Star-Embracing Swordmaster — Chapter 135: New home (2)

Chapter 135: New home (2)

“Can‍ he handle it?”‌‌

Two‌ people walking down⁠ a hallway bathed⁠‌‍ in sunlight.

“Isn’t it too soon‌ for Lord Vlad?‌ Wouldn’t it be better to watch‍ and learn more‍‌‍ from other knights?”‌

“It⁠ will be enough.”⁠‍

Unlike⁠⁠ Alicia, who had‍‍ a worried expression,‌ Joseph’s face remained calm.

“From‍ the moment we‍ met, Sir Vlad‍‌ was already the‍⁠ leader of the‍⁠ group.”

“Ah.”‌

Alicia‍‌ silently nodded at⁠⁠‍ Joseph’s words.

Although‍ he belonged to‌ Hainal, after all,‌ Vlad was Bayezid’s‌‌ knight.

Expressing‌ my opinion about‌‍ him in front‍ of Joseph was‌‌ something I had⁠ to be careful‍⁠ about.

“What‍⁠ happened when you‌ first met?”

“He‌ was a mercenary‍ I had hired.‌ We met during the monster subjugation‌‌ that began in‍‌ Varna.”

Joseph⁠ looked down the⁠ hallway, thinking back⁠‌ to the past winter day.

A 17-year-old youth with‍ the ID of⁠ a 31-year-old.

Even‍‍ now, when I think about it,‌ I can only⁠‍ laugh at the‍‍⁠ extremely audacious behavior‌‌ of the boy.

“But‌‌ aren’t they all‌⁠ rough individuals? Barbarians,‍‌ mercenaries, they’re all new subordinates…”

“Lady‌‍ Alicia.”

Joseph⁠ stopped walking at‍⁠ Alicia’s concerned opinion and looked back⁠⁠⁠ at her.

He nodded with a faint smile as⁠ if reassuring her.‌‍

“Why are you worried‌⁠ about that guy?‌‌ You know him⁠‌ very well.”

“…”‍‍

I heard it was‍‌ his first war.⁠

However,‌ the fact that‌⁠ he will become‍‍ the leader of‍‍ a group and‍⁠ carry out separate‍ missions.

Alicia‌‌ was still young and wanted to‌ stay with the‌⁠⁠ other knights and⁠ be in a safe place, but‌ Vlad had already proven to be‍‍⁠ too much to‍ worry about.

“Fierce‍‍ barbarians, rough mercenaries…‍‍ They’re definitely too‌‌ much for a knight who isn’t‍‍ even 20 yet.”

Joseph said those words⁠ and looked out‌⁠ at the scenery‌ beyond the hallway.‌‌

A temporary garrison where‍ soldiers from Haynal⁠⁠ and Bayezid are‌ gathered.

I could see a place where many⁠⁠ people were gathered⁠‌ among the tents pitched there.

“But don’t worry too‍⁠ much.”

A loud noise reverberates‍ all the way‌ to the mansion.⁠

With‌‍ that sound, men‍ of different affiliations‍ and backgrounds began‍⁠ to mingle.

“In‌ terms of roughness, he’s not an‍⁠ easy opponent at‌‍ all.”

“Yes?”⁠⁠

Joseph‍‌⁠ stepped away from‍ the window as⁠ if to take⁠‍ a closer look⁠⁠ and said something‍ that seemed incomprehensible.⁠

“See‌ for yourself.”

Following‍‌‍ Joseph’s lead, Alicia⁠‌ naturally began to‍⁠ gaze out beyond‍‍ the window.

“Huh?”⁠

A temporary garrison where‌ soldiers are gathered.‍

I don’t know why,‍‌ but a large⁠‌⁠ circle formed among‌‌ the very excited‍ soldiers.

And⁠ two men standing⁠‌ inside.

“…”‍‌

Alicia⁠⁠‌ blocked the sunlight‍ with her hands‌ and tried to make out the⁠ distant scene.

Blond⁠‌ hair shining in‍ the sunlight.

There‌ were fireflies flying‍ around.

Even‍ though it was‍‍ midday and not‍ night.

***‌

“Direct⁠‍ hit!”

“Come⁠ on! Knight of‌ Deirmar!”

“Show‌ those barbarians who⁠ we are!”

“Huff…”‌‌

It‌ felt like my‍ heart was pounding hard from the‍ constant shouts coming‍ from all directions.‍‌

However,⁠⁠ Vlad takes a slow, deep breath‌ and regains his composure.

