Indra Translations
Navigation
Star-Embracing Swordmaster Chapter 152: Beast of Possibility (3)

Chapter 152: Beast of Possibility (3)

He⁠⁠ is tall, and​ his shoulders are‌ broad.

Even⁠ from the outside,‌‍‌ he appears so‌ elegant that one‌ might think he‍​‌ is a noble.⁠‍​

But‌‌​ what catches people’s⁠​​ attention the most⁠ are his ears.‍

The‌⁠ long, pointed ears‍​ that humans cannot​‌ have revealed who‍‌ they were.

“It‍‍ feels as if⁠‍ they’ve recently been‌ in a war.”‌‍

“There​‍ are bloodstains everywhere,‍‍​ and all the⁠‍ soot seems recent.”⁠

“Lord⁠ Varadis. Is there‌ really any trace‍​ of the Mother‍‍‌ World Tree in‍‌​ a place like‍‍​ this?”

It‌⁠‌ felt like a whisper, but the‌‍​ pronunciation and voice​ were clearly audible.​​

The‌​​ guards looked astonished‌ to hear the‌‌⁠ elven language for‌‍ the first time,‍‍‍ but the only‍⁠​ conversation they exchanged​ was a foreboding‍ first impression of‍‌⁠ Deirmar.

“…The⁠ knight Vlad said‍⁠​ that the memories​ of the Mother‌‌ World Tree were​ brought from this​ city.”

There‍​⁠ were negative reports​‍‍ from the rangers,⁠ but Varadis decided‍​​ to believe him.‍‍

Vlad​‌​ clearly stated that⁠‍‌ the memory of​ the Mother World‌ Tree began in⁠​ a place called‍‌‌ Deirmar in Hainal.​

Others‌ might not know‍ it, but it​‍ was worth trusting⁠⁠ Vlad’s words, who⁠‌​ protected the young‍​⁠ World Tree.

“He’s⁠‌ been waiting for‍​‍ a long time.‌ The lord has​​‌ just given you⁠​​ permission to enter.”‍⁠

The‌‍ elven language can⁠ be heard softly​‌‍ to human ears.‍‍

Duncan​⁠​ approached the clearly​​ visible boundary between‌‍‌ the two worlds‌ and opened his​‍‍ mouth with a smile on his⁠⁠ face.

Though⁠ unexpected, it was‌‍ clearly an important⁠​‌ guest, so there​ would be no⁠‌ reason not to‍ welcome him.

“Please​⁠‌ come in. I will guide you.”​

Perhaps​ he knows?

That‌​ he was the‍​​ first person in‌​ the history of‍‍‍ the empire to​⁠‌ open the door‌ to the elves.‌

With‌​ Duncan’s command, the⁠ door, which seemed⁠‌‍ in need of‍‍ replacement, began to⁠⁠‍ open slowly.

However,⁠⁠ although Deirmar’s door​‌⁠ was in disrepair‌⁠ and creaked, its‌ movement was quite⁠ significant.

“…It⁠‌⁠ was true.”

Deirmar,‍‍ a city beginning‌‍ to open to⁠‍​ the elves.

The‍​‍ eyes of the⁠​​ rangers began to‍ sparkle as they⁠ saw a city‌ of humans for‌⁠​ the first time​​‍ in their lives.⁠‌​

Obviously,‍ the human city​‍ they were seeing⁠​ for the first‌​​ time was full‌​‍ of unfamiliar aspects,‌⁠ but the smell⁠‍ of the air⁠‍ wafting through the‌‍ city had a familiarity that somehow‍ reminded them of‍​ Ausurin.

—-?​

And⁠ here is where‌ the familiarity begins.​‍‍ Deirmar’s white mansion.⁠‌‌

A white serpent on⁠‍ a hill with⁠‌‍ its head raised‍ above it.

The⁠‍ serpent, visible even⁠ from a distance,​‍ seemed to be‌‌‍ wearing an expression​‍ of bewilderment toward⁠⁠ the elves.

“Welcome‌⁠ to Deirmar. Guests,​​‍ elves.”

Varadis​ nodded slightly as⁠​⁠ he listened to⁠ Duncan.

A city where humans⁠‌​ meet for the⁠ first time.

Though⁠​⁠ they were quite​⁠‍ nervous due to​⁠​ the lack of‍⁠ familiarity, Deirmar was⁠ clearly welcoming them.‌⁠‍

With​‌ a white tail⁠ moving toward the‌‌‍ elves who recognize⁠​⁠ them.

***​‌

In​ the darkness of⁠​‌ the city, there⁠⁠ is an old‍‍ bar.

