Chapter 13
nsbSKH4A scruffy-looking child was glaring at someone in a muddy back alley.hDt
kiOVwdThis child stood out due to an unusual color amidst the street where everyone was dying miserably.H6d
nww“That kid…”BuqwCfn
zglY“Leave him be. He looks hungry.”l2j0
IrfqzA man who was eating skewers sold at a street stall beckoned to the boy who was staring at him.S9G
v5p“Come here. Yeah, you with the blue eyes.”sZcY
ttOa“…..”i1WD
14iThe boy approached as directed by the man, looking just as disheveled as one might expect from a child living off scraps in the back alleys.0lnU
KF8“Where did you come from, all beaten up?”vCy8
q6uHis eyes were black and bruised, and the shabby clothes that could barely cover his body were torn here and there, evidence of a recent fight.lAbOQ
wNiWhyG“That’s a good look you got in your eyes.”5G8X
hgyDespite his wretched appearance, the child’s eyes still held a spark of life.bUJG
3LaEZ05The man found it appealing.JBlCsVX
e7ne“Here, have another skewer.”wtaZ
SlaAM0jThe burly man received a skewer from the stall owner and handed it to the scrappy-looking kid who seemed like a beggar.HJg9c
Bs4Z“Eat.”Rtx4nqU
s47ldHIt was a simple act of sympathy.o2kEk1O
OBWHowever, the fact that he could evoke sympathy from the people living in this alley meant he had earned his meal.dSZHp3
p59ZD“What are you waiting for? Take it.”P80SRM
HwR“…”TvB5AAw
TTiPUSThe scent of the grilling meat made the beggar boy’s mouth water.Pmz
Er7v“I told you to take it.”PyRIJU
qkpPThe boy was hesitant, contemplating.NHvs
Xw7UfAnd it seemed like he had made a decision.gTYCVR
2xidBInstead of taking the skewer, the boy spoke to the man.hnO6mH
JLlGC“I can do something well.”MUY9
Mg3“What is it?”tNmV
CXZsY“Anything.”vZ53M3b
ActAXl1The boy looked at him, not at the skewer that man was offering.q0k
6lYV“I can do anything well. Just give me a task.”7FN
O9jcEnWThe man who hands the skewer to the boy, he appeared to be a shining star in the back alleys.d1F
9fN“What’s your name?”cHUG
tj4The man, who had been observing the boy, became curious.dSUNFk
Ik7Who is the back alley beggar who confidently talks to himself instead of grabbing the food that will get him through the day?zTi
MZRUZSo he asked the name of the boy who looked like he had rolled in the mud and mute, but his eyes still had light in them.s8C
tXiA5“Vlad.”bUNha
qh7It was only now that the man met the boy’s eyes, which were blue.ypht1aZ
Js9btHThe man also liked that color.VPG6V
uuROeo7“Will you come to my house?”EowU
VSYXokAnd so, he decided to take the boy with him.iXq2zl7
52HgBecause that color reminded him of someone he had left behind a long time ago.mSpjR
8vFmX6PThe boy’s blue eyes resembled stars.DQ2
Sh9r※※※※jTRj
hpqcY“Ha, Ha.”Rk2k7EW
njCVlad woke up in the dead of night, while everyone was asleep, and he was breathing heavily.Bjt0eJW
GUxvG5“…I’ve slept enough.”jg9CT
0IdIt was a dream from a long time ago.y88t
kjJQQ3It was from a time when even surviving each day was a struggle.liu
KwiVlad woke up and looked around.NEXOlz
sQy0y1EThe tent was filled with the pungent scent of unfamiliar men and the sounds of snoring.Cr1lJKT
d0QM“I still smell the scent of Rosa’s Smiles in this barren land.”ZNMXZ
NbepLKnowing that sleep would not come easily, Vlad picked up his sword and stepped outside.d9wO
VTQI[Maintaining the best possible condition at all times is a basic requirement of a swordsman, Vlad.]duHeow
kh5“…”6Fwlct6
GWZRVlad didn’t respond to the voice.laPX1
lee“Who’s there?”qLET0
NJatS“Riemann.”x5Tm
oJ3X5br“Where are you going at this time of night?”004X
0nNO“For praying.”3nC
ZbU“…Riemann, you’re more suited to be a priest than a mercenary.”4EFgR74
k5NTOVlad revealed his whereabouts to the personnel on watch, and headed towards the hill illuminated by the moonlight.Xi7RVZy
