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Star-Embracing Swordmaster Chapter 130: How tall are you? (3)

Chapter 130: How tall are you? (3)

The‍‌ knights surrounded the​⁠‌ battlefield in a circle, each with‍‍​ their swords drawn.⁠

Colin‌ still couldn’t overcome⁠⁠ the pain of​​‍ defeat, but he‍ had no choice​​‌ but to rise⁠ and raise his⁠‍ sword.

Because​⁠‍ he had sworn‌‌‌ to do so.​

“The⁠ Sword Master’s rules‌ are truly absurd.”⁠‌⁠

Joubert⁠​‌ was always relaxed,‌‍ but even he⁠⁠ shook his head​ as if bewildered​‍ by the current⁠‍ situation.

Knights‍ who raised their​ swords for the⁠ flowers that were‌​⁠ about to bloom.‌‌‍

Although‌‌ each person had⁠ a variety of‌​ emblems, now it​‍​ was their turn‌‌⁠ to fulfill their​ duties under a set of rules.​

“State​ your name. Boy!”⁠

Those‍ who want to​ uproot it and⁠‌ those who want​ to flourish.

The​ guardian and the‍⁠ ward are all‌ in one world.‌​‍

The⁠⁠​ image that the​​ founding king, Frausen,​ so desired was⁠ now recreated in⁠⁠⁠ the dueling arena⁠ of Deirmar.

“…You⁠​⁠ forgot.”

As‍⁠‍ someone murmured, Colin​‌⁠ looked back.

Indeed,‌⁠ there was a faint light there‍ that had barely⁠​‍ begun to bloom.‍‍‍

A child walking with​⁠ faltering steps as​​ if about to‍​ fall at any​ moment.

Yet‌‌ the child advances⁠‍‍ without stopping.

That‌ guy was shining.⁠‍

A child holding a world that had⁠ just been created⁠ with bloodied hands.‍

The⁠ boy’s name was​‌ Vlad of Soara.‍‌‍

***​

Crunch-⁠‌

“…!”⁠​

As⁠​ the crunch of‌ the sword approached,​‌‌ Colin’s eyes filled​ with surprise instead⁠​⁠ of anger.

The‍​ form of his‌ aura wrapped around⁠‌ both arms like⁠‍​ armor.

Now,‌ Vlad was pushing⁠ Colin, who had⁠⁠‌ the greatest dragon‌‌ power in Pylos,⁠​‌ with force.

“Is⁠‍ it worth it!”⁠‍‌

Innate⁠‍ power is inevitable,‍ but there are​‌ no limits to⁠‌​ the world created.‌​

Vlad⁠ was now surpassing⁠ the limits of​⁠‍ the talent he​​​ was born with‍⁠ through Ramund’s strong⁠‍‍ body technique.

‘Where‌‍‍ did you learn‌​‍ such a strange‍‍ skill?’

Colin,‍​ bewildered by Vlad’s​‌ abilities, quickly withdrew​‌ his sword and‌⁠⁠ created distance.

I don’t know what‌ kind of magic‍​​ he used, but‍​ it’s still a trick.

Colin‌ believed that mediocre⁠‌‌ talents would eventually‌‌⁠ crumble under true⁠⁠ power.

“Braggart!”⁠

Instead⁠⁠ of adapting to⁠⁠⁠ the opponent, use‍ your own strengths.‌⁠⁠

Colin‌ brandished his sword‌ in the direction⁠⁠​ he had lived‍ and believed in.⁠

A split flow of‍‍‌ air rushed towards‍⁠ Vlad’s head as​ if it were​⁠ cleaving it.

Thump!⁠⁠⁠

“…!”‌

But‍‌​ Colin’s faith was‍‌​ never rewarded.

A sound he didn’t‍‌ want to hear⁠‌ even in his‌‌⁠ dreams.

In​ my memory, a one-eyed man smiles.‍​

“You’re‍ used to it,‍‍⁠ aren’t you? This‌‍ sound.”

“…Son⁠ of a bitch!”‌​

Is⁠‌ that bright blue‌‌ in front of⁠‍‌ me a sword‌ or an eye?​

The⁠ man who looked​‌ at himself was​ now creating a world incomparably more​ splendid than back‌⁠⁠ then.

A white lightning flashed​‌‌ from his closed⁠⁠‌ left eye, smiling‍‌‍ at Colin.

‘In‌‌ just one year!’​‌

They​⁠⁠ say little children​​‌ grow up in‍‍ the blink of​ an eye, but⁠​​ this is growth‍ beyond imagination.

