Rise of the Fallen Kingdom’s Third Prince

When Jared stepped aside, soldiers wearing bird-beak masks entered step by step.

All of them were massive in build, and their grotesque appearance made the soldiers retreat in fear.

One of the soldiers, standing at the center of the group, pulled a black staff from his chest.

“Oh, God…”

His voice sounded muffled as well.

“Grant us the power to destroy the wicked who disturb the world…”

The other soldiers repeated in unison:

“Grant us the power.”

A strange rumbling echoed through the training grounds.

The central soldier’s staff began to greedily absorb the mana from the surroundings.

Jared realized that the formation they were standing in was designed to concentrate mana.

“Gather the evil.”

When the central soldier spoke those words, thick black smoke poured out from the staff.

Although Jared could not see black magic as Yuri could, he could feel how, at that moment, the dark magic tormenting the officers was being drawn into that smoke.

Like a magnet, it attracted all the malevolent energy in the vicinity.

Soon after, the soldier spoke again.

“Destroy the evil.”

Sparks flared.

The black smoke covering the sky turned into flames that began devouring the air.

On Jared’s face, as he stared upward in astonishment, light and shadow danced violently.

“The sacred flame triumphs over darkness, for this is the holiness of God…”

The chant continued as the fire in the sky writhed.

Like a beast trapped in a net, a dark figure struggled inside it.

It was the battle between fire and darkness.

When the black magic’s resistance reached its peak, all the soldiers shouted in unison:

[Dispel Evil!]

A deafening roar descended.

The black magic, completely subdued, turned into a handful of ashes and vanished.

The flames, having consumed all their fuel, disappeared at once.

Immediately, the night sky returned to calm, as if nothing had happened.

The exorcism was over.

Jared’s mouth hung open in awe.

“Uuuaaa…”

Antianus, who had been watching from behind, spoke.

“The war is over, but to face the black magic that could return at any moment, we have never stopped researching. This is just part of the results.”

“Incredible. I never imagined something like this could be possible…”

With the disappearance of the black magic, the instructors of the Blue Star School began to regain consciousness.

Although the bird-mask soldiers had a terrifying appearance, they undoubtedly belonged to the temple.

They approached the awakening patients with warm hands.

“Aaaah!”

“What is that!”

“Monsters!”

But upon seeing the masks, several officers fainted again.

“Save me!”

“This is hell!”

“Uuugh!”

Hurt in their pride, the soldiers withdrew with dejected airs. Jared patted the shoulder of the downcast Antianus.

“Do you really have to use those masks?”

“We must completely block the influence of black magic. We have no other choice.”

***

Laurent went to look for Buscolom with the letter of recommendation Joseph had given him.

He found him in front of his house, clinging to a nobleman’s trousers and begging.

“My lord! Please, grant me one more chance!”

“Get out!”

“If you give me just one more chance, I’ll make it! I’ll find a continent where gold flows like stones…”

“Out of my sight!”

The nobleman kicked him, and Buscolom fell to the ground. The man coldly adjusted his coat, turned around, and strode away.

Buscolom, sitting on the ground, reached out his hand toward his back.

“My lord…!”

But the nobleman never looked back.

“Ughhh…”

Buscolom collapsed to the ground. Laurent stood watching him with his arms crossed.

“Ughhh… sniff… sniff… hahaha…”

After a moment of sobbing, Buscolom suddenly stood up. With a brazen gesture, he showed his middle finger to the nobleman’s back.

“Idiot. You’re kicking fortune away with your own feet!”

There was not a trace of despair left on his face.

“A little more patience and mountains of treasure would have been waiting for me. Tsk, tsk! What an ignorant noble. You’ll see! This Buscolom will find the continent where gold rolls like stones, you fool.”

As he vented by insulting the nobleman, he finally noticed Laurent.

When their eyes met, Buscolom shouted:

“What are you looking at, idiot!”

A short while later, his face covered in bruises, he bowed his head to Laurent.

“F-forgive me.”

“Good.”

“Sir knight… what brings you to me…?”

“Buscolom. Are you as good a navigator as they say?”

“Navigator?”

Buscolom instantly raised his head.

“It’s what I do best in the world! Even if I’m thrown into the middle of the ocean, I’ll return safe to port. I’m an adventurer who reads the stars and feels the currents. Even without a compass, I’d make one to find the North Pole. But… how do you know about me…?”

“Joseph, from Dumbledore Village, told me about you.”

“That Joseph…”

Buscolom blew his nose with a gesture.

“We used to compete at the Imperial Academy. Although he liked wielding a pen more than I did…”

“Enough talk.”

Laurent grabbed his chin and forced him to meet his gaze. Under that cold stare, Buscolom swallowed hard.

“You.”

“Yes.”

“Do you have what it takes?”

“What it takes?”

“The courage to go to the Owl Blue.”

Buscolom’s eyes bulged. His mouth and nostrils opened so wide that his entire face seemed to expand.

“To the Owl Blue?!”

“It seems we’ll have to go search for the New Continent beyond it.”

“Aaaah!”

“If the unknown enemies appearing in Brusen truly come from beyond the Owl Blue, we’ll have to go there and demand answers.”

“W-who are you really, sir knight?”

“My name is Laurent Flandre.”

“Sir Laurent!”

Buscolom’s jaw dropped again. Who on the continent didn’t know Laurent Flandre?

If Jared was the shadow of Yuri Briol, the hero who saved the continent, then Laurent Flandre was his faithful sword, acting in his name.

Buscolom breathed heavily, his eyes completely bloodshot.

“I-I understand! Leave it to me! I can sail anywhere on the sea! It’s just…”

“Just what?”

“Money. And companions.”

Laurent raised an eyebrow.

