Chapteer 281: Side Story – The Boy with Blue Eyes (1)
SfWiA Note From the AuthorS3h2
0UI6EXHello everyone, this is Q10.leafP
Vg3It’s been a long time since we’ve seen each other.BUYW
KMzYX3kI will begin serializing the side stories of Star-Embracing Swordmaster.ISO7Xt
sR2YmThrough this series, I want to explore parts of the world I wasn’t able to fully develop, the relationships between characters, and other stories many readers wanted to see.2cJIRm2
X51C7frI’m truly sorry it took me so long to return.eoIGZyI
czyn6I will work hard. Thank you.Fpc
i9JfUpdates will be released every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 6:00 PM.aDJrEQ
0yQfxThe sky, where the glow of the sunset had faded away, was already tinged with a pale blue.BTQr3
i4VeIt was the hour when darkness began to seep in little by little beneath a moon that had not yet fully matured.if6
tEBVSAt that boundary between day and night, where everything became blurred, a lone figure stood in solitude.GWj1uWT
YpBC6“…Do you really have to leave today?”k8d
LxQ5awIt was a child.IQIQt
JLzeAnd one so small that he barely seemed old enough to be turning four.5hxuGF8
Cl5n“Can’t you stay one more day? Just one more day.”2mjqAtn
MA1KlNot fully understanding what it was that made him so sad, the boy kept his head lowered as he kicked the ground for no reason.gvUmL6p
lbUThen, at the end of his gaze, a small green chrysalis appeared.GGdnN
YlOkMGIt was hidden beneath a foxtail plant, barely poking out its head.5hq
VABUSThe man had told him that tonight, that little friend would become a beautiful butterfly and fly away.7qrZnDJ
JMBd[Farewells are best when they are simple.]YyQ7qti
lPaNNTThe boy liked that little green caterpillar very much.wBVzL
SwiQHe liked it even when it became a chrysalis.XQyBk
iaJiAnd he would surely have liked it when it transformed into a butterfly as well.gOBVIE
dzfJBut what he truly did not understand was that, just as wings would grow on his little friend, his friend also had to leave today.SfmBhK
nD4oUS“But even so…”fb5Eq
RcSThe boy looked at him with tear-filled eyes.G3MV
c4ZHowever, the man merely smiled faintly without saying a word.5lsZr
GP2He was someone who knew exactly when it was time to say goodbye.k70Kk
P8vggg[It’s getting late. Your mother will worry. Right?]14GT
FyAAt those words telling him it was time to go home, the boy let his shoulders droop and turned around.RKOHy
uVyyHe could have insisted a little longer.qWtLCYB
jhaQ7WuBut, in a manner unbefitting someone his age, he immediately began walking down the hill.PGxsvqU
HoqzSniff…lOBsyY
xvRBecause the boy cared deeply for that man.FH0x
m6HFor some reason, he reminded him of his father.nlAnt
mwuAnd when he smiled, he made him think of his mother’s smile.Ceoj2
nWpJust as he loved his parents, he could not help but love and follow that man as well.pbcWqc
IabOEn[Be careful on your way back.]CzmF
kyQdb6As the boy descended the hill between sobs, an enormous white snake wagged its tail at him.8WWTdkA
7nVjEn[And always watch where you step.]vQXal
pYI0A yellow mole constantly inspected the ground to make sure the boy would not hurt himself as he walked along wiping away his tears.tEOtw
pNb[Then we’ll see each other next time, Emil.]tavI
0PuZLThe boy had firmly decided not to look back.Xx1
G6avBut he could not resist the man’s final farewell.NFv5L
WeugmjBecause for a small child, a goodbye was a wound too painful to bear.XhT
izJiaW“Ah…”W7YaNN
KbmPXPDWhen he finally turned around, he saw butterflies flying above the hill.5hA
OPnkThe night sky growing darker and darker.kHkLR
JPIDThe man who seemed to be made of that very night.RitXFoP
ratPgOXAnd between them, my little butterfly flying as though it were swimming through the air.pBzdy
a4nl6TlThe man never told the boy his name.jTUr4
mo9bRHe only told him that he came from that black moon visible up above.1Jm8x0b
xOyuhaThat small black moon peeking shyly beside the white moon.m55Ehe
