Chapter 207: The Flag is a Red Rose (2)
vbNt8kIn the depths of the sea, as if light had never reached there.gUdeG
u84Whitish bubbles were emerging.KcVtK
xB7LAs soon as they touched the water’s surface, the bubbles burst, dispersing the breath they contained and merging into the mist of the same color.nlyL3Ez
7dDZT-······.OuJ
HF4XIf you look up from the depths of the sea, the undulating surface of the water soon looks like the night sky.zLA
zCAPJust like what you see now.pzDsPe
1mERqEyes that had been asleep in the depths of the sea moved slightly at the golden glow they hadn’t seen in a long time.mZzT2
i9jXDDBubbles were rising from the darkness, constantly, without stopping. Probably, the denser than usual mist was due to the bubbles continuously rising.JtwGlo1
aGUG***lVnxjL
hXUdD“Oooh…”9tnsJ
JZrj3The Nidavellir forge was filled with suffocating heat.C9EB8I
8ppXNibelun exclaimed in amazement, watching the brass tubes emitting steam nonstop.NCI8Rm
mxZ5“I don’t know how these things work.”fYaeD
vIS76O“Calm down.”bbW
PlLTC“How do they move by themselves? No matter how much I look, I don’t see anything magical about it.”6kV
c6WuAs Vlad and Nibelun surveyed the brass tube, they saw a row of bellows that seemed to be about the size of a ship.DuZ3c
uZDFiWlThe bellows blowing air on their own without anyone moving them gave Vlad a strange feeling of pressure.BsL
7WIifM“Why did you bring the cat by your side?”Ilx
AUK8“…It’s not that I wanted to bring it with me.”vDlsL
xSD0bbVlad sighed, feeling a bit uncomfortable with the blacksmiths who had been glancing at them for a while.1mPa7
Cmnx2o“The new armor you gave me is excellent. I thought it would be uncomfortable because of its size, but not at all.”BH5
qThgsQB“Humph. This young one already knows how to flatter. How brazen.”bnRn
XaC“I’m just saying I like it. Why are you getting so angry?”2Sz
matEntering Rukhta’s workshop, Vlad squinted his left eye towards the tall, old furnace.nhzihT
SPz5mThere, peering through the world, was indeed a young lizard looking at Vlad, just as Baradis had said.PK8GySb
AfePC04“By the way, what about my sword? It doesn’t seem like anyone else can handle it.”Cvg
X3FfZ6i“What did you leave me? Be content with the armor.”lfxssc
MDN8“I didn’t leave you anything, but doesn’t Jorge have something he left you?”VeNAUXA
pEiJxPAlthough resorting to old connections was a bit petty, Vlad didn’t want to miss the opportunity.6ff2
UbTAHBecause before him now was the most outstanding blacksmith he had ever seen.RAWjnp
zJuVlad had a vague suspicion that he probably wouldn’t be able to sharpen his sword unless it was now.Ju2g3DO
DxEc0Y“…Damn you.”0i9Y3An
SM2uWhen the old dwarf silently extended his hand, Vlad gladly smiled and placed his sword on it.c7hW5
mEgKaAThe young lizard, who was watching the scene, began to blink as if recognizing the sword Vlad carried.c0iAx0
Cq1d“The value of life is something persistent. Even at this age, I can’t stop.”Qa3
yzLsET“Sorry, but there’s no one else who can help me.”rv2epHs
9zjRThe tone was direct, but the hand that received it was cautious.1VzvC
XmDthRukhta, who was examining Vlad’s sword with sharp eyes, let out a small sigh to himself.wsC
9x076te“No wonder.”FDu
qyyThe blue sword that the craftsman examined with his eyes was so shabby that it made Vlad worry.xSn
drNThe blade was dull enough to make you think it had been cutting enemies with ease.LFFbn
sgs“Just sharpen it. I’ll find the materials I mentioned earlier.”43WYm1
ngR“…Even with the materials, this sword can’t be sharpened.”82Gyu0
vCWKzZA blacksmith who says that although he has spent his whole life near the fire, he can’t sharpen a sword.69S
SqwdeSeeing Rukhta like this, Vlad was stunned and seemed perplexed.cIi7
Dg221Lo“Can’t even sharpen it? Is working with black iron that hard?”fRXP
WI8l6“It’s not that. It’s not difficult in that sense.”4aK
6I2ExA sword made by the priestess of the world tree calling an old blacksmith beyond the threshold of the underworld.AP4yR
GDKI thought it wouldn’t be easy to handle because both the materials and the manufacturing process were unusual, but I never imagined even Rukhta would shake his head.tUI
