-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: 3. Legacy of the Ancestors (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"A dungeon?"
"Yeah."
"What the hell is that..."
Yuri recalled the events from his past life.
The empire that destroyed Brioll had excavated a dungeon in Sword Mountain. According to rumors, it was a legacy left behind by Brioll's founder.
But no further details were known.
"You'll know when you see it with your own eyes."
As Yuri moved forward, Jared and Hernando followed close behind.
"Your Highness, be careful. Monsters will come out."
"That's why I brought you two along. Protect me well."
"Understood."
Hernando kept trying to strike up a conversation.
"How did you know there was a dungeon?"
Yuri brushed it off with a vague excuse.
"There was a hidden book in the royal library. It said the founder left behind a legacy."
"You went to the library, Your Highness?"
"So what?"
"We've never seen you hold a book in your hands."
"You think princes don't get an education?"
"That's why we say you only pretend to read during lessons. Then you toss them away the second they're over."
"Shut up."
"The tutors told us all about it."
They pushed through the thick underbrush as they climbed Sword Mountain.
There were steep sections where they had to crawl upward. Sharp leaves stabbed at their skin.
"Watch out for the sharp leaves. Don't get hurt."
At Yuri's words, Hernando and Jared exchanged glances.
It was amusing enough that a thirteen-year-old boy was worrying about them, but the fact that it was the third prince—infamous as a little devil—made it even more astonishing.
"Sir Jared."
"Yes."
"Did His Highness eat something strange lately?"
"It does seem that way."
"Both of you, shut your mouths."
"His temper's still the same, I see."
"Monster."
At that, Jared and Hernando fell silent.
"It's real. That monster is..."
A presence stirred beyond the bushes.
Yuri muttered under his breath.
"Direwolf."
It was a common monster—larger and more ferocious than any wolf, with coarse fur that repelled most weapons.
"They hunt in packs. No telling how many more are out there. That one must be the leader."
Thanks to his mercenary days, Yuri was an expert on direwolf habits. He knew more about monsters than either of them.
"You know a lot about monsters."
"Of course."
"You shouldn't have any reason to encounter them."
"It's in the books. You should read some too, Hernando."
"You've memorized them all."
"Knowledge stored right here in my head."
"As expected of Your Highness."
Yuri glanced up toward the summit.
"Still a long way to go."
It hadn't looked that high from the base, but the rugged terrain and harsh conditions drained their stamina quickly.
"They haven't spotted us yet. Let's hurry."
Yuri and Jared moved stealthily, minimizing their footsteps, but Hernando was careless.
He snapped a dry branch underfoot.
The distant direwolf pack all turned toward the sound in unison.
Yuri and Jared's glares followed suit.
Hernando scratched the back of his head.
"Heh heh, sorry about that."
Jared spat out a curse.
"Damn it..."
"Sir Jared, don't get so mad."
"How the hell did this happen..."
He drew his sword with a heavy sigh.
"I must be out of my mind. If anything goes wrong here, I'll be booted from the Royal Guard..."
Yuri corrected him.
"Nah. I'm the prince—you think you'd just get fired? Straight to the dungeons."
"Damn it, damn it."
"Scared of direwolves or something?"
"It's not fear. I'm worried about you, Your Highness."
"I'm fine. Relax your face."
"Be quiet. Sir Hernando, I leave His Highness to you."
Unlike the now-deadly-serious Jared, Yuri and Hernando remained utterly nonchalant.
"Jared's gotten all serious."
"One slip and heads will roll. Not just his position—the real thing. This isn't some minor screw-up."
"I'm fine. I'm the prince."
"Me too. His Majesty dotes on me."
"Guess Jared's the only one in deep shit."
"What choice does a lowly knight have?"
Jared bellowed.
"You're all too noisy! Shut up!"
Several direwolves charged.
Sword aura erupted from Jared's blade, slicing through the beasts.
A few collapsed, spraying blood, while the rest growled and circled warily.
"You fight well. As expected of the Royal Guard. Brioll's Royal Guard is strong."
"Still not enough."
That supposedly mighty Royal Guard of Brioll had crumbled pathetically before the imperial army.
This level wouldn't cut it.
"Your standards are high."
"Who knows what the future holds? We must always be prepared."
"Well said."
Yuri placed a hand on Hernando's shoulder.
"Hernando."
"Yes."
"Father holds you in very high regard."
"Out of nowhere?"
"Just don't forget your loyalty."
"Of course, well..."
"I trust you too."
"Such sudden praise..."
In truth, Yuri owed his carefree climb up Sword Mountain to Hernando.
He was a battle mage powerful enough for the king of Brioll to keep at his side.
Few knew his true capabilities, but Yuri had witnessed them firsthand in his past life.
"So protect me. Hernando."
"Leave it to me."
"Good."
"Sir Jared's got some real skill, though."
"He's got big things ahead of him."
"With both of us at your side, you must feel very secure."
"Like having the Azure Dragon on the left and White Tiger on the right."
"Aw, you're embarrassing me."
Jared let out a groan at their banter.
"Damn it..."
To him, the situation looked like the bratty young prince and the flighty gambler mage were clueless fools horsing around.
But it was the exact opposite.
Yuri was the one cultivating the oblivious Jared.
Yuri shouted.
"Jared! You haven't finished them off yet?"
"I said be quiet!"
The alpha direwolf let out a long howl, and the pack swelled in number.
Jared quickly found himself on the defensive.
As he fell back, he issued a warning.
"Your Highness, it's dangerous now. Head down the mountain. We'll cover your retreat."
At Jared's words, Yuri glanced at Hernando.
"Guess we should help out?"