qzYjBeneath the moonlight, the black-haired man waved his hand toward the boy.g6Zm
9yGE8***omtA9
vnjHaa…LMeSnt
KErZpcSummer sunlight passed through the window and fell across the man’s shoulders.0I5F
NybyWith his back to that blinding radiance, the man tilted his head back as he felt the warmth slowly spread across his back.Sg9LBMO
jn2XOutside was a brilliant blue sky.HzdP4
9WuBut in front of him was a crying boy.ovTl
kleo6uFWithout realizing it, he let out a resigned sigh.DUn
FjQ46“…So, who the hell did something this stupid?”Gnlm
aCEh5He was a one-eyed man.5gN
oOMcAlthough half of his hair had already turned gray, his right eye still retained all of its strength.6kWBQU
4jCaSCEAnd beside it, the eyepatch covering his left eye possessed such a distinctive presence that it was impossible to forget after seeing it only once.ucK
D98Ii“Tell me, Maksim. Who was it that stuck a spoon into his head?”s1ERzvc
TQN5FjZIt was Jager the One-Eyed.vyB9R
cIRbdEAThe current commander of the Bayezid family’s knights.1Cyl
h5iWsOne of the most representative knights of the North and the great knight who had raised the Swordmaster of this era.0N9
vTBtUWAnd now, as he looked at the boy standing before him, he rubbed his temples with an obvious headache.NTIaC
9xz0jG“…They say it was Squire Emil.”WIzn
982GesrPerhaps around thirteen years old?swZZ
4uBvtTYA squire standing right at the boundary between childhood and adolescence held back his tears while a spoon was embedded in his head.EAxpxsD
bxHIt was lodged so neatly that at first Jager had thought it was one of those accessories that had become fashionable lately.4Oz
n1Znz3W“L-Lord Jager! This is completely unfair! I was only eating in the dining hall…!”aWmPJIE
7Ka4op“It seems there was a fight between squires. It happens from time to time around this period.”vHgfzwJ
9M4hThe veteran knight Maksim replied as he scratched his nearly bald head.Cedbj
jn0qIIt had all begun with an argument between young squires in the dining hall.52dwPg
4enAfter exchanging words, they ended up fighting.V6dj
M5KdAnd apparently, a squire named Emil lost his temper and stuck a spoon into the head of the boy who was now crying.xTmhi2B
CokCBut was it really something that needed to reach the commander of the knights?PKYvBG6
2tEW91Q“Such barbaric behavior! Sniff…! I cannot tolerate such injustice! Send a magical telegram to my family immediately! No, send it right now!”kidjA1
m4aUrnOf course it was something he needed to know about.B1t1N02
HLcgmeBecause the squire standing before him was the eldest legitimate son of the influential Valthof family from the center of the continent.F9gsNG2
GWQGIn other words, the Valthof family might even mobilize an army for the sake of this child, their sole heir.KYwpRYG
6bE9MCn“A magical telegram? Don’t be ridiculous. Take this.”CNfo
9KcHowever, the one-eyed knight did not seem concerned about such a thing in the slightest.f5M
GVPh0FkThe boy, who had tried to rely on his family’s influence, automatically caught the small teaspoon Jager tossed at him and stared at it with a bewildered expression.2Xv0UIU
dny“What is this…?”73drBEq
99rHAt home, he might be a valuable young master.VIagv
5mZgcidBut here, he was just another squire.3nZR
pM1ezBayezid’s squire training program was an inviolable domain that even the most influential families of the center could not question.u4YX
C4vBecause that place was the cradle where a Swordmaster had been raised.rbFak
icM“Have our young master do exactly the same thing.”lbfmI
RIub0“Excuse me?”4PiR
FOFJager brought his teacup to his lips and grinned broadly as he scrunched up his face.LWkA5F
ag8v9gB“Go on. Find that bastard Emil. And stick it into his head exactly the same way.”Q4k2
ELynXrIf you get hit, you hit back.OkE57
y9uThe North was a place that had to be protected.jrvpR
JrU0oAnd one’s own honor had to be learned and defended with one’s own hands as well.ZIB3Q
TDdVwrZHe could have explained it step by step.9tBajZk
KqABDQgBut Jager was not such a kind person.YHIB