Before‌‍ him stood Agge,⁠ shirtless and with a grim expression.⁠

The⁠⁠ tattoos etched on‍‌ his bulging muscles⁠ looked brutal.

“Go⁠ for it!”

Agge‌⁠ starts taunting Vlad⁠⁠ with a barbaric‌ hand gesture.

The‌⁠ shouts of the‌ soldiers surrounding the‌⁠ circle grew louder‍‌ at the sight.

“These‌‌ guys are really‌ loud.”

Vlad⁠ spat harshly, seeming‌ unhappy with the current situation.

Now‌‍ as the Vlad‌‍‍ from the alley,⁠‌ without his knight’s‌‌‌ standard, he slowly‌ began to recall‍ his old memories‍‌ from Soara.

The‌⁠⁠ madness of the past fills me⁠ with every breath‍ I take.

The‍ roughness of the‍ alleys began to‌‌ appear in the⁠ knight’s blue eyes.‍‌‌

“…Mmm.”

Agge⁠⁠‍ corrected his posture‌ without realizing it⁠ as Vlad approached.‌

A knight with a strange stance.

The close combat skills‌⁠ he directly learned⁠‌ from Ramund clearly masked Vlad’s weaknesses.⁠‍

‘What⁠ kind of eyes‌ does this kid⁠ have?’

Vlad‌ advances with the‌‍ skills of a knight and the‍ power of an‍ alley.

Watching,‍‌ Agge unconsciously swallows.⁠‍

‘He’s‍ coming!’

The‍‌ single-strike technique is‍⁠ a technique that⁠ controls the gap.‌‌‌

Although‍ he didn’t raise‌ his sword, Vlad’s⁠⁠ own space was‍⁠⁠ already etched into‍⁠ his body.

‘Left!’‍

The‍‍ fist extending swiftly‍‌ is sharp.

However,‍ Agge is a warrior who already‌ has enough experience‍⁠⁠ in close combat.⁠

He⁠ quickly raised his‍‌ right arm to cover his chin‍ and sought an⁠ opportunity to counterattack‍‍ immediately.

“Tsk!”‍⁠‌

Suddenly,⁠‍ I began to feel pain starting‍ in my right‌ ankle.

With⁠ that, Agge’s balance‍ began to slowly‌ collapse.

“You‍‍ should have kept⁠ your eyes open.”

“…!”‌

The⁠⁠ left was a feint.

No, maybe it wasn’t‌ a feint, it‍‍ was just fast.⁠‍

Vlad,⁠ who changed his‍ striking point based‌‍ on Agge’s reaction,⁠ managed to kick⁠⁠‍ Agge’s right ankle‍ with a low⁠⁠ kick.

‘Damn‌‌⁠ it!’

Agge‍ could think of‍ it again as⁠‍⁠ he looked at‍‍ the smiling Vlad.‌

Who⁠‍⁠ was the person‌‌‍ in front of‍ me?

The‍ dragon hunter who⁠‌ led Lindworm, reached⁠‍⁠ him, and finally‍ killed him.

Vlad‍‍ was a hunter‌ who caught the‍‌ biggest being he‌ had ever seen.‍

“Don’t⁠⁠ bark at me⁠‌ again.”

The‌‍ momentum that started‌⁠ in the blue‍‌ eyes formed a single line and⁠‍‍ began to run‌⁠‌ towards Agge.

“Keuuk!”‌‌

Agge⁠‌ rushed to attack‍‍ Vlad in an attempt to reverse‌‍ his momentum, but‌ his eyes began⁠ to roll back‌‍ from the continuous⁠ blows that started‍⁠ immediately.

Vlad’s⁠‍ attack is relentless,‍ as if it⁠⁠ would never end with a single‌‍ blow.

Boom!⁠ Pop-pop-!

Agge‌‌ couldn’t catch his⁠ breath as the⁠‍ hard fists continued⁠⁠⁠ to strike his‌ sides and abdomen.‍

Each‍‍ extended fist was‍⁠⁠ a strong blow,‌‍ as if a tree trunk were‌‍ crashing down on‌ him.

‘…!’‌‌

On‍‍ the surface, it⁠ seemed like he⁠ was simply acting‌‌ on instinct, but‍ he could feel⁠⁠ the age he⁠‌ was dealing with.⁠‌

To⁠ overcome physical differences,⁠ it is necessary‍‍ to analyze them⁠ from bottom to‌⁠ top.