None⁠​ of those present‍​‍ would have even‍⁠ imagined that the‍‌ boy they were⁠ crossing swords with​‌ was the boy⁠‌ from back then.⁠

“Now⁠⁠ it’s my turn!”⁠‍⁠

‘…!’‍

Dawn​‌​ shone in Vlad’s​‍⁠ open right eye.​‌‍

Weakness⁠‍⁠ detection learned from‍​​ the Imperial Guard⁠ Commander August.

There​⁠ was an empty⁠‍​ spot above which‌‍ even the panting‌‍ boar could do‍⁠⁠ nothing.

‘Leg!’​‍

A solid foundation is‍‌‌ needed to support‌‍ powerful forces.

Colin’s⁠ strength comes from​ his two firmly‌​‌ planted legs.The flowing​ aura said it‌‍​ all.

‘Shit!’⁠

Colin,‌​⁠ strong but not​‌⁠ flexible, was extremely​ annoyed by Vlad’s⁠⁠ persistent attacks on⁠​ the lower half‌⁠ of his body.‍‌

Because‍‍ no one had​‍ ever attacked me‌ like this before.‍

Kwagagagak-!‍⁠‌

Sword​⁠ clashed against sword.⁠‍‍

Between​ the crossing glares,‍‍⁠ flames sprouted from​⁠‌ the sword.

How​​​ good are you?’⁠​‌

Colin’s‌‌‌ leg tore apart⁠ in an agile‌ sword movement, which⁠⁠⁠ stabbed the fastest‌ dragon.

The‌⁠‍ cruelty that felled​‌ the sharpest dragon⁠ persistently aimed at⁠‌‌ the knight’s knees.⁠

All​ the worlds Vlad‌ had seen, learned,‍ and defeated were‍ now condensed in⁠​⁠ the sword in‌⁠ the form of​‍ a star.

“Kaaak!”‍‍

“Answer‍ me!”

Now⁠‍ I want to⁠‌​ know.

Where‌‍ do I stand‌‍​ in this vast​​‌ world?

How⁠ much more do⁠​‌ I have to⁠ do to reach‍⁠ the end of⁠⁠⁠ the sky?

Now‍‌ is the time⁠ for someone to‌‌ answer my question.​‍‍

“You⁠‌ insolent bastard!”

Clang!​‌‍

Vlad’s​‍ world stopped and​‍‌ dark red blood‌⁠ spurted out.

Colin‌ let out a roar when he‌‍‌ saw Vlad daring⁠⁠ to look beyond‌ himself rather than‍‌ straight ahead.

“Do⁠ you think I came this far‌‌ just to be⁠ beaten by someone​⁠​ like you?”

Bright⁠ red blood droplets‍ spurted onto the‌‌ blackened skin, but⁠‍⁠ Colin did not​ cease exerting his‌ strength.

He⁠⁠​ too is a person with his‍‌ own world.

Dreaming‍​‍ upwards was not⁠‌‌ just a child’s‌ privilege.

“Die!​ You damned brat!”⁠‍

With‍‌ Colin’s roar, the‌​​ delicate earth, melted‌‌‌ into spring energy,​‌‍ began to crack‍ open as if‌⁠‌ exploding.

Like⁠ Colin’s veins bursting‌​‌ with his muscles‍‌​ bulging.

“Ugh!”⁠

Colin’s‌ spirit was quite‌ different from before,​‌ and Vlad realized⁠​‍ he had missed⁠‍‍ the moment.

The‍‌‌ flow is like‌ a wave; if⁠ you can’t ride‌​​ the wave coming⁠​‍ from you, it‌ will go to‍ someone else.

“Did‍⁠ you ask how‌ much I’m worth?!”‌​‌

The‍‌⁠ constant flow of‌ attack and defense⁠‌ suddenly shifted toward⁠ Colin.

Everyone‌​ has a story​ and a world​‍‍ they’ve built.

Colin‍​ was also someone​ who built his⁠ own world.

“This‌ is me, Colin​​ of Pylos!”

With‍‌ a mighty roar,‍⁠ an aura began⁠‍⁠ to blaze from​‍ the tip of⁠ Colin’s sword, burning⁠‍ everything in the​​‌ world.

Colin’s‌ consciousness, which had‌​ sunk deeply into‍​​ himself, no longer⁠ thought about tomorrow.‌

Colin,⁠ buried in past‌‌ defeats, didn’t have⁠‍‍ the confidence to⁠ face today’s defeat.⁠​‍

“Die!”⁠‌​

“…!”​⁠

Kwaaaaaaaaa!​⁠‍

Vlad‍‌‌ rolled away, avoiding‍ the ground’s explosion.‍

Piles​ of earth fell‍⁠ like rain over‌ their heads.

