The 3rd Prince of the Fallen Kingdom Returns

31. Blood, Sweat, and Tears (2)

Okuah retreated with his army.

It was a victory for the Allied Forces.

As soon as the battle ended, Ragna summoned the commanders to discuss the next steps.

Opinions were divided.

Some advocated attacking the orcs immediately, while others argued that they needed time to regroup.

“We must attack now.”

Sybilla declared.

“We can’t afford to give them more time. There’s no time to rest until Okuah is dead.”

A dissenting voice followed.

“We’re too exhausted. We need to regroup.”

“We need time to rest.”

Opposition to that dissent quickly followed.

“I agree with Her Highness. Just as we are tired, the enemy is tired as well. And the grasslands are, after all, enemy territory. Giving them time will only benefit them.”

“Okuah might try to pull something. We must go immediately, Your Majesty.”

Jonathan of Brusin and Wolf of Liberta each voiced their support for Sybilla’s stance.

Among the larger nations, aside from the Empire, three other nations aligned themselves with Sybilla’s view.

Naturally, all eyes turned to Yuri.

“I…”

Sybilla looked at Yuri with unwavering trust.

After all, it was Yuri who had initially chased after the retreating orcs and annihilated them.

Yuri carried the expectations of the three kingdoms that advocated for continuing the battle.

Yuri began to speak.

“I think we should rest.”

It was an unexpected statement.

Ragna looked at Yuri with interest.

Even those who had supported resting wore surprised expressions.

“Oh…”

Given Yuri’s usual temperament, many had expected him to call for an immediate assault.

Contrary to expectations, Yuri offered the opposite opinion.

Although they didn’t understand this change of heart, it was welcome news for the exhausted soldiers who needed time to regroup.

They had been exhausted from the battle.

“As expected of Prince Yuri!”

The pro-rest faction praised Yuri’s decision.

Meanwhile, Sybilla, Jonathan, and Wolf stared at Yuri with expressions of disbelief.

Yuri spoke again.

“It seems you’ve misunderstood me.”

“Excuse me?”

“When I said we should rest…”

Yuri glanced at the faces of the pro-rest faction, one by one.

“I was talking about letting your inadequate minds rest.”

It was a sudden twist in tone, leaving those listening visibly unsettled.

“It seems you’re too exhausted to think rationally, so if you’re going to spout nonsense, don’t do it here and go back to rest. Yes, let’s rest.”

Yuri savored the impact of his words on the assembly before continuing.

“Did we not rush here because we didn’t know what Okuah might do with his dark magic? All he’s done so far is roar twice. We haven’t even glimpsed the orcs’ main camp. We have no idea what’s happening over there, yet you suggest we rest? Just rest forever, then. Go dig a hole, cross your arms over your chest, and lie down. I’ll even cover you with dirt myself.”

“That’s too harsh.”

“Harsh is fine. Suggesting we rest now insults the comrades who died fighting. Did they sacrifice themselves just so we could rest because we’re tired? We have no right to be exhausted—not until we’ve taken Okuah’s head.”

Yuri spoke strongly.

He was certain they had to strike Okuah immediately.

“My master, Moyongchan, one of the Ten Strongest, told me this…”

He was standing on high ground, facing Okuah, holding him back.

It looked like a mere staring contest, but an invisible battle was raging between the two.

Just the fact that they both held their ground meant that they were evenly matched.

“Okuah is already a monster on the level of the Ten Strongest.”

At those words, everyone fell silent.

If Moyongchan, one of the Ten Strongest, said so himself, there was no room for disagreement.

“I’ll settle this.”

Ragna, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke. He had a satisfied smile on his face.

“There’s something I haven’t mentioned. We gathered mages to observe Okuah’s camp. According to them, ominous energy is rising from there.”

Yuri looked at Ragna.

The fact that he revealed this after the debate meant he wanted to observe the reactions of each commander.

What was he trying to confirm?

“Better to finish this before it’s too late.”

With those words, the meeting ended.

Ragna rose from his seat.

“The orcs have also suffered massive losses. Aside from those that fled yesterday, they won’t have any significant reinforcements. Let’s finish them off. At dawn, we march.”

The meeting ended.

