The Empire, feeling burdened by Fiore, sent a small knight order to raid the village. They demanded food and goods, and if refused, they swung their swords. It was a rough method, unbecoming of the Black Knights.
The response unit, led by Yuri, blocked them brilliantly.
"Don't let those Imperial bastards get away!"
"Yes, sir!"
Yuri engaged in battle with the Empire's knight order almost every day.
His level rose day by day.
The ones who felt this most closely were the Imperial knights themselves.
Perhaps because of that, when Yuri appeared, they began to choose escape over fighting head-on.
As a result, the battles at the border turned into a game of tag, chasing and being chased.
"This is strange."
Yuri muttered.
"What is?"
"Isn't it too easy?"
"It's not easy at all."
"No, it is easy."
"If it's easy, that's a good thing."
"No, it's strange."
Yuri frowned as he watched the retreating Imperial knights.
"The Empire isn't this weak."
Thanks to the war in his past life, Yuri knew exactly how strong the Empire's knights were.
Yet in this life, he didn't feel the same pressure as back then.
Even considering that he had grown stronger, the gap was too great.
"Your Highness, you're worrying about something useless again."
Jared gave him a reproachful look.
"Your Highness already possesses martial prowess comparable to the ten strongest, and the knights His Majesty assigned to you are all highly skilled. Naturally, it's bound to feel easy, isn't it?"
"Even counting that, they're still too weak."
"Then how much stronger do they need to be?"
"In battles like this, it should be to the point where a few men die each time. We should be getting wounded, shedding tears over the death of our comrades."
"Suddenly saying something so gruesome, Your Highness."
"Well, anyway, it's a good thing."
Yuri nodded.
Either way, they won. They protected the village, and killed several Imperial knights. On the other hand, allied casualties were low. It was an excellent achievement.
The villagers who had been saved flocked over to express their thanks.
"Thank you so much, thank you."
"You've saved us."
Yuri spoke to the village chief.
"Make sure to repair the fence well. And if the Empire invades again, light the beacon fire immediately."
"Yes, I understand, Your Highness."
"If they come, don't bother resisting, just give them whatever they ask for. That way you'll live, understand?"
"Truly, we are so grateful…"
Everywhere Yuri went, he was treated like a hero.
It was no wonder — the Empire's knights, who had acted so viciously, would run away in fear the moment Yuri appeared. Even if battle broke out, they couldn't handle him.
To the people, Yuri seemed almost invincible.
Yuri grinned and waved his hand.
"Well then."
Receiving the villagers' praise, Yuri and the knights left the village.
They were once again on the road back to Bezos Castle.
A knight following behind suddenly called out to Yuri.
"Your Highness! There's someone over there!"
"Hm?"
Yuri turned his head.
It was a sparsely populated grassland, but a lone person was staggering along. At a glance, it was clear they weren't in good condition.
From the direction, they seemed to be leaving Briol.
In such times of war, it wasn't possible to look after every single citizen, but for some reason, Yuri felt compelled, and decided to turn his horse around.
"Let's go take a look."
"Yes, sir!"
Yuri led the knights toward the man.
He was a shabby-looking fellow, carrying a bundle like a knapsack, and wearing clothes torn in various places.
Yuri blocked his path.
"Hey, who are you?"
The man lifted his head. Squinting from the sunlight, he looked at Yuri, then spoke.
"I, I'm Soders, my lord."
"Where are you headed?"
"I'm leaving Briol."
"You look like you're from Briol."
"Yes, I've lived in Briol since I was a child."
Yuri tilted his head.
"And yet you're leaving in this state?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Soders glanced back over his shoulder, as if checking whether someone was following him.
He hesitated, then slowly opened his mouth.
"Well, back there…"
He trailed off, cleared his throat, then lowered his head.
"There's something big happening back there. That's why I'm leaving."
"Back there? Where did you come from?"
"Francaise, my lord."
Even as he spoke, Soders kept shifting his feet in place. He seemed mentally unstable.
Yuri pressed him.
"What's this big thing?"
"It's big. Very big. The problem will keep getting worse from here. I can tell. It's not something that can be stopped. We have to leave quickly."
"Calm down."
Yuri dismounted and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"If you want to leave, I won't stop you. But I assure you, it will all settle down soon. Briol is working to save Francaise."
"Save it?"
Soders shook his head.
"Rather than saving it, they're blocking the road. What's the point in that?"
"That's because, to stop the plague, they had no choice…"
At Yuri's words, Soders began to laugh.
"It's no plague. I really must go now. Everyone's so ignorant here. Please don't stop me. I have to leave quickly."
"It's not a plague?"
"No. It's something far more terrifying."
"What is it?"
A knight behind them spoke to Yuri.
"Your Highness, he seems like a madman. Just let him go. It's a waste of time."
At the mention of "Your Highness," Soders looked at Yuri in surprise.
Yuri shrugged.
"I'm Yuri Briol."
"Ah, the Third Prince. You're the famous Third Prince."
"That's right."
"I've heard much about you."
"Good. Anyway, if it's not a plague, then what is it?"
"Well, since it's no one else but the Third Prince…"
The knight behind spoke again.
"Your Highness, don't listen to him. It's just the ravings of a lunatic."
Soders shouted at him.
"You! It's people like you who will doom Francaise! You pay no attention to what's happening! Such foolish men!"
"Hey, hey, calm down."
Yuri patted Soders on the shoulder, then waved at the knight behind to be quiet.
"Soders, calm yourself and tell me."
"Your Highness won't believe me."
