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Star-Embracing Swordmaster Chapter 129: How tall are you? (2)

Chapter 129: How tall are you? (2)

The‌​‍ sound of children’s‌ laughter filled the‌‌ entire village.

It​​ was one of⁠ those days when‍ the sky was​⁠ a bright blue‌‌‍ without a single​⁠‍ cloud, and the⁠‌ flowers adorned here‌​⁠ and there had‍ vibrant colors today.‍

As⁠ if it were‍​ a world seen⁠‍⁠ through the eyes‍⁠​ of the voice.‌⁠‍

In⁠‌‍ the midst of⁠⁠‍ all this busy⁠​ people, Vlad sat​ silently and alone.⁠‌

‘…’​

Vlad⁠‍ scratched his cheek​‍⁠ for no reason​‍‍ as he watched​⁠ the people with‌‌ smiles on their⁠​ faces.

Vlad⁠‍‍ was too strange⁠ a being to⁠‍ enter their world,‍ which was harmonious‍⁠ like a single⁠⁠‌ body.

He⁠‍ didn’t want to‌​⁠ go in there⁠ either.

“Captain.⁠‍‌ thanks.”

“What.”​‍

Vlad,‍‍ who was pulled‌⁠ out of his​ thoughts by Goethe’s​​​ voice, turned his⁠​ head.

Until⁠‍ yesterday, we had‌⁠​ been wandering together​‍​ down the street,‍​ but suddenly it‌​ felt like Goethe‍ was in a different world.

Goethe⁠ within the family⁠ circle seemed so‍ unfamiliar.

“A⁠⁠​ pig.”

Vlad‍⁠​ turned his head‌​‌ to follow the‌​ direction in which​⁠​ Goethe squinted.

A whole pig roasting‍​​ continuously with an‌​ apple in its​‌‍ mouth.

The​ children of the‍ village looked excited​​ as they nodded‌‌ in the direction‌‌ the pig was⁠​ spinning.

“…The​ village chief gave⁠​ it to me.‍​ In return, I gave him 1 gold coin.”

Seeing‌ today’s wedding, Vlad​‍ remembered old Jorge.​

Whenever‌ something worthy of⁠⁠‍ celebration happened to​​ the organization members,‍ Jorge would send⁠⁠​ them a bottle​ of alcohol on‍‌⁠ behalf of the​ chief, and the⁠ people who received‌ it were very​⁠ happy.

“Marie‌​ really likes it.​ She received the​‍ knight’s blessing.”

“…Is⁠ that so?”

If‌⁠ that’s the case,‍ that’s all.

As​⁠‌ expected, Jorge’s method​‌ was correct.

The‌​ presence of an‍ adult man whom​‌ he could see‌‌ and learn from​‍ for the first‍ time was still​​‌ showing Vlad how​‌ he should behave.‌⁠

“You⁠‍‍ said the groom‌ has relatives in​​‌ Marcia, right?”

“I⁠​ did.”

“Then,‍ after this wedding,‌⁠ send your family​‍⁠ there for the​​ time being.”

After‍ hearing Vlad’s words,⁠‍​ Goethe nodded heavily.‍

Vlad‍​ was not simply​​ unable to participate​‍ in this atmosphere‌‍‍ because he was‌ a stranger.

Unlike⁠ the villagers enjoying‌ the wedding, Vlad‌‌‍ looked elsewhere.

“Go‌ see something. I think it’s starting‍‌ now.”

Vlad‌​ moved the wedding​ forward by two⁠‌​ days, but it​ was fortunate that​⁠ it started successfully.⁠

“I‌⁠ see. I have‌‍ to go.”

With​ those words, the‍⁠​ village’s half farmer⁠ and swindler began​‍ to run quickly‌‌​ forward.

But‌ today, he’s probably‌‍ a man with‍‌ more confidence than‌ anyone else.

Goethe,‍‍ who had proven‍​ his worth through​⁠ Vlad, hurried to​​⁠ take his place‍‍⁠ to brighten his‍‍ sister’s future.

“Thank‌⁠ you to everyone​​ who attended the‌ wedding today…”

The⁠⁠ wedding ceremony began⁠​ with a congratulatory⁠ speech from a priest from a nearby village.

The‍‌​ bride and groom⁠ waiting to enter⁠ while stepping on‌⁠ a red cloth.​‍

“…This.”‍⁠​

But,‌‌ unfortunately, in Vlad’s​ eyes, instead of⁠ seeing someone happy,‌​ he saw the​ omen of an‍‌‌ impending threat.

