Star-Embracing Swordmaster — Chapter 117: When the world tree blossoms (2)

Chapter 117: When the world tree blossoms (2)

Eyes‍⁠ clouded like white mist.

Green eyes barely retaining‌⁠ their color looked‌‍‌ closely at Alicia’s‌⁠ amber stone.

“You‌‌ were a precious⁠ guest.”

A smile began to form on the‌‌‍ old elf’s face‍‌⁠ as he recognized the landscape contained⁠ within the amber‌‌ stone.

The‌‍ eldest of the‍‍⁠ elves.

Long⁠‍ ago, Old Geronimo,‌‌ who survived the tumultuous era, was able to recover‍‍ a very ancient‌ memory through the⁠ amber stone brought by Vlad.

“Where‍‌ did you get⁠ this amber stone?”

“I⁠ heard it’s a relic of the Hainal family.”

The⁠‌ elder’s gaze turned‍⁠ pleased as it‌ met the boy’s‍ blue eyes.

Indeed,⁠‍‍ he was a precious human guest‌ whom he hadn’t‍⁠ seen in a long time.

“Ha-nal,⁠ Hai-nal, right?”

The‌ old tree’s eyes,‌⁠‍ recalling the greenery‌ of the past, trembled.

With‌⁠⁠ the weakened energy‍ of old age,‍‌‍ it wouldn’t have‌ been easy to⁠‌ unearth memories accumulated‍‌ over many years.⁠‌

“Sword⁠ Master.”

However,‍‌ there are names⁠ that cannot be‌‍ forgotten, no matter⁠‍ how many memories⁠⁠‌ lie buried under‌‍ the weight of‌ time.

People⁠ whose every step became history.

The⁠‍ current era was‌ built upon their‌ footsteps.

“…It‌‌ seems one of⁠ the knights who‌‍ followed you had‍‌ that surname.”

August⁠‍ stood silently behind‍⁠ Vlad, listening quietly.⁠

Thus,‌‍ without further ado,‌ holding his breath.‌⁠

For⁠ a knight who had dedicated his‍ entire life to‍⁠ the empire, hearing‍ the footsteps of⁠ the founding king‌‌ must still be‌ a deeply moving‍‌ experience.

“I⁠ want to know where the maple⁠‌ is here, Great‍⁠ Elder.”

Old Geronimo opened his‌ closed eyes upon‍‌ hearing a voice coming from in‍ front of him.‌

Blue‌ eyes that can‌ be clearly recognized‍‍ even with clouded‌ vision.

The⁠‌ young knight’s seriousness⁠ was evident from‍ the clenched fists⁠ he held unconsciously.⁠‌⁠

“Do⁠ you want to know where the‍‍ maple is here?”‍

“Yes.‌‌ That’s right.”

The⁠‌ bright blue eyes‌ were like starlight.⁠

It‍‌ felt as if‌ the possibility that⁠ had finally taken‌‌‍ shape was writhing‍‌ inside him.

“How‍‍‌ did you know⁠‌ the landscape contained‍‍ here was a maple?”

“…Yes?”

But⁠ as bright as⁠ it may be,‍ how could they⁠ glimpse a world⁠‌ that would not‌‌‌ have been allowed to humans?

Faced with the Elder’s‌‌‍ sudden question, Vlad‍ was left completely‍ breathless.

“…”⁠⁠

There⁠ are also excuses‍‌ I’ve thought of⁠ just in case.‌

However,‌‌ in front of‍ the elder elf‍‍ before him, he⁠‍⁠ felt somehow he shouldn’t bring out lies.

It‍‌⁠ was a warning‍⁠ that didn’t come‍ from experience or⁠‌‍ knowledge, but only⁠ from instinct.

“Well,⁠ what does it‍‌ matter?”

The‍⁠ elves eyed Vlad‍‌ warily, unable to⁠ respond with his‌ mouth shut.

However,‌⁠ the elder simply⁠‌ closed his eyes‍⁠ again with a slight smile as‍‌ if nothing had‌ happened.

Geronimo was someone who knew very well that the reality‌⁠ seen before him⁠‌ was more important‌ than each and⁠⁠‌ every small flaw.‍⁠

“…The‌‌ maple that was⁠‌‍ carved inside was‌‌ on the west‌⁠ side.”

“Is‍‍ it the west?”‍

Finally,‍ the elder’s response‌ is heard.

Vlad⁠⁠ was so excited‌ by the answer⁠⁠ that he unconsciously asked with a suppressed voice.