4m219b“Then in what sense?”R4Qmiz
u8l“It’s not a matter of skill or materials. No one can sharpen this blade because…”8YFH
WKTiHwtRukhta, who was quietly looking at Vlad’s sword, brushed the blade with his finger.y2B9y
PfTffA humming sound spread through the forge.13e7IC
EMjGc4It was a sound clearly audible despite all the surrounding noise.R8CJBW
8s8G“Because this isn’t a sword.”RK0JPk
WvSVOV“…What?”bTx
1qBw“The one who made it made it look like a sword, but it’s not.”TxbZY7R
z3hWith the humming of the blade, the little dragon began to shake its head happily.s5F
k9l0Xp5Vlad, who had his left eye closed, could see faint rays of light coming from his sword following the sound.xFIx
mah“…I don’t understand what you’re saying.”xA3P
C7ff8Gu“You’re still too young to fully understand.”H7cFD
OX9inByRukhta suddenly moved away from Vlad and held the hammer he had set down.y0UZH
RgvpcThen the dwarf craftsman struck the glowing red iron without saying a word.2bZ
v13LVlad just watched Rukhta’s back as he hammered without saying a word.Uc8jNCA
AYRR“You can’t force a specific shape on a young possibility that doesn’t know what it wants to be.”EiU0
Nd7er9Clang! Clang!oSJMO
LUrpUnder the careless hammering, the red-hot iron gradually began to take shape.0CXo
M1xAn ingot of iron that was born as a meaningless stone but takes on a new form in the presence of fire and hammer.SRh
MKWbO9However, it was not clear if the gradually changing appearance was really what it wanted.tyU7HqH
aL3bF“Take care. Today might be the last time we meet.”hLrYb4
gCQjWith those words, Rukhta simply concentrated on his work in silence.czKZo
o3PABecause he had given all the advice he could.RIU1kOh
xEeWhether or not Vlad, the sword’s master, understood the advice was up to him.wABk
mTIik“…Saying it’s the last time, what bad luck.”oOL
S2BLVlad slowly began to walk the path he had traveled, looking at Rukhta’s back without saying anything else.sD5fW
DhxcE4gAll the blacksmiths he saw upon leaving seemed busy.sJqb
dQa2iTIt looked like everyone was sharpening their iron in preparation for the upcoming storm.VQJRl
WJxF***lrm
57TS7“The Barbosa fleet has entered our waters.”rf9
llbDa“According to the report, the fleet numbers at least 40 ships.”Nj1Gd
r5tu0D3The complexion of the chiefs began to darken as they heard the report from the side.HFo
HESBkxMore concerning than the number of ships was the fact that the fleet would likely carry at least a thousand soldiers.IMpZUpv
5rSjHowever, the number of Nidavellir forces that could oppose them was only 7 battleships and hundreds of dwarves, so the atmosphere in the conference room was understandably tense.lu6gdkb
BA1Tn“…The inevitable has arrived.”144B
jmI7However, even now as the crisis approached, the eyes of War Chief Olmukar showed not the slightest hesitation.8ESxE4
H6lNot only Olmukar, but everyone here knew that something like this would happen someday.ztD
oESTThey just hoped that day wasn’t today.arfd
EgygciM“When will Barbosa’s fleet arrive?”jb3
xTgP“If they don’t lose their way and come directly… probably in less than three days.”3DvaJYl
qGo7598“Three days.”DSqZuT
MZThIt was that close.MvI
aQ3VaYIThe distance between humans and dwarves was that short.8OHVtL
i6FSome chiefs still cautiously suggested waiting for the storm to pass, but Olmukar sensed they could no longer avoid the threat from the Golden Duke.xHyBX
YCK“Joseph Bayezid. Does the proposal you mentioned still stand?”aHkWVP
9Dkzg“Of course, War Chief. We in the North still want to have close ties with Nidavellir.”oSm
jvM“Then, could the North provide us with some support against this threat?”z94WYD
mxAxt“We could, but time would be a problem.”C6427zs
xcQThe enemy was now within reach, and for the North, the only closest port was Nassau.AUN2m
5grsIt was practically impossible to get ships to sail there in just three days.JU0
ylRpXP“I understand. I just want to send at least the children, women, and the elderly to a safe place. Is that possible?”5CRzx
