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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: 5. Senate Meeting
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Yuri had hated balls since long before.
Wearing uncomfortable clothes while exchanging stiff greetings with ceremony, or dancing over and over with partners he didn't want—it just didn't suit his temperament.
Now that he'd come back through time, there was one more reason.
"I hate that outfit."
"Why? You used to like it."
"Did I?"
"You scoffed the moment you saw it, but since you didn't spew insults or slash it with your sword, I could tell you secretly liked it."
"..."
Ena knew Yuri too well. Or more precisely, the past him.
"Anyway, I hate it."
"Shall I call the tailor back?"
"Yeah."
"It looks pretty to me."
After years as a mercenary, Yuri's tastes had changed a lot. That's why he couldn't stand that gaudy formal attire, decked out with nothing but pointless decorations.
"And Your Highness dances well, too."
"Not really. It's just that everyone else is terrible."
"There, there you go again with the rude remarks."
"Got it."
Yuri readily admitted his slip.
Regressing to his childhood had his old habits pushing him along.
This wouldn't do.
He hadn't come back to live like before. He'd returned to stop the empire's invasion.
"Thanks for pointing it out."
"You're welcome."
"Keep calling me out if I say something rude."
"Can't I just slap you like old times?"
"No way."
Ena's slaps hurt.
"Your Highness."
"Yeah?"
"Remember you have to attend the Senate meeting later?"
"I know."
"The weather's nice today."
Ena flung open the curtains and smiled at Yuri.
"After the meeting, don't just train—maybe go on a picnic or something."
Sunlight bathed Ena's face, making it glow white.
Her gently curving eyes were lovely.
Ena.
The kind-hearted girl who took care of a troublemaking prince without ever losing her smile.
But Yuri hadn't been able to protect her.
"Ena."
"Yes?"
"Want to dance?"
Ena's eyes went wide.
"Pardon?"
Yuri had overheard her talking with the other maids once.
Like any girl, she had the simple dream of wearing a pretty dress and dancing at a ball with a handsome partner.
He wanted to punch his past self, who had scoffed inwardly at that.
This time around, he'd never treat her so coldly again.
"I want to practice dancing."
Yuri smiled softly.
But her reaction wasn't what he'd expected.
"D-Do we have to...?"
She looked genuinely reluctant.
"What's with that face?"
"Ugh..."
Yuri felt a little hurt.
Why this reaction when he was being nice? He had a lot to make up for.
Ena approached cautiously, on guard.
"You're not going to step on my feet, are you...?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Or maybe trip me...?"
"You're misunderstanding my intentions?"
"The opposite, actually..."
"Follow me. Slowly."
"Your Highness, are you making fun of me right now? I can dance well."
"Oh? You've done a lot, then?"
"Of course."
"With who?"
"I can't even count. I get so many requests."
"Impressive."
"I may not look it, but I'm popular. Though a partner this short is a first."
"You'll see."
He was shorter than Ena now, but he'd shoot up later and look down on her.
Ena actually danced quite well.
He couldn't take her to a ball, but he could dance with her like this from time to time.
"You just stepped on my foot."
"Pardon. I slipped."
"You did it again..."
"My mistake."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"No."
That oily voice made Yuri furrow his brow.
"Learning an unverified circulation method is improper. Your Highness should stick to the royal family's method."
"Unverified? It's from the founder himself."
"That's not certain. We can't even confirm it's truly his."
"Are you doubting His Highness?"
"We're just making sure. And even if it's the founder's Mana Circulation Method, does that guarantee it's better than the Brioll Mana Method?"
"That's harsh."
Yuri sighed and looked toward the center seat.
The throne of Brioll's king, Fiore, was empty.
He'd skipped out with some ridiculous excuse about official duties.
"What's the reason for calling this Senate meeting today?"
Duke Yuges, Genad Jeteri—who'd been voicing opposition nonstop—grinned at Yuri.
"Isn't it because we're worried Your Highness might stray down the wrong path? That's why we're all gathered to share opinions. If we were just going to blindly agree, why bother meeting? Right? Heh heh heh..."
Whenever a major issue arose in the palace, the Senate convened.
Composed of powerful nobles, the Senate had been created to advise the king on state affairs.
Of course, its actual role was quite different.
"I'm grateful you've convened the full Senate just to discuss my Mana Circulation Method. Duke Genad."
"Think nothing of it."
It was practically a seat to check the king's power. They always cast the opposing vote first, no matter the issue.
This time was no different.
Brioll's prince had found the founder's Mana Circulation Method and planned to learn it—why was that even controversial?
Genad spoke as if reading Yuri's mind.
"It's all for Your Highness's sake."
"I'm touched."
Yuri sank into his chair and shrugged.
Of course, they had no right to decide his circulation method. All they could do was annoy him like this. But even that was plenty irritating.
He resented his father for dumping this meeting on him, knowing full well what it'd be like.
"Well, Sir Saned. What are your thoughts?"
Royal Guard Captain Saned, who had no business being here, had been dragged in as a witness of sorts.
He looked troubled.
"Well, I can't judge hastily."
"Why not?"
"Mana Circulation Methods each have pros and cons, and they suit different people..."
"See?"
Genad puffed out his chest as if Saned's words supported him.
"Even the Royal Guard Captain can't judge properly. Is there a better knight here? When even Captain Saned says that method is uncertain..."
