The 3rd Prince of the Fallen Kingdom Returns

Chapter 14. Salvation (3)

It seemed like they had reciprocated sufficiently.

Yuri landed on the ground and surveyed the surroundings. The exhausted soldiers could no longer pursue and had slowed their pace.

The knights of Briol, who had been hitting the enemy, gradually stopped their charge. The battle was coming to an end.

“Is it over here.”

Corpses of the soldiers of the Holy Kingdom were visible, but just as many orcs lay fallen. Given the conditions, it was a battle well fought.

The straggling orcs resisted with their injured bodies, but the incoming Holy Knights killed or subdued them. Yuri found an orc pretending to be dead.

“Hey.”

“……”

“Hey. Aren’t you getting up?”

He kicked its rump. The orc let out a bizarre scream and lunged at him.

After deflecting several attacks, he cut off its leg, and it plopped down and crawled along the ground.

He stepped on its nape, pinning it to the ground.

Sibylla, who was nearby, looked at Yuri.

“Did you let it live on purpose?”

“Yeah. I need to interrogate it.”

“An orc?”

“I have a translator.”

“A translator for orcs?”

Sibylla’s eyes widened.

“Where did you find such a person?”

Yuri grinned. Thanks to Jaime, who partnered him with Kori.

“Count Sidore.”

“Oh, the Scarred Wolf…”

Murmuring as if understanding, Sibylla mentioned his alias. Jaime’s fame was well-known even in other nations.

This chapter is translated by f.enrir┈xlations/jjo┈estar

As Yuri wiped his sword, Guilty, on the fallen orc’s clothes, he spoke.

“Anyway, this can be considered the first victory for the Allied Forces!”

With armies of various nations gathered at Balshad, they had successfully repelled the orcs’ first ambush.

It was an event likely to be recorded in history.

Yuri raised Guilty.

“Here!”

Briols’ knights gathered. Their eyes held reverence.

Jared knew of Yuri’s prowess, and Laurent had originally admired him, but the rest of the knights were astonished by his skill.

It was an unbelievable level for an eighteen-year-old.

“Your Highness.”

Representing their feelings, Raymond spoke up.

“I witnessed Your Highness’s accomplishments with the previous Allied Forces.”

Yuri gave a slight smile.

“Really?”

“Yes. It was as if I was seeing His Majesty at that time.”

It was an immense compliment.

“And Your Highness has gained the trust of the Holy Kingdom’s forces with this battle. I now understand why His Majesty entrusted the Allied Forces to the Third Prince. We look forward to your leadership.”

Raymond was an experienced knight. He felt truly honored to be recognized by him.

“I also look forward to it.”

Turning his gaze, Yuri met Laurent’s eyes, which twinkled with a sparkle. Feeling uncomfortable, Yuri averted his eyes.

Laurent’s blonde hair kept distracting his peripheral vision, but he ignored it.

“Everyone worked hard.”

“Yes!”

Not only did Yuri’s reputation soar, but Jared’s too. He had performed remarkably, paralleling Laurent.

As Briol’s knights gathered to discuss the battle’s outcome, Sibylla approached once more to express her gratitude.

“On behalf of the Holy Kingdom, I thank you all for your support. And most importantly, Yuri, you saved my life. Thank you.”

This time, Sibylla reached out first. Yuri shook her hand.

“So, what will you do now?” he asked.

“We’ve decided to reorganize the main forces and return to Gid together.”

Yuri decided to return immediately. There was no reason to stay.

“Alright. We’ll be heading back.”

“We’ll handle the captured orcs.”

“Please do.”

With a whistle, the horses gathered at the corner approached. The knights mounted their steeds in turn. Yuri climbed onto his black horse and stroked its mane.

“Your Highness. May I ask you something?”

A young knight urged his horse closer to Yuri.

“What is it?”

“Do you already know the Princess of the Holy Kingdom?”

“No?”

“You spoke informally to her. Since when has it been like that?”

Attention turned towards them. The atmosphere was playful, and the knight speaking had a subtle smile.

“The Princess seemed to be quite friendly towards Your Highness…”

“You little…”

“A romance born on the battlefield isn’t bad, you know.”

“Be quiet.”

