Star-Embracing Swordmaster — Chapter 191: Uninvited guests (2)

Chapter 191: Uninvited guests (2)

A long and wide⁠ corridor.

A man was walking‍‍ from afar in‍‌ the bright yellow⁠‍‌ twilight.

The‌ corridor the man⁠ was walking down⁠ was a path only nobles could⁠ tread, and at⁠‍⁠ the end of‍ it, the lords,‌‍ the most powerful⁠‍ people in the⁠‌⁠ North, were waiting.⁠

“…”‌‍

The Iron Lord Timur‌ pursed his lips‌‍ as he watched⁠ Vlad walk towards⁠ the conference room.‌‌‍

Bright⁠ blonde hair and⁠‌ blue eyes. And‌‍ even an aristocratic‌⁠‍ appearance.

‘I‌‍ looked at him‌ consciously… They definitely resemble each other.’‌⁠

Seeing Vlad walk with‌‌ the setting sun,⁠⁠⁠ Timur, the Iron⁠‌‍ Lord, could recall‍ a very old⁠⁠ memory in his⁠ mind.

The‍ impression is so‍‍ strong that it‍‌ is not easily‌ forgotten. Duke of Sarnus Dragulia.

Vlad’s‍‌ current appearance was‍‌ so similar to the impression of‍ the Dragon Blood‌‌⁠ Prince that he‌ remembered, that he‍‍ wondered why he‍ only recognized it‍‌ now.

“Duke.”⁠

Timur,‌ who was contemplating Vlad, slightly shifted‌ his gaze at⁠‍ Fernand’s soft call.‌

“It’s⁠ trembling.”

“…Mmm.”‌

The⁠‍‍ scale held by⁠‍ the old wizard⁠‍‌ was trembling.

It⁠⁠‌ was a small scale with an‌⁠ ornate brooch engraved with the image‌‌ of a dragon‌⁠ on one side‍ and an old‌ coin with a sword engraved on‍‍ the other.

“Which⁠‍⁠ one?”

“I⁠‌ think we’ll have‌ to get a bit closer to‌‍‍ find out.”

Just‌⁠ as Fernand said‍⁠ he wasn’t really‍ sure, the old scale he held‌ kept trembling.

And the trembling grew⁠ stronger as Vlad’s⁠‌ steps drew nearer.

As Vlad’s steps approached,‌ those oscillations grew‌ louder.

“…It⁠ seems he doesn’t‌‌⁠ recognize it either.”‍⁠

Timur‍ seemed to understand‍ the indecisive heart‍‍ that wavered like‌⁠ a scale.

The‌‌ shadow of twilight‍⁠ grew denser as‌‍ he approached.

That‌‍‍ was because Vlad’s‍‍ face, walking towards‌ them, was covered⁠ by the now‌ fading evening light.⁠‍

What⁠‌‌ was approaching from⁠‌‌ the end of⁠‍ the twilight, a dragon or a knight?

However,⁠ Timur felt that⁠⁠ he would not‍ be able to⁠ recognize who Vlad‍⁠ was, no matter⁠⁠⁠ how close he‍⁠‌ got.

***‍‌

Creak-⁠⁠

The‌ figure of Vlad⁠‍ slowly disappearing through⁠⁠‍ the crack of‌ the door.

The‌ seven knights left‍‌ to protect him⁠‍⁠ watched silently from⁠ the hallway.

“Seeing‌ Lord Vlad enter,‌ it seems the‌ meeting is almost over.”

“It⁠⁠ appears so.”

“It‍ would be good⁠ to end well,‍ just as we⁠‌⁠ planned.”

The⁠ remaining knights knew‌‌ well what Vlad’s‌⁠ entrance signified.

The‌⁠‌ meeting had ended, and what remained‍ was only the‍ declaration and resolution for one.

On‍ such an occasion,⁠ the only thing‍⁠‌ needed would be⁠ a celebratory drink⁠‍ to lift the‌ spirits.

