Star-Embracing Swordmaster — Chapter 188: City of Blacksmiths (2)

Chapter 188: City of Blacksmiths (2)

Winter‍‍‌ is not a good season for‌⁠ traveling.

The‍‍‌ weather is cold, the roads are‌⁠ harsh, and sometimes snow blocks the‌ routes.

However,‌ for the always‍ busy lords, winter⁠ is the only‌ season they can‍ have a little‍ free time, so‌ holding the Northern‌‍ Meeting at this⁠ time was inevitable.⁠

“It’s‍‍‍ freezing. Damn.”

Vlad‍‌ felt the cold‌‍ piercing deep into‌‍ his throat and‍ couldn’t help but curse.

The group was heading‌ to the city⁠‍‌ of the blacksmiths⁠ to participate in‍ the Northern Conference.⁠⁠

The‌ caravan, composed of⁠‌ Rutiger of Bayezid‌ and Baron Heinal,⁠‍‌ seemed sturdy and‌‌ robust, but even⁠ they couldn’t avoid⁠ the impending cold.‌

Plaf-‌⁠‌ Plaf-

As‌‍ everyone walked, appreciating⁠ even the warmth of their exhaled⁠⁠‍ breath, there was‌‌ one person who‌⁠‍ was hitting something⁠⁠ with his fist.‌‍

The‍ person who broke‌ the icy silence⁠‍ and caught the⁠ group’s attention.

It‍⁠ was Nibelun, a beastman who was⁠ Vlad’s advisor mage.

“…Why⁠ do you keep⁠ hitting that?”

“It’s⁠‌ a heat pouch.”⁠‍

Vlad‍ tentatively opened his‌ eyes and silently began to observe⁠ Nibelun’s actions.

This‌ was because he knew very well‌ that Nibelun acted‍ strangely and mysteriously‌ every time he⁠ took something out⁠ of his backpack.‍

“A⁠⁠‌ heat pouch?”

“Yes.‍ It’s warmth brought‌⁠ from the distant⁠ south. This thing⁠‍⁠ is so lazy‍ by nature that⁠‌‍ if you don’t‌ hit it, it‌‌⁠ won’t activate.”

“…Ah,⁠ really?”

Vlad⁠‌ didn’t understand a word of what‌ Nibelun was saying,‌⁠ but simply nodded⁠ his head.

The inexplicable was mysterious.⁠ The incomprehensible was‌‍ the stuff of‌⁠ wizards.

“Oh,⁠ it’s waking up now.”

With‍ Nibelun’s words, the small bag that‌ had been beaten‌‍ began to glow‌‌ with a faint⁠⁠ red light and‍⁠ move.

Was‌‌‌ it an illusion‌⁠‌ to think it⁠⁠ seemed as if⁠ it was forcibly‌ waking up from‍ a warm blanket?

“Will‍ it warm up⁠ now?”

“At⁠ least for half‌⁠‌ a day. Once you wake it‍‌‌ up, it stays‌‌ active for that‌ long.”

Vlad⁠‌ closed his left‌‍ eye to see‌‌‍ if there was a spirit in his pocket, but‌ all he saw⁠‌ was a faint⁠ mist that was‌‍ hard to discern.‌‍

This⁠ was evidence that⁠ Vlad’s world still⁠ didn’t fully understand‌‌ the existence of⁠ the mysterious.

“Do⁠⁠ you have another‍‍‌ one of these?”⁠‌‍

“No.⁠ I only have‌ this one.”

“Oh,‍‍⁠ really?”

Hardly‍‌‍ had he finished⁠ saying he only had one, Vlad’s‍ eyes began to‌ gleam. His hand⁠ quickly reached out.‌

“Eh?”‌

“Then lend it to‍ me for a moment.”

It‌‌ was a thieving‍‍ technique he couldn’t‌‌ resist, even though‍⁠ he knew it.

Nibelun⁠ looked bewildered seeing⁠⁠ the heat pouch‍ in Vlad’s hands.‍

“Is this magic?”

“No. It’s simply stolen.”‍

In‍ a sense, both cases were similar‍‍ in that one‌ only understands it⁠⁠‍ when it happens‍ to them.

Vlad, leaving behind Nibelun⁠ with wide eyes,‌‌ headed to Alicia’s‍ carriage without a second thought, holding Nibelun’s pouch.

