Star-Embracing Swordmaster — Chapter 177: The Biggest Path (1)

Chapter 177: The Biggest Path (1)

Justia‌‍ looked at Vlad⁠‍ and Jean lying‌ in bed and‍ gently stroked their‍‌⁠ foreheads.

The‍‌ sensation of cold,⁠⁠⁠ damp sweat on‌ her fingertips.

Although the bed was‍ soft, both of⁠ them had frowning‌ expressions, and Vlad‍‍ in particular was⁠‌⁠ twisting his body‌‍‌ intermittently.

It⁠⁠ was as if⁠⁠ he were having‍ a bad nightmare.‍‌

“…”⁠

Justia‌ brushed Vlad’s blond‍ hair as he‌⁠⁠ tossed and turned,‌ and took one⁠‌⁠ last look at‌ the armor he‌ wore.

A phrase she had‍ personally written for‍‌ the young squire‌ when the Northern⁠ Orthodox Church was‍ still Saint Logino.‌

Even⁠‌‍ then, Vlad climbed to the highest‍ church bell tower‌‍‌ for the village⁠⁠ children.

And‌ Justia was one‌ of the people‌ who watched him‌⁠ closely.

“Let’s⁠ begin.”

“But‌ Lady Justia…”

Justia⁠ nodded as if‍⁠‍ she had strengthened⁠ her resolve while‌⁠ looking at Vlad‌ with pain.

Seeing⁠⁠ her like this, the priest beside‍ her opened his‌⁠ mouth as if‌‌ worried, but it‍⁠ could no longer⁠⁠⁠ be avoided.

Even⁠ if I fall‌ into deep darkness,‌ I have no⁠⁠ choice but to‍‍ believe that He‍‍ is with me.

“I’m‌ going in. Please be prepared.”

“…Alright.”⁠

A moment ago, it‍⁠ was a room‍ full of priests,‍‌ but now only⁠ a few followers‌⁠ of Justia remained.‍‍

However, those who stayed‌‌ until the end‍⁠ began to recite‌ prayers as best‍‍⁠ they could to‍‌‍ complete the task.‌‍

-He‌⁠ knows when I sit and when‍‌ I rise, and even from afar, He will reveal‍ His thoughts to‍‌‌ me.

Justia⁠ quietly closed her‌‌ eyes as she‌‌ listened to the⁠⁠‍ soft prayer sounding⁠‌ in her ears.‌‍⁠

Justia‌ slowly sank into⁠ Jean’s dream through‌ her clasped hands.⁠

Although she couldn’t become‍⁠ a bright star‌ like Gunther, she‌ decided to draw‌ closer and become‍‍ a shining milestone.⁠

“…”‌‍

As‍⁠⁠ Justia left reality and descended into‍⁠⁠ complete darkness, she‌⁠⁠ became smaller and⁠‍ weaker.

However,‌ her platinum blonde‍ hair, which shone‍ brighter in the‍‍‍ darkness, had not‍‍ yet lost its‌‌ luster.

When‌ she finally broke through the dark⁠‍ clouds and descended⁠ into the dream‍ world, she was‌‍ already a free‌ bird.

***⁠‍

– Get out of‍ here.

Andreas‍‍ in the dream⁠ said, blocking the⁠‌ shaky door with‍ his entire body.‌

The⁠‍ tips of his⁠⁠ fingers, trembling constantly‍⁠ due to the⁠ strong vibration, pointed‍ to the bookshelf‍ right in front⁠⁠⁠ of him.

“Isn’t‍‌ this a door?”⁠

[How‍ many times do⁠‍ I have to‌‌ say this, idiot…]⁠‍

Looking⁠‌ at Vlad with‍⁠‌ wide-open eyes, Kihano⁠⁠ slapped his chest‌ in frustration.

Although he said that‍‍‌ physical appearances had‍ no meaning, it‌ seemed that Vlad‍‍ still hadn’t gotten‌ used to the⁠‍‍ world of dreams.

– Get the Bible out. There will⁠⁠‍ be a way⁠⁠ in it.

The‍ world of dreams⁠ is formed by⁠‍ symbols and meanings.⁠‍

Just as the young‌ Jean’s last refuge‍‌‌ was Andreas’s room,‌‍ the way to⁠⁠‌ escape from this‌ ruined place is⁠ not through visible‌ doors and paths,⁠ but through a meaning kept in the heart.

