Star-Embracing Swordmaster — Chapter 18

Chapter 18

“Thank‍‌‍ you, Lord, for taking care of‍ my day again⁠ today…”

Late⁠‌‍ at night.

Priest‌‍‍ Andrea, who was‌ stationed at the base camp, was‌ finishing the day⁠⁠ with a prayer⁠ to the god.⁠⁠

Even⁠ the young deacon‌ who always accompanied‌‍ him had joined‍ hands and was‌ praying alongside him.‌‍⁠

“Always‍‍‍ be my light‌ so that I can walk the‌‍ right path.”

The‌ young deacon, who⁠‍ was busy copying‌ what Andrea was‍‍ saying, opened his eyes gently when‌ the prayer he⁠ was hearing suddenly⁠‍ stopped.

“Priest?”⁠

Even‌⁠ at the call‍‍ of the young⁠⁠ decon, Andrea did‍ not continue the‌‌⁠ prayer.

Instead,‌‍‌ he simply stared‍‍⁠ at the silver‌⁠ cup in front‌‍‌ of him with‌‍ his eyes wide‌⁠ open.

“Oh,‍ Lord…”

The‌⁠ purifying water in⁠⁠ the pure silver⁠‍⁠ cup.

It‍ was making a small ripple, as‍ if trying to⁠‌‌ convey some kind‌‌ of warning.

As‌ the winter fields⁠ dimmed with the‌⁠ setting sun.

Thick‌‌⁠ mist, reminiscent of‍ what one might‍‍‍ see on the‍ riverbank, was spreading‍ over the base‍‌ camp of the⁠‌‍ subjugation team.

Along‌ with the voice‌‍ of a woman‍‍‌ desperately searching for something.

-Baby, my baby.

It‌⁠ came with a thick fog and‌‌ was made from‍‍ someone’s tears.

-Where⁠ is my baby?⁠

※※※※⁠

Roar!

“Ha!”

Zayar‍ swung his sword‍‌⁠ and pondered.

This⁠‍⁠ was a trap.⁠‌

Someone‌ carefully arranged things so that he‍ would make the⁠ judgment of crossing‌ the river, and⁠ it started at‍‍‌ the time of sunset.

The⁠ trap was meticulously‌ designed.

“Everyone, look at me!‍‍ Form a defensive formation around me!”

Zayar‍ now closed his‍⁠ left eye, which no longer existed.‌⁠⁠

Then,‍‍ the green aura‌⁠ began to flow⁠‌‍ from the sword⁠ that Zayar was‌ holding like the‍ Milky Way.

It‌ was the only thing shining under‍⁠ the darkening sky.

“Gather!⁠ Come together here!”⁠⁠

“We‌ have a knight‌ among us!”

Following⁠‍⁠ Zayar’s command, the‍ mercenaries who had⁠ crossed the river‌⁠ formed a defensive‌ formation.

The‌⁠ mercenaries who followed⁠‌ all their human‌‍ instincts and gathered⁠ to Zayar’s side⁠ were only then‍ able to calmly‍ look at the⁠ beings that threatened⁠⁠ them.

Roar!‌‍

Aaahhh!‍‍

They‌ were the dead.⁠⁠

And‌‍ strangely, all of‌‌ them had black‍⁠ hair.

‘We‍ got caught in a trap.’

Zayar‌ suppressed his inner⁠‌ turmoil as he‍‌ looked at the⁠⁠⁠ dead people with‌⁠ black hair who‍‍⁠ reminded him of⁠‌ someone.

Someone⁠ laid this trap‌ intentionally. It was‍‍ created with evil‍‌ intentions to hurt‌‌ someone.

And while Zayar didn’t‍ know who created‌ this trap, he⁠ could sense that‍‌ it was aimed‌ at someone.

‘Lord‌‌⁠ Josef!’

The‌ ice of the⁠‌⁠ river crumbled, leaving⁠ him isolated with‍⁠ the mercenaries.

This⁠‍ trap was set‍‌ to separate him⁠ and Josef.

“Vlad!⁠⁠ Can you hear⁠‌ me?”

Regardless‌ of whose intention‌‌‌ it was, the trap was successful.‍ Even if he‌‌‌ turned around and⁠‍ went back now,⁠‍‍ it would take‍‌ half a day‌⁠⁠ to reach Josef.‌

Roar!‌

No,⁠⁠ it might take⁠ even longer.

“Sir‍ Zayar!”

The‍ boy was swinging‌⁠ his sword at‍⁠‍ the dead in⁠ the increasingly waning‌⁠ sunlight.

The‍ blond hair of⁠ the boy fluttered, shining along with‌ the setting sun.⁠

‘I⁠ might need one‌ more sword!’