“Lady⁠ Alicia. It’s Vlad.”⁠‍

If he had something like this, he‌‌ should have taken‌ it out earlier.‌

Holding‍‌ Nibelun’s pouch, Vlad‍ headed to Alicia’s‌‌⁠ carriage without hesitation.‌‌

“Are⁠ you okay? Can⁠ you bear it?”

Vlad‌‍‍ could see Alicia,‍ huddled up, through‍‍ the slightly open‍ window of the‌ carriage.

As⁠ expected, the northern cold was severe⁠ for Alicia.

Unlike⁠ here, her territory,⁠‍ Deirmar, was a place warm enough‌⁠ to produce lemons.‍⁠

“I’m‌ fine. Still, it’s⁠ more bearable than‍ the cold in‌ my heart.”

“…Then,⁠ I’m glad.”

However,‍ despite shivering from‍⁠ the cold, Alicia’s‌ eyes still seemed‍⁠⁠ to be filled‌‍ with a strange‌ warmth.

At⁠‌ the end of⁠ that warmth, slowly⁠ fueled by bitter‍⁠ defeat, was Vlad.

“Please,‍ accept this. It’s‍‍ a secret art‌ of my mage.”⁠⁠‍

The⁠‍ caravan leader was‍‌‌ Rutiger, but Lady‍‍ Alicia’s guide was⁠ Vlad.

Alicia looked at Vlad’s‌ outstretched hand through‌ the cold air.⁠‍‌

“What‌‍ is this?”

“They say it’s a heat pouch. I’m‍⁠⁠ not sure.”

Although‌‌ she didn’t want‌ to accept it‌⁠ due to her‍‌ wounded pride, the‍⁠‌ warmth emanating from Vlad’s hand was‍ hard to ignore.‍‍

It⁠ was a warmth that made even⁠ her cold expression,‌⁠ trying to pretend‍ to be angry,‍ collapse.

“…If‍ you care so‍⁠ much about me,⁠ wouldn’t Lady Zemina⁠⁠ be worried at⁠‍‌ home?”

“I don’t know why⁠‌ you’re mentioning Zemina⁠‌ now.”

Vlad,⁠‌ worried that Alicia‌‌ might reject him, relaxed upon hearing⁠⁠ her complaint and‌⁠ began to smile.‍⁠

“At‌‌ this moment, I’m‌⁠⁠ only thinking about‍⁠ the baroness’s safety.”

“…Your‌ words are charming.”‌⁠‍

At‍⁠‍ this moment, he⁠‍⁠ was Lady Alicia’s‌ knight.

Alicia,⁠‍ who heard those⁠ words, tried to‌⁠ respond with coldness,‍‍‍ but the coldness‍ that began to⁠ melt from the‍⁠ corners of her⁠‌ lips was something‍⁠‍ she couldn’t help.‌

Vlad’s‍ determined approach when‍ she needed it‍‍ most was something‌ Alicia, who had‍ little experience with‍‌ men, found hard‍‍‌ to resist.

“If‌‍‌ you have any inconvenience, let me⁠ know at any⁠‌ time.”

With⁠⁠ those words, the‌‍⁠ carriage window closed‍⁠‌ quietly.

Feeling‌‍ Vlad’s presence leaving‌‍ again without saying‌ anything, Alicia silently‍ looked at the⁠ pouch Vlad had‍‍ given her.

The⁠⁠ heat pouch, as‌⁠⁠ it was called,‌‌ conveyed a deep‍‌ warmth.

“Ugh…”‍⁠

Duncan,‍‌ who had been⁠ listening to the‍ conversation right in front, let out‍ a sigh that‌⁠ sounded like a groan.

‘She has no immunity. No immunity to men.’

An‍‍‌ old knight looking‍ at his young‌‌ lord with a sad expression.

A moment ago, she‌ had such a fierce look that⁠‍⁠ it seemed she would devour anyone,⁠‍ but now, just by receiving a pouch, she looked‍⁠‌ happy. Duncan felt‍ like his insides‍⁠ were boiling with‌⁠ frustration.

‘They‌ all left too⁠‍ soon.’

Duncan‌ sincerely wished that‌ the former head⁠⁠‍ of the family were in his⁠‌ place.

If‌‌ he were here,‍ he would surely have slapped that⁠ cheeky boy’s face‌‍‌ on behalf of‌ a father.

***

A ducal family and a comital family.⁠

And‌‌ a total of 7 families, including‌⁠ the 5 baronial‍‌ families.

