Star-Embracing Swordmaster — Chapter 134: New home (1)

Chapter 134: New home (1)

The‍‍ black eyes that‌⁠‌ I hadn’t seen‍ for a long⁠ time were looking⁠‌⁠ at me.

The‍ corners of his‌ eyes were slightly‌‌ curved, it seemed‌ as if he‌ was about to‌‍ smile, but his⁠‍ expression seemed uncomfortable.‍

Vlad‌ was also debating‌ whether to laugh‍ or not as⁠⁠ he looked at that expression.

“Why⁠ you?”

His⁠ lord left in‍⁠ winter but met⁠ him in summer.‍⁠

Joseph’s‌ eyes, which seemed‌⁠ to have darkened‍ a bit, sharply⁠⁠ rose towards Vlad.‌

“Are you going to‌ cause trouble just‌ by coming here?”

“…I’m‍‍ sorry.”

Vlad⁠‌ quickly lowered his head in response‌ to Joseph’s reprimand.‍‍

It was a fact‍ that he himself‍‌ knew well that‌ his history in‍ Deirmar was spectacular.‍‌

“You‍ broke in and‍‍ ate the Hainal⁠ family relic… It’s‍‌ really absurd.”

Joseph,⁠‌ heavily leaning back in his chair‍‍ as if annoyed‌ by what he‌‍ said, sighed deeply.‌‌‌

Although⁠‍ it wasn’t enough⁠⁠ to strengthen the‍⁠ relationship with Deirmar⁠ before the great⁠‍ war, he came⁠⁠ to eat the‌ Hainal family relic.‌‌‌

Joseph⁠ still felt good⁠⁠‌ about Alicia’s tears welling up at⁠ Vlad’s words.

“It‌ went to the⁠‍ east and nothing‍ has changed.”

A one-eyed knight who‌⁠ opens his mouth‌‍ on behalf of⁠‌ Joseph, who is‍ speechless.

Although⁠ he had banished‍⁠ him as a sign of his‌‍⁠ own respect, Jager was throwing a hard look with‍⁠ the only eye‍ left at his disciple who was⁠ still causing accidents.

“…”‌⁠

It‍ wasn’t that Vlad⁠⁠ didn’t have something to say, but‍ he also knew‌ he wasn’t in⁠ the mood to⁠ say it at‌‍ that moment.

Vlad,‌⁠ who had spent⁠ his whole life⁠⁠ observing people’s opinions,‍‌ realized he had‍ to keep his‍ mouth shut for⁠⁠‍ now.

“Idiot.”‍⁠⁠

Jager’s⁠‌ body rolling like⁠ a wave with a short shout.‍

Activating⁠‌ the magical steps‌ that were his⁠‍‌ foundation, Jager struck‍‌⁠ Vlad’s shin without‌‍‌ the slightest hesitation.‍‌

“…!”⁠

“Ugh!”‍⁠

But‍‍ he didn’t hear‌ the screams of‌ someone he expected.⁠⁠

The‌ sound of the‌ wind passing fiercely.⁠⁠

The⁠‍‌ only thing that‌⁠ came out empty‌‌ was his kick‍‍ that went through‌ the air.

“…”‌‍

“…”‌⁠

Vlad⁠‌ now takes a step back to avoid Jager’s kick.‍‍

Contrary‌‍ to his bewildered‍ expression, Joseph slowly‌⁠ raises the upper‌ part of his⁠ body, which was‍‌⁠ leaning on the‌⁠‌ chair, as if‌‌ surprised to see that the gap‌ between them had⁠ clearly widened.

“Ah.”‍‍

Joseph‍ makes a subtle expression as he looks at Jager who is still‍ standing with one‍ foot raised.

Vlad,‌ who was examining the atmosphere in⁠⁠‍ the office while‍ rolling his eyes,‍ cautiously opened his mouth.

“…This⁠‍⁠ was supposed to‌⁠‍ be right, wasn’t‌ it?”