n0gR“If you understand, then get out.”vGaJCY
09G“Uwaaaah!”bs5hr
27YNA man who taught the spirit of the North with a simple wave of his hand.Ds0e3BM
8DcYdq2He truly possessed the presence of a great knight who had raised a Swordmaster.JbG4mV0
eHBwjeMoved by such profound instruction, the young squire had no choice but to leave the office in tears.2ZH7gPv
ogFxtClutching a small teaspoon tightly in his hand.WNTADli
ZiJt“…This is why I said I didn’t want to become the commander of the knights.”O7wIZVa
AVDWatching the young squire’s back as he left in tears, Jager let out a deep sigh.rUtsjV
OY9DHe truly had never wanted to hold a position like this.NxKfRu
GsnSJHe had always hated being part of the main group.e5zp2E
OnuBut he had not been given a choice.No2V7
PYlYVhHe had somehow managed to refuse the request of Count Rutiger, the current Count Bayezid.bWh5
90uW2However, when even the great lady Oksana, the widow of the previous count, personally intervened, there was no longer any escape.1MvL
6105u“By the way, why are so many of them coming here crying this year? Is there something wrong with this class?”yurZZ7U
rbpAt Jager’s question, Maksim shrugged.8LDXf
sUxThat gesture seemed to say that he already knew the answer himself.Y2M4FjL
Vq8Jager’s brow furrowed.YtpHcmG
CJvX“Is that Emil really that troublesome? Nothing like this happened with his sister.”JE1j
iIIlarQ“…To begin with, his personality is rather peculiar.”dv8rZt
ocmEmil, the son of Vlad Aureo.EJizGR4
MB6JN4As if inheriting his father’s face exactly were not enough, it seemed he had inherited his temperament as well.RMeb
wujGNDespite having grown up surrounded by care and affection, the boy gave off a strangely rough impression.6et9kW
dfoQExeReally, if you took the Vlad of those days, removed some of his height, and added a little baby fat to his cheeks, he would look exactly like Emil did now.wnrpJ
4nFrr“Besides, since they’re still children, they all want to try picking a fight with Emil. Something like challenging the strength of the Swordmaster.”MYkzBb
v5Dn“So they have someone who looks like easy prey right beside them.”0sc7
iTQG0ziAnd there was also the problem of having a father who was far too extraordinary.3VMMy
sDdEvery squire in this class had grown up hearing stories about the Swordmaster.8pL
ybXZThe knight.z6z
dFeThe elf.Sypdd
JR8k0The Empire’s Sword.1msI
0kbdLbjThe Swordmaster’s Rules.woRPbpC
7CkRfNZAnd even the title of Dragonslayer.F0gw
zzNShfFor children who had only just entered adolescence, it was hard to imagine anything more exciting than that.CAui
RGNoX6hAnd on top of that, they had a living example of it all right beside them.ZwfecFT
AEGy3It was only natural that anyone would feel tempted to provoke him a little.EONuD
CtjF“But it seems it wasn’t as easy as they thought.”0d8lP
mLx8jcTaking a sip of tea, Jager thought to himself.Plrht
Pr9OcI like this.ZxhkM
WpROf course it should be this way.4Jl7Q
gmcnRYour father did exactly the same thing.NgX
NvEBZsv“Even so, he’ll have to be properly reprimanded. He’s only a squire, and he’s already using weapons.”HrDtmn9
bAkw“Weapons? It was a spoon.”6231g
ld4“What are you talking about? Maksim, have you never killed someone with a spoon?”bAMDUE
zsH“What?”tJDCQ
6ZKZTo0“Huh?”rjvDu
Sx0uO7UFor a brief moment, a strange silence settled between the two men, whose life experiences seemed vastly different.28rj
s7QO“In any case, we need to keep an eye on him. He’s a child who inherited dragon blood.”QShsCS
e0JDragon blood possessed limitless possibilities.oJd1
UNvKDepending on the life he lived, he could become an honorable Swordmaster or the oldest dragon, capable of devouring everything.Lyx
Q7mO4Jager was one of the few people who had observed that process from very close up.fxH106X
V3CnF5V‘Perhaps this is my final duty.’mhHPZPF
Nh7n9gProtecting the possibilities of the young.cki0
gZktEspecially when those possibilities were just beginning to bloom.nucEw
