Star-Embracing Swordmaster — Chapter 105: Don’t mess with moles (1)

Chapter 105: Don’t mess with moles (1)

When⁠⁠ Goethe saw the‍‍ suddenly formed hole,⁠‌‍ he let out‌‌ a hollow voice.

“What’s‍ happening…”

I really didn’t expect‌ this.

I never expected an‌‌ apparently ordinary mole‌‌ to create something‍‌⁠ like this.

The‍‌⁠ idea of luring‍ it with barley was good, and⁠ Vlad’s judgment to‍‌ run like lightning‍⁠ and catch the‌ mole was also‌⁠‌ good.

However,⁠⁠‍ I could never‌ have imagined that‌‍‍ as soon as‌‍ Vlad grabbed the‌ mole, the ground⁠ would collapse instantly.‌‌

“…Shouldn’t‍‍‌ we have caught‍ it?”

Vlad‌⁠ was dragged into⁠‍ darkness as if⁠ he had been‍‌ snatched away.

Thus,‌‌ Vlad disappeared right‌ before Goethe’s eyes,⁠ leaving behind only‌⁠ a shout.

“Captain!‍‍ Are you okay!”⁠‌

Goethe,‌‍ who had finally regained his senses,‌⁠ shouted loudly towards‌‌ the well where‍‌ Vlad was sucked⁠ in, but all⁠ he could hear‌‌ was the empty‌ sound of the‌ wind.

Left⁠‌ behind with Noir‍ under the dark‍⁠ night, Goethe didn’t‌‌ know what to⁠ do.

***‌

“Ugh…”‌⁠

As‌ soon as the⁠ seemingly endless fall‍ ended, Vlad drew⁠⁠ his sword and looked around.

“What‌ is this?”

Since‍‍‍ the floor collapsed‍ and I was⁠ dragged in, I know this is underground.

“Where⁠ the hell am‌‌ I, bastard?”

Kwieek!⁠

Vlad‍‌ grabbed the mole‍ and shook it‌ as if to⁠‍ vent his anger,⁠‍ but there was no way the⁠‍ thing wriggling in⁠ his hand could⁠⁠ respond in human‍ language.

He‌ is clearly the‌‍ culprit who created⁠‍ this situation, but‌ the reason we‍‍⁠ can’t act rashly⁠ is probably because it still shines‍ even in the⁠ darkness.

“If⁠ only it wasn’t⁠‍ a damn spirit.”⁠‍

Vlad⁠ grumbled under his⁠ breath, but he‍ acted cunningly, activating⁠ his aura and‍‌ trying to assimilate‍ his eyes in⁠ total darkness.

My‍ experience in Soara,‍ where I worked‍ at night instead⁠‍ of during the‌ day, was helpful‍ in this case.⁠⁠‍

Kwieek?‍⁠

“Shut⁠ up.”

The⁠ mole, sensing Vlad’s‌⁠‍ aura, made a noise as if‌ surprised, but all‍ it got was a cold response.‍

However,‍ contrary to Vlad’s‌‌‍ cold response, the mole felt quite‍ relieved.

This was because, as⁠ the Aura flowed,‌‍ I felt the⁠⁠ blessings of the‌ spirits of the‌‍‍ armor and the⁠ amber.

“Nothing‌ in this world⁠ is easy.”

The‌‌ first thing Vlad‍‍‍ did after gaining‍‍ some visibility through‌‍ his Aura was⁠ to check the⁠ hole he had‌ fallen into, but‌ no matter how‌ much he looked,‍‍ it seemed impossible to climb back⁠⁠ up there.

‘Mmm’‌‍

The‌ next thing I did was to‌‍ explore where I am now.

Although his vision was‍‌ not perfect, Vlad,⁠⁠ who had used‍ all his senses‍‍ from the tips⁠⁠ of his hands⁠⁠ and feet, realized‌‍ that he was‌⁠ now standing on⁠ what looked like⁠⁠⁠ a hallway.

A hallway large enough‌‍ for a human‌‍ to stand with⁠‌ just a slight‌ bend.

It was strangely large‍⁠ for having been⁠‌ created by moles‍‌ with small bodies.‌‌

“I‌‌‌ guess I’ll have⁠‍ to get out⁠⁠ first.”

In‍‍ any case, the‌‍ guy who is‍ currently fighting in⁠‌ my hand came‍ out and stole‍‍⁠ the barley, so‌ there must be⁠‌ an exit.

Vlad‍‌ put saliva on‌ the tip of‍‌ his finger and‌‌‌ checked if there was any airflow.‌

“There‌⁠ is.”

There‌ was a weak⁠ but palpable wind.⁠‍⁠

It‌⁠ was evidence that‍ there was definitely⁠ a hole leading‌⁠ to the outside,‌⁠‌ no matter how⁠ big or small‍‌ it was.

