Chapter 214: There is a Path in the Darkness (2)
eFDIt Was Time to Leave, But Winter Seemed Reluctant to Go.Pwl6
Qfc9mThe winter wind lashed against the window, as if trying to hold on.sCnsZ0r
a5mMpaMJoseph had an idea as he gazed at the winter wind blowing through the window.yfrDg
o5h“That’s right, Joseph of Bayezid. You’ve come from far away to find me.”QMW6
GUTgJoseph was pulled from his thoughts by the voice he heard and looked at the man in front of him.h9S
Ls4crAn old man smiling with a crackling fireplace behind him.MO9qDhR
PcfGIHe had an impressive and elegant mustache and was Baron Moldavir, lord of Kisignor, a town around here.N5t
4RnGn2“Thank you for granting me this audience, Baron.”zZM3Yk
KJv7240“This winter has been long, and I’ve had few visitors. Your arrival is welcome.”rxoqZbY
MojbEwWhat he heard was clearly a response full of affection.HgUsuMU
JzbsZHowever, Joseph, who was carefully observing the baron’s eyes, realized that he wasn’t particularly pleased with him.JvMj
SYx“Nevertheless, despite your visit, I can’t help you this time.”DMqwYBi
NVn7dTAs expected, Baron Moldavir, who put down the tea cup just as Joseph had thought, shrugged and continued to refuse.Uk9h
8uSJ“It is difficult to intervene in the affairs of another family without a good reason. Besides, you have already been eliminated from the competition for succession.”cP2xyg
ikSjoBwThe baron didn’t say this with any particular malice, but his words were even sharper for it.HwZOs7
1lcGHe was saying that Joseph’s proposal lacked weight and was just empty noise.UPzN
jkmJbtJoseph, who understood the baron’s words, simply bowed his head in silence.fxD5Qk
XRV“Although I can’t offer you much help, please feel comfortable during your stay here.”uoc
dw5Hs3NDespite seeing little utility in Joseph’s visit, Baron Moldavir didn’t dismiss him abruptly.5L5
KSFiOHThis was because he didn’t want to lose ground to Bayezid, who was now gaining power in some way.ibh6uo
1kIE“By the way, this tea you’ve brought is quite good.”XSOjXE
ZoZQ“I’m glad you like it.”c0g31
I2Cd“Well, although the tea leaves have a black color that isn’t very attractive.”7QUhm
ALfPhPerhaps due to the rejection a moment ago, the air in the room seemed a bit cold.Dp8Qd
JBGUyHFHowever, even in that atmosphere, Joseph showed no signs of disappointment.MshOcul
Ib0X3It seemed too natural to say that he was trying to hide his disappointment.P7WkoUa
OCIa“The tea set and the tea you’ve brought are quite refined for someone so young.”gBtfpF
pvzAV“The cups were a gift from my mother. She always wanted me to drink hot tea instead of ruining myself with alcohol.”PM45k
tvjCJoseph, who was naturally arranging the tea utensils he had taken out, just looked indifferently at the baron, who was drinking tea as if nothing had happened.cbfFBT
uMgRoJoseph’s tea had a sinister black color that made it difficult to call it common green tea.4Ho9I
9D3FWhile watching the baron’s throat slowly swallow the tea, Joseph’s gaze darkened.MSHGtY
oen***0w9h
EDNp5While Joseph was meeting with Baron Moldavir, Vlad and Nibelun were investigating all over Kisignor.mufd
SGnrcecTo be precise, they were looking for rumors that the missing Frausen and the Woman in Black might have left behind.zUz
3msdT“Haa… We’ll have to return to the north.”SC6NCl
8EHGykaHowever, despite all their hard work, there didn’t seem to be any results.9KV
PvKThe knight, elegantly dressed, ruffled his hair in frustration as the nearby patrons began to discreetly leave.uFCp5De
VlpFgO0“The people here really know nothing.”i241qEw
gJl56The tavern owner frowned as he watched the customers leave, but Vlad was lost in his thoughts.XhF
4Hqya“You should try the church. They might have information.”d6qDT
pP7ANAA“…The church here belongs to the Vatican.”QbcEWN
AHAeVlad tapped on his left breastplate as if to check something.taoq
