Chapter 144: The day the cuckoo cries (2)
03aefOOn a deep night when everyone sleeps,EX61VhF
A0xM3wnAlicia was climbing alone up the hill behind the mansion, holding a lantern.EFGFw3
BCU“Huff…”zFV
IUnN1BA heavy sigh that doesn’t match her light attire.tCz
W8MkpShe must have been tossing and turning in bed a moment ago, and her attire seemed to be just a shawl over her light clothing.p3Y
QPMt5ysShe probably wouldn’t have been able to fall asleep easily.U90d5
eunGwEven now, the tense air coming from all around held her back and wouldn’t let her go.usbL42
dqEX96Y“Hah.”PCCyX
AZ83KBfThe summer night wind suddenly begins to blow as soon as you step on the edge of the hill.QD7LGuN
j3ZCOSAlicia ended up closing her eyes as the wind reached her eyes.L7GgJHf
tjWqAlicia’s sky-blue hair began to wave in the night sky due to a sudden and unexpected wind.m5WVan
sjWRDs“Ugh. It’s been like this these days.”5UrB6KU
QuHCAlicia, rubbing her eyes against the strong wind that made her feel strange, grumbled with a furrowed brow.ZC1QQ
XrBI55SLately, every time Alicia climbed the hill, an out-of-season wind kept blowing.lRNsec
l9EfSqKSince other employees said they had never felt it before, Alicia could only wonder if she had been unlucky.QYI
AYqn6Cd“Huh?”zD8Dps
Mg2yUf3I don’t know if it’s my mood, but as the wind blows, the landscape on the hill looks different than before.EX0
xUxhOTANo matter how bright the moon was in the night sky, a familiar-looking blond head began to catch her attention in the strangely bright surroundings.9fu8bX7
zHrz“Wow. This is embarrassing.”IZr
1J7PAfter checking Vlad, who was leaning under the tree, Alicia puckered her lips and grabbed the hem of her skirt.yuafUI8
Ftow“They just talk about it and it really doesn’t affect me at all.”IwZlV0
ftdrKYNow, Vlad approaches without hesitation as if it were his own seat.u3dq
79eGFELooking at him like that, Alicia grumbled quietly.Wa1bV7g
l9eRnVNo matter how much he calls Lady Alicia a knight, I have to call her for a visit at least once.qAsX
XdSyVlad was so good at hiding in the small mansion that there was no trace of him wherever he walked.TOfT5
tEDFW“…”ln2Fxr
VNnExzLAs sad as she was, Alicia hurriedly climbed the hill, but what awaited her there was only Vlad, leaning against the base of a tree and tilting his head.2as763e
3R6It seemed like he was sleeping, but Alicia couldn’t help but laugh when she saw him still holding his sword.ZTqCgF
Q6Esqh“You’re also good at taking care.”8JxAhuT
mfwIt’s nighttime, so you should be sleepy.sp3
TPAUwnKBut do knights usually sleep so deeply that they lose their senses?WqMo88F
fBv5Alicia furrowed her brow as if she were worried to see Vlad not moving even though she made a sign that she had arrived.G6oWd
83XD“…You sleep well. Aren’t you nervous?”elY8
0frkgtvIn a few days, a fierce war will begin.PSkvbu
MK3However, Vlad slept peacefully, showing no worries or concerns.yAf
ENBKkMHowever, seeing Vlad sleeping peacefully gave Alicia a small sense of peace.5Qr
R98Y“A scandalous knight that not even the lady recognizes.”377r6d
k58sAlthough she said it was a pity, Alicia silently sat down next to Vlad in case he woke up.JBBdq
Sf5JFThe fireflies fluttering about scattered in all directions as she sat.Dpr0QDp
XQBPkJWA blue moon rising over a quiet summer night.itAr
bjHAlicia, who had been gazing at the moon with Vlad for a while, silently pursed her lips as if she had made a decision.kIu
gzNeConsidering how he was currently sleeping, it seemed that he wouldn’t wake up easily no matter what she did.MtZJAQ
3CoR7“…Vlad is Lady Alicia’s knight.”J5CO
NM5Or0tAlicia’s voice quietly echoes in the ears of a sleeping Vlad.qSWN
waLP‘So, from now on, visit Alicia more often.’iV4bq3
xYsMhLAlthough there were only the two of them, Alicia silently covered her lips with her palm for fear of being heard.Goxt4
4hPNorOnly the winds swirling on the hill could hear her voice.aFOmYS
2N3Fj1“Visit Alicia more often than Joseph. Understand?”SsFpX0
XeMuZoAlicia begins to speak again and again, as if under hypnosis.JUFZ
