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Star-Embracing Swordmaster Chapteer 273: Extra 13 – The Bastard of the Frausen Family (1)

Chapteer 273: Extra 13 – The Bastard of the Frausen Family (1)

In​‌ a cell within‌​​ a mansion surrounded​‍‌ by somber gray‌⁠⁠ bricks.

On‌‌​ the damp floor⁠​ of that place,‍​ Kihano was sitting,‌ tied up with⁠‍ ropes, his gaze​​ vacant.

“K-Kihano,‌ sir.”

“Yes.”‍

The‌‌ treatment he had​​ received while being​ dragged there had​ been rough enough⁠‌ that his appearance​‌ was disheveled.

But⁠ that disheveled appearance​‍ was preferable compared‍‌​ to the situation‌​​ of the boy‌‌‍ who called to‍‍⁠ him with a weak voice.

“But‌ why am I the only one‌​ hanging upside down?”‍⁠‍

“Well…‍​ that’s because it’s‌⁠‍ a tradition of‍‌⁠ the Turrek family,‍​​ isn’t it?”

“Then‌⁠⁠ why are you‍​​ perfectly fine?”

“That’s…⁠⁠‌ because I’m a noble.”

The‍ boy was wrapped‌‌‍ in ropes as‍⁠ if he were​⁠​ a cocoon.

Even‍⁠⁠ so, despite the​‌ boy’s voice, Kihano⁠‌ only stared at​ the ground in‌ worry, biting his​‌ nails.

“C-Could‌‌​ you at least‌‍​ lift me up‌ for a moment?‌‍ The blood is‌⁠ rushing to my‍ head.”

“Oh⁠ no, this is‍⁠ a problem. This⁠ time, I don’t​‍​ think I’ll get⁠ out of this​⁠‍ unscathed.”

“Just​​​ for a moment.​‍ Really, I’m going⁠⁠ to faint.”

“If⁠‌ my brothers find‍​‌ out about this,​​ I doubt they’ll​⁠⁠ let me die⁠ peacefully.”

“Sir​ Kihano! Sir Kihano?”‍

Despite‌ the boy’s desperate‍​‍ calls, Kihano did⁠​‌ not raise his​‌​ head easily.

In⁠⁠‌ fact, his anxiety​ was so intense‌​⁠ that he was‌​⁠ now standing, pacing​ back and forth.‍⁠

“Old‌​‌ man, don’t you⁠⁠​ have a solution?‌​‌ You’re a mage,​⁠ right?”

“…”⁠​

Although⁠‌​ there were only‌ two people in‌‍⁠ the cell, Kihano‍​‍ began to speak‌‍ as if there⁠‌ were someone else​​⁠ there.

“Haven’t⁠‌‌ you recharged yet?‌​‍ If you have,‌‍ let’s break the‌ cell wall and​⁠‌ get out of⁠ here.”

He​⁠⁠ spoke toward an⁠‍‌ empty corner of⁠ the cell.

He‍ seemed to be‍‍‌ completely out of​​⁠ his mind, but​​ fortunately, there was‍‍ a voice that⁠ responded to Kihano.‍

“Tsk!​⁠​ That’s why knights‌‍ are such a problem. Do you‍ think magic is‌‍​ as easy to⁠ use as drawing‌ a sword?”

An⁠ old voice emerged‌⁠​ from the empty​ corner of the​‌⁠ cell.

Along​ with it, a small figure leapt⁠⁠‌ out from the‍‌ shadows with tiny‌ hops.

“Why​​ the hell did​​⁠ you get involved⁠⁠‍ with the baron’s​ daughter? I told‌‌ you not to⁠‌ do it!”

It​⁠‌ was a frog.‍⁠​

A frog smaller than⁠​ the palm of​ a child’s hand.‍

Green‌​ on its back​‌ and white on‌ its belly, it‍‌ wore a tiny​‌ wizard’s hat and⁠ hopped toward them⁠​⁠ while clicking its⁠ tongue.

“No​ wonder they say⁠​⁠ the Frausen lose‍⁠​ their heads over‍​‌ women.”

“This‍ is really unfair.⁠‌‌ It was a mutual agreement!”

“…Um,‌ could either of​‍ you please lower‍​‌ me down?”

A tall man with‌​ brown hair.

A freckled boy tied‍⁠ up with ropes,‍ begging to be‌ lowered.