“There’s plenty of money. What do you mean by companions?”

“The Owl Blue isn’t an easy adversary. Even if I’m the best captain in the world, it would be hard alone. I need a capable partner, and I have the perfect person in mind.”

“Who?”

“Jamelan.”

Buscolom grinned slyly.

“There’s a guy named Jamelan. His personality isn’t great, but his skill is. With him, it’ll be possible. I’ll persuade him myself and bring him.”

“Will it be possible?”

“Yes. For an adventure like this, he’ll jump in without hesitation. Though to explore the New Continent beyond Owl Blue, we’ll need a huge sum of money…”

“Don’t worry. There’s someone with plenty of money.”

“Don’t tell me that person is…”

“Yes. It’s him.”

Buscolom’s body trembled.

There was only one person behind Laurent Flandre.

The husband of the Empress and Prince of Briol.

The strongest swordsman on the continent.

The hero who had saved the continent.

Yuri Briol.

“Hahaha, hahahaha… hahahahaha!”

Born in Orphen, he had grown up gazing at the sea and had always longed for adventure. He had never believed those stories that the end of the world lay on the other side of the ocean.

Crossing the horizon and reaching the Owl Blue would unveil a new world unimaginable to those of this continent.

Exploring Owl Blue had been the dream of his life.

And now, none other than Yuri Briol was sending his knight to invite him along.

Beyond the Owl Blue, toward the New Continent.

Buscolom ran a hand down his goosebump-covered arm and, forcing himself to sound calm, asked:

“When should I start preparing?”

“Right now.”

Buscolom burst into laughter.

“Of course I will!”

Just a moment ago, he had thought this was the worst day of his life. The nobleman sponsoring him had called him a swindler and withdrawn all support.

Even begging on his knees, he had been rejected.

But suddenly, he had been given the chance of a lifetime. It was no longer the worst day, but the best.

“This is the advance payment. If you need more money, go to the Elaine Company and mention the name Yuri Briol. There will be no limit. We’ll wait for you in Orphen.”

“Yes, sir!”

***

After a private meeting with the king of Brusen, Yuri staggered back to Orphen after drinking copious amounts of wine from the Wing region with him.

It might have seemed like they had just been drinking, but in reality they had discussed all the important matters—albeit under the influence of alcohol.

Either way, the king of Brusen understood the gravity of what was happening in Orphen and granted Yuri full authority.

While Yuri took measures, the king would contact other countries to prepare for a possible war.

“That man drinks like a beast…”

“I feel left out that you two drank without me!”

“If you had been there, you’d still be lying on the floor.”

“Hahahahaha!”

Of course, Jose was with them.

He had been in the capital of Brusen, and upon hearing that Yuri had arrived, he had run to the palace like a dog following its master, waiting until Yuri finished his private meeting.

Hearing the situation, Jose was happier than ever.

“To be able to fight alongside Your Highness again moves me.”

“Nothing’s decided yet. Maybe we’ll resolve it with words.”

“No, it will never end that way.”

“And why are you so sure?”

“Because it involves Your Highness.”

“Eh?”

“Any matter connected to you never ends easily. My instincts tell me something huge is going to happen.”

“Ugh…”

“And besides, doesn’t it seem meaningful that it’s happening precisely in my domain, in Orphen? The place where we had that beautiful duel. Come, let’s protect the continent once again. Hahahaha!”

“All right, all right…”

“Enemies from the New Continent who use black magic! That’s much better than fighting against the Holy Kingdom!”

The two rode toward Orphen, shouting as they talked.

This time Yuri was not wearing the slime mask, so people easily recognized the famous Jose of Brusen and the even more famous Yuri of Briol. Many greeted them, and soon journalists joined them with cameras to take photos.

Jose asked.

“And why are you traveling with your face uncovered and on the main road?”

“If war breaks out, we’d better be prepared from now.”

“Prepared in what sense?”

“If we show that those who fought together in the Anti-Empire Alliance are still united, citizens from different countries will feel closer to other nations. Even if the war is against invaders from the sea, we can win if the continent stays united.”

“True. In the last war we won because we joined forces and formed the Anti-Empire Alliance. Your thoughts are truly deep.”

While greeting the citizens, Jose said:

“Have you heard any news of Cruar?”

“Eh?”

“According to an article this morning, she appeared at the imperial palace yesterday.”

“Cruar?”

Yuri tilted his head.

At that moment, he felt a bad premonition.

“An article from this morning, you say?”

“Yes. Citizens of the capital saw her land at the palace with her wings spread, in person.”

“Well, maybe she came to ask for something.”

“Who? Cruar or Yekaterina?”

“Who knows.”

As they talked, the journalists following them suddenly looked up, alarmed.

“Look, look at that!”

“Up there!”

All the cameras pointed toward the sky.

Yuri and Jose also raised their heads.

“……”

Something huge was crossing the skies.

At such a height, it looked small, but it was unmistakable.

The only one of its kind on the whole continent.

A dragon.

Cruar flapped her wings as she flew toward some destination.

Coincidence or not, the direction was the same one Yuri was taking.

The journalists kept clicking their cameras over and over, eager to capture at least a trace of her figure.

“Maybe she’s just going for a ride.”

“I think she’s heading for Orphen, Your Highness.”

“That’s impossible.”

“Don’t you think she’s going to be waiting for you in Orphen?”

“Impossible.”

“I think that—”

“Enough!”

Although Yuri denied it to the end, it turned out exactly as Jose had said. Cruar was waiting for him in Orphen.

“It’s been a while. If I’m not welcomed warmly, maybe I’ll turn around and go back…”

But in Orphen, Cruar was not the only one awaiting him.

There was also Yuri’s fourth wife.

“W-what? How is it that you…?”

And her identity was none other than…