Shhhh!‍⁠

“…Agh!”‍

Hurriedly⁠‌ taking out the⁠⁠‍ Bible from the⁠ bookshelf, Vlad was‌ startled.

The‍⁠‌ old Bible in⁠⁠ his hand began‍‌⁠ to flip through⁠ the pages on⁠⁠‌ its own, as‍‍⁠ if it were‍ alive.

Bang,⁠⁠ bang, bang, bang,‌‌⁠ bang!

– Read this. Inside‌ you will find‍ the way.

Looking at the door⁠ beginning to creak, Vlad quickly skimmed‌ through the open⁠ pages.

Although⁠ many lines of⁠ text filled the‌ pages, there was‍ one phrase clearly highlighted, as if‍‍⁠ indicating him to⁠ read it.

“It‌⁠‍ is the light‌ in the darkness⁠⁠ that guides the‌⁠ way of the⁠‌ blind. Could it be a song?⁠‍⁠

Rumble,‌ rumble, rumble!

As soon as Vlad,‌ stuttering, read the‌‌ Bible verse, the⁠⁠‍ bookshelf on the wall began to‍ roll up slowly,⁠⁠ as if it⁠⁠ were made of‌ paper.

Stepping‌⁠⁠ back, Vlad looked‍ at the place,‍ which looked like⁠‌ a Milky Way‌ floating in the⁠ clouds.

“This‍⁠‌ is…”

[That’s‍‍ the way out.⁠ Let’s go outside‍‍‌ now!]

The‍⁠ only way out‍ of the dream.⁠⁠

A vague path, like‍ pure white sand‌ scattered over the black sea, stretched⁠‌ out before Vlad.⁠‍‍

It was as narrow‌‍‌ and shallow as it seemed, so⁠⁠ it was a fragile path that‌ seemed like it⁠ would break with⁠‍‍ a single breath.‌⁠

[Hurry‌⁠ up!]

“…!!”‍

Vlad, who quickly picked‌⁠‍ up Jean and‌ laid him down‌ at Kihano’s insistence,‌‌‌ looked back one⁠ last time.

In‍ Jean’s dream, which‌ was gradually crumbling,‍ Andreas nodded as‍⁠⁠ if telling him‍⁠⁠ to go.

What⁠ protected the world‍‍ of the young‍ deacon until the‍ end was a teaching passed down⁠‍ by his master.⁠⁠⁠

“Thank⁠⁠‌ you!”

Vlad,‌⁠⁠ tightly embracing Jean, followed Kihano and⁠ rushed out onto⁠‌ the path that⁠‌ Andreas had shown‍ him.

The⁠ sky overhead was⁠ dark, but the‍‌⁠ starlight touching his‌‍‍ fingertips was as‍‍ soft as the⁠ sand of a white beach.

Clatter!‌

As⁠ soon as the⁠ group left, Andreas’s‌‍ room collapsed completely,‍ as if it‍⁠ had been forcibly held together.

It‍ wasn’t just Andreas’s‍‌ room.

“The‌‌‌ church is collapsing!”‌

[So‍‍ run!]

The‍ church of Varna⁠ shattered like a broken glass bottle.‌⁠

Behind‌‌ the collapsing debris,‍ the Qliphoth trees,‍⁠‌ whose roots had‍ grown fiercely, began‌⁠‌ to roar.

Kaaaaa-!

“Where are we! Where‍⁠ are you going!”‌

[Didn’t‍ Gunther or someone tell you to‌ follow the starlight?]‍

It‍ is the light‌⁠ and the song‍ that guide the‌⁠‌ way of the⁠⁠ blind.

However,⁠ although the path⁠‌ he was walking⁠ on was bright,⁠ the sky he‍‍ looked at was completely black without‍ starlight.

[There‌ it is!]

“…Oh?”⁠‌

Behind,‌‍⁠ there is a howling tree.

The‌‍ path is a path of pure⁠‍ white sand scattered‍‌ by the wind.

The⁠ two lost their‍‍ way there for‍‍ a moment and⁠ were confused, but‌⁠ soon a light‌ began to descend⁠⁠ through the dark⁠ clouds.

“A‍⁠ bird?”

What‍ Gunther told him⁠ to follow was⁠‍ the starlight, but‌ what Vlad could‌‍ see now was⁠‍ a small bird.⁠‌

A canary cutting through⁠‌ the darkness with‌ a flag of⁠‍ platinum hair raised.⁠‍

“…Justia.”‌⁠‍

The‍⁠ visible form was⁠‌ that of a bird, but the contained being was‍ a familiar figure.‌‌‌

Vlad,‌⁠ who recognized the‌ being flying towards⁠ him, bit his‌ lip hard.

