Indra Translations
Navigation
Star-Embracing Swordmaster Chapter 224: An End Like the Beginning

Chapter 224: An End Like the Beginning

The⁠ brighter the moonlight⁠‍‍ in the sky,‍‍ the darker the‍​ shadow beneath it.‍⁠‌

It⁠‌ was a shadow​⁠ cast by the​⁠‌ headless knights who⁠​‌ were still climbing‌ the wall.

The​‍⁠ headless knights, who⁠⁠ had been hidden⁠ as if dead​‍ for decades, were‍‍ happy to now‍‌ reveal themselves under⁠‍ the impious banner.​

“Arnstein⁠‌ would be a suitable place to​‌ announce the beginning.”​

The​ woman dressed in⁠‍⁠ black mourning clothes‍‍​ stood with her‍‌ back to the‍​‍ moon.

Everyone‍​ in Arnstein watched​‍‍ the woman who‌⁠​ looked like a drop of black‍‌ water floating in​‌​ a blue moon.‍​

“Now‍⁠ everyone is looking​​ at me.”

Ramashtu,‍ the Black Woman,​‌ had been waiting​ for a moment⁠‌ like this for⁠‍ a long time.‍‌

That‍‌⁠ moment when everyone​​⁠ in the world‌‌‍ looks at you.⁠

She⁠‌ wanted to capture‍‍ the attention of​ a world that⁠ had tried to‌⁠⁠ ignore her, no​⁠⁠ matter how many​⁠​ innocent people died‍‍⁠ burning and how‌‌‍ many parents who‌ lost their children‌ cried.

“If​⁠​ everyone had done‌ this from the‌‍⁠ beginning, it would​​ have been better.”‌⁠‍

Ramashtu,‌‌‍ a fallen saint‌ who chose harsh‌ resistance against the‌ world instead of⁠⁠ obedience to God.​

She‌‍‌ knew very well‍ that more intense⁠⁠‍ colors than anyone⁠​ else’s were needed⁠‌‍ to paint something​ in this hardened⁠‍‌ world.

To‍ achieve that color,‌‌ she did not​‌ hesitate to paint⁠ a completely black‍ darkness over her‌‍‍ pure soul.

Boom!‌​‌

Thus,⁠​ her world was​ represented tonight.

Ramashtu‍​ began to laugh‌‌‍ joyfully as she‍‍ watched the Arnstein​ mansion collapse before‍​​ her.

“What’s⁠​‍ happening? It’s not⁠⁠ the first time‌ you’ve seen a dragon fragment.”

Thump-!⁠⁠

The⁠‌ man laughed while⁠ the sword cried.‌‍

With⁠⁠​ a dragon fragment‌‌‍ that didn’t fit‍ hanging from my‌‌‌ heart.

Seeing​​ Frausen smile with‌‍​ all his faded‍ colors, Vlad felt​​ more sadness than⁠‌ strangeness.

“…No,‍⁠ this is not​ right.”

All‌​‍ this time I’ve‍‌ been following your‌‍‍ footsteps.

However,‍‌‌ there didn’t seem‍ to be any⁠ trace of the​​‌ glorious sword master‌ that Vlad had⁠​⁠ hoped remained in⁠ the man who⁠ had become completely⁠⁠‌ ragged.

“Aren’t⁠ you the Sword​‌ Master?”

The‌‍ night was too​ deep.

It⁠​ was so dark⁠ and dense that‌‌ everything he saw‍‍⁠ seemed strangely distorted.​

Under​ such a dark‌‌‍ night sky that​⁠ seemed to erase‌‌‌ the color of​ Joseph, the Sword​ Master he followed,⁠‌ Vlad had no‌​ choice but to‍⁠ raise his sword​‌‍ again.

“…A​‍‍ young possibility, the‍​‍ place where it‍⁠​ should be, and⁠‍​ a fair reward.”⁠‌

There‍ were small children‌‍‌ in the city⁠⁠⁠ of Moshium who⁠‌ couldn’t wake up​‌ from their dreams.⁠‍‍

There⁠ were also women⁠​⁠ who died suffocated⁠⁠‌ in a fog-filled​ town, crying black‍⁠⁠ tears.

“These‌‍ were all principles​⁠‍ you taught me‍‌‌ to protect.”

He​⁠ wasn’t someone I admired just because​⁠ he was high‍‍ up.

I admired him because‍​ he was right.‍⁠

However,​​ the person in​‍‍ front of him​⁠ now insulted all​‍ the achievements and​⁠⁠ principles he had‍‍ followed. Vlad felt‌⁠ as if his‍⁠​ efforts were being‌​ denied.

“…Then‍ what are you‍⁠ doing here?”

The‍‌ world I admired⁠ up close was‍ completely rotten and‍​​ crushed.

Now​‌ that I finally‌‌ faced the stench‌‌⁠ of Frausen, Vlad‌ felt an unbearable​⁠​ repulsion.

“This​​​ is not a Sword Master.”

Clenching‌ his teeth, Vlad​ raised his sword‌‍​ towards Frausen.

