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Star-Embracing Swordmaster Chapter 138: The last Ravnoma (3)

Chapter 138: The last Ravnoma (3)

A place where people​⁠ come to vent⁠ their base desires​⁠ that are difficult‍‍‌ to share with​ anyone else.

Because‍ it was such⁠ a place, unexpected​⁠‍ accidents sometimes occurred.‌‌‌

The​ men who came​⁠⁠ here had the‍⁠ mistaken idea that​‍⁠ they could buy​⁠‌ everything from a woman with just‌ a few faded​ silver coins.

“Aaaah!‍ This crazy bastard!”‌

Under‌‍ the dim light‍ of a lamp​⁠‌ that seemed about​‌⁠ to go out,‌ a man screamed‌⁠⁠ as if he​​‍ were about to‍‌ lose his mind,‍ emitting guttural sounds.⁠

The‌ woman sitting in⁠ front of the⁠‌ man, holding the⁠ child, had a swollen, bright blue​⁠ bruise on the​‍ palm of her‍​⁠ neck.

If‌ it had been​​⁠ a little later,‌ the wound would⁠‍‌ have wrapped around‌‌‌ to a place​ it shouldn’t have​‍ been.

“How‌‍ dare this madman​‍‌ stab me?”

There‌‍ was a small​ piece of metal‍ hanging caught in‍ the man’s wing,‍⁠ which he couldn’t‍‌‌ reach.

The⁠​‌ man, struggling with​‍ both arms to​ remove it, finally‌‍‍ decided to unleash⁠ his rage against⁠‌⁠ the woman and‌ child in front‍‌ of him.

“…!”​​‌

A vibration that resonates‍ deeply as if​‌ I had been‍‍ struck.

However,​​‌ the reason it⁠ was worth waiting⁠ for was probably‌ because of the​‍‌ mother, who covered⁠‍ her son with⁠‌ her whole body‍ while gritting her​‍‍ teeth.

Motherhood,‍‍ which shines even‍⁠‌ in the lowest⁠⁠‌ and humblest places,‌ did not hesitate‍ to embrace the‌‍​ young boy.

The⁠⁠‌ sound of rain‍‌‌ could be heard‌‍‌ from outside.

Vlad⁠⁠ still remembered his​‍ mother’s screams echoing⁠‌ with the sound⁠​ of the rain.‍‌⁠

Vlad‍ was a man⁠‌⁠ who always wanted⁠ to protect something.‌‍​

However,​ the sword he‍‍ used to protect⁠⁠ someone for the‌⁠ first time was‍‌​ too small and⁠ short.

***⁠‌

Vlad‍​⁠ led the way‌‍ riding Noir.

However,‌ he seemed uncomfortable‌‍ as he kept⁠ scratching his neck.​⁠​

“…Is⁠⁠ that boy still⁠ looking at me?”⁠

“Yes.”⁠‌‍

A calm response to‌‌ a vague question.⁠​​

Vlad‌​‌ frowned after hearing‍ Stephan’s answer.

‘What‍ the hell are‍‍​ you doing?’

Last‌ night, the last⁠‌⁠ Ravnoma was rescued​ from the slave‍ traders.

The​⁠⁠ young boy named‍​‍ Karl was simply⁠‌⁠ looking at Vlad’s⁠‌⁠ back while still⁠‍ in the woman’s​⁠ arms.

“Why⁠ don’t you go⁠‌‍ and pretend you‍ know him?”

“…He’s⁠​​ holding a knife​ right now.”

“Not⁠⁠ him, it’s Karl⁠ Ravnoma. The more‌⁠ precise the title,⁠​ the better.”

He‍ was told to‌ handle him with‌‌ caution as he‌​ was the son‍‍⁠ of the count’s​‍‍ family and would⁠ be of great‍ use in the‍‌ future.

Vlad,​‍ whom Marcus had​⁠ scolded for no⁠​ reason, turned his​‌ head carefully and⁠‍‍ looked at the‍ boy.

A small child who‌‍ didn’t seem to‍ be more than​ ten years old.⁠

The⁠ way the woman⁠​​ hugged him tightly‍ made him look​​ weak, but the⁠ dagger he still​​⁠ held tightly gleamed​ intensely.

“It​‍ seems he liked‍⁠⁠ the cloak you‍ gave him.”

