Chapter 198: The Smile of a Mother (2)
Q5eRMm0Joseph’s office was situated at the end of the hallway on the third floor.QTXRx7
j46Though it was a secluded place, it was quiet and allowed one to immerse in their thoughts.wCCYG
HBbIS5Vlad had always appreciated that space, where sunlight lingered the longest within the Bayezid mansion.kGwujYf
Ukyyr“Mr. Joseph, I have arrived,” said Vlad as he knocked on the familiar door.0OOyeSA
5AXE9W9While waiting, he looked out the hallway window. The afternoon sunlight filtering through the glass was just like in his days as a squire.7GWL
NKb“Come in,” a voice called from inside. The scene that greeted him upon opening the door was also familiar. Jager stood with his usual indifferent expression, and Bordan was seated at the visitor’s table, reviewing documents.uiMZzk
8DYheH“You did well to come all this way, Vlad,” said Joseph. Although much had happened since then, the unchanged view of the office comforted Vlad.j0cFR
RmMx“I have returned, Sir Joseph,” said Vlad, not realizing he was using those words instead of many other possible greetings.3xpO
f0JWith each step he took, the scenery around him transformed, but that place remained the same as the first time he saw it.w4jopj
sYT“Well done.”SkWK
P3GcpbHowever, one thing had changed in that place where it seemed time had stopped: Joseph, sitting before him with the sunlight behind him, looked much more haggard than the last time they met.zsdsAgE
uC6BSeeing Joseph in that state added a touch of sadness to Vlad’s smile.krqxb
3oyr3nhJoseph paused while taking out tea from the cabinet and, after a moment’s hesitation, grabbed a bottle of whisky. He must have remembered that Vlad liked that whisky.6Vhq
zwD“You’ve already got yourself a mage. You’re better than I am,” said Joseph.yamxu
0DK“His name is Nibelun, Sir Joseph.”TlNcqXm
q0L50Joseph, who had brought the bottle, looked at Nibelun with curiosity. It was hard not to notice the man with amber eyes and blue fur.fF5Vv
plvsGcO“Are you from the south? A mage with amber eyes and blue fur…” murmured Joseph, narrowing his eyes as he observed Nibelun. Though he was gaunt, Joseph’s eyes shone brightly.IKPPkj8
tyKsQA“You seem to be from the main island,” he added.NzmY
dwO“Yes, you guessed right,” replied Nibelun, surprised.vi8r
aOwEw“No, I just deduced and it appears I was correct,” said Joseph. He was good at drawing conclusions from the information he had and his intuition.lvKrV
8CsVlad, who had spent some time with Nibelun and barely knew where he was from, looked at Joseph in amazement.mN8o
IBOs1V“I’ve heard about your exploits. You accomplished something in Bastopol this time, didn’t you?” continued Joseph.EeT8NEv
TIx“It was nothing extraordinary,” replied Vlad.2xb
zf6There was no need to envy what one did not have, Vlad thought, as he also possessed things that Joseph did not.TP2c2
SWv0Both complemented each other like puzzle pieces, each providing what the other lacked.GBOijs
VR5L“Destroying Mirshea of Dragulia is no small feat. That’s beyond modesty,” commented Joseph.ZFQrmu
2ay“Really?” said Vlad, glancing at Jager as if seeking approval. He seemed a bit boastful, like a young man who had not yet fully matured.6rvQ
ETq“What are you looking at?” asked Jager.Qx0vsr
A4o4Q8y“Nothing,” replied Vlad. Jager, who would have once kicked Vlad in the shin for behaving that way, now refrained from doing so.Uxs
Nq49tHe could no longer do it, not just because Vlad had surpassed his status, but because he understood that Vlad was seeking his approval.f2iQgIa
fcWg“Thank you for coming all this way to see me,” said Joseph as he poured Vlad a drink.TFuGN
CMCzcQWith a deep look, he added, “As we said when we parted, you didn’t have to come back. Especially seeing how far you’ve come.”hFyWsz
u5F0qJoseph raised his glass, reflecting on Vlad’s growth, who was now beyond his reach in many ways.WYTkd4
t6Kh“Our contract is over. I have nothing more to offer you and you nothing to take from me,” said Joseph, the atmosphere in the office growing heavier.IqDZNWe
jMkThe loyalty between them had been based on honor rather than allegiance, but the fact that Joseph mentioned the end of the contract was his final act of consideration toward Vlad.oKf3
oTW6Gi“I will soon depart for Nassau. My only hope now lies with the dwarves of Nidavellir,” added Joseph. With Sturma no longer an option, he was heading towards the sea in search of an uncertain future.EfUTdU5