“I’ve had many romances, and this is definitely…”

“You’ll die.”

“She’s quite the beauty. Aren’t you interested, Your Highness?”

“No.”

“Oh, come on, still…”

“I am married to Briol.”

“Pardon?”

“Keep that in mind.”

Yuri sneered.

Just listening to talk of romance gave him chills.

All because of that woman.

While shaking his head, Yuri tried to erase someone’s face from his mind.

Romance?

How laughable.

“I’m telling you,”

“Yes.”

“I don’t love.”

“Pardon?”

The knight who spoke looked flabbergasted.

“Let’s move out!”

Yuri immediately urged his horse forward. The knights called out to him, but he ignored them.

Though he appeared as a young boy, his mind was that of a seasoned middle-aged man. He saw no reason to waste time on such exhausting emotions.

“Click…”

Suppressing the rising memories, Yuri brushed his nose.

Blinded by a mere flirtation, he had brought Briol to ruin. He would never repeat such a mistake.

“Your Highness! Please, join us!!”

Soon, the knights caught up and galloped alongside him. The wind tousled his hair.

Yuri muttered, “It’d be nice if it rained.”

Of course, he wouldn’t use an umbrella, because only those with nothing to wash away would do so.

* * *

Gid was peaceful.

Besides the few knights who had been in battle, no one knew what had transpired.

Yuri rested in the camp while the young knights, having returned to Gid, enjoyed a leisure they didn’t know when they might experience again.

“Did it really happen like that?”

“Yeah.”

Those who had fought alongside Yuri chattered about the battle. They had fought the first battle against the orcs, after all.

Everyone focused on their words.

“His Highness suddenly disappeared, then reappeared at the front to…”

The tale spread of how Yuri, as the Commander, saved the Holy Kingdom’s knights from certain death as if by a miracle.

“It’s unbelievable.”

“It’s true.”

“Then what’s with the rumors?”

“Surely, they were just false. They say the His Majesty’s blood flows in the Third Prince.”

Most were skeptical, but with Laurent testifying, they couldn’t help but believe.

“Laurent, is it really true?”

“Of course.”

Laurent nodded.

All eyes gathered on him. Though not one to drink, today he indulged in the atmosphere and lifted his glass.

“I was greatly impressed by His Highness today. His swordsmanship was brilliant, but his mindset was truly astounding.”

“Mindset?”

“His Highness says he’s married to Briol.”

“What?”

“He claims he doesn’t love.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Oh, the solemn chivalry…”

“Are you serious?”

“They say the hunt for a dutiful sovereign is the hardest quest. Thinking that way, I’m more blessed than any knight.”

“He’s gotten worse…”

Laurent, who originally followed Yuri, now seemed wholly devoted, like a devotee.

“Never mind, drink!”

“Drink!”

And, there was a pair of eyes watching them.

“What would you like to order, miss?!”

Asked the tavern owner, as she watched Laurent.

Asana, who was observing, took her gaze off Laurent and pointed at the menu.

“A stew.”

“Would you like any alcohol?”

“No.”

“Understood.”

Though the behavior was suspicious, the owner paid it no mind.

Gid is such a place. It was briefly rowdy as Briol’s forces had entered, but this place was originally a den of fugitives.

“Here you go.”

As Asana quietly ate her stew, she contemplated her employer, Yuri’s recent achievements.

This chapter is translated by f.enrirxlations/jjoestar

That wasn’t strange.

Even to one who had perfected the art of assassination like her, Yuri’s swordsmanship was impressive.

However, him saying he was married to Briol or that he scorned love kept coming back to her.

Though they worked together as employer and a contract killer, they had never built a personal relationship.

Was that why Yuri’s stories, told through others, were so intriguing?

“The Third Prince’s skill was unparalleled; who knew?”

“Weren’t there strange rumors about him?”

“Guess they were just nonsense. You know how rumors are.”

“He played cards well, so I thought he was a loafer. Who knows.”

Asana agreed with that sentiment.

To her, Yuri Briol was an inscrutable figure.

Five years ago, he had suddenly appeared, handed over money, and investigated Daisy’s condition while seeing through Asana’s own abilities.

Working for Yuri had been a series of surprises.