The‍‍ scarred man, leaning​ against the shadow⁠‌ between the bars,⁠⁠⁠ nodded when he​ saw Vlad approaching⁠⁠‌ from afar.

“Thanks​‌ for finding me.‍‌ Marcus.”

“I’m⁠ called Poznan now.”⁠‍⁠

“Don’t‌ you get confused‍​ changing your name‍​ so many times?”‍

Marcus,​⁠ now Poznan, simply‍‍‌ smiled coldly at⁠ Vlad’s playful rebuke.‍⁠⁠

“With‌ this, all your‍⁠ cooperation back then‍ has been rewarded.”‍‌‍

“That’s​ fine. I won’t​⁠ be condescending about‌ what happened during‍‌ Charlotte’s time anymore.”​

Poznan⁠ simply averted his⁠ gaze from Vlad,‌ who shrugged as‍ if understanding.

A bold type who⁠⁠⁠ dared to strike⁠ a deal with​ the leader of⁠‌ a covert group.‍

Not‍ even the two​​‍ successors of Bayezid’s‌ blood would dare‍‌ to treat each​ other so easily.‍

“Use​​ it well and⁠ return it.”

“Yes.​​ Marcus.”

Vlad‍⁠‍ placed the crow‍ Marcus had given​‍‍ him in his‌ arms and entered⁠​ the bar in​​​ front of him⁠⁠ as if nothing‌​ had happened.

It⁠‌ was as if‍ he didn’t care​‌ at all about‌ what awaited him‌⁠ inside.

“As‍​‍ I heard, he⁠‍‌ really is a guy who doesn’t‍ listen.”

Marcus⁠ said he was⁠‍⁠ Poznan, but Vlad‍ insisted on saying⁠ he was Marcus.⁠

The‌⁠ man without a name realized he⁠ would be remembered​‍​ as Marcus for‌‍ a long time,⁠ as much as‌ the stubbornness of‍‌ the young knight.⁠​‌

“The‍ name Marcus had​​ a pleasant sound.”‍‍

The‍‍‌ man who shouldn’t‍ be remembered suddenly​​​ had a long⁠⁠ cigarette in his‍ mouth.

***⁠⁠

A bright golden color‍⁠ shone in the‍​​ wine glass held​⁠​ by the owner.‍

Beer‌‍ is a specialty‍ of the West‍‌​ and the pride⁠​‌ of this bar.‌​

Vlad’s‌‌ tongue licked his‍ dry lips as‌​ he looked at⁠⁠ alcohol for the‍ first time in​‍ his life.

The⁠‌ senses of a worker who worked‌​ on the smile​ of a rose⁠‍​ were speaking.

This⁠‌ alcohol with white‍ floating bubbles must⁠​⁠ taste incredible.

“Do​‍‌ you mean a dwarf?”

“Yes.‍ A dwarf. Short‍ and stocky guys.”⁠‌

Although⁠ his eyes didn’t⁠​‍ leave the beer,⁠ Vlad’s open palm​ pointed to his‌​‍ waist.

The‌‍ bar owner simply‌​ tilted his head‌⁠​ as he watched⁠‌ Vlad’s hand movements​ that seemed to‍​‌ indicate that he​ was of this‍ height.

“But​‍ why dwarfs suddenly…?”‍⁠⁠

“They‌​‌ say they buy​‌ and sell here.‌ Dwarfs.”

In⁠‍ the face of​ Vlad’s indifferent words,‌ the air around‍‍ me instantly began‍ to calm down.‌‍⁠

The​‌‍ bar owner, who‍‍​ seemed confused in‍​⁠ front of me,​​​ and the employee‌​‌ carrying the dishes.⁠

And​‌‌ even the men​ lying on the‍⁠‍ table as if‌⁠‍ they were drunk.⁠‍

They‌ all began to​‍ look at Vlad​​ with eyes that​‌‍ were completely different‌⁠‌ from before.

“I‍ came here knowing​ everything. So let’s‍ not step back‌ too much.”

However,​​ even in a situation where everyone⁠ was staring at⁠ him, Vlad simply⁠‌​ raised his drink​​⁠ in silence.

A knight of Bayezid​ born in the‍ darkness of the‍​​ alleys.

Vlad‌​​ held a glass‍⁠ of beer as‌‍‍ if nothing had​​‌ happened, and his⁠‍‍ eyes contained a sticky warning that⁠⁠ only his companions​​ could recognize.

“From⁠ now on, I’ll‌ ask you questions,‌​‍ so all you​‍‌ have to do​ is answer them.‌‌ I don’t think​ it’s such a difficult question.”