“…I⁠ guess so.”

Seeing‍ Vlad subtly pull‍⁠ out the shin‌ again, Jager couldn’t‍‍⁠ help but put‌ on a puzzled‌ expression.

As⁠⁠ expected, this guy⁠ was unpredictable.

Since⁠ we met until‍‍ now.

“As⁠‌ expected, idiot.”

Taaaak!‌

A light smack was⁠‌ heard inside the‌⁠‌ office.

Vlad’s‌‌ blonde hair waves‍ wildly.

Jager⁠ managed to hit‌ the back of‍‌⁠ his head instead‌ of the extended‌ shin.

“I‌ always told you‍‍‍ to prepare for⁠ the next hit.”‍‌

Seeing⁠⁠‍ Jager secretly smiling‌ at him, Vlad chuckled a bit‍ with him.

“I’m‍‍ sorry.”

Everything‍ was just like before.

Joseph,⁠‌ looking at him⁠ backlit by the‍⁠‌ sunlight, and Jager,‍‌ who stood still⁠ by his side.‌‌

Although⁠ they were scolding‌‍ him, Vlad somehow‍ felt relieved to‌ see that nothing‌⁠⁠ had changed.

***‍⁠

“The‍⁠ Baron Alicia said‌‌ she would let‍ this matter pass quietly.”

“Thank you for forgiving‌ me generously.”

“Yes.”‌⁠

Joseph‌ and his group‍ left the mansion⁠⁠ and were inspecting‍⁠ the temporary garrison⁠‌ established within the‍‌ territory.

Tents and bonfires spread‌ everywhere.

Looking‍‍ at the fine‍‌‌ smoke rising from‌‌ where the soldiers‍‍ were gathered, Vlad‍ thought it was⁠ a sight that‌ didn’t suit Deirmar.‍

“From‍⁠ today onwards, you‌ will officially work‍‍ as Alicia’s knight,⁠‍ not under my‌‍ command.”

“Do‍⁠⁠ we really have‌⁠⁠ to do that?”‍

“Now‍‍ is the time‍ to be cautious.”‌

In‌‍ this war, Vlad‌⁠‍ had to act‌ as Vlad of⁠⁠ Alicia, not as‌‍⁠ Vlad of Soara.‌‌

Vlad was still a stranger in the‍‌⁠ eyes of the‌‌ Vatican, and the⁠ Vatican army was‍ confined to the‌ northern part of‍‌ the country, so‍⁠‍ it wouldn’t hurt⁠ to be cautious.⁠‌⁠

“How‌‍‍ long will I remain under Lady⁠‌‌ Alicia’s command?”

“Why? You really don’t⁠ like it, do‌‌ you?”

“It’s‌ not that, but…”‌‍

Vlad‌ hesitated to answer‍‍ Joseph’s question.

Although⁠⁠ Vlad had never‌‌ fought in a war, there was‍‌ one thing he⁠ understood well.

“I⁠ guess I prefer the title Vlad‌ of Soara.”

“Mmm.”⁠‌

Joseph⁠ and Jager nodded⁠ at Vlad’s words‌‌ as if they⁠ made sense.

The⁠ honorary title granted⁠‍⁠ to a knight‌‍ was important to⁠ reveal not only‌ affiliation but also⁠⁠ identity.

Therefore,‍ no matter how‌‍‌ much connection Vlad‌⁠ had with the‌ territory of Deirmar, he had no‌⁠⁠ choice but to‌‍ show reluctance to give up the⁠⁠ title of Vlad‌‌ of Soara.

“Still,⁠ it would be nice to have⁠ some attachment to‍ it.”

However,‍ Joseph just looked⁠ around the military⁠‌‍ camp while leaving a strange comment.

“Alicia⁠‍ said she would‌ let it pass⁠ quietly, but she⁠⁠‌ didn’t say she‌ would simply let‌‌ it pass.”

