Yuri was lucky that he'd been carrying a few of his textbooks when he'd been pulled through; he'd had them hidden under his cloak as he knew Gunter wanted to jump straight back into lessons after the ceremony, and he hadn't fancied taking a trip back to the royal bedchamber where Wolfram could no doubt ambush him.
One call to the Earth Demon King and he had a tutor in written demon text lined up -so he could actually read Gunter's books- and another on the running of medieval European Kingdoms and warfare; as it seemed like the most relevant time period and culture to the one he'd observed in the Demon Kingdom.
Besides his lessons and classes, Yuri had dragged Murata into helping him form his own team for Baseball. It was during one of their practice matches that he was pulled through the water once more.
0-0-0
After being dried off, Yuri was escorted to Gwendal's office; where he was promptly glomped by an enthusiastic Gunter.
"Majesty~!"
"It'd good to see you too Gunter" patting a crying Gunter as he returned the hug, Yuri silently begged Conrart for help. He had no idea what you were supposed to do for crying people!
"You need to retrieve the Demon Sword; Morgif" Demanded Gwendal, once Yuri'd moved Gunter into a more comfortable position.
"Is it like a Holy Sword? 'Cause that would be so cool!" inquired Yuri dramatically. He knew a demon sword would help him fit in here properly, but he really did prefer his staff back home better.
"No. It is a demon sword." deadpanned Gwendal, unaware of the Kings thoughts.
0-0-0
"Is the sword really the only reason we're being sent Yozak?" queried Yuri once the pair were alone on the ship; Yuri had noticed Yozak boarding in drag while they were still on the pier. It was sad to say Yozak wasn't the most virile women he'd ever seen.
"Nope~, Gwendal wants to keep the Lords away from you for as long as possible. You arrived back right when a meeting between the lords was scheduled." Yozak shrugged. He knew Yuri a bit more then even Conrart at this point, but knew many were worried that Yuri was either like their previous treacherous monarch, or a warmonger like her brother.
"Are they really going to give me that much trouble?" it would hinder his plans if it they did.
"They'll most likely have a go at controlling you like they did with the last Queen." Mused Yozak; while he wasn't involved in politics himself, he did need to keep an eye out for traitors in his line of work as well as because of his half-breed status.
"How would they do that?" as King they should obey him. At least that was what the books he read had said.
"Each has something the others need or want. They use these resources to bargain with the other houses and as a means to control them." listening to Yozak showed him he needed to change his plans a bit. Originally he wanted to make it so the Kingdom was self-reliant from the other countries, but now he knew he needed to make his own governing area self-reliant from the other Nobles as well. And most likely not let them be aware of it until it was too late.
0-0-0
Van da Via island was a sight for sore eyes. When the pirates had attacked, Yuri and Conrart were able to take them out with help from the other passengers, but despite this the coast guards had still been suspicious of their group because of Wolfram's hair. It was only with the insistence of Heathcrife and the other passengers along with some fast talking that saved them from being locked up along with the pirates.
And now they were climbing a mountain.
"Are we sure this is the right mountain? Wolfram doesn't look like he'll last the top of this one let alone if we need to climb another." Commented Yuri to the others, while trying to ignore the urge to poke the half-dead demon; it really was very tempting. He also found it weird Wolfram wasn't able to keep up; from what he'd observed everyone at the castle at least had some training. Hell, even computer nerds back home could climb at least one mountain as easy as this!
"We're on the right mountain your majesty." Conrart sighed; he knew the reason his brother was exhausted was because he'd always been a homebody and lazy in anything except painting and fire magic. Looking at his heaving brother next to the perfectly fine King was an embarrassing sight. He'd need to speak to Gwendal when they returned about this. They needed to get Wolfram into shape before he embarrassed them further. Conrart was just contemplating throwing Wolfram over his shoulder when Yozak came back.
"What'd you find?"
"Inn up ahead by half a kilometre; we can stay there while we're here as the top of the mountain isn't too far from it." Informed Yozak happily, he wanted a warm bath already; sea water simply killed his hair and complexion!
In the end Conrart had to carry Wolfram the rest of the way.
