LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 9 - Confession (2)
4. Confession (2)
Bernard spoke.
“I have heard the story.”
“Already?”
“His Majesty and I are closer than you might think, Prince.”
“I didn’t know that.”
“The deepest scar on my body is from His Majesty.”
“Oh, really…”
“You saw it directly, didn’t you?”
Yuri nodded.
Bernard had originally been a wandering swordsman who challenged strong opponents to duels.
The reason he ended up staying in Briol was none other than his father, Fiore.
Yuri, even as a child, witnessed their duel.
Bernard charged like a demon, and Fiore, in his way, tried to show mercy but could not hold back enough as Bernard was a formidable swordsman himself.
Ultimately, Fiore ended up stabbing Bernard in the stomach.
Yuri still vividly remembered the scene of Bernard staring incredulously at Fiore with wide eyes, only to collapse while bleeding profusely.
Bernard thrashed around in his sickbed.
‘Fight me again!’
His persistent demand led Fiore to agree to fight in duels every year, and in exchange, Bernard would teach the princes.
Cedrick once reached a certain level and trained with Commander of the Royal Guard Saned, and Joshua had no interest in swords, so now Yuri was his only student.
“Bernard.”
“Yes.”
“At first, I thought you were a beastly swordsman with no heart…”
“Go on.”
“But now, haven’t we grown fond of each other?”
Yuri said.
He remembered that Bernard would soon leave Briol.
He wanted to keep him here.
“If Father refuses to fight you anymore, will you leave?”
“Of course.”
“Bernard.”
Yuri showed a sad expression.
Though he felt no emotional turmoil, he could still express sorrow through his seasoned demeanor.
He purposely softened his voice.
“You are my teacher.”
“Yes…”
“I think Briol needs a swordsman like you. Someone who doesn’t follow the mold, fighting like a sticky, snake-like street thug.”
“Are you trying to keep me here?”
“Of course.”
“It doesn’t seem that way.”
“You will soon fight Father, and you will lose miserably once again.”
“…”
“And my father, being disappointed in you, will declare he won’t fight anymore…”
“Why do you think that?”
“It just appears that way. Perhaps he doesn’t want to torment poor Bernard any longer.”
“Why are you saying this?”
“It was simply to tell you to stay.”
Yuri stated.
“Briol needs you.”
Bernard looked at Yuri intently.
Yuri did not avert his gaze.
The two gazed into each other’s eyes for a while. Unexpectedly, Bernard agreed to the negotiation smoothly.
“Alright.”
“Really?”
“Then, what will you give me?”
“Me?”
“There must be terms.”
“Well…”
Yuri scratched his head.
Though a prince, he possessed nothing but future insights, which were difficult to use as convincing collateral.
Yet, Bernard spoke first.
“I shall propose.”
“What?”
“The swordsmanship of Erich Briol.”
It was a request befitting the Sword Demon.
Yuri became troubled.
It wasn’t because it would be difficult to teach someone else the swordsmanship of his ancestor.
“That’s difficult.”
“It doesn’t matter if you haven’t mastered it. I have taken that into account.”
That was partially true.
Yuri had only experienced Erich Briol’s swordsmanship through a dummy and had not fully made it his own.
However, there was a bigger reason.
“It’s not that, but you won’t find it useful.”
“Why is that?”
“This swordsmanship is one with the Mana Method.”
The two were generally considered separate.
A Mana Method was like an empowering assistant, never overshadowing swordsmanship.
Yet Erich Briol’s swordsmanship was closer to expressing a Mana Method than wielding a sword.
In other words, ‘Heart and Soul Slash’ was both a sword technique and a Mana Method.
It was so groundbreaking that Yuri questioned if he should learn it after all.
Bernard’s eyes showed interest.
“I’ve never heard of such a thing.”
“I’ve never seen it, either.”
“You, having seen little of the world, must find everything new. But I am the Sword Demon Bernard.”