And‌‍‌ a small frog​​⁠ with a wizard’s‍ hat and a pipe in its‌​ mouth.

“In​‌ any case, we​ need to get⁠⁠​ out of here‍⁠ before my brothers‍ find out.”

“Sir⁠⁠‌ K-Kihano.”

“Hurry⁠ up and recharge!‌‍⁠ Let’s get out‌‍ of here with‍‌​ a *boom*!”

“…What’s​ that boom?”

“That‍ thing you showed⁠‍ me last time,‌‍ that swoosh followed⁠‍‌ by a slash.”⁠‌​

“Sorry,⁠​⁠ but I have‌ no idea what​​‍ you’re talking about.​‍ You’re definitely a Frausen, explaining everything‍ so badly.”

Though⁠ there were three⁠​ in the cell,‌⁠ none seemed to​‌​ understand the others.‌​⁠

Each​ one said whatever‌ came to mind.‍

However,​⁠ the boy, seeing‍ this absurd situation,⁠‍‍ finally couldn’t hold‍ back and shouted​ with all his​⁠​ strength.

“They’re​​⁠ here! I don’t⁠‌⁠ know who, but‌‌‍ someone’s here!”

“Huh?”​

Hearing‍ the boy’s screams,‌ Kihano finally turned⁠‌ around.

And​​⁠ there, outside the​​ bars, stood a man he didn’t⁠​ recognize, looking at⁠‍⁠ him with a stern expression as​‌⁠ he slowly removed⁠ his hood.

“…Brother?”​‌‍

The​ man was tall,‍‌‍ with his hair​‌ slicked back and‍ glistening from the‌‍​ oil he wore.‍

He‍​​ was the epitome⁠​ of noble elegance.‌⁠​

But‌ what stood out‍ the most was⁠ his sharp, penetrating‌ gaze.

“…Damn‌ libertine.”

It‌⁠​ was the fifth‌‍​ son of the​⁠‌ Frausen family, Perez⁠ Frausen.

Now,‌⁠ with his left‌ eye narrowed, he‍⁠ looked at his‌‍ younger brother, known‍ as the greatest⁠⁠ libertine in the​​ family’s history.

“Brother,‍‍ brother! Don’t use‌⁠⁠ that! I can‌‍ explain everything!”

With⁠‍​ one eye closed,‌ he saw his‌​ own world; with‌ the other, he‍ saw the world‍ where he stood.⁠‍

A skill available only‌ to knights who​⁠‌ had reached a high level.

“Don’t⁠​ bother explaining. Just​‍‌ prepare to die.”‍‌

“There’s‌​ no need to‍‌‍ use aura! Don’t‍​ you feel sorry‍⁠ for your little⁠⁠ brother who can’t⁠​‍ even use aura?”⁠⁠⁠

“I‍​‌ feel more sorry​ for myself for‌⁠⁠ having a brother‍ like you.”

Creak—​‌

Perez⁠​ turned the key‍⁠ handed to him‌‌⁠ by the jailer‌‌‍ and slowly opened‌ the cell door.‌‌​

Perez’s‍ presence filled the‌​‍ space, making Kihano‌​ prepare nervously.

But‌ Perez Frausen only​‌ looked coldly at​‌ his brother’s desperate‍‌ attempts.

“Should‌​‌ I leave you⁠ half-dead first?”

Crash!⁠

Before‌⁠​ he finished smiling,​⁠ a deafening sound⁠​ shook the entire​ cell, as if‌⁠​ a wall were⁠ collapsing.

The​ man’s scream echoed​⁠ alongside the crash.⁠

Even‍‍ the jailers froze,‌⁠​ confused by the⁠ dust falling from‌​ the ceiling, but‌​ they remembered their​⁠ orders and held​⁠ their positions.

“Huh…⁠ Gentlemen? Are you​‌⁠ really going to‍‌‍ leave me hanging‌‌ here?”

The‌​ cell trembled with​ each of Perez’s⁠‍⁠ blows.

The⁠ boy, dangling like‍ a cocoon, flailed⁠ wildly.

But‍‌⁠ in the middle​‌ of all that,⁠‍‌ no one had⁠​ the time to‍⁠ respond to his⁠​ plea.

