Chapter 91

Thick darkness had settled somewhere in the Ute Mountain Range.

An unexpected battle had erupted, turning the place into a battlefield already brimming with a grim, murderous aura.

Not long after the battle began, the enemy’s rain of arrows subsided, and the figures hiding in the bushes slowly revealed themselves one by one.

Roughly fifty or sixty.

Nearly twice the number of the Envoys of Lehl and the Crown Prince’s knights who claimed they would escort them.

Whether they had some plan or simply lacked fear, Bernid stepped forward and confronted the enemies.

“I know why you bastards came here. Come. I shall face you myself.”

Magic surged from Bernid’s heart and moved according to his will.

Soon, blue current flared in both of Bernid’s hands, spitting sparks violently.

Ppajik― Ppajijik―

“Your reaction is slow. You should have aimed for me the moment I opened my mouth.”

The moment he finished preparing, Bernid took action.

His outstretched fingertips unleashed thunder, striking the enemies.

Beonjeok―!

In an instant, the enemies whom Bernid had marked as targets lost their sight to the blinding flash of lightning.

And then the bolt fell.

Kkwa-reung―!

“Kugh!”

It was a speed no eye could hope to follow.

Those struck directly by the blue lightning collapsed with strangled screams.

Anyone hit head-on was burned from the inside out in an instant, turning black like dried firewood, and the three-meter radius around them was completely scorched.

At a glance, one died instantly and three or four were rendered unable to fight.

Truly overwhelming destructive power.

But to Bernid, this was only the beginning.

“Hm, I meant to take a few more with that, but they’re quick.”

Stunned by the unexpected appearance of the Third Prince, the enemies allowed the surprise attack.

But they were not weak.

Their leader hastily shouted orders.

“Scatter! Spread out so the magician can’t target many at once!”

“Yes―!”

“If we just deal with that magician, the rest won’t be a problem. There! Take out that magician first.”

Of course, Bernid was not about to sit quietly and let them.

Hearing them blatantly target the magician made him lash out even more savagely.

“Fine, come then. I’ll burn every last one of you to death!”

Instead of avoiding the enemies focusing on him, Bernid strode forward boldly.

Blue flames roared in his left hand, and fierce wind swirled in his right.

“One magician changes nothing! I’ll kill you all―!”

Papabat―!

At that signal, dozens of enemies surrounding the area charged toward Bernid at once.

Too swift for knights, yet too heavy for assassins—the movements of men well trained.

At the moment the enemies concentrated their assault on Bernid, Terrien, who had been silently holding his sword, finally moved.

“How dare you—!”

Terrien stomped forward and charged toward the oncoming enemies.

His sword came down from above, drawing a clean, straight line.

Swaek―!

Tang Seogyeom, who had crossed into this world centuries before Yuwon and laid the foundation of this world’s swordsmanship—his fully restored Threefold Celestial Sword Art, not the flawed basic Three Swords distorted by time, finally revealed itself again.

Kwoooaang―!

Taesan Apjeong (泰山壓頂).

Like Mount Tai falling to crush them, overwhelming force burst from Terrien’s sword and slammed into the enemies.

The enemy who had rushed at Bernid, seeing him as a danger, was crushed on the spot, dying with blood spraying—too futile even to leave a dying scream.

“Hey now, I said I don’t need cover.”

“That wasn’t cover. I simply killed an enemy. They see everyone else as background props and charge only at Your Highness—what else can I do? I need to earn my keep as well.”

“Still, that was impressive. Worth bragging about.”

“I’m still far from it. If His Highness Prince Yurion had used the same technique I just performed, he would’ve wiped out at least four or five at once.”

“Let’s not bring that guy into this. Comparing ourselves to him will just make both of us miserable.”

Terrien grinned at Bernid’s joking remark.

“That’s true. Let’s leave it at that.”

Their banter looked more like two men out for a stroll than warriors in battle.

The overwhelming might both displayed had thrown the Crown Prince’s secret forces into confusion.

‘W-what in the…! No one said monsters like these were mixed in…! Who is that guy, and why is the Third Prince here?!’

Even then, Terrien and Bernid continued their conversation.

“Still, they serve the same master as we do… yet they attack without hesitation like this….”

“My brother… no, that bastard Yulia taught them well.”

At Bernid casually calling the Crown Prince by name, Terrien pretended to look startled.

“Yulia? Is it alright to call his name like that?”

“A brother should act like a brother. We’re standing here openly—there’s no way Yulia doesn’t know I’m here. I wondered, but seeing he truly ordered the attack, he must intend to kill me as well. A bastard like that doesn’t deserve to be called brother.”

“That… is true.”

“To think he’d go this far even with me here… Whatever attachment I had is gone.”

After the overwhelming display by Terrien and Bernid, the battle briefly calmed.

Taking advantage of the lull, Bernid raised his voice so all could hear.

“Let me tell you something amusing.”

“…?”

Those who had paused awkwardly mid-battle turned to Bernid.

“Those bastards who ambushed us were secretly raised by Crown Prince Yulia.”

“What, what are you…!”

“It may sound like a lie, but it is the truth. The enemies would all know by now, and here… probably someone like Reginald Turner would know as well. Isn’t that right, Sir Turner?”

Bernid then turned his gaze toward Reginald who stood behind him.

Following Bernid’s eyes, the knights who had trusted and followed him, as well as the Envoys of Lehl, all fixed their incredulous gazes on Reginald.

