“We’ll cross the border through Sidor, on the frontier. After that, we’ll pass through Gid and regroup in Balshad. It’s best to arrive first and assess the situation.”
“Do you think our speed is sufficient?”
“That’s right.”
The name of the elderly knight riding alongside Yuri was Raymond.
Technically, he was part of Gennard’s group, but Yuri had no intention of making such distinctions.
“If you have anything to say in the future, don’t hesitate to advise me.”
Raymond had a wealth of experience. He had fought in numerous battles and knew well how to deal with orcs.
“Understood.”
It seemed he had more to say, so Yuri gave him a nod.
“Speak.”
“This may be out of place…”
“It’s alright.”
Raymond cleared his throat before speaking.
“I saw how you blocked His Majesty’s sword during the departure ceremony. I’m certain you possess great skill, Your Highness.”
“And?”
“But on the battlefield, life and death can be decided in a single instant. I ask that you act with the utmost caution during combat.”
It was sincere advice, concerned that Yuri might act on youthful impulse. The kind of comment that could be uncomfortable—but he didn’t hold it back.
Yuri appreciated that.
“Thank you for the advice, Sir Raymond.”
He had feared Gennard might have sent him to sabotage the operation, but it seemed there was nothing to worry about.
“Did Gennard give you any special orders?”
“No.”
“Are you sure?”
“Even if he had, things always change on the battlefield.”
Yuri smiled.
“Right. What would that man know, anyway?”
Cough, cough…
They continued onward and soon entered Sidor, the domain of the infamous frontier lord, Heime Theodore.
“Will he treat us coldly?”
“Impossible. The Count of Sidor hates orcs.”
“That’s a relief.”
“But he’s not the friendly type, so don’t expect a warm welcome.”
Raymond was wrong.
As soon as they neared the Count’s castle, they found a massive banner hanging from a tree that read: “Welcome, Third Prince!”
Beneath it, the herald Heime awaited Yuri.
“Long time no see, Your Highness!”
A familiar face.
“Calcio Erancha.”
“Oh! I see you remember me! After five years!”
“You left quite the impression.”
He had met him at a Senate gathering. A man who hadn’t been intimidated and spoke his mind in front of the most powerful nobles.
“The Count of Sidor has long wished to see you in person. I’m glad the opportunity has come.”
“Thank you for such a warm welcome.”
“The Count will be delighted as well.”
Yuri understood the reason for such a reception.
During the civil war in the Duchy of Klein, Yuri had convinced Fiore to support the Duke. Thanks to that, the conflict ended quickly, and greater damage was avoided.
From Sidor’s perspective, constantly under threat from orcs, Yuri had been the benefactor who saved their border from descending into chaos.
“I’ll guide you.”
Calcio led the way on horseback.
Yuri followed, observing the surroundings.
Since this was an area prone to orc attacks, there were tall watchtowers and sharpened palisades everywhere. Still, the atmosphere wasn’t grim.
Each time they passed through a village, the locals watched with cheerful faces as the army moved forward.
At last, they reached the gray-toned castle.
“The Castle of Sidor.”
The sentries’ telescopes sparkled in the sunlight from atop the towers.
While the soldiers built camps outside, Yuri and the knights entered the castle. A dinner was prepared.
“Welcome.”
It was Yuri’s first time seeing Heime in person.
In his previous life, he had only heard news of his death. Sadly, he’d been killed by orcs shortly before the Empire’s invasion.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Sir Heime.”
Heime was tall, with gray eyes and a scar crossing his face. Though his manner was calm, there was a fierce strength beneath the surface.
“It’s been a long time.”
“Five years ago, perhaps?”
“I remember—even if only from a distance.”
“Your appearance is quite striking.”
“Haha…”
Heime smiled faintly. Five years ago, at the ball, he had witnessed the very moment young Yuri challenged an Imperial prince to a duel.
Then Heime knelt on one knee and kissed the back of Yuri’s hand.
“You have my respect. I wish you a long life.”
“Thank you. But you seem somewhat unwell.”
“It happened during a clash with orcs… I was wounded.”