These⁠‍ houses were the‍ pillars of the‌‌ Northern Confederation currently‌‌ supporting the north.‍

“Maringen,⁠‌ Romnie, Podmils, Harquita…”⁠‍

Noir’s‌ eyes were wide‍‍⁠ open as if‍‌ he were surprised‍ as he looked⁠⁠ at the figures⁠⁠ entertaining him.

They⁠ were like emblems⁠‍⁠ coming to life.⁠

It‍ was Dorothea’s mystery,‍‍‌ expressed through tints and paintings.

“Don’t‌ other knights usually memorize the emblems⁠⁠ of other houses‍⁠ as soon as‍⁠ they receive their⁠ title?”

“I⁠ learned them too.”‌

However,‌‌ his mystery was‌ now just teaching‍‍ material floating before Vlad’s eyes.

“Then‌ why don’t you⁠ know them?”

“I⁠ said I learned⁠ them. Not that⁠‍ I know them.”‌⁠

He‍‌⁠ learned them, but‍⁠ he doesn’t know⁠ them.

Dorothea‌ was speechless at⁠ Vlad’s shameless excuse.‍⁠

“But⁠‌ other knights must‍ know them. It‌⁠ would be embarrassing‍ if you go‍ there and you’re⁠⁠⁠ the only one‌ who doesn’t recognize⁠ the flags of the other families.”‌

“That’s⁠ why I’m learning⁠‍ them now. Learn them now and⁠ use them later.”‌

“Agh…!”‍‌

When‌ he first saw‍⁠ him, Vlad was just a young squire who barely⁠ knew how to‌ ride a horse.‍

But⁠ now, seeing him‌ respond so cheekily,‍ Dorothea could only‌ tremble with frustration.‍‍

“Yes.‌ As Vlad says,⁠‌ learning now and⁠‌⁠ using later is‍⁠‍ fine. It’s better‍‌ than parading around‌‍⁠ like the others,‍‍ pretending to be‌ knights.”

“…It’s⁠⁠ easy to say‍⁠‌ when you don’t have to teach.”⁠‌

Rutiger, who was listening‌‍‍ to their conversation‍⁠‌ next to them,‍ began to laugh.‌‍‌

“Anyway,‍ as long as‍‍ you don’t make⁠‌‌ a big mistake,⁠ it’ll be fine.⁠ The northern meeting⁠ is a meeting‍‍‍ of lords, after‌‌ all.”

Although‍‍ he was joking,‌⁠ Rutiger was assessing⁠ the situation accurately.⁠

Vlad,‌ who was going⁠‍ to participate in⁠ the northern meeting⁠ by invitation from‍ the Iron Duke,‍ wouldn’t be able⁠‌ to do much⁠ once there.

“You‍‌‌ just need to‌ greet properly. That’s⁠‍ all you need‌ to do.”

What⁠ Vlad can achieve‍ at the Northern⁠ Conference is probably⁠ the exchange of‍‍ personal connections.

Of⁠ course, it was⁠‍ a very important⁠⁠ matter, but since⁠‍‌ the Northern Conference‌ was not a place for social⁠‍ gatherings in the‍‍ first place, it‍ was literally just⁠‍ a matter of⁠‍ greeting.

“We⁠‍ can finally see‌ it. The city of the Iron‍ Duke.”

“Where?”

Vlad‍ hastily dismissed Dorothea’s⁠ mystery at Rutiger’s⁠⁠‌ words.

Although⁠‍‌ Dorothea protested the‍‌‌ misuse of her‍ mystery, Vlad was⁠ only focused on⁠ the scene in⁠ front of him.‍⁠

“Wow…”

A high cliff towered⁠⁠‌ over the snow-covered⁠⁠‍ white plain.

The‍‍‍ cliff, rising majestically‌‍ enough to be‌‌ called a mountain,‍ showed its presence‌ as it overlooked‍ the surrounding plain.⁠‍

“Can⁠ you see the‍ fortress nestled between‍‌⁠ the cliffs over⁠⁠ there?”

“Yes.”⁠‍

Vlad,⁠ who had been⁠‍ amazed by the‌ grandeur of the⁠ cliff for a while, turned his‌ gaze to follow‍ Rutiger’s direction.

Could‍ it be because of the characteristics‍‍ of the rocks‍‌⁠ forming the cliff?⁠‌⁠

The castle wall visible⁠ between the steep cliffs was of‍‍‌ a dull grayish‍⁠⁠ white color, but‍⁠ it shone brightly‌ in the sunlight.‌

“That’s‌⁠ the city of‌ the Iron Duke,‍‍ Bastopol. The oldest‌‌ city in the‍‌ north.”