“Did‍ you say he⁠‌‌ was only 20⁠⁠‌ years old?”

“They‍ say talented people⁠ are born in‌ turbulent times, and⁠ that seems to‍‌ be true.”

An emperor without a cause ascended the⁠ throne, the war in the central‍ region had not⁠‍ abated, and now‌⁠⁠ even a sinister‌‍⁠ entity targeted the⁠‍ north.

In‍⁠ the current situation,⁠ where there were‌ only grim news,‌⁠ Vlad’s existence was surely one of‌⁠⁠ the few symbols in which the⁠ North could find⁠ solace.

“Mm?”⁠

As‌‍ the knights were⁠‍ gathered and talking⁠⁠ for a while, Rutiger suddenly felt‍ goosebumps and grabbed‌‍ his neck.

‘What.’‌

It‍ felt as if‌‌ a bright blue‌‍ blade had touched‍ his neck.

The⁠ cold warning that his instincts first⁠‍ recognized was climbing⁠ up his neck⁠ and gradually spreading throughout his body.‌

“…”‍‍

“…”‍⁠⁠

Rutiger,‌⁠ looking around with‌ a strange feeling,‍ saw Valkov making‍‌ eye contact with⁠‍ him.

It‍ was not just an illusion, but‌ a sensation that⁠‌ Valkov also noticed.⁠⁠

Through‍‌‌ each other, the⁠ two could realize⁠ that their current‌ chill was not‌⁠ just an illusion.‌

“Something’s‍ coming!”

“Ha!”‌

Rumble!‍

A dark hallway, a long distance with‌‍⁠ no end in⁠‍‌ sight.

However, Valkov shot the⁠ spear without hesitation‌ toward the place‌ that could be‌‍ felt even if‍ it could not⁠⁠ be seen.

The‍ movement was much‌ faster than Rutiger’s warning cry.

“Ugh!”‍‍‌

“What⁠⁠ the hell is‌ this…?”

Duncan⁠⁠⁠ and Ernst covered‌‌ their ears at‌‍‌ the sharp sound‍ coming right next‍‍ to them.

“…!”‌

Valkov’s⁠ eyes sharpened as⁠‍⁠ he looked toward⁠ the end of the hallway.

It‍⁠ was not visible,‌‌ but now was‌ the time to‍ reach it.

However,⁠ the much-anticipated sound⁠‌ of the spear hitting was not‍ heard, and the‍‍ dark hallway was‌‌ still silent.

“…This.”⁠

Thump!‌‍

Valkov,‌‌ looking at the⁠‌⁠ dark hallway, opened⁠ his eyes wide.⁠‍

Because⁠‍ he saw the‌‍ spear returning with‍⁠ as much force‍ as it was‍‌ thrown.

‘You⁠ mean you caught⁠ it!’

Despite being a spear‌ that even the fastest dragon, Lindworm,‍ could avoid.

However,‌ it seems the⁠ opponent neither dodged nor blocked it⁠ but simply caught‍ it with their hand.

Claaang-!‌

“Ha!”‍

A strong flame flew⁠ out between the‌ window and the‍⁠ window, hastily hit.⁠

The⁠ powerful shockwaves spreading⁠ along with the‌‍‌ flames were enough‍ to make the⁠ knights without their world stagger greatly.‍

“Is‌ this an attack?”‌‍

“…It⁠ seems it had‍⁠‍ a hole.”

Karoy⁠‌ and Guillermo, noticing⁠ the situation by‌ looking at the‍ bouncing flames, quickly‍‍ blocked the group’s‌‌ path.

A space located deep⁠ within the city‌ and impassable.

The‍ fact that it‌‍⁠ had reached here‍ unnoticed was proof that the attacker‍‍ in front of him did not have average skill.‍

“What‌ kind of guy‌ are you!”

Karoy’s‌ closed left eye⁠ began to glow,‌ accompanied by an‌ angry squeak.

It‌‍ is said that‌‌⁠ Bastopol has never‍ been captured in history.

