The 3rd Prince of the Fallen Kingdom Returns

24. Promise (1)

“You said you would become a lay disciple of the Cheongseong Sect?”

“Was that included?”

“Of course.”

“Well…”

Yuri protested.

“Actually, I already have a master. A fearsome man called the Sword Demon…”

“It’s fine since you’re a lay disciple. Be his disciple and mine too.”

“But…”

“Lay disciples usually pay to be taught. Do you know how much I’m worth? Consider yourself lucky.”

“Yes…”

In the end, Yuri became a lay disciple of the Cheongseong Sect and took Moyongchan as his second master.

The next day, Yuri took Moyongchan to meet Ragna.

Ragna looked Moyongchan up and down. Clean-shaven and wearing fresh clothes, Moyongchan looked like a different person compared to yesterday.

“You look sharp.”

“I made sure to treat him well.”

“Seeing that he’s wearing Briol clothes, I assume the discussion went well?”

“He has agreed to join our forces.”

“I see.”

Ragna nodded.

“I’ll leave dealing with The Stranger to you.”

“Thank you for your trust.”

Then, the adjutant whispered something to Ragna.

Yuri’s sharp hearing didn’t miss his quiet words.

“If we’re not careful, Briol might end up with two of the Ten Strongest…”

He was worried about the possibility of Moyongchan fully joining Briol.

Ragna patted the adjutant’s shoulder.

“The Allied Forces come first. Or can you handle The Stranger yourself?”

“Well, no, I can’t…”

It was fortunate that Ragna was amicable.

He entrusted Yuri with many things. His efforts in volunteering for the vanguard so far had paid off.

Of course, Ragna must also be confident in the Empire’s strength.

More than half of the Ten Strongest were either affiliated with the Empire or on friendly terms with it.

Yuri relayed what he had heard from Moyongchan.

Ragna’s expression twisted when he heard about the human sacrifices.

“Indescribably vile…”

Hernando, who had heard about it the night before, was also in a serious mood.

Ragna muttered curses at the orcs, then looked up.

“Stranger. This is undoubtedly true, isn’t it?”

Moyongchan nodded.

It could be considered disrespectful, but the world’s etiquette didn’t apply to the Ten Strongest.

Yuri observed Ragna’s reaction.

It didn’t seem like he was reacting strongly because of the orc’s crimes. There was an underlying sense of unease.

Could it be that he knew something about black magic that Yuri didn’t?

Yuri suppressed his curiosity and simply bowed his head.

“I will return to the camp and await your orders.”

“Very well.”

As he was leaving Ragna, the adjutant stopped Yuri.

“Your Highness, I have a request.”

“What is it?”

“Graham wishes to see you…”

“Sir Graham?”

Although Graham was serving as a common soldier, Yuri continued to treat him as a knight.

“Yes. Graham… Sir Graham, that is.”

“I’ll go to him immediately.”

“I’ll guide you.”

Yuri sent Moyongchan back to the Briol camp and followed the adjutant.

Graham was in charge of handling the half-orc and human prisoners.

As they passed the Imperial soldiers standing guard in a line, screams could be heard.

Some of the prisoners had lost their minds. They couldn’t distinguish between humans and orcs, and they trembled in fear.

Clerics were attending to them, but their broken minds remained shattered.

“Sir Graham.”

Upon Yuri’s greeting, Graham bowed his head.

“Your Highness, I apologize for the trouble.”

“No need, what’s the matter?”

“I wanted to ask your opinion on the disposal of the half-orcs.”

If they were orcs, they would be killed, and if they were humans, they would be sent back. But the half-orcs were a gray area.

“If you were in my position, what would you have done?”

“So that’s why you called me.”

Yuri had taken in the half-orc, Kori.

“Yes, I was curious about Your Highness’s opinion…”

“Well…”

Graham was a man who upheld the code of chivalry, but that didn’t mean he acted like a saint. He wouldn’t hesitate to shed blood if necessary.

Killing the half-orcs would also be within his options.

Yuri glanced over the survivors.

None of them were unscathed. Yuri scanned them one by one.

Suddenly, he felt a gaze.

It was a woman sitting crouched on the ground.

As Yuri approached, her eyes met his.

“Can you speak?”

“Yes.”

Though frail, her gaze was still sharp. She seemed to be holding onto her sanity.

“I overheard your conversation. You were talking about the half-orcs.”

“Yes. Perhaps.”

“Kill them.”