DRDIn the silence of the office, the sound of a plate sliding broke the calm.6FCl
niUcPTBordan offered Vlad a tray of sweets, looking at him with an anxious gaze.oMaN
KNfEUmiThough he was Joseph’s knight, his contract with him had ended, and although he was Bayezid’s knight, he had been able to become independent from the moment he received the surname of Aureo.k2A
7HLozKlAnd this whole process was a legitimate freedom that took place with the consent of Joseph and Peter.ulN0rC
U3h“…I plan to become independent,” said Vlad, looking at the sweets. “You took me in, Sir Joseph, and Bayezid gave me a home, but now I know I am free. However, if you permit me, this time I want to accompany you, Sir Joseph. Even though the contract has ended, I feel I still owe you a debt.”q3Gs4
toflM9YJoseph nodded, understanding that Vlad would no longer follow orders but his own will.ueF
u2w“Then, let’s prepare for the journey to Nassau,” said Joseph, raising his glass high. Though he regretted Vlad’s departure, he was proud of the knight he had become, one of the greatest achievements of his life.TVCLBn0
QW65Hlw“This time, we head to the sea.”lb4UY
c3o4dIThe last to leave, Joseph, was preparing for his own odyssey, knowing he had fulfilled his final duty.ERl2Is7
RSDq***m6zAqS
CJP4cTThree days have passed since we arrived in Sturma.k3cRI
GoeHowever, the reason you can’t leave immediately, even if you decide to, is probably because you need to ensure the preparations are complete for traveling in the middle of winter.magU3F
tVgEven now, the courtyard was filled with luggage stacked for Joseph’s departure procession.3pB
AsD“Nidavellir… Nidavellir. Nidavellir.”kxr
qi3vHF“Yes. Nidavellir.”9Vpgsd8
Te8wuoUNibelun seemed excited at the idea of going to an unknown land he had never visited before.tqj7
KCMdcHowever, unlike Nibelun, Vlad was filled with uncomfortable feelings.Spm8sZ
G5lNRHd“…Those arrogant bastards…”3zca6
5TOMxxU“Huh?”lPkuYm
dVOTCQxVlad, who had been looking out the window with his arms crossed, began to leave as if he couldn’t take it anymore.GRNt
RRbThe fluttering steps seemed to show how angry Vlad felt.BtQ4
a6T“…That’s why you’re upset.”QvE
9RdTVNibelun looked out the window to see what was happening and understood Vlad’s feelings upon seeing the scene below.h3qBw
r3cLThe servants showed a disingenuous attitude despite Bordan’s reprimand.vCco
yObF5Joseph was a descendant of Bayezid and the countess’s son, but the servants’ attitude was indifferent, as if those words were now a thing of the past.CIeUq7
a0K5“Can I carry this?”aHgo
FEEkIRa“Yes?”pfxhay
eAM“Can I carry this?”EevGni
oX5IsXOne of the joking servants was surprised to see Vlad growling in front of him.glJ
r9udeBN“No. I… I…”p9WW7ku
49lbNQ“No. It seems you all are having a hard time, so take a break.”8NpW
by4vA noble knight.yYlae
qIaHowever, the servants silently screamed in astonishment when they saw Vlad carrying the luggage in his hand with his sword strapped to his back.IDJE
jfvySxd“I’ll let you rest a bit after this.”sRTC4PH
h68“We’re sorry, Sir Vlad!”MOBqqw
p3tYVlad’s dark eyes while he carried each load were colder than the snowstorm hitting Sturma’s walls.P5YeymY
KmeBordan, seeing Vlad carrying luggage from afar, sighed as if he were speechless.pR3j
kLVkdnvIt seemed unfamiliar because it revealed the pitiful appearance he had tried so hard to hide.6jA
MQ4kB“It wasn’t this bad originally…”w08
RE4hlRO“Let’s hurry. Before Sir Joseph sees it.”EpD
cGsBordan felt embarrassed discovering the current situation, but Vlad was silently moving the luggage as if nothing had happened.oXjt
1v7He just hurried because he didn’t want Joseph to see what he was seeing instead of bothering to carry the load.gP1O
dyNYA“I told you to rest, you bastards!”5lBz
uEmXDx1“Your personality is still the same, Vlad.”HNU6U
2XcJ4mVlad was yelling at the servant trying to carry the luggage, but the voice he heard was very familiar.6ufyi7
jFhe6di“…Portly?”dv541n
8ow“Hehe. How have you been?”yjT
wzqTRThe only friend and source of water he received from Sturma.KtHX
vM6PPortly, the youngest member of the Kannor family, carried the luggage with trembling cheeks, looking even chubbier.dUKnW
iAbb“What is going on here?”KoHg6sb
ybHzA0“I came because you said you were here… No!”P2z
