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Star-Embracing Swordmaster Chapter 223: Bright Starry Night (2)

Chapter 223: Bright Starry Night (2)

“…I’m⁠‌‌ sure I left‌‍ it closed.”

Late​⁠ at night, Joseph​ entered the office‌​‍ alone and saw‍‌‍ a small window‍‌ open.

I wondered if I had made this​ mistake, and before‍ I knew it,⁠ white snow had⁠⁠ accumulated on the‍ window sill.

“I‍⁠‍ must light the​ fire.”

Joseph‍​​ had entered the‍‌⁠ office intending to‍ work a little,⁠⁠ but in the‍​ end, he let⁠​ out a small​⁠⁠ sigh at the⁠‍ inconvenience of having‌‍ to light the​ fireplace.

“Cough,‌⁠ cough.”

When‌​ the match fell‍ and the wood⁠ ignited, Joseph started​⁠⁠ coughing from the⁠⁠‍ soot that slowly‍ rose.

It‍‍ was a deep⁠ cough that shook​ his shoulders, but​ Joseph simply covered​‌‍ his mouth with⁠ a handkerchief, as⁠ if he was⁠‌ used to it.‌​

“Hmm?”‌‍

After⁠​ lighting the fireplace,​ Joseph observed an‍​‍ unknown object illuminated​ by the flickering‍​ light.

A completely black letter‌‍ was placed on⁠⁠‍ a cold desk‌ where the outside‌⁠ air had not⁠‍​ yet passed.

The‍‍​ letter was unfamiliar⁠⁠ and had not‍‍‌ been seen during⁠‍ the day.

“…It⁠ doesn’t even have‍‍‌ a seal.”

Joseph⁠‍ looked at the​⁠ letter, which didn’t‍⁠ even have a proper seal, making‍‍ it impossible to‍‍ know who had‌​ sent it, and‍‌‍ he put on‍ gloves just in​​ case.

However,⁠​ contrary to his‍ concerns, there was‌​ no danger in‌​ the unknown letter,‍ and it simply‌​⁠ had elegantly written⁠⁠⁠ words.

-Time‍‌ is not the‍‌‌ same for everyone.⁠ Joseph.

However,‌​ the distinctive feature‍‌ was that the‌ writing was classic.‍

Joseph⁠ tilted his head‍‍​ as he looked⁠‍​ at the old​ handwriting that must​‍ have been popular​ decades ago.

-For‌⁠ some, time is⁠ a calm lake‌ that seems to‍‍‍ last forever, but‍ for others, it‌⁠​ is a waterfall‌⁠ that passes quickly.​‌⁠

The​​⁠ letter, though written‌⁠ by someone unknown,​‌‍ clearly cited ancient​⁠​ scriptures.

The​ message from a stranger quoting the​‌ old words of‍ God slowly caught⁠⁠⁠ Joseph’s attention.

-And‍‍ for you, Joseph,⁠ this will be⁠⁠⁠ even more true.‍​​

“Cough,​ cough. Hmm…”

He‍⁠‌ wanted to focus,​​ but the cough‍ coming from within⁠‍‌ constantly bothered Joseph.‌⁠

The‌ cold that still‌⁠ persisted in the‌​⁠ room was poison,​ and the soot​‍ transmitted through the⁠‍ heat was also‍ poison.

In​‌ a world full‌⁠‌ of poison, Joseph‌ struggled to decipher⁠ the hardened black⁠‌​ letters.

-I⁠‌⁠ feel your time‌‍ is running out.​⁠‌ You probably know​ it well too.‍​

“Hmm?”​‌

Joseph,⁠ who had already⁠‍ reached the end⁠​⁠ of the letter,⁠‍ felt that the⁠​ letter he was‍⁠​ holding was gradually​⁠‍ heating up.

Joseph⁠ was very surprised‌​ by the sudden⁠ heat, but the‌‍‌ unknown black letter‍ did not seem​⁠ to fall from⁠​‌ his hand, as‌⁠ if it were‍ glued.