eyq51She knew that if she did that, Vlad wouldn’t do what she wanted, but still, Alicia had no intention of stopping her rambling.cRKQ
tumWords that are easier to say because they are hard to hear.0wP
25RsBut her words were becoming more deeply ingrained in Vlad’s mind than ever before.qK9ozS
lRGUP“…Aren’t you listening to this?”9kN8TjS
3o8It may have been just a jest, but Alicia probably didn’t know it.ggd3
CGGogYYThe fact that Vlad wasn’t sleeping at that moment, but was instead gazing at his world through deep meditation.Dzl
L88Be3“Why are your ears perking up?”SFLl
sxf3QEAlicia’s words were digging into Vlad’s world, which was completely open because he had to delve deep.n5QZzH
AGfu9eVlad was organizing the world through meditation in preparation for the impending battle.CQ3e
7JGcU7nAs it was a delicate task, he had asked to be awakened if anyone came, but the white serpent and the young spirits on the hill, who had been asked to do so, simply did as they didn’t know.gtqmnN
YBZlzD***J6O
zEZ1MV“Mmm.”sSpa14j
wWThThe next morning.i5v48WZ
p2nJoseph climbed the castle wall and checked that Gaidar’s army was approaching from afar.Ahi
70GxqRx“It seems like only a few people left.”tZTDDhh
X2SCount Gaidar, who didn’t let his forces scatter despite numerous sabotage operations.V6G
RvY8IThe Western army he led began to appear on the edge of Deirmar’s green meadows.IKO
ghT“The soldiers are restless, Lord Joseph.”rsf
LXJBmc“…It was a good idea to boost morale beforehand.”7Vb8Yxm
QvmyO0KThe battlefield’s atmosphere could be felt even without seeing it.m9fZ
JVW0H5,000 to 1,300.uI3mhDK
aL7YmXNo matter how many were inside the castle, it would be difficult for anyone to keep their composure if an army larger than their own approached.b5iNUnp
IOozrHowever, Hainal’s army morale, though shaken, didn’t falter much.RRH
bG8Ks“Of course, this was something you did anticipating this situation, right?”UCLX
KLG“…Maybe.”Rgcx
EQeVlad quickly nodded at Joseph, who looked at him indifferently.1mmje
eJLg0In a way, it was an intense provocation no different from throwing the first punch.WVpu
RJe5wNHainal’s army soldiers felt considerable relief from the knight named Vlad along with the presence of Bayezid’s army, which would arrive later.vs10DM3
TzYE3“I heard you greeted the baron this morning.”pPs
GN7e“Yes.”zsKw
SI3LTJoseph folded the telescope and began to walk slowly along the castle wall.Aa5B
ZzeBayezid’s knights following him started to form a long line.iSA3rY4
9TEjdSd“It’s a good thing. No matter how nominal it may be, Alicia is the commander of this war, so it’s important to elevate her status.”DbNon
YLPxPkAAnyone in the castle would know.BxF
g78ufNo matter how much Alicia is the commander of this defense, it’s only in name.h2lfeS
ge0SHElIndeed, it was Gaidar and Bayezid who led this war, and it was Joseph who actually led the troops here.1dPbSY
88T70In such a situation, Vlad’s respect for Alicia would surely be a morale booster for Hainal’s army.EqCpY
fmDfyRAlthough he’s Bayezid’s favorite knight, he doesn’t mind bowing to his lord.qRqxOp
6QQSVlad’s respectful attitude towards her was clearly something that could be called a high-level political act.8Fr7OF
eB5mI9“Now you can handle it on your own without me having to tell you.”P9w
F4ING“…”47Wcmz
tmv0tTSeeing Joseph smile as if satisfied, Vlad ended up scratching his head.fRAsJkf
BgBANIHe felt he had to do it for today, but he can’t believe he followed through.ZLPhRRU
gi2Hearing Joseph’s words, he felt he could understand why Alicia and Duncan were so happy, even if it was just a greeting.iDJ
gSM4“Take a good look. From here to here is your area.”ovYil
4MzGregory, Cade, and Maxim leave one by one according to Joseph’s instructions.Ecr
9KogQwAnd now it’s Vlad’s turn.O9hM
wEqJoseph, who had carefully assigned an area to each person, finally spoke up to tell Vlad which area he would be in charge of.CW0yFol
Jz1tQFXThis could have been announced simply through a meeting, but it was also a special consideration for Vlad, who was experiencing war for the first time.Iirj
