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Star-Embracing Swordmaster Chapter 151: Beast of Possibility (2)

Chapter 151: Beast of Possibility (2)

The​​⁠ sunlight shining through‌ the stained glass‌ colored the white⁠ hallway.

The⁠ wind carrying the⁠‌‍ energy of autumn​ was refreshing, but‍⁠‌ the expressions of⁠ the two men​​​ facing the briskness‌‍‌ were rigid.

Brigantes,​‍‌ the capital of‌‌⁠ the empire.

People⁠‌ were walking inside‌‍ the pure white​‍ building erected in​ the midst of‌‍​ that glorious city.⁠⁠

“But​ still, now is⁠​⁠ not a good⁠ time, Bishop Pedro.”⁠‌

Two‌ men dressed in‍ red robes.

However,​‍ upon closer inspection,‌​ one would notice​‌⁠ that the color⁠​​ of the collar​ around their necks‌‌ differed.

“This‍‌ meeting of cardinals‌⁠ is not the​ type of gathering⁠ that can raise‌ the agenda you’re‌​‌ talking about.”

“But,‍‌ Cardinal.”

Pedro‍⁠ had the sense​‍ that things wouldn’t​‍‍ be easy when​‌ Cardinal Eduard spoke⁠​⁠ firmly without even​ looking at him.‌⁠‍

“I​‌‌ know. This meeting‍ was convened because⁠ of the heretical‍‌‍ religion promoted by⁠ the Northern Alliance.‍​ However…”

But⁠‌‌ there’s much to⁠ say. Bishop Pedro⁠​ arrived at the⁠‌ Barony of Utman⁠‍ following a strange‍‍ energy emanating from⁠ the north.

However,‍​​ what awaited him‍​​ there wasn’t an‍‌ honorable temple, but‌‌⁠ only a suspicious‌⁠​ battle shrouded in‍​​ all kinds of​‍ doubt.

“What‍‍‌ happened at Baron⁠⁠‍ Utman was definitely‍ different from any⁠ holy war we’ve‌‍‌ seen before.”

It‌‌​ was an army‌ that arose according⁠ to God’s will,⁠‌⁠ yet simply relaxed⁠ even as it​⁠​ delved into darkness.⁠

The⁠⁠ central army, which​ didn’t hesitate despite⁠ their threats and⁠‍ pleas, only began​​ to move after⁠‌ hearing news of​‌ the Northerners approaching.‌​⁠

Their‌‍​ behavior, as if​ they were waiting⁠‌​ until the North‌ could no longer​⁠ bear it, was⁠​ enough to make⁠ Pedro suspicious.

“I​ suppose Dragulia suspects.⁠ Cardinal.”

“Shh!”​

Eduard‌‍‌ was startled by‍​​ Pedro’s words and⁠‌ quickly pushed him​​ against the wall.​​‌

Pedro⁠‍​ was also a tall man, but‌‌ he was defenseless⁠‍ against Eduard’s urgent‍​‍ shove.

“…Didn’t⁠‌ I always say⁠⁠‌ that? Even when​​ you follow God’s⁠ will, you must‌‍ always keep your‍‍⁠ eyes and ears‍ on your surroundings.”‌‍​

Pedro​ could only nod‌⁠ as the cardinal⁠​⁠ spoke in a whisper. Dragulia, one‌‌ of the empire’s‍ only four ducal‌⁠‍ families.

Even​ Cardinal Eduard couldn’t‌ help but feel​⁠ overwhelmed as Pedro‌ openly called Dragulia‌‌ suspicious.

“I‍⁠‍ appreciate your loyalty,​ but think about⁠‍​ what’s happening around⁠​ you.”

“I’m​⁠⁠ sorry, Cardinal.”

Though‌​‍ the Holy See‍‌ follows God’s will,​⁠​ it cannot completely‍ separate itself from⁠​‌ the secular world⁠‍‍ as it does⁠‍ among humans.