“I‍​⁠ only lent it‍‌ to him to‌‍ shield from the‍⁠​ rain. I’ll take‍⁠ it back anyway.”‍‌

The‌‌‌ woman and the​‌​ child, struggling to‌ mount the horse,⁠​⁠ were now covered‌‌‍ with black cloaks.​‍‍

A northern mantle that‍‍ spared no expense.​

The‍‌ cloak Oksana had‍ given Vlad was⁠ as warm as​‌⁠ she intended, and⁠⁠‍ its warmth was​‍​ enough to embrace‌‍ the two people​ now wandering in⁠ the humblest of​‍ places.

“Anyway,⁠‌‍ treat him with⁠‌ respect. Nothing good‍ comes from bad⁠ relationships.”

It’s‍ the child’s responsibility‍‌‌ to take care‍⁠ of the child.⁠

In‌​⁠ this place full‌‍ of ugly things,‍‍⁠ the only one‍‌ who seemed reassuring‌‌‌ was Vlad, so‌​​ Marcus’s words were​​⁠ apt.

“…Alright.”​

With‍⁠⁠ a mission that​‍ wasn’t a mission,​‌ Vlad turned his‍ head again and‍‍ looked at the‍⁠ boy.

Messily‌​​ cut green hair,⁠‍ as if it⁠‌​ had been hurriedly​ trimmed.

The⁠ boy’s sunken cheeks,​‌ perhaps due to‌ a harsh experience,​​ certainly made him‍ look worse for​ wear, but still,​‍‍ his natural appearance⁠ hadn’t faded at‍⁠ all.

‘When⁠ you grow up,⁠‍ you’ll make many​‍​ women cry.’

Although​‍ he was a small child who⁠‍ didn’t seem to‌​‍ be more than‍ ten years old,​​ the smile of⁠⁠‍ the former rose‍ could be assured.‍​‌

The⁠ appearance of the‌ child would reach​ a point where‌ women couldn’t leave​ him alone.

But⁠ Vlad didn’t know⁠‌‍ that.

The⁠​ boy in front‌‍ of him was​ also having similar​‍⁠ thoughts.

“…Excuse‍ me.”

“Get⁠‍ away.”

Rejection‍ struck me like⁠‌ a dagger even‍ before I finished​​​ speaking.

It​⁠⁠ was a brave⁠‌​ first word, but​​‌ the boy’s cold⁠ reaction only chilled​‍ the atmosphere.

“I​​ didn’t say anything,‍​ did I?”

“Go​ away. Stay away⁠ from Martha.”

The​ dagger swinging in⁠ the short hand​ was nothing threatening.‍

However,‍​ the eyes looking‌​ at the end‌⁠‌ were sharp.

“Okay.”⁠

Vlad​ nodded as he​⁠ looked at the‌​ woman’s apologetic eyes.​

Although​ it wasn’t something‍‍ you’d do to​​ a benefactor, it⁠ was something you‌‍​ could fully understand‌‍ and sympathize with.⁠​

Vlad‌‍ knew very well‌⁠ that no matter‌‌⁠ how young you‌ are, there are‍ things you want⁠ to protect.

“You’re‍⁠‍ doing great.”

“…”⁠

Vlad‌⁠ smiled bitterly as​‍ he looked at‍ the boy with‌ many thorns like⁠⁠‍ a wounded hedgehog.​⁠

Still,‌​​ you’re better than⁠‍⁠ me.

In‍⁠‌ the end, I managed to protect‌‍⁠ him.

That⁠‌‌ day, a fine​ wound was carved‌⁠‌ into the neck‍ of the slaver‍ lying in bed.‍

Although⁠‌⁠ it was small‍​‍ and shallow, it​ was clearly a fatal wound.

The​ boy clearly aimed​​‌ and blocked the⁠‍‍ evil spirit rushing‍‍ towards the woman.​⁠

It​​​ was a much‍‍ better ending than‍ his childhood.

“Please,⁠‍ continue doing so‍ in the future.”‌‍⁠

It⁠ was a similar⁠​‌ scene, but a completely different outcome.⁠

Seeing⁠‍‌ the boy blocking⁠​ the wounded woman‍‌‌ in the slaver’s⁠ tent, Vlad found‍‌ comfort for some​‌ unknown reason.

“Take​⁠‌ this.”

“…Huh?”​

Karl‌⁠ was very taken‌‍‍ aback, but she⁠‍ was taken by‌⁠ surprise by the⁠​ bundle of paper⁠ flying towards her⁠​ without any context.‌⁠‌

A fragrant smell that​ could be recognized‌ even when piled​‍ up.

In‌⁠‌ the bundle of​ paper was engraved​⁠ a symbol representing⁠‍ the Kannor family.⁠​

“…What⁠‌ is this?”

“Eat.⁠⁠‌ It’s expensive.”

Sausage‍‍​ from the Kannor‍ family.