The commanders left Ragna’s tent.

As Yuri was about to leave, Ragna gave him a nod.

Yuri stopped in his tracks.

Once everyone else had left, only Ragna and Yuri remained.

“Yuri.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Don’t you have anything to say?”

Ragna, still seated, looked at Yuri.

Yuri pondered for a moment before responding.

“Hmm… Good work?”

“Ha ha ha ha…”

They had formed a bond, having been through so much together on the battlefield. There were probably few in the entire continent who would dare to joke with the royal prince like that.

Yuri laughed along with Ragna and sat down again.

“Do you suspect something?”

Saying that, Yuri looked around at the empty seats.

His gaze lingered on the seats of the nations that opposed continuing the battle before settling on Ragna’s face.

“Could the orcs be using a divide-and-conquer tactic?”

“It’s possible.”

Ragna said.

“Yuri.”

“Yes.”

Ragna stood up and approached Yuri.

“What kind of person do you think I am?”

“A great crown prince, of course.”

“That’s true, but…”

He chuckled and sat on the table beside Yuri.

“More specifically, would you say I’m a rational person, or an emotional one?”

“Both, Your Highness.”

“Do you think I have a good eye for people?”

“Of course, Your Highness. Your ability to judge people is exceptional.”

“And why do you think that?”

“Because you favor me.”

Ragna burst into laughter once more.

He reached out and tousled Yuri’s hair roughly.

“It would have been great if you were in the Empire. Yuri, let me arrange it—marry Yekaterina. You’d gain the bloodline of the Emperor and the most beautiful woman on the continent.”

“Marriage is something that requires mutual affection. I doubt the princess would be interested in me.”

“If Yekaterina wanted it, would you agree?”

“I have a girlfriend.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“Pardon?”

“Well, never mind.”

Ragna pulled something out of his pocket: a necklace with a blue gemstone, clearly an expensive mana stone.

He muttered something, and a wave of mana spread out.

Yuri felt all sounds from both inside and outside completely silenced.

“Can you keep what I’m about to say an absolute secret?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“It feels foolish to share this with someone who isn’t even from the Empire, but I’ve decided to trust my instincts.”

Ragna sighed before continuing.

“There’s someone within the Empire who uses dark magic.”

Yuri’s eyes widened in surprise.

This was a bombshell.

“I don’t know who it is yet. I found traces of them before joining the Allied Forces.”

“Then, from the start, the Allied Forces…”

“Could have been a trap.”

Ragna smirked.

“But I didn’t avoid it. Regardless of any conspiracy, the orcs had to be dealt with. It’s also unclear whether there’s any connection between the Empire’s dark magic and the orcs.”

“Do you think there’s a traitor within the Allied Forces?”

“I have my suspicions, but no certainty. And there’s no time to weed them out.”

Yuri nodded.

He now understood why Ragna had called him.

“I’ll keep an eye on them.”

“Good.”

This was something Ragna couldn’t manage alone. Assigning it to an imperial knight wouldn’t have been appropriate either.

That’s why he was entrusting it to Yuri.

“Yuri.”

“Yes.”

“Once the war is over, come visit the Empire.”

Yuri smiled.

“I will.”

* * *

Dawn broke.

The Allied Forces began their march. The orc stronghold wasn’t far away.

As they reached the edge of a low hill, the orc camp spread out in the distance came into view.

“They’re well-prepared.”

Raymond remarked.

“It won’t be easy.”

Yuri looked back.

The number of knights had visibly decreased. Fatigue and stress hardened their faces.

Yuri’s eyes fell on Simon and Guiness.

Dyke, one of the three knights who had always been with them – Simon, Guiness, and Dyke – was dead.

The expressions of the two young knights were grim.

It was something they would inevitably face someday if they walked the path of knighthood.

“We’ll kill Okuah.”

Yuri’s voice rang out across the entire formation.

“Those who have fallen did not die in vain. We will make it so.”

Unlike before, there were no battle cries filled with fighting spirit. Instead, a dark killing intent spread through the unit.

Yuri turned his gaze back to the front.

The orc army had haphazardly set up barricades and built walls. It was likely the work of captured humans, based on their craftsmanship.