A Sword Master was⁠​ someone who could​ paint the world⁠ with his sword.‌‌⁠

And‌ now Vlad had‌​⁠ taken up his‌‌ brush to erase‍‍⁠ the ugly world‌ before him from​ reality.

“Today‌‍ I will erase‌ you from here.”⁠

From​​‌ Vlad’s eyes, a golden line began‌​ to extend.

The​‌ line that followed​‍⁠ the will flowed​‍​ along the sword​‌ and extended directly‍ towards Frausen, but‌⁠‍ the eyes reddened​‌‍ with anger were​‌ something that could‌ not be helped.‍‌

“The‌⁠ rules of the​‌ Sword Master. I haven’t heard them​ in a long‍⁠ time.”

“Shut‌ up!”

Kwaaaaaaaaaaa!‍​

Vlad’s‍ world began to​​ approach Frausen, who‍‌​ laughed at the‌​ path he had​ followed.

Frausen​‌ let out a groan as if​‌ he were truly‌​​ in trouble when‍⁠‍ he was pushed⁠⁠ against the wall​‌​ by a strong‌ blow that was‍​‌ quite different from‍‌⁠ the previous one.⁠‍​

Among​ the dragons or‌ knights, none in‍​ this era had⁠‌​ pushed Frausen as​​‍ much as Vlad‍ was now.

“There⁠‍ was a time​‌⁠ when I tried‍ to follow those​⁠ rules.”

“Then‌ why did you⁠⁠ change?!”

The‌ two swords faced​ each other, pushing‌⁠‌ against each other.⁠⁠‍

Although‍⁠ both were silver‌‍ in color, their‌⁠​ wills were different,‌ so they repelled​ each other.

“…People‌⁠‍ always change. You’re‍ a naive young‌​‍ knight.”

The​‌ balance of the⁠‌​ swords began to‌ tilt towards Vlad.‍

It​ was because of​‌ the weight of‍ Frausen, who understood‌ reality after following‍⁠‌ his dreams.

Kihano‍ told Vlad to​‌ wield his sword​ for young possibilities.⁠‍​

“Even​ if it’s a young possibility, there⁠‌ are times when‍‍ you must sacrifice​‍ it for the‍‍ greater good.”

Kihano⁠‍⁠ said that if‌ you were in‍​ the right place,‌‌⁠ you had to⁠​‍ do what you‌​⁠ had to do.​

“Even⁠ if you are​‍​ in the right⁠ place, there are​​‌ times when you‌​‍ must close your​‌ eyes.”

And‌ always receive only⁠‍‍ the fair reward.‌

Vlad​‌ still remembered the​‌ weight of the‍ fair reward that​‌ Godin had dropped‍​ on his head.⁠⁠⁠

“And⁠⁠ sometimes, you must‌‍ be even more‌ ambitious than the​‍ fair reward.”

“Shut‌​‍ up! Damn bastard!”​​

But⁠​ the words of‌ honor from the​​​ Sword Master began‌‍ to fade.

The⁠⁠ young knight who⁠‍‍ had followed his⁠⁠​ path was being‌‍​ gradually wounded by‍⁠‍ the words spoken​⁠‍ by the old‌ emperor after yielding‌ to reality.

“A‍ false person like​ you has no​‌⁠ right to say‌​ those things!”

Vlad’s⁠ eyes were turning​‍‌ redder as he⁠‍​ looked at Frausen,‍⁠ as if he⁠⁠ could no longer​‌ bear the words‍ spoken by a mere corpse.

It‍ was like the‌‍ gaze of a dragon that easily‍​ defined who the⁠‌‌ other person was.‌

Vlad’s⁠‌​ heart, already burning‍‍ with anger, trembled‍‌ even more at⁠‍ the brilliant skills⁠‍​ of the Sword‍ Master playing with⁠⁠‍ the clumsy strength‍ of the dragon.​⁠‌

[No,​ Vlad! Don’t fall​‍⁠ into the world​‍⁠ of dragons!]

Kihano,​‍ the voice he‌‌ valued within him,‌‍ shouted not to‌​‌ do it, but​ Vlad’s eyes turned​ bluer, rejecting everything‍‍​ that tried to‌‌ shake his world.‌

At‍ Frausen’s words, which‌‍ completely ignored the‌⁠⁠ beliefs he had​‍ held and followed‌‍​ until now, Vlad‌​ began to pour‌⁠‍ out the burning​⁠​ anger he had⁠⁠ been holding back⁠ for so long.‌​

[Vlad!]⁠​​

“Haaaa!”‍

With⁠ emotions he could⁠‌ no longer control.‌

Vlad’s‌ tightly clenched fist‍ suddenly gripped the‌​ crying sword.

The​⁠ dragon-slaying sword turned​‍​ sinister along with⁠⁠⁠ the light emitted‍​ by its owner,​ and became so‍⁠ red-hot that it‌​ even forgot its‍⁠ origins as a star.

“I‍‌​ will trample you‌ so you can’t