“…Damn‌​⁠ it!”

A small seal was⁠‌​ being drawn beneath​‌ the black, shiny‌ smoke.

The​⁠ seal, which slowly​ took shape, was⁠‍ something Joseph had⁠⁠​ been pursuing for​ a long time​‍⁠ and was so⁠​ impious that he⁠​⁠ could barely bear‌ to look at‍‌ it.

-Joseph‌‍ Bayezid, a poor‌‌​ broken stone since‍ birth.

Thus,‍​ the symbol of‍ an evil person‌ who blasphemes against‌‌​ God was finally⁠⁠ drawn.

After‍‍​ seeing the pattern,‍​ Joseph knew who⁠‍ sent the black‌⁠ letter he was​‍ holding.

-The‌‍‍ will of God​ is harsh and⁠ unyielding, so it⁠ will soon come⁠​ to you.

After‍‍⁠ reading the entire​⁠​ letter, Joseph looked‌ at the last‍ line and carefully⁠​‍ set down the‌ handkerchief that covered​‌ his mouth.

The​⁠⁠ beautiful handkerchief that⁠​ my mother had​ embroidered herself was⁠‌ full of bright​⁠⁠ red blood that​‍​ was hard to⁠ ignore.

-Before⁠ the year ends,​ in the form⁠‍ of death.

“…”‍⁠

It⁠​​ was neither his⁠ recklessness nor someone’s⁠⁠ curse, but simply⁠⁠​ the natural limit​ of his life.‍

The‌‍‍ passage of time​ was not the​​‍ same for everyone,⁠ but for Joseph,‌⁠ it was especially​ cruel.

***​

[He’s‍‍‍ coming!]

“…!”‌​

The​​‍ man standing there‌‍​ looking at me​​ is smiling.

The‌‍ man with pure​ white hair suitable‍‍ for winter was⁠‌​ already lunging toward​‌ Vlad, with the​ moon filling the​‌ night sky as‍​ a backdrop.

“Frausen!”‌‌‍

“How‍‌ have you been?”⁠‌

Vlad⁠ hurried to open​⁠ his world, feeling⁠‌⁠ the enormous pressure⁠ as he approached.⁠‌

However,‍‍ unlike Vlad, Arnstein’s‍ mansion could not​‌ withstand Frausen’s presence.‍⁠

Boom-!⁠​

The‍​‌ sword strike shook⁠ the old mansion,​​ strong enough for‍⁠​ everyone in Valetta‌ to hear.

Amid​‌⁠ the dense stone⁠⁠‌ dust, Vlad struggled⁠‍ to find a way.

[He​‍ uses a sword‌​ technique similar to‌‌ yours. You have‌ no chance of​ defeating him head-on!]‍‌

Though​​ he barely dodged⁠⁠‌ the blow, Vlad‍⁠ was not scared.⁠

Rather,⁠​ his fighting spirit‌​‍ was burning as‌ he looked at‌​ Frausen in front‍⁠‍ of his sword.​‌‌

“Anyway,‍ I was looking‍ for you.”

“Why‌‌‍ were you looking​⁠ for me?”

Vlad’s‍⁠⁠ world began to​ burn when he‍ saw Frausen ask​ mischievously.

Though‌⁠‌ he had never​‌⁠ forgotten the name,⁠​‍ it seemed Frausen‍‍ had forgotten the⁠‌‍ person seeking revenge.⁠

“…If​‍ you’ve forgotten, I’ll​​ remind you.”

The‍‍ original light began⁠ to shine in​‍ Vlad’s closed left⁠ eye.

Frausen‌​​ started smiling with​‌ interest as he⁠⁠‌ watched his sword⁠​ slowly move away‍⁠‌ along with him.‌‌‌

“It’s‍ Justia.”

“Who?”⁠

“The‍‌ name of the​‍ knight you killed​ that day.”

Crack!​‌

“Justia​​‍ of San Rogino.”​

There‌⁠ was a canary⁠ that cried for​‍​ me in a foggy city.