XXlE2“I heard information that Gaidar’s army is coming equipped with siege weapons. They will definitely try to scale the castle wall.”sPQ6D
ynFIRAlthough they have been well repaired, Deirmar’s walls are inevitably small-scale.KfPR
uiDiSigmund thought he could breach the walls and was showing his sincerity through the siege weapons he brought with him.Z4O
5EdLOIv“It will be intense. This is probably a time when your judgment is more necessary than ever.”H9l
gYqKrvA“…”MLffN
CqyWhich side will be defeated or victorious in countless fierce battles?Nagrngq
M0KSLFrom now on, it will be Vlad’s job to judge all of that.8Zr
dPMCIt was a short area above the castle walls, but from now on, Vlad was practically the owner of this place.Y9QQ1KJ
7pD“Always be vigilant of opposing knights. Like you, they are people who can create any number of variables.”0bAeW8
eFe2“It’s okay.”vwIo
ngV5sUOnly a knight can fight against a knight.KPkd
Mh8kThe inexperienced Vlad will always have to be cautious of those who are as cunning as he is.X5a9b
sPE“…”ysai36J
EnIsB3VThere was more to say, but Joseph decided to let it be.7wt
a63Because his knight was already looking at the enemy.Ijqzf
o4v“Take care.”QmKn
F80Fa“It’s okay.”I0o2
FWJwiThe two parted with a brief nod.WmhfdJL
tSNAs he descended the narrow stairs, Joseph recalled the cold winter day.sMkjG
CwOp7F“Can you two get along?”TKc
UeyzRL“I probably would if I had the chance.”rzXW
tbPM“…Well.”0xBi
KyPWvnEven though he was a boy from a rundown alley, he confidently said he would destroy the Moonlight.1PGzxRu
NUyAt that time it was only a remote possibility, but now it has become a significant possibility.heS
WUgxPA“Can Vlad win?”nvA5qB
OzlT4F7“…Not yet.”rjX6TT
twkcJoseph had made a promise to that bold boy.lzK47
R5TiNMwIf I can create an opportunity for you to seek revenge, I will create it for you.5jXBv
xWCJ2Those words at that time weren’t just empty words, but a condition that reminded me of Gaidar, whom we might face someday.3TIW
KeQDz“You did a good job positioning yourself on the other side of me.”ihxZt
hYoxHowever, it wasn’t a promise to bring it up in a situation where a certain defeat was promised as it is now.eC8E
O085Godin of Gaidar and Vlad of Soara aren’t destined to meet yet.5T60kSH
OlekKyAJoseph planned to separate the two in a completely separate space, even if it was the same battlefield.2lo2
S0UZpS“I hope everything goes according to plan, but…”vPzCc
UTcjIHowever, no matter how intelligent a leader is, they can’t control all the variables on the battlefield.Sksbb
lKPB0AJoseph looked at Gaidar’s army approaching at dusk in the distance and sighed softly.iYwC
GMLU0TToday, the shadow coming from the west seemed to lengthen.iN0epc
B4vHT7***hfd
YwDTdrThe northern meadows are now in full swing.RH7uu
NCAXTk3In a place where numerous tents fluttered, a man was advancing, confidently dividing the soldiers.UJ5Hk1
lp8iu“Make way.”khxcfyI
0g8iJ8zA man who doesn’t lose heart even in front of countless knights staring at him.sAarqF
trO8BEven under pressure that would have prevented ordinary people from even breathing, Timur the Steel Lord and the Northern Knights calmly paved the way forward.Z3DtZtD
cOKU“Duke. Are you here?”57Yuw
5EBU1XIt was a powerful force that could be felt even outside the tent, but Radu of the Dragon Hunter Knights simply came out, casually scratching his head as if he had finally realized.1lX4NLZ
LjHu4t“It seemed things were getting too late, so I came myself.”geoj64V
BN5“Do you think it was too heavy a burden?”qwGHsW
iCp1Timur the Steel LordBoP
rmI3As ruler of the North, he decided not to accept any more controls.sveLpJ
F9q7l“I came to relieve you of part of your burden. Now that I see, I should have come a long time ago.”ODlW8Hp
zRybOIt was an expedition that lasted half a year.JEz3uop
Mm8d3However, the central forces didn’t even set foot in Baron Utman’s territory, so the intention was obvious to anyone.BzF68
U2RqSo they won’t drag me down anymore.vK3nH
LpLDespite the advice of the Holy See, Timur came here with the intention of personally leading his soldiers and attacking Baron Utman.bEFV