"Looks like it."
"Alright, show me what you've got, Hernando."
"You got it."
A cluster of lights rose from his hand.
"Your Highness, how do you like your steak?"
"Well done."
"Must have good teeth."
Flames burst from the lights. It was a simple-looking spell packing devastating power—an ancient magic called Fireball.
"Sir Jared! I've got your back!"
A barrage of fireballs engulfed the direwolf pack.
Several turned into blackened husks, and the stench of searing flesh filled the air.
Even Jared looked stunned.
"Whew, that took it out of me."
Hernando patted his waist.
He clearly had mana to spare, but he held back from casting more.
"That's enough from me. The rest is yours, Sir Jared."
Hernando winked at Yuri as he spoke.
He had read Yuri's intent to push Jared.
A sharp one, indeed.
Keep him close.
Yuri thought to himself.
Cedric, born with the qualities of a sage king, was destined to ascend Brioll's throne.
But the empire's invasion was another matter entirely.
Stopping a war required raw power, not prestige.
"Everyone has their assigned role."
Watching Jared battle the direwolf pack, Yuri muttered.
The fate bestowed upon him, returned to the past.
If someone had to be drenched in blood, it would be him.
"Words of wisdom, truly."
Hernando nodded vigorously in agreement.
"Sir Jared's perfect for the heavy lifting. Just like I'm handling strategy and virtue."
"You stick to strategy."
"What about virtue?"
"That's me."
After wiping out the direwolf pack and fending off a few more monsters, Yuri's group finally reached the summit.
"So, what's supposed to be here?"
Standing atop Sword Mountain, they could see the palace's soaring spire piercing the sky and the vast expanse of the capital below.
It was a spot perfect for admiring Brioll's prosperity.
But Jared seemed utterly unimpressed.
"There's nothing here."
He grumbled as he hacked away at the sharp leaves with his sword.
Instead of answering, Yuri knelt and inspected the ground.
"We'll find it."
The empire had brute-forced their way to the dungeon by tearing the mountain apart. Later, they discovered the entrance was right at the summit.
It was something he'd overheard from a bard in a tavern—not entirely reliable, but a solid clue.
"Oh."
Yuri spotted something.
It looked like a small stone at first glance, but it was a sword's pommel.
"This is it."
Yuri dug into the earth with his bare hands. In his haste, his skin tore and bled almost immediately.
Jared and Hernando paled and tried to stop him.
"Your Highness, hold on."
"We have to dig this up."
"Your hands are getting ruined."
"A wound on the hand is an honor for a swordsman."
"Who said you're a swordsman? You're a prince."
"Then you two dig."
"You heard him, Sir Jared."
"What about you, Sir Hernando?"
"A hand wound is a disgrace for a mage."
"Where's that even a rule?"
After a bit of bickering, they joined Yuri in digging.
Soon, the full hilt emerged.
Buried for ages, yet it gleamed, reflecting the sunlight.
"That's a fine sword."
Jared could tell at a glance.
"For something like this to be buried, this isn't ordinary."
Yuri grinned.
"If Brioll's founder left something behind, what better marker than a sword?"
He grasped the hilt.
"Nngh..."
A sudden thrill ran through him, drawing out an involuntary gasp.
Jared and Hernando stared.
"What is it?"
"Kill me."
"Pardon?"
"It's that good."
There was no other way to put it.
In his past life, Yuri had wielded countless swords. Some suited him, some didn't, and others grew on him with use.
But this was the first that fit like it was made for his hand.
It was clearly sized for an adult, yet it molded perfectly to a child's grip—an impossibility.
He put some strength into it.
Cracks spiderwebbed across the ground, revealing the buried guard.
No ornate decorations, but the craftsmanship and materials were exquisite.
"It comes out so easily."
As if it had been waiting for someone to claim it, the sword slid free effortlessly.
The half-exposed blade dazzled the eyes.
"No blemishes despite being buried. Not even a speck of rust..."
Jared marveled.
It looked like it had just come from the forge.
Clang.
With a clear ring, the sword settled fully into Yuri's grasp.
He felt its weight, but it wasn't unwieldy.
Yuri swung it a few times.
"Fine sword."
He could tell right away.
Then his eyes caught an inscription etched into the blade.
「Guilty」
The word for "sin" was engraved there.
"..."
It felt like a warning aimed straight at him.
Why would a sword bear such a word?
A flurry of thoughts crossed his mind, but Yuri sheathed the blade for now.
"Anyway, where's the founder's tomb? Is this sword part of his legacy?"
"That's..."
Yuri was about to reply when—
"Oh..."
The ground rumbled.
The three of them exchanged looks.
The entire Sword Mountain was shaking.
Yuri smiled.
"Now we'll find out."
With those words, a massive hole yawned open beneath their feet.
The three plummeted side by side.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Yuri opened his eyes.
He must have blacked out for a moment.
Something soft broke his fall. He rolled aside to see Jared had caught him.
Jared had apparently shielded him with Mana Circulation Method right before impact.
"Impressive."
Yuri gave Jared's chest a pat before standing.
"Ow, ow..."
Hernando followed, rubbing his waist as he rose. Despite the whining, he was unscratched.
"You look fine."
"No, I'm exhausted."
"You ignored the prince to save yourself?"
"It all happened so fast. Ha ha ha..."
"One wrapped me up, the other only himself..."
"That's not it—Your Highness! Look there!"
Hernando suddenly shouted. Yuri shook his head.
"If you're trying to change the subject, it won't work on me."
"No, there—right there!"
"What's there?"
"A ghost!"
"What?"
"Ghost!"
Yuri turned around.
"...!"
His companion was right.