Yuri and his party entered Balshad Castle, welcomed by Mariloz.
A feast was served.
Francesco, meeting Mariloz for the first time, could not take his eyes off her.
"I'm Francesco."
"Yes, I'm Mariloz Antret."
"I've heard a lot about you."
"Oh my, what have you heard?"
"Well, um, compliments, I suppose."
"What kind of compliments?"
"That is…"
When Francesco could not quite answer, Mariloz tilted her head.
"Was that just something you threw out there? In that case, that's rather…"
"S-sorry…"
"You're considerate."
"Pardon?"
"It's our first meeting, but you tried to say something nice to me, didn't you?"
"Ah, yes. Hehe…"
"Even though it was a lie."
"Ugh…"
While he was unable to pull himself together, Yuri focused on the meal.
After teasing Francesco enough, Mariloz turned her bright gaze toward Yuri.
"Your Highness, should I start calling you 'Your Highness' now?"
"Yes."
"Have you been well, Your Highness?"
"Mm, Mariloz."
"Yes?"
Yuri took a gift from his bosom.
"And take this."
"What is it?"
"A gift."
Yuri handed her a butterfly-shaped hairband he had purchased from Rein Company.
"Oh my…"
Jared, watching from the side, thought Mariloz would be absolutely delighted.
Hadn't she shown interest in Yuri before?
But unexpectedly, Mariloz's expression was not particularly pleased. Rather, with a subtly bittersweet look, she accepted the gift and smiled.
"A butterfly shape, did you choose it because of my tattoo?"
"No, it's not that, I just thought of you when I saw it."
"Thank you. I'll use it well."
With her usual bright expression, Mariloz put it on immediately.
The gem on the hairband sparkled dazzlingly under the hall's lights.
Even Jared, who had no eye for ornaments, could see that it suited her very well.
"I'll use it well, since it's a gift Your Highness chose while thinking of me."
"Yes."
Jared tilted his head.
He could tell Mariloz was somewhat disappointed, but he couldn't figure out why. Perhaps she simply didn't like how the accessory looked.
"Hmm…"
As he muttered to himself, Simon whispered.
"What's wrong?"
"I think the Archmage Duchess is disappointed."
Jared, serving as vice commander in the Knight Order of Revenge, spoke informally to the other members.
"Aha…"
Simon grinned.
"You don't know the reason?"
"You do?"
"I can guess."
"It's probably because the gift wasn't that great, right?"
"Hahaha…"
Simon glanced up to check on Yuri and Mariloz. They were absorbed in conversation, paying no attention to this side.
He continued in a quiet voice.
"Sir Jared, I grew up as an illegitimate child and had to read people's moods constantly."
"Yes."
"Thanks to that, I became rather good at romance. Romance is all about reading the mood."
"And?"
"Think about it, Sir Jared. It's not just anyone, it's His Highness. If His Highness truly had feelings for the Archmage Duchess, would he give her that kind of trinket at this timing?"
"Hmm?"
"It looks like a sign of affection, but it's just kindness. Just like when he bought us throwing knives. Do you understand what I mean?"
Jared began to feel something click.
"Ah, I see…"
He imagined Yuri showing interest in someone.
The Yuri he knew would not openly show it in a situation where he was risking his life to fight the Empire. Rather, he would pretend to have no interest at all, and only approach after everything was settled.
The fact that he could so casually give a gift meant he truly had no feelings for her.
"I think I get it."
"That's it. The Archmage Duchess must have sensed that."
Guinness, who had been listening, interjected in a whisper.
"And, you know, the gift was butterfly-shaped. That's also a problem."
"Why is a butterfly shape a problem?"
This time, Simon tilted his head.
"Wasn't it because she has a butterfly tattoo?"
Guinness shook his head.
"That's true, but there's a superstition that giving someone something with wings means they'll fly away from you. It's taboo to give winged items to someone you like. Even when eating chicken, people avoid giving the other person the wings. Heh heh…"
Jared and Simon sighed.