It‌⁠ was a precious‍⁠⁠ relic inherited from⁠‍ the ancestors who⁠‌‌ founded the family.

As⁠⁠‍ much as Vlad‍⁠⁠ was the benefactor⁠‍ of Deirmar, this‌ was something he had to take⁠ some responsibility for.‌‌‍

“The‍‌‌ baron requested priority‌⁠ negotiating rights for‍‌ you. After our‍‌ seven-year contract ends.”⁠‍

“Negotiating‌ rights?”

Joseph‌ and Vlad were⁠ not bound by‍ a contract promising‌ lifelong loyalty.

The⁠‌‌ seven-year contract in‌ exchange for opportunities‍ and trust was‍⁠ now in its⁠‌ third year, and⁠ once the contract⁠ ended, Vlad would‌ be completely free.

“Can⁠ I refuse?”

“Then…‌‌‍ she’ll probably be⁠ sad.”

Anyway,⁠‌ he wasn’t forcing‍ a contract, just‌ asking him to⁠ talk to him‍ first before going‌⁠‌ to another lord.‍‌⁠

Alicia,⁠ the lady of‌‍ Hainal, wanted to‌‍ have a knight named Vlad under‌ her command.

“Anyway,‍ is the horse still okay?”

“Are⁠⁠ you talking about Noir?”

“Yes,‍‍‍ that one. He’s⁠⁠‌ famous.”

However,‌ all these conversations⁠ would ultimately only take place after‍ the war was‍‍ won.

Vlad’s‌ affiliation might be‍‌ close to that of Hainal on⁠ the surface, but⁠ Joseph was the‍⁠ one in command.⁠

Joseph‍⁠ had already mentally⁠ planned how he⁠⁠‍ would use the‍ knight Vlad.

“The‍‌ troops stationed in⁠‍⁠ Deirmar will continue to focus on⁠‍ the castle, but‍‌‍ it wouldn’t be‌ desirable to simply‌⁠ wait with great‌ anticipation.”

The‌ group headed towards⁠ the outskirts, passing‌‌ through the tents⁠⁠ set up here and there.

There‍ was another tent‌ raised there, away⁠⁠ from the other⁠⁠‍ tents.

It was a tent‍ that stood alone,‍ as if it⁠‌ couldn’t go unnoticed.

“No!⁠‌⁠ Who is it?”

A tent with a noticeably different appearance‌ from Joseph’s tent,‍ which was unified‍⁠⁠ in a single‍ color.

Vlad’s‍‌ eyebrows furrowed when‍⁠⁠ he saw the‌⁠‌ man coming out⁠‍ from inside.

“Why⁠ is that guy‍ here?”

“That‌‍‍ was the contract‍⁠ to begin with.”⁠⁠

Joseph⁠ shrugged and looked⁠ at Vlad.

“Greet‌ him. Because we’ll⁠‌‍ have to work‌ together in the‍ future.”

Vlad‍ looked ahead as‍ he listened to‌ Joseph’s words, which⁠⁠ for some reason‍‍‌ sounded ominous.

A man approaching him‌ with arms outstretched‍⁠ so that anyone‍‌ would mistake him⁠ for a close‍ friend.

Braided‌ hair, tattoos all‌‌ over.

“It’s‍ been a while!”⁠

Agge⁠⁠ of the Budart‌‍ tribe smiled cheerfully⁠ as he looked⁠‌ at Vlad.

***⁠

“You’ve⁠‌ achieved success. Sir.”‌

“Shut⁠‌ up.”

Vlad wiped his face with both hands as he listened‌‌ to Stephan.

Seeing⁠ him like that,⁠ Stephan simply chewed‍⁠‍ on the jerky⁠⁠ and laughed.

“Moving‍⁠⁠ up a position‍ in the first‌‌ place is a big deal in⁠‌ itself. Besides, didn’t‌ the knight say this was his⁠⁠ first time in war?”

“…I‌‍ did.”