“…Bastopol.”⁠‌

A huge castle wall that seems like‍‌ no one can‌ easily breach it.‍⁠⁠

A huge city was‌ perched on top⁠‌ of a cliff⁠‌ that rose as‍ if defying gravity.‌

“Moreover,‌ according to the‍⁠‍ founding legend, that⁠‍ city was the⁠ one that held⁠ out to the‌ end against the‍ dragon.”

Baranov,‍‍ the only ducal‌ family in the‌⁠ North, was a family that existed⁠‌ even before the foundation of the‌ Empire.

And‍ the city they‍ built, Bastopol, was also humanity’s last defense, raising its⁠‌‌ banner to the⁠⁠ end against the‌ most perfect dragon.⁠

“…It’s‍⁠⁠ impressive.”

Vlad‍⁠ began to smile⁠‍ as he looked⁠ at the bright⁠ grayish white cliffs‍ in the distance.‌‍

The‌‍ shape of the‍ cliff, rising alone,‌‍ without anything around⁠‌ it, seemed to‍ stimulate something in‌⁠ Vlad’s world.

Thud!‌‌⁠

I got excited because‍⁠‍ I saw it for the first‍‍ time, but for‌ some reason the⁠ city seemed to‌‌‌ be calling me.⁠‍

The‍ city on the⁠‌ cliff, which he‌‍ saw for the‌‍‌ first time in⁠ his life, was‌ definitely making Vlad’s‌‌ heart beat.

***⁠

Crack…‍

Crack-crack…⁠⁠

“Hmmm.”⁠‍

In⁠‍ the city of‌ Bastopol, in the‍ mansion of the‍ Iron Duke.

In‍⁠⁠ the deepest basement‍⁠ of that place,‌‌ an old man‍ murmured quietly.

“It’s‍‌‍ reacting much more⁠⁠ violently than before.”⁠‍

Fernand,‌ the mage of the Iron Duke,‍⁠‌ observed two chests‌ trembling as if⁠ there was an‍‌ earthquake.

Two⁠‍ chests tightly sealed with divine chains.‌⁠

One‌ originally belonged to⁠ the Baranovs, and‍‍ the other to‌‌‍ the now extinct‌‍ Ravnoma.

“…Has⁠‍ the dragon opened‌⁠‍ its eyes this‍ time?”

Sealed chests (封印函) containing‍‌ fragments of the⁠ most perfect dragon.‌ [1]

The‌⁠‌ old mage’s eyes‌‍ flickered as he⁠⁠‍ looked at the⁠ chests.

The⁠ chests had reacted‍‍ when the faster dragon, Lindworm, appeared,⁠ but they had never trembled with⁠ such intensity.

To‌ react so violently,‌ the possibility of⁠‍⁠ it being a dragon was very⁠ high.

Perhaps,⁠‍‍ to react like‍ this, there was⁠‌ a great chance‌‌ it was a dragon.

Crunch-⁠⁠

Or‍‌⁠ it must be⁠ very close.

“I⁠‌ need to report this.”

Faced with the unsettling⁠ vibration of the⁠⁠ sealed chests, Fernand⁠ began to silently‌ unfold his mystery.‌

When‍‌ handprints made with‌‌⁠ fingertips formed a line in the‌⁠ air, waves that⁠ seemed to have‍‌⁠ melted into the⁠⁠ Milky Way began‌‌ to sprout from there.

A huge door located‍ in the depths⁠ of the mansion.‌‍

The⁠‍ dark hallway leading‍⁠‍ to that portal‌‌ stretched longer and‌ longer as the⁠⁠ old mage’s spell‍ continued, as if‌‌ stretching it out.⁠

As⁠‌ if it had‌‍ been stretched, the‍‌‍ hallway became narrower‌ and longer, and‌‌ naturally began to‌⁠‌ distance itself from⁠‍ the world above.T/N:1:‌ The character “(封印函)”‍ in Korean translates‍⁠ to “sealing box”‌⁠ or “sealing chest.”‍‌⁠ Here’s the breakdown⁠ of the characters:‍

– 封 (봉): Seal- 印 (인): Seal- 函 (함): Box‌ or chest

So,⁠ “(封印函)” refers to⁠ a box or chest used for⁠ sealing or containing‍ something, usually something⁠ of great importance‌‌ or power.