Star-Embracing Swordmaster — Chapter 160: You reap what you sow (1)

Chapter 160: You reap what you sow (1)

Through‍ the thick cigarette‍⁠ smoke, the creaking‍‍ of wooden planks‍‍ can be heard.⁠‌

It⁠‍ seemed as though‌ the sound was‌‍‌ made by ferries‍⁠ swaying back and‍ forth along the‌⁠ river waves.

On⁠ the dock of Soara, inside a building that seemed⁠ entwined as if⁠ sewn together with‍‍ thread.

The‌ two individuals stood‍⁠⁠ facing each other,‍ but nothing was⁠‌ said for a long time, and‌‍ the only sounds⁠‌ that could be⁠‌ heard were the‌‌‌ sound of cigarettes⁠‌ being lit and⁠ the gulp of‍ alcohol passing down⁠ the throat.

“I‌ feel like time‌ passes too quickly⁠ with you in⁠ front of me‌‌ like this.”

The old man spoke⁠‍‌ only after finishing‌‍ a bottle of liquor and smiled⁠ as he tossed⁠ the finished cigarette⁠⁠‍ into the ashtray.‌⁠

His⁠‌‌ yellowed and ugly teeth seemed threatening,‍‌ but Vlad, who was seated across from him, didn’t⁠‍‍ even flinch.

“In‌ fact, it’s not‌ necessary for you to know, but originally I also‌‍ wanted to bring‍‍ you along. Jorge,‍ that guy, may⁠‍ be a bit‌ soft, but still, you know.”

“…”‍

The‍‍ old man’s eyes seemed weak as‌‌ he thought of⁠⁠ the past.

Though‍ he had been‍ waiting for a while and what⁠ was being said‌‍ now wasn’t the‍‍ main topic, Vlad⁠ still decided to‍‍ wait.

As‌ someone born and‌‍ raised in the‍ alleys, he wanted‌ to show some courtesy to my⁠⁠ boss, Captain Hoover.‍

“I‌ heard Marcella is‍‌ retiring too?”

“It won’t be a full retirement. She’s⁠ not as old‌ as the boss.”⁠

“Haha!⁠ Yes. If I were Marcella’s age,‍ I’d still be‍ in my prime.”⁠‌‌

If‍ he were an⁠‌ ordinary alley boy,⁠ his head would‍ have been cut⁠‍ off with a sharpened hook with‍ the words he‍ just spoke.

However,‌‍ the person paying‍‍ attention now was‌ Hoover, the boss,⁠⁠ and though Vlad⁠‍ was a guest,⁠ he dominated his‍ space.

“I’m‌‌ grateful to the boss. For looking⁠‍ after the cripple‍ Harven.”

“That’s‌‌ because he was‍‌⁠ smart.”

“Even‌‌ though you put‌⁠ it in a corner.”

“…”⁠‍

As⁠ he listened to⁠⁠⁠ Vlad’s words, whose⁠‍‌ intentions he could‍‍ not guess, Hoover‌ reopened the bottle‌ with the hook⁠⁠ in his left‍ hand.

Truly‍‌ the best talent‌ born in the‍‍ alleys of Soara.⁠‍

Vlad⁠‌ had become too‌⁠ heavy and hard⁠ to float on⁠‍ his own.

“It’s‌ not an excuse,⁠ but I had‍ no other place⁠ to use him‌⁠ apart from that.”⁠

“I‍⁠⁠ know. I understand.”‍‍⁠

There‌ used to be five bosses in the back alley.⁠

And‌ the knight seated‌ across lost one⁠‌‌ boss and killed⁠ two bosses.

Vlad‌‌‌ of Soara was⁠ a knight whom‌ not even shining⁠⁠‍ gold coins or‍ indulgences granted by⁠⁠ God could stop,‍⁠ and Hoover decided⁠ not to forget⁠ that fact.

“I‍ want to retire.⁠‍ Comfortable and secure.”

And⁠‍ so I decided‍ to retire.

Before‍ being eaten or‍‍ killed by his⁠⁠ hands.

“Why are you telling‍‌‌ me this?”

“Because⁠ if it’s not‌‌ you, there’s no‍ one else who‍‌ can do it.”

The‌ alley’s story is as complex and⁠ ever-changing as the‌‍ people who live⁠‌ there.

However,⁠‍⁠ if you look⁠ at it from‍ afar, it seems‌⁠ to function according to a law, which is the‌‌ law of the strongest.

“I‌‍ know the young‍‌ mayor of Soara‍ is targeting me.‍ Because he wants⁠ to control everything⁠⁠ in this city.”