9VKMHe did not know what kind of flower it would become, but Jager thought the current situation fit perfectly with the Swordmaster’s First Rule.8pdpUxk
EKPr“Hey! What’s wrong with you, idiot?!”trD
Gbugwq“Emil! I told you no! I told you we shouldn’t do it!”mDGRqF
ol6eVT“Uwaaaah!”stbq
8U0y7Jager had been lost in thought for a few moments while enjoying a cup of tea.KB54lmU
82HsHowever, the voices of children coming from outside the window made him lower his head in resignation.jtAXD
VgObImc“…Now what?”duq03m1
Bjmy3At Jager’s lament, Maksim walked over to the window and looked outside.xJe72XN
bllr9RJThen he involuntarily clicked his tongue.yVNL
c9etnw“It’s Emil.”opmz4
eXTy0u“And what did he do this time?”CpUTi
abU7bA“He’s riding a horse.”ty1d1io
tcR0VFY“Then why are they making so much noise?”C80r
Vh235sLMaksim shook his head as if to say he would have to see it for himself.yaV
XSUQJager stood up with his teacup in hand.QetGLGx
kmWnYbt“Haa…”UchwLS
OTXZjiTIt was a splendid afternoon.5OGEkMD
0YXlBThe pleasant weather of early summer, still free from oppressive heat.821zQFc
oK2A cool breeze blew gently.jNqH
S0yAnd there was a blond boy desperately clinging to the saddle, while behind him a chubby boy ran after him, panting.rmfKju
fCsqC“No! I thought it would work if the commander said it!”1c9
FioR“So that brat doesn’t know how to ride either.”r7hTuFh
Ivn0EdTIt was a very peaceful summer scene.T0S6Z1P
p8nZdmAt least, it would have been if the horse leaping around everywhere had not happened to be Jager’s horse.BePDsvt
ep1eJ“My father said that if it was an expensive horse, it would work!”fFpU
KVg“It seems I didn’t die early enough to avoid seeing this again.”qZkl
u01Shaking his head as though witnessing something unbearable, Jager gestured toward Maksim.DOBKJsF
Ua3Catch those brats.vF4
ZkGA08And cook them properly.OrRNI0E
ctp“Understood, Commander.”V3RWm
LeOpDydAfter Maksim left, Jager remained alone in the office and gently swirled his teacup.RY3
kdRg“…”G0U1np8
JfIAs he watched the small glimmers of light shimmering across the disturbed surface of the tea, a feeling of emptiness suddenly came over him.7AMk
B8y5DbThe feeling that no one was there.l17muN
dSA1aThe reality that he was now completely alone in that office.ovYHuhX
GNK5o“…Without a doubt, elven tea clears the mind.”TQcp
V4OoBack then, there had always been two people in Sturma’s quiet office.aDVgpnZ
hsjcd1tThat black-haired man who was always seated, drafting documents in the same posture.OfRqht
ruurIf he closed his eyes and listened carefully, he felt as though he could still hear the soft scratching of a pen across paper.hMHc
1rttu“It would be perfect if the aftertaste weren’t so bitter.”JRoZx
r5nfZJager closed his remaining eye and smiled silently as he remembered what always came next.SQR
Me6vK1It was an ordinary and unchanging scene.XbEax
1aS8M4But ever since that young master had arrived, it felt as though a ray of light had pierced through the heavy curtains.yYJIL
JpDj8“How does it feel to have the knight you serve riding a horse while you travel comfortably in a carriage despite being only a squire?”hivv7
zvkAGk“…I suppose I’ll get to ride expensive horses. Probably.”P0T
OPgs“Expensive horses should be carrying you. You’re more valuable than they are.”5FQHq9i
rMnB“Hahaha. That’s enough, Jager.”wv3Wnp
y8RWhat would the young master have said if he had seen today’s scene?R3xm6
7BN7qHe probably would have laughed just like he did back then.3MpvNJ
b6OCoLKBecause he was the kind of person who could let such insignificant mistakes pass with a smile.kzsc4Q
HwAKE“Though I doubt he would have liked this tea.”hv8
1IfmRCKLooks like the sun has gotten to me.oSj1ALG
O0yZwThinking that, Jager drained the last sip of tea remaining in his cup and frowned.MTOxZ
lX7As expected, it was still bitter.pggnB
What did you think of this chapter?
Report comment
Please select the reason for reporting this comment. False reports may result in account suspension.
0 Comments
There are no comments yet. Be the first!