The 3rd Prince of the Fallen Kingdom Returns

10. Allied Forces (2)

Even after their initial meeting, Yuri frequently visited the slums to extend his goodwill towards Asana.

Feeling indebted for Daisy’s life, she tried in every way to repay Yuri.

What Yuri wanted was clear.

Thus, Yuri became Asana’s employer.

“Did you follow Guillermo?”

“Yes.”

“He’s a light-footed fellow. How about Gorio?”

“I delivered the warning.”

“How?”

“I placed a letter beside his pillow while he slept.”

“With a knife?”

“Yes.”

“Well done.”

Using the money he amassed through Iraine, Yuri brought Gorio into the fold.

At first, Gorio tried to scheme, but after sending Asana, he complied without a fuss.

“Gorio listens to you well, doesn’t he?”

“He’s just detestable.”

“You two get along well.”

To ensure Gorio didn’t harbor any ulterior motives, Yuri periodically sent warnings through Asana.

In her past life, Asana had thoroughly crushed Gorio, and it seemed she ended up tormenting him once again this time.

It was an ironic fate.

“Your Highness.”

Asana slowly spoke. She was not one to initiate conversations.

“Are you really going?”

“Yes.”

Asana was worried about him.

“Be careful.”

“Well…”

Yuri shook his head.

“You’re speaking as if it’s someone else’s business.”

“What do you mean?”

“You’re coming too.”

Asana’s eyes widened, then returned to her usual expressionless state.

“Yes.”

Asana rarely showed emotion, but having spent a lot of time with her, Yuri could read her expressions to some extent.

She was relieved.

Like a dog worrying about its owner.

“You can keep up, right?”

“Anywhere is better than where I came from.”

The Assassin’s Guild was hidden in the middle of a desert. Ordinary plains were no trouble at all.

“Alright. I’ll contact you again.”

“Yes.”

Asana disappeared as suddenly as she had appeared. It was a strange trick.

He had asked her once how she did it, but she had remained tight-lipped.

During his mercenary days, Yuri had heard stories. They said the Assassin Guild’s magic was actually a form of spirit magic.

At the time, he doubted the existence of spirits, but now, having even experienced regression, there was no reason not to believe.

“I’ll have to ask her properly next time.”

As Yuri muttered to himself, he placed his sword on the table.

Four daggers.

And one sword.

Equipping himself with the necessary gear, he felt a surge of confidence.

“Orcs, huh…”

He found himself eager to meet them sooner.

* * *

Officially, the orc subjugation had been proclaimed. Under the banner of the Allied Forces, the continent stirred. Those seeking money and advancement headed east.

“Yuri. Be careful out there.”

“Yes, Brother.”

Before the departure ceremony, Cedric came to see him, his face full of concern.

Yuri pounded his chest.

“Don’t worry. I’m invincible.”

“I know your skills, but I still can’t help but worry.”

“I’ll bring honor to the name of Briol.”

“Alright.”

Cedric adjusted his glasses and smiled gently. Recently, he had been engrossed in his studies, which had considerably strained his eyesight.

“You should take breaks while studying too, brother. Take care of your eyes.”

“I will.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“Then let’s make a promise. I’ll study in moderation, and you’ll stay cautious. How about that?”

“Fine.”

Yuri smiled brightly.

Looking at Cedric, Yuri couldn’t help but imagine a bright future for Briol.

If only the Empire weren’t in the way, they would have been enjoying an unprecedented golden age.

“Yuri.”

“Yeah?”

“Come here.”

Cedric pulled him into an embrace.

Yuri had grown taller, but Cedric was still bigger, and Yuri’s face was buried in his shoulder. He felt the warmth from his brother’s embrace.

Somehow, his chest tightened.

Through Cedric’s shoulder, Yuri could see Briol’s flag fluttering from the spire.

Looking at the knights and soldiers lined up beneath it, Yuri steeled his resolve.

He had returned to the past to protect all of this.

“I’ll be back.”

“Take care.”

Yuri patted Cedric’s back and walked toward the troops. The knights and soldiers stared at him.

It was no longer the position of those sending someone off, but of the one leaving.

This was where he belonged.

“Everyone’s eyes are fierce.”

There weren’t many knights who welcomed Yuri.