“Ha.”​‍

The​⁠‍ fight had already​​ ended.

Only‌‌ the duel remained.‌

The⁠ soldiers clinging to‌‌ the gate and​⁠​ stabbing each other‍⁠​ stopped like statues​‌ and only watched⁠⁠‍ the current showdown.‌

Everyone‍‍ realized that the‌​​ fight between these‍‌‍ two would be⁠ the beginning and​ end of the​ day.

“Heheh…”‍

A massive duel that​ a small village‍​ cannot contain.

While⁠⁠ everyone watched with⁠‌‌ great anticipation, Vlad⁠ was smiling.

It​⁠ was a smile‍​ that not even​‌​ the mud rain​​​ could conceal.

“Why​‌ are you smiling!”‍‍⁠

Colin⁠‍‍ shouted loudly upon‍ seeing Vlad suddenly⁠‌‌ smiling as if‌‌‍ he had lost‌ his mind, but‌⁠ the smile emanating⁠⁠‌ from his blue‌ eyes did not⁠‌‌ stop.

“I⁠ think I can​‍⁠ do it.”

Vlad,‍ who finally stopped‌​ laughing, brandished his⁠ sword.

The⁠ Star Sword, which​⁠​ had been dusted‍⁠‍ off, gleamed blue.​‌

Unlike‌‍​ before, this is⁠‌ a battlefield without​⁠‌ anyone’s help or⁠‍ consideration.

But‌‌ Vlad was sure.​‌​

“About​‌‌ you… I can​ handle it now.”‌‍​

“What?”‍​‌

Vlad⁠​​ raised his sword‍‍​ with those words.⁠‍

A sword made by​‌⁠ spirits and delivered⁠ by the World⁠‌ Tree.

Vlad,⁠ who once again​‍ felt the sensation‍ of holding a sword, wiped away​‌​ his smile and‍ returned to a serious expression.

“Thank‍ you for answering‌ me.”

Vlad⁠‍ got today’s answer​ by looking at⁠ the man in‍​ front of him.‌

Colin⁠‍⁠ of Pylos.

A great knight who‌‌ awakened the Aura‍​ and established his​‍‌ own world.

But​⁠‍ I have surpassed⁠​​ this man.

“So‍⁠ let’s end this⁠‌‍ now.”

And‌‍‍ now I’ll prove⁠‌​ it.

The​⁠​ worlds built by‍⁠‌ Vlad began to‍⁠ rotate on the‍⁠‍ path of the⁠ sword established by‌‌ the first Sword‌​‍ Master.

“Alright,‍ come on! Vlad​‌‍ of Soara!”

The‍‌​ staggering steps of‌⁠ the child to‌ make a world​ bloom have not​‌ stopped yet.

The‌​‌ precarious footprints up⁠​​ to now have‍ been accumulating one​​ by one in​‍‌ the child’s world,‍ giving rise to⁠ the present knight.⁠⁠⁠

“Yes,‍‍ more than just​‍ a brat.”

Vlad’s⁠‌ eyes began to‌⁠‍ shine when he⁠ heard Colin’s cry.‌​

The‌ blue eyes of‌‌‌ the little dragon,‍⁠ who had finally‍‌‌ discovered where he​ was and opened‍‌ his eyes to‌ his own potential,⁠ shone blue.

“Call‍‌ me Vlad of​‍‌ Soara.”

Today⁠‍ Vlad protected the​‍‍ wedding.

He​​‌ protected someone’s happiness‍⁠​ with his sword‍​​ and protected the‌ daily lives of‍​ the people.

So‌ now is the‍ time to throw⁠​‍ them one last‍‍ red rose.

“…!”‌

In⁠‌ an instant, light⁠ shone.

They‌ started facing each‌​ other, but before‍‍ they knew it,‌ Vlad and Colin’s⁠‌ positions had changed‌​⁠ in fleeting glances.​‍

It​ was a light‍ that you couldn’t⁠⁠ block even if‌ you looked at‌⁠‍ it, and that⁠ you couldn’t avoid⁠ even if you⁠​ noticed it.

“Kueeoeook…”​

Colin’s‍ eyes widened as‍ if he couldn’t​⁠⁠ believe it.

A sharp stake was‌​​ driven into his‌ heart that would‍‌ not allow him‍⁠ to live any‍‌ longer.

The‌ beats of my⁠​​ heart are slowly‌‍ fading.

