Star-Embracing Swordmaster — Chapter 180: The Biggest Path (3)

Chapter 180: The Biggest Path (3)

One‌ But Two Different‍⁠

There‍⁠‌ was a very‍‌ ancient pact.

The‍ oath that marked⁠‍ the beginning of‍ the empire would‌ last forever as long as the‍‍‌ blood and will‌ of a man‌⁠‌ were not severed.‍

Clink!⁠

A red liquid spread⁠‌ across the white⁠ floor with a sharp sound.

Sarnus⁠‍ fell to the⁠‌⁠ ground, clutching his neck due to⁠⁠ the sudden sharp pain.

“Ugh!”⁠⁠

The⁠ liquor bottles in‍ the cabinet collapsed‍‍ with the swipe‌ of a flailing⁠ hand.

Bright red drops of⁠‍‌ blood were already‍‌ forming at the‍⁠ tips of his⁠‌‌ nails as he⁠‍ desperately scratched the‍⁠ nape of his⁠ neck, as if‌‌ trying to remove‌⁠ something.

“Agh…!”

Strange‍ tattoos began to creep up the⁠‍ neck of the‌⁠⁠ oldest dragon.

The⁠⁠ black tattoo that‌ rose like a snake was tightening‌‍‍ around Sarnus’s neck‌⁠‍ as if in⁠ a noose, slowly‌ suffocating him.

“This…‌⁠ This can’t be‌ happening…”

Sarnus’s‌ bloodshot eyes gazed‍ distantly out the‍‍‍ window.

It⁠⁠‌ was a sight‌‌ that couldn’t have‍ been seen but⁠‍ had to be‍‌‌ seen.

In‍ the storm that⁠⁠ had formed from‌ the far north,‍ white lightning flashed.‌

That‌‌ vivid white color‍⁠‍ was also one‌‍ of the sharp⁠ memories embedded in‌ Sarnus’s soul.

Embedded⁠ in that memory‍ is the name of the most‌ noble and greatest‌⁠⁠ man in the‍‌ history of the‍‍⁠ empire.

The founding king of‌‌ the empire and‌‌⁠ the great dragon‌ slayer. And the⁠‌ only man who‍ is a master of the sword.‌

“…Frausen!”⁠⁠‌

The oldest dragon shouted‍⁠⁠ upon seeing a white lightning bolt‌ fall in the‍‌⁠ distance.

Have you kept your promise, cowardly dragon?⁠

Have⁠ you kept the‍ promise you made‌‌ when you begged⁠ for your life‍‌ and bowed before‍ me?

***‍

Thud!⁠‍

A white lightning bolt⁠ struck the city‍ of Moshiam.

The‍ lightning falling from‌ the sky was‌‍ adding its own‌‍‍ color to the‌⁠‍ city that was⁠‍ previously completely dark.⁠⁠

[Where⁠‍ have I seen many faces like‌‌⁠ these?]

Vlad,‌ or rather Kihano,‌ who replaced Vlad,‍ smiled and pointed‍‌⁠ at the headless⁠ knights.

[What‌‌ they do is‌‌ exactly the same.]⁠‍‍

A priest collecting the‌‍‍ breath of children‌‍ in a fog-filled‌ village.

Looking‍⁠ at the headless⁠ knights who looked‌ exactly like him,⁠ Kihano’s cold anger‍‍ grew.

[So it was you.]‌‌

“…!”‍

And in the spot pointed out by⁠‌ Kihano stood a woman whose hair started out green⁠ but ended up‌‌ dark.

Her‌⁠ hands trembled unknowingly‍⁠ as she looked‍‌‌ at the towering‍‌‍ presence in Vlad’s‌⁠ blue eyes.

There was a fear‌ there that even her non-beating heart‍‌ could feel.

“Get‍‌ rid of that guy right now!”⁠‌

The‍‌ woman tried to⁠ call her knights‌‍ to stop Kihano,‍ but Kihano’s world‍ had already formed⁠‍⁠ in her right⁠⁠‌ eye.

[What⁠‍ did you say?]