Among‍‌ the cardinals, there‌​ were probably those​ who received Dragulia’s⁠‌‌ support, so Pedro’s‍‍ direct comments were‍‍ clearly dangerous.

“What‌​⁠ you say makes‍ sense, but let’s​ first finish the⁠‌ northern part and‌​ think about it.⁠⁠​ The Northern Orthodox‌​​ Church… What kind‌ of strange thing⁠ is this?”

Eduard​ pulled out a handkerchief and began‌⁠‌ to wipe his‌ sweat, as if⁠‍⁠ he were truly‌‌ troubled and not⁠ just saying it.‍

Pedro’s‍ report was clearly‍⁠⁠ suspicious, but there‌ was a clear⁠‌‍ threat looming before​​​ the Vatican that‌‍‌ needed to be‌⁠​ addressed immediately.

“Anyway,​‌ stay here quietly‍​ until this matter‌ is resolved. Now⁠⁠⁠ you can’t even​​‌ return to Soara.”‌​​

“…All⁠⁠⁠ right.”

Pedro⁠⁠​ bit his lip‌‌​ as he watched⁠ Eduard leave, shaking‍ his head as‌‌​ if feeling pain.⁠‍

After‌ all, they had​​​ no choice but​​​ to be sensitive‍‍ to the threat‍​ looming ahead rather​⁠ than the hidden‍ darkness.

“The‍ light shines in⁠​​ the darkness, and‍‌ the darkness has‌‌‌ not overcome it.”​⁠⁠

In‌​​ the hallway where‍‌‌ Eduard left him‌​ alone.

There,‌ Pedro could only‌ console himself by​ reciting prayers softly.‌⁠

A suspicious darkness that‍‍‍ I clearly saw⁠⁠‌ but couldn’t do‍‌ anything about.

Moreover,‍ that darkness was‌‍​ hidden under the‌ glorious name of‌ Dragulia.

“What‌ should I do?”​​‌

The‍‌ sunlight streaming in‌‍ through the window⁠⁠​ was bright, but‍‍ Pedro still felt‌ like he was​⁠ wandering in darkness.‍⁠‌

The⁠⁠ faithful Inquisitor, who‌‌ had always followed‍⁠ God’s will, could‍‍‍ only hope that​‌ this time his​ will would fall‌‌‌ upon his shoulders.‍

***‌

The‍ port of Nassau​‌ would normally be‌​⁠ bustling with people.⁠⁠

However,‍​‌ the port, which​‌ had become quiet⁠‌ and devoid of⁠‌ people due to⁠​ the sudden invasion⁠ of Bayezid’s army,​‌‌ gave Vlad a strange feeling.

“It⁠ left without any‌ reason.”

A feeling of helplessness⁠ and emptiness that⁠ felt as if‍⁠ something were missing.⁠​

No‌​ matter how much⁠ he tried to‌​ order his mind,⁠‍​ his feelings for⁠ Godin would occasionally⁠ surface, and even​‍ now, Vlad would⁠⁠‍ be colored in‍‍ a somber blue.​‍‌

“Hey.​ The blue-eyed one‌ from Soara standing‌ there.”

There​⁠ was a voice​‍ that pulled Vlad‌‍​ out of his⁠‌​ thoughts as he​ gazed at the​ sea before him.‍‌‍

“…Lord⁠‌ Rutiger.”

A dark-haired man approaching‍ the port.

He‌‍ was the proud‌⁠‌ successor of Bayezid,‍‌ Rutiger Bayezid.

“It’s⁠⁠‌ a shame. Everyone’s​ so busy, what​​ are you doing​‍ here alone?”

“I’m‍​ sorry.”

The​ blond and black-clad‍ knight standing tall‍‍ by the blue‌‌ port were probably‌​ colors that couldn’t‌‍​ be easily concealed.​⁠⁠

Rutiger‍⁠ quietly smiled as⁠⁠ he saw Vlad‌‍⁠ and Noir looking⁠‍ at him with​‌ the same movements⁠​ as if they‍ were one body.‍⁠‍

“If​‌ you want to⁠‍​ hide somewhere, it’s​‌⁠ best to cover‍​ your head first.”⁠​​

Rutiger’s⁠‍⁠ deliberate gesture of​ raising his hand⁠ and pointing to‍⁠ his head was​ amusing.

