「Humans are imperfect.」
That was the sentence.
"Hmm…"
Yuri read a few words, then closed it. It talked about how, because humans are imperfect, they must train their mind and body more.
Even from reading just a little, he could tell.
It meant, to put in effort.
"Even as time passes, the words of the elders do not change."
Humans are imperfect, the young do not strive hard enough, so they must emulate the teachings of the sages of old and polish both mind and body—such was the content.
Though it was filled only with obvious sayings, the content itself was good.
In truth, correct words are obvious, and obvious words tend to be dull.
"But this elder has a level far too high."
He didn't know who the author was, but they argued that one must perfect not only martial arts, but also science, philosophy, art, and even theories of human relationships, to become a true human being.
If this could be achieved, it would be a truly invincible human.
Yuri closed the book.
"Who could have made this place…"
Though he muttered to himself, Yuri had a good guess.
It must have been built by the one who made the royal palace. This palace was constructed when the progenitor of Briol founded the nation.
Erich Briol.
This was undoubtedly his secret vault.
From the lack of signs of anyone coming in and out, Yuri might be the only one to have discovered it.
He wasn't sure if his elder brother, Cedric, had ever been here, but he doubted it.
The discovery of this place was due to his unusually developed senses. He didn't think others could find it.
Yuri inspected the interior further.
"This is…"
There was a stack of fine weapons. But Yuri, having Guilty, felt no need to take them.
"Not these…"
Muttering to himself, Yuri continued to look around inside.
What he wanted was something about Erich Briol and the heart-soul slash he had left behind.
More than that, he wanted to know about the thing called Chaos that he had once wielded.
Then, Yuri noticed a crumpled notebook inside a box.
He picked it up and opened it.
"Huh…?"
On it was written, 'About the sword that cuts the mind and soul.'
Yuri turned the page.
There appeared a short memo from someone presumed to be Erich Briol.
Even that was torn here and there, leaving only scattered fragments that could be read.
「It can only be cut with the Heavenly Demon's sword.」
「The evil aura is too thick.」
「The Heavenly Demon sought to break free from the shackles of the Demon Cult.」
Like this, only incomprehensible fragments of thought remained.
Yuri couldn't grasp the full context, but he could at least infer that Erich Briol had made persistent efforts to harness the Heavenly Demon's martial art.
Yuri had long thought that the heart-soul slash was related to black magic.
It was a martial art that seemed as if it had been born for the very purpose of cutting down black magic.
And the Death Knight who had given him Guilty said that dungeon had appeared because the time had come.
It was a hasty assumption, but perhaps Erich Briol had known about the existence of black magic. And perhaps he had sought the means to oppose it within the Heavenly Demon's martial art.
Thinking such thoughts, Yuri turned the page.
The incomprehensible words continued.
And at the end, he found an unbelievable sentence.
「On nights like this, I miss my friend, the Heavenly Demon.」
Yuri turned more pages.
After that, nothing else was written. Old blank pages fluttered until the notebook ended.
He had called the Heavenly Demon his friend.
According to Moyong Chan, the Heavenly Demon had been the enemy of the martial world, and Erich Briol, together with the head of the Qingcheng Sect—who was the greatest martial artist of the time—had defeated him. Thanks to that, the martial world had found peace.
Yet the writer of this notebook had called the Heavenly Demon his friend.
"Huh…"
Cedric had once said that the history people know and what actually happened could be completely different. Because one can only deduce from limited records, we may, in truth, be no different from blind men feeling at an elephant.
Likewise, perhaps there was something between Erich Briol and the Heavenly Demon that they did not know.
Yuri realized anew the importance of records.
"I should develop the habit of taking notes. I might as well keep a diary."
That way, future generations could praise his deeds for a long time to come.
Yuri looked around the room, then turned away.
He hadn't obtained the result he wanted, but it had been a rather intriguing time.
Just as he was about to leave this secret place and head back to the entrance—
He suddenly realized that on the inside of the revolving door he had passed, there were words engraved.
Yuri stood before it.
And he laughed.
At that moment, Yuri was certain. This was Erich Briol's place, and he had carved these words himself with his sword.
「Never fear the enemy.」
Somehow, it felt refreshing. In the midst of fighting the Empire, he hadn't thought of such an oath.
「Act according to what you believe.」
Had Erich Briol written this down and reminded himself of it always?
「To the end, fulfill the duty given to you.」
Everyone has duties assigned to them. Whether they want them or not, the burden is placed on their shoulders. So they can simply refuse.
But there are some who uphold it to the very end.
「I will make this oath my honor. Erich Briol.」
This seemed to be the original text of the oath handed down through the royal family.
Yuri reached out and stroked the carved indentations. He didn't know what was in Erich Briol's heart when he vowed this, but it struck him deeply.
The vague worries and anxiety he had about the war faded away.
Yuri raised Guilty, and summoned the power of the heart-soul slash.
Sword aura flared.
Beneath the words Erich Briol had carved, he added his own will.
「Me too! Yuri Briol.」
***
Yuri left the secret vault and continued exploring the archive room.
There, he found and read a few useful books. They were about swordsmanship, and here and there contained helpful parts.
Though he didn't find a direct solution to the problem he faced, in the larger frame of advancing on the sword path, he had gained some achievements.
After roughly sweeping through the interior, he went back up.
The librarian guarding the palace archives was waiting.
"You have returned."
"How did you know?"
"I heard your footsteps."
The librarian smiled quietly.
Like in the Imperial Palace Library, librarians who guard precious materials carried an air as if they were hiding secrets.
Yuri spoke abruptly.
"You're not hiding anything, are you?"
"Pardon?"
"Something hidden."
"…"
"You are."
The librarian stayed silent.
It had been meant as a joke, but the man truly began to look nervous.
