Star-Embracing Swordmaster — Chapter 192: Uninvited guests (3)

Chapter 192: Uninvited guests (3)

The⁠ name of the⁠ newly embraced star.⁠‍‌

The⁠⁠ dragon is, by nature, a perfect‌⁠ creature.

A being immense, fast,‌⁠‍ sharp, hard, and closer to the sky than anything‍ else in the⁠ world.

How‌ sweet the idea‍ of becoming a creature admired by‌‍ all.

Thump-!‍ Thump-!

Now,‌ from the depths,‍‍ there were fragments‌‍⁠ tempting Vlad.

Fragments of a dragon⁠‍‍ longing for perfection.‍

Kihano⁠ was not the⁠ only one who‍‍ could recognize the‌⁠ brightest possibility.

“Ah…⁠‌ Aaaaah!”

Bang!‍ Bang!

I did my best‍‍‌ to calm down,‌ but my heart‌⁠ still wouldn’t stop‍⁠ pounding.

And with those heartbeats,⁠ anger and madness‌‌ began to emerge.‌

Vlad,‍‍ unable to do⁠‌ anything against the⁠‌ dragon’s instinct, began‍‌‍ to pound the‌⁠ ground and roar.‌

[Don’t‍‌ look down! Look⁠ up! Vlad!]

Kihano’s‍⁠ cry was heard⁠ from the depths‌‌‌ of his soul,⁠ but his voice‌ was overshadowed by‍ the sound of Vlad’s heartbeats.

The‌‍⁠ Deathworm that attacked‍‍ the pilgrims.

The‌⁠ Lindworm that devoured‌⁠ the barbarians.

And⁠‌ even Nidhogg, who⁠ tried to consume⁠ the young spirits‍ of the World⁠⁠‍ Tree.

Dragons⁠‌ that tried to‍ steal what wasn’t⁠⁠‍ theirs. Vlad raged,‍‍‌ realizing the same‌ blood ran through‍‌ his veins.

“Then,‌⁠ what has everything‌ I’ve done up‌ until now been for?”

As‍⁠ time passed, his⁠⁠ eyes became bluer‍‍‍ and his teeth‌ sharper.

Seeing‍ Vlad gradually succumbing to his blood‌⁠‍ instincts, the northern⁠ lords began to‌ draw their swords.⁠⁠

“Vlad! Lord Vlad!”

Even‍‌‌ Alicia’s anguished voice,‌‍⁠ calling him, faded⁠ as Vlad’s consciousness‍ began to sink‍‍ slowly towards where⁠ the dragon fragments⁠ were.

The‌ fragments’ temptation, which had even lured⁠ the distant Lindworm,⁠‌ was too powerful⁠‌ a call for‍‍ Vlad, who had‌ just awakened to‌ the dragon’s blood,⁠⁠ to resist.

“…”‍‌‍

From white to green.‌

From⁠‌‍ green to blue,⁠‍ passing through gold,‌‌ to the ominous‍⁠ bloody crimson.

Watching‌ Vlad’s confused world,⁠⁠ Timur could not‌ hide his anguish.‌‌⁠

[Even‌⁠ if you were‍ born a dragon,‌‍ you don’t have‌ to live like‌ one!]

Kihano’s‍‍⁠ voice was fading‍ more and more‌ due to the‌‍ strong heartbeats.

However,⁠‍ Kihano’s last words⁠‌ managed to penetrate‌ deeply into Vlad’s‍‌ soul.

Do‍‌‌ not live as‌ you were born.‌

Please, live as you‍ wish.

You⁠‍ were born a dragon, but just⁠ like that time you gazed at‍ the stars.

When‍‍ Vlad was slowly‌⁠ sinking due to‌ the fragments’ call, he raised his‍ head upon hearing‍ Kihano’s last cry.

There,‍ deep in his‌ immersion, there had‍ always been a star watching over‌⁠ him.

***‌

“Khhk!”‍⁠

Valkov‍‌ quickly stepped back,⁠ clutching his throbbing‌ hand.

Despite‌ the advantage of‌ having a long-range‌ weapon, Valkov, the lance-wielder, was one‌ of the North’s‍‌⁠ emblematic knights.