“If‌‍‌ I don’t get‌‍ out of here‍‌ today, you’ll be‌‌ tomorrow’s breakfast.”

Kwieek

Vlad,‌ who had threatened⁠ the mole just⁠‍‍ in case, began‍⁠ to move in‍ the direction he⁠ had found.

Vlad’s⁠ blue eyes, which‍‍ shone even in‍‌ the darkness, began to find their‍‍ way.

***⁠‌‌

“What⁠ should I do‌ with this?”

Goethe, shouting at the hole at the⁠ top of his‌ lungs, realized he‌⁠ could no longer⁠⁠‌ solve the problem‌ alone.

Whether‌⁠⁠ you dig the‌ hole in front⁠ of you or⁠ find another way,⁠ you’ll need more‌ people.

Neigh-‍⁠

“Eh?”⁠⁠

While‌‌ quickly grabbing the‌ reins and about‍ to head down⁠‌‍ to the village, Goethe noticed Noir’s⁠ movements were pulling‌‍ him.

“Where⁠ are you going?‌⁠ Hey?”

Noir,⁠⁠‍ who was quietly‍‌⁠ looking at the‌ hole where Vlad⁠ fell, began to‌‍‍ walk towards the‍ dark forest, not‍‌ towards the village,⁠‍‍ with steps that‌⁠ seemed to indicate‍ that direction.

It‍ was as if‍ he knew where⁠‍⁠ Vlad was.

“…I’m‍‌ going crazy.”

Goethe‍‌ felt embarrassed as‌ Noir didn’t move‍⁠ as he wanted, but at least⁠ he knew this⁠‍ guy wasn’t like⁠ that for no⁠ reason.

He⁠⁠ knew well that‍ he was a being even the‌ barbarians considered sacred,‍ and sometimes seemed more intelligent than‍⁠ people.

“Alright.‌ Let’s go.”

Voice‌‌ wasn’t the only‌ thing that touched Vlad’s world.

Since‌‍ Noir is also⁠⁠ a being that⁠‍‌ has shared the world across the‍‍ border, he could‍‍‍ notice Vlad’s movements⁠ underground.

Sometimes animals react more‌ abruptly than humans.‍‍

“…But⁠⁠ they said there‌ was a strange sound.”

As‍‍ Goethe entered the‌ dark forest, he‍‌‍ suddenly remembered a story the villagers‌‌ had told him.‍

The‌ day the girl disappeared, several village‍ residents said they‍ heard strange screams⁠⁠‌ coming from the⁠ forest.

He‌⁠ said that although⁠‍ it was the⁠ first time he⁠‌‍ heard a sound⁠⁠ that was neither human nor animal,‍ it was a sensation that sent‌ shivers down his⁠⁠ spine.

***‍

“…This⁠‍ seems like a tree.”

Vlad,⁠ walking in darkness‌ while holding the‍‌ shiny mole in⁠ his hand, realized⁠ that the ground he was walking‍‌ on was not⁠⁠ soil.

Since‌ you were obviously‍‍⁠ swallowed by the‍⁠ ground, what you’re stepping on must‍ be earthen floor.⁠⁠

However,‌ what now filled‍⁠ the ground seemed‌‌ to be hard‍ tree roots instead‍ of soft soil.⁠

It’s‌ like dry tree‌⁠ roots.

“I’ll figure it out when I get⁠⁠ out.”

Although‌‍ he was alone‌ in a narrow‌ and dark tunnel,‍⁠ Vlad didn’t lose⁠‍ his composure.

Part of it was⁠ due to his⁠ bold nature, but‌ also because the‌ current situation was⁠ better than when he was fighting⁠ in Soara.

And‍‍‌ the fact that⁠⁠‍ the wind was⁠ approaching was enough‍ to give Vlad‌⁠ a glimmer of‌⁠‍ hope.

Kwiik⁠ Kyuik.

As‌ the wind approached⁠‍ and the air‍ became cooler, a smile appeared on⁠‍ Vlad’s face, but‌‌ the struggles of‌‌‍ the shiny mole⁠‍‍ he held onto⁠ were becoming more‌‌ severe.

“What⁠⁠ the hell are⁠‍‌ you complaining about?”‌‍‍

Kwieek!‌

It‌‌ extended its arms and seemed to be trying to‌ say something, but‍⁠ being born of⁠⁠ different species, there was no way⁠‍ they could communicate.‌‍

Perhaps‍⁠‍ if it had‌‌ a voice now,‍ wouldn’t it have‌⁠ provided at least‌‌ some insight?