Yuri pressed him as if he already knew something.
"Go on, confess. I know everything."
"How could you…"
"You dare to hide something from me, a prince?"
"Well…"
The librarian smiled as if he had no choice.
"I suppose I have no choice. I'll tell you everything."
"Good. Wise decision."
"Sir Jared…"
"Hm?"
"…went to Section 96."
Yuri flinched.
That was a forbidden section.
No one knew why such knowledge had gathered in the royal palace library. It had simply been there since some time in the past.
Perhaps there had been an ancestor among the past kings who desired forbidden things.
Yuri let out a low hum.
"He went to Section 96…"
"Yes…"
The number 96 resembled the symbol for a typhoon.
Likewise, Section 96 was a treasure trove of knowledge that could shake a person's mind.
In other words, it was the erotic book section.
"For a knight to visit such a place…"
When Yuri sighed, the librarian wore a secretive smile.
"Everyone visits there at least once. I have records of all visitors. Fufufu…"
Yuri realized.
This librarian held the most fatal secrets of everyone residing in the palace.
"And yet, Prince Yuri, you have not gone. Rather unexpected."
"Me?"
Yuri shrugged his shoulders.
"I have no need for such knowledge."
"Is that so?"
"Of course."
Yuri had never been to Section 96.
In this life.
In his previous life, he had visited so often that he could recite exactly what books were there. That was why, in this life, he could preserve the dignity of royalty.
The librarian spoke.
"Thinking about the future, it might be good to take a look at it at least once, Your Highness. Knowledge knows no high or low."
"Don't worry. I know everything."
"Pardon?"
"In an old swordsmanship book, there was a saying. The best textbook is instinct."
"Ooh…"
"But you know…"
Yuri hesitated for a moment, then asked.
He was too curious to hold it back.
"By any chance…"
"By any chance?"
"Elder brother, I mean, has Cedric ever visited there…?"
"Ah…"
The librarian opened his mouth, then closed it again. Then, he gave an ambiguous smile from which no truth could be guessed.
"Well…"
"Tell me alone. I'll take this secret to my grave."
"Well…"
"I'm dying to know. Did my brother really look at such things?"
"Well…"
"You keep saying the same thing."
"Hahaha…"
The librarian smiled faintly.
"Well, I'm not sure."
"You're tight-lipped."
"That is a virtue of a librarian."
"And yet, you told me everything about Jared."
"Shall we go?"
***
Cedric was tidying his room.
In his room were all sorts of books, models, and maps piled up.
They were neatly arranged, but there was so much of it that it looked cluttered.
"Hm?"
He suddenly found a book in a drawer. It was one he had borrowed from the palace library a very long time ago and forgotten to return.
"Ah, this…"
He chuckled and lightly flipped through the pages.
Flashes of bare skin passed by.
"Was it Section 96?"
The explicit illustrations continued, but there was no ripple in his eyes.
Rather, there was a gleam close to contempt.
With one corner of his mouth raised, he closed the book again and pushed it back into the drawer.
Just then, a faint light flickered from the drawer beneath.
When he pulled the handle, light was spilling from a crystal orb wrapped in cloth. From far away, someone was requesting communication with him.
Cedric sighed.
He stared at it for a moment, then took out the orb and set it on the desk.
When he stroked the surface, someone's face soon appeared.
[Cedric.]
"What is it?"
It was Katrina.
"I told you not to contact me until I reached out first."
His voice was devoid of emotion.
For someone who knew his usual demeanor, his lack of feeling would have been shocking.
[It's just that…]
Beyond the image, Katrina fidgeted with her fingers in unease.
[It's been so long since I last heard from you, so I just…]
"Just?"
[I'm sorry.]
"Yes, you should be sorry."
Cedric sighed reproachfully, then gave a dry smile.
"So, Katrina, how is the Imperial Capital?"
[Eugen has seized real power. Everything he orders is proceeding well. They'll all become puppets moving exactly as he wishes.]
"And that one?"
[Ah…]
Katrina twisted her hair around her finger.
[The shadowless black star says he still needs time to decide…]
"That won't do."
Cedric blinked behind his glasses.
"I'll have to see him myself soon."
[That person is dangerous.]
"That's for me to decide."
[I'm sorry…]
"Tell him to come to Briol soon, as an envoy. I'll contact you again then."
[An envoy?]
"I'll soon end the war, and make a truce. Briol needs to be broken just enough."
[Can you really do that?]
"Katrina."
Cedric fixed his gaze on the crystal orb.
"Before long, I will be king."
Katrina's eyes widened.
[Really?]
"Yes."
[Fiore, I mean, your father…?]
"He said it first."
[That's good.]
"This is all thanks to my dear younger sibling."
Cedric smiled.
It was the warmest expression he had shown so far.
"My admirable little brother, I'm very curious to see how he will handle things from now on."
[Cedric, are you going to keep leaving your brother alone? That obstacle, you could stop sparing him and perhaps start…]
"Katrina."
Cedric's expression hardened.
Katrina immediately bowed her head, as if she had committed a grave offense.
[I'm sorry. I misspoke. I'm sorry, I truly am. I apologize…]
"I do not tolerate presumptuous behavior."
[I'm sorry…]
Cedric immediately extinguished the crystal orb, tossed it roughly into the drawer, and closed it.
Then, he leaned back in his chair.
"…"
He said nothing. He only stared into empty space, smiling faintly.
From Cedric's body, black energy began to flow.
He stretched out his hand.
The black energy flowing from his fingertips took the shape of a small tower.
At its peak, a grotesquely shaped eyeball hung.
Gazing at it, Cedric laughed quietly.
"I wonder what Yuri is doing…"
If Yuri Briol had inherited Erich Briol's sword—
Cedric Briol was the successor of black magic.
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