“Yes. West. A place‍ with the greenest⁠‌ forest on the‌ continent.”

However,‍ Vlad felt something‍ strange upon hearing‌⁠ Geronimo’s words.

“Is‌‌ there such a forest in the‍⁠ west?”

To⁠‍⁠ the west, there‌ was only a long wasteland.

In⁠‌ the western part⁠ of the empire,‌‍⁠ full of rough‌ soil and dry‍‍ winds, there was‌‌‌ no green forest‌‌‍ as the elder‍‌ spoke of.

“There‌ was.”

At⁠‍⁠ Vlad’s question, a wrinkle appeared on‌‌ the old tree’s⁠⁠ face.

It‍⁠ was a wrinkle‍‍ that looked like‌‍ a deeply engraved‌ wound.

“Our‌‌‌ forest that existed‍ long ago.”

A landscape he had‌⁠ dreamed of.

However,‌‍ there was a memory of that‌‌ day that was‍ painful to even‌ recall.

There‍ was a field⁠‍‌ of wheat filled‌‌‌ with golden light.‌

Wheat‌‌‌ plants swaying their‍‌ heads here and‍ there with the‌‍ wind, and a vast forest whose‍‌ end was unknown.⁠‌‌

Children⁠ playing in the⁠‍ red twilight.

And⁠‌ there was a red maple dominating‍ all of this⁠‌ from the top‍‌ of a low‍‍ hill.

There⁠ were scenes like⁠ that.

“Before‍‌ the dragon burned‌‍ it.”

The‌‌ most perfect dragon.‌

A cursed being that‍‌‌ burned all of‌ this with a single breath.

His‌‌ eyes trembled wildly‌ as he wandered through the now⁠⁠⁠ burnt memories.

“So…”⁠⁠⁠

“How‌‍ can I find something that no⁠‍ longer exists?”

It‍ seemed as if‌ black ash flowed‌ from the elder’s⁠ mouth as he⁠ spoke of old memories.

“Much‍ time has passed since everything was⁠‌ reduced to ashes.”⁠‌

An‍ autumnal scene captured‍⁠‌ in a yellow amber stone.

The things that were‌ engraved there were‍‌ now nothing but⁠‍ burnt memories, like‌ a pile of⁠⁠ ashes.

The‍⁠ young knight’s eyes‍‌⁠ throbbed constantly as he searched for something that no‍‍ longer existed.

***‌‌

Inside‌ the room provided‌‌‌ by the elves.‌‌

There,‍‌ Vlad sat against⁠‍ the windowsill, looking⁠ outside.

Elven‍ forest. Ausurin.

It‌ was said that‍‌ the green light⁠⁠ stretching to the‍ eastern end is‍ connected to the‍⁠ blue sea he‍‍ had never seen‍⁠⁠ before.

“Then⁠ I’ll go look‌⁠ at the thujon‍ leaves.”

August,⁠ with a gray⁠ hood, didn’t forget⁠‍ the purpose of⁠‍‍ coming here.

A closer look at‍‍ the origins of⁠⁠ absilon.

Only‍ solid and unavoidable⁠⁠‍ evidence can stop⁠ the madness unfolding‍ in the Empire.‌⁠‍

“Did‌⁠ they tell you⁠ to be here?”‌

“Tell⁠ them I was⁠ here.”

Vlad‌‍‍ owed his life‌‌⁠ to August and,⁠ in return, led‌‌ him to the‍⁠ elven forest, where‍ humans couldn’t easily‌ enter.

Therefore,‌‌ August’s current actions‍ were like his‍‍‍ inherent rights that‌‌⁠ Vlad couldn’t dare to restrict.

“The‍ atmosphere seemed somewhat⁠‍‍ chaotic.”

“Don’t‍ worry. It’s something⁠ I’ve done many‍ times in the past.”

August,⁠ who had assured‍ him not to‍ worry because he‌ would return silently‌ without being seen,‍⁠ grabbed the window⁠ frame instead of⁠ the door and⁠ looked at Vlad.‌‍

“Your‍‌‌ master seems to‍⁠ be someone related‌⁠ to the imperial‍‍‍ family after all.”⁠‌⁠

“…Is‍‍ that so.”

“That’s‌‍ how I see it.”

When‌‌ Vlad heard those⁠ words, he let⁠‌ out a deep‌‌ sigh.