The‍⁠ image of a small bird struggling‍⁠ to fly in‌‌ the darkness was‍ exactly like the⁠‌ image shown to⁠ him by the⁠⁠ priestess of the World Tree.

***‍

“Shit…”⁠‌

Gunther’s‍‍ gaze pierced through‌ the fog, toward⁠‌⁠ the empty space.‌

Even‍ now, there was⁠ a man struggling‍‌ beneath his feet,‌‌‍ shedding black tears,‌‍ but all Gunther‍‌‌ cared about now‍‌ was the unknown‌⁠‌ woman who had‌ blocked the knights.⁠‍

Phew!‌‌‍

A man ceasing his twisted movements and‍ then relaxing.

However,⁠ he had been‌ desperately calling out⁠ someone’s name until‌ the very last‌‌ moment when he‍‍ stopped crying.

-My‍‍ son… Noe, my⁠‌ son.

The⁠⁠ name he desperately‍ called out was⁠‌⁠ the name of‍⁠ the child the man had lost.‌

The‌‍ tragedy that no‌ one would acknowledge⁠ finally came to a halt with‌‍ the man’s gesture.⁠⁠⁠

“Who‌ the hell are‌‌ you?”

“A‌ person without blood⁠ or tears. Aren’t‍ you sad?”

“This⁠ is ridiculous. Wasn’t‌‌‍ all of this‌ a tragedy you‌‌ yourself caused?”

The‍ paladins who had‍⁠‍ gathered around Gunther‌ quickly formed a square and began‌ thrusting their swords‌ at the woman‍ floating in the⁠‍ air.

“…”‍‌

They‍ were knights who⁠‌‍ had killed all‍ kinds of strange‍ beings up to‌‌‌ now, but now,⁠ in front of⁠ an unknown woman,‌‌‌ they couldn’t hide⁠⁠ their nervous appearance.‍⁠

Their‍ appearance, seen through‌ the eyes of‌ God, was that‌ of such a distorted being that‍ it was difficult‌‍ even to dare‍⁠ to speak of⁠‍ it.

“But⁠‍ in the end, you would have‍ been happy. Because‌‍ you’ll realize what’s‌ truly precious.”

“I⁠‌ won’t ask twice.”‌‍‌

A world of God‍‌ that you can‍‍‌ see even without‍‌ having to close⁠‌ your eyes.

In‍‍ front of the‍ paladin with both‍‌‍ eyes wide open,⁠⁠ there was only‌⁠ an evil being⁠ who couldn’t even‌ touch the arms‌ of a god.‌‍

“I, Gunther, the second‍ leader of the⁠‌ Northern Orthodox Church,‌‍‍ will hold you‍‍ responsible for all⁠‍‍ the tragedies here.”‍

Before⁠ he knew it,‌ Gunther’s severed thumb⁠ filled with blood.‌

However,‍ his blood droplets,⁠ which didn’t fall‍ even though they had formed, were⁠‍ slowly drawn in the air as‍ he extracted them.⁠⁠⁠

“San‍‌⁠ Rogino, glorious commander‍⁠ of the heavenly army and alongside God…”

We‌ are sinners who⁠ can do nothing‍‌ against this evil‍‍ being, so please⁠‌ inflict cruel wounds‌ upon us.

“Please,‍ open a scar⁠‌ (stigma) that will‍ never end until‍ you destroy the‌‌ enemy.”

“Stop‌‍ him!”

“Hmph!”

As‍ Gunther’s blood droplets‌‌ completed the spell,⁠‍ cruel wounds began‌ to form on⁠ the foreheads of‍‍ the paladins surrounding‍‍ him.

The‌‌‌ scars that seemed⁠‍ to have been‌ drawn with a sword cleared the⁠ spirits of the‌⁠ knights, who had‍ been intimidated, and⁠‍ made the aura‌ flowing through the swords they held⁠⁠ even brighter.

“Knights,‌‍ fear not. God‍ is always with‍ us.”

Holy⁠ knights with the‍‍ blessing of always⁠‌‌ being with them⁠ engraved on their⁠ foreheads as stigmas.

Reconfirming‍ once again the‌⁠‌ existence of God‌ alongside the intense‌ pain they felt, they began to‍ step slowly into⁠‌‍ the fog.

