Star-Embracing Swordmaster — Chapter 203: In Strange Tides (1)

Chapter 203: In Strange Tides (1)

The motion of the‍ throat swallowing was‍ vigorous beyond the‌ trembling candle.

However,⁠‍‌ even through the‍⁠ alcohol-clouded gaze, the‍ boiling anger within⁠ was unmistakable.

“We⁠‍ don’t trust humans.”‍‌

Although‍‍ it was a banquet to welcome the guests, the atmosphere at the‌‌ table where Joseph‌ sat was heavy.

Even⁠⁠ now, if you‌⁠ stood up and⁠‍ walked a few‍ steps, you would‌ find it filled⁠ with people joyfully‍‍ drunk.

Joseph‌‌‌ silently set down the cup he‌‍ was holding, sensing‌‌ an odd atmosphere,‌ as if the‌‍⁠ space had been‌‌ divided.

“Even⁠‌ so, the reason‍⁠ we sought you⁠‌⁠ out was because‍ we saw a ray of hope.”‌⁠‌

Fugitives‌ and survivors, now⁠ risen as an⁠‍ alliance to liberate⁠ their kin, Nidavellir.‌‌

Olmukar,‌⁠ the great chief‌‌ of Nidavellir, looked⁠‍ at Joseph, who‌⁠ was seated across‌ from him, with‍‍ an evaluative gaze.⁠‌

“If‌ we help you,⁠ can you become⁠ the next head‌‍ of the Bayezid⁠‌ family?”

“…”⁠

Olmukar‍ wasn’t making this‍‍ offer to Joseph‌ just because he‍‌‍ had saved the⁠ young dwarves in‌‌ the past.

It’s‍ because no one⁠ is as good at predicting what you want as‍‍ what is clear.‍

For‌ Nidavellir, Joseph’s situation,‌ who had been‍⁠⁠ excluded from the‌⁠ competition for leadership‍‍ and needed help,⁠ was an attractive‌⁠‍ enough alternative.

“Originally,‍‌ we became what‌⁠ we are now⁠ because we relied⁠ on the lords of the west. Nidavellir will not‍⁠ repeat the mistakes‍ of our ancestors.”‌

They depended on others‌‍ and thus ended⁠ up in this‍‍ situation.

The‌ dwarves, who had⁠‍‍ learned the lesson‌‌‍ through painful years,‌ now wanted to‍ take the initiative‌ themselves no matter⁠ what.

“If you promise to‍‍ become the head‌ of the Bayezid and meet our‌⁠ demands, we will‍‌ provide you with the best possible support.”

They‌‍ could provide ships,‌‍ technology, and even soldiers.

As long as in‍‍ the future you‌ follow our orders.‌‌

Although‌ it would be difficult to oppose⁠ the Bayezid directly,‍ if they used‍⁠‌ Joseph’s banner to‍‌‍ change the balance⁠ of power, Nidavellir‌‍ could attempt it.‍

“I‍ appreciate your kind‍⁠ words, Great Chief.”‌

Olmukar⁠ was convinced that‍ Joseph would have‍‌ no choice but‌⁠ to accept his⁠‍‍ offer.

For⁠ Joseph, whose last‍ chance depended solely⁠⁠ on Nidavellir, this⁠⁠ was his last‍‍‍ resort.

If‍ he didn’t want‍‌ to remain a loser, Joseph had to take his⁠ hand.

“However…⁠‍⁠ I think you‌ are somewhat misunderstood.‌ That’s not what⁠ I want from‌⁠‍ Nidavellir.”

However,‌‌ Joseph only thanked⁠ Olmukar for the⁠⁠ offer and showed‌‌ little interest.

Joseph,‍ who set down‌ his drink, only‍ displayed calmness, like⁠‌ a gentle greeting,⁠⁠ instead of the⁠ urgency of the‍‍ crowd.

“Then,‌⁠ what brought you‍‌ to this far-off‌⁠ place?”

