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Star-Embracing Swordmaster Chapter 215: There is a Path in the Darkness (3)

Chapter 215: There is a Path in the Darkness (3)

The‍⁠‍ Cold of Winter​ Had Not Yet​‌​ Fully Dissipated from‌ the Room.

An‍‌ old man sat⁠​‍ alone in a place where no‌​ one else was‍⁠⁠ around.

The‍‌​ carpet beneath his​‍​ feet was soft‍ and the clothes​⁠‍ he wore were‌‍‍ thick, yet the​ old man still⁠⁠ leaned toward the⁠​‌ burning fireplace as‍​‌ if he felt‌⁠ cold.

“…So‌‌⁠ this is what‍ has happened.”

Prince​⁠ Armand.

A man who abandoned‍ his surname to‍‌‌ fulfill the duty​ that preceded his​​ name.

From​‌ his mouth, which‍​ he could no‍​⁠ longer control, came​‌ a broken voice.‍​‍

“Even‌​⁠ if I die,​‍ I will not⁠‍‌ have the honor⁠ of seeing you.”‌

Armand’s​⁠​ eyes were focused‌ on the burning​ firewood, but his‍‌​ withered hands held‍⁠ a worn note.​⁠

The‍​ note, which he‍ had carefully kept,‌‍ was the last⁠‌⁠ letter sent to⁠‍⁠ him by August,‌ the former commander‌ of the Imperial​​‍ Guard.

“…”‌‍⁠

Despite⁠ having read it‍ countless times, Prince‌​ Armand lowered his​ gaze to the‌‌‍ paper with a somber expression.

My‍​ sword, the sword‍‌ of the empire,​ and the proud⁠‍ commander of the⁠‌​ Imperial Guard, Knight⁠ August.

Prince‍‍ Armand, remembering the​ man he could‍ no longer see,⁠⁠ clenched the paper‍‍‍ in his hand.⁠

“…But​ even if you‍ are not near,‍‍‌ I still have‍​⁠ to do what‍ I must do.”​

An​ old man saddened​ because he could⁠ not fulfill his‌ duty.

Although‍ Prince Armand’s time⁠ was running out,​‍ like the logs‍‌⁠ in the fireplace,​‌ the old duke​ had not yet⁠ given up.

Because‍‌ the last telegram‌⁠ sent by his⁠‍​ loyal knight still‌ contained a spark⁠ of hope.

Though‌ I couldn’t preserve‍‌ the bloodline, I will at least‍ try to carry‍ on his will.​

Holding‌⁠ the letter that⁠​ August had sent⁠‍ him from the⁠ elf forest, Armand’s⁠ eyes still burned⁠​ with a flame‌ that had not‌‌ gone out.

***​​‍

“As⁠ expected, he has⁠ dark blonde hair⁠ and blue eyes,‌⁠ just as I heard.”

“…”‌​

Vlad​ looked at the‌ men who surrounded‍ him in an​‌‌ instant and carefully⁠‍​ set down the⁠‌​ glass he was‌​‌ holding.

He​‍‌ realized that the‌‌⁠ men watching him​ were not ordinary‌‌‌ thugs, but formidable‌‍⁠ swordsmen.

“Who‍ are you to‍​ gather like this?”​

“I⁠⁠‌ am Rodrigo, a high-ranking knight of⁠​ the Imperial Guard.”⁠

The​ flag the men‌‌ held bore a white lightning bolt‍⁠‌ piercing through the‌‌‌ darkness.

It​‌ was the banner‍‍ of the Imperial⁠ Guard, the pride⁠⁠‌ of the imperial‍ brigades, said to⁠ be on par​⁠ with the imperial⁠ guard.

“…Shouldn’t‍‍ you be in​ the capital, you‌⁠ of the Imperial⁠⁠​ Guard?”

“We‌⁠​ have come to‍ arrest a criminal.”‍

Bang!⁠‍‌

The​⁠‍ man seemed displeased⁠‌ with Vlad’s relaxed⁠​​ demeanor despite being‍ completely surrounded, so⁠ he made a loud noise and​ left a piece⁠‍‌ of paper.

The​‌ document he placed⁠ on the table‍⁠ was an arrest⁠​ warrant signed by‍‌ Prince Armand.

“I‌⁠‌ arrest you for‍⁠ the murder of‍​⁠ Sir August, the​‌ former commander of​ the Imperial Guard.⁠ Vlad.”

“What?”​‌

Dark⁠‍‌ blonde hair and​ blue eyes.