“It’s‍ been a while⁠ since I saw‍⁠ this technique. The⁠‍ man before me‍ was a noble⁠‍ knight.”

“Today,‌‌ I will burn‍‍‍ you and put an end to‌‍ this curse.”

The‌‍⁠ world I live⁠‍⁠ in is the‍ world of God.⁠‌⁠

This world I’m in⁠ has already been‌‍ created by His⁠ will, so I will see the‍‍ perfect world without‍⁠ having to close⁠ my left eye.‍‍

“But,‍⁠‍ do you know⁠‌ what?”

As‌ the Paladins approached,‌‍ headless knights began⁠ to appear.

The‌ Paladins tried to⁠ head toward the Qliphoth tree, and⁠ the headless Knights⁠⁠ tried to stop⁠⁠ them.

“That‍⁠ technique with the‍⁠ stigmas.”

Two⁠⁠ groups facing each‌ other.

But‌ the wounds they‌ had were very⁠ similar.

“I⁠⁠‌ did that.”

The‌ woman’s last words‌‌‍ were not heard‌‍ in response to Gunther’s strong charge‍⁠⁠ order, but it⁠ didn’t matter.

You’ll⁠ see it anyway‌ as you get‍‍ closer.

How⁠ cruel is the⁠ will of God you’re following!

Clang!⁠

The⁠ stigmas of the‌‍ Holy Knights gleamed‌ on the paths‍ of the swords‌‌ clashing loudly.

However, there were bright‌‍‌ scars on the severed necks of‍‍ the headless knights.‍

“Argh!”⁠‍

“Captain!‌ The stigmas are‍ working!”

The⁠‍‍ woman smiled as‍‍ she watched the⁠ slowly burning wound, fueled by God’s⁠⁠ blessings.

Knight⁠ Commander Gunther was‍ a shining star, but the woman⁠‌ floating in the‌‌‍ air was someone‌‌ who had shone⁠ even brighter than‍‌ him.

Though‌ it has now‍ cooled down.

***‍‌

“Huff,⁠ huff…”

I thought I had‍‍ run very far,‍⁠ but the white‍ sand path still hadn’t ended.

‘Darn⁠ it, darn it!’‍⁠

The weight of Jean‍ carrying him and⁠⁠ his tired steps⁠ on the endless‌ path were heavy,‍‍ but even more⁠‌ impatience tormented Vlad.‍‍

“We have to go fast! Hurry!”

The little bird noticeably‌ tires more as‍ time passes.

A small bird resembling‌ Justia’s hair color‍‍ lights the group’s⁠‍‍ path without stopping‍ its flapping wings.⁠‌

As‍ time passed, the‍ increasingly exhausted Justia and Vlad’s worried‍⁠ expression on his face began to⁠ resemble the image⁠ shown by the‍ Priestess of the‍‍‍ World Tree.

[There!‌ It can be⁠ seen!]

“…!”‌

Just‍ as Vlad was⁠‌ beginning to feel‍ impatient, a blurry‍ figure started to appear in front‍ of him.

Golden‌‍⁠ waves shining like‌ auras, as if announcing the end‌‍ of darkness.

Justia’s⁠ difficult guidance had⁠‍‍ led Vlad to⁠ the border of⁠⁠ the world, and⁠‌ now he had‍ to go as‍‌ far as he could see in‍⁠ front of him⁠ to awaken from‌‍ his deep sleep.‍

-······!‍⁠

However,‍⁠⁠ the little bird‌ starts to stumble at that moment.‌

“Justia!”‍

The‌ small canary slowly‌⁠ began to merge‌ into the darkness,‍‍ with its feathers‌ exploding as if‍‌‍ something had struck⁠ it.

“No!”‌

Vlad⁠‌ reached out to‌ catch her as‌‍ she fell to‌ the ground, but‍‌⁠ all he caught‌⁠ were small pieces‍⁠ of feathers.

Watching‌⁠⁠ her slowly melt⁠ and disappear, Vlad‌ was deeply impacted.⁠

¡Thump!⁠⁠

“This, what the hell…?”⁠

[Run,‌⁠ Vlad! You can’t‍‌ stop now!]

The⁠‍ ominous sound of‌⁠ heartbeats began to⁠ resonate strongly following⁠‌ the disappearance.

However,⁠‌ Vlad couldn’t stop,⁠‍ even after seeing‍ Justia’s symbol disappear⁠ so suddenly.