Although‍ Karoy was not⁠ a knight of⁠‌ Baranov, the city‍⁠ of Bastopol was‌ the pride of‍ the northern knights.‍‌

“Stop hiding and come‌ out!”

With‍ a loud shout‍‌‌ suppressing his aura,⁠ Knight Karoy began‌‌⁠ to strengthen his‌⁠⁠ defensive posture with⁠⁠ his raised axe.⁠‌⁠

If the central region⁠ has Pablo of‍ Arnstein, the northern⁠‌‍ region has Karoy‌ of Harquita.

Like‌ the wall of‌⁠ a castle, his‍ posture was so⁠ strong that, no⁠ matter whom they‌ faced, it would‌ not be easy‍ to break.

Kwaaang-!

It‌ definitely had to‍⁠⁠ be that way.⁠‍

Karoy’s‌ protective posture is⁠⁠ incredibly strong.

“Zup!”‌

A shadow emerges from the darkness.

However,‌‍‌ when he realized⁠⁠ it, the attacker‍ had already approached‌⁠ and was smiling‍ coldly at Karoy.‍⁠

‘This⁠‌‍ is…!’

When⁠‌ the axe and⁠‍ sword clashed, turbulence⁠⁠ like a typhoon‌⁠‌ began to occur.⁠‍

It‌ was such a shock that one‍ could tell how‍‍ much force was‍‌‍ released from the⁠ blow just by⁠‍ feeling the wind⁠‍ against their skin.⁠

“Agh!”‌‍

Karoy could not resist‌‍ the impact and‍‌ fell against the⁠‍ wall with a single scream.

His‍‍ defensive posture, which was like the‌⁠‌ solid wall of‌‍ a castle, was⁠‍ uprooted with a single blow.

“Karoy!”⁠

“You’re⁠‍ not an ordinary guy!”

Guillermo‌‍‌ and Ralph began‌⁠ to run towards‌ Karoy after he‌⁠‌ had fallen miserably.‌‌

A dark hallway now‍⁠‌ filled with moonlight,‌‌ not sunset.

There,⁠ a solitary blonde‍⁠ man smiled coldly while watching the‍ northern knights charging‌⁠ fiercely.

“Dragonslayer‌ knights?”

Guillermo,‍⁠‌ vigorously swinging his‍⁠ sword under the⁠ intense moonlight, could‍ make out the⁠ shining emblem.

Dragons‌‍ killing dragons.

The‍‍ man’s bright blue eyes gleamed on the armor with⁠‍‍ the Dragulia emblem‌‌‌ engraved on it.‌

Thump-!‍

“It’s⁠ obvious.”

“What?”⁠‍

It‌‌ is said that‍ Ronnie’s sword is⁠⁠ capable of deceiving‍‍‌ any knight.

However,‍‌ the blue-eyed man⁠‍ could halt Guillermo’s‌‍ movements with a single stab.

“It‍ means your intentions‌ are too shallow.”‍‍

“…!”‌‌⁠

Guillermo‌ got goosebumps when‍‌ he saw Mirshea‍ smiling at him.⁠

This‍⁠ was because he⁠‍ felt the cold‍ touch of the‍‌⁠ sword stabbing into‌ him along with his laughter.

“Aaaah!”‌‌

“Bastard!”‌

There‌ was a knight‌‌⁠ running beside Guillermo,‍‌‍ who was suffering.

A space where I had no choice⁠‍‍ but to pray‍ because I was⁠ stabbing my sword.⁠‌

Ralph⁠‍ of Maringen, an‍⁠ experienced knight, took‍ advantage of Guillermo’s⁠‍‌ crisis as an‍ opportunity and swung‍‍ his sword without⁠ hesitation.

‘If‍⁠‍ it’s here!’

Since⁠ he was stabbing Guillermo with his‍‍ right hand, he‍ could not easily‌ respond to this‍ attack.