Even Yuri, who had lived through his past life, couldn’t fathom the horrors that might lie within.

Soon, orders came from the Empire.

The Allied Forces slowly descended the hill. There were no ambushes from the orcs. They too were likely preparing for the final battle.

“Hernando.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Do you sense any dark magic?”

“I’m not sure.”

Yuri glanced at Kori, who was standing beside Hernando.

He had originally been an orcish translator sent by Jaime, but now he had become Hernando’s disciple.

A half-orc mage… his life would probably be full of hardships.

“If the dispel fails, cast your magic immediately.”

“Understood.”

“How about master?”

“Great Hero Moyongchan is currently meditating.”

“Meditating?”

“You know, sitting and controlling mana. In the East, they call it ‘meditation.'”

It seemed Moyongchan was also preparing for the final battle.

He had only seen Okuah from a distance, but he was a monstrous being.

He didn’t even seem like an orc.

“Alright.”

All necessary preparations had already been made. The soldiers had been briefed on what needed to be done.

All that remained was their resolve—and the war itself.

The Allied Forces’ campaign was now approaching its final moments.

Yuri rode to the very front of the formation and turned his horse around.

“This is the end!”

Countless eyes were fixed on Yuri. Among those gazes, he felt as if he saw the faces of those who were no longer with them.

Yuri took a deep breath and spoke again.

“I have nothing more to say!”

A low chuckle rippled through Briol’s forces.

Yuri laughed with them and continued,

“Let’s live to see this! I’ll buy you all a grand feast!”

Light cheers erupted.

Yuri turned his gaze forward again.

There was movement in Okuah’s camp in the distance. They would also be preparing their defenses.

There was no time to catch their breath.

The blaring sound of war horns soon echoed across the grasslands. The Allied Forces fell into their prearranged formations and began their advance.

This time, Briol was not at the vanguard.

It was the opposite.

Their role was to wait until the last moment and then charge in unexpectedly.

The Allied Forces gradually entered the orcs’ range.

Arrows flew towards them.

The knights deflected many, but not all; some soldiers failed to block them and fell.

Blood pooled on the ground, and hurried footsteps followed, trampling over the corpses. Their boots were stained with the blood of their comrades.

Yuri observed the scene from the rear.

Briol slowly advanced.

“Uaaaargh!”

Shouts and screams resounded through the air.

As the knights collided with the orcs’ defenses, their swords emitted sharp, cutting energy. The orkbals countercharged, and severed heads—whose owners were unknown—were sent flying skyward.

Yuri kept his eyes on the battlefield.

Soon, he spotted a certain point.

“Everyone, get ready.”

There was a section where the orc forces had thinned out after fighting the Allied Forces.

Yuri lowered his stance and waited for the battle to intensify.

A soldier fighting in that section cried out.

The sound of war—it was always like this.

It was time.

“Briol!”

Yuri’s shout accompanied a swift kick to his horse’s flanks.

At his signal, the Briol knights abruptly changed direction, broke out to the flank, and charged forward in an instant.

“Your Highness!”

Laurent was suddenly beside him.

His horsemanship had improved.

“I’m glad I could keep my promise in this final battle.”

Laurent had finally fulfilled his promise to ride alongside Yuri at the vanguard.

“Jared is still far behind.”

“I didn’t make any promises!”

Jared followed from a short distance away. Behind him, the knights were desperately driving their horses as if refusing to fall behind.

They were incredibly fast.

“Briol is entering the battlefield!”

As they arrived, the Allied Forces fighting at the front moved aside.

But those engaged with the orcs couldn’t see Briol entering the battle.

“Everyone, get out of the way!”

Suddenly, Yuri’s eyes met Orkbal’s, who stood ahead, impaling a soldier with his spear.

He grabbed the lance that was mounted on his horse.

The Orkbal shouted something, but he couldn’t hear it.

Yuri’s lance pierced through the dead soldier’s body and Orkbal’s torso, lifting them together into the air.

Flesh scattered, and fluid from the wounds rained down like a shower.

A drop of that liquid landed on Yuri’s cheek and slid down.

As Yuri continued spearing orcs, he suddenly wondered,

Was it blood, sweat, or tears?