The⁠ Imperial Guard was‌⁠ baring their teeth‌​‌ at the northern​‍⁠ knight, who clearly​⁠‌ had dragon blood.‍

Because‌⁠‌ they had discovered​​ that the last​‌​ person to have‍⁠ been with their‍​⁠ murdered commander was‍‌‌ the young dragon⁠‍‌ now before them.​‍

“…”‌​‍

Vlad,‌​ recalling the familiar⁠ name he had​⁠⁠ heard from an‍⁠‌ unknown man, began⁠‌​ to read the‌​⁠ arrest warrant with‌‌⁠ slightly trembling hands.‍

The⁠​ order, written in‍ brief and firm​⁠ handwriting, included his⁠‌ own name and‌⁠ August’s.

“Sir⁠⁠⁠ August is dead?”​

“Do⁠⁠​ not deny it,⁠‌ dragon blood.”

Vlad​‍ was asking about‌ August’s fate with‌​‌ a frozen face,⁠‍​ but the Imperial‌ Guards simply drew‌ their swords.

Thinking⁠⁠ this was also‍‌ a foolish trick​‌ by the criminals,⁠ their swords filled⁠ with an anger‍‍​ they could not‍‍ hide.

“Because‍ your sin is‍‌ already proven by⁠⁠ your natural blonde⁠​​ hair and blue⁠‍ eyes.”

“…”​​‌

Vlad’s⁠⁠​ eyes trembled at‌‌ the sharp and‍‌​ powerless misunderstanding.

The‌⁠ old knight who‌ once told him‌ to visit when​⁠​ he reached the‌ capital.

He‍​⁠ was the one⁠‌⁠ who said it⁠⁠​ was alright to‌ use his own⁠ name on the‍ imperial sword, in​​⁠ case something went⁠​‌ wrong.

“When?‌‍ Who did it?”‌​

“…You,‍​ damned.”

Vlad’s‍‌‍ name held many‍⁠​ facets.

When​​‍ Kihano saw him,​‌ he was a star looking at‌​‍ the sky, and​ when August saw‍‌​ him, he was⁠ a knight protecting‌⁠ the young world⁠ tree.

“As‌‌‌ expected of dragon‌​‌ blood, it only​ shows its cowardice.”‍‍‍

But⁠ for Rodrigo, Vlad​⁠‌ was just a dragon who had‍​ killed his commander.⁠​⁠

The​‍​ worlds hidden in⁠​ the left eyes‌​‍ of the knights‌ began to form‍​⁠ towards the dragon’s​‍‌ veins as they‍⁠ shouted in anger.​

“Vlad‌ Dragulia! I will‌ arrest you!”

They‍‌ called him by⁠⁠​ the name he‍ was born with,​⁠‍ not the name‌‍​ he earned.

Vlad⁠ ended up biting‍‍‌ his lip at‌⁠‍ the men who⁠‌ saw him as​‍ a dragon instead‌⁠⁠ of a knight.⁠​‌

“…It‍‍ wasn’t me.”

Vlad​⁠ knew that the‌‍‌ misunderstanding was already​​‍ tangled like a ball of thread‍⁠​ and that he⁠⁠‌ was trapped in‌​ a snare.

“I​‍‌ did not kill‌‍‍ Sir August.”

That‍ is why he‍ had to prove‌ his innocence to​‍ these knights.

That​‍ he was not​‍‌ a dragon and‍ had not killed‍⁠​ their commander.

With​ those words, Vlad⁠ slowly rose and​⁠ drew his sword.‍‍

The‍​​ world of Vlad,​⁠‍ who tried to‍‌⁠ prove his innocence,​ was a golden‌​‌ light that shone⁠ with pride.

***⁠‍

Kwaaaaaaaaaaa!‌

Baron⁠⁠​ Moldavir and Joseph⁠ were startled by⁠​ the loud noise​ coming from the‍‍⁠ center of the‌‌ city.

The​‍ sound was so⁠⁠ loud that it⁠‍‍ made the teacup​⁠⁠ in their hands‌ tremble.

“What⁠‍‍ was that? What‍⁠⁠ is happening?”

At​ the sudden noise,​​​ Baron Moldavir quickly⁠ rose from his‍ seat and ran​⁠​ to the window.​‍

The​⁠‍ changing political situation​​ in the center⁠​ made him fear‍⁠ that a war​ had broken out‍​‍ in his territory.‌‍‍

“This.⁠‍⁠ What the hell⁠ is this…”

However,⁠ the city walls‌‍⁠ were calm.

There‌⁠ was only a cloud of dust‌ rising from the‌ center of the‍ market in the​‍ distance.

Joseph​ recognized the familiar‍ golden flash in​‍ the pale dust‍ and silently set‌​ down the teacup‌‌​ he was holding.​

***​

“Dammit!”⁠‌‍

“Filthy⁠ rat! You already‌⁠‍ knew!”