There are things you‌‍‌ can see because‍ you’re old.

The‌‌‍ old captain had⁠‌ been sailing the seas for a long time and‍‍‌ knew full well that he had‌ to furl the⁠‍ sails and hold his breath in⁠⁠⁠ the midst of‌‍ a raging storm.⁠‍‍

“Please⁠⁠ tell him This‍⁠ old man wants⁠ to retire.”

“…You’ll‌‌‍ have to let‍ go of many‍⁠ things. You’ll have‌‌ to compensate Mr.‍‍‌ Joseph for what‍⁠‍ he has prepared.”⁠

It⁠ was an offer‌ that didn’t particularly‌‍⁠ appeal to him,⁠ but Vlad thought⁠‌ of the face‌ of the person‌⁠‍ who had introduced⁠ him here and‍ decided to show‍ as much sincerity‍ as possible.

In‍⁠ any case, he‌‍ had been able to endure tough‌⁠ times thanks to‌ this person, so⁠‍‌ it was a way to repay.‍‌

“…Of⁠‍‌ course. I’ll prepare so you won’t⁠⁠⁠ be disappointed.”

After hearing Vlad’s response,‌ Hoover didn’t show⁠⁠ it, but his⁠ heart sank greatly.⁠

As⁠ expected, I was being targeted.

If‌‍ I had been⁠‍ a little late,⁠‍ they would have hanged me.

“Please.‌⁠⁠ I won’t let‌ you regret it.”‍

“I’ll⁠⁠‌ tell you something.”‍

There⁠ wasn’t a definitive⁠‌‍ answer, but that⁠‌‍ would be enough.‍⁠

The‍‌‌ man who was‌ now rising was‍ of noble blood,‌ Joseph’s confidant, and‍‌ a symbol of⁠‍ Soara.

“Wait⁠‌ a second.”

“…?”‍

Vlad,‍‌ holding the doorknob‌⁠ to leave, suddenly‍‌ grabbed a bottle‌⁠ of liquor that⁠ flew past him.‍

It⁠ was a brown⁠⁠ liquor with an unpleasant sheen.

“What’s‌‍ this?”

“It’s‍ my masterpiece.”

Captain⁠ Hoover, who had‍ just taken out‍ a cigarette, looked‌‌ at Vlad with a squinted eye.‌‌

“It’s‍ a drink with‌‌‍ a name. My‌⁠ name is Captain‌ Q. Actually, I was thinking of‍ opening a brewery‌ as a hobby after retiring.”

After‌ hearing Hoover’s words,‍ Vlad only then‍ remembered where he⁠ had seen the⁠⁠⁠ alcohol he was⁠ holding.

In⁠ the days when⁠ there was nothing⁠ to drink and⁠⁠ die for, it‌ was literally the‌ drink that almost⁠‌‌ killed me.

“…Don’t⁠ dream of the‍‌ distillery.”

Vlad⁠⁠ still didn’t remember‍ well what happened‍ that night.

***

“What⁠⁠ happened?”

“Take this.”

Vlad,⁠‌‍ who left the‌ dock after being seen off by⁠ his gang members,⁠ saw Harven waiting⁠‍ for him there‌ and quickly threw‍‌⁠ him a bottle‌ of alcohol.

With‌‍‍ a tired expression,‍ as if he‌⁠ had been holding⁠ a bottle of‌‍ poison all this⁠ time.

“What’s⁠ this?”

“What is it? That⁠‌‍ damn drink.”

“No,⁠⁠ was the old‍‍ man still making⁠ this?”

Harven‍⁠ also accepted the‌ bottle, unable to⁠ hide his surprised⁠‍ expression.

He‍⁠⁠ was somewhat restless⁠ and seemed to‍ want to throw‌ the bottle away‌‍ right now.

“Hire‌ Hoover. Let him‍⁠ take care of whatever needs to‌‍‍ be taken care of.”

“Eh?‌ What?”

“If‌‌ you want to‌ save that person,⁠⁠⁠ that’s how it‍ has to be.”

Vlad‍ spoke with indifference‍‌‌ and Harven responded‌‍ as if he‍‍ didn’t know, but⁠ the two understood⁠ each other.

It‍ might not have been as bad as Vlad and‍‌ Jorge, but Harven⁠⁠‌ and Hoover were‌‍ on the same⁠‍ fence, and the‌⁠ men in the‌ back alleys were⁠ sensitive to such things.