From​​ afar, he could​⁠ see Stefan looking​ at him with​‌ a puzzled expression.‌‍⁠

“Boy.”​

“Yes?”‌⁠‌

“Give⁠ me a flower​⁠‌ from the basket.”‍​‌

Vlad‍ called out to⁠ the boy holding⁠ the flower basket​‌⁠ and quietly picked‌‍ the flowers.

There‌ was one flower‌ that caught his‌​ eye.

“Congratulations​‌‌ Marie!”

“You⁠​​ must live well!”​

The‍‌ bride and groom⁠​‍ walk hand in⁠​ hand as the⁠ priest calls them.​

The‌⁠‍ knight, who was‌ about to leave,‌ threw a red‌​ rose at them⁠‌ from a distance.‍‍‌

Congratulations‍‌​ and greetings. And‍‍‍ leaving behind the‌⁠⁠ beautiful view.

“It​⁠ was a good‍​⁠ idea to distribute​ the scouts as‍‍​ the knight suggested.​‍ They say unidentified‌⁠ armed men are​⁠‍ coming here now.”​⁠‍

“How‍​‍ much longer?”

“I​⁠ think we can​ get there in⁠‍‍ two hours.”

After⁠⁠ hearing Stephan’s report,⁠​ Vlad quietly left‌ the wedding hall​​⁠ with a serious⁠⁠ face.

“What‍ should we do​​‍ about the wedding?”‍​

“Do​ we end it‌‍​ now?”

Upon⁠ hearing Stephan’s words,‍ Vlad looked back‍‌ in silence.

People​​ in the same​ place but in​​ different worlds.

Vlad⁠ wanted to complete⁠​‍ the wedding for‌⁠ them as much‌‍ as possible.

Wouldn’t​‌​ protecting something mean​‍ having to protect⁠ a scene like​‌ that?

“…Let’s⁠‌‌ finish in ten​‌ minutes.”

The‌‍ cheers of the​ people behind Vlad‌ gradually diminished as‌ he walked away.‌

Then‌ Vlad walked forward,⁠‌ leaving behind the​ red rose he​⁠ had thrown.

***⁠‌‌

‘…Damn‍‍ it.’

Colin​ spat out, suppressing⁠ the curse that‌‍​ grew within him.‍

Colin’s‍ eyes were turning⁠​ red as he‍ faced a completely‍⁠ unexpected sight.

“Are‍⁠ our men the⁠⁠⁠ ones hanging there‍‌ now?”

“…Yes.‌⁠⁠ These are the‌ scouts we sent.”​​​

I thought it would​‌ be an easy​ mission.

To‍ be precise, it‍ was just a trivial mission that‍ I didn’t want​‌⁠ to undertake.

However,‌⁠ what was seen​ before the eyes‌‍ was far from​⁠‌ what Colin and‍​⁠ his men had‍‍ hoped and imagined.‍‍

“…I⁠‍‌ suppose there was​⁠‌ a knight hidden⁠⁠‍ there.”

A hastily erected wooden‌‍ fence.

It‍⁠‍ was a flimsy⁠ wooden fence that‌‍‍ looked like it​ could be knocked‌‌‌ down, but the​ corpses hanging in​‌ front of it‌ sent a strong​‍‌ warning.

The‍⁠ death-hanging fence seemed⁠‍ to say that​⁠ this place would‍ not be easy‍ to cross.

“What‌‍ should we do?”‍⁠‌

“What​​‌ are you going⁠‍ to do? Should‌ we at least‍‍ retreat from here?”‍⁠‍

Three​​ scouts were sent,⁠ but they were‌​ captured with none​​ escaping.

The‌‌ soldiers were at‍​⁠ a level that‌ could not be‌⁠ handled by a single village, so⁠‌ there was clearly⁠⁠ something unexpected in​ the village.

“I⁠‌ will take the‌‍​ lead.”

However,​ Colin did not​‌​ hesitate despite the​⁠‍ explicit warning from⁠⁠ someone.

An⁠⁠‍ easy mission also⁠​⁠ means it’s a mission that cannot‍​ fail.

Colin,‌⁠ whose position had⁠‌ already been diminished⁠‌‌ due to the⁠‌‌ honor duel in​⁠ Deirmar, was a man who could‍⁠⁠ no longer turn‌‌ back.

“Come‍ out!”

A powerful force that‌​ couldn’t be attributed​ to a simple​‌ bandit.

As​‍ if he were​ no longer going‌ to hide his‌ identity, Colin began⁠‌ to shout loudly‌⁠ and reveal his⁠ presence.