“Let’s‍ get out and‍ see for now.”‍‌‌

Problems‍⁠‌ must be solved‌‍ step by step.⁠‍⁠

Regardless‍⁠ of whether the‌ mole struggles or‍ not, the first‍⁠ problem to solve‌⁠ is to get‌‍ out of here.⁠⁠

Unless‍ you want to⁠⁠⁠ spend your whole‍ life wandering through‍ a tunnel.

‘Mmm?’‌

As‍ he grew more‌ confident that he‍ was going to get out, there‌⁠‌ was a strange⁠ sound in Vlad’s ears.

Thump!⁠ Thump!

A sound like something‍ hard being struck.‌

Vlad‌⁠ listened to an‌ unidentifiable sound and‍‍‌ silently assessed the‍ direction and distance.⁠

Judging‌‌ by the echo‌ sensation, it seemed like the sound⁠ was coming from‌ outside, not from the tunnel he⁠ was currently in.‌‍

“Be⁠‌‍ quiet.”

Kyu-‌‍

The shiny mole calmed‍ down before Vlad even spoke a word.

Vlad⁠ quickly tucked the‍ mole into the⁠ pocket of his⁠ armor and began‍‌‌ to move cautiously,‍ holding his sword‌⁠ with both hands.‍‍

Thump!‍ Thump!

As‌ they advanced, the‌‌ sound grew louder,⁠ and now they‌‍ could even feel⁠ the vibration through⁠‌ the tree roots on the ground.‌‌

Even‌‌⁠ the pile of‌‍ dirt on the⁠‌ ceiling was breaking‌‍ and falling, so‌ I don’t know,‌‍‌ but it felt⁠ like something was⁠ being struck with⁠ tremendous force.

‘I‌⁠ see.’

Vlad,⁠ who had been wandering between unknown‍ sounds and vibrations,‍‍ finally found a small ray of‍ moonlight in the⁠‌ middle of the⁠ passage.

As‍‌‌ he approached the‍‍‍ spot, there was‌‍‌ a hole in‍ the ceiling large‌ enough for a person to enter‌ and exit, and⁠‌‌ today’s moon was‍ shining through it.

‘Alright.’‍

Since⁠‍ you’ve found a clear path, there’s‍‍ no reason to‍ hesitate.

Vlad⁠ sheathed his sword‌‍ and began to‌⁠‍ ascend towards the⁠‍ moonlight, taking careful‍ leaps.

The⁠‌ shiny mole was simply curled up‌ in Vlad’s arms,⁠ as if it‍‌ was clearly aware‌ of the situation‍‍ at that moment.‍

Thump!‍⁠⁠

Vlad,‌ who was climbing‌⁠ with his fingers⁠‍ dug into the‍ collapsed dirt pile‍‍ on the ceiling,‍‍ held his breath‍⁠⁠ as the light⁠ grew clearer as‌ he ascended.

I don’t know what‌⁠ it was, but it felt like⁠‍‌ some kind of⁠ resolve was needed to get out⁠ of this place.‌‍

‘Nothing‌ is easy. There’s⁠ no such thing.’‌⁠

But‍ even if I regret it, there’s‌⁠ nothing I can⁠ do about it‍‍ now.

Even‍⁠‌ if I had known this would⁠ happen, I would‍ have sought out‍ the mole.

Vlad‍ made a decision,⁠⁠⁠ took a deep‍‍ breath, and put‌ strength into the⁠‌‍ tips of his‍ fingers.

‘Sigh!’‍

With‌ such strong determination, his head points outward.

Vlad,‌‌ with his head‍⁠ poking out, looked‍‌ like a mole that had emerged.⁠

But even though the‍ appearance was amusing, the judgment itself‌ was good.

‘…What⁠⁠‌ the hell is‌ that?’

The‌⁠‍ sight under the⁠ moonlight was quite‌ beautiful.

A bunch of moss‌ spread out like⁠‍ grass on a green plain.

And‌ in the middle of the group,⁠ there was a tree lifting its‌ head.

It⁠‍ was an oak⁠ tree that seemed⁠⁠‍ unusual at first glance, like the‌⁠⁠ tree in Hainal Hill, or the maple seen in Alicia’s Amber Stone.⁠‌

Thump!‌⁠

Ahhh!‌

And⁠‌⁠ a being wielding‍‍ an axe with‍ fierce force in‍ front of an‍ oak tree.

A monster that stood‌⁠ on two feet‌ but was too‌ large to be‍‌‍ considered human screamed incessantly and struck‍‍ an oak tree⁠‌ with the axe⁠ it held.

The‌‍‍ shiny mole wasn’t‍ quietly peeking out.‌‍

It‌ was trembling in‍ Vlad’s arms.

Because‌ it knew the unknown monster it‍‍‌ was seeing was‍ here.

‘Dammit…’‍‍

Vlad,‌ who realized the‌⁠ situation, quickly ducked‍‍ his head and‍ began to think‍‍‌ about what to‌ do.