"That's such an outdated idea."
"What era are we talking about…"
While the three exchanged such idle chatter, the meal came to an end.
Mariloz stood from her seat.
Her red dress rippled with a soft sound.
"It was an enjoyable meal. Shall we go now?"
"Yes."
Yuri also rose.
Jared, Simon, and Guinness, who had been whispering to each other, stared blankly at the two, not knowing what they meant.
Yuri said,
"The rest of you rest. I'll be visiting Mariloz's workshop."
"No, we'll come with you."
"Really? It might be dangerous."
"We'll take the risk."
They stood with determined expressions.
"We can't just let Your Highness go alone."
They had heard that mages were gathering in Balshad to study black magic.
These were future opponents. No matter the danger, they needed to see it with their own eyes.
"Then let's go."
Led by Mariloz, Yuri and his companions descended into the basement of Balshad Castle.
The temperature gradually dropped. With no sunlight, only the lamps on the walls lit the stairs.
As they moved quickly, the entire wall wavered with shadows.
They soon reached the end of the underground.
Already, something unpleasant could be felt.
"Something…"
Jared, feeling his heart pounding, pointed beyond the door.
"I think something's there."
An inexplicable unease welled up. It felt as if they shouldn't get any closer. His heart raced, and his breathing felt shallow.
Standing before the door, Yuri glanced back at Jared and smirked.
"Hey, your face is pale."
"It's nothing."
"If you're like this already, will you be able to handle it?"
"Yes."
"Good, then…"
Yuri opened the door.
A long corridor appeared, and at the end, the presence of a person could be felt.
Mariloz called out,
"Ernando?"
Her voice echoed.
Soon, a familiar face appeared.
"It's been a while."
Ernando was waiting for them, looking exactly the same as before.
"Oh…"
They all approached him.
Ernando extended his hand to Yuri, who was at the front.
"It's been a long time. You're 'Your Highness' now? You seem to have grown since then."
"You, on the other hand, haven't changed a bit."
The two shook hands.
But then, Ernando's face twisted.
Yuri was gripping his hand tightly.
"Ow, that hurts."
"While I was suffering, you were here resting comfortably?"
"W-what are you saying, I suffered too, I didn't rest."
"Is that so?"
"Ugh…"
Yuri let go of his hand with a small laugh.
"Then you'd better show me properly."
"Honestly…"
Even though it had been a long time since they met, there was no awkwardness between them.
Ernando pointed to Francesco, standing beside Yuri.
"And this is?"
"Sir Francesco, known by the name 'Holy Knight.'"
"Ah, the Holy Knight of the Ten Strong?"
"Yes."
"It's an honor to meet you, I am Ernando the mage."
"Ah, yes. I am Francesco, paladin. It's an honor to meet you as well."
Francesco greeted Ernando politely.
Yuri's brow twitched.
It seemed he was the only one treating Ernando casually, while everyone else acted cautious around him.
"Sir Francesco, why are you suddenly so polite?"
"What do you mean, 'why'?"
Francesco tilted his head.
"With a mage of this caliber, of course one should be respectful."
"A mage of this caliber?"
"Can't you feel it?"
Yuri tilted his head, looking at Ernando.
Come to think of it, Moyong Chan had also treated Ernando with respect, calling him a great swordsman the moment they met, and his father, Fiore, had also been polite to Ernando.
And now, Francesco was doing the same.
"Hmm…"
Yuri knew Ernando was a skilled mage, but he couldn't sense the overwhelming something Moyong Chan or Francesco were talking about.
When Yuri scrutinized him up and down, Ernando smiled.
"Don't think too much of it, Your Highness. My ability simply doesn't apply to you."
"What do you mean?"
"There's a saying, only someone who's eaten meat knows how to eat it well."
"Hm?"