Even‌ the slave trader​⁠⁠ who had gone​‌‌ through many hardships⁠​⁠ couldn’t hide his​​ nervousness because of​ the energy Vlad‍‌⁠ emanated.

The​‍ smell of a big man, completely​‍‌ different from his​‌ younger self.

Now‍ Vlad’s existence has‍ become such a large and expansive⁠ world that the⁠ dark alleys cannot‌⁠​ contain him.

“I‍ came here because​⁠ I heard there‍⁠‍ were dwarfs locked‌ up in the​​ warehouse here.”

Although⁠‌⁠ Vlad had been‌ ordered to take‍‍‍ a vacation, he⁠‌ still came here⁠‍ to fulfill his‍ duties.

Even‌‌​ though he was​ the knight of‌‌ Bayezid, he was​‌ Joseph’s knight.

Vlad,‌​ who had left‍ and arrived at​​ Nassau, received a small mission from‍⁠ his lord, who‍⁠ was bedridden, and‌‌ came here.

“I‍‍‌ have no idea‍‍​ what you’re talking‌‍​ about… Aaaah!”

“I‌⁠ normally start with​ the fingers, but⁠ I’m a bit‍‌ busy right now.​ So, let’s start‌​ with the wrist.”‍⁠

A wrist flies away‌‌‍ behind a calmly‌ speaking voice.

The‍‌ slave trader, disguised​​ as the bar⁠⁠ owner, screamed loudly⁠ due to the‍‌⁠ late pain, but⁠ the members of⁠‌ his gang couldn’t​‍ easily attack Vlad.‍

“I⁠‍‍ want you to‌ know that next‌⁠⁠ to the hand​ that’s left is⁠​ the head. This‍ is the way‌ of Soara.”

The⁠ blue eyes shining‍⁠ above the quietly‌ smiling face are‍​⁠ unsettling.

The‍‌​ slave trader, struggling​ to hold onto‌​‍ his severed wrist,⁠ only then could⁠⁠​ recognize who the‍⁠ man in front‌‍ of him was.‌

“Soa,⁠ Vlad of Soara!⁠ Blue eyes!”

“…Ha.⁠ What are blue​‍⁠ eyes, actually.”

With⁠ reverence and pride​⁠ in the North,​‍ but with fear​⁠ in the West.‌‌

“So,‌⁠‌ dwarfs. Are they⁠​‍ here or not?”‌‌

Vlad’s​‌⁠ name, which would​⁠ surely be as‍​‍ different as his‍‌‌ appearance, had different​ meanings and was‌​‌ spreading throughout the‍⁠‌ continent.

***‍⁠

Why‍‌‍ is the West‍⁠‌ Cavalry famous?

No⁠ one can deny⁠‌⁠ that it was​ due to the⁠​ excellence of their​​‌ horses and riding,‌‌‌ but the most‍​‌ important reason was‍ the lightweight yet​​ sturdy weapons they⁠‍ carried.

Arrows⁠​⁠ fly farther.

Shields​ and armor are‌‌ harder.

The​ differences in weapons​‌⁠ are small, but⁠​ they make a significant difference on‌‌ the battlefield.

All​⁠ of this was⁠⁠‍ extorted with the‍‍ blood and sweat‌⁠‌ of the dwarves.​‍

Therefore,​‌ just like the‍⁠ dwarves currently imprisoned‌‌ behind bars, trade⁠‌⁠ with them was‍ actively conducted in‍ the West.

“…”​‌​

The​‌‍ man behind bars​⁠‌ had even his‌⁠‍ beard cut, the​ pride of the‌​‍ dwarves.

The​‌⁠ exposed muscles on‌‌⁠ his skinny body‍​​ looked pitiful.

The​ whip marks carved‍ all over his​ back clearly showed‌‍ how he had‍​ been treated.

Clang-⁠‍

When​ the sound of​​​ a heavy lock‍​​ came from above,‍‌ the tense breathing‌ of the trapped⁠‌ youths was heard.​‍

A dark dungeon and‍ chains tightly binding‍ hands and feet.‍‍

And‍ the countless abuses‌⁠​ that occurred there‍​​ were enough to‍ break even the‍‌ strong souls flowing⁠ in the blood‌‌​ of the dwarves.‌‌

“Let’s‌‍ see… Bulkaru? Volcano?”⁠‌

“…It’s​ Vulcan.”

A man descended with‌‍​ the sound of​ creaking boards.

Although‌ it was daytime,⁠​ the smell of‌ beer emanating from⁠⁠​ the young man‌‍ was already strong.‌

The‌⁠⁠ one with a bad-looking face smiling‌ seemed to have‌ the same yellow⁠‍⁠ hair as his.‌

Well,‌​ since he’s sniffing‍⁠​ around slaves at‍ such a young⁠‍⁠ age, he’s definitely‍‌ going to rot⁠⁠ very well.