"Maybe not. But I'll try. Telling me won't cost you anything, will it?"
"…Yes."
After hesitating, Soders leaned close to Yuri's ear, and whispered something.
Yuri took a step back and looked at Soders.
"Are you serious?"
"Yes."
"No way…"
Yuri looked closely at his face. He was gaunt, and his cheeks were sunken as if he hadn't eaten for a long time. On top of that, his eyes trembled with unease.
He was not in a sound state.
"Alright."
Yuri stepped aside.
"Go on your way."
Soders looked at him as if he had expected that, then lowered his head and began hurrying away again.
Just from his gait, one could tell his mind was half gone.
When Yuri mounted his horse again, Laurent came up and asked,
"Your Highness, what did that man say?"
"Well, that's the thing…"
Yuri hesitated for a moment.
Laurent was not in a stable state at the moment. He was feeling an inexplicable anxiety regarding Cedric and Francaise.
So he wasn't sure if telling him Soders's unbelievable words was the right choice, but he decided to be honest.
"He says demons are flying around."
"Pardon?"
"Demons, flying through the sky, scattering seeds. If you eat those seeds, you become the same kind of demon and scatter more seeds. In the end, the whole world will be filled with them, he says."
At that, the knights in the back burst into laughter.
"So he was just a lunatic."
"My thoughts exactly."
"Why can't those flying demons leave Francaise?"
Yuri shrugged.
"Maybe, in his head, Briol's army can fly too."
Everyone burst into laughter again.
But unlike the others, Laurent couldn't laugh it off, and just stared blankly at Soders's retreating back.
Yuri immediately gave the order to return.
"We wasted our time. Let's head back. Good work, everyone."
"Yes, sir!"
They began their return to Bezos Castle at once.
Riding his horse, Laurent mulled over the words of that man named Soders.
Demons flying around — it was nonsense.
So he thought, but suddenly, the image of the stuffed Chai Bird he had once seen came to mind.
And the image of Cedric's meaningful smile also crossed his thoughts.
***
Night fell.
Laurent quietly slipped out of his quarters and headed to the stables.
When he opened the door and went in, his beloved white horse rose to its feet as if it had been waiting for him.
"Good boy."
Laurent stroked the horse's mane.
"Let's go out quietly. Yes, just like that."
The horse made no sound as it followed him out. Stepping outside, the cold air brushed against his skin.
Laurent checked the backpack on his back and the sword at his waist.
He was ready.
He looked toward the castle and murmured,
"I'm sorry, Your Highness."
Even he couldn't understand it himself, but the urge to go to Francaise had grown so strong that he could no longer endure it.
The words of Soders, whom he had met during the day, kept circling in his head, and the image of the stuffed Chai Bird kept occupying a corner of his mind.
Perhaps he was going mad.
He felt that he would only be at ease once he confirmed with his own eyes that Francaise was safe.
After that, he would return, ask for forgiveness, and accept whatever punishment awaited him.
Laurent mounted his horse.
"Let's go."
And just as he was about to spur it on—
"The castle gate will be closed, you know?"
Startled by the sudden voice, Laurent turned his head.
Yuri was leaning against the stable wall, arms crossed.
"Your Highness?"
When Laurent stopped in surprise, Yuri chuckled and stepped out from the shadows.
"Why so shocked? After all the time we've spent together, you didn't think I'd see this coming?"
"Well…"
"Go ahead. I told them to open the gate, so you won't have any trouble."
"Your Highness."
"Laurent, you must have a reason for worrying so much. Not even knowing for sure if something really happened."
Yuri grinned.
"Well, maybe nothing happened at all. That'd be even better, right?"
"Thank you."
"Don't thank me. I'm the one who should thank you for everything you've done for me."
Laurent dismounted and knelt on one knee before Yuri.
"I will return as soon as possible."
"There's no need for that. Take your time, do whatever you need to do until you feel at ease, and come back. Anytime is fine."
"Yes, sir."
"Give my regards to Sir Lian."
"I will."
"Here."
Yuri handed him a pouch of coins.
"Take this, just in case."
"No, Your Highness, you don't need to—"
"Ah-ah."
"…Yes."
In the end, Laurent took the money and put it in his pack.
"Laurent."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Be careful."
"Yes, sir."
Laurent nodded.
"Then go on."
Just as he was about to spur his horse forward, Laurent looked up at the moon hanging in the sky.
It was so close that every cratered mark on its surface could be seen.
He had never seen the moon shine so brightly before.
Somehow, it felt ominous.
Ever since he began to dwell on Francaise and Cedric, his mind had compulsively churned out all sorts of thoughts.
It was absurd, but Laurent found himself thinking that perhaps the moon shone so brilliantly to mourn the end of Cedric and the Third Prince.
And so, still on horseback, Laurent lingered in thought.
Yuri waited for him.
Finally, Laurent spoke.
"The moon is beautiful tonight."
His voice echoed in the quiet castle grounds.
At the sudden remark, Yuri tilted his head. Looking down at him with a smile, Laurent spoke again.
"The moon is truly beautiful. Don't you think so too, Your Highness?"
Only then did Yuri look up.
Just as Laurent said, an unusually bright full moon filled the night sky.
"You're right. The moon is beautiful."
At Yuri's words, Laurent laughed aloud.
"I'm glad."
Leaving those words behind, Laurent galloped toward the castle gate.
Yuri, for some reason, thought his back looked unsteady.
Yuri didn't know.
That this, was the last time he would ever see the Laurent he knew.
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