7hdGqezThen he held the sword and closed his eyes.y9oUkp
MPuSzV[You have survived through many hardships.]QPbJ
S7zSgke“Have you seen it?”lmX2
8GzIDThe voice seemed to have glimpsed Vlad’s dream.MZn
6egbRZH[Because dreams are the manifestation of strong wishes.]p5fIxcW
PBJY“What did I wish for?”047Ng3A
9VkThe voice didn’t answer.78W8qI
ElY“I miss it, though.”bqW9D71
sDtYThere was a man praying under the moonless sky.gWZoB
6TnQVHe had fair blond hair, fluttering in the cold winter wind.e1l1d
v0DpjzP“…But how long do I have to keep talking to myself like a lunatic?”Oy0
pk1bApD[Until you create your own world within your soul.]i0ujx
Cn4zJm“Create a world? Who do you think I am, a god?”pSPKYH
PnOW4s7[Simply aligning your intentions with your thoughts is already doing that. Only a strong will can make your world express itself.]qFMxCuM
7hE4JWHe appeared to be pretending as such.irdz
c21V“I guess I’ll have to keep doing this crazy thing for a long time.”uaUou6p
qAwLhQ[That’s up to you.]oiTLPVT
yOusGbPraying Riemann.qoP
r8BwIIt was a method he thought of as a last resort because he couldn’t mutter to himself in front of others.R59ULj
GObCkqV“Do all knights do that? Have a world within their souls?”1SN2r
4nYI[Those who handle aura.]5SrBju
EykNU“Well, now that you put it that way, I have nothing to say.”ATh2sU5
Mj31oAnd unintentionally, this method was quite effective.QgGrm
SoJI6yThe act of praying allowed Vlad to have some uninterrupted time alone, but it also set him apart from the other mercenaries, creating a sense of uniqueness.7UTeAv
BGdNp2Uniqueness compared to others.xta6WR1
eronIt was another form of expressing something precious.o46n
qiHcs“But earlier, I did it just like you said, but it didn’t work properly.”Zz8ovUh
fqbBCc[Why didn’t it work?]CvCLs
AEyhSJHowever, now the boy was regretting it.MDqf
fcPOru9[When you raise your sword and lean your body, the opponent goes whoosh. Then, you go swoosh. No matter how many times I say it, why don’t you understand?]Q5Yj
8dxAl“… Really now?”eRFV
Ehw9FBecause what he was trying to achieve through prayer was failing.DgI6
7dBIThere is a saying that no matter how excellent a swordsman is, not all of them can be excellent teachers.XyHzLT
3YEThat saying was correct.se7b
Ux5fQNVlad doesn’t even know if the voice was a great swordsman.DnAsRsd
tUobt“Do you really think I can understand this?”fJW
1lfP[…No, I told you to make the swoosh sound when you sway.]IFzSIq
4pD“Oh, Lord. Please take away this scum of a devil who can’t even speak properly.”BhdZl
Ki8RcgpA bulging vein appeared on Vlad’s forehead as he listened to the absurd explanation.xSQ
mUDFm“Kill it or spare me.”Tq4
Dh0iY[I hear everything.]JSFIU
yA0PHYrThe voice seemed to be aware that it was terrible at explaining, and it answered in a strangely defeated tone.EiVcY66
IcF“Just show me once now.”IGI
DmSOqx[You might end up as a puddle of goo, you know?]7qTzqS
IGsya21“I said I wasn’t going on the expedition tomorrow.”xjpwO
7wt1F2What was somewhat fortunate was that there were other ways for the boy to learn from the voice.zk9
4ke[Okay. Close your right eye.]k4Ol
groVlad followed the voice’s instructions and closed his right eye.Q7g
4yVg“Mmm…”fKds
jlgw28hThen, Vlad felt as if his vision was receding for a moment. It felt like taking a step back and looking at the world.3cOHkO
D1w[Feel it well.]MhC
cOKVlad closed his right eye and quietly drew his sword under the moonlight with a different attitude and atmosphere than before.EtOExhT
ZFZRight now, Vlad seemed like a different person, overwhelming everything around him, including the blowing wind and the ground he stood on.xuifo5
NnHF6[Sneak in with an unexpected move.]diXXt4