Joseph,‍ who said he⁠ didn’t need a ship or an‍ army, quietly took⁠ out a small⁠‍ letter in response‌ to Olmukar’s question.‌

A letter completely covered‌ in black tone.⁠‌

Even‍ from the outside,⁠‍ it was a letter that seemed‌‌ to contain all‍‍ sorts of sinister‌‍ things.

“That is…”

“This⁠ is a letter⁠⁠‌ from someone in‌⁠ a city full⁠‌ of fog.”

Joseph sent the ominous‌‌ letter, placing it‌‌ under a wine‌ glass.

Now, black eyes without‍ dark shadows looked‌‍ at the war⁠‌ chief of Nidavellir.‌⁠

“For‍ this inevitable great⁠‌ cause, I would‍‍‍ like you to⁠ lend me the‌⁠ divine tools of‍ the dwarves.”

“…What?”⁠

It⁠ was Olmukar who‌⁠ thought he had control of the⁠ conversation, but that‌ was just his‌⁠⁠ illusion.

A strategist who knows‍ clearly what he⁠‌ wants can be‌‌ predictable.

However,‌ Olmukar had no‍‌ way of guessing‌‍ what the young‌‌ man sitting across‍⁠ from him wanted.‍⁠

***⁠⁠

In⁠ Soara, in Varna,‌ and in Sturma.‍

The⁠ tallest and largest‌ building in the‍‍ city was, of⁠ course, the church.‍

“…It’s‌‌ incredibly large. Just like the church.”⁠‌‍

And‍‌ here, on the⁠⁠ island of Lemnos,‍‍ there was a building comparable to‌‌‍ a human church.‍‍

The⁠ only difference is⁠ that, unlike the‍ cool atmosphere of⁠ the church, it⁠ feels warm here.‍

[Because⁠‍‌ this is a forge. For dwarves, it’s a place‍⁠ of faith and belief.]

The‌ sound of hammering‌ is constantly heard.‍‍

Vlad’s⁠⁠ mouth opened as⁠ he looked at‍ the dwarves sweating‍ and hammering all⁠‍ around.

The‍ current scene, which⁠⁠ was quite different⁠ from the back-alley forge, was truly‍‌ like a new‌‌ world that Vlad⁠ encountered for the⁠‍‍ first time.

“Welcome.‌ Hey! Don’t do‌ anything else in⁠‌⁠ a dangerous place!”⁠⁠

The‌ old dwarf let⁠ out a loud‌ shout while looking‍‍ at Vlad, who‌ was unable to‌‌ recover his senses,⁠‍‍ staring around.

It‌‌ was a warning to be careful,‍⁠‌ but to the⁠ listener, the sharp‌‍⁠ voice struck first.‍‍⁠

“It‍‌ seems everyone gets weird when they⁠ are in front⁠‍⁠ of the fire.”⁠⁠

[Let’s⁠ call it craftsmanship.]⁠

The‍ name of the⁠ old man was⁠‌‌ Rukhta.

A person who has lived for a long time, knows⁠⁠ many of the⁠⁠ visions of the⁠‍ dwarves, and has⁠‍⁠ been severely exploited‍ by Gaidar in‍⁠ the West.

And⁠‍ long ago, he‌⁠ was a person⁠ who received a miraculous service that‌‌ saved Jorge’s life.⁠⁠‍

“Take⁠ off the armor.”⁠

“Why.”‍

“Why‍ why? What does‍⁠ it mean for‌ a blacksmith to‍‍ ask for armor‌ in the forge?”⁠

Rukhta⁠‍‌ led Vlad to⁠ the highest workshop,‍ where only artisans‍⁠ could go up.‍‌

Several‌ dwarves sighed as‍ they saw Vlad daring to go‍‌‌ up to a place they couldn’t‍ reach.

“Can⁠ you… repair it?”⁠‌

“Yes.”‍

Rukhta nodded slightly in‍⁠ response to Vlad’s⁠‌ cautious question.

Although⁠ he was neither‍‍ a blood son‍ nor a successor by will, the⁠ only trace Jorge‍ left was Vlad‍‌‍ in front of him.

That’s⁠ why Rukhta was‌‍‍ willing to lend⁠‍ his hammer to‍ Vlad.

