose and I are simply traveling together for a while. A symbol of the friendship between Briol and Bursen."
"I'm relieved to hear that. I feel bad I couldn't host you properly with such a sudden visit. But next time—yes, next time—I'll treat you to the full course of Bursen hospitality. Do you know what that is? The full course! Offered by the King of Bursen himself, I'm saying."
"The full course, you say?"
"Yes, the full course."
"Ah… yes…"
Having already learned the truth of the full course, Yuri and his party could only smile awkwardly.
"By the way, is the King of Briol doing well?"
"Yes. Very well, in fact."
"Of course he is. If anyone's doing well, it'd be him. Do give him my regards."
"I will."
"Ah, that reminds me. I heard something…"
The King of Bursen tilted his head.
"I hear there's an envoy from Yoheim currently in Briol. When did you two get so close?"
[Notice: Thank you for supporting my translations! I've launched a new website to host all my novels in one place. I will continue posting chapters here until I can update the links on Novel Updates. In the meantime, visit my new website "https://revengernovel.com/" and enjoy 5 extra chapters for free!
Buy and Read the complete novel: https://payhip.com/revengerscans ]