“…!!”‍⁠

What‍ came first was⁠ pure white light,‌⁠ and what came‌ next was sound.‍⁠

Though‍ Kihano was in⁠ the spot his‌⁠⁠ finger pointed to,⁠‍ he was also⁠ in front of‌‌ her.

Behind⁠ her, a residual image of Kihano⁠ continued smiling at⁠‌ her as it⁠ faded away.

Bang!‍‍ Boom! Bang, bang,⁠⁠⁠ bang!

“Too⁠ fast…!”

“Aaaagh!”‍⁠

Following‍‍ the belated rumble,‌ the headless knights‍‌ began to burst.‍‌‍

A world drawn by‌ Vlad but painted‌‍ by Kihano.

The‍ rudimentary world created⁠‍ by Vlad for⁠⁠ the first time‍ couldn’t capture Kihano’s‍ speed at all.⁠⁠‍

“Kyahhh!”‌

The‌⁠ woman let out‍‍ a loud scream‍ as she felt‌ the heavy impact⁠‌ on her abdomen.‌

‘This‍‌‍ is absurd!’

A body that shouldn’t‌‍⁠ feel pain because⁠⁠ it’s not alive.‍‍

Yet,‍ she was screaming‍ with a sharp‍⁠⁠ cry and staggering.‍

Because‌‍ there was a presence transcending the‍‍⁠ laws pressing her‍‌⁠ own existence.

Dooooong!‍‌

With⁠⁠ the tolling of‌ a bell, the⁠ buildings around the‍ square began to collapse.

Above⁠ the dense smoke,⁠ only Vlad’s golden tree remained standing.⁠‍

Above‌⁠ it, a white‍‌‍ world roared mightily.‍‍‌

[In‍ my land, built for the defenseless‌‍ and the innocent!]⁠

With‍⁠ each swing of the sword, tall‍‌ buildings split apart,‌ and with each⁠ step Kihano took,‌ the ground was⁠ torn asunder.

It was Kihano’s gesture‍ of sharply removing‍‍ every single detail‌ of the dark‌ world the woman had drawn.

[What‍‍ the hell were‌ you all doing!]⁠⁠

“Aaaah!”⁠‌‍

Her‌‍ two feet fully‌‌‌ touched the ground,‍⁠ crushed by Kihano’s‌⁠ immense world.

The‌‌‌ woman began to scream upon feeling‌‍ the presence of⁠‌ God, whom she‌⁠ had been ignoring‌ until now.

[Why⁠‌ the hell are‌ you killing children!]‍

“I⁠ didn’t kill them!”⁠‌

The‌ smiling woman began to cry.

Black‍ tears formed in‌‌‍ her eyes.

The⁠ resentment of a mother who lost‌ her child, which‍‍ no one could⁠ erase, began to‍‍ emanate from her‍⁠ world again.

“I‌‍ did it to‌‍⁠ protect you! From‍‍ this damn world!”⁠

Above⁠‍ the children was⁠ a church emblem,⁠ burning in total‍‌ darkness.

There‌‌ was a nun⁠‌ sadly crying beside‌‌‌ the graves of‌‌ children who had‌ been dragged away simply for the‌‌ sake of someone‍‌ else.

She‍⁠ was a noble‍‌ person but had‍‌ a beautiful voice.

“I’ll protect you!”

However,‌⁠ what was crying now were her⁠ vocal cords, horribly⁠ torn apart as‍ she was consumed⁠⁠‍ by regret and‌ despair.

Black tears welled up‌‍ in the woman’s‍ eyes, which couldn’t bear to let‍ go and had‍⁠ turned completely black.‍‍

“In⁠ a world created‍‍ by me, not‌‍ by God!”

[…!]⁠‍

The‌ woman’s desperate screams,‌⁠ unable to distinguish‌‍ between reality and⁠‍‌ the past, began⁠⁠ to call someone‌ beyond the mist.‌‍

The‌‌ desperate screams of‌‌ the woman, who‌‌⁠ couldn’t distinguish between⁠ reality and the⁠‍ past, began to‌‌ call someone who‍‍ was beyond the⁠⁠ mist.