JWxjThere was a sense of dominating the world.SCu
znOGFJ[Control the battlefield with insight, one step ahead.]7y50t
mt8yAnd he swung the sword.zWP7
q7d4jki[That is the secret of killing with one strike.]jyunKq
5fyANuThere was a flash of light under the moonlight that should shine alone.ZPg
HpVnfIt was a momentary brilliance.FjW
XUdsBut Vlad could feel the flow of air splitting for a moment.oSmb
s4PimThe tearing and howling scream of the wind.6pLOo30
G5GlTu6[Open your eye, Vlad.]ZRC3I
X1cVlad, who opened his right eye again, staggered and fell to the ground.dl9R
dXxN“Ugh, that was intense.”qm4VbJR
d9ROVlad grimaced and clutched his aching calf.Bm54B3C
8DdphIt had only lasted a very short time, but he felt a sharp pain in the muscles that were overloaded beyond their limits.VrYnK
LqQI[Did you feel it?]NSm9n4
PNXZdBut Vlad was smiling even through the pain.9T2
T2b“I get it roughly.”DpK3n
6g6teHe had seen it, felt it, and also had a glimpse of it.td7FKgy
ciUJlWvThe unknown voice had temporarily injected vivid experiences into Vlad’s body.PuD8W
DiC3EAnd the clever boy was able to learn by following the traces left behind for him.lCfeW8
cog“I think I can do it next time.”B4b
Rmy[You said the same thing last time.]WOj7zUb
nBpv7To experience it firsthand teaching was on a different level compared to teaching through words and demonstrations.H9tBQ
ehD9krTalent by birth and vivid teaching were propelling Vlad’s rapid growth. It was as if it was predestined to be this way.bpMU
BkrqN“The moon is exceptionally bright tonight.”68w4A
qkMbxcVlad, holding onto his trembling legs, gazed at the night sky.f9xEw
jgKNYs“Now, it reminds me of that guy whenever I see the moon.”DvJ3o0
5irF[……]Xh0T3p
aVQOlBJThe knight who resembled the blue moonlight. He was the first world the boy saw, and he was the one who destroyed Jorge, his own world.V0w8C
E7jbt“…… I’ll destroy the moon one day.”u8G
v4BWI[You will be able to do it.]LSd9
N8cDEZ1Vlad was a boy who always looked at the shining stars, even before he saw the star crafted by the old blacksmith.kXg
1vk“I will avenge Jorge.”SIghr
Zl16SThat star was the most imposing and gigantic star in the back alley. The boy held the broken star he longed for in his heart.Nw0mTA
MLekcqu“That’s enough for today.”NW1Q2h
nLT5KT5[All right.]Q25fn9
sHGAnd the star bought with the girl’s tears was draped over his shoulder.x8z
jViPa1aThe blue moonlight was watching the back of the boy going down the hill carrying the star on his shoulder.8WkS2
rIFIIun※※※※- Part 2YOs565
6wcF5hP“······So you were able to deal with the hobgoblin through your improvisation.”BRC
QxeYQkLate at night, Josef sat leaning on a chair, looking at the knight reporting to him.Q5A
LqJWith his broad cheeks, a bulky body not hidden by armor, and a rather timid gaze, he appeared unsure if he was truly suited to wielding a sword and living as a knight.RhC
Vbi7fUL“Sir Vordan.”Ph5FHmw
Mlcvv“Yes, Lord Josef.”Ke6oVxr
Uo5Josef swallowed a sigh that almost slipped out and spoke.1Lad
POEEa“Do I seem like an idiot to you?”b6h
KMcOMb“······”gmzyGp
FrnGMwfJosef knew that he should be furious in this situation, but instead of anger, he found himself wanting to burst into laughter.iy9Cn
bX3A6“How ridiculous must I have looked for you to make a report like this?”nf1u
tL0Al“Lord, Lord Josef…”ebQhfP
ri23The knight before him was mocking himself. It was unclear whether it was to protect himself or to boost his own image, but he was spewing lies in front of Josef, the commander of the expedition.CU66GV3
EIx9X“Over twenty mercenaries followed you. Do you think not a single word they said reached my ears?”3zYEl2q
yqhWJX“······”mHL0O
8MXvEO5He remained silent.xLpx