72FHowever, although he had tried to move it, he had to set the box down immediately, probably because he didn’t have the strength to carry it.VV60sK
QgSslq“I didn’t know you were doing this here.”bCY7
OIqyf“I didn’t know I would be here like this.”aCO
h5EUVKiVlad had a stern expression on his face while looking at Portly, whom he hadn’t seen in a long time, but he didn’t let go of the grim look in his eyes.HFyd
D0xThe servants approached hesitantly to carry the luggage, but their pale faces remained the same.B0eYaWs
Sumi“…Since when has it been like this?”QalE
OEoN“It’s fine. In fact, Sir Joseph fell seriously ill as soon as he arrived here.”mRYX5
q6FNot only did he lose his right by being eliminated from the competition for head of the family, but Joseph suffered greatly as soon as he arrived.9cHhyi3
QbGTPPerhaps some of Bayezid’s vassals would have preferred to die like this.vNE7P
vRNUnB“I guess it was a big problem because the priests also came. It seems now you’ve regained your strength.”YpKj
lNos“Yes?”ykoRttQ
udNHPortly responded while carrying the luggage despite the difficulty, but Vlad’s feelings were mixed when he heard that.WJlmG
7JEIt was certainly a difficult sight for anyone to see the person who was like a tree blocking his way gradually declining.fMA9LI
5NAXNT“I’ll follow you on this journey as well. I think we’ll probably serve Sir Joseph together until then.”pM3zAt
K4C9Z“Why?”SOyjS
D6OHcb“This time a new branch opened in Nassau. I think I’ll be working there now.”d4w
6wqWith those words, Portly pulled a bundle of paper from his arms and waved it in front of Vlad.U5eWA
Ysb“What’s that? Sausage?”NaCAr
Kll4zP“It’s similar.”I2AwxB
CzXVE7When I unwrapped the paper, what I found was not a bright red sausage but a piece of yellow meat with an unusual shape.5d55rP
3qby2R“It’s like a sausage made from fish meat. Bayezid is now facing the sea, right? I think there will definitely be demand.”7B5tFJ
fAN6L0“Wow.”OoU0
lsDmiVEWhen Portly gestured for him to try it, Vlad took a bite without hesitation.kUUG
asXOThe salty flavor that spread was indeed a completely different taste from any sausage he had ever tried.SCi
ZdC“There’s something called squid on the west coast. I think it will work well if you use it.”TGW
dla4z3j“Squid? I saw that once too.”Fh0u
PURvBVlad, who was stuffing a new sausage, heard Portly’s words and recalled the strange creatures that had followed the ship by the night sea when they were escaping from Nassau.g8GE
5jej7ePAlthough the appearance was strange, it seemed to remind me of Harven’s words when he said it tasted good.s1GvE
ZgJ035n“Do you have more of this? If you do, let’s go to my room later and eat some more.”SA4c5
5jBNow, looking at the servants moving quickly, Vlad pulled out a familiar bottle of liquor from a nearby box.HvQ3
irckYT“This was here.”BWh
R7ykv“What is that?”cFVuSln
fJHxpnA bottle of liquor, filled with a dull brown color, gleamed in Vlad’s hand.p7k3so
jeJXPortly frowned involuntarily when he saw the bottle, which seemed somewhat sticky.dId
IXZoza3“This kind of drink goes well with a bad day like today.”7gJj1
t1SdsOeJoseph probably remembered the dwarves who liked Captain Q.M9n6l2N
KRLEVlad nodded, looking at the bottle of alcohol he had brought specifically for departing to their land.tsY
SNLf“Let’s finish this quickly and go.”titFDwV
fxSN“Go? There are servants.”x2q
vcFu“I know what these people will do after I leave.”5Jpx
chZgJLVlad, worried about leaving Bordan alone, decided to finish his work and go.j7o
tGoBIt seemed they had already hired some people to help with the luggage while they moved it.K68o
MrZ“…”WUV
fngSUvThe work resumed in the bloody atmosphere created by Vlad.v0aoY
KzzThe servants carrying the luggage, unable to even breathe properly, began loading Joseph’s luggage with a tense look, unlike before.PSxP1
uoCBordan nodded as if finally satisfied while watching them pour their sincerity into every piece of luggage they unloaded.cxo9ct
Kfkpr7D“…Thank you very much.”k9P
M9tYPThere were eyes silently watching Vlad move his luggage from up there.RWhDDTg
U8dVUZYThe noblewoman with green hair simply watched the knight carrying the luggage for her son.VdILLM
gk0AiB9The knight who returned with her son when everyone else was leaving.7cxdZb
lmlAlthough all that was given were some sets of clothes and armor, the interest at that time seemed very warm for Vlad.oTIi67R
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