The⁠‍ most important thing‌‍ will be identifying‌⁠‌ the enemy.

I don’t know why‍ an unknown monster‌ is hitting the⁠‌ tree, but if⁠ it’s not related‍ to you, there’s‍ no need to deal with it.‌

“…”‌

Vlad‌⁠ peeked his head⁠ out again, this⁠‍ time closing his left eye and‌ looking through the⁠⁠ world to the⁠ trees and the‍⁠ monster.

There⁠⁠ he saw a screaming oak tree⁠ and a monster⁠ that seemed to⁠‍ be shrouded in⁠ a dark shadow.

‘It’s⁠⁠ yellow.’

And‍⁠‌ the remnants of‍ the voice left‍⁠ in Vlad’s world‌‌ showed that the‍ tree now screaming was yellow.

It was a light‍⁠⁠ the same color as a mole⁠‍‍ suspected to be‌ a spirit.

“They⁠ kicked you out‍ of here.”

Vlad⁠‍ let out a small sigh as⁠ he felt the‌‌ mole tremble in‌‍ his arms.

He‌‌ didn’t know the‌ exact reason, but‍‍ he thought that‍‌‌ crazy monster had‌‍ kicked it out of its home.‌

“…I‌⁠ guess I should do it.”

Kye?‍‍

There was an accident,⁠⁠‍ but somehow the⁠‌ spirit’s home was‌‌ found.

Although⁠ there seemed to⁠‌‍ be some haste on the attacker’s⁠‌‍ side, Vlad was‌ also a rather⁠ hasty person, so⁠⁠ it would be‌‍⁠ fine to yield first.

“Whoo.”‌⁠

The⁠‍ key to the‌ fatal blow lies‌ in its unpredictability.‌

If‌ you have swift‍ feet, you might achieve surprise in‌‍ the form of‌‍ a sneak attack.⁠

Vlad‍ slowly begins to‌⁠⁠ recall his world by taking deep breaths.

Through‍‍‍ the strong rising⁠ Aura, Ramund’s strength‌ increased, and the⁠ remnants of his‌⁠‌ voice merged into‌ the sword.

And‌ his world, which‌ still had no‌ color, was imprinted⁠ on his eyes.⁠⁠

Teueuung-!⁠‌

Ahhh!‍‍

‘Now!’⁠

The moment the monster‍‌ knocked down the‍⁠ tree and raised‍ the axe with⁠‌ a shout.

A white beam began‍⁠‍ to leap from‌‍ the small hole⁠‍⁠ with a charge‌ akin to an‍‌ explosion.

Kye?⁠⁠

Kwiiiuu-‍

The monster comes from an unexpected angle,⁠‌ and the shiny‍ mole moves at‍⁠‌ an unexpected speed.⁠‍

“Huaap!”‌⁠⁠

Vlad’s‍ strike, which completed⁠ the unexpected with⁠ his sharpness that‍ took by surprise,‌‍‍ quickly approached the⁠ monster.

Crunch!⁠

Vlad’s‌‌‍ sword, tinged with‌‍‌ white, was beheading‌⁠ a monster that‍‌‍ couldn’t even turn⁠‍ its eyes.

It‌‍ was a sword that contained the⁠⁠ full force of‌ a knight who‌ could now stand‍ alone.

Neck‌ rolling down.

A collapsing body.

And‌‌ an oak tree⁠ stopped screaming in pain and looked‌‍ at Vlad in‍ surprise.

There‍ was a scene⁠‌ under the moonlight where everything was‍‌ silent under Vlad’s‌⁠⁠ sword.

“What⁠ the hell…”

However,‍ Vlad, who had‌ created the silence,⁠ quickly raised his‍‌‍ sword again.

Vlad’s⁠‌ world, whose color had not yet been decided, began‌ to sharply extend‍‌⁠ towards the sword.⁠⁠

I cut it, but I couldn’t cut⁠⁠ it.

Because⁠ the severed head‍ actually meant nothing.‌‌

“Are‌ you back again?”‍

With‌ Vlad’s gruff voice,‍ the shattered body⁠ of the monster‍ began to rise⁠⁠ again.

As‌ if the fallen neck had nothing to do with‍‍‍ it.

A huge body, a section cut but‌‍ already smoothly closed.‌⁠

Because‌ it wasn’t a monster active in‌ the north, Vlad‌ didn’t know it,⁠‌ but in the⁠ central region, this⁠⁠ monster was called‌‍ a troll that‌ brought fear and‍ respect.

¡Kuaaa!⁠⁠

A loud roar began to resonate from⁠ the neck rolling‍ on the ground.⁠‍

It was a horrible‍⁠ cry that the‍ villagers heard.