“Oh, indeed…”
“If I don’t know it, no one on the continent would know.”
“Amazing, truly amazing.”
“Yes, I am quite amazing.”
Yuri made a somewhat displeased expression.
Bernard’s personality seemed lighter than what Yuri remembered.
Perhaps he was always like this.
They had not conversed much in his past life, so he hadn’t known well.
Reconsidering, he thought people he remembered might have been misunderstood.
As he thought that, regret from his past life washed over him once again.
“I regret it.”
His voice escaped without him realizing. Bernard chuckled.
“Are you talking about the rude things you said to me?”
“I should’ve persuaded Father to kick you out…”
“…”
“Just joking. Enough of this nonsense.”
Yuri spoke.
“So, if I show you the swordsmanship of my ancestor, will you remain in the kingdom?”
“You wish me to stay.”
“Of course.”
“Why?”
“I told you earlier.”
“Answer sincerely.”
“Alright. As you said before because you are the Sword Demon Bernard.”
“Oh…”
“Could it be simply because I admire your sword skills?”
“You said to stop joking.”
Bernard approached him. The usual tension he carried was absent.
“Be straightforward with me.”
“With what?”
“You suddenly changed and found the Sword Mountain along with a dungeon.”
“And?”
“His Majesty said it was due to a dream.”
Yuri furrowed his brows, wondering how far his father had gone in telling Bernard.
“Do not worry. No one else knows. As your teacher, his Majesty told me for educational purposes.”
“That’s a relief.”
“Regardless, you said you saw a great war in your dream.”
“Yes.”
“That Briol was destroyed.”
“They couldn’t even resist properly.”
“Very well.”
Bernard nodded.
“Show me the swordsmanship, and I will stay. And one more thing.”
“One more?”
“Call me Master, and speak formally.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes.”
“You want me to speak formally?”
“It’s of little value.”
“But you’ll stay?”
“I trust your intuition.”
Yuri looked at Bernard. Did he mean he believed his dream stories?
“You believe in my dream?”
“Yes.”
Bernard raised his sword, examining its blade.
His eyes glinted mysteriously.
That mesmerized look.
It was reminiscent of his father during that peculiar moment when his fate seemed tied to his sword.
“A sword changes fate.”
His voice lowered.
“I’ve witnessed countless times a sword altering life and death. So, I believe a sword holds mysterious power. Besides, you, Your Highness have a natural talent for it. What you saw may indeed be the future.”
Yuri felt slightly moved.
Who else would trust his made-up stories like that?
“I don’t mind even if it’s not true. It’s my choice. So, although it might be incomplete swordsmanship, I’ll stay in Briol. I owe His Majesty as well.”
Yuri nodded emphatically.
“You’ve made a good decision, Bernard.”
Since returning to the past, he has endeavored to change the future. His efforts seemed to be bearing fruit. Not only had he acquired the ancestor’s legacy but he had also managed to keep Bernard, who was originally destined to leave the kingdom.
Yuri smiled broadly and said, “Alright. I’ll show you the ‘Heart and Soul Slash’ of Yuri Briol.”
“Formally.”
“That… yes.”
Yuri struggled to continue speaking.
“To show you. Lord Bernard?”
“Master.”
“Kuh. Master…”
“Good.”
Yuri gritted his teeth, stepped back, and took up a wooden sword. Bernard also swung his wooden sword in the air. As Yuri got into a stance, Bernard suddenly spoke.
“Your Highness.”
“Yes?”
“Did you say yes?”
“I said alright. What?”
“There’s something you got wrong.”
Thinking he was correcting his stance, Yuri looked down at his body. But Bernard brought up something else.
“Though I lost to His Majesty, he neither grew tired of nor pitied me.”
“What are you talking about….”
Bernard lightly rolled up his shirt to show the faintly bleeding bandage wrapped around his abdomen.
It was evidently a sword wound.
Only one swordsman in the palace could have inflicted such an injury on Bernard.