Because⁠⁠ the dagger Vlad⁠⁠ carried now was just a sample‍ of his promise‌⁠ to return a favor he hadn’t‌ received.

“I⁠‍ don’t have money.”⁠

“…I⁠ won’t accept any‍‍ money, so please‍ give it to⁠‍⁠ me.”

When Rukhta said he‌‌ would do it‍‍ for free, Vlad⁠‍ quickly took off‍⁠ the armor along⁠ with his cloak.‌

I was already wondering⁠ if I should buy another armor‍⁠ instead of the⁠ elf armor that‌‌ no one could⁠ repair.

“The⁠‌ furnace is here.”

“He’s my favorite.”

Vlad‌‍ smacked his lips‍‍‍ as he looked‍ at the familiar‍‍ furnace hanging in⁠ the workshop.

It‍‍ was a strange‌‌ feeling to keep‌⁠ finding traces of⁠‍ Soara on an‍⁠ unknown and distant‌ island.

If‌⁠ he had closed⁠‍ his left eye,‍‍‌ he would have‍ been able to‍‌ see a young‌ lizard wagging its⁠⁠ tail at him.⁠

“Leave⁠⁠ your dagger and go. I’ll take‍ care of it.”‍

“Then‍‌ maybe it’s black…”‍

Rukhta,‌ who had aged,‍‌ squinted as he‌ saw Vlad trying‌‍ to subtly ask‌ for the sword.⁠

Apparently,‌⁠ this fool thought‌ it was just‌‌ a sword.

“No⁠‌ sword.”

“…Why?”‍‌

“Because⁠ there’s no suitable‌ material to handle‍‍‍ that.”

It⁠⁠ was just a request to sharpen‍‌⁠ the blade, but‌‌ Vlad felt embarrassed⁠‌‍ when he saw‍ Rukhta talking about‍ materials in such‍⁠⁠ a grandiose manner.‌

“Do⁠ you even need⁠ materials to build‌⁠⁠ a sword?”

“That’s⁠ that kind of‌ sword. Because it’s‍⁠ still unfinished.”

It‍‌ had the appearance⁠‍ of a sword,‌ but it was⁠ actually a possibility.‌

Rukhta simply averted his‌⁠ gaze while looking‌ at the traces‍⁠⁠ of the World‍ Tree, with which⁠ he didn’t know‌‍ what to do.‌

To⁠ sharpen that sword‍‍‌ and make it stronger would have‍‍ required metal of‌ that quality.

“Just‍‌ go now. It will take a few days.”

“…Alright.”‌‌

I expected him to‍⁠ complain at least a little, but⁠ Vlad simply turned⁠‍ around, scratching his‌ nape in embarrassment.

In‍ fact, if you‍⁠⁠ see Rukhta starting⁠ to focus on‌ his work, you’ll get the feeling‌⁠ that no one‍⁠ should disturb him.⁠

“What‍ do I have⁠ to do to⁠ use a sword‍ like that? Tsk,⁠ tsk.”

After seeing Vlad go‍⁠‌ down, Rukhta began⁠ to look at the armor he‍ had left behind‍ with narrowed eyes.‌

He‍ was the guy‍⁠ who connected with⁠‍‌ Jorge, but he‌ was an unusual‌ guy in everything⁠ he wore and⁠ his way of‍‍ swinging.

“Huh?”‍⁠

Rukhta,‍⁠ who had been⁠‍ frowning while looking‍⁠‌ at the damaged area for a while, looked at⁠ the somewhat uncomfortable‍⁠ part and his⁠‍‍ eyes lit up.⁠

Unlike‍‌ the elaborate armor,‌‍⁠ there was a piece of metal⁠⁠‌ with a different⁠ texture attached to‍ the breastplate, as‍‍‍ if it had⁠‍ been placed there‍ on purpose.

-A⁠ knight who protected the lives of‍ children.

A part of the breastplate made of‌‌‌ a material completely different from the‌‍ armor used.

There‍⁠ was a small‍ phrase engraved there⁠ that reminded me of the old‍‍ scene.

-When‌‌ the children kept⁠ crying.