It‍‌‌ was a compliment⁠ and a sign​‌​ of gratitude from‌​‍ Vlad to Karl.‍​⁠

***​

Just‌‌‌ like the heat‌​ from the crackling⁠⁠ bonfire, the boy’s‍‌ eyes in the⁠‍‍ distance kept following‌ Vlad.

Now,‍‌⁠ Vlad was calmly‌⁠‌ eating jerky, averting⁠‌ his gaze from⁠‍ the eyes that‍ anyone could clearly​⁠​ see.

“It‍‍ seems like Karl⁠ Ravnoma is very​⁠ interested in you.”‍⁠

“…I​ gave him my‍ cloak and even‌⁠‍ my favorite sausage.”⁠‍

“Well,‌ if it were⁠ the Kannor family​⁠ sausage, I’d say​ it would be‌‌⁠ different.”

Marcus​​⁠ quietly shook his‍​‍ head in response‍‍ to Vlad’s answer.‍

They‍​⁠ might not have‌ shown much interest⁠​ just because they‌‌ were given something,‍‍ but still, it‌ wasn’t a bad‍⁠ relationship.

“I‌​ thought he was⁠⁠‌ living in a humble place and‌​‍ would just act‍ like a stranger,‍ but he’s still​ a guy who‍⁠‌ knows how to‍ be generous.”

“…But⁠‍ is it really⁠ possible with that⁠⁠​ little one?”

Vlad,‌​⁠ who was cutting‍‍‌ jerky with a dagger, glanced at‍ Karl through the‍⁠​ flames of the​ bonfire.

The‍‌ last remaining Ravnoma.​‍

A child who could​‍ become another axis‍​ of power in‌‌⁠ the West.

But​​ the burden the‍⁠‌ boy carried was‍‌⁠ too heavy.

“We​⁠ have to make​​ it possible.”

Behind‌⁠​ Gaidar, there were‍​​ families that remained‌ still and neutral.‌‍

Some​ families were simply‍ waiting for an‌‌ opportunity, but it⁠ was true that⁠ there were still⁠‌ families following Ravnoma.​⁠‌

“If‍​ Gaidar’s momentum is‍ broken in this‍ war, the Western‌‌‍ Allied Forces will⁠⁠​ definitely be shaken.”‍

The⁠‍ war doesn’t end‍‍ with a single​ confrontation.

Peter‍‌ was looking beyond⁠ the battle at‌‍ Deirmar and invested‍ a lot of⁠ time and money⁠⁠‍ into taking the‌‍ last remaining Ravnoma⁠ out of the⁠‌​ West.

“If⁠‌ there are fronts​ going back and​‍‍ forth, no matter‌ how Gaidar is,‌⁠⁠ it’ll be a headache.”

He⁠‍ was making progress,‍ but if a fire broke out‍‍‍ from behind, not‌‍‍ even Gaidar would⁠ have any choice‍⁠‍ but to panic.⁠‍‌

To‌‍‌ avoid such an​‍ unfortunate situation, the​ Ravnoma lineages have⁠⁠ been eliminated.

“Now⁠ all I have‌⁠⁠ to do is​⁠‍ return…”

The‍ mission was a success and yielded‍‍ unexpected results.

However,‍ Marcus, who was‌ chewing the jerky‍⁠​ given by Vlad,‍ simply frowned.

“What’s‍​⁠ the matter?”

“No,‍‍ it’s nothing.”

Marcus,⁠⁠‍ a knight who⁠ has long operated​‍‌ in Bayezid’s shadows.‌

He‍ has always been​‌‍ deployed in complex⁠​​ situations and successfully⁠‍ led most missions.⁠

“This⁠‌ is because things⁠‌⁠ are going too‍ well.”

A superstition acquired through​‍ countless experiences is‍​‌ also a curse.‍‌‍

If‍ the beginning is‍ good, the ending‌ isn’t.

“This.”​​

This‌‍​ feeling, difficult to​​ explain with the‍ word premonition, was‌ like the result​​ of countless experiences.‌‍

Marcus’s‍⁠⁠ concerns, accumulated over​‌‌ a long period​‌‍ of experience, were‌ by no means​⁠‌ unfounded and, like⁠‍⁠ his ominous premonition,‌ a raven flew​‌ through the dark⁠⁠​ night sky.

The‍ smell of blood​ wafting through the‍​ flapping wings made‍​ it seem like‍ this wasn’t the‍⁠‍ one bringing good‌ news.

“Somewhat,​​‍ I said things⁠​ were going too​‍ well.”