Even⁠‍‍ if he reacts,⁠ it’s just a slight evasive action…‍

Clang-!‍

“Cough!”⁠

However,‌‌ Ralph felt strong⁠ pressure in his⁠ stomach and fell‌⁠ back.

This‍⁠ is because the⁠⁠‍ kick extended towards⁠ where Ralph was⁠‍ approaching as if‍ he had been‌‍ waiting.

Even in Ralph’s faded⁠ mind, he could⁠‌ tell that his‌ opponent had already‌ predicted several moves‍⁠ ahead of him.‍‌‍

“Back‌‌ off!”

“Ugh!”‍‌‍

Guillermo,⁠ whose shoulder was⁠ impaled, could only escape with Valkov’s‌ support.

As‍‌ he retreated hastily,‍‍ bright red blood‍ splattered in the‍‌⁠ hallway.

“I⁠‌‌ can’t believe there‌ are so many‌ knights and they‍ say the North‍ is proud. This‌ is a great‌ disappointment.”

“…”‍‍‌

Valkov,⁠ who pulled Guillermo out, raised his⁠ spear towards the man in front⁠ of him.

The landscape seen when‍ the moon, which⁠ had been floating awkwardly, matured completely.⁠

The‍⁠‌ three knights who‍⁠ had fallen miserably‌‍ were now writhing⁠ behind Valkov.

They‍⁠‌ were knights whose‍‌‌ names could never⁠‌ be taken lightly.⁠⁠

“Mirshea…‌ Dragulia.”

“Long⁠‌ time no see.‌ Lord Valkov.”

And‍⁠‌ there was a man who destroyed⁠ those knights in‌‍ the time it‍ took to have a cup of‍ tea.

Among the numerous knights⁠⁠ of the empire,⁠ the Dragon Slayer‌‌ Knights compete for‌⁠ supremacy.

“I‌ came to see‌‍‍ the Lord of⁠ Iron. Could you‌⁠⁠ step aside?”

And‍⁠ the leader of‍⁠ the knights, Mirshea‌ Dragulia.

“I‌ also wanted to‍ thank you for‍ the kindness you⁠⁠‍ showed in taking⁠ care of my‍⁠ younger brother Radu.”‍‍

Now he laughed at⁠‌ a city that had never been⁠ captured.

***⁠‌

“…!”⁠

He‍‍‌ can reach the⁠ conference room in‍‍‍ just a few‍‌ steps.

At⁠‌ a distance where⁠⁠ he could even see the faces‍ of Peter and‍‍ Alicia in front‍‌ of him, Vlad⁠‍ stopped.

Thump-!‌ Thump-! Thump-!

The‍ strange heartbeat he⁠ had felt since entering the city‍‌ was becoming increasingly⁠ intense.

So‌‍ much so that‌‌‍ he could no⁠‍ longer control it.

‘…What‌ is this?’

As‌ he advanced and⁠ approached Timur, his‍⁠‍ heart, which had‌ been pounding heavily,‍‍ began to beat⁠ on its own,‍‌‍ beyond Vlad’s will.⁠⁠⁠

A heart that starts‍⁠ to race not⁠ by will but‍ by instinct.

Vlad,‌ who had never‌ felt anything like‍ this before, bit‍‍ his lip and⁠ began to pause.‌

“…Duke.”‌⁠

“Tell‍‍ me.”

The lords who were⁠ seated also turned‌ their heads toward‍⁠ Timur, as if⁠⁠⁠ sensing Vlad’s strangeness.⁠⁠

However,‌‌ Timur only looked at Vlad despite⁠‌ the lords watching him.

Timur’s‍ right hand, which‌ naturally hung at‍‍ his side, was⁠‍ in a position⁠ where it could‍ either lift the edict next to‍ him or the⁠‌ sword hanging from‌ his waist.

“What‌⁠ is it?”

The‍⁠ man finally reached‍‍‍ him through the setting sun.

The‌‍ balance, which had⁠ been trembling due‌‌‍ to Timur’s question,⁠⁠ finally tipped significantly.‌‍‍

“…It’s⁠⁠ a dragon.”