Just⁠ as Harven introduced Vlad to Hoover.‍

“He‍⁠ said he was⁠⁠ a person who‍ had been at‌⁠ sea when he was young and‌ told me to⁠‌‌ learn everything from⁠ navigation to smuggling‌ routes. Nowadays Bayezid⁠ is very interested⁠ in the sea.”‌

“Shall⁠⁠ I put it‌⁠‌ in an easy‍ way for you?‍ That’s the basis⁠‌⁠ of his business.”‍

“If‌⁠ he doesn’t want‌ to die, I’ll⁠‍ let him know.”‌

Whether‌ to spit him‍ out alive or‍ kill him and⁠‌ take him away,‌⁠⁠ everything related to‌ Hoover depended on‍ Joseph to decide‍‌ anyway.

However,‍‍‌ even if you’re‌‍‌ a boss in‍‌ an alley, if‌ you show that‌ there’s something useful‌‍ to save your‍ life, they won’t‌ necessarily take your⁠⁠ life.

“…And for the time⁠ being, don’t do‌⁠⁠ anything that could‍⁠ get you caught.”⁠

“If.”‌⁠⁠

Harven⁠ felt the sudden⁠‍ change in Vlad’s‍‌ mood and nodded,⁠ wiping away his smile.

“It’s‍ time to leave‍‌ once and for all. Now’s the time.”

“Yes.‌‍‌ Take care of‌‌ the kids.”

Just as the old⁠⁠ captain saw the storm approaching from‍‌‌ afar, Harven could also feel the⁠‌ meaning behind Vlad’s‍ words as they‌⁠‌ passed.

As⁠‌‍ Soara’s market also⁠⁠ provoked its own changes, it was⁠⁠‌ obvious that even‌‍ greater changes would⁠⁠ begin now that‍⁠ the Northern Union⁠⁠ and the Orthodox⁠ Church had appeared.‍⁠

“Shelter.”‍‌

“Eh?”

At‍‌⁠ the alley’s fork.

Vlad‍‌ heads to the‍⁠ town hall and Harven heads to‍ the rose’s smile,‌⁠ so they must⁠ part ways.

“This is an opportunity.⁠ It’s here now.”⁠‍

“…”‌

Though Vlad didn’t say‍‌ much, Harven could‍‌ tell what he⁠‍ was trying to‌ say.

It’s‌⁠ the same for everyone, but for the alley kids, opportunity was like‌⁠ a dream and‌ they worked tirelessly‍⁠ to seize it.‍

And‍ now before the two of them‌‌ stood Soara, who⁠‌ was about to‌ change.

“Let’s‌ do our best.”

“Yes.”

You‍ take the main‌ street, I’ll take the back alley.‍‍‌

Though‍ their paths were⁠‍ different, their goals‌ were the same.‍

That’s‌‌ probably the story⁠⁠ of those days‌ when we wrapped‍‌ ourselves in a single blanket, promising‍ to tell it⁠⁠ someday.

***‍‌

Neigh-‍‍

Neigh-‍⁠

A stable located within‌‍ the town hall‌‌⁠ of Soara.

It was a place⁠⁠ filled with the⁠‌ neighing of horses,‍ but the spot where the black‌ horse and the‍ green-haired girl stood was extremely quiet.‌

“You’re‍⁠ also avoiding everyone.”‌

Neigh-‌

Noir⁠‌ made a sound⁠ as if responding‍‍ to Charlotte’s words,‍‍ but the reality‌‌‌ was completely different.⁠

Noir,‌ with his damn‍‍ personality, was only⁠‍ warning the surrounding⁠ horses not to‍‌ approach him.

“Well,‌ yes. I know‌ that feeling too.”⁠⁠

However,‍ the young Charlotte⁠⁠ still didn’t know‍‌ Noir’s nature and⁠⁠ felt sympathy for‌‍ the black horse⁠ as she watched him alone without⁠ anyone around.

Although⁠ Noir was famous‍ for rejecting his⁠‌‌ caretakers, he was⁠ particularly indulgent with‍ Charlotte, and his‌‍ behavior was similar‍‌ to what he‍ showed to Zemina.⁠

Although it might not⁠ be her favorite‌‌ red color, could it be because‍ Charlotte’s hair color⁠‍ reminded him of‌ the grasslands of his hometown?

“It’s‍ all because of‍‍ that eye.”

Charlotte,‌ who was hugging‌ Noir’s neck, began‍⁠‍ to narrow her‍ eyes as she⁠‌⁠ remembered someone.