As⁠ a precaution, he‍⁠ left three knights⁠ with Priest Andrea.‍ And since there‍‌ were about 50⁠‍ mercenaries waiting at‌ the base camp, a smart Josef⁠ would be able⁠⁠⁠ to withstand any‍ threat.

He‌ hoped so.

“Vlad⁠‌ of Shoara! Fulfill‌‍ the contract!”

Zayar⁠⁠ thought of what⁠‌ was best for⁠‌ Josef even as the hands of‍⁠ death constantly approached‌⁠⁠ him.

“What‌⁠‍ should I do-!”‌⁠

“Go‍ back to the‍ base camp right⁠ now! Protect Lord‍ Josef according to⁠‌‍ the contract made‌ before God!”

A loud cry mixed‍ with the aura‍‍ flowed across the⁠‌‍ river.

The‌‍ arrogant boy on‍‌ the other side‍ dared to impose‌ conditions on his‌ master.

Now,‌ it was time‍ to fulfill the‌‍ contract without even understanding the terms.‌

“Right‌‍‌ now!”

“…Understood-!”‍

At‍‍ the end of‌⁠ Zayar’s gaze, Vlad‌ and Gott were‍‍ seen sheathing their‌⁠⁠ swords and quickly‍ turning back.

‘Oh‌ Lord.’

Watching‍⁠⁠ the two figures‍⁠ gradually recede, Zayar⁠⁠ earnestly prayed to God to save Josef. He only⁠ wished for them‍ to reach the⁠‌ base safely.

“Knight!‌‌ From the forest!”

And‍ now it was time for him⁠⁠ to take care‍‍ of himself.

“Ughhh…”‌

There⁠‌ was a group of people walking⁠ out of the⁠‍ forest. Though not‌ frozen, they were⁠‌ undoubtedly cold individuals.⁠‍⁠

“Haa…”

With⁠ a bitter feeling, Zayar pointed his‌⁠ sword towards those emerging from the⁠ forest.

Especially‍⁠ towards the one‍ at the forefront.‍‍‌

“I‌‍ came too late.‍ Rodrick.”

There‍ was a knight⁠‍ there, with a distorted breastplate and‌ vicious white eyes.‍‍

“Ughhh.”⁠

Even‍⁠ on a cold‌‍ winter day, no⁠ white breath escaped‍ Rodrick’s mouth.

※※※※‌

“Hiyeeek!”⁠

“Heup!”‌

Vlad’s‍ sword suddenly cut‍‌ off the thing⁠‍ that jumped out‌‌ and blocked Goth’s‌⁠ path.

Swoosh!

It⁠⁠ seemed like he‌ had just died,⁠⁠ and black blood‌ was gushing out.

“Captain!”‌‍

“Where’s the horse!”

At‍‌ Vlad’s shout, Gott‌ quickly turned his‍ head, scanning for⁠ the horse’s location.‌‍

The‌⁠ situation with Vlad⁠ and Gott might⁠‍ be worse than what Zayar faced‍‌‌ across the river.‍

There⁠⁠ were at least ten of them‍ gathered together and‌ they were accompanied‌‌⁠ by a knight,⁠‍ a symbol of‍‍ force.

“Hey!⁠‍ Sir Zayar tied‌⁠ the horse over‌‌ there!”

“Let’s‍⁠ go!”

However,‍‍ only Gott was‌ by Vlad’s side.⁠

‘I have to escape!’‌⁠⁠

Vlad⁠ didn’t have much⁠ of a choice.‍‌

The⁠ only remaining option‌ was to use⁠ all his strength⁠‍ to run towards the base camp,‍‍‍ cutting and dodging‍‌ through the enemies.⁠

Vlad‍⁠ and Gott ran⁠ up the riverbank‌ toward the place⁠‍‌ where Zayar had⁠ tied up his⁠‍ horse.

Heeeeeee-!‌

“Over‌ there!”

Fortunately, the undead hadn’t‌ reached Zayar’s horse yet.

“Losen⁠⁠ the reins!”

Vlad‍‌‍ turned around, fending⁠ off the approaching undead, giving Gott‌⁠‍ time to untie the horse.

“Hiik!⁠‌ Heeak! Hey, be⁠⁠‍ good!”

Swishhh-⁠‌

Horses‍ are timid animals.‌

Even‌ if they were‍ excellent horses that‌‌ a Bayezid family‌ knight would ride,‌‌‌ they couldn’t remain‌‌ calm with ominous⁠⁠ sounds coming from‌⁠ all directions.

Heeeeeee-!⁠⁠

“Hurry!”‍‍

“It’s okay! It’s okay! Vlad!”

Gott‍‍‌ manages to untie‍ the rope tied‌‍⁠ to the stake‌‌ and calls out⁠⁠ to Vlad.