However,‍‍ at that moment,⁠‍ he could only⁠ sweat profusely as he barely managed‍ to defend against‍‍ Mirshea’s attacks.

‘…Was⁠ he so strong?!’‌‍

An‍ impeccable stance, leaving‌‍ no opening for‍ attack.

Even the aura he‍ emanated seemed to‌ deepen with each⁠ step he took⁠ forward.

“As‍ I’ve heard, the‌‌ North has terrible⁠‍ hospitality.”

Mirshea’s‌ presence grew more⁠ imposing as he‍⁠⁠ approached.

Valkov,‍‌‍ not understanding the⁠ reason, could only‍‌⁠ prepare as best‍‍ as he could.⁠⁠⁠

“After⁠‍ a long journey,‌‍⁠ is this all⁠‍ you have?”

The‍ knights knocked down‌⁠ by Mirshea’s taunt‌ began to move slowly.

However,‍ the reason they⁠‍ couldn’t get up⁠⁠ was probably because⁠‍ the blow he‌‍⁠ dealt was too‌⁠ painful.

“If‍ this is all⁠⁠ you truly have,⁠ you disappoint me.”⁠

Seeing‌ Mirshea ruthlessly trample‌⁠⁠ the pride of‍ the North, Valkov’s‍ eyebrows began to‌ tremble.

Valkov’s‍ last lance began‍ to fill with⁠⁠ aura.

“That’s right, at least‌⁠‌ that should be‍ offered.”

Although⁠⁠ Valkov’s presence was fierce, Mirshea only‍ smiled as if‍ enjoying the situation.‍⁠‌

Mirshea‌‌ was enjoying this‍‌‍ situation, feeling a strange sense of⁠‌ euphoria surging through‍ his body.

As‌‌ he enjoyed the‌ perfection he achieved‍‌ with each step‍‍ forward…

“…You‌ can’t be a good host with⁠⁠⁠ such a poor⁠‍‌ reception.”

However,‍ there was a sound that halted‌ his steps as he tried to‌‍‍ advance without hesitation.⁠

The‌ sound came from behind Valkov, who‍‍ had been holding‌ Mirshea back all‍‌‌ this time.

Tiiiiing-⁠

A clear and crisp‌ sound of metal‌ resonated.

Rutiger,⁠‌ who had flicked‌ his sword with⁠‌⁠ a finger, slowly⁠‍ raised his head.‌

From⁠‌ his closed left⁠⁠ eye, a dense,⁠‌ sticky red aura‍‌ began to flow.‌‍

“Then,⁠‌ I’ll take care‍‌‌ of you from‌ now on.”

A hot and viscous‍ aura, like lava,‌ flowed along Rutiger’s⁠‌‍ sword.

His‍⁠ world was like‍‍ a volcano.

Although⁠⁠ he smiled cheerfully,⁠⁠ deep in his‌ heart, he was‌‌ filled with pain‍‍ and anger.

“For‌ the knights who⁠ fell in my‍‌ place.”

Rutiger,‍⁠‍ seizing the time the knights had‌ gained, had submerged‍ his being to‍ the deepest depths to unleash his fury.

“…!”‍‌‌

Rutiger’s‌ anger, which he‌ had been repressing for so long,‍ erupted like a volcano and flowed⁠‌ towards Mirshea.

Kwaaang-!‍⁠

Finally,⁠ with a sword‍⁠‌ swing, the hallway⁠ windows shattered, and the ground began‍‌ to crack.

Among⁠ the flying debris‍⁠‍ and splinters, a red line advanced‌‌‌ rapidly.

“Finally,⁠ I’ll be able‌⁠ to give that‍‌ arrogant face a good hit!”

“Rutiger…‌‍ Bayezid!”

Blue eyes and a red world clashed‌‍ in a sword duel.

Two‍ relentless men roared‍⁠‌ against each other.⁠

***‍‌‌

The‍ meeting room felt⁠‌ like it had been hit with a bucket of cold water.

Vlad, standing at the‍ entrance, staggered and‌‍ lifted his head.‍‌

The‍‍ way he still‍⁠ held onto his⁠ chest didn’t seem‌⁠ normal.

“Is‍ it really, truly‌‌ okay?”

“What?”‍

Timur,⁠⁠ who was looking‌‍ at Vlad, was⁠⁠ momentarily taken aback‍ by Vlad’s sudden⁠‍⁠ question.