The‍ knights rolled amidst‍​ the walls that⁠‍‍ exploded noisily.

The⁠ ones who hadn’t‍‌ revealed themselves earlier​⁠ were the Imperial​ Guards blocking the‍ escape routes outside​‌⁠ the building.

‘A‌​ total of six!’‍​⁠

There‌​⁠ were four knights‌​​ surrounding Vlad inside‍ the bar, but‌⁠ in reality, there⁠⁠⁠ were six in​ total, including the‌ knights waiting outside‌​​ the building.

Vlad,‍​ who had discovered‍‌ their location while​​ they held their‍⁠​ breath thanks to‍‍‍ his sensitive hearing,‌‍⁠ deliberately cornered Rodrigo‌​ and destroyed the⁠‍⁠ wall they were‍‌​ standing on, causing​ confusion.

“Lord‍‍⁠ Vlad!”

“Stay​‌ still!”

Although‍ Nibelung was hastily‍‌ packing his backpack,‍ Vlad couldn’t accept‍⁠ his help this‌‍​ time.

“I’ll‍‍ handle it myself!”‍‌​

Though‍‌‌ it was just​‌‌ a messy marketplace,⁠‌ the place where‍ Vlad stood now⁠ was no different​ from a courtroom.​​

The​‌ only judge who‌​ can prove my‍ innocence through the⁠ knights before me.‍

To​⁠ prove his innocence,‌‍ he would have​​⁠ to persuade them‌​ with his sword.‍

Clang!‍

“Do​‌ you intend to‌‌ prove your innocence‍ with such tricks?‍‌‍ Vlad Dragulia.”

“…”‌‌

However,​ the process of⁠‍‍ trying to prove‌⁠​ my worth was‌‍ never an easy‌⁠‍ path, as it‌‍ always was.

The​ anger he had⁠‌‍ seen before flared⁠​‌ up from Rodrigo’s‌⁠ burning left eye.‌‍‍

Everything‌‍‍ stemmed from a misunderstanding, but at⁠‌​ least his anger‍​⁠ was justified.

“Did​‌ you ask how‌ Sir August died?”‍‍⁠

Rodrigo’s⁠‌​ world was formed⁠ by iron chains.‍‌

His‍ sword began to​ gradually extend along⁠ Rodrigo’s world, which​‌‌ held the color‌​ of cold iron.‌

“…!”⁠

His⁠ sword, which had⁠⁠​ stretched to the⁠⁠ point where it​​ was no longer​⁠​ possible to predict‌ the distance, began‌‍ to curve toward‌‌ Vlad as if‍‌ it were a rope to bind‌‌ a criminal.

“That‌ is something I want to know‌⁠ too!”

Bang!⁠⁠‍

Though⁠⁠‌ his sword seemed‌‍‍ flexible, the impact​‌‍ was enough to‍‍ break the ground.‍​‍

The​ merchants around the‍​​ market began to‌​‌ scream as the‍ market exploded.

“Now!”⁠

“Catch‍⁠​ him!”

Vlad⁠ was taken aback​ by Rodrigo’s whip-like⁠⁠‍ attack, but he‌‌‌ didn’t even have​⁠ time to breathe‍⁠ as other knights​​ immediately attacked him.⁠‌

“Surrender‍⁠​ quietly, you Dragulia​‌​ bastard.”

The‍‍ death of their‌‍​ commander, whom they‌‌‌ had followed all​ their lives.

The​ noble knight, who‌⁠​ should not have‌‍‍ died, had returned⁠ as a corpse,​​⁠ and the knights,‌⁠ with no place‍‌ to direct their​‌​ anger, poured it‍ onto Vlad.

[…Move‌ quickly! Before they​ form their formation!]‌⁠

“Tch!”‌‍

The‌ direction in which⁠‍⁠ the knights entered‌⁠‍ was sharper than‍‌‍ the straight sword.⁠⁠

Their​​‍ movements, taking advantage​ of all advancement⁠‍‍ possibilities, pressed Vlad⁠‌ like an iron⁠‍​ net falling from​⁠ the sky.

Clang!​⁠ Clang!

‘I‍ can’t let myself⁠‍ be cornered!’

Though‌‌‍ he understood their‌ intent, escaping was‍ difficult.

When‍⁠​ I block one⁠ sword, another comes‍​ in, and I think I see​⁠‍ a space to⁠⁠‍ push it away,⁠ but before I realize it, another‍‌ knight has filled‌‌ the space.

‘Dammit!’‍⁠

Meanwhile,‌​‍ Rodrigo’s sword kept⁠​ flying persistently.

The​ persistent malice of‌‌ the Imperial Guards,‍​ determined to catch​​‍ him alive, complicated‍‍‌ Vlad’s every move.⁠‌

[Predict​ the next move!‌‌ Only then can‍‌ you escape!]