“Calm down, please! Let’s⁠‍ survive together!”

However,⁠⁠‌ due to fear,⁠ Gott couldn’t control‍‍ the horse, which‍ was wildly jumping‌‌ around.

“Get⁠ on quickly!”

Until Vlad’s blue eyes met the horse’s‍ gaze.

Vlad‌‌‌ jumped on the⁠ horse as if‍⁠ flying, quickly grabbed‌‌⁠ Gott’s hand and‍ lifted him up.‍

“…”‌

“What⁠‌ are you doing, Captain! Let’s go!”‌⁠

“…‌ But how does⁠ this thing move?”‍

“Are‍⁠ you crazy!”

Vlad’s‍‍⁠ exhausted voice made‍ Gott tear his⁠‌‌ hair out.

“Why⁠‌‌ didn’t you say⁠‍ you didn’t know how to ride⁠⁠⁠ a horse from‌ the beginning!”

He⁠ was a boy‍ who was born‍ in the city‌‍ and lived in‌ the back alleys‌⁠ his entire life.‍ Vlad’s reality was‌‌ that he couldn’t⁠ even ride a donkey to carry‌ luggage, let alone‍ a horse.

Do‌ I just pull⁠‌‌ the reins to‌ make a horse move?

“Get‍‍ down, damn it!”⁠⁠

Gott‌ yelled in frustration seeing the approaching‌ undead.

“If‌‍ I die, it’s‌ all because of‍‌ you! You son⁠ fo bitch!”

Feeling‍‍ unfairly treated, Gott‍‍‌ shed tears, looking⁠ at himself, struggling‌ to switch places and ride.

“Ha!”‍⁠

Vlad’s⁠‍ sword swung once⁠‍ again towards the‌ approaching undead.

“Get on! You idiot!”⁠

“…”‌

Vlad‌ had no choice but to pretend‌ he couldn’t hear‌ Gott’s frustrated scream.‌⁠⁠

Heeeeeee-!⁠

Zayar’s‍‌ horse, which had‍⁠‌ finally had a proper rider, raised⁠ its front hooves‌ high and galloped⁠⁠ forward.

As‌⁠ expected of a knight’s chosen steed,‌⁠ it created a path by trampling everything in its‍ way.

Kraaaa!‍⁠

Kaaa!‌

Vlad’s‌⁠ final swing flashed‌ at undead rushing in from all⁠ directions.

“Charge!”⁠‍

With⁠‍ Vlad’s shout, the‍⁠ sun that hung⁠‍ over the mountain⁠⁠⁠ beyond, exhaled its‍‍ last breath and‌‍ sank away.

Kraaaa!⁠

Vlad⁠ and Gott were⁠⁠ running through the forest, listening to‌⁠ the cries of⁠‍⁠ the undead echoing behind them.

The⁠ sun may have‍⁠ set, but the‍⁠‍ night had not yet been touched‍ by the moon.‌

The‌ dusky evening that⁠⁠ followed the boy‌‌ was filled with⁠‌‍ death.

※※※※‌

A heavy night fog‌⁠ filled the space‌ between the tents.‍

Aaaargh!‍

What is that!

They‍‍ are the undead!‌

And⁠ the screams of‍ the men echoed‍‍‌ through the night‌‌ fog, resonating within⁠ the base camp.⁠

“······!”‍‍‍

Sensing‌ the gravity of‌‍ the situation, Josef⁠ quickly got up⁠ from his bed.‍

“Lord‌⁠‌ Josef!”

“What’s going on?”

“That,‍ that!”

Vordan,‌‍ who came into⁠ the tent panting, tried to say‍⁠ something with his‌‌ thick cheeks shaking,‍ but he couldn’t find the words.‍‍

“Did⁠‍ you come to‌ me without even‌⁠ understanding the situation?”‍

“Because⁠‍ Lord Josef’s safety‌ is my top‌ priority!”

“And‌‍ you do not‍ even have a sword.”

At Josef’s remark, Vordan‍ lowered his head⁠‍ and looked at his belt.

There,‌⁠⁠ only an empty‍ scabbard dangled loosely.‍

“I⁠ envy my brother.‍‍ He would have‍⁠‌ hung you right‌ away.”

“I,‍ I apologize.”

Josef‌ quickly put on his clothes and‍ listened intently outside⁠ the tent.

A mysterious and eerie‍ sound resonated.

Screams‍‌ and howls.

The‍‍ sounds echoed through⁠ the air, filling⁠ Josef’s ears.

“Lord‍‍‍ Josef!”

“Lord‌ Andrea.”

Andrea‍ and his young‌‌ deacon came in‌ front of Josef,⁠‍ who was just‍ about to leave‌‌ the tent to⁠⁠‍ assess the situation.‍⁠

“Any‍ idea what’s going⁠ on?”