“…I‍ don’t know what⁠ they are like,‌ but their personalities‌ are exactly the‌ same.”

And‍ even the actions.

Rukhta‍ stroked the words “The knight who⁠⁠‌ protected the children’s‍‍‌ breath” with his‍‍⁠ fingertips and shook‍‌ his head.

It‍ seems the dagger⁠‌‌ he made has‍‍ found its rightful⁠ owner.

***‍⁠

The⁠‍ harbor of the‍‍ island of Lemnos,‌ where the sun‍ is now slowly‍‌‌ setting.

Seeing‌‌ the scene before⁠‍⁠ him, Harven opened⁠‌ his mouth wide‌‍ in disbelief. Although‌‌ not as shocked‍‌ as Harven, Otar‍ and Nibelun, who‌‌ followed him, also‍⁠ looked at the‍‍ location of Zemina‌‌ with expressions of‍ surprise.

“…Otar.‌‍ What am I seeing right now?”⁠‌

“…”⁠‍

“Is⁠ this a dream?”‍

The‌⁠‌ Zemina was on⁠ fire.

Due‌‌ to the flames‌‍ bursting out from⁠ all sides.

Seeing‍‌ the Zemina, as brightly red as‌ the hair of‌ its namesake Lady, Harven’s captain’s hat‍⁠ fell helplessly to⁠ the ground.

“What⁠‌ are you doing?”⁠‍

The⁠‍ speed was incredible for someone using‌ a cane.

Before⁠‌ Otar could stop‌ him, Harven finally‌ grabbed the dwarf‍‍ by the neck‍ and started roaring⁠‌ like a scream‍⁠ with his eyes‌ red.

“Crazy!‍‌ Stop right now!”‌

“No,⁠‍ this is.”

“Stop‌ it, bastard!”

How⁠⁠ many captains can‌ maintain their composure‌ before a burning‍ ship?

The⁠‌‍ dwarf directing the‍‍ work realized that⁠ Harven had completely⁠ misunderstood and quickly⁠ opened his mouth.‌‍

“This is not burning!”

“Save‌ Zemina!”

While the late-arriving mage⁠ stood in shock‍‍ and the captain⁠ went crazy, only‌⁠ the dwarf noticed‍ that their intentions‍ were crossed.

“You‌‌ have to sterilize⁠ it with fire⁠ like this from time to time‌⁠‌ so the things⁠ that eat your⁠ hull disappear! Don’t‌ humans manage this?”‌

“You⁠‌‌ handle it by‍ burning things!”

It‌‌ was common knowledge‍‍ for dwarves, but‌ still unknown to‍ humans.

Harven,⁠⁠‍ who knew how⁠ to remove barnacles and algae from⁠ the bottom of‌ a ship but had no idea⁠ about roasting a ship to disinfect‍ bacteria, couldn’t help but misunderstand what‌ was happening.

“Hmm?”⁠‌

In such contradictory common⁠‌‍ sense, while Harven‌‌ and the foreman‍‌ shouted, one of the dwarves silently‍ roasting the bottom⁠ of the ship‌⁠‍ with a bundle‍‍ of flames on⁠⁠⁠ his back discovered‌ a pearl-like object‍ emitting a strange‍ light.

It⁠⁠ seemed as if‌⁠ it had been‍⁠ glued, as it‍ did not come⁠‌‍ off easily even‍ when removed by‌‍ hand.

“…Isn’t⁠‌ this a pearl?”‍

Nibelun,‌ who had been‌‍ observing the dwarves’‍ astonishing work for‌ a while, suddenly‍⁠⁠ wrinkled his nose.

This⁠ was because he‌ felt a familiar⁠⁠ gust of wind⁠ blowing along the⁠‍ sea.

A sense of mystery‌⁠⁠ that only a mage could feel.

Only⁠ then did Nibelun’s⁠ eyes begin to‌ narrow strangely as‍⁠ he recognized the⁠‌ shining pearl.

The⁠ strange pearl that⁠‌⁠ glowed on its own continued to⁠ blink as if‌ sending some signal.⁠‌