Before Yuri could answer, the words “kill them” came out.

“Kill all of them.”

Her voice was quiet, but filled with rage.

“Everyone probably feels the same way.”

“The half-orcs…”

“They did it.”

The woman clenched her clothes tightly.

“They’re the same. They did everything the orcs did. No, they were even worse. We were their only outlet for their rage.”

Yuri remained silent. Then another woman spoke.

“They killed my sister. For fun.”

She had buried her face in her knees. She didn’t raise her head even as she spoke. After those words, she didn’t speak again.

Everyone was silent, but Yuri could feel the rising hatred.

The woman who had spoken first spoke again.

“You’re the Prince of Briol, aren’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Avenge us.”

Her voice wavered for a moment before it sharpened again.

Her fierce eyes stared straight at Yuri.

“Avenge us. Stop chatting leisurely with the Empire and, if you truly have a conscience, kill all the orcs and half-orcs, you bastard…”

When a nearby soldier tried to approach the woman, Yuri stopped him.

“Where are you from?”

“Rain.”

Yuri closed his eyes.

It was a small territory near Sidore.

Thinking about it, it made sense.

The survivors here were ultimately from countries bordering the grasslands. There would be quite a few from Briol.

“What’s your name?”

“Jane.”

“Jane. Were there many from Briol?”

“There were many, but most of them died. Some took their own lives. We buried them every day. Each time, we had to gather their broken bodies…”

His ears were ringing.

He had a duty. And he had vowed to fulfill it.

Yuri knelt on one knee, lowering himself to Jane’s level. Now, they were almost eye to eye.

He planted Guilty firmly on the ground.

As Jane looked at him in bewilderment, Yuri bowed his head.

“On behalf of Briol, I apologize.”

He simply wanted to correct the mistakes of his past life.

But that wasn’t all.

There were things he should have done but didn’t.

Responsibilities forgotten, ignored by everyone, abandoned in the desolate plains.

“And I promise you this.”

She probably wouldn’t live long. Her broken body was too broken to heal.

She might even die before reaching her homeland.

Thus, there was only one thing he could offer her.

“I will repay them in kind.”

Retribution.

Revenge.

Yuri maintained eye contact with her until the very end, so she could feel his resolve.

“I, Yuri Briol, swear this on all the honor I possess.”

Jane’s eyes flickered.

Eventually, she gave a faint nod.

“Keep your promise.”

And she lowered her head.

Jane didn’t speak any further.

It was as if she had used up all her life force. Her breathing was shallow, as if the vitality she had shown just moments ago was a lie.

She had squeezed out the last of her strength to hear those words.

It wasn’t solely for herself.

Yuri stood up.

Graham and the adjutant, who had been watching, expressed their condolences with a glance.

“Sir Graham.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“As a member of the Allied Forces, as the Prince and commander of Briol, and as a representative of the Briol citizens who were innocently sacrificed, I strongly advocate for the execution of those creatures.”

“Understood.”

Graham nodded.

“Your Highness, I have one more request. Would you allow me to bring Kori?”

Graham seemed intent on continuing to evaluate the half-orcs until the very end.

“Go ahead.”

“Thank you. I will fully consider Your Highness’s wishes.”

“I appreciate that.”

Yuri nodded and turned away.

He returned to the Briol camp and entrusted the task to Raymond.

“Send messengers to every nation bordering the plains.”

“Yes, sir.”

Yuri instructed the messengers to inform them about the survivors here.

Whether they choose to aid them or use them as examples to fuel their hatred for the orcs, the decision would be theirs to make. And that decision alone would place pressure on Graham.

Hearing Yuri’s explanation, Raymond’s expression darkened.

“So that’s what happened. I will send a message to His Majesty.”

“Make sure to inform my brother Cedric as well.”

“Understood.”

Cedric would surely assist the returned survivors wisely.

Yuri calmed his heart, thinking of his respected eldest brother.

“He’s doing well, I’m sure.”

Now the Allied Forces were heading towards the heart of the plains where Okuah awaited.

A battle of immense scale would unfold.

Even imagining the scale of the fight made Yuri feel overwhelmed.

On the vast plains, an indiscriminate melee would ensue, and corpses would pile up like mountains. There was no possibility for retreat.

“Haa…”

Yuri let out a long sigh and turned his gaze. In the distance, the faint sounds of clashing weapons could be heard.

“What’s that?”

As he walked towards the sound, he saw knights lined up in a long queue.