Vlad,⁠‍ who had been‍⁠⁠ fighting opponents larger‍ than him since⁠ he was young,⁠ was very aware⁠‍ of this fact and was now⁠‍ unleashing mercilessly the⁠⁠ experience he had⁠⁠ accumulated against Agge.

“Keuuk!”⁠

Rougher‌‌‌ than a barbarian.⁠⁠‍

More‍⁠ tenacious than an‍⁠ exhausted mercenary.

The beast that jumped from the dark⁠ alley ran towards‌⁠⁠ Agge, using the⁠ skills of a knight.

“…I lost.”

Vlad⁠ finally pushed the⁠ large northern man‍ down.

Agge,‍ feeling the cold‍ earth on his back, looked at‌⁠⁠ the hunter riding‍ and pressing him‌‍ under the blue⁠⁠‌ sky.

Backlit by the sun,‍ Vlad’s face was‌⁠ completely dark.

“Show some respect.”

“…I‍ give up.”

Vlad,‍‌ who walked away‍‌‍ from Agge, shrugged‍‌‍ and looked at⁠ the barbarians in⁠ front of him.‌

“I‍‍ still attack someone⁠‌ who is deceiving‌⁠ me, but this‌ time I deal‌‌ with it with⁠‍ my sword instead⁠ of my fists.”‍

The‌ barbarians simply fell‍ silent in the‍ face of Vlad’s‍⁠ murderous gaze.

The‌⁠ barbarians who came according to the‍ contract but said⁠‌‍ they would not⁠ bow to the‌⁠ people of the empire.

However,‌‍ no matter what‌ they did, they⁠⁠ had no other‌‍ choice in the face of the‌⁠ rules that apply⁠ in any world.‌⁠

Vlad‍ managed to make‌ them understand through‌⁠ force.

“Wait‌ a moment!”

“…What’s⁠ going on now?”⁠‍

Agge,‌ who had been‍‍‌ lying down a moment ago, shouted⁠⁠ a few words⁠⁠‍ and stood up,‍ loudly calling out⁠⁠ to Vlad.

“You’re‍‍ the leader… No,‍ let the captain⁠⁠ do it!”

“Do‌‍ what?”

Agge’s‌⁠ eyes began to‍ search the scarlet‌ hidden among the‍ crowd.

Agge,⁠ a warrior of⁠ the Budart tribe.‍

He‌ hasn’t backed down completely yet.

“Not‍‍ even a lieutenant!”

“…True.”⁠

As⁠ I lost, I’ll⁠‌ follow what you⁠ say, but that⁠‌ doesn’t mean I can give up⁠‌ my position as‌⁠ second in command.‍

Agge had no intention‌‍ of bowing, at⁠‌‌ least not to⁠⁠⁠ Stephan.

“Oh,⁠‌ I’m going crazy.”‍‌‍

“You⁠ two can handle⁠‍‍ that.”

Stephan,‍ noticing that Agge‍‌ was pointing at‍ him, tangled his‍‌ bangs as if⁠ in pain.

In‍ the end, Stephan stepped forward as‌ if pushed by‍‌ his subordinates.

Seeing‍‍‍ this, the soldiers’‍‍ shouts began to grow louder again.‍‍‍

“If‌‍ you leave the‍ position of second‌ in command, your⁠‌‌ salary will also‌ be reduced.”

“…That guy lost a lot of strength, didn’t he?”

Seeing⁠⁠‌ Agge spit blood,‍‌ Stephan also slowly‍‍‍ began to clear‌ his throat.

The‍ fight between barbarians‌ and mercenaries begins⁠ again.

The‌ shouts of the‍‍ soldiers, excited for⁠ another spectacle, began‌ to resonate strongly.‌‍

“Get‍‌ out of the⁠ way.”

Vlad‌⁠ left the circle,‌ shaking off the⁠⁠‌ men approaching him‌‌ from all sides.‌‌

“…”‍‍

“…”‍

Vlad‍ stepped out into‍ the quiet outdoors‍‍ and made eye‌⁠ contact with the⁠ noble lady who‌ was frozen in⁠⁠⁠ shock on the‌‌⁠ railing of the‌‍ distant hallway.

Vlad‍ tilted his head‌‍ towards her with‍⁠⁠ an awkward smile,⁠‌ but Alicia was‍ just staring at⁠ Vlad with blank⁠‍ eyes, probably surprised by the confrontation of that moment.‌⁠

“How⁠‌‌ is it? Do‍ you think you’ll⁠ do well in‍ the future?”

“…Yes.”‍‌

It‍‌‌ was hard for‍‌ Alicia to keep⁠ her mouth shut‍ as she watched‌ Vlad subdue the barbarians in an‌ instant.