Through the Iraine Trading Company, he built massive wealth and used a person named Gorio to gain control over the underworld.

His prowess was also remarkable.

Whenever they met to converse, she sensed his mana growing stronger.

Now, he had voluntarily joined the Allied Forces, seeking out a battlefield everyone else avoided.

He was truly an incomprehensible individual.

“And did you notice he spoke informally with the Holy Kingdom’s Princess?”

“That lady was a Princess?”

“You didn’t know?”

“I assumed she was just a female knight.”

“His Highness lives up to his looks.”

“No, it can’t be that. The Prince is laid-back. Eats with the soldiers.”

“I thought he secretly ate extra.”

“No, nothing of that sort. The cooking staff said so. Although, he does take a lot of meat.”

“Well, then…”

Asana finished the stew quickly and put down the spoon. Eavesdropping was all well and good, but she had a task to do.

She pushed aside the stew and called the owner.

“Hey, owner.”

“Yes?”

“I have something to ask.”

“What’s that?”

“Come closer.”

It was clear he was annoyed.

Asana pulled out a silver coin and placed it on the table, changing his demeanor instantly.

“Just say the word.”

He joined his hands and smiled.

Asana flicked the silver coin in the air and asked.

“I’m looking for someone—dark brown hair, carries a sword, can’t speak the continental language well, and is skilled in swordsmanship.”

“Hm. I’ve seen too many people…”

“Think carefully.”

Asana shook the coin.

“If they passed through Gid, surely they’d have stopped here.”

“Dark brown hair, a sword…that’s too common….”

“They can’t speak the continental language well.”

“Hmm…”

As the owner furrowed his brow in thought, he suddenly clapped his hands.

“Oh, now that I think about it, I remember someone like that.”

Recalling something, he rolled his eyes.

“I can’t say about the brown hair—the person was hooded. Might have had a sword—foggy memory, but they didn’t speak the language fluently. Though, I immediately sensed it was cursing.”

“What else?”

“They asked for directions to Balshad. Mimicking their pronunciation was comedic—they quickly caught on and drew their sword.”

“That’s bold.”

“You stretch before gauging where you’ll lie. He was rough, but I knew he wasn’t bad. Intimidating, but I could tell he wouldn’t actually stab me. Hehe…”

Asana narrowed her eyes, definitely not someone she wanted to interact with.

“Anyhow, that’s all. Left promptly, a transient.”

Nodding, Asana pocketed the silver coin and rose from her seat.

“Eh?”

The owner stretched out his hands. Asana shook her head.

“You said you look where you’ll stretch.”

“Pardon?”

“Did you think I’d actually give it to you?”

“Hey, miss.”

He scowled.

“If you keep acting this way, I’ll get angry too. Know where you’re causing a ruckus?”

“Quite a change in attitude.”

“This is Gid. Do you think all the ladies in the brothels came voluntarily? Well, there are empty spots anyway…”

Asana’s eyebrow twitched.

At that moment, the tavern owner felt something slice across his neck.

His heart dropped.

“What, what…”

He groped at his neck in fear, finding nothing amiss.

“Next time, it’ll be real.”

Instead of his throat, it was his overgrown shaggy hair in the back that drifted down in clumps.

This woman had worked her hands blatantly from the front, yet the hair behind his head fell away while his neck remained intact.

It was incomprehensible.

This could only mean the woman before him was not ordinary.

“I’m sorry.”

The owner bowed his head immediately.

A city of fugitives across the border meant all sorts of people came and went. To survive, you had to discern wisely.

“P-pardon me.”

“You have no eye for people. Be careful from now on.”

“Yes, yes…”

Patting the shoulder of the trembling owner, Asana walked out of the tavern.

The streets of Gid, where Briol’s forces had entered, were noisier than ever. Asana avoided the crowds, slipping into Gid’s back alleys.

“Balshad…”

The path overlapped with her employer, Yuri. It seemed she could look after his safety while carrying out her mission.

That was a relief, anyhow.

Asana had to find him.

A swordman with deep brown hair, from the eastern continent.

A man who occupied one of the ten great seats on the continent.

Known as the Stranger.

In this expansive land, Yuri sought him.