***​​

“Ughhh…”⁠‍‍

If‍ you took rice⁠⁠​ cakes and threw‍‍​ them, would they⁠​ look like this?‌‌

Kihano,‌ hunched and stuck‍ to the floor‌​ of the cell,⁠‍ looked exactly like‍​‌ that.

Perez,​ seeing him, exhaled​ a sigh of⁠ resignation.

“Remember‌⁠ what our father⁠⁠⁠ told you when‍ you left.”

Chiiik—‍​

The​ match struck by‍‍ Perez produced a flame that lit⁠‌ his cigarette, and​ the scent of‌‌ tobacco began to‌​‌ spread through the​​‍ air.

“…”​

“He‌⁠⁠ told you to​⁠⁠ keep quiet, to⁠⁠⁠ stay as unnoticed‌ as possible.”

As⁠ he inhaled deeply,‍‍ the tip of​‌​ the cigarette glowed⁠‍⁠ red.

In​‌‌ the dark cell,‌​ it was the‍ only light visible​ in the deep​ night.

“You’re⁠⁠ twenty years old‍‌​ now. You should‌ understand why our⁠‌ father sent you⁠​‌ away from the⁠⁠‍ family.”

“I⁠ don’t know… damn‌ it.”

Perez‌‌⁠ frowned slightly at‌​‌ seeing his younger‍⁠ brother still lying⁠‍ on the floor,‍ unmoving from resentment.‌

But⁠‌‌ he understood his‍⁠ defiance.

For‌‌ as cold as‍ he seemed, even⁠⁠ he could imagine​⁠ how his brother‌​ felt crashing into⁠ an impossible wall.⁠⁠

“I​ understand you want‌‌ to vent, but‌‍ don’t forget that⁠ the Dragulia family’s‌ anger hasn’t subsided.”‌‍

“…”​​​

At⁠ the mention of‌ Dragulia, Kihano began‌‍‌ to stir slightly.‌‍​

But‍⁠ Perez pretended not‌⁠ to notice and⁠⁠‍ continued speaking.

“So‌‌ go farther away.‌ Until they forget⁠​​ you.”

Thud—⁠‌‌

With​‌ those words, Perez⁠⁠ stood up and⁠‌ tossed a small​‍‍ bag toward Kihano,‍‍ who was still‍⁠ lying on the‌ floor.

The‌ bag fell with⁠ a familiar clinking⁠ sound.

It‌⁠ was unmistakably the​ sound of coins.‍

“I‍​ don’t need this…”‌‌

“Take⁠‍​ it. It’s from‌‍‍ our mother.”

After​ throwing the bag‌‌​ of gold, Perez⁠ tucked a small⁠ piece of paper‍‍‌ into the ropes‍‍ binding the boy‌ hanging from the‌⁠ ceiling.

“Agreement‌‍‌ or not, you‌ caused trouble for⁠‌ the Turrek family.‍⁠ So handle this.”​‍⁠

The⁠⁠‍ boy, exhausted, had​ fallen asleep and‌ didn’t even wake​ when Perez untied‌‌​ him and gently​​⁠ laid him on⁠ the floor.

Without‍‍⁠ another word, Perez‍‍ left the cell.‌⁠‌

Kihano,‍‍ still lying powerless​ on the floor,‌​​ slowly began to⁠‌ rise as he‌ watched his brother’s​​ back disappear.

***‍⁠

“It‌ must be difficult​⁠⁠ for you, Sir​ Perez Frausen.”

“…”⁠‍

Perez,‍​ who had planned‍​ to leave silently,​​​ was stopped by‍ an unexpected voice.‌⁠

“Clearly,​⁠‌ as a member‍‍ of the Frausen⁠‌ family, the problems⁠‍ he causes are‌‌⁠ of great magnitude.”⁠‌‍

The‌​ man’s bald head‌‌‍ gleamed under the‌​ moonlight.

Smiling​​ maliciously, the man​⁠ approached. He was​⁠⁠ the knight of​ the Turrek family⁠​​ who had brought‌‍ Kihano here.

“What‌⁠ do you want?”⁠‍‌

“Nothing‍​ in particular… There​ is just an⁠‍⁠ outstanding debt with‍​⁠ Señor Kihano.”

Feigning​‌⁠ politeness, the man​⁠‌ extended his hand​ toward Perez.