[The‌‍‍ path has ended!⁠ Now you have‌⁠ to find the‍ rest on your own!]

“…!”‌⁠

Looking back, Vlad could⁠‍ see a tree⁠ in the distance‌ approaching from the⁠ edge of the‌ darkness in long⁠‌⁠ strides.

“Damn⁠‍ it!”

When⁠ he was with‍⁠ Justia, he couldn’t⁠ be seen from‌‍ very far, but⁠ as soon as‍ she disappeared, he‍‍⁠ followed suit.

[It’s⁠ right in front‍⁠ of you! Close‍‌ your right eye!]‍‌

My‍⁠‍ world through my⁠⁠‍ closed left eye.

Through my open right‌‌ eye, I see⁠ the real world.⁠‌

But‍ this time it’s‌⁠ the opposite.

“Hmph!”‌

It‍ no longer makes‍ sense to walk‌‍ or run.

This⁠⁠ is a dream‌⁠‍ world and what‍⁠ was touched was⁠⁠ just a symbol.⁠

“Justia!”‌‌‌

¡Thump!‍⁠

Vlad⁠⁠ closed his right⁠ eye as he⁠⁠⁠ heard the sound‌ of his heart⁠ beating faster and⁠ faster.

Vlad⁠‍‍ lifted Jean, who⁠ was carrying him,‌ forward, focused his⁠‌ mind, and began‍‌ to guide himself⁠⁠ and the young deacon to the‍⁠⁠ border of the‍⁠⁠ world.

[······!]‍

A creepy energy coming right behind me.‌⁠

And the sound of‌‍‍ a sword wielded‍ by someone in⁠ front of him.⁠

The‌ tip of the⁠⁠ root that had‍⁠⁠ crawled up was‍ touching Vlad’s neck,⁠ but Vlad was‍‌ already able to⁠ look at the⁠‍‌ real world with his right eye‍ closed.

Because she had guided‍ Vlad to the⁠ threshold of reality.‍

“…Excellent.”‍

And‌⁠ so, I finally‌⁠ reached my world.⁠

Vlad‌‍ barely lifted his‍ eyelids and could‍ see the platinum‍ blonde hair filling‍ his field of‍‌ vision.

“Justia…?”‌‍

As‍ soon as I returned to reality, what I felt‌‌ was not someone’s⁠‌ welcome, but just‌ a pungent smell‌‌ that pricked my‍ nose.

Thump!‍‍‌ Thump!

And‍‍ all I could‌⁠ feel was my‍‍ heartbeats starting to‍ beat uncontrollably.

“Kwaaaa…”⁠

Vlad‍ started to let‌⁠ out a cry resembling a wail,‌ tightly gripping his⁠‍ stiff neck.

Justia‌‌ lay collapsed as⁠ if shielding Vlad.‌

The bright red blood still flowed down‍ her back, but‍‍ Vlad’s trembling hands⁠‌ couldn’t even hold⁠ Justia, who was⁠ falling further and‌ further to the‌ ground.

“Are‍ you awake, young‌ dragon?”

“Huuh…”‌

Between‍‌‌ his now focused‍‌ eyes, Vlad saw‍ a man with‌‌ white hair leaning‌ on the window.‌‌

At‌ the tip of⁠ his sword, a drop of fresh‌ blood formed.

“You,‌ damn…”

“But‌‌ soon you’ll go⁠⁠ back to sleep.”⁠‌‍

The⁠‌‍ voice was too‌‍ familiar, but the‍ man’s hands holding‌ the sword conveyed‌ an indescribable terror.

However,‌ despite everything they‍ had against each‌‌ other, their hearts⁠ beating against each‌‌‍ other were similar,⁠ as if they‍‌ shared the same⁠ blood.

“Aaaah!”⁠

Justia‌‍‍ slowly falls under⁠ the bed.

Vlad‌ ended up shouting‌⁠ in anger and‍ impotent helplessness without‍ even being able‍ to catch her.‍‍⁠

“I’ll‌‍‍ kill you! You⁠‍ son of a bitch!”

“…Undoubtedly,‍‍ you’re a dragon.”‍

The⁠ greatest dragon hunter⁠ smiled as he⁠‍⁠ watched the young dragon struggling before him.

With‌ every move of⁠⁠ Vlad’s, his heart began to beat,⁠‍ slowly warming his⁠‌ body.

It was a very‍⁠‌ ancient heart that‌⁠‌ could only beat in the presence‌⁠ of a dragon.‌