“Mmm.⁠ Mmm. good. Vulcan.‍⁠ good.”

“…?”⁠​⁠

However,‌ when the young⁠‌‌ blond in front‌ of him approached,‍‌‌ Vulcan could smell​‌ a hidden fish​ odor among the‍ beer scent.

It‌‌‍ was the smell​‌ of blood.

And⁠​ the distinctive smell‌ of blood that‌⁠‌ a single person‌‍ cannot overcome.

“Are‌ there really only‍‌⁠ dwarves here? I heard you’re a merchant specializing in​ dwarves.”

As‍ expected from the​​‍ information given by‌​ Marcus, the cages​⁠ stacked like boxes⁠ were filled with‌ dwarves.

The⁠‌‍ dwarves are trapped⁠‌ in such a small space that​⁠‌ they can’t even​ properly move their​⁠ hands and feet.​⁠​

Vlad,​ who checked the‍‌ young dwarves he​⁠⁠ saw among them,‍⁠ simply silently tilted​‍‌ the beer glass‌‌ he was holding.‍​

“…I⁠ won’t accept your‍ proposal. If you​‌ release only the‍‍ children here, I’ll‍ collaborate in weapon‍‌ manufacturing…”

“I’ll‌​‍ release them all.”‌⁠‌

It‌‌ starts fresh and‍‌​ goes down smoothly‍‍ the throat.

It‌⁠​ was definitely a cheaper drink than​‌ whiskey, but Vlad‌‌​ felt he was‍ going to fall‍ in love with⁠‌ the beer, which‌ was his first‌​‌ trial.

“What?”‌‍​

“Instead,​ there’s a condition,‌ Vulcan.”

Vlad‍ brought a nearby‍‌⁠ chair closer, tossed⁠‍‌ his beer glass​​ aside, and made‌⁠⁠ eye contact with‌​ the dwarf named​ Vulcan.

I finally found him.‍ Dwarf.

“I​​‍ am Vlad from​ Soara. I am‍⁠ a knight who⁠‌‍ works under the‍​ orders of Joseph⁠ of Bayezid, the​‌ second son of‌‍ the Bayezid family.”‍‌

The⁠⁠‍ sound of a beer glass falling‍​⁠ to the ground‌ is loud.

At‌​ the same time,​​​ in Vlad’s hand‌ was a bunch‍⁠‍ of keys covered⁠ in blood stains.​

Suggestions⁠​‌ and options.

The⁠ words Joseph ordered​ flowed from Vlad’s‍ mouth.

“He‌ wants to have​ a relationship with⁠⁠‍ the Dwarf Liberation‍ Front.”

A dungeon that seems⁠​ to not even‌ have air.

There​‌ was a letter‌ and a raven‍​​ flying through the‍‌‍ barely open window.‍

“If‍ you swear to‍‍​ bring the response⁠​​ to this letter,‍ all the dwarves‌ here are free.”⁠‍

The​ dwarves were trapped‌‌ in a narrow‍⁠⁠ cage and Joseph⁠⁠⁠ was trapped in‍‍ a weak body‍‌​ since birth.

The‌​ two, who were⁠ in a pitiful​ state, needed a way out to‍ the outside world‍⁠ in order to​‍ survive.

“And​‌‍ this is just‍ one question.”

The‍⁠ first full cup​⁠ of duty was​​⁠ for Joseph.

And‌ the next glass⁠‌‌ containing the sunken‍‍⁠ gold is for‌​ the voice.

Seeing‌⁠‍ Vulcan puzzled by​‍‍ the sudden proposal,‌ Vlad decided to​‌ pose another question​​​ that he had‌ been keeping inside.‍

“Is‍ there any legend‍‍​ about the Sword‍​⁠ Master on the‍⁠​ island you’re in?”‌

Vlad‌‌⁠ hadn’t forgotten.

The‍ contract at that‌‍ time to find​‌⁠ the name.

The‌ traces of the‌ Sword Master in‍ the elf village​‌​ clearly pointed west,‌ where the dwarves‍‍‍ were.

What did you think of this chapter?
0 reactions

0 Comments


There are no comments yet. Be the first!

Reader Settings
Page mode
Timer
Text Indent
Auto scroll
Tap to read
Pin menu
Translate page
Select language to automatically translate chapter content.
Audio & AI Voice
This chapter has pre-loaded audio
Ads Blocker Image Powered by Code Help Pro

Ads Blocker Detected!!!

We have detected that you are using extensions to block ads. Please support us by disabling these ads blocker.