“How‍ dare someone cut‍ off my men’s‌‌ heads!”

The‌ boar’s angry shout‌‌ rang out through⁠ the village.

The​‍ village, which a moment ago was‌ full of laughter,⁠​‍ was now filled‍⁠‍ with anxiety that⁠​ made it hard‌​‍ to even breathe.‌

“If‍​‌ you don’t open‌‌‍ the door right​‌ now, I’ll cut⁠ off your heads!”‌‍⁠

If​⁠⁠ you open the‍ door, I’ll spare​ your lives.

Colin⁠‍ shouted confidently as‌‌ if he were⁠‌ in charge, but⁠⁠ the response he⁠​‌ received was only​ calmness.

“Knight‍ of Pylos. Colin‍⁠‍ the boar of‌ the land.”

With​‍ the man’s voice,​⁠​ the wooden door​‌⁠ began to open.‌⁠

So‍‍​ small that only‌ one person can⁠⁠ pass through.

“It’s‍ been a while‌⁠ since I’ve seen‍‍ you, but I’m‌‌⁠ not at all‍‌ happy.”

“…Who⁠‍ the hell are⁠⁠‍ you.”

A blond man emerges​⁠​ alone from the‌‍‍ village.

The​‍ man who seemed​‍⁠ like a knight‍‌​ at first glance​ threw an object‌‍ he was holding‌ at Colin instead‍‍ of answering the‍​ question.

Thud-‍

Heads​ rolled at Colin’s‍‍ feet.

Colin‌ frowned as he‌ looked at the⁠ heads of his​‍⁠ subordinates, each with‍⁠‍ their eyes wide‍ open.

‘They⁠‍‌ were all cut‍‍ off at once.’‌

There​ was no doubt‍⁠ about the scar‍​‌ marked on their‌ neck.

This​‌ meant they were‍‌‍ cut with a sword without a sign of deviation.‍‌

I don’t know who‍‌‍ the knight in‌⁠⁠ front of me⁠‌‌ is, but I can guess his‌⁠ abilities to some​‍ extent.

“Today‌‍⁠ is a good‌ day. Colin. So‍‌‌ if you die‌​ now, I won’t‌ blame you for‌⁠ your bad manners.”‍​‌

“You‍‌‌ didn’t even ask‌⁠‌ who I was?”⁠⁠

Blond‌‍ hair and blue‍⁠ eyes.

A knight of splendid⁠‍⁠ appearance who looks​⁠ like an aristocrat,‍‌​ but whose spirit‌⁠‌ is as fierce‌ as that of⁠‌‌ an animal.

There⁠ was no way‍‌ he wouldn’t remember​​​ a boy with‌​⁠ such a strong⁠‌‍ impression.

“I’m⁠‌‌ sorry. You didn’t​‍ draw your sword⁠‌​ for me that​​ day?”

“…What?”​‌

A strangely relaxed smile‌⁠​ that stirs anger.​‌⁠

He⁠‌‌ wasn’t the type‌ before him, but‌‍⁠ Colin remembered a knight smiling like​​ that.

“I’m⁠ Vlad of Soara.”⁠

The​​ one-eyed knight of‍ Bayezid.

That​ bastard who dealt​ him a humiliating‍​ defeat.

“I’m‌‌⁠ Lord Jager’s squire.”⁠

Now‌‌ that I see⁠‍​ it, he looks​ exactly like him.‍‍‌

The⁠​‍ way he moves‌​⁠ and the way‌‍⁠ he speaks.

And‌​‍ even that smile‌⁠ that seems relaxed.‍⁠​

“Yes,⁠‍ I see…”

Colin’s‍⁠ eyes, which had​‍‌ finally recognized Vlad,​ began to turn⁠⁠ red with anger.‍‌

I remember a land⁠‍​ full of lemon⁠​ scent.

Joubert,​ the one-eyed, laughed‍⁠‍ at himself and⁠‌⁠ clicked his tongue.‌

And‍ even the bright​⁠ Pablo and the‍‌‌ blond brat.

“Bayazid,‌ you dog!”

I finally remember it.‍‌

The​‍ disciple of the‍​‌ knight who defeated⁠⁠⁠ him.

It⁠ was almost impossible‌⁠‍ to recognize him⁠​‌ at a glance.‍

For‌​‍ the boy who‌ suddenly became a knight, his former​⁠ scruffy appearance remained⁠‌ only a trace.‍

He⁠⁠ seemed so confident,‍⁠​ as if he⁠​‌ had been like​‍ that since birth.‍​

“I‌​‌ will kill you!⁠ Northern bastards!”