Having​⁠​ survived her death,‌‌ I was the⁠​‌ one obligated to⁠ avenge her unfulfilled‍ vengeance.

“Today​‌ I will claim‍ the price of‌⁠‌ Justia’s blood.”

Vlad’s‌‍‍ eyes, murmuring as⁠ if making a promise, suddenly resembled​⁠⁠ those of a dragon.

A personality that only⁠ I have, not⁠‌⁠ you.

Alongside⁠ his tearful sword,​⁠ the dragon’s character‌ within Vlad began⁠ to flow with‍ his blood.

“Very⁠ well. Try it.”‌‌⁠

“…!”‌‍

Crack!‌‍

An​ incredible force, followed‌ by astounding speed.​‍

Vlad,‍⁠​ who had struck​ Frausen with just​​ his strength, was⁠ already running toward⁠‍⁠ him, who had‍‌ fallen far away.‌⁠

“…You’re‌ fast.”

As‍​‍ if the scream‍​‌ from a moment‍⁠‍ ago wasn’t a lie, Vlad’s sword​ began to fill​ Frausen’s field of⁠ vision.

They‌⁠ were residual images‌ of the dragon-killer‌​⁠ sword charging at‌ him from all‍ possible angles.

Boom!‌ Boom! Boom!

Wherever⁠‍ the sword touched,‍ walls exploded, and‍​‌ wherever his feet​​‍ stepped, floors broke.​

The⁠‍ golden lightning flashing‌⁠ in the middle‍ of the hallway‌​​ seemed like the‌ reverberation of an‍ explosion seen from⁠​ the outside.

Amid‍‍ this storm of‍‌⁠ blows, Frausen staggered‌⁠ dangerously.

“Haaa!”​​

Even‌⁠ amid endless attacks,‌‍​ Vlad was gradually‌⁠​ measuring the distance‌⁠‍ he could leap.​

To⁠‍​ face the swordsman‌‍ who created the⁠⁠ one-hit kill technique,‌⁠‍ a moment of‍ surprise was necessary.⁠⁠‌

“Today‍⁠⁠ you will pay​‌⁠ the price of​ Justia’s blood.”

Vlad‌ pushed aside Frausen,⁠​ who was staggering,⁠​‍ and contracted all​‌‍ his muscles for‌ a fraction of⁠​‌ a second.

Ready⁠‍‌ for a fatal‌‌‍ blow that no‌​⁠ one could foresee.⁠​

Thus,‌⁠⁠ in Vlad’s raised‍‌​ eyes, a golden‍‍ and straight horizon‍​ suddenly appeared.

Crack-!‌⁠

No⁠ one can stop‌‌ the rising sun.‍

The​⁠⁠ cracks in the‍‍ hallway, unable to⁠‍ withstand the pressure‌​ of the extended‍⁠ sword, ran toward​​‍ Frausen.

“…Vlad,‌⁠ you always surprise‍‌ me.”

Though⁠ Vlad’s attack was​ fierce, Frausen showed​‌​ no signs of‍ alarm.

“But​‌ I don’t remember‍⁠‌ any knight named⁠ Justia.”

Kwaaaaaaaaaaa!‍⁠

Finally,⁠‍ Vlad’s blow reached‌‌​ Frausen.

Vlad’s‍⁠ attack was faster‌ than light and⁠⁠⁠ stronger than the​‌‌ rising sun.

However,⁠‌‍ even that brilliant‌ blow slowly dimmed⁠ before the knight‌​ who had lost‌ his color.

Woom-woom‍​

Nevertheless,⁠‍ Vlad’s blow was⁠‌ not entirely useless.⁠

Because‌ the dragon-killer sword‌‌ that pierced Frausen’s⁠ chest showed what‍⁠ kind of existence​‌‍ his beating heart​⁠‌ was.

Vlad‍ showed a surprised‌ expression, feeling the‌ two pieces react​​ because they originated⁠⁠⁠ from the same‍‍⁠ thing.

“…Dragon⁠​‌ fragment?”

