Battle Race in the Fantasy World

Battle Race in the Fantasy World – 39

EP.39 I’m So Glad! This Is Such a Relief!

It was deep into the night. The same darkness enveloped both the outskirts of the empire and the heart of it, the imperial city.

“….”

Under that darkness, a man was pacing restlessly, unable to sleep.

Was he a man who couldn’t confess his feelings to a woman? A merchant anxious about an important deal?

No. The man who couldn’t find sleep under this darkness, at this ambitious hour, was…

“Your Majesty.”

The emperor of the empire himself.

“Please retire to your chambers.”

Instead of responding to the chief attendant’s suggestion, the emperor looked up at the sky.

The situation was frustratingly unclear, and he sighed involuntarily.

He wanted to send someone to check again, but he knew that would be the worst course of action.

‘Is that guy doing alright?’

Why did he send the 5th Princess, a direct descendant of the imperial family, as an envoy?

It was because Princess Yurika understood Jonathan’s people better than anyone else.

During her time at the academy, the one she was closest to was none other than Leo Jonathan.

Rumor had it they enjoyed fighting each other, battling under the guise of sparring.

Of course, victory always went to Jonathan. Maybe he was holding back.

After all, no matter how aggressively Yurika attacked, Leo would just laugh it off with a ‘Ha-ha!’

One thing was certain: the relationship between Leo and Yurika wasn’t bad at all.

They were not related as man and woman, but as warriors testing their skill.

That’s why he had sent Yurika to that dangerous place.

Even if it was Jonathan, the way one treats an acquaintance is different from a stranger.

He heard that Leo Jonathan had been decided as the next baron, which gave a glimmer of hope.

‘Going into battle with Jonathan again. Going into battle with Jonathan again….’

Just the thought alone was enough to make one sigh.

The empire had embarked on numerous conquests since its rise to power.

It had toppled renowned kingdoms and defeated all manner of skilled adversaries.

The empire truly became an empire, and no one could halt its progress.

Then, upon reaching the very northern edge in their relentless advance,

the empire encountered what could only be described as madmen, the stuff of nightmares.

They were outnumbered. There were fewer of them than even one of the empire’s legions.

But the moment they clashed, it was clear. While overwhelming numbers could overpower any strong foe,

there were times when such tactics were utterly futile. There were indeed ‘monsters’ among them.

‘If we hadn’t stepped in and persuaded Jonathan at that time.’

I’m certain we would have had to redirect all of the empire’s might to the north.

Then the nomadic tribes to the east and the kingdoms to the west would not have missed their chance.

Ultimately, we might have been attacked from all sides and forced to relinquish the lands we had worked so hard to conquer.

In fact, the method to persuade Jonathan was all too simple.

They desired neither riches, nor vast lands, nor gleaming weapons. They did not want any of it.

“Do not bother us. We will live and disappear in our own way.”

“The empire has the luxury to do so, and its people know how to become strong through their own efforts. We believe you will not bother us. Unlike those weak kingdoms that come begging every time. Fight for us. Help us. We have no interest in weaklings who do not strive. Let me say it again. Do not bother us. Do not interrupt our training.”

It’s only natural to dislike others meddling in one’s training.

Jonathan agreed to the empire’s diplomatic proposal precisely because of that.

“And one more thing. It would be nice if you could send some strong ones our way from time to time.”

“We won’t harm them. They might get a bit hurt, though. That’s just how it is. When you compete in martial skill, injuries happen.”

The empire accepted all the terms. Honestly, there was no downside to them.

Firstly, the place where they lived was at the very edge of the north. There was nothing there the empire wanted.

The land was barely a handful. To shed more blood for it? Ridiculous.

By sending strong fighters, the empire’s own level would naturally increase.

It’s about showing them that there’s a wider and deeper ocean before they stagnate, to give them a challenge.

Conversely, what they wanted was autonomy and the chance to spar with strong opponents. That was all.

By agreeing to just that, the empire could turn the monsters that had tormented it for eight years into allies.

Even if not allies, at least there was no reason to keep them as enemies!

‘That’s why when the empire sends people to Jonathan, they ensure they are skilled.’

The hurriedly dispatched 5th Princess Yurika and Logan Stefan are such cases.

In urgent situations, they send those with the title of the ‘Top 10 Strongest’.

For Jonathan, that would be a welcome gift, hands down.

Of course, those two will have to endure some painful times.

“Your Majesty.”

At that moment, the voice of the chief attendant was heard again from behind.

Unlike the previous voice tinged with worry, this one carried a hint of urgency.

The emperor instinctively knew that the attendant had news.

“Has she returned?”

“Yes. She has just now returned through the teleportation circle.”

“Have her come in immediately.”

The emperor’s words were uncharacteristically tinged with impatience.

With that, the chief attendant quickly stepped back, and shortly after, Yurika entered.