An‍‌‌ imperial sword said‌ to have kept its original art.‌‍

And⁠ now also the landscape of Elvenheim,‍‍ the elven forest that burned a long time ago.⁠

Now,‍ not out of‍⁠ contract, but out⁠ of pure curiosity,⁠ he began to‌‍ wonder who the‌ voice was.

“The⁠‍ founding king, Frausen,‍ voluntarily resigned his‌ position as emperor‍ and became the lowest person.”

The‌‍ lowest.

Knights‍‍ who discarded all⁠‌ the titles they‌ had accumulated so far and prepared‍‌ for retirement by⁠‌ completing tasks they‌‍ couldn’t perform as⁠‌ a single person.‌‍

Their⁠ glorious beginning was⁠‍ none other than‌ the founding king,‌ Frausen, the king⁠‍ of knights.

“Just⁠⁠‌ as the beginning of the legend, the ending is⁠⁠‌ also mysterious and‌‍‌ unknown.

“I⁠‌ thought that perhaps‌⁠ you were the‍ person connected to‌‍ Mr. Frausen’s unknown‌ ending.”

The⁠ end of King‍‍ Founder Fraussen was‍ an honorable retirement.⁠

However,‌ there were only‌‍ rumors about Frausen’s last days, the‌‍‌ lowest of the‌ low, and no‍ one knew for‍‍‍ sure.

If‌‍‌ you listen to⁠⁠‌ the words of⁠ the elves, wouldn’t‌‌‍ the young knight‍ currently sitting on‍ the windowsill, dejected,‍ be a trace‌ of that glorious‌⁠ end?

“What⁠‌ will you do‍ next? The trail is lost here.”‍‌

“It’s⁠‌ wrong. In my‌ opinion, this is‍‌‍ just the beginning.”‍

August⁠‌⁠ put his feet‌⁠ on the windowsill⁠‍ where Vlad was sitting and looked‌‌‌ down with a smile.

The‌⁠ ground seems very⁠ far away.

The‌ increasingly dark surroundings‍⁠ obscured August’s vision,‍ but he didn’t‌ hesitate.

To find the truth,‌ sometimes you have‍ to strive in⁠ the darkness.

“Now‍ is the beginning?”⁠‍

In‌ response to Vlad’s‍‍ question, August put‍ on his hood‌ and put his‌⁠ feet on the⁠⁠ window frame.

“If‍‍‍ your master was⁠‍ the one who‍ followed in Master Frausen’s footsteps, then⁠‍ you can follow‌ his footsteps.”

If‍‍ you don’t know⁠‍ the ending, start‍ from the beginning.‌

Vlad’s master was strongly connected to the‌‍‌ footprints of the‌‍ sword master, so‌‌ if you follow⁠⁠ Frausen’s last footsteps, you’ll eventually uncover‌‍ your master’s identity.⁠

“I⁠ heard that no‌⁠ one knows what‍‍⁠ happened to Mr.‍‌ Frausen in the⁠⁠‌ end?”

“Humans‍⁠⁠ are like that.”⁠‌

August⁠‌‌ looks at Vlad‌ with a smile.⁠

The⁠⁠ sunset was forming‍‍ on his hidden⁠ face.

“But⁠ the elves might‍‍‍ know.”

With‍‍⁠ those words, August⁠⁠ jumps outside as‌‌ dusk falls.

Vlad‍‌ was surprised to‍‌‍ see him fall‌⁠ with his hood⁠‍ fluttering.

“He’s‍⁠ not even a cat.”

As‌⁠‍ he was a former pickpocket and⁠ thief, his agile‌⁠ movements were even more recognizable.

The‍‍ old knight landed⁠⁠ on the ground‍ without a sound‌‌ and soon naturally‍ moved away as if nothing had‍ happened and disappeared‌ into the elven⁠ forest.

“…So I guess I’ll have to stay⁠ here a little‌ longer.”

Vlad‍⁠ is left alone‌ in a room‌⁠ without Goethe or‍‌ August.

In‍ the silent room,⁠‌ Vlad rested his‍ head on his⁠ knees and lost‍ himself in his‍‌ thoughts.

“I‌⁠ said I definitely‍ saw it.”

The‌‌ voice said he‌ definitely saw a scene inside the‍ amber stone. However,‍‍‍ his memories were confused and uncertain,‌ so maybe he⁠⁠⁠ didn’t see the⁠⁠ voice in person,‍ but saw it‌ through the amber‍‌‌ like himself.