Beyond them, Moyongchan was engaging in sparring.

“Well, well…”

The knights were taking turns facing Moyongchan in an orderly fashion.

After exchanging a blow or two, the knight would inevitably fall, and Moyongchan, without showing any signs of fatigue, would immediately switch opponents.

“It’s an honor to have the opportunity to cross swords with one of the Ten Strongest!”

“Very well.”

“Thank you!”

They were thrilled as if the wounds caused by Moyongchan had become badges of honor.

Not only Briol knights, but knights from other nations were also flocking to him, forming an endless line.

“You.”

“Yes?”

“You, out.”

“Why…”

“I don’t spar with injured people.”

“Urgh…”

Jose, who had been saved by Moyongchan, was standing in line with his shoulder bandaged and splinted, but he was kicked out.

Yuri approached him.

“Sir Jose.”

“Oh, Your Highness.”

Jose’s face lit up.

“Is your shoulder alright?”

“Of course. How about you, Your Highness?”

“As you can see. I’m fine.”

“That’s a relief.”

Jose rubbed his shoulder.

Kurui’s axe had struck his right shoulder blade. He had protected himself with his Mana Method, but he wouldn’t be able to fight properly for a while.

“Ah, and Sir Hernando came to help.”

“Really?”

“He’s quite skilled.”

It seemed Hernando had gone out and treated Jose, even though Yuri thought he had been confined to his tent.

“With a bit more rest, I think I’ll be able to fight again.”

“Fight, you say?”

“Of course.”

“Hmm…”

Honestly, it seemed like he needed to rest, but Yuri wanted Jose, a valuable asset, to join the front lines no matter what.

Yuri habitually tried to put his hand on Jose’s shoulder, but realizing his condition, he patted his back instead.

“Take care as much as possible.”

“Thank you for your concern.”

“Where’s Jonathan?”

“The commander is holed up in his tent. He’s been looking at maps all day.”

“Is that so? I should pay him a visit.”

While they were talking, Proin of Brusin stood before Moyongchan.

He shouted.

“I shall show the guest from the East how rough the waves of Brusin are!”

“Waves?”

“There’s a sea at the western end. I honed my swordsmanship there, with the waves as my companion!”

He was suddenly speaking formally.

“Why is he like that?”

“He tends to show off when there’s an audience.”

It seemed Proin wanted to make an impression in front of the gathered knights from various nations.

“The sea…”

But there was a reaction from Moyongchan.

He closed his eyes and seemed to be pondering something deeply.

“The sea…”

“Is there a sea in the east too?”

“Of course.”

“That’s wonderful.”

“I like the sea too.”

Moyongchan raised his sword.

“There’s nothing more beautiful than the Southern Sea’s night…”

“Oh…”

Proin and Moyongchan chatted about their respective seas for a while, then Proin took his stance.

Of course, he didn’t last long.

After just two exchanges, he stumbled, lost his grip on his sword, and collapsed. He couldn’t keep his balance, as if he had a concussion.

“Ugh, for the waves of Brusin to lose…”

“Your swordsmanship is more like a stream than a sea.”

“Th-that…”

“But still…”

Moyongchan approached and looked down at Proin.

“Even a stream eventually flows into the sea.”

And he turned away.

Proin, seemingly impressed by his words, trembled and silently bowed his head to Moyongchan before leaving.

Jose said,

“He’s embarrassed, so he’s leaving quickly.”

“I see.”

Another knight took his place.

Watching the continuance of sparring, Yuri murmured.

“That’s fortunate.”

Moyongchan sparring with the knights was like a form of tutoring. It seemed like he could interpret this as a sign that Moyongchan was willing to face Okuah alongside the Allied Forces.

But suddenly, Moyongchan stopped.

“……”

His eyes were fixed on one spot, his expression strangely hardened.

Yuri, thinking Moyongchan was looking at him, met his gaze, but seeing Moyongchan’s eyes move, he turned around.

“What’s happening now?”

It was Hernando.

He was walking towards them, having emerged from his tent at some point.

“Is that The Stranger?”

“Yes.”

“Why… is he staring at me like that…”

Hernando hid behind Yuri but peeked out slightly with his head.

“Is he glaring?”

Moyongchan continued to stare at him.

Hernando averted his eyes, then gave an awkward laugh.

“It feels a bit embarrassing…”

Moyongchan spoke.

“My name is Moyongchan. May I ask for the Great One’s name?”