Yuri was treated to dinner by the Rein Company.
Considering the long journey they had taken, the food was plentiful, though the menu was nothing extravagant. They, too, had come all the way here through a long voyage, and were in no position to indulge in luxuries.
A stew made of dried meat was served, along with various preserved foods seasoned with spices.
Fortunately, there was plenty of alcohol.
"This is very good."
"When you travel a lot for trade, you naturally pick up a few tricks."
"I got pretty good at it myself during my military days, but I think you're even better."
"You flatter me. I just rely on spices."
"This spice has a unique aroma."
"It's from the East. Heh heh…"
The Rein Company had many guards hired to protect the caravan, and they often glanced at Yuri from a distance.
Though they weren't knights, as sword-bearers, they admired Yuri Briol, who was famed across the continent.
Yuri would have liked to teach them a move or two, but he had other matters to attend to.
"All right. Now, can you show me the goods?"
"Yes, understood."
"One must fill their stomach before buying anything."
"Why is that?"
"When you're hungry, you end up buying unnecessary things. If I hadn't eaten, I might have bought an entire sack of spices."
"Now that you mention it, that makes sense. Your Highness is truly wise. This should be a guiding principle for the Rein Company from now on. Hahaha…"
Rick had a remarkable talent for flattery, making it enjoyable for Yuri to converse with him. Whatever Yuri said, Rick would respond with praise.
"Rick, I always brush my teeth after a meal."
"No wonder your teeth are so healthy. If I ever have children, I'll be sure to teach them proper toothbrushing like Your Highness."
"You know, my fists tend to fly before my mouth does."
"A man of action, I see. The world belongs not to those who talk, but to those who act. Just like the Rein Company."
The expressions of the others listening from behind weren't exactly pleasant, but Yuri paid them no mind.
As they chatted, they arrived at a large tent.
Inside were stacked carts, and, as if Rick had given advance notice, several staff members of the Rein Company came out from the tent.
Opening the tent flap, Rick said,
"I've arranged the goods in advance. Please take your time to look."
Yuri stepped inside.
"Hmm…"
The interior was neatly organized, almost like a shop prepared just for him.
The goods were sorted into several categories: clothing, accessories, mysterious items and books, and even precious metals — all appearing valuable.
"Ah, here's something else."
A box was brought in belatedly. When it was opened, a distinct aroma spread out.
"This is a chest filled with spices. Some are found only in the East, and others we've acquired through special means. Each has its own unique quality. Even the same pepper differs slightly."
"Oh…"
Yuri jerked his chin toward his companions standing behind him.
"Take a look, if there's something you want, I'll buy it for you."
"Thank you."
"Thanks."
Jared and Francesco immediately stepped forward, while Simon and Guinness moved hesitantly.
"Thank you, Your Highness."
"Go ahead. I've got money."
Yuri stood with his arms folded, watching them wander about.
Rick asked,
"Will Your Highness not look right away?"
"I'd like to think for a bit."
Yuri slowly swept his gaze over the Eastern goods. Even without going closer, his eyesight could pick out the smallest details without missing anything.
He had no intention of buying clothing or accessories anyway.
"What's that?"
Yuri unfolded his arms and pointed at something.
"Ah, that is…"
What he indicated was a bowl-shaped vessel and a thick wooden stick.
Rick approached and brought it over.
"It's called a demon-expelling bowl."
"Demon-expelling bowl?"
"Yes, it's also called a meditation bowl. Eastern high monks use it during meditation, like this…"
Rick ran the wooden stick in a circular motion along the outer rim of the bowl. A strange, resonant humming sound filled the air.
It was unlike any sound of this world. Listening to it, one felt both at ease and vaguely unsettled.
Then, Rick lightly struck the bowl with the stick. At once, a clear tone rang out like a bell, its lingering echo stretching far.
"They say that when it is sounded, evil beings are driven away. Though I can't say for sure if it's true."
"Is it true?"
"Yes. In the East, there are people called 'daoists,' and they sometimes use this tool to banish evil entities."
"I see…"
"It's also good for focusing the mind. They say it helps with meditation. Not that I've ever meditated myself, but just listening gives you that feeling, doesn't it?"
"It does sound grand."
"Yes, it stirs the heart."
Rick once again ran the stick along the bowl. A soft, resonant tone spread out.
Yuri closed his eyes and listened before speaking.
"I'll take this one."
"An excellent choice. This piece was made at the workshop of the Eastern's most prestigious Shaolin Temple, and this stick is not just any wood — it's made from a jujube tree struck by lightning. You won't regret it."
Yuri purchased the mysterious tool called the demon-expelling bowl.
If a metal like Orichalcum existed, then surely there could also be an instrument that drove away evil beings. Since they were headed to Balshad anyway, he could test it there.
Yuri reached out again.
"What's that?"
"That is an Eastern internal energy method. What we call a mana method. From what I've seen, the Eastern styles of martial arts seem to have a better-developed structure than ours. This particular method has an interpretation in the continental common tongue, added by a translator. It's called the Three Forces Method."
"The Three Forces Method…"
"It comes as a set with the Three Forces Sword Technique. Heaven, Earth, and Man must come into harmony to master this ultimate martial art."
"An ultimate martial art."
"Yes. They say that mastering it to perfection will make one among the greatest masters under heaven."
"May I take a look?"
"Normally, viewing before purchase is prohibited, but for Your Highness, of course."
Rick brought over the book and opened it for Yuri.
"Please take your time."
On the left page was a drawing of the human body, and on the right, the Eastern script alongside a translation into the continental common tongue.
Glancing over the illustrations and translations, Yuri quickly understood the gist of it.
"The person who sold you this called it an ultimate martial art?"
"Yes."
"Cut off all dealings with them."
"Pardon?"