Vlad‍‍‌ heard Stephan’s words‌‍‍ and looked at Noir neighing inside⁠⁠ the stable.

Neighing-

A type that doesn’t⁠ listen, is rough,‍‌‌ and lives according to his own liking.

However,⁠ the prairie son⁠ is fast enough‌ to make up‍‍⁠ for all his‌‍ faults.

“Besides,‍ it’s not just‌ a reconnaissance team,‌‍ it’s an attack‌‍ team. From my‌‍ experience, this is a very good⁠‌ opportunity.”

Joseph‌ was paying attention⁠ to the mobility‌‍ that Vlad and⁠‌⁠ Noir had.

And‍⁠ I plan to‌⁠ use soldiers suitable⁠ for their mobility⁠ and try to‍‍‌ control Gaidar at‍ least once.

“Since‍ you’re in charge⁠⁠ of a squadron‍ and not just an ordinary knight,‍ you’ll definitely be‌ able to do‌ a great job‌ in this war.”

“…If‍⁠ the barbarians listen to me.”

Joseph‍‍‌ put Vlad in‍ charge of the‍‍‌ Budart warriors.

Among⁠ the knights Jose brought with him,⁠‍⁠ he was the only one who‍ had any connection‌ to the barbarians, so it wasn’t an incomprehensible choice⁠⁠⁠ at all.

“Where‍ are you going.”‍‌

“For‍ a walk.”

“I’ll⁠‍⁠ come with you.”‍

“No.‍‍ Don’t follow me.”‍

It⁠⁠ was good for‍⁠ the barbarians that‍‌ Vlad, whom they⁠ knew, became the⁠ leader instead of‌ strange guys they‌ had never seen⁠‍‌ before, and Stephan⁠‌ was promoted to‍ Vlad’s lieutenant as‍‌ soon as he‌ was hired, so‍‌ it was a good thing for‌ everyone.

That⁠ is, except for⁠ Vlad, who has a complicated mind.⁠⁠

“It’s‍ not a place just anyone can‍‍ enter.”

“It’s‌ fine.”

Vlad‍‌ decided to take⁠‌ a moment to⁠‌ get some fresh⁠ air to unravel‍ his tangled brain.‌⁠

First‌ of all, there‍‍⁠ was someone who⁠‍ was desperately looking‍⁠ for him.

As⁠ the sun gradually⁠‍‍ sets, Vlad leaves the garrison full‍ of soldiers.

Vlad‍‌ entered the backyard‍‍ of the quiet‌‍ mansion and made⁠‌ eye contact with⁠⁠ a white figure‌‍ swaying on the⁠ hill.

“Why‌ the hell are‌ you looking for me like this?”‍

On‌‍‍ a low hill,‌ a huge tree‍‌ with the emblem⁠ of the Hainal‌ family engraved.

There‍ was a white‍ snake moving its‍ head towards Vlad.‌

***‍⁠

“Sob.”‌‌

A lone figure writhing‍‌ in a large⁠⁠ room.

The‌ moonlight streaming in‌‍ through the window‌ illuminated Alicia’s figure‍ as she wrapped‍ the blanket around⁠ the bed.

“…What‌‍‌ if I really break it just‌ because I gave⁠ it to you?”‌‌

The‌ red tip of‍ her nose and the scattered tissues on the bed⁠ indicated that she‍‌ had been crying profusely just moments ago.

No⁠ matter how strong‌⁠ a dam is,‌‌ it can collapse‍ even from a small crack.

Alicia‍‌ had been able‌ to withstand the‍⁠‍ ill intentions coming‍‌ at her from‌⁠ all directions, but⁠‌ in the end,‍ thanks to the⁠‌‌ amber stone, she‍‌ finally let out‌‌ what she had⁠‌ been holding in⁠ for so long.‍‍

“My‍ father left it‌ to me.”

It⁠‌ was a relic⁠⁠ inherited from her⁠⁠ ancestors, but for Alicia, it was‍ one of the few objects that‍ reminded her of‍ her father.