Clearly,​‌ Rutiger’s reason for⁠‌ seeking out Vlad‍ was to convey​‌‍ some sort of⁠ consolation.

As‍​‌ we were both‍‍⁠ knights, I could‌‍ understand Vlad’s melancholy‌ and empathize by‌‌ his side.

“Anyway,⁠ now that everything‍ has concluded, it’s​ fine. You handled‍​‍ the situation excellently.”​​‌

“…”‌‌⁠

What​⁠‌ Rutiger wanted to‌ tell Vlad was⁠‌ that he did‍ a good job.​

Although​​​ it was a fight that ended‌ in vain, everyone‍ present could see‌ Vlad’s determination to‌​​ end it on​‍‌ his own.

“What’s⁠⁠​ this?”

“You‌ wouldn’t know until‍⁠⁠ you saw it.‍​ It’s the emblem⁠‍ of the church.”‌‌‌

Rutiger‌​​ approached Noir as​‌‍ he stroked his‌‍⁠ back and handed​ Vlad an unfamiliar⁠‍‍ necklace.

“It’s⁠‌ hardly a church​⁠‌ emblem… It looks‌​ different.”

What⁠⁠ Rutiger held in​⁠ his hand was​⁠ clearly the church⁠ emblem, but there​‍‌ was another horizontal​‍‍ line engraved underneath.⁠​

The​⁠ unknown engraved on‍ the familiar.

Looking‍​ at Vlad, who‍​​ raised his head‍ as if asking​​​ for an explanation,​ Rutiger opened his‌⁠ mouth.

“This​‌ is the emblem‌⁠⁠ of the newly​‍‍ born Northern Orthodox‌​ Church.”

God’s⁠ will was one,⁠​ but there were⁠ tens of thousands⁠⁠ of interpretations.

The‌‍ interpretation of doctrine‍ was clearly a delicate point in⁠​ the religious world,​⁠​ causing numerous conflicts,‍‌ but the Northern‍‍ Union and the‍ Diocese of San‌‍‍ Logino del Norte‍⁠ decided to capitalize‍​ on it.

It​​⁠ happened in any‍⁠⁠ world where you​‌⁠ needed to have‍ something of your‌​ own to be‍‌ completely alone.

“I‍ only believe what⁠ Priest Andreas says.”‌

“He’s‌ now a member⁠‍‍ of the Northern⁠⁠ Orthodox Church.”

“Then⁠​​ this pattern would​‌ be correct.”

Anyway,‌‌ the shape of​ the pattern wasn’t‍‍‌ important to Vlad.‍⁠

To‌⁠ Vlad, the closest​​​ entry to God‍ was Priest Andreas.‍‍

The​⁠​ person who gave​‌ a name to‍⁠⁠ me, who was⁠​ simply wandering the​​ alleys of the‌‌‍ world.

Until‌ I met him,‍⁠ no one had​⁠‍ told the boy‍⁠ in the alley⁠⁠ the word of​ God.

“Anyway,‌ what are you‌ going to do?⁠ Are you going‍ to keep following‌​​ me?”

“Yes?”‍‌

Vlad’s⁠​ eyes widened as‍⁠ he looked at​⁠ Rutiger, who asked‍‌‍ him if he‍‍‌ would follow him⁠⁠ ceaselessly.

“This‍ advance won’t stop‌ at Nassau. It‍‌ would be impossible‍⁠ to occupy all‍ of the West.”‌

As‍​‍ Rutiger said, Bayezid’s⁠⁠‍ army had no⁠⁠ intention of stopping⁠⁠‍ here in Nassau.‌​⁠

Peter⁠ had already outlined⁠‌⁠ several areas that‍⁠​ needed to be​ taken in this⁠​⁠ war, and that​⁠ territory encompassed the⁠​​ three baronies of‌‌ the west .