Though‍ it sounded like a monologue, it‌‍ didn’t sound like‌ a question from⁠⁠ someone out of‍‌ their mind.

“Truly… How do I want…?”

Vlad’s‌ eyes, now blueish, still couldn’t find‌ focus.

It⁠ was as if‌ his eyes were‌ possessed by something,‌⁠ yet the bright light in his‌ eyes still shone⁠ as if it⁠ were about to‍ burst.

“Duke.”

Timur‍ briefly turned towards‌‌⁠ Fernand’s urgent voice⁠ calling out from‍ the side.

“…”‍⁠‌

What‌‌‍ doesn’t change is the truth.

However, the scale showing⁠ the truth was⁠ trembling and slowly‍⁠ tilting towards the‍⁠‍ opposite side.

The⁠ current situation of⁠⁠‌ nullifying the truth was something both⁠ Fernand and Timur had seen for the first time.‌

-Young‍‍ dragon. Not there!‍‍ Look at me!

-Don’t long for things that are hard‍ to have. There⁠‌ are so many‍ things around you‍ right now that‌⁠ you can have!

The‌ voices of the‍⁠ fragments filled Vlad’s‍ ears, but he‌‌ didn’t see them‌ even though he‍‌‍ heard them.

Because⁠‌ Vlad, who had‌⁠‍ lifted his head,‌ was looking at‌‍‍ Timur in front‍‌ of him.

And now, beyond him,‍‌‍ he looked to‌ the end of‍ the roof.

“…Can‍‌‍ I really do⁠ this?”

Beyond‍ the sword, beyond‌ the blue moon,‌ and finally on‍ the other side‌ of the sky, I can see‍ a single star.‍‌

Vlad⁠⁠ lifted his head‍ once more, seeing that star shining‌ brighter than anything⁠ he had seen before.

Rumble,⁠ rumble, rumble-

“Duke!”‍

“What⁠⁠ is this!”

“Aaaah!”⁠

The sudden rumbling from⁠ beneath the earth⁠⁠‌ greatly alarmed the⁠ northern lords.

The‍ sound that shook⁠⁠ the city was‍‌ like the cries‌ of the sculptures⁠⁠ that couldn’t let go of the‌‍ young dragon.

‘…It’s⁠ definitely a dragon!’⁠⁠

Timur,⁠‌ the Iron Lord,‌⁠‍ the protector of‍ the pact, knew‌‍ that the current‌ vibrations were caused‍‌ by the dragon⁠ fragments.

So‍‌‌ the Vlad in‍‍ front of him‍⁠ must definitely be⁠⁠ a dragon.

“…But‍‌ it tilted.”

However,‍ the old balance‌ that trembled had‌‍ now tilted completely‌ to the opposite⁠⁠‍ side.

The‍‌ old coin on⁠ the tilted side⁠‍⁠ was made of the honorable metal‍ that the ancient‍⁠ sword master had⁠‍ separated from his‍‌ sword.

“Who the hell are‍⁠ you.”

Both‌ the dragon fragments‍ and the truth‌⁠ scale claimed to⁠ be correct.

Unable⁠‌ to decide between‍‌ the duty to uphold the pact‌ and the duty⁠ to protect as⁠‍⁠ a knight, Timur‍ slowly closed his‍ left eye and‍‌⁠ looked at Vlad.‍‍‌

“…”‍

A world seen when‍ closing one’s eyes.‌

In⁠‌ that silent world‌‍ where the vibrations‍⁠⁠ of the earth‍⁠‍ and the cries‍‌ of the lords‌ were not heard, Timur could see‌ the back of‍‍ someone.

The‌ man standing covering‍⁠ Vlad still raised⁠‌ his hands, protecting‌‌ the young dragon’s‍ ears.

***⁠‌

All⁠ the children born‍ in this world⁠⁠‌ have at some point reached out⁠⁠ their hand towards⁠⁠‌ the stars.

And‍ upon realizing they‍‌‍ couldn’t reach them,⁠ they became adults.⁠

“Boy,‌‍‍ if you have⁠ dreams in a place like this,‍‌ you’ll only hurt‍ yourself.”