"It's good for building a foundation, but it's not nearly as advanced as they claimed. It's little different from the mana methods soldiers learn. And this Three Forces Sword Technique is more suited to beginners."
"I… is that so?"
Rick clicked his tongue.
"It was purchased from a prestigious sect called the Hao Sect, but I'll be more careful in the future. Indeed, no sect would easily part with a truly precious technique."
"Are you certain it's a prestigious sect?"
"They said it was."
"Verify it."
From what Yuri had heard from Moyong Chan, prestigious sects in the East valued their reputation above all else and rarely resorted to deceit.
It seemed Rick had been duped, but since they had only recently opened trade with the East, such losses were to be expected.
Even after flipping through other books, Yuri found nothing that would be of use to him.
"They won't release anything truly valuable. From now on, take an expert with you to examine things properly."
"I'll keep that in mind."
"I'll introduce you to a good person."
As both a client and co-owner of the Rein Company, Yuri gave Rick this advice.
"That's enough for martial arts for now…"
Yuri examined the weapons.
Though their shapes differed from those of the continent, their quality was quite good. However, since Yuri possessed the treasured sword, Guilty, he had little need for them.
Yuri glanced back at his companions.
"Not thinking of buying any weapons?"
"Hmm…"
"They're a bit different from what we're used to."
"Here, look at this."
Yuri stepped forward and pulled out several daggers.
"These aren't bad."
He spun a dagger lightly in the air, then hurled it toward a corner.
It struck a support pillar of the tent dead-on.
"Oh…"
Grinning, Yuri said to Rick,
"Put the cost of that pillar on my tab."
"Hahaha…"
"Come on. Don't just use swords, try using weapons like these too. They'll help you in a fight."
During his mercenary days, Yuri had often benefited from such tricks.
Now, he was at a level where such underhanded methods were more of a hindrance, but for the rest of the party, they could be a matter of survival.
"In the East, concealed weapon techniques are well developed. These are from a place called the Sichuan Tang Clan."
Rick demonstrated several intriguing hidden weapons.
Jared, Simon, and Guinness each bought a handful of them.
"What about you, Francesco?"
"I'm not buying."
He shook his head.
"Buying something like that would feel like admitting I'll never get my mana back."
Yuri understood Francesco's feelings.
Once, as one of the ten strongest, he had made his name known to the world — but then lost his mana.
And now, Yuri had given him hope once more. The prospect of regaining his mana meant everything to him.
"Yes."
Yuri grinned and gave Francesco a hearty slap on the back.
"Don't worry."
"Ugh…"
"When you get your mana back, let's have a proper match, Francesco."
"All right. Be prepared for it."
"Deal."
In Yuri's eyes, he could see the dark power lingering in Francesco's body. Remove that, and Francesco would be able to reclaim his mana.
"Lastly…"
With the demon-expelling bowl tucked under his arm, Yuri let it sound as he walked through the tent.
"Hmm…"
It was the accessories section.
Unlike the styles of the continent, the gems here had a refined, subdued glow, crafted into beautiful forms. Yuri looked at them and said,
"This one."
It was a butterfly-shaped hairband.
Worn, it would look as though a shimmering butterfly had alighted upon the wearer.
"Perhaps, it's for someone?"
"Not sure. Just looks nice."
Yuri intended to give it as a gift to Mariloz, who had worked hard all this time.
Rick smiled and said,
"That piece was chosen by Her Imperial Highness, Princess Ekaterina."
"What?"
Yuri looked at him.
"Her Highness Ekaterina has an excellent eye for such items. When we first opened trade with the East, Her Highness inspected the goods. The items she selected became something of a standard for us, so we set them aside for special handling."
Without realizing it, Yuri set the butterfly hairband back down.
"I see."
It wasn't strange, after all.
Yuri's own standards for finding accessories beautiful had all been shaped in his previous life through Ekaterina.
And now, looking again, he could clearly pick out which items she might have chosen.
"That one too?"
"Uh…"
It was a beautiful silk garment. When Yuri lifted it, the fabric rippled like waves.
"Yes, that one too."
"I see."
Yuri glanced around, then picked something else.
"This."
A golden toad.
It was something Ekaterina would never have chosen.
"This one, surely not."
"Uh…"
"I'll take thi—"
"That one too, Her Highness…"
"What?"
Yuri's eyes widened.
That dull, ugly golden toad — the idea that Ekaterina had chosen it was baffling.
Perhaps, without his knowing, Ekaterina had found a lover, and because that man's taste was so gaudy, she had reluctantly picked out this piece to give him as a gift.
Rick spoke up.
"She merely gave advice. She said it's the sort of thing foolish nobles would like."
"Oh, really?"
"Yes, that's correct."
"Phew…"
"Is something the matter…?"
"No."
"In the East, the golden toad is said to bring fortune, prosperity, and wealth. The Empire's nouveau riche would likely be fond of it."
"I see. Excellent."
Yuri relaxed.
"All right, I'll take this one."
Yuri then chose a flower-shaped brooch set with jewels. The continent had plenty of such things, but the Eastern style was subtler and more elegant. The shape of the flower was graceful.
Mariloz probably already had plenty of flashy gems, so Yuri preferred to give her something like this instead.
"Ah, this is a new arrival. Beautiful, isn't it? I was considering giving it to my wife myself."
"I plan to give it to someone I'm grateful to."
"An excellent choice."
They were just about to wrap things up when, suddenly, a shout came from outside the tent.
"We're under attack! Orcs!"
"Everyone, prepare for battle!"
"All hands, grab your weapons! There's a lot of them!"
"Please, come out quickly!"
Yuri and Rick's eyes met.
Yuri grinned and placed a hand on Rick's shoulder.
"You'll be paying me for this, right?"
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