9ZBckAlthough there would surely be some violent reaction, the intention was to completely eliminate the source of the excuse and drive out the Dragon Slayer Knights.5D1dntB
3zO2A“Haha! I don’t know what to do if you worry about this inexperienced young man. Duke.”XBby1T8
d7lGdHHowever, the commander of this expedition, Knight Radu, was simply calm.2Z2j
fHzmTimur’s smile may not be the only one that seems deep.zXv4
vBj3d“I was already planning to report that I would soon be leaving here.”Jhew
lfYA“…Leaving?”uNROTBh
dTcNqTimur’s eyebrows began to tremble at Radu’s unexpected words.jMDu
8GU5bprThe inexplicable sense of frustration conveyed by his smile began to seep into Timur’s toes.eNtsvy
2zKU“The mission has been accomplished, so now is the time to act.”srJn7H
9cOSSSRadu, who acknowledged Timur’s slight confusion, pointed to the knights with an exaggerated gesture.mdD
0bBD3The carriages began to move following Radu’s hand gestures.TQ1pAoN
XYtrUUnidentifiable things that trembled above him began to approach Timur slowly.l7NA6OJ
Vp3“It was lucky. It wasn’t an easy battle, but God was watching us from above.”nNMa
popap“…”45GgANw
QQyBfFWTimur ignored Radu’s words and silently looked at the things loaded on the carriage.AMxl8N
QuBfWeak gazes that constantly meet along the line of sight.u9E8GDq
LoXCountless heads had lost their bodies and were packed in the carriage as if they were luggage.TVXjSQ
CvyGF8m“If you look here, it might seem familiar. Baron Utman is there, along with his wife and his knights…”HiSthm
dAt5Kve“Now this.”Az3
uZO3uRTimur, understanding the situation only from the traces, didn’t hide his anger.gmmPEL
4F2tbThe surrounding air suddenly began to grow heavy.zaBtBSY
SN6A knight among knights. Everyone around him held their breath because of the hard energy emanating from Timur Baranov.vCWJo
9zpJws“What are you doing now?”AUWkdW
YSIi2Grass being crushed though it had no substance.tLolvx
m2NRTimur could tell this situation wasn’t a natural outcome, looking at the heads that showed no signs of resistance and the soldiers who showed no signs of being sent.dG48
inYNer“…Please fix it. Duke.”BMTu9O
65m2I8aRadu finally wiped away his bitter smile due to Timur’s unusual urge.Mdb3p6u
wwT2MpHowever, although he may have wiped away his smile, he didn’t lose his relaxed demeanor.zem
QASBF7The oldest dragon I had faced in a long time was much more tenacious and tough than this.djiW
S74cj“Baron Utman confessed his guilt at the last moment.”CnK
RtqHowever, there’s an object passed to fingertips that don’t bend but can’t help trembling.EwkjZu8
1q50W“What is this?”Ez11
cjMc“It’s Absilon. It’s been talked about a lot in the central regions lately.”XllU
czadzBWhen Timur opened the box, he perceived a refreshing smell.3v0UI6x
CfISCQElven tea that hasn’t been distributed in the North yet. It was Absilon.2jyxA
3JESTe“It’s a drug. They say they were trying to poison the North with this. It’s said an evil being requested it.”BLo
LsCNVNo, it wasn’t.feC991
sQbHowever, the truth is like a broken piece in front of those in power.sb3D6
V6LiThose who moved the world were skilled at putting together the scattered pieces as they pleased.ydq
flvafEB“But do you know who the first person in the North to receive this tea was?”yeKyEkj
fiWiFrom the piece that was put together like this, the message of the oldest dragon to the blacksmith began to flow.vNyY
Knw8yvA“They said it was Countess Oksana of Bayezid.”oKCK
T1Psv“…”bt5
UegRT5Quickly, hand over the dragon pieces.uf6y
uHw6Otherwise, I will destroy your North.dnmht6
T0QsbZ“I guess it looks suspicious, doesn’t it?”wOqSkA
IbHpFsA dragon and a lion fiercely facing each other.5xGC5g
D03LFJTimur could feel the dragon’s claws arriving much earlier than he expected.DZIx3M4
EgznThe Dragon Slayer Knights and the central forces are slowly reorganizing their formation.hFUG
wDxTheir banner was slowly falling under Bayezid’s leadership. It leaned towards Sturma.YRBE
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