“…!”⁠⁠

There​‍ is absolutely no​ way to escape​‌ through the visible⁠ gap.

In​⁠‍ that case, there’s‍⁠‌ no choice but‌‌ to predict the​ gap that will​​‍ form in the​ future and escape​​ through it.

Vlad,​⁠⁠ who understood Kihano’s‍‌​ advice, quickly leaped‌ and escaped backward.‍⁠

Kwaaang!​

Some‍ building somewhere exploded​⁠‌ again due to‍ Rodrigo’s sword.

Vlad​⁠​ found it difficult‍ to breathe due‌​⁠ to the thick​‍‍ dust created by‍ the collapsing building,‍‌‌ but he only‍​ tried to stay‍ calm and lift​⁠⁠ his sword.

“…That’s‌‌‍ it.”

He⁠‍ was shaking his‍‍ shoulders violently, as​ if he were‌‌⁠ tired, but his⁠‍ dazzling gaze was⁠‍ fierce.

Rodrigo,​​ seeing Vlad raising‌ his sword like​​‍ an arrow about‌‍⁠ to be shot,‍ felt a strange​‌ dissonance.

The​ sword rises above‌‍ the shoulder as‌ if an arrow⁠ were being shot.⁠⁠

Vlad’s​ stance of holding‌‌ his breath for‌​​ a single strike‍⁠ must have been‍​ a very familiar‌‍‍ posture to the‌‌ Imperial Guard knights.​‍

[Do⁠‌ you see it‍‍ now?]

“Yes.”​

Perhaps​⁠ to his surprise,‌⁠‌ a gap became‌⁠ visible among the⁠ disheveled knights.

August’s‍ eyes could see‌‍‌ the gap that‍‍ had not yet‍⁠⁠ formed but would​⁠‌ open the moment⁠​ the sword touched‍ it.

“I​ can see it.”‌‌‍

I can hear the‍ movement of the‍⁠ twisting muscles.

You‌ can see the⁠‌ remnants of the‍ breath about to​⁠​ be exhaled.

Thus,⁠⁠ even the gap⁠ between them that‍⁠ will form in​​‍ the future.

[Then​ go!]

The‍‍ skills of the‍‌ former Imperial Guard⁠⁠ commander overlaid on⁠⁠ the imperial sword.⁠⁠

Although⁠ it was just⁠‌ for a moment,⁠‌ the Imperial Guard⁠⁠ knights were shocked​ to see as​‌ if their captain⁠ was standing before‍​​ them.

“Haa!”‍‍

Following‌ the weak points‌⁠ shown by August’s​⁠ path, Vlad’s sword⁠‌ moved.

An⁠⁠ elegant sword that⁠ flows from point⁠‌ to line, like⁠‍ a brush.

The​ Imperial Guard knights⁠ felt a strange​⁠​ sound resonate in​‍‍ their hearts as‌⁠ they saw the⁠ silver sword pass​⁠⁠ by them.

Boom-boom!⁠

The‌ silver sword Vlad​ held was crying.⁠⁠

Along‌⁠⁠ with the true‌⁠ silver coins the‌ knights keep in‍⁠​ their hearts.

The⁠‍ coin, which could‍‍ only be purchased​⁠⁠ with honor, was⁠‍‌ a noble metal‌⁠ that could only⁠‍⁠ be possessed by‍ those who had‌ surrendered to themselves,⁠ and moreover, it‌​ came from a single sword.

“No‍‍‍ way!”

Rodrigo’s⁠‌ mouth opened wide‍ as he saw​ the sword passing‍ the knights and‍⁠‍ approaching him.

This‌⁠​ was because, as⁠ he watched the​⁠⁠ silver sword cry‌​ on its own,⁠‍​ he remembered the​⁠‍ content of August’s​​ last message.

Ausurin.​​⁠ The Sword Master’s‍​ sword has been⁠ drawn.

“I‌​​ will prove my‍ innocence with this⁠​‌ sword!”

The‌‍‍ swordsmanship of the⁠‍‌ Sword Master approached,​‌ piercing through the‍‌ darkness created by‍ the misunderstanding.

Rodrigo⁠ could realize this‍‌ by feeling the​ sound of the​‍⁠ coin ringing slowly‌ in his chest⁠ along with the‌ sword.

The⁠ young dragon of​​ Dragulia, who had⁠⁠⁠ been with his‌ commander until the⁠​⁠ end, was not‍‌ a murderer.

Only‍ then did Vlad​​⁠ appear from the​​⁠ other side, not⁠‌⁠ as a dragon,‌ but as a knight who had‌ inherited someone’s will.‌

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