nIWSvtaThe idea of a desperate retreat only applied to the warriors. As the leader of Nidavellir, Olmukar had to think about the future and planned to evacuate at least the most vulnerable.T4tWIu
DTJ0“I respect the War Chief’s choice. If that’s the case, Bayezid’s discretion alone will suffice.”lMBn8K
jYUolZL“Thank you.”9wH
9jrkYAccording to the old saying of the dwarves, only those who lend a hand in times of crisis are true friends.Ja3Jf7
mVXAlthough the North and Bayezid had something they wanted, receiving this level of favor showed they were completely different from the West.FIERMu
URaAXT2“Gather all the ships you can, except the warships. Even fishing boats will do.”F8e3k
FVDLhkw“Understood, War Chief.”0U4e
TYIPAFrom the most perfect era of dragons to the current era of empires, there have always been beings trampled underfoot in the great world, in every time.NP3X
jvtipOnly the names of those who trample them have changed, but in a reality that has not changed at all, the powerless must once again leave the island that was their home.KovNp
ENIyP“Why this atmosphere? We know what we must do, so it’s better this way!”Zk19ev
vubg2Bang-!nzYt0U
Jr6As in the distant past, the first war chief once again told his compatriots to prepare for a long retreat to safety. He made no effort to hide his trembling lips, filled with rage.EZmpAm
3WtC“If they approach, we will face them, and if they threaten us, we will destroy them! There is no other way!”44692
Xx24e6UAs Olmukar prepared for his last fight, passionate words came out of his mouth like molten metal.2cy
1zw7Mn“This island is the last hope! If we lose even this place, our descendants will spend their entire lives wandering like the beast men who have lost even their hometown to return to!”Iky5S
DrXpWe cannot repeat the same mistakes as before.exXSg7o
U7uSRrThe elders nodded at Olmukar’s words to prepare for the final resistance.wE8
jlisThe only thing that can save you is yourself.ORN
A2i2rrThe Nidavellir Dwarven Liberation Front was a place where those committed to this gathered.DgW
gOD***o7qXA
VPF1Unlike yesterday, the island of Lemnos began to be busier.KXCbQPm
7t1RAThis was because everyone here knew there wasn’t much time left to leave the island and avoid the approaching storm.X8L
LdUCMNs“This is the first time I’ve seen an evacuation procession.”iQOh
ESNqt“Me too.”YPeFDzi
tms9Oi“Where?”8nM
RKCipMD“A place called Wisteria Village.”zUx
HPtWEkIt was the same scene as back then.h96UGwE
bC7NKlThe current scene was of elderly people carrying their burdens on their backs and women busily moving, holding their children by the hand.HVjkR
XVtYAt the port, there was only a heavy atmosphere, where everyone tried to keep pace.L3nd5x
JVY8W“How many of us are there?”oB2
xSkq“About 50, surprisingly few. Everyone knows the Zemina needs repairs.”4C8
abiYrHarven seemed devastated by the reality of transporting unexpected refugees, let alone the compensation he expected.or1S
XjEHowever, the reason he didn’t show it might be because he was considerate of the children passing by.1wA
3pI“Take them to another ship.”4OKv
foleb“Huh?”KLku
cMphCK0“Don’t take any refugees.”ZkfSRVq
e4HAfter observing the refugees for a while, Vlad saw a group of blacksmiths boarding a ship carrying a familiar high furnace in the distance.jLiqF
NRRHDzWhen he closed his left eye, he saw a young lizard sticking its head out of the old furnace, looking depressed and dejected.jLFJjL
SCa“Why? There are already not enough ships.”w5Es
xjngnziVlad nodded as he watched Baradis looking at him from the ship.I7Nxrw
WFU9Z1A revelation from a priestess that can only be recognized when encountered.jYfCj90
QOZOIvYVlad, who had already experienced a revelation once, decided not to ignore the warning his intuition was telling him.g695SBc
id7z“I have a bad feeling.”M1xE
uuM3The port behind the sunset was filled with ships leaving the island.9s3oHcd
pFWqzFollowing them, the Zemina began to slowly unfurl its sails.CFJK
sHUjeZSOnly the pink flag fluttering above the billowing sails pointed toward the island of Lemnos.bNT3
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