The old blacksmith said‍‌⁠ this too.

If⁠⁠ you live in‍‍ a place you⁠⁠ can’t escape from‍‍‌ and dream a dream you can’t reach, you’re the‍ only one who‍‌ suffers.

In⁠ the end, the fate of all children may be to live as⁠ they were born.⁠

[Yet, you were born‌⁠ as a dragon.]⁠‍

Even⁠ so, I believed.⁠⁠

I believed I wasn’t born to live in the mud.‌‌

Though‌ it may not‍ be grand, I was someone who⁠ wanted to have‌‍ my own light.⁠‍

[Still,⁠‍ you don’t have‌‌ to live like⁠‍ a dragon.]

Even‍‌ if you couldn’t‌ reach that sky,‍ if you wish to shine on‍ your own, you’ll⁠ be a star.‌⁠‍

And‍‍ in the sky‍ you gaze upon,‍ someday, undoubtedly, there‍ will be a light that recognizes‍⁠ you.

“…Heavens.”⁠

The‌ man’s back is‌‌‌ recognizable because he‌‌ is the guardian⁠ of the oath.‌

Timur,‍ who arrived in⁠‌ the world through⁠ his closed left‍⁠ eye, was amazed‍‍ to realize what⁠ kind of scene‌ he was seeing.‍⁠

Behind‌⁠ Vlad, who was‍‍ gazing at the stars, a tree⁠⁠⁠ began to bloom.‍‌⁠

The⁠ color of the⁠‌ tree was golden‍⁠ and it grew⁠ straight and tall,⁠ rising towards the⁠ stars floating in the sky.

A part of the tree was Vlad‌‌‍ of Soara.

Another⁠ part was Vlad⁠‌ Aureo.

And‌⁠ as Dragulia was‍ born with the remaining side, he‌‍ has no choice‌ but to accept‍ it.

Vlad,‌ who had even‌ accepted his negative‌‍ side, was ready‍‍⁠ to find his true self.

[Will‍‌‍ you continue to‌‌ raise your sword‌ for the possibilities‌‍‌ of children in‌ the future?]

“Yes.”‌⁠

[Regardless‌⁠⁠ of where you‌ are, will you‌⁠ fulfill your duty?]‌

“Yes.”‌

A investiture ceremony was‌ taking place between‌‌ the boy and‍ the knight, with the protector of‍ the pact as⁠‌ witness.

It‌‍ was a moment when not even‍ the roars of⁠ the dragon from‌‌ below could reach.‍

[Then‌⁠ finally.]

Kihano⁠ withdrew the hands⁠‌ covering Vlad’s ears⁠ and, from his‌‌ memories, brought out‍ a sword that⁠‍‍ he placed on Vlad’s shoulder.

The‍ silver knight, shining‌‍ radiantly, was much‍ larger and brighter⁠ than when he‍‍ saw it in‌⁠‌ the young world⁠⁠ tree.

[Will‍‌ you accept only‌⁠ what is rightly⁠ yours, always honorable?]‌

Do‌‌ not covet what‍⁠ belongs to others‍⁠⁠ nor take anything,⁠‍‍ only receive what‍ is rightfully mine.⁠

Remembering‍‍ the knight’s rules‌ once taught by the blue moon,⁠⁠‍ Vlad finally could⁠ look Kihano in‌ the eyes.

“Yes.”‍‍

[Having⁠ sworn to fulfill all your duties,‍‍ from today you‍‍ are the master‌⁠ of yourself.]

With‍‌ Kihano’s declaration, a ray of light⁠ from a star,⁠⁠ not dragon’s blood,‍ began to reside‌‍ in Vlad’s beating⁠ heart.

Not as I was‍⁠ born, but as I want to⁠‍ be.

So‌‍ Vlad looked at‌‌ the star residing‌⁠ in his heart.‌‌

The‍ sword broke and‌ in the end,‍ he couldn’t reach⁠‌ the blue moon,⁠⁠ but Vlad could‌‍ still hold a star in his‍ heart with which‍ he could dream again.

That⁠ star was the light that had‍‌⁠ always illuminated the‍⁠ child from closer.⁠‍

And‌ when called by‌‍ its name, that⁠⁠ star is known‍⁠ as the master⁠ of the sword.⁠⁠