The⁠‍‍ pendulum pointed by⁠ an old balance‌ that tells the truth.

It held a richly‌‌ decorated dragon-shaped brooch.⁠‌

Sssss-!

“…!”‍⁠‌

Timur⁠⁠ quickly looked forward‌‌‌ at the sudden‍⁠ sound.

There‌⁠ was Vlad with⁠ his left eye‌‌ closed and his⁠ sword drawn.

‘Vlad…!’⁠⁠‍

Vlad‌⁠ drew his sword‌ toward the lords.‍

Peter‍‌‍ was shocked by‍‌ the extremely disrespectful‍ action and Alicia⁠‌ let out an‍‍ inward scream as‌ she saw Vlad’s⁠ eyes turning even⁠ bluer than usual.⁠⁠

“What⁠‍ kind of action⁠ is this now?⁠ Vlad Aureo?”

“…”⁠‌‍

In⁠‍‍ response to Vlad’s⁠ sudden action, the⁠‌‍ lords who knew⁠ how to wield⁠ swords slowly began⁠ to stand.

Only‍ those who survive⁠‌ the harsh cold⁠ can become lords⁠⁠ of the North.‍⁠

The‍ lords who were⁠ now rising, like⁠‍⁠ Peter and Timur,‍ were all knights‍⁠ who represented the⁠ previous era.

“I‌ have not yet‌‍⁠ permitted you to‍‍ draw your sword.⁠‌ Vlad Aureo.”

The distance between the‌ conference room and‍ the corridor is‍‍ just a step.

Vlad,‍‌ standing at the‍ border, silently clutched‍ his chest with‍ his bright blue eyes lowered.

Kihano’s⁠‍‍ voice, rising through⁠‍ the sound of⁠‍ his heartbeat, echoed⁠ in Vlad’s world.⁠⁠

[Do‌⁠ not look down.⁠ What is there‍⁠‌ is not yours.]‍‌‌

There‌ was a place⁠‌‍ the inherited blood⁠ pointed to.

That‍⁠‌ place was at‍ the lowest point‌⁠ of the city‍ of Bastopol and⁠‍⁠ had an intensity‌⁠ that even an‌‍ experienced wizard’s mystery⁠ could not completely⁠‍ hide.

[Where‌ was your gaze‍‌ always directed? Where‍‍‍ was the blue⁠⁠ moon called Godin‍‌‍ hanging?]

But now even Vlad knew.

However,⁠ now Vlad could‌ also know.

That⁠ beneath this city⁠‍ was a perfect‌ piece calling to‍ him. That piece,‍ just by having‌‍⁠ it in his‌⁠ hands, could ennoble‍‍‍ him, someone born‍ in the mud.‍‍

[Remember‌‌ where the sword‍‍ you longed for‌ so much was⁠‍‍ hanging.]

Vlad’s⁠ heartbeat began to‍ grow louder, as⁠⁠ if trying to⁠‌ drown out Kihano’s‍ voice.

Vlad‌ was about to‍‌ lose his mind⁠ as the singing‌ of the pieces‌⁠ filled his ears‌‍ more and more.‌

‘…Kihano.‍ Am I a dragon?’

His‌ mother was a prostitute in the‍ alleys and it was common for⁠ him to be‍ an orphan with⁠‍ an unknown father.‌‍

However,‌ the piece beneath⁠⁠ him whispered to‍‍⁠ his blood, and‍ Vlad was deeply perplexed.

Come‍ to me quickly.‌ Young Dragon.

Find‌‌‍ me here, where⁠‍ I am imprisoned.‌‍

I am someone who,‍‍ by possessing me,‌ will make you‌‌ noble.

Join⁠ me and you will achieve eternal⁠⁠‍ perfection.

Only those born as dragons can hear‌ this whisper that‌‌⁠ kept resonating in Vlad’s ears.

It‍‍ was a tempting‌ sound, almost impossible⁠‍ to ignore.