But‌ you broke it.‌‌

No,‌ did you say it melted?

“Oh‍ well.”

I guess it didn’t⁠‍ matter.

Because‌ now one of⁠‌‌ my father’s traces‌‍‌ will never be⁠⁠ seen again.

Standing‍ up, wiping away‌⁠⁠ her tears, Alicia⁠⁠ decided to console‌ herself with the‌ fact that she⁠‌ didn’t shed tears⁠⁠⁠ in front of‍ people.

“It’s⁠⁠ okay. I gave‌ it to you‌‍ to use it‍⁠ anyway.”

Her⁠ father had said‍⁠ that the yellow‌ amber stone contained⁠‌ an incomprehensible divine‍ protection.

That’s why she lent‍‌‌ it, and in⁠‍ the end, it⁠ came back safe‍‍‌ and sound.

Alicia⁠‍‍ tried to think⁠‌ like that and‍‌ nodded as she‌‍ looked at herself‍⁠ in the mirror.⁠‌

“Still,‍ it’s not just‍⁠ a trinket.”

Alicia,⁠ sitting at the‌ dressing table beside‍‌ the bed, sighed‍ as she looked⁠‌‌ at her swollen eyes and took out the letters‍‌ Vlad had given⁠‌ her instead of‌ the amber stones.

“Ausurin…⁠ the elves.”

Elven‌⁠ Forest, Ausurin.

It‍‌ was a place⁠⁠ that was only‌ full of rumors‌⁠ as it never showed its side‌‍‌ to humans, but⁠‌ she had heard‍‌ that in the‍⁠ center, elf tea‌‍‌ was being sold‍ at high prices‍‍ these days.

‘…If⁠ I do this⁠ right.’

Although Vlad lost the‍ amber stone, he‌‍ brought a personal‌ letter from the‍⁠ elves instead.

Perhaps⁠‌ the letter she⁠⁠ had now was‌‌ more valuable than⁠‍ the amber stone⁠ her father bequeathed‍⁠ to her.

Alicia‌‌⁠ had a vague‍ idea of the value of the‌⁠ letter she held.⁠‍‌

‘Ugh!’⁠⁠

As‌ Alicia opened the‌‍ envelope of the⁠‍ letter said to⁠‍ have been sent‍ by the elves,‍⁠ a sudden gust‌ of wind blew, and she shut⁠ her eyes.

“…What‌‌‌ is this.”

Already‍‍ highly distraught, Alicia‌⁠ panicked at the‍ sudden wind and‍ approached the window,⁠⁠ rubbing her eyes.⁠‍‌

While‌ Alicia rubbed her‌‍ eyes, the wind‌ that started inside the envelope soon‌ began to travel‌ and decorate her room with the⁠ refreshing aroma of the forest.

“…”⁠

Alicia‍‍⁠ barely opened her⁠ eyes to the‍‌⁠ nocturnal breeze coming⁠‌ through the window.

As‍ she looked out⁠ the window, what‍‌ caught her attention‍‍ was the sight‌ of someone climbing‍‌‌ a hill under‍‌ the bright moonlight.‍‌

“Now‌‍ he comes and‌ goes as if‍‌ it’s his own⁠‌ home…”

Alicia,‌‌ knowing who it⁠ was just by‍ looking at the‍‍ colors shining in the moonlight, watched⁠⁠ Vlad climb the‌ hill with pursed‌ lips.

A bow to the⁠ gravestones.

He‌‌ waved his hand towards the Hainal‌ tree.

And‌⁠ Vlad, Alicia’s knight,⁠‌ standing on the⁠‍ hill.

“Huh?”‍⁠⁠

At⁠ that moment, Alicia⁠⁠‍ felt embarrassed by⁠‌ the sudden sight‌ and rubbed her⁠ eyes again.

“Aren’t‍⁠ there fireflies on⁠⁠ that hill?”

There‌ were fireflies.