For a boy who had achieved nothing to bear their lives just because he was a prince, who would be pleased?

“Your Highness.”

Jared stood beside him.

“Sir Hernando is running late.”

“Why?”

“He drank a lot last night…”

Surprisingly, Hernando volunteered for the Allied Forces. While it was fortunate to have a mage of his caliber on board, the reason why remained a mystery.

“I still don’t get it.”

“What do you mean?”

“Why did Hernando volunteer? He can’t even gamble in the Allied Forces.”

“That’s what I’m thinking too.”

Yuri shook his head.

Hernando hadn’t changed in the last five years.

On the other hand, Jared was different.

Yuri looked him up and down.

“What are you staring at?”

“Nothing.”

He had grown significantly. He had already surpassed his previous life’s level.

Before, he had the vacant eyes of a lifeless fish, but now there was a definite determination in his gaze.

“You’ve grown well.”

“Thank you.”

“I raised you.”

“I grew up on my own.”

“No, I raised you.”

“Let’s say you did.”

Yuri chuckled.

How could Jared know? The fact that his past self was so pathetic.

“What’s there to say?”

The one who had truly grown was none other than Yuri himself.

Of course, it was his second life, but still, hadn’t he done it on his own?

“And also…”

Suddenly, someone approached.

At first, it seemed like an illusion, but the person was walking straight toward Yuri.

A familiar yet unfamiliar face.

Yuri, unusually, felt a bit tense.

It was someone he had never met in this life.

Close, yet distant.

Laurent Flandre.

He stood before Yuri.

In their past life, they had been entangled in multiple relationships.

In the end, he had cut off Yuri’s head.

Thinking of that moment didn’t sit well with him.

Who else but him would have seen his headless body bleeding and collapsing?

“…….”

Yes, it was this guy who had cut off his head.

It still made Yuri uncomfortable.

He lifted his chin arrogantly, raising an eyebrow as if to challenge Laurent to speak his purpose.

“What is it?”

At that, Laurent knelt on one knee and bowed his head.

“I am honored to meet you, Third Prince.”

His overly formal attitude made Yuri feel awkward.

“Ah, uh, sure.”

Laurent continued speaking.

“I’ve wanted to meet you for a long time.”

“Hmm?”

“However, due to circumstances, it is only now that I am able to greet you. I ask for your understanding.”

“Well… that could be the case. It’s fine.”

Yuri swallowed nervously. In his past life, Laurent had come to take his life, and now… what was the reason for this visit?

“Hmm… I admire you.”

“What?”

Laurent looked up, his eyes sparkling.

If he had a rough-looking face, it might have been different, but his fair and delicate appearance made him look like a pampered nobleman, and it was somewhat overwhelming to be looked at in that way.

“Ever since hearing about the incident five years ago, I have always wanted to meet you, Third Prince.”

Five years ago referred to the duel with the Imperial squire to save Ena.

It was a heroic act, but few knew the true situation.

Instead, it had been maliciously distorted.

The rumors spread that he almost lost the duel, that the prince had let the squire win on purpose, or that Yuri had been so humiliated that he became quiet and subdued ever since.

Even the motivation for the duel was twisted in various ways, so Yuri’s reputation hadn’t improved much.

There were reasons why people looked at him with disfavor.

But it seemed Laurent knew the true story of the incident.

“Taking up the sword to protect your own, that was truly an exemplary act of chivalry.”

“I guess I was a bit like that?”

“Yes. I heard the detailed circumstances from my father, who served near His Majesty at the time. Do not mind the foolish slander of others.”

“Right, exactly.”

“Since then, you have been my idol, Third Prince. I volunteered for the Allied Forces to meet you in person.”

“Well done, well done.”

“It is an honor to be with you!”

Although gaining Laurent’s favor was good, the relationship seemed to be progressing in a rather overwhelming direction.

Yuri helped Laurent to his feet.

“Whoa, stand up, Laurent. I’ve heard plenty about your reputation too. They say you’re a talent destined to surpass your father, Sir Lian.”

“I’m far from deserving of such praise.”

“I’m counting on you. The future of Briol rests on your shoulders.”

“That is too much praise!”

“Not at all. Let’s work well together from here on out.”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

“Good, good.”

“I’ll take my leave now. It has been an honor!”