Vlad, a young knight who always showed⁠⁠‌ himself to be honorable.

However,‌‌ what she saw‌ today was harsh,‍ like a hungry⁠ animal.

“You’re⁠ doing well. I think I’ll do⁠ well in the⁠‌‌ future too.”

And⁠‌ Alicia didn’t feel‌‌ that Vlad’s unusual‍ appearance was so⁠ bad.

Vlad⁠ walks away to⁠ the hills with a salute.

Alicia’s⁠ eyes trembled slightly⁠‌‌ as she discovered‍ the new Vlad⁠ behind him.

***‌‍

West‌ must expand ceaselessly.‍

Even‌⁠‌ though they control vast land, the‌ land they possess⁠ is nothing more than a barren‍‌ field where not‌ even a single‌ blade of grass‍‌ grows.

That’s⁠‌ why the West⁠‍ has always lived⁠⁠ by robbing and⁠ plundering what others‍‌‌ had.

Until‍⁠‍ the fallen dragon‌ turned its head⁠⁠ outward.

“Baron!‍ Baron!”

Nasau⁠‌ City.

A port city ruled⁠ by Baron Iznik.‍

Although‍⁠ Baron Iznik was⁠⁠ in charge of⁠ a hub of West maritime trade,‌ the report he‍‌ heard now was‍⁠ enough to make⁠‍ him doubt his‍ ears.

“…Everything‍ was stolen?”

“That’s…”‌

“All‌⁠ of it?”

“…Yes.”‍

As‍‍ the knight’s report‍⁠ grew smaller, the baron’s bristling mustache‍‍⁠ began to tremble.‍⁠‌

“What‌‌ kind of shit‍ is this!”

Baron Iznik slammed the‍⁠‍ desk forcefully.

As if he couldn’t⁠ contain his anger,‌ he spoke without‍ hesitation.

“Who‌ the hell came in here and‌ looted it?”

Bandits?‍‍

Or‌ was it committed‍⁠⁠ by other nearby⁠‌ lords?

There might have been⁠‌ a time when‌ Ravnoma and Gaidar‌‍‍ were fighting, but‍‌‌ order had already been established in‍ this area, so‌ the news that‍‍ supplies had been‌‍‍ plundered was an‌⁠ unbelievable report for‍‌‍ the baron.

“Who‌ is it! I don’t even know‍‌ who robbed me!”⁠⁠

Looking‍⁠‍ at his bloodshot eyes filled with‌‍⁠ anger, the knight‌ commander simply bowed his head.

“That‌ is… It is said to be‍ Hainal’s troops.”

“What?”

“Hainal…‍ The one who‌ is Lady Alicia’s‌⁠ knight…”

The‍‍ baron raised his eyes in disbelief⁠‌⁠ at the knight⁠ commander’s report.

“Hainal?‌⁠ Deirmar? No, how‌ far is this⁠ place from there?”‍‌

This⁠ is because the‌‍ distance between Deirmar‌‍ and Nassau would‍⁠ have taken more⁠ than a week‌ even if you⁠‌ had ridden non-stop.‍

No one could have‍ easily imagined that‍‌ Hainal’s soldiers, who⁠ should have been⁠ crouching in preparation‌ for the impending⁠‍ battle, would come⁠ here.

“How the hell did⁠‍ they crawl all‌⁠ the way here?”‌⁠‌

From⁠ very far away‌⁠ without anyone knowing it.

And‍ the looters who‍‍ disappeared like the wind without a trace.

However,‍ the situation had‌ already occurred, and‌ all the supplies‌ the baron had‌ sent were burned.‌‌⁠

The⁠‍ only clue they‌⁠⁠ left was Lady⁠ Alicia’s name.

“Find‍ them now! Find‌‌‌ them and bring them to me!”‌

West,⁠⁠ where being robbed‌ equals death.

However,⁠‌ a vicious group⁠ that preys even‌ on marauders has‌‌‍ infiltrated the West’s⁠ night skies.

Knights⁠‍ of the streets,‌ Northern barbarians, and‌ tenacious mercenaries.

It‌ was a young⁠‌ and wicked attack‌ force formed by‌ a man with‌‌ dark eyes.

War between the West‌‌⁠ and the North.⁠

The⁠‌‍ North’s first beacon‌ against the imminent‌‌⁠ malevolence of the⁠‌‌ West belonged to⁠‍ Vlad, Lady Alicia’s‍ knight.