He‌ said he returned‍ to kill dragons.‌

However,‌ now he carried‌⁠​ a dragon fragment.‌‍‌

Vlad‍‌‌ was speechless at‍​‌ the contradiction Frausen⁠‌ represented.

***‌

Boom!​​‌

There⁠ was a strong‍​ impact that shook‌ the mansion.

Pedro,‍ running through the⁠​ hallway, was hit​ by such a strong tremor that​‌ stone dust fell,‌ and he ended‍ up collapsing mercilessly.​

“…Nothing‍​ has gone right​ since I met‍‌⁠ that guy.”

Pedro,‌​‌ who was silently⁠‌​ annoyed, lifted Radu,​ who was lying‍​‌ beside him, and​‍ managed to stand​ up, staggering.

“Damn‌⁠ it.”

But​⁠ the correct door‌ he wanted to​​ pass through was⁠ narrow, and what‌⁠ he wanted to​‍ say was too‍‍​ far away.

Before​‍ he realized it,‍​⁠ Pedro had to⁠‌ pull a small⁠​​ wand from his​⁠⁠ chest when he​​‍ saw the headless‌⁠ knights approaching from⁠​⁠ the end of⁠​ the hallway.

“…I‍ thought I would‌‍ die like this‍‍ someday.”

Just⁠⁠ as a soldier‍⁠ dies on the‌⁠ battlefield, a priest⁠​​ dies under the​​​ will of God.‌‌

Pedro,‍ who managed to​‌‌ calm himself because‍ it was the‍ last time he⁠ had imagined it‌⁠ countless times, began​ to recite the‍ words of God‌​​ so he could​⁠ do what he‌ had to do​⁠‍ even at the‍ last moment.

-Even‌ if I walk‍ alone in the‍​ dark valley…

Even‌​ now, there was⁠​⁠ a strong vibration⁠ in the mansion,‌‍ as if someone‍⁠ was fighting.

However,⁠​ the headless knights⁠​ advanced slowly towards‍ Pedro and Radu,‌ their eyes shining‌⁠⁠ sinisterly.

-The​ only thing I can rely on‌ is what you‍​​ give me…

Clang!⁠​

At‌​ that moment, a frivolous sound began⁠ to be heard​⁠​ behind Pedro, who⁠‍‌ was reciting the⁠​‍ will of God.​

The​ sound, which was‌ even cute, clearly​​​ did not fit‌‌ the tense atmosphere⁠ of the hallway.‍

“Bishop!‌⁠⁠ Now!”

“…Marbles?”‍​⁠

Pedro,⁠ who had been‍‌‌ reciting a prayer​‌ for a while,⁠ ended up making⁠​‌ a noise of​ astonishment at what​ he saw in​​‍ front of him.‍

Because‌‌ colored marbles were‍​ rolling down the​​ middle of the⁠ hallway.

Pedro‍⁠ and the headless⁠‌⁠ knight were paralyzed⁠‌‌ with confusion at⁠ the sight, which⁠⁠​ was completely incompatible‍ with the current⁠‍ situation.

“Quick,⁠ quick!”

Pedro⁠⁠‌ quickly turned his‍ head when he‍‌​ heard a familiar‌ voice coming from⁠‍‌ behind.

A tail sticking out,​⁠ hidden among the⁠‍‌ pillars.

I really didn’t like⁠ the idea of⁠⁠ dealing with mysteries,‍‌ but at least‍‌‍ for now, it​‌ was a voice​‍‍ I couldn’t help‍ but welcome.

-······!​

Seeing​‌​ Pedro run in⁠ the opposite direction,‍ leaving behind the‍‍‌ marbles, the headless‌ knights started to‌ run after him,‌⁠ but their steps⁠‍ were in vain.⁠​

Crash!‌⁠‌

When‌⁠‍ Nibelun snapped his​⁠ fingers, the marbles⁠ covering the hallway​⁠​ began to move‌‍​ as if they⁠⁠‌ were alive.