What‌​​ was once a trivial mission suddenly‌‌⁠ turned into a fiery field of​​ revenge.

That⁠ day I drew‍​ my sword to‍ protect you, but​​ not today.

Today‍​⁠ I will kill​ you and erase‌ the defeat of‍‍⁠ that day that⁠ I could not​ contain.

“Wait,‌⁠ Colin!”

The‌‍ angry boar caught‍​ his target with​​‌ both eyes.

Colin,​‌⁠ the boar of⁠ Pylos.

The‍ leader of the‌ assault, who had⁠‌‌ no idea of‌‌ retreating, began to​‌ run towards Vlad‍⁠‍ with a perfect‌ motion.

“Shit!‌ Follow him inside!​‌​ Attack right now!”‍

“Follow‌ Lord Colin!”

The‌ soldiers of Pylos,⁠‌ disguised as bandits,‌‌ also began to‍‌ charge hastily, following‌‍ their knights.

Like⁠‍‍ trained soldiers, they​ maintained their formation‌‌ even in sudden⁠ situations and ran⁠​ towards the fence.​‌

“Kwaaaaaak!”⁠‍

“It’s​⁠‍ a trap, it’s‌ a trap!”

However,​ Vlad did not‌ waste the time‌​​ given to him.​⁠

Traps​ made by experienced⁠⁠‌ mercenaries and villagers‌‌‍ began to attack‌⁠‌ the soldiers of⁠​ Pylos from various​⁠ places.

Rumble!⁠⁠

“Die!‌‌​ You son of⁠​ a bitch!”

“My‍ name is Vlad‌ of Soara.”

Vlad,‍‌ who blocked the​‍ boar’s charge with⁠⁠‍ his whole body,‍‍‍ gritted his teeth‌⁠‍ and weakly smiled.‌⁠

Although⁠‌​ he couldn’t completely‍ stop the force‍ rushing at him,​​‌ he let it​‍ in, which couldn’t‌ be a bad⁠​ thing either.

“Stephen!⁠ Close the door!”‌

“Understood!”⁠

The⁠ wooden fence door,⁠‍ which was flimsy⁠‍‌ but functional, began⁠‍ to close.

Screams‍ and blood began⁠‍ to flow through‌⁠‌ the wooden door​‌ separating the commander‌‌‍ and the soldiers.‍⁠‍

“I‌ will kill you​‍ today and take⁠‍⁠ your head to⁠​⁠ my master!”

“…Now,‌ if it’s about‌‌ my head… is⁠‌ it worth taking?”‍

He‍‍ really deserves to​‌ be called a boar.

Though‍⁠ they are isolated,⁠ their eyes are‌​ lifted as if‌‌‌ they are not‍​ looking back.

Though‍​ there was no​ finesse, their innate‌⁠ power of strength⁠ pressed mercilessly against⁠‍ Vlad.

“…If​‌ that’s the case,‌ then I’m glad.”⁠‌​

Colin’s​ eyes widened as​⁠ he looked at‍⁠​ Vlad.

The‍⁠‌ smile that I thought resembled Jager’s​‍ a moment ago‌ was now distorted‍ and showing its​‌ true form.

No⁠ one else’s smile⁠ but Vlad’s.

The​ beginning was noble,‌​ but the end​ was the smile‍ of a cruel‌⁠ predator.

“So,⁠ how much is⁠ your head worth?”‌‍‌

“What?”‌​

A cruel smile that‌ only a predator⁠⁠‍ could have appeared‍ on Vlad’s face.⁠‍

Stabbing⁠ the fastest dragon,‌ Lindworm.

Killing‍​‌ the sharpest dragon,​​⁠ Nidhogg.

However,‍‍ Vlad, who had​ never faced a life-or-death situation with⁠⁠ another human being,⁠‌​ always felt curious.‌

How⁠‌‌ strong am I?​

How‍ far have I come?

“Are⁠ you not asking​⁠ how far I will kill you?”‌​

Vlad​ continued to chase⁠ the shadows of​⁠ the men who‍‌ had led him.⁠‍‍

Because‌⁠‍ he wanted to‍ be like them⁠⁠‌ and surpass them.‍⁠​

Where​ am I?

How‌ far will I go?

Now‌​⁠ was the time‌ for the boy​‍⁠ knight to find⁠⁠ out.

With‍ his left eye‌​ closed, Vlad’s world​ began to burn​​ intensely.

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