"For example, to judge the morality of another, you must first have the morality to make that judgment. Someone who's never had any manners, how could they judge someone else's manners?"
"You're insulting me right now, aren't you?"
"Quite the opposite."
"How so?"
"Someone with an upright nature like mine, often admires those without manners."
"That's an insult."
"It's a metaphor."
"A metaphorical insult."
"Now, now…"
Seeing them bicker the moment they met again, Mariloz scolded them.
"What are you two doing? The whole corridor is echoing, stop fighting and go inside."
"It's not an insult, it's a compliment."
"He said I have no manners…"
"Enough!"
Being pulled along by Mariloz, Yuri's back was to Ernando, who smiled faintly.
Fiore, Moyong Chan, Francesco — all of them were warriors who had reached the level of the Ten Strong. Those who held such power were inevitably bound by a powerful fate.
Thus, they were deeply impressed by Ernando, the master of the Heavenly Insight Method.
The stronger one became, the more one felt something indescribable from Ernando.
But Yuri Briol was an exception.
The One Who Transcends Fate.
What meaning could fate possibly have to someone beyond the net of heaven?
To him, Ernando would always be just a mage who could cast a bit of magic.
And Ernando found that fact quite pleasing.
"You did call me ill-mannered earlier, didn't you?"
"Yes."
"See, Mariloz, he admits it."
"I heard you."
Ernando simply laughed.
That Cedric had been a monstrous figure of black magic had shocked even Ernando. He had been worried Yuri might fall into despair.
But the Yuri Briol he met again was the same as ever. It seemed there was no such thing as giving up for him.
Ernando led the others.
"Let's go, everyone."
Yuri, who had gone ahead, stood in Mariloz's workshop with her arm linked through his.
"This is my workshop."
Various tools and things resembling medicinal ingredients of unknown nature were neatly arranged. The smell was peculiar. But what stood out the most was a single book floating in the center of the workshop.
"That is…"
"A replica."
"A replica?"
"The Devil's Grimoire."
Mariloz extended her hand toward the grimoire. The cover opened and the pages fluttered, but most of them were blank.
Ernando, who had followed them in, explained.
"The Devil's Grimoire we acquired consisted of only a few pages, but the malice imbued in them was so deep, that we could create a copy from just that. Of course, its power is insignificant compared to the original."
Ernando and Mariloz had reconstructed the parchment they obtained from killing Okua and Gert, creating an imitation of the Devil's Grimoire.
"Now, Your Highness, it is your turn."
Ernando guided Yuri to stand before the replica.
"This is something only you can do."
"Me?"
"Yes."
Ernando's eyes were full of certainty.
"We've extracted some information, but it's not enough. The Devil's Grimoire is a monster in itself, possessing a will, and the only one who can cut through black magic is the master of the heart-soul slash, Your Highness. Only Yuri Briol can withstand this deceit and face its true meaning."
Yuri stared at the Devil's Grimoire replica floating in the air.
It was nothing more than a book bound in leather. The parchment had merely been inserted — in truth, it was completely different from the real Devil's Grimoire.
And yet, that alone had been enough for it to bloom into a weakened version of the original.
What exactly was the Devil's Grimoire?
"Let's go."
At Ernando's words, Yuri stepped forward without hesitation.
It wasn't because he was confident. He didn't even have the leisure to measure the odds of success.
Simply, he would do it because it needed to be done.
"Once you enter that magic circle, it will begin."
Beneath the replica of the Devil's Grimoire lay a circular formation with a hexagram inside, surrounded by countless magical characters whose meanings were unknown.
All of the symbols were placed according to geometric calculations, each repeating under a set rule, forming the magic circle.
Even without knowledge of magic, Yuri could tell how powerful it was.
And through it, he fully realized just how dangerous this replica was — if this was the extent of what could barely be sealed.
Yuri drew Guilty.
A chilling sword aura flowed forth.
Casting aside the scabbard, gripping Guilty tightly, Yuri took another step forward.
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