Kaaaaang!‍⁠

[¡Kugh!]‍⁠

“Hup!”‍

The‌ clash of swords‍ caused a loud rumble of sparks.⁠

At the same time,⁠ the silver sword⁠‍ drawn in Kihano’s‌‌‍ world began to‍ tremble violently, as⁠‍ if something confused‌ it.

[…!]‌⁠

“…”‍

Kihano,‍ with a surprised‌ expression, and Frausen,⁠‍ stiff.

The⁠ man who appeared‍ through the mist‍‍ was someone whose‌ face Kihano could easily recognize, even⁠⁠ after recovering his‍‍ memories.

“…It⁠ seems the plan⁠‌⁠ worked correctly.”

Their‌⁠‌ gazes met, reflecting each other’s images.

They⁠ never imagined meeting‍ like this, but‍ capricious fate finally⁠ put them face‍‌ to face, gazing‌‍ at each other.

“As⁠‍ expected, I knew‌ you weren’t an ordinary kid.”

Kaaaaang!‍

The‌⁠ silver sword trembled⁠⁠ with confusion.

Because‍ the best swordsman‌ and the greatest‌‌‍ dragon slayer were‌‍‍ staring each other‌‌ down.

The⁠ sword tip wavered,‌‍ unsure whom to‍‌ aim at.

“Aren’t‌ you going to⁠‍ kill him?”

[To⁠‍‍ whom.]

Frausen‌⁠ grimaced subtly at‌ Kihano deflecting the‌ conversation.

“The‌ greatest possibility of⁠ becoming a dragon.”‌⁠

[…There‍ are no dragons here.]

A dragon is an‌‍ immortal being that‌‌‍ cannot die because‌‍ it’s perfect.

Even⁠ if they were‍ crushed into pieces,‍‍ they could resurrect‍⁠ if gathered, and‍‍ the man feared‌ that to his‌ last breath.

[What⁠ I embrace is‌‍ a star.]

However, some people saw‍‌ a sinister dragon‍ through the child, while others saw a bright star‍ through the child.

Both⁠⁠‌ saw the same‌‌ thing but spoke‌ of different things.‌

“…”⁠⁠

What⁠⁠⁠ is the basis‌‍‌ of my existence?⁠

With‍‍⁠ memories different due to time separated,‍‍ the conversation had‍ just created a clear distinction between‌⁠ Kihano and Frausen.‍

“It‍‌ seems the spell went wrong.”

Kihano, dreaming of possibilities,‍ and Frausen, who⁠ returned to fulfill‌ his duty, could⁠ now aim their‌ swords at each⁠ other without hesitation.⁠

Because‌ the person in‌ front of me‌‍ isn’t me.

Kaaaaang-!‍⁠⁠

Both‍‍ closed eyes, the⁠ right and the‌⁠⁠ left, began to‌⁠⁠ draw the same world.

But‍‌ though the color was the same,‍‍ the worlds they‌‌ drew were different.‌⁠‌

“Hup!”‍

[Haaa!]‌⁠‍

The‌‌‍ deadly attacks that‍‌ looked perfectly similar‍‍‍ began to head‌ towards each other.‍⁠

They‌ were worlds of‌ such a high⁠⁠‍ level that no‌⁠ one could possibly‌ intervene.

Bang!‍‌ Boom!

“You‌‍ didn’t come back⁠‌ for this!”

[Yes,‌ I came back⁠‍ for this!]

With‌⁠ each striking movement,‌⁠ a building was⁠⁠ destroyed.

[I‍ came back for‍ this!]

With⁠‍ the golden tree⁠ and the crying⁠⁠‍ woman in the⁠‌ background, the men‌ began to attack⁠‍‌ each other without‍⁠ stepping back.

“What the hell is‌⁠ this…”

Gunther‍ and the Sacred⁠ Knights who were‍ welcoming the commander‌‌ of the Celestial⁠ Army watched the‌ city crumbling with⁠ blank eyes.

A battle between two⁠⁠ beings that seemed⁠⁠ like it was‍ taken from a legend.

No‌ one could easily⁠‌‌ regain their senses⁠‌‍ at the sight‌ that sent shivers‍ down their spine just by looking⁠‌ at it.