"I agree."
"Don't twist Sir Saned's words."
"Twist them?"
"Sir Saned didn't say it's uncertain—he said every method has its own value..."
"Same difference!"
Yuri decided to sit back and watch.
He tried to view it positively: a chance to sort out who was loyal to the royal family and who bowed more to Genad.
"Your Highness, if you're hungry, have some refreshments."
"I'll manage."
In his past life, he'd thought that nauseatingly smiling Genad was a fine loyalist.
He'd been too naive back then, surrounded only by nobles who groveled like tongues in their mouths—utter trash.
It left a bitter taste.
After Brioll fell, Genad had survived by groveling to the emperor and kept his ducal seat.
Yuri had often debated just ditching everything to ram a sword through that bastard's neck.
But he'd decided he had no right to punish him.
"Duke Yuges has a point."
A sudden voice snapped him from his thoughts.
"It might not be wise to learn a circulation method carelessly. Something verified would be better. Your Highness, have you informed His Majesty about it?"
Yuri shook his head.
"It's not the kind you share with others."
"I see."
"Once I reach a certain level, I might be able to explain it somewhat then."
Yuri had learned the method by sparring dummies that clearly showed mana flow. He had no idea how to describe it to others.
The noble pondered briefly before suggesting to Yuri.
"In that case, you'd be better off with the Brioll Mana Method. Unverified ones carry risks."
"I think so too."
"It's for Your Highness."
"Agreed."
The nobles backed Genad's opinion one after another.
Yuri crossed his arms and closed his eyes.
No matter what they said, he intended to learn Erich Brioll's Heart-Soul Severing. A powerful instinct told him he had to.
"You want me to rework the circulation method?"
"If necessary..."
"You know that's nearly impossible?"
"At your young age, it's entirely possible. Especially since you haven't been training long."
Yuri smirked.
For a normal person, maybe. But he was different. His past memories made him adapt to mana quickly.
He'd already progressed too far to turn back.
But he couldn't explain all that.
As he mulled it over, a quiet man in the corner raised his hand.
"Ahem, may I say something?"
An unfamiliar face.
Genad tilted his head.
"Who are you? What's your title?"
An impolite question.
A noble beside Genad explained instead.
"He's a free baron."
No lands.
"A baron? A free baron at the Senate?"
The surrounding nobles burst into laughter at Genad's words.
It had been hard to pick them out one by one before, but that laugh made it easy. The four or five flanking Genad were definitely his faction.
As Yuri scanned their faces, the free baron continued.
"Yes, well, that's right. So..."
"State your name first."
Genad cut him off, but the man kept smiling.
"Of course. I'm Karchio Erancha. A free baron, as you all laughed about. I get it—you're not thrilled a lowly free baron is at the Senate. Truth be told, I didn't want to come either. But what can you do? Count Sidor entrusted it to me."
The room fell silent at his words.
Count Sidor, Haime Sidoor.
The border count guarding the frontier.
A mighty knight and brutal hunter. A true soldier who'd spent his life on the battlefield.
One noble licked his dry lips.
"What wind blew Count Sidor to send you to the Senate...?"
It was everyone's question.
Count Sidor never attended noble events. He ignored the Senate entirely. This was the first time he'd sent a proxy.
"No idea. He's not one for explanations."
"So what do you have to say?"
"Finally giving me the floor."
Karchio chuckled once before continuing.
"You highborn folk lounging in the capital playing noble games might enjoy this armchair debate, but..."
"What did you just—"
His words grew provocative.
But with Count Sidor behind him, no one in the Senate could shut him down.
Karchio raised both hands.
"To me, it's all nonsense. Unless you've learned it terribly wrong, Mana Circulation Methods are all the same. Especially on the battlefield. Brioll Mana Method, Empire's Lion Heart Technique—whatever. What matters is the one wielding it."
Genad tapped the table with his fingertips. A nearby noble retorted.
"On the battlefield, those tiny differences decide life and death. Do you take us for sheltered priests who've never fought?"
"Oh, you've been to war, then?"
"Of course. I'm Baron Defer. You might not have heard, but I just fought a territory war recently..."
"Another lowly baron here. Did your master next to you permit it?"
Baron Defer flushed red, and the nobles not in Genad's faction stifled laughs.
Karchio spoke again.
"Right, brave Baron buddy. What's most important when swinging a sword?"
"What?"
"Do you think about it in your head when stabbing the enemy?"
"Instinct from training, of course..."
"You talk a good game."
"What?"
"It's true."
Karchio glanced at Yuri.
"Instinct. That's a realm apart from reason. So when His Highness's instinct tells him to follow the founder's method, it's ridiculous for outsiders to yap around him. I swear, desk-jockeys who've never swung a blade always blather like this..."
Yuri ended up chuckling too.
Genad hardened his expression.
"Free Baron, mind your words."
"Sorry. I'm just a baron with no land or learning. Forgive my lack of manners. Living on the border fighting orcs daily turns you rough."
The nobles groaned.
"Orcs..."
Orcs were savage raiders who devoured human flesh and could slaughter several soldiers alone.
It was also why Count Sidor was revered.
He'd guarded the border against orcs for decades, and they feared him as the "Scarred Wolf."
Karchio grinned fiercely.
"How many here have faced orcs up close?"