Heime’s words were slow, and between each sentence, he breathed as though struggling for air.
It was rumored he’d sustained a lung injury in a battle against orcs.
“Take care of yourself. You’re a valuable shield for Briol.”
He laughed with a raspy voice and slowly stood upright.
“Thank you for your words.”
Yuri took a seat at the head of the table. Heime and the other knights settled around him.
The meal consisted mainly of meat. The smell of freshly prepared dishes whetted their appetites.
“Please, eat.”
“Thank you for the hospitality.”
Though they didn’t use many spices like in the palace, the natural flavor of the ingredients was pronounced.
For Yuri, whose memories as a mercenary were still vivid, this kind of cooking felt familiar—and even pleasant.
He remembered his days on campaign.
“The food is excellent. Don’t you think?”
“Yes…”
The knights tilted their heads, hesitant. It wasn’t a menu to the refined taste of nobles.
Heime wasn’t a man of many words. The dinner passed quietly. Though wine was served, only one or two cups were shared.
Then, Heime spoke.
“Your Highness… have you ever fought orcs?”
“Yes…”
In his mercenary life, he’d killed them to exhaustion. But in this life, he had not.
“…No, but I’ve studied them extensively.”
“Studied, you say…?”
Heime let out a soft laugh. Each time he laughed, his voice had a metallic ring to it.
“So you came prepared.”
“Of course.”
Yuri’s gaze shifted past Heime to the other knights.
“How many here have fought against orcs?”
Only a few, including Raymond, raised their hands. Most of the knights in the allied force were young and inexperienced.
“And among those who haven’t fought, who has studied them?”
Jared raised his hand enthusiastically. The majority remained silent.
Yuri shrugged.
“You see, knight? That’s why even I had to study.”
Heime laughed again. This time, louder.
“Leading by example… a rare virtue.”
“I heard you still go to the front lines to kill orcs.”
“In my case… for a different reason.”
He was a man with an unreadable face, but now his eyes gleamed with a hint of interest.
“From now on, you’ll fight until you’re sick of it. But before that…”
With a faint twitch under his eyes, Heime asked:
“Would you mind if I offered a little help?”
***
Yuri followed Heime down the stairs leading to the basement.
Knights carrying torches came behind. Shadows flickered chaotically with every movement of the flames.
“What kind of help are you planning to give me?”
“In Sidor… we’ve always fought orcs.”
As the light shifted, Heime’s face seemed to take on different forms.
“We had to learn about those creatures.”
They descended several underground levels until they reached the bottom, where there were no more steps.
A tunnel submerged in darkness appeared.
Heime took the lead with the torch. As he advanced, metallic outlines appeared on both sides. It was a prison.
Yuri and the others followed, and the interior became more visible.
“Uuuh…”
“Urrgh…”
Beast-like groans echoed. Tongueless prisoners crouched in the cells.
Yuri watched Heime’s fragile back as he walked ahead alone.
“Sir Heime.”
He seemed not to hear.
While Heime walked forward with steady steps, the knights lagged behind, hesitant, among the mutilated prisoners. Yuri suppressed his emotions.
At a certain point, Heime stopped.
A closed iron door stood before him.
“This is it.”
Saying that, he looked back. The sound of hurried footsteps rang out.
Calcio emerged from among the knights.
“My lord, why have you come here all of a sudden…?”
“The key.”
“I brought it. But… was it really necessary to come to this place…?”
“It was.”
Heime snatched the key from his hand and inserted it into the lock. The inner mechanism creaked as it engaged.
“Go in.”
Beyond the door, darkness still reigned.
Heime entered first. Yuri followed. Then, the hesitant steps of the others began to join, one by one.
Heime hung the torch on a wall. Instantly, lamps across the space lit up, revealing the scene:
A large chamber filled with scattered rectangular steel cages.
“Ah…”
Someone let out a moan. There were things here they never could have imagined.
“Orcs…”
The word echoed around the room. Yuri approached the nearest cage.
A huge black figure crouched inside. It was so large it looked like a sleeping quadruped beast.