A knight whose personality‌‌ is as bad‍‍ as his appearance.⁠⁠

He⁠ was also the‍⁠⁠ one who knocked⁠‍ Vlad on the‍ head and squeezed⁠⁠‍ his ankles as‍ soon as he⁠⁠‍ saw him teach.‍

“If⁠ it weren’t for⁠ him, I would have been learning something by now.”⁠⁠‍

I don’t know if⁠‍ it was because‍‍ she couldn’t learn‍ to handle the⁠‌ sword or because‍ she couldn’t be⁠‍‌ with Vlad, but‌ Charlotte’s anger was directed solely at⁠ Jager.

A knight who scolded‍‌ Vlad for teaching‍ a novice.

If‌ it weren’t for him, she could⁠‌‍ have been swinging‌ a wooden sword‍‍ with Vlad right‌ now.

“I’m⁠ really unlucky.”

Although⁠‌⁠ she was in⁠ an unfamiliar place like a stranger,‌ she couldn’t say anything, but if‍‍ this place had‌ been Ravnoma Mansion,⁠ she would definitely‍‍⁠ have raised her⁠ voice once.

Charlotte‍ was very angry‌⁠ and felt unfair.‍⁠‍

“Hey‍‍‍ hey hey! Boy⁠ and horses!”

“Huh?”‌‌

Then⁠ Charlotte heard someone⁠ shout.

It‍⁠ was very sudden,‍ and it was‌ also a sound⁠ that she couldn’t⁠ help but be‍‍ surprised by.

“Me?”

“Yes,⁠ you! Little boy⁠ over there!”

Charlotte‌ raised her finger‌‍ and pointed to⁠‍ herself just in‌ case, but the⁠ man’s expression only‍‍‍ grew grimmer as‍‍ he saw her.

“Damn⁠⁠ it! Don’t you⁠⁠ realize how important⁠ that is? Get‍ out right now!”‌

“Huh?‌‌ What?”

Of‌‌ course, in the⁠‌ days when they‍ were disguised as⁠ slaves, they could‍‍ endure the same‍‍‌ treatment as now,‍ but this was‌‍ Soara, and Charlotte‍‌‍ was Ravnoma, a noble.

As‌‍‍ a guest, Charlotte⁠⁠ had no grounds‍ to be treated like this.

“What‍ kind of bastard‌⁠‍ are you? Huh?‌ Damn it! Get‌⁠ out, man!”

However,⁠ the man who‌‌ was scolding her‌‌ now also had‍ a good reason⁠‌ to do so.‌‌

“Someone‌ with no brains⁠ in his head‍‍ is trying to‍‍ take someone else’s‌‌ place.”

“…Is‌ this your seat?”‌⁠

“Hey,⁠‍⁠ look at how‌ this guy talks‌ to an adult.⁠ He’s got the⁠ nerve of someone who’s barely matured,⁠‍ just like always.”⁠‍

Anyone would behave like this if their‍‍⁠ hard-earned position were‌ threatened.

Until‌⁠ now, his job‍ had always been‌ to take care⁠‌ of Vlad’s horse,⁠‍ Noir.

“Hmph.‌‍ Still, he looks‌‍‌ like a real‌ man, even wearing⁠‍ a wooden sword⁠‌ at his waist.‌ What about you,‍‌ are you a squire or something?”‌

“Yes,⁠ I’m a squire!‌‌ If you learn‌‍ swordplay from a knight, that makes‌ you a squire!”‌⁠

However,‌ Charlotte, who was‍ already extremely venomous,‌ began to lash‌ out at the‍‍ long-chinned man scolding‌ her regardless of‌ context.

As‌ the man had⁠ just said, Charlotte⁠ Ravnoma was a true yellow killer‌ who had already⁠‍ killed people.

“I’m‍‌‌ the squire of‍‌ Knight Vlad! I learn sword skills⁠ from him every‍⁠⁠ day!”

“What?”⁠‌‌

Of‍‍ course, she wasn’t a squire and‌ had never properly learned how to‌‌ use a sword,‌⁠ but Charlotte, overcome⁠‍ by evil, began‍ to grab any⁠ horse and serve⁠⁠ it.

However,⁠ the man’s face⁠‌‌ began to turn‌⁠ white, as if‌‌ those words were‍ enough to hit.‍

“Why⁠⁠ are you Vlad’s‌ squire?”

A man in tattered‍‌ clothes, who must⁠ have been through many hardships.

The⁠ hand he held against his chest⁠ trembled slightly as‍ if feeling aggrieved.‍

“I’m‌‍‍ Vlad’s squire, man!”‍‌

A guide, a stable‍ caretaker, a squire‍ of Vlad, and⁠ a swindler.

Goethe⁠ has returned.