“I​‍‌ suppose we have‌​ to take at⁠ least the same‍⁠⁠ amount of those​‌ places for the‌⁠​ calculation to be⁠ correct.”

Gaidar‍ started it, but⁠ it ended with‌‌ Bayezid.

The‌​ Western lords who‌ sympathized with the‍‌⁠ usurper will have‍‌‍ to pay a high price for‌⁠ it.

“But⁠​ why do you⁠⁠ follow me?”

“If​​‍ you want to‍‌ go back, I’ll​⁠⁠ send you back.”‌

It‌‍ was a disappointing​‌⁠ moment even for‌⁠‌ a knight, but⁠ Peter and Rutiger⁠⁠‌ were paying attention‍ to Vlad’s condition.​

It​ was a moment‌ when he needed‍‍​ to manage it,​‌ as he was​‍ still not of​‌‍ age and there⁠ were enough opportunities⁠⁠ for him to⁠​ be shaken.

“Because⁠‌​ Joseph is also‍ ill. I think‌‍‍ we might need⁠‌ a decent person‍​ to help him.”‌⁠

“…”⁠⁠​

Although​ he was talking‍‌ in circles, Vlad⁠‍ could understand the‍​ true meaning behind‍​ Rutiger’s words. It’s⁠ better for you‌ to rest a little.

Things⁠ aren’t looking good‍ right now.

“It’s​‌‌ been a while​‌‍ since I returned‍​​ to Soara.”

“Yes.‍‍​ Take this opportunity⁠‍ to rest.”

He⁠‍ wanted to say⁠⁠ something to protest​‍ against the forced‍ vacation, but Vlad​‍ was no longer‌​ a child who‍⁠ would simply get‍‍ angry.

He‍⁠‍ was one of⁠‍ those knights who​ had to be​​ able to observe‍​‍ themselves and check⁠​​ their own condition.‌

“The⁠ ocean… It was​‌ good.”

“If?”‌

Since‌⁠ the high moon‍ he was looking​​ at is no‌⁠ longer there, there’s​⁠ no choice but⁠ to face the⁠‍​ blue sea naturally.‌

The​ sea was speaking.‍‍ Now is not⁠‍‍ the time to‍‍ climb, but to⁠ expand.

“It’s‍ been a while‍⁠​ since I wanted‌ to hear it⁠ again.”

Although⁠ no one told⁠ him, Vlad decided⁠‍ to listen to⁠‍​ the silent echo‌ within his world.‍⁠⁠

The‌‍‌ vibration of the‌⁠⁠ sound felt familiar,​​‌ reminiscent of a voice.

***​

Deirmar‍‍⁠ still sobs for‍⁠ the wounds of‌ war.

Even‍‍‌ now, the reports‌‍​ that arrived one‌⁠ after another weighed‍ on Alicia’s nerves.⁠

“…In⁠ the end, we‌‍​ ended up giving​‍‌ the battlefield to⁠ Bayezid.”

Although⁠⁠‌ he was a strong ally, the‌⁠‍ wounds were actually‌ theirs.

By​‍⁠ surviving the war,⁠‌‍ the family was⁠ able to survive,​‌​ but now it‍ was their turn⁠‍‌ to suffer festering⁠‌‍ wounds.

“Was​ that what you⁠ were looking for?”​​‍

“…Even⁠‌‌ so, it was‌‍ an inevitable decision.​​ Even the previous‍ head of the‍⁠‍ family probably would⁠‌ have done this.”​

Bayezid‍‍ may still be​​‍ running through the‌ west collecting loot,​​ but Hainal is⁠ simply standing and‍⁠‍ catching his breath.‍

Alicia‍‌‌ couldn’t help but​‌ feel angry even‌‍ as she saw⁠ Deirmar lying on⁠ the ground in‍​⁠ such a lamentable⁠‍‍ state.