“Yes.”
Heime stepped up to the cage and, without hesitation, thrust his sword through the bars.
Everyone flinched at the sudden action.
“Ah!”
The creature responded immediately, trying to grab Heime’s hand.
But anticipating this, Heime twisted the blade and severed its arm.
Splatter. Blood sprayed out.
“This is an orc.”
Heime raised his bloodied sword toward the others.
“Even if it looks dead, it’ll bite your leg off if you let your guard down.”
The orc in the cage growled.
The rest of the orcs responded immediately, filling the room with wild roars.
Heime grabbed a crossbow from the wall and fired a bolt into each noisy cage.
“Silence.”
Who would have imagined there was an orc dungeon beneath Sidor’s castle?
Only then did Yuri notice the torture instruments in one corner of the chamber.
He smiled.
Heime Theodore was even more insane than he’d expected.
“Sir Heime. Is this your gift?”
“Yes.”
“I appreciate it.”
Heime watched him for a moment, then slowly bowed.
“It is an honor.”
Those present, overwhelmed by Heime’s madness, began to breathe with difficulty.
Yuri could imagine what they were thinking. He had felt the same the first time.
Even he, who didn’t cling to chivalry, had been consumed by the madness of war.
Honor—it changed depending on time and place.
For Heime, who had lost both his sons to orcs, honor must have become something far more cruel and desperate.
Yuri turned around.
Most of the confused faces were those of young knights.
“You.”
He pointed to one with a still-youthful face.
“Your name?”
“Simon Pesh, son of Baron Wolf.”
“Tell me exactly what you’re thinking.”
Simon looked at Yuri, then at Heime, before responding.
“I think this is unnecessary. It’s too much.”
“Could be.”
Yuri nodded.
Heime nodded as well.
“Heime.”
“Yes.”
“Open one of the cages.”
“Understood.”
Everyone looked on in confusion. Yuri pointed at Simon.
“Fight the orc.”
“Huh?”
The knights began to murmur.
Yuri smiled and asked again.
“Do you think you can handle it?”
Simon nodded seriously.
“Of course. I’m a knight of Briol. I won’t lose to a mere orc.”
“I like your attitude.”
Calcio opened the lock with a worried expression.
“Are you sure about this?”
“There’s more than one knight here. What could go wrong?”
“Still…”
“Let’s not underestimate them too much.”
“Understood.”
Heime watched Yuri closely.
He claimed to have never seen an orc, yet acted like a seasoned veteran. He even managed all the knights effortlessly.
His demeanor was far too natural.
“Well then…”
Yuri spoke to Simon.
“Simon.”
“Yes.”
“Put on your helmet.”
“Yes, understood.”
Calcio cautiously opened the cage and stepped aside. The orc inside was smaller than the others. The bolt Heime had shot earlier was still embedded in its body.
Huff…
Simon unsheathed his sword and stood before the cage. His face was tense, but he didn’t step back.
The orc remained motionless inside the cage.
Heime smiled.
“Orcs are a vile race.”
Then Heime said something else—it sounded like the orc tongue.
The orc reacted.
It stood up and stepped out of the cage.
“Ah…”
Those who had never seen an orc before held their breath.
It was a head taller than the average adult, but three times as wide.
Its brown skin looked as tough as a beast’s hide. Instead of a nose, it had holes oozing pus. Yellow tusks protruded from its mouth, and its lips twitched with every breath.
Just looking at it was intimidating.
“So that’s an orc…”
Simon stepped forward, a bit unsteady.
Then suddenly, the orc shouted something and dropped to the ground.
“……”
Simon was puzzled. It was clear the orc was begging for its life.
It repeated unintelligible words while slamming its forehead into the floor.
Simon laughed in relief.
“What is this supposed to be?”
He shrugged and looked at Yuri.
“Fighting a prisoner makes no sense. It’s unnecessary kill—”
Before he could finish, the sound of crushed metal rang out.
The orc lunged and struck Simon’s head hard.
The helmet crumpled, and blood began to pour from Simon’s nose.