0-0
At the inn they were now staying at they learned about the legend of the cursed hot spring from the serving girl. Conrart and Yozak had decided Morgif was probably there, so had to go investigate it; leaving Wolfram behind.
As they were rowing into the cave all Yuri could think as he eyed was 'how Conrart was able to procure a boat on the top of a mountain was anyone's guess'. He'd turned around to look at the scenery, and when he turned back Conrart suddenly had a working row boat.
"Should I be worried Kiddo?" inquired Yozak good-naturedly; he wasn't actually worried because Yuri's look was more of a how-the-fuck-did-he-do-that then a I-want-to-jump-you kind of look.
Peaking at Yozak, Yuri pretended to think about it "Maybe…" it would have been more convincing if Yuri had actually looked at Conrart when he'd said that. As it was neither man was convinced. It didn't take long for Yuri to spot a glint of metal in the water. Given the fact there was no natural light this deep in the cave he deduced this was probably the sword they were looking for.
"Do you think that glint in the water is the sword?" Yuri waited as they made their own inspection of the glint. It didn't take long for them to agree with him on the matter. When Yozak got burnt by the water, Yuri healed him immediately before it could swell; surprising the others. He was not healer, but he did have battlefield training in healing; healing itself just seemed to come naturally to him.
After some debate they theorized only Yuri could enter the water…and he had to do it nude. Yozak was thrilled, Conrart was amused.
Yuri wanted to tip the boat on the pair.
Bob had informed him that -as the Demon King- he automatically had a partial contract with the elements; Water being his stronger element because of his link to the Wincott family. Water he'd noticed -and those who dwelled in it- seemed to favour him over others. Swimming towards the sword it didn't take long before he was reaching down to grab it. It was only his ingrained reflexes that stopped him being bitten by whatever that white thing was. When he brought it up, Yuri blinked at it once before showing the others.
"Do all demon swords have a face?" queried Yuri calmly; he knew he was most likely going into shock right now.
"No" they both answered together as they stared at the moaning face. Trying to come to terms with what Yuri had pulled from the bottom of the hot spring.
They all just decided to roll with it.
0-0
They stayed at the inn for three more days in order to recuperate before making the journey down the mountain; though Wolfram probably could have done with a few more days. Yuri decided they should head straight back for Shin Makoku, while Yozak wanted Yuri to participate in a gladiator event so he could absorb souls when people died. They compromised; they'd watch a few matches before heading back to Shin Makoku.
They should have just skipped it.
They had expected for Morgif to glow a little or something small when it absorbed a soul, but instead they got a tornado that tore the coliseum apart. If not for Yozak and Conrart's quick thinking with the costumes they would have been caught.
Thankfully the rest of the trip back was uneventful.
0-0-0
Gwendal and Gunter had been pleased with their return.
Yozak informed Gwendal about what had happened; from who he'd met aboard the ship there right down to the old man in the audience who a heart attack and their little escape. Yuri was shocked to learn the merchant he had befriended was the crown princess and former crown prince of the land Gwendal had told him before their trip were preparing for war against them.
Leaving the office to retire for the night, Yuri pretended not to notice the way Gwendal watched him leave.
0-0
"What did you leave out of your report?" demanded Gwendal of Yozak once the King and Conrart had left. He had seen the way both Yozak and Conrart had looked at each; their tell.
Yozak shrugged "There is little doubt now that he's been trained before; he showed professional ease in dispatching those pirates with that broom, and had no trouble keeping up with us on the mountain. Wolfram was actually the one slowing us down!" While not normally on a person's top ten weapons list, Yuri had proven that even without a hidden blade a broom could be deadly. He'd never look at them the same again. "How did the meeting with the Nobles go?" inquired Yozak instead, he knew Yuri was planning something, but he just didn't know what yet. What he did know was it involved the Nobles somehow. Until he knew more he wouldn't say anything to Gwendal though. He also didn't know how Yuri would react is he tattled on him.
Gwendal sighed. "They wanted to meet the new King, Stoffel seemed especially interested in doing so; no doubt he plans to become regent once more." He wasn't surprised to see Yozak's face sour at the news. Stoffel was the main reason the last war started in the first place, and his promotion of the segregation of half-breeds such as Yozak led many to their deaths.