“In‌ the end, we⁠ are the only‌⁠ ones you can‌ trust.”

As‌ they are powerless,⁠​​ they are ignored,​⁠‍ and as they⁠‍​ cannot fend for‍ themselves, they have‌ no choice but⁠ to rely on​⁠ them.

Many⁠⁠ difficulties would await​⁠ Alicia in the‌ future, as she‍​ would have to​ endure this frustrating​ reality alone.

“I⁠‍ need to attend‍ a meeting.”

Alicia​ had no choice‍ but to lower‍ her head under‍‌ the crushing weight,⁠‌⁠ and there was​‍⁠ an invitation in⁠⁠⁠ the old-fashioned style​ in front of‍‌ her.

As​ Alicia looked at‍⁠‌ the invitation, her⁠ water-colored eyes began⁠​⁠ to glow faintly⁠ in a mismatched⁠‍‌ color.

“We‌‌ cannot simply grow​‍ lemons forever.”

“…”⁠​

There‍ must be soldiers,​‍‍ there must be⁠‌‌ knights, and there​‍‍ must be power‍​‌ that others cannot⁠⁠ ignore.

And⁠‍ the only thing⁠‌‍ that makes it‌ possible is a shiny gold coin.‌⁠

For​ the sake of​ the residents of‌⁠​ Deirmar territory who‌‌‌ are still suffering‌⁠ wounds, Alicia had​ to find a new route through‍⁠‌ this Northern Conference.‌

“…Now​‌ that I think‌ about it, he⁠​ left in such​‌ a hurry that​ I couldn’t even​​ bid him farewell​​​ properly.”

The‌ Hainal tree seen‍⁠⁠ through the window‌ just in time.‍

Under⁠ the tree, which‌ now seemed even​ stranger to be‌‍‍ alone, the knight​ who had always⁠ comforted her was‍​ nowhere to be‍‍⁠ seen.

It⁠‍ would have been‍‌‍ great to have‌​‍ him at a time like this.‌​

“My⁠⁠ lord. My lord!”‍​

While​ Alicia was silently⁠‍ gathering her will‍‌ as she looked​‌ at the trees‌ outside the window,⁠‌​ someone suddenly shouted,⁠⁠ and the office‌⁠ door opened loudly.⁠​​

“Out​​​ now, out…”

“What’s‌ going on?”

Duncan⁠ couldn’t hide his​⁠​ curiosity as he‌‌ looked at the​ butler, bent and⁠ breathless in front​‌‍ of him.

The​ long-time loyal butler⁠‍‌ of Hainal.

Despite​ his age, he‌‌⁠ always assisted Alicia‍​⁠ with a calm⁠⁠​ attitude, but now⁠‍‍ he looked somewhat​ different.

“Out?⁠​‍ What’s going on?”​

“Lady​‍⁠ Alicia…”

Even‍​​ Alicia seemed nervous‍‍ at the butler’s‌ unusual appearance.

However,⁠‍​ the butler did‌ not rush to⁠‌⁠ visit her because⁠‍ of ominous news.​

“Now…⁠ There are guests‌ outside.”

“Guests?”‍​

Looking⁠‍‌ at the butler⁠‌‍ who had barely‌ caught his breath,‌​‍ Alicia felt as⁠​ if a fresh​‍ and familiar breeze​‌⁠ blew behind him.​

“They‍‌ are elves. They⁠ say they want⁠ to see the⁠ lord.”

“…Yes?”‌‍

A letter from the⁠⁠ elves brought by​‍⁠ a knight who‌‍ is no longer‌​ here.

The⁠​ wind that blew‌​ now felt the⁠‍ same as the⁠‍‍ wind I felt‌‌‌ in the letter‌ back then.

“Elf?”‍

The‍‌ guests come from‍​​ very far away.⁠

They⁠⁠ said they came‌‍ from Ausurin, in‌‌​ the far east.⁠‍‍

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