vDK1pVlad touched his left breastplate, clearly showing the inscription that the Pope of the Northern Orthodox Church had engraved.Gdu
C6ZG“They probably hate me more than they hate you, beast-man.”Mpq
xzFBPnF“Oh. That’s not good.”Avw3w
EFyQj3OIn the north, it might have been an honorable phrase, but in the central region, where the Vatican’s power was strong, it was simply evidence of heresy.ofmOj5u
6rFpF0gSince there was nowhere to seek help, Vlad tried to do it himself, but the results he achieved were minimal.78a
Z67sY“…But the way you eat seems very natural, doesn’t it?”MmEG
AyvLVlad’s expression began to darken as he watched Nibelun carelessly biting the skewer in front of him.Y22e
W6ovrJEven the shop owner had an expression that made him shudder, but Nibelun simply offered another skewer to Vlad as if nothing had happened.XiTO
UqUWiX“We need to find him quickly. Dragons keep dying in the west, which is a bad omen.”dWh
xyNu“That’s right.”eAe1za
dhOK3lAs Vlad listened to Nibelun, he thought of Frausen, who had a strange obsession with dragons.NDkd
LSoAnd with him, the Woman in Black who was spreading fog in the city of Moshiam.XFJ
YtPaYh“I hope we can stop him before something happens again.”PCd75
wnqOBringing down evil beings was a natural duty for knights, but Vlad had a somewhat more special motivation.WBy
fvLFrausen is connected to Kihano.1FK
AeBrCAnd from the mist-filled village to the black-clad woman who had long been entangled in a bad relationship.uHNSz
WRc5BrThe continuous appearance of these enemies made him feel an unavoidable obligation.JCV7
L8UQ“It’s a pleasure to see you again, Vlad.”OMcpw
pMOzyE9“…!”s3YT
vmCiWas it because he was lost in worry?ToDb
F6sbjuVlad was startled by the sudden voice.IU1V1Wn
foQ5Apparently, he hadn’t noticed anything until now, but now a man was sitting next to Vlad.LsVoo
LSdP5“Lord Marcus?”DQgyz
evA7“I don’t know what you’re so focused on.”z0GZcN3
rFRqA man with scars all over his face.6KFR9C
Qt3BEi8Marcus, who gave a new name every time they met, took a skewer in front of him and looked at Vlad.tjYFVas
nolgG“…How did you get here?”75kkngR
AfKh“I had some business to attend to.”TpM
Ns5rAlthough it was a familiar and welcome face, Vlad couldn’t help but be on guard.6rePLL
RD8bThis was because Marcus, Bayezid’s hidden sword, couldn’t have come here without any intention.lTh4fJS
17O“What business do you have?”wkx
nWiEBg“As I told you before, I can’t talk about my missions.”72u6V
nSLtT“Are you here for Lord Joseph?”5o7K6c2
MBn9“…”BDRljN
ngAcuMarcus didn’t respond, just looked at the skewer Vlad was holding.kWU
RvC“How is Lord Joseph?”vaHz6
srxIWOg“You should know better than I do.”atVC
YgIJwJoseph has the right to succession, but he had been eliminated from the competition to be head of the family.Bag
iw0The fact that he was traveling alone through the central region and meeting other lords wouldn’t be something that would please Bayezid.rDkDam
RTioVlad suspected Marcus and wondered if that was the reason, but the answer he received was vague.4yqFOa
GYT“I don’t know. At least in appearance, he seems fine.”bxlu
U81z9“…?”fhJDlnr
cAB“But there’s something I want to ask you.”WBfR2
ZeL85zMarcus’s response, which was a bit hard to understand, made Vlad want to ask what he meant, but the conversation was still dominated by the scarred man.xh0tG
OBIIbtl“Did you ever travel alone to the east? When you met the elves.”9QNw
4teX“…Why do you ask that?”lX2DL
jmXaB“Did something unfortunate happen then?”cz0
GMH18gIt seems that the reason Marcus appeared this time was himself, not Joseph.xqTVk
uwkvThe unexpected question about his trip to the east made Vlad frown.4Vq
iuf“Something unfortunate?”VYeME
kXY“For example, stealing something from someone?”JLyE5IG
M6ToTMarcus was staring intently.ewM