A raven flew in,‌​⁠ covered in someone’s⁠⁠ blood.

The‍ note it brought‍​‍ contained a hastily⁠‍‍ written warning from‌​ someone.

“…Let’s⁠‌⁠ stop camping.”

“Is‍ this serious?”

Though⁠​‌ they haven’t even⁠‌ given an order‍​​ yet, the covert​ group senses Marcus’s‍⁠‌ mood and quickly‍ starts extinguishing the⁠⁠⁠ bonfire.

Seeing‌ their quick appearance,‍‍‍ Karl’s eyes, which⁠‍​ had barely started‌ to stabilize, began⁠ to tremble violently.⁠​

“I‌‍ thought things were‍⁠ going very well.”⁠

Marcus’s‍​ eyes, as he⁠​ looked at Vlad,‍⁠ began to shine‍⁠ significantly.

Bayezid’s​‌⁠ top Dragon Slayer.⁠⁠⁠

And‍​ a northern knight​⁠​ who has consistently​​​ established a cordial‍​ relationship with Gaidar.‌‌‍

Sigmund’s​ gaze on Vlad​‌‍ was deeper than⁠‌ Marcus had expected.​

“It‍ seems Gaidar holds⁠ a deeper grudge⁠‌⁠ against you than​‌ I anticipated.”

“…”‌

Marcus⁠‌ handed Vlad the‌ bloodstained sword.

The​ note he received​‌‌ had his name‌⁠ and a name⁠ he had never​​⁠ heard before.

***‍

“Have⁠⁠ they said all​‌​ the streets have​‌‌ been blocked?”

“That’s⁠⁠‍ right, Count. I received clear confirmation‌‍⁠ from the lords‌ through a magical‍⁠ letter.”

Count⁠‌⁠ Sigmund was calmly⁠‍ looking at the‌‍ map in the⁠‌ garrison tent, where​⁠ he had been‌​⁠ forced to sit​‌ due to Peter’s​ interruption.

“So​‌‍ the net has‌⁠ been cast.”

A northern attack force⁠‍ that was sweeping⁠⁠ through the west.⁠​

Gaidar​⁠​ was not the​ only one upset‍ by Vlad’s interference.‌

Vlad’s‍‌ sabotage, which focused⁠⁠‌ on the roads‌ of the western‍​​ coast, was powerful​‍‍ enough to anger⁠​⁠ the surrounding lords.⁠⁠⁠

“Anyway,‌ he’s a bastard.‍​ You’ve accumulated resentment​ very quickly.”

One‍‍‍ by one, objects‌ began to block‌​⁠ the way on‌‌‍ the map.

Pieces‌ moved from Sigmund’s‌‍⁠ fingertips blocked all‍‌ roads northward, like​ pieces on a chessboard.

“Being​ too proud is‌ also a problem.‌‍ Vlad of Soara.”​‍‍

The⁠‍​ western lords were‌‍ much more proactive‍​ than expected.

Vlad’s‌ criminal background, exceeding⁠‍‌ expectations, was now‌​‍ returning in the​‌‍ form of resentment‌‌⁠ and slowly strangling⁠​ him.

“How‌‍ soon will he‌ arrive?”

“In‍ three days.”

“Good.​ I should be⁠ at that level.”‍

And‌‍ so, the last‍‌​ remaining road.

At‍‍ hearing those words,⁠ a deep smile‍⁠ began to appear‌ on Sigmund’s face‌‌​ as he slowly‍ blocked the street.⁠​⁠

“Send‌​​ my cavalry after⁠‍ that brat. Show​⁠​ Bayezid’s damn will⁠‌⁠ the strength of‌​​ Gaidar.”

“Understood.‍⁠‍ Count.”

The‍⁠⁠ final piece landed‍ from Sigmund’s fingertips.‍⁠‌

Atop⁠ the piece was‌ a flag symbolizing​​ the fastest cavalry​ in the West.​‍‌

“You‍​ will pay for​​ your mischief, Bayezid.”‌‍​

In⁠‌‍ the west, it’s‍⁠⁠ not those who⁠⁠⁠ are stolen from,‌ but those who‍ steal.

Sigmund‌⁠ had to show⁠‌‌ and prove that‍⁠⁠ to Peter.

The⁠ sound of hooves⁠‍‍ filled the camp⁠‌⁠ as they departed.‌

A horde of outlaws‌‌​ galloping unwaveringly through‌‌‍ the rugged fields.‌‍​

On‍⁠​ the banners they⁠ carried, was drawn‌‌‍ the emblem of‌​ the cavalry feared‍‍‍ by all in​ the west.

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