Kwaaaaaaaaaaa!‍‌

Every‌‍ time the swords‌ clashed, sparks jumping burned the black sky.

As‍‍ a result, the‍‍ sky of Moshiam‌ gradually began to⁠ find its true‍ colors.

The‌ sunlight shining from‍ there began to⁠ illuminate Gunther’s eyes.‍

“…I‌ will start the⁠⁠‌ spell!”

The⁠ sunlight was like⁠⁠ a revelation.

The‌⁠‌ light passed by‍⁠‍ Gunther, tracing a straight path, and‌‍ then illuminated Vlad’s‌ golden tree.

A golden tree resembling⁠ someone’s hair color.‌‍‌

In⁠‌‌ God’s world, the‍‍⁠ children laughing happily raised their hands,‌‌ blinded by the⁠‌ sunlight finally appearing.‍

“Wonderful,⁠‌‌ Vlad!”

They‌‌ didn’t know how‍ it had happened,‍ but it must⁠‌⁠ have been a miracle.

In‍ this twisted city,⁠ the fervent wish⁠⁠ of the knight‍⁠‍ had invoked something miraculous.

– With this sacred ceremony, grant the‌ grace of the‍ Holy Spirit and⁠ aid these children.⁠‌‌

The⁠ divinity gathered to‌⁠ receive the commander‍ of the celestial‍ army pointed at‌ Vlad’s tree, not⁠ the sky.

Kwaaaaaaaaaaa!⁠

A crumbling city, a collapsing wall.

But‌‌‌ the unbreakable prayers‍⁠ of the Sacred⁠ Knights resonated strongly.‌‌

– Release these children‍‌ from sin, save‌ them, and have‍ mercy on them.⁠‍

The‌ last prayer you‌ could hear before⁠‍ leaving this world.‍‌ Conclusive sacrament.

The‍⁠⁠ knights of God‌‍ were where they‌‌ should be, clearing‌ a path through‍ the gold on‌ the ground and‌ the white under the sky.

“No!‌ My children!”

The⁠ woman’s black tears‍ tried to stop‍⁠ it, but God⁠ had already seen‌‍ the helpless children.⁠‍

And‍ so, the gates of heaven began⁠ to open.

A radiant light of‍ salvation shone over‌‍ Moshiam.

***⁠

“What⁠ is that?”

The‌⁠‌ army formation, with⁠‍ the flags of‌ the seven families⁠ waving.

An‌ unusual column of⁠‍‍ light began to‌ appear in front‍‌ of the tense‌ knights.

It‌‍ was the first‍ strange phenomenon they⁠⁠⁠ could see in⁠‍‍ the city hidden by the mist.‍‌

“Oh…‍ That light.”

“Do‍ you recognize that‍‌⁠ light?”

Even‌‌ Timur, the Iron‍ Lord in the⁠‌ highest position in‍⁠ the North, had‌ someone he had‍‌‍ to address with‌ respect.

“Yes.⁠ That light is‍ a sacred prayer⁠ that guides lost⁠⁠ souls.”

An⁠‌‌ elder who, at⁠ a glance, identified‍ the origin of‍ the halo of‌ light over Moshiam.‌

Pope Konrad, leader of⁠ the Northern Church,‍ realized that the⁠‍ halo of light⁠ over Moshiam was‍‍⁠ the final sacrament‌ of the Ascension‌⁠ ceremony.

“It⁠ seems my knights‌⁠ inside have opened⁠‍ a path to‌⁠ God.”

“The⁠‌ Sacred Knights…”

Pope‍⁠‍ Konrad bowed and‌ prayed, calling this‍‍ also a divine‌ grace.

However,‌‍⁠ despite his explanation,‍ Timur’s expression did‍ not easily relax.‍‍

‘Has‍ it been two‍‍‍ months and there‌⁠ are still survivors‌ there?’

The‌ dense mist of‍ the woman had‌ made time and‌ space ambiguous.

Although‌⁠ the time inside⁠⁠ had barely been⁠‍ a day, two⁠‌ months had already⁠ passed outside.