Saying‌ he saw it‍ in person was‌ hundreds of years‍⁠‍ ago, so the‍ time zone wouldn’t‍⁠ be correct.

“What did you really‌⁠ do?”

It‌‍‍ would be easier‌ to maintain the⁠‍‍ 7-year contract with‌ Joseph.

The⁠‍⁠ more he followed‌ the footsteps of‍⁠ the voice, the⁠ more he felt‍ like he was‌‍‌ blocked in front⁠ of the huge‌‌⁠ wall of a castle.

Knock‍‍‌ Knock.

“…?”‍⁠‌

As‍‌ Vlad pondered for⁠‍⁠ a moment, a knock on the‍‍ door reached his‍‌ ears.

“Excuse‌⁠ me…”

Click-⁠‍

The‍‍‍ door opens carefully‌ even before indicating to enter.

The‍ white-blonde hair was‍‍⁠ clearly visible through‌⁠⁠ the small open‌⁠ door.

The‍‍‍ girl of unknown‌ identity who dragged⁠‍ him into a fantasy world.

“Do‌ you have a moment?”

The‍‍ girl, who only‍ peeked her head‌⁠ into the room,‌⁠ smiled as soon‍ as she recognized Vlad.

As‌ if we had⁠ known each other‌⁠ for a long‌⁠ time.

***⁠

I wanted to ignore‍ it if possible.

There⁠ were warnings from⁠ the elves not⁠ to go out.⁠

However,‌ there was a strange firmness in‍‌ the girl’s words‌⁠‍ that was hard to refuse.

Just‍‍ like the eyes‌‌ shown by the‌‌ eldest of the‍ elves.

“Where‌ are we going‍ now…?”

“Are‍⁠ you scared?”

Unlike‍ the girl who‍ smiled cheerfully, Vlad’s‌ expression was stiff.‌‍‍

It⁠⁠⁠ was inevitable that the two elves‌ who still followed the girl looked at Vlad with⁠‍ indifferent expressions on‌ their faces.

“I‌‍⁠ want to show you something.”

“What‌ do you want‌‍ to show me?”‌

Vlad‌ decided to act‍‍ as cautiously as‌ possible.

From‌‍‌ the first time⁠ he saw her,‍‌ he knew she‍ was an unusual⁠‍ person, to the‍ point that she‍‍ even had to drag an escort⁠‌‍ with her.

The girl smiling cheerfully‌‍‌ as if she⁠ were excited must be a girl‌‌ who holds a high position in‌‍ the world of‍ elves.

“That⁠‌ amber stone.”

“Amber?”‌‍

“Yeah,‍ that.”

Said⁠ the girl, pointing⁠ her finger at‌ Vlad’s sword.

“Yes,⁠ that! I’m really‍‍ looking forward to‌‌ showing it to you.”

Looking at the girl‍ who still hadn’t‌‌ correctly stated the‌ subject, Vlad sighed⁠‌‍ softly to himself.⁠‌

“She‌‍ wants to see‌ her mom. Has she never seen‌ her mom since‌⁠ she was born?”‌

“Mom?”‍

Incomprehensible‌‌⁠ words.

The‍⁠ words were so⁠‍ disorganized that it‍ seemed like something‍ was missing, but‌‌‍ the girl’s eyes‌‌ didn’t waver in⁠ the slightest.

“…Who‌ is he?”

In‌‌‌ response to Vlad’s‌‌ question, the girl‌‍‌ began to point to a specific⁠‌ place without saying‍⁠‍ a word.

The⁠‌‌ end of the‍‌ direction she pointed.⁠

There‍‍ was a huge⁠ maple tree with green leaves that‌ had not yet⁠ turned color.

“World⁠⁠ Tree?”

After⁠⁠‍ checking where the‍ finger was pointing,⁠⁠ Vlad turned his⁠ head and looked‌ at the girl.‍‍

“She‍ really wants to‌ see her mom.”‌

“…”⁠

Although‌ it was a word he couldn’t‍⁠ understand in his‍ head, it touched‍ his heart.

Perhaps‍⁠ it was because⁠ of the girl’s‌‌ attitude as if she were talking⁠‍ to a person,⁠ but when he looked at the⁠ World Tree again,⁠ it looked different.⁠

The‌ branches of the‍⁠ green maple seen⁠⁠‌ in the distance‍⁠ trembled.

It was as if‍ it was beckoning‌ him to come‍ closer to it.‍‍ Like that.