“Even if His Highness the Third Prince has aligned himself under the Fifth Prince, you must not say such outrageous things!”

“Outrageous? Ask your commander.”

“N-no, right? That’s a lie, yes? Right?”

“Sir Turner? Surely… all of that is true?”

Under the barrage of questions, Reginald could not utter a single word.

“….”

“Say something! Why can’t you answer that it’s all lies! Why can’t you say the Fifth Prince is scheming!”

Seeing their agitation, the enemies stirred.

“Should we strike now…?”

“Shh, quiet. Just watch for now.”

It truly was too good an opportunity to simply let pass.

“You all keep still as well. Try anything foolish now, and you die.”

Of course, with Bernid and Terrien both glaring fiercely at them, they could not act.

“Still, you call yourselves knights, and yet you cannot bring yourselves to speak words that would harm your lord. But no one here is unaware of what your silence means.”

“…….”

Reginald had known everything and willingly walked into death, but the other knights were different.

He had kept this secret and dragged them into danger without their knowing, so even if he had two mouths, he had nothing to tell his subordinates.

“Reginald Turner. Your choice is misguided loyalty. If you truly wished to serve the Crown Prince, you should have stopped him at least this once.”

“Th-that….”

“Have you never wondered who might be next after you? Have you never thought that if the Crown Prince gained great benefit from this, he could use the same method again?”

“…If this had succeeded, His Highness would have become Emperor. There would have been no next time.”

“Nonsense. That is merely what you and the Crown Prince wish for. The Yurion I know would never surrender his position over something like that.”

“Then what do you want me to do…!”

“That is for you to decide. But this is not the way.”

At Bernid’s firm reply, Reginald lowered his head completely.

“….”

Bernid shifted his gaze again toward the enemies standing before them.

“You all listen well. This is as far as it goes. Drop your weapons and surrender. No, I don’t even expect that much. Just leave as you are. I will not chase you.”

“…!”

At Bernid’s bombshell declaration, the enemies murmured loudly.

“What is he…?”

“What do we do?”

“…Wait. I’m thinking.”

Terrien and Bernid had revealed only a tiny fraction of their true power, but from the enemy’s perspective, there was little reason to force this battle to the bitter end.

To fight to the death here, or to accept the mercy shown by a powerful foe and live to fight another day.

They stood at a crossroads.

“You would do well to think carefully. If you don’t like it, then you’ll have to face my full strength right here.”

Bernid’s eyes flashed with terrifying intensity.

Terrien, silent with sword in hand, wore the same sharp gaze.

The man leading the enemies glanced between Bernid and Terrien before speaking heavily.

“…Retreat.”

At the same time, Yuwon and the Crown Prince still remained in the same place, drinking tea.

Just as Yuwon emptied his cup and was about to stand, the Magic Mirror hidden in the Crown Prince’s robes began to sound.

Beep— Beep— Beep—

“Well now, it seems the matter is over. If you have time, care to listen before you go?”

Certain of victory, the Crown Prince smirked and urged Yuwon to stay.

Yuwon did not refuse.

“Gladly. Let’s hear whether I was right or whether you were, brother.”

Tak—

The Crown Prince deliberately placed the Magic Mirror before Yuwon.

Then the communication with the commander of the men he had sent began.

“…We failed. I have no excuse.”

“What?”

“That is…….”

A brief exchange followed.

Naturally, the report was far from what the Crown Prince expected.

Because Yuwon was watching, the Crown Prince did not prolong the communication and cut it off irritably.

“It seems you need some time alone. I’ll take my leave.”

Yuwon quietly rose, leaving the Crown Prince behind.

Grit—

The Crown Prince ground his teeth in fury.

A face completely opposite to Yuwon’s relaxed smile.

“Yurion… you were lucky again this time.”

His anger-laced voice stopped Yuwon mid-step.

Yuwon turned back.

“Luck? Did you say luck?”

“Yes, luck. I don’t know what trick you used, but there is no way the men who remained there could have defeated those I sent. I don’t know what you used, but you were lucky.”

It was clear he was struggling not to lose his composure.

Amused, Yuwon let out a short laugh.

“Losers always say that. That it was luck. No. You are wrong. I am someone who creates his own luck. As I already said, Terrien and Third Brother are not as weak as you think. This was always how it was going to end.”

“Just two men. Are you saying those two have the ability to overturn a battle against dozens?”

Yuwon answered without a trace of hesitation.

“Yes, they do. And you should phrase things correctly. The one who was lucky this time was not me, but you, brother.”

“What?”

“They said it was a retreat, not annihilation, correct? Those two spared them. Because they did not wish to shed any more blood.”

“Yurion…! Just because you won this time, do you think you can run your mouth like that?”

The Crown Prince’s handsome face twisted hideously with rage, ready to explode at any moment.

“It is the truth. If they had deemed it dangerous, they would never have been sent alone in the first place.”

“Silence!”

Crash—!

The Crown Prince finally lost control.

He overturned the table, shattering the Magic Mirror and teacups upon it across the floor.

Yuwon only chuckled softly at the sight.

“Looks like you’re the one paying for the expensive tea, not me.”

The Crown Prince had plotted, but ultimately failed.

The Yuwon who had always retaliated twice as hard had, this time, moved one step ahead from the beginning.

“Well then, thank you for the tea. Don’t stray too far.”

With that, Yuwon walked away with steady steps.

One of the two closest to the throne—Yuwon had now moved one step closer to it.

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