Therefore,‍ Timur’s current suspicions‌ were extremely reasonable.

Rumble!⁠‍⁠

“Duke!”

“I saw it.”

The‌‌‍ walls of Moshiam‌‌ were collapsing before‌ me.

It⁠‌ was miserable, as‍ if something had exploded from within.‌

The‍ soldiers of the⁠‍ Northern Alliance began‌‍ to murmur as‍ they saw the⁠‍ wall collapse without⁠ having received any attack.

“Knights… Gather the knights‍ sent by each‍‍‍ family.”

Timur,‌ unaware, stuttered.

With⁠‌ a trembling voice‌‌ that couldn’t hide⁠‍ his bewilderment, he‌‌ gave instructions.

“Gather⁠ only those who can handle the aura.”

“Understood,⁠‍ Duke.”

Even⁠ as Timur gave orders, he did‍ not look away⁠‍ from the collapsed‍ walls of the‍ castle.

Because⁠⁠ there was the‌‍ resonance of a world that even‌‍⁠ the strongest knight‌⁠⁠ of the North‍‌ found puzzling.

“…It’s‍‌ as if a sword master ran‌ away.”

From⁠‍‌ his high position,⁠ he could clearly⁠‍‌ recognize the resonance of the world.‌

Overwhelmed⁠‌⁠ by that resonance, Timur hastily closed‍ his left eye.‍‍

Such‌ intense pressure cannot‌ be endured without‍‌ bringing out one’s own world.

Although‌ no one had‍‌ indicated it, all‌‌ the knights present⁠ at that moment‌‌ closed their left⁠‌ eye in unison.‍

***‍⁠‍

“Wow.”‌‍‍

A white-haired man stood‍‌ amidst the dense‍ fog.

Frausen‌⁠ sensed the presence⁠ of knights outside‍‌‌ the city.

Knights⁠ with their own‍ world.

Among them, there was⁠ someone whose world‌ he couldn’t easily‌ ignore.

[Urgh!]‌

Kihano,‌‍ emerging from the‍⁠⁠ rubble of the⁠‍⁠ wall, began to⁠ laugh.

Though⁠ covered in dust,‌‌ he could smile‌‌ unlike Frausen, who‌ had a serious‍ expression.

[Here‍‍‌ in the north,‍‌ there are many⁠‍‍ friends like this⁠⁠⁠ one.]

“….”⁠

[Will⁠⁠ you be able‍⁠⁠ to handle them⁠ all, including me?]‌⁠

Frausen‌‌‌ looked at Kihano’s‌ trembling fingertips.

“You’re⁠‌ lucky.”

[This⁠‌‍ guy always gets⁠⁠ lucky.]

Kihano‍‌ desperately pretended to⁠ be calm, but‍‍ he was at⁠‌‍ his limit.

Though‍ they both had‌ the same will,‌‌ the difference in‍ their body’s capacity‌‍ was clear. The⁠ longer it dragged⁠ on, the more‍‍‍ advantageous it would‌ be for Frausen,‍‌ who had his‌ original body.

“Don’t⁠ forget. The responsibility⁠‍ I’ve shouldered.”

A woman, resentfully gazing⁠‌‍ at the bright‌‌ light.

Frausen, holding her as⁠ she remained sitting dazed, spoke to‍ Kihano for the‌‌ last time.

“I came back to‌⁠ kill the dragon.”‍

[….]

With‌‌ those final words,‍ the man vanished‌⁠ into the fog.⁠

Today’s⁠‍ sun began to‍‌ shine gradually over‍⁠ the city of⁠ Moshiam as the⁠⁠ waves of fog‍‍ slowly receded.

[I’m‌‍ telling you, it’s‌‌ not a dragon, it’s Vlad…]

As‍ soon as Frausen’s‌ presence vanished, Kihano’s⁠‍⁠ sight began to fade.

There⁠ was something that‍ looked like him‍‌⁠ falling.

A golden tree still⁠⁠ shining.

Over⁠⁠‍ Vlad’s sword, which‌ had regained its‌‍ silver color, the‍ glittering dust rose,‍‌ heading towards Vlad’s‌‍‌ tree.