“Take care.”

Watching Laurent finally walk away, Yuri moved to the very front of the knightly formation.

The feeling wasn’t bad.

“Heh, heh, heh…”

Jared seemed to look at him with a strange expression midway, but Yuri ignored it. That guy was the type to forget his own importance due to familiarity.

Soon, the sound of horns filled the air.

The knights straightened up, and the soldiers raised their spears high.

This departure ceremony, attended by nobles, was set to mark Yuri receiving the official decree of command from Fiore.

Eventually, Fiore appeared.

He stood at the highest point of the platform, looking down at Yuri.

“Let the departure ceremony commence.”

His voice wasn’t very loud, but it carried an overwhelming authority over the whole area.

“Yuri, come up here.”

Yuri climbed the steep steps and stopped at a point where he looked up at Fiore.

Fiore held a neatly folded silk cloth. The dispatch order was likely inside it.

Upon receiving it, Yuri would become the Commander of this expedition force.

The lives of all these troops would then rest on his shoulders.

“Nervous?”

“No.”

“Turn around.”

At Fiore’s words, Yuri turned to face the troops.

The entire force came into view.

Spears and swords raised skyward.

Tense eyes glimmering beneath their helmets.

All of it directed at Yuri.

The pounding of countless hearts, the trembling breaths—they coalesced into a singular, immense weight, all bearing down on him.

Not everyone would make it back alive.

However, at the very least, he wouldn’t let them die without reason.

Is there dignity in death?

Yes, there is.

In his past life, he had died more miserably than anyone else.

He would ensure that such a death never happened again.

He turned back to face Fiore.

Fiore scrutinized Yuri’s face.

“You don’t seem to be afraid.”

“Of course not.”

“Are you confident?”

“Yes.”

“Will you accept the expedition order?”

“Absolutely.”

Fiore’s relaxed eyes momentarily sparkled with life.

“Take it.”

At that moment, Yuri’s vision went dark.

It was so pitch-black that he couldn’t see anything.

Wondering what had happened, he focused. From the distance, something faintly white approached.

As it came closer, it turned a deep crimson.

Yuri realized it was death.

Yet, his body refused to move. An overwhelming intent to kill advanced toward him, a force he could not resist.

Was it truly inevitable?

No.

Something within him stirred.

The core squeezed out mana. Blood vessels connected, and the rapid flow of mana struck his body, guiding it into a single motion.

Thought and action occurred simultaneously.

The darkness receded.

Yuri blinked his eyes open in a daze.

Fiore’s sword, ‘Biting Wind,’ was blocked by his sword, ‘Guilty.’

A faint smile appeared on Fiore’s lips.

“You managed to block it.”

Yuri stood there, dazed, immersed in the thrill.

“That was your expedition order.”

What he had just received—what exactly was it? Was this the level his father had reached?

It was a sight beyond anything Yuri had ever imagined.

Fiore’s voice snapped him back to reality.

“Return safely.”

“Yes.”

Yuri nodded firmly.

Instead of a mere piece of paper, Fiore had tested Yuri’s worth with a single strike of his blade.

The shredded remnants of the expedition order were carried off by the wind, scattering somewhere within the Royal City of Briol.

“Everything rests on you now.”

With that, Fiore descended from the platform, leaving Yuri behind.

From this point forward, everything was entirely in Yuri’s hands.

When had his father come to place such faith in him? He truly was an unpredictable man.

“Now then…”

Yuri could have descended the steps immediately and begun marching eastward.

Yet, he chose not to. Instead, he remained on the platform, surveying the troops.

They were all waiting for his words.

Yuri grinned and began to speak.

“I am Yuri Briol.”

His voice rang out, steady and resolute.

A commander’s perspective was unique; every face in the crowd came into sharp focus. Not a single one showed warmth or welcome toward him.

It didn’t matter.

Respect isn’t something to be begged for or bargained over.

“Trust me.”

Instead, he offered them a single piece of advice.

The unexpected nature of his words left many visibly startled.

Yuri laughed aloud, then raised Guilty high, pointing it toward the distant eastern sky.

“Advance!”

The troops began to move.

Yuri’s lips twisted into a sly smile.

This was only the beginning.

The Empire would achieve none of what it desired.