“Your Majesty.”

Before she left, she had been impeccably dressed, but the Yurika who returned was different.

Her clothes were nearly rags, and she had scabs from cuts all over.

She looked not like a princess of the empire, but rather a fighter who had just rolled out of a brawl.

For a princess of the empire to be in such a state was a matter that could have caused an uproar throughout the nation.

Especially considering she had gone as an envoy.

“Have you arrived?”

However, the emperor was not overly surprised.

Rather, his sentiment was ‘As long as you’ve returned in one piece, that’s enough.’

Yurika, too, seemed utterly unconcerned about her disheveled appearance in front of the emperor.

“What did they say?”

There was no point in wasting time with unnecessary words.

There was a purpose for sending her, and a reason she complied.

There was no need for pretense when they both knew the situation well.

“Jonathan will remain within the empire’s borders.”

The moment those words left Yurika’s mouth,

“…That is a relief.”

For the first time, the emperor showed emotion on his face.

“They also gladly accepted the empire’s gift.”

The gift referred to here, of course, is the opportunity for combat with strong opponents.

That is why Yurika and Logan, among the empire’s ten strongest, were sent as envoys.

They were not just messengers; they were also a kind of gift offering.

“It’s truly fortunate.”

The same phrase came from the emperor’s mouth once more.

It indicated the immense relief he was feeling.

And with good reason. The kingdom and the western alliance might soon be at war again.

If a rebellion were to arise internally at such a time, and one of them was Jonathan?

He believed more than half of the empire’s forces would need to be mobilized.

And even then, more than half of those mobilized forces would likely be lost.

“…Are you alright?”

Only after confirming that there was no need to worry about the north did the emperor inquire about his daughter’s condition.

At a glance, it was clear she was not alright. The signs of her ordeal were evident.

And she had come to report immediately upon her return.

She hadn’t even taken the time to change her clothes or tend to her wounds.

Even if she was a daughter he had half given up on, it was natural to feel concerned.

“Yes. I am fine. In fact, it’s good. It was very enjoyable.”

That’s not just something she’s saying. It’s not a consolation meant to reassure the emperor.

Look at the smile on her face. How could anyone call that an act?

Yurika is genuinely enjoying herself. In a place where status, origin, age, and gender are meaningless.

Where only martial prowess matters, she’s thrilled after having a bout in the domain of the strong.

This is why the emperor sent Princess Yurika to the Jonathan barony.

Not only for her martial ability but also because her mindset is different from others.

If she had shrunk back upon arriving there, Jonathan might have had strange thoughts.

She was sent because she could go to that domain of the strong and not shrink back, but instead thrive.

‘How did such a child come to be?’

Shaking his head, the emperor casually asked another question.

“Do you know why?”

“Why what, Your Majesty?”

“Why Jonathan did not succumb to the persuasion.”

“Ah. Actually, I have a hypothesis about that.”

Princess Yurika continued with a very confident voice.

“I think it might be because of Kyle.”

“Kyle?”

“The second son of Jonathan, currently enrolled in the imperial academy. The youngest of the family.”

“…I think I remember. Yes, he was the one admitted with a recommendation from Byun-kyung.”

“From what I see, it seems that Kyle’s presence at the academy is why they stayed.”

The emperor frowned, as if he didn’t quite understand.

Yurika’s words implied that Jonathan stayed because of Kyle. Out of concern that Kyle might be harmed or taken hostage.

It seems that Jonathan has taken a liking to him.

‘To worry about a person from Jonathan. Especially a direct descendant? That’s unlikely.’

Yurika probably had the same thought as the emperor.

“Of course, I don’t think they’re concerned about him being taken hostage. Rather, it seems they want to ensure the youngest’s academy life is protected.”

“And what makes you so sure of that?”

“I had a bit of a conversation with Leo Jonathan.”

A bit of a conversation probably meant just exchanging pleasantries before a fight.

But it seems that even that was considered a conversation by Yurika.

“He asked about Kyle Jonathan. How he was doing.”

“Oh?”

“There’s no need to worry about Kyle’s safety, so I believe when he asked how he was doing, he meant to ask if he was enjoying himself. This suggests that Jonathan cares about Kyle Jonathan’s life at the academy.”

“That could be the case. But to say that’s entirely it…”

The emperor suddenly had a thought.

Even if Jonathan is referred to as a monster, they are still human.

And as humans, they would possess human emotions.

It is said that the youngest child is always too precious and dear to any parent.

Thus, it is possible that the Baron of Jonathan and those under him might feel the same way.

‘This hypothesis might not be entirely out of the question.’

As the emperor nodded, Yurika added more.

“Your Majesty. I wish to take him as my husband.”

“Explain further.”

From Yurika’s perspective, a strong man, from the emperor’s perspective, a point of contact with Jonathan.

It was a moment where their interests aligned perfectly.