jXRHRTTAlthough his presence around him was weak, Vlad naturally became nervous seeing him leave a strong impression on those he knew.3LfE
Y70a1Mj“Or killing someone?”0lC6
8BraV4S“…”ufLuMpQ
kIm3Vlad missed the moment to answer Marcus’s question, which was hard to understand.h03V
cCAHowever, Marcus, who was closely examining Vlad’s expression, simply nodded silently as if he understood.lcM
zhoY“So it wasn’t like that. I hope you can clear up any misunderstandings.”JN8aRXP
xhMUaCx“What?”Ckg
yRYGClang!VSg
YmbbDeJDespite Vlad’s question, Marcus simply left the coins without saying a word and quietly left the shop.vTAgLmI
DWYJIkTHowever, the coins he left were more than enough to pay not only for his own meal but also for Vlad and Nibelun’s.p1EH
nd75g4“The central region is not a good area for you. Personally, I’d advise you to quickly move to another area.”2is
yb1GFap“…”pe1
WRQ“Until next time.”WLs2
tTjPy3Vlad watched Marcus intently as he left, giving him advice.abJNv
KvydVlad couldn’t erase the complicated expression on his face as he watched him disappear, despite thinking he had blended into the crowd.BG5
BtEXZ***dNVT
WsvHHXFThe Sun Was Setting, and It Was Time to Close the City GatesvL4
UVBHeeeeeee-!WNzvJ
KEkDNow, at a time when even the street vendors wouldn’t be watching, there was a group approaching the city with the loud sound of horse hooves.prlhm
CZWkyThe gatekeepers of Kisignor began to get very nervous upon seeing them arrive, clad in gleaming armor and riding sturdy-looking horses.cfEUeWV
D6O3F“Stop! Identify yourselves!”5s5v6N
FkIThe captain of the guard, following his duty, halted the riders, but upon seeing the banner they carried, he turned pale.DaySyb
0FuThe black flag with a descending white lightning bolt.aXiwj
yINNot only the guard commander but also the surrounding guards quickly raised their hands and began to salute at the simple yet powerful design of the banner.lxR
tEd“Welcome to our city!”gIO
7Bs3“…We have received reports that the knight from the north, Vlad Aureo, is in this city. Is that true?”HG6nOGj
NkS2However, the men who received the courteous greeting only asked cold questions as if they were not impressed at all.Fios
UniThe guard commander, who realized that there was an anger difficult to conceal in that coldness, quickly began to think of Vlad’s name in his head.JWRyQ
21OhMu“Vlad… Lord Vlad Aureo must have visited our city yesterday!”s8ViBf
NliFIrHe didn’t know why they were looking for him, but the image of the blond knight was clear in his mind.dRzvk
kj0pXThe knight who came with the dark-eyed noble was the one who brought with him so many symbols that it was hard to count them.7Qf9euD
QAcG“Really?”AyJOF1
5QiJA knight from the north who came with a flag full of honor.8iW
flyHowever, when the men heard the response, their expressions only hardened.pcZ
h6DUq0n“In the name of Prince Armand, protector of the kingdom, I order that all gates of Kisignor be closed.”yxb1Sn
yvH“…B-but…”5qJUm
MGPa“Do it without question.”aaADl
5juThe captain of the guard bowed his head as the knights’ eyes shone fiercely.kiF
IPbR25The order from Prince Armand was enough, but the knight’s gaze was even more terrifying.vJJOs
90S“…We have finally found him.”PtYs
LUGUWithout waiting for the captain’s permission, the riders with the unknown flag entered the city.UpJ
5AiEveryone on horseback had such an impeccable spirit that it was impossible to look at them in vain.EM7Jsb
Frf3WFs“Finally, I will be able to avenge Lord August.”A4xPY
qmdThe appearance of a pure white lightning bolt engraved on a black flag.deSWQ
0FM2cvThe only people who could raise the glorious banner, which was said to be a tribute to the Sword Master, were the Imperial Guard, responsible for the security of the capital city of Brigantes.jIWwAY
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