“Huh?”
“I dueled with His Majesty yesterday. He said he looks forward to many more.”
“What?”
“He said I’m an excellent swordsman, so the duels are always enjoyable. He wants to talk about swords for at least another ten years.”
Yuri wore a dazed expression.
The changes he had initiated were already subtly starting in places he hadn’t noticed.
From the beginning, Bernard was meant to stay.
“This guy?”
“Formally.”
Bernard swung his sword.
Yuri hopped around as he got struck on the thighs multiple times.
“Ugh…”
“Show me the swordsmanship of your ancestor.”
“Darn it!”
“Formally, please.”
“I’m talking to myself!”
“Ah?”
“Okay.”
“Yes. Let’s see it then.”
Yuri sighed deeply.
“Watch closely.”
He synced his heart’s core with his will. Mana surged through his entire body.
“Attacking.”
“Yes.”
Yuri stared at Bernard.
He visualized slashing him.
Mana gushed from the core in sync with his heartbeat. Countless mental images to strike the enemy emerged.
Yuri grabbed the most efficient one.
Whether Mana or his body moved first.
Or if it was his imagination.
Perhaps, it all happened simultaneously. As Yuri’s world leaped toward accomplishing that scene, his vision blurred drastically before achieving his goal.
It was blocked.
“Your Highness.”
Bernard, who blocked the sword, was wearing an expression Yuri had never seen on him—perplexity.
Yuri had never seen him so flustered before.
“Why?”
“Try it once more.”
“Understood.”
He seemed shocked enough to revert to informal speech unconsciously.
“And…”
He hesitated momentarily before speaking.
“Focus your thoughts. Your sword is shaking. You are not yet capable of seeing multiple paths, Your Highness.”
Now it was Yuri’s turn to be surprised.
Indeed, it was Bernard.
After witnessing it once, he understood the Heart and Soul Slash and gave advice.
Yuri felt ashamed for wasting time in his past life even with such a teacher by his side.
Smiling with self-deprecation, he gripped Guilty firmly.
“Alright. Here I go again.”
* * *
“It’s changing.”
Yuri muttered.
Without his intervention, his father Fiore had persuaded Bernard to stay.
It was a development that hadn’t happened in his past life.
Perhaps his dream tales had an effect.
The fact that the future was slowly changing filled Yuri with hope. However, there remained much to do.
The Empire’s strength was bizarrely potent, as he recalled.
The Black Legion.
They had to be stopped.
“Definitely.”
“Yes. Definitely.”
Unexpectedly, Ena had entered the room and echoed his words.
“You must not cause any trouble this time.”
“This time?”
“You caused trouble last year, remember?”
“What trouble?”
Yuri tilted his head.
He couldn’t recall everything from his childhood.
Every day had been a string of incidents, so even he was uncertain which specific incident Ena referred to.
“You caused trouble daily, which is why you don’t even know what I’m referring to, right?”
“Exactly.”
“Of course. Therefore, why not suggest a raise for your loyal servant, my Prince?”
“I already thought you were the highest-paid maid.”
“That’s because I’m the only one who can withstand your temperament, Your Highness.”
“I’ve been quiet lately, haven’t I?”
“That’s what scares me.”
Ena trembled as if she were anxious.
“The mere thought of what a big incident you might cause by being so quiet makes me feel like my life span is shortening. I feel like I’m on the verge of a nervous breakdown.”
“You sure know how to spin a tale.”
“Spin a tale? Why would I do this? Because in a week…”
Ena gestured with her hands toward the wall.
“The Royal Dance Ball is happening!”
A magnificent attire was hanging there.
It was so extravagant Yuri couldn’t even bear to look at it.
He covered the outfit with both hands.
“Ugh…”
“You should put that on properly and meet some lovely noble ladies.”
“I don’t want to. I’m not going.”
“That’s not even possible. His Majesty entrusted it to me.”
The Royal Dance Ball.
No thanks.