“It⁠ is evil.”

Instead‌‌ of explaining verbally, Andrea unfolded the⁠ Bible he held‍ and showed it to Josef.

“Hmm.”‍

Priests‌ like Andrea were‍‍ given various holy‍‍‍ relics, and one‌ of them was‍ a Bible written⁠ with Holy ink.‌

‘This‌ is my first‌‌⁠ time seeing something‌ like this.’

The⁠ letters written in⁠ the Bible trembled‌ like the leaves of a willow‍ tree under the light of the‍ candle. Though they‍⁠⁠ were just letters,‍ they seemed to be quivering as‍ if frightened by‍ something.

“It’s⁠⁠ not usually the sign of a strong presence.”

“You‍ have strong faith,‍⁠⁠ Priest. Isn’t there‌ anything you can‌⁠ do?”

Even‌ without seeing it‍ directly, Josef could⁠ sense that some⁠ malicious entity with ill intentions was‌ intruding upon his‍‍‍ base camp.

The⁠⁠ remaining two knights‍‌ came into the‌‌‌ tent out of‌⁠ breath. Fortunately, unlike‌⁠ Vordan, they had‍ brought their swords⁠⁠ and armor.

Priest⁠ Andrea responded to⁠ the dark-eyed man.‍‍

“I⁠ am not an‌⁠ exorcist.”

Though⁠‌ the will of⁠ God is one,‌ the paths to⁠ approach God are‍⁠ many. It depended⁠‍‌ on innate aptitude‌‌ and manifested talents.

“I am confident if‌‍‌ it is a blessing and healing,‍‍ but if the‌ situation is like‍⁠ now…”

Andrea‍ was an excellent‌‍ priest, but in‌ a situation where‌ an evil being like the current one was approaching,⁠ he couldn’t exert‌ his full power.

He‌‌⁠ was a person‌⁠‌ who traveled with‌ monster subjugation teams,⁠‍ selflessly carrying out‍ the will of‌‍ God, and the⁠ most important thing‌⁠⁠ for Priest Andrea‍⁠ would have been‍‌ his ability to⁠⁠‌ heal the wounded‍ and boost the‌‌ strength of the‍ warriors.

“I⁠‌ will use my‍⁠ holy power as‍⁠ much as I can, but if⁠‍ it is this⁠ level of evil,‌ it may not‌ be of much⁠‍ help.”

“Understood.”‍⁠

Josef⁠‌ made eye contact‍‍ with Andrea and the knights following him.

“Move.”

The⁠‌⁠ determined group stepped‌⁠‍ out of the⁠‍ tent, and what‌ they saw as⁠ they emerged was…..⁠‍

“Kaa…‌‌ kaaaah!”

“No,⁠ I’m not your⁠ child!”

Dense‍‍‍ night fog surrounded⁠ them, and within it, the sight‍ of mercenaries collapsing⁠ in terror was‌‌‌ evident.

“Is‌ this fog causing⁠‍⁠ confusion?”

“At‌ least it’s not⁠ a natural phenomenon.”⁠‍

Upon⁠ hearing those words,‌‍ Josef quickly took‌ out a handkerchief‌⁠ and covered his mouth. The most unreliable thing in⁠ this world was‌ his fragile body.

Some‍‌ mercenaries with a strong will were⁠ running around avoiding⁠ the fog, not⁠ being mesmerized by⁠ the voice of⁠‍ an unknown woman.⁠

‘I’m‌ in trouble.’

Josef was convinced as⁠⁠ he watched the⁠ base become a mess and out‌‍‍ of control.

-Baby, my baby.

As⁠ Josef felt a sense of impending‌ doom and bit‌ his lips, there⁠‍ was a figure⁠ slowly approaching through‌ the screams of‍ mercenaries and the‍ dark night fog.‌‍

“Oh⁠‌ Lord…”

It‍⁠‌ was a faint‌‌ impression.

However,⁠⁠ its presence was‍ strong.

Step-step-⁠

Every‍ time it took a step forward,‌ the group felt⁠‍ a tingling sensation‌‍ in the back‌ of their necks.‍⁠

-Are‍⁠‌ you there?

There‌ was a woman walking silently towards‌ the group with a pale face.‍‍‍

Black tears streamed down‌⁠ her eyes without⁠⁠ rest.

-I‍⁠ finally found you.‌⁠ My baby.

The⁠‍‌ dark tears were⁠‌ continuously falling down⁠‍ from the woman’s‍ eyes, but in⁠ reality only darkness‍⁠ occupied the empty⁠⁠‌ eye sockets.

“…”‍‍

Josef could feel it.⁠