Moving⁠ like small waves‍‍‌ and making the‍⁠ knights fall.

-It’s⁠‌⁠ magic!

-Everyone,‌ be on guard!​

The​‍ small marbles were⁠⁠‌ so slippery that​‍‌ any contact with‍ them made one⁠⁠ lose balance. And​ they rolled directly​​ towards the headless‍‍‌ knights.

“Good⁠‍ job!”

“Let’s⁠‍‌ get out of‍‌ here quickly!”

Pedro⁠‌‌ and Nibelun were⁠​ happy to see‍‌‌ the headless knights​​ running to and‍‍ fro, but when​‌ they turned around,‍ their expressions hardened‍⁠⁠ at what they‌⁠ saw.

This‍​​ was because the‌‍‌ other side of‌ the hallway they​​‌ turned to was‍​⁠ already filled with​‌‍ headless knights.

“Do​‌‌ you have more​ marbles?”

“…They’re⁠‍‍ not easy to​‍ get, you know.⁠⁠‌ I have to‌ win them from⁠⁠‍ children in their‌ games.”

“What​‍​ kind of crap⁠ is that!”

Pedro⁠‍‍ clicked his tongue​‌ as he watched​​ Nibelun talk nonsense‌ about the cats​‍ and then gently​⁠‍ set down Radu,​ who was supporting​⁠ him.

Then‌ he pushed the‌‍ wand and began‌⁠ to recite the‍‍​ Bible seriously this‌‌ time.

“The‍ next, the other…”​‍​

“Please,​‍ concentrate. Just a bit!”

As​‍​ they watched Nibelun⁠ rummage through his​​ backpack, the eyes​⁠‌ of the headless‌⁠ knights began to​‌ glow faintly.

Giving​⁠ time to a wizard who deals‌⁠ with mysteries is⁠ almost taboo for​‌⁠ the knights.

-Attack!‌​

Nibelun’s⁠ hands began to‍​‌ get busy as‌​ he watched the⁠‌ headless knights run‍ down the hallway.‌⁠

However,‌‍⁠ even with his‍ increasingly urgent hands,⁠​⁠ the object he‌ was looking for⁠ was not in⁠‍‍ sight, and the​‌ charging knights were​‍ only getting closer‍⁠ and closer.

Crash-!​

At⁠​ that moment, there​‍ was a loud⁠ noise and fragments‌ of wood blocking‍⁠⁠ the charging knights.‍

These‌ were fragments created‌​‍ when the door‌⁠​ where Joseph was‍‍‍ staying exploded.

“Sandor!”​

“Lord⁠⁠ Marcus!”

Though‌‌‌ they were different⁠ names, they meant‍ the same thing.‌​

The‍ man, Sandor and‌⁠ Marcus, holding a rapier in one‌‌ hand and a main-gauche in the‌​ other, began to‌ stab the headless‌ knights mercilessly.

“…I⁠​ will open the⁠​⁠ way.”

The‍⁠⁠ short and thin​‍ swords held by⁠​ the man pierced​ the gaps in‍ the armor, blocking‍ the headless men.‍‌⁠

Pedro​ and Nibelun, forgetting‍ the urgent situation,​ simply gaped at‍⁠⁠ the almost magical​​‌ handling of the⁠ sword.

“Leave‍ Lord Radu behind‌ as well. I will take responsibility.”⁠‌

“…But!”​‌

“He‌‌ is not what’s‍⁠ important now.”

Marcus,‌‍​ who had blocked⁠ the headless knights⁠⁠ with his whole​​ body, pointed out​ the window with‍‍⁠ his rapier hand.‍‍

“The​ most important person‌⁠ right now is⁠‍ Vlad.”

After‌​‌ completing a series⁠ of activities in‍ Joseph’s room, Marcus‍ now had to‍⁠‌ solve the last‌​ remaining task.

And⁠‌ the final mission‌‌ he had to‌‍ carry out was‍ not related to‌⁠​ Radu or Joseph,⁠‍ but to Vlad.⁠‍

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