A black figure that‍‌‌ was slowly collapsing‍⁠​ spilled dark red‌‍ liquid and fell​‌‌ onto the small​‌‍ village.

Colin,⁠ knight of Pylos.​

He‌⁠ ended up becoming‍​‌ one of the​ trials created by​ Vlad today.

“Because​‍⁠ you came this​‌​ far.”

Winners‍‌​ and losers.

Vlad,​ who took Colin’s⁠​ life as a reward for a fair duel, felt‌ the light touch​​‍ his shoulder and‍​‌ slowly raised his⁠‌ head.

Before⁠‍​ you know it,‌‌ a moon floats⁠‌‍ in the sky.‍⁠​

“Just‌⁠​ a little more‍‍‌ and I’ll be‍​ able to reach‌‌‍ it.”

Just‍ like that day,‍ the moon with‍ its pitiful blue⁠​​ light looked at‍‌‍ Vlad.

Vlad​ felt as if‍‍‍ the moonlight shining⁠‍‍ on him had​​ come a little‍‌​ closer than before.‍​

***‍‍‍

A grand mansion illuminated‍‌ by the moonlight.​

The‍⁠‍ dust deposited on‍​ the ground is⁠‌ full of grains‍‌​ of sand.

The​‍ dry winds from‌​ arid lands have‍‍ always plagued the​ Western towns.

“Count.”‌⁠

Grand⁠​⁠ vestibule.

In‍‍ a space too​‌ large for just‍ the two of‍⁠ them to exist,‌‍⁠ Count Gaidar looked​ at the knight‌ who bowed before​​ him.

“It’s​‍‌ time, Count.”

“…Tell‌⁠ me the details.”‌⁠‌

The‍‌ highest point of⁠ the vestibule.

The​ knight of the⁠ blue moonlight was‍⁠ climbing the stairs​‍ that not even​‌ his biological son⁠‌ could ascend.

He⁠​‍ was a man‍​ worthy of approaching​ the Count.

The​⁠​ blood and corpses‍ he created were‍‍ no different from⁠‌ those that laid⁠ the current stairs.‌‍‌

“The⁠​ Lord of the​‌ Dragon’s Blood has​ spoken.”

Godin⁠‌ approached the Count‌​ and whispered lowly‍‌ in his ear.‌‌

The‍‌ grains of sand​ floating in the​ spacious vestibule obscured⁠ his voice.

“Really?”​​‍

Count​⁠ Gaidar, upon hearing⁠‌ Godin’s words, gripped⁠ the armrests of‌‌ his chair tightly.‍‍

He​‍‍ was so delighted⁠⁠ that his two⁠‍⁠ eyes shone brightly‌⁠ on his furrowed​‌ face.

“The‌‌ moment has finally‍‌⁠ arrived.”

The​‌⁠ cold-blooded ruler of‌‌ the West.

A usurper who cared‍ not for taking.‌

Count⁠​ Sigmund Gaidar.

He‍​ had been waiting​​⁠ for this moment‌ for a long‌⁠ time.

“I’ve‍‌ waited too long.⁠​ Godin. It was​ so boring it​ was painful.”

“I⁠⁠ fully understand, Count.”​​‌

The‍​​ fate of those‌ born in the​ West was always​‌ to hunger no⁠ matter how much​‌ they swallowed.

Because‌‍ this cursed land‍ always made me‍ yearn for a distant land, not‌ where I was​‌ located.

This⁠⁠‌ constant hunger was‌⁠ like a curse.⁠​‍

“Go,⁠ Godin. Go and‌ retrieve my son’s‌ sword.”

Though‌ the thief was‍‌ assailed, he endured‍⁠ for a long​‍ time.

But⁠ now the time​⁠‍ had come, and⁠⁠⁠ the West would‌ not have to‍⁠‌ endure any longer.‌⁠

The‍‍‌ fence that barely⁠ held its shape‌⁠ was knocked down​ today.

“Go‍‍​ to Deirmae. Go⁠ and bring before⁠‌‍ me the wench⁠‌‍ who calls herself​​ the gateway to​​ the North!”

“Understood,⁠ Count.”

A knight receiving orders​‍ from his lord.‌‌​

As⁠ always, Godin would​‌ not hesitate to​ carry out his‌‌ orders.

Outside‌​‌ the window shining‍​ behind Gaidar, the‍‌ blue moonlight shone⁠ upon Godin.

It‍‍‌ was the same‍ color as the​ moonlight that fell​⁠ with the smile⁠ of a rose‌ that day.

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