“As‌ I said before,⁠ it must be⁠ the Frausen blood​‍ that makes the⁠​ problems they cause​ so large. Your‌ brother owes me⁠⁠‌ a considerable amount‍⁠⁠ of money.”

Upon⁠⁠ hearing this, Perez’s⁠ brow furrowed slightly.⁠​‌

“How‌‍ much?”

“About‌ 20 gold coins.”‍‌

“…20‍‌⁠ gold coins?”

His​ brother’s reputation as​ the libertine of​ the Frausen family⁠‍⁠ was well known.‌‌⁠

But​​ Perez, who had​‌ watched him for‍ a long time,​ knew that Kihano⁠‌⁠ would not borrow​‍‌ 20 gold coins⁠⁠ without a good‍‌⁠ reason.

“Well…​‍ The boy who⁠​ accompanies your brother,‌‍ right? His name⁠ is Yan.”

The​ man was embellishing‍ his story, but⁠​​ the situation was‌​‍ simple.

There‌ was a boy​⁠ who worked alone‌‌‌ on a farm.​​

His​⁠​ parents had left‍⁠​ him with a huge debt before⁠‍‌ they died.

And‍‌‍ coincidentally, the owner‌‌ of the farm⁠​ was the creditor⁠ of that debt.‍⁠​

It​⁠⁠ was a situation‍‍ that, by coincidence​ or not, often‍ occurred in this⁠​⁠ world.

“So‌ my brother paid‍‍ 20 gold coins‌ to buy the​ boy’s freedom?”

“Exactly.‌​ And I lent​‌ him that money.”​‌‍

Perez⁠‍ smiled slightly, understanding​‍ why there was​‌⁠ a boy hanging⁠‌‌ in the cell.⁠‍⁠

He‍⁠ calmly approached the‍‍ man.

“Then,‌​ the 20 gold‌​ coins must be​‍ paid.”

The‍‍ Frausen family always‍⁠​ paid their debts⁠‌‌ justly.

Rewarding‌‍⁠ kindness and repaying​​‍ grudges was an‍​‌ unbreakable rule of‍‍ their family.

“Sir​ Perez?”

However,​⁠‍ instead of handing‌⁠​ over coins, Perez‌ grabbed the man’s​​‌ outstretched hand.

He⁠‌ squeezed it so⁠‌ tightly that the‌​ bald knight’s eyes⁠⁠ widened, unable to‍‍‌ utter a sound.‌

“From‍⁠‌ what I saw⁠​ on the way⁠ here, it seems‌​ you treated my⁠ younger brother quite​⁠ harshly.”

“…!!”‍

Instead​⁠ of coins, the‌‍‌ man now felt‍‌ the crushing grip‌‌ of Perez on‌‍‌ his hand.

The​ bald knight’s eyes‌‌⁠ were wide open,⁠‌⁠ unable to scream,​‍⁠ while Perez’s grip‌‌ threatened to crush⁠ his bones.

“Let’s⁠‍⁠ see how much⁠‌ your life is‍ worth.”

“Aghhh…‌⁠ Ughh.”

Even​‌ though Kihano was‍ considered a libertine,​‌‌ he was still‍ a Frausen.

Not​‌‌ even the Turrek‍​‌ family could touch‍⁠⁠ a family that​⁠​ shone among humans,‍‍ even in the⁠ world of dragons.​⁠​

“Surely,‌ it’s worth more⁠⁠⁠ than 20 gold​‍‍ coins.”

“Gwaaaah!”​​

To​​ defend the honor‍‌​ of his younger​‌​ brother, whom no‍‍ one acknowledged, Perez​​ squeezed the man’s‍ hand forcefully.

Meanwhile,⁠ his younger brother⁠⁠ had been beaten⁠⁠ mercilessly.

***‌

“…Consuegra.”‌‌ (1)

Even⁠ in the dark‍⁠ cell, the moon‌​ shone brightly that‌ night.

On‍‍ the white paper⁠​ illuminated by the​⁠‌ moonlight, the name​ of a city​ was written.

A city at the​ edge of Baron‌ Turrek’s territory. Consuegra.‌​‌

From​⁠ Kihano’s cracked lips,​​​ the name of‌​ his next destination‌ slipped out softly.‍⁠​

T/N:‍‌

The⁠⁠ translation to this‌⁠‌ is literally in​ Spanish in case⁠ you think it⁠‍ was mistranslated.

 

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