1MjoJwZayar, who was standing next to Josef, was breathing heavily as he watched Vordan rolling his eyes.um4G
u9IjEJosef knew that if he were to order Zayar to kill Vordan right here, that ugly face would end up rolling on the floor.z9U
oi7QPa“······Remember my words today.”taq0X2
561“Thank you for your forgiveness, Lord Josef!”9dQ7uNl
29nw1BHowever, Josef could not tell him to kill the knight called Vordan. It was because this incompetent, stupid, old damn bastard was one of the few knights in the family that followed him.09qwK
RQflv“Trash…”tl9O
hiFh9U7As soon as Vordan left the tent, Josef clasped his head and let out a sigh of exasperation.NQjtIM
XyLiEven though the Bayezid family revered the military, not all of their knights possessed remarkable skills. The term “knight” referred to someone who wielded a sword, but it was also a title.lApV
wr6zB7s“I wish my damn family would just collapse into ruin, then I would behead him without hesitation.”Q7LfO08
Se7xThe Bayezid family had a high threshold, and having the money and connections to overcome it meant that knights like Vordan could emerge.Ou2O8QA
tYdyThat can also be said to be strength and skill.8jTSg
V8J“Does my father see me as a trash can? Is that why he pushes only garbage in front of me?”gD8
sj0Now, with a boiling anger, Josef stood up and spoke with trembling lips.Ia0gp7T
G6PF3Z“Please calm down.”bzoF7
JTiTmiJ“….. I need a sword. A sharp sword, not the kind of trash sword.”llDZG
BWtVIn Josef’s shadowy eyes, there was a fiery desire like flames.wjgtn
VPnr7VA“If I have that, there’s no reason for me to be left behind by my brother.”sML9E3
ftRHe sighed heavily.npWH
eDC4HoHe admitted that he lacked skills, but he couldn’t bear to be judged for something he was born with that he didn’t have.L7ib
O2nAll of the heads of the Bayezid family so far were among the knights representing that era.420evy
TnQdHis father, Peter Bayezid, was no exception, and his brother Rutger Bayezid was also a person with the talent to become a knight representing the next generation.UzV
kbj5“God doesn’t give everything. Lord Josef, you have much more than what you lack.”1qLOWG
me5Zayar’s words were accurate.QXrbHM
woD5Josef was not born with a healthy body, but he was carrying weapons that Rutger did not have.4xya0cf
jAktMISHe did possess many other things. A sharp mind, a calm demeanor, a strong spirit. And even great support from my maternal family.me8K5g
mDI1IDOf course, all these qualities were considered secondary in the Bayezid family, which revered the military.Jyn5
48CYva“Did you find it?”Aggwmh
GJ6P7c“Yes.”rUH
L3A0UJosef thought.XiQC
5pPIf he couldn’t become the sword himself, he would become the one who wielded the sword in place of it.kIWQ
WC73b“Is he a noble?”5vT2Nc
dUf“No.”KO999R4
4Fee“Or is he a promising member of some swordsmanship guild?”9xldp
ifXY“He is not tied to any particular group.”EXcJy
yg5TCOVJosef’s lips curled up in response to Zayar’s report.zzI
OqjEIOV“He is a man without a master.”c67M
GBiX6I“That’s right. They say he’s from the back alleys of Shoara.”sg4De7
LVOek4SIf there was no sword for him to wield, he would create one himself if he had to. As long as it could be perfected.L1M
eAmSJQ“Alright, it’s late now, so I will meet him tomorrow.”PUbIOug
3LK“Understood.”1C7Ue
N8NJosef sat back in his chair as he watched Zayar quietly exit the tent.70j
wwG38ctAlone in the tent, he carefully considered his options.GbdhMbe
KLXjnNR“What do you want, Vlad.”9iv
PU2sC90Josef never gave up.ep7UOLO
9P4“What must I offer you so you won’t refuse me, Vlad?”XEoyz
Q9OOlyHe was always the one fighting to survive.tWcohD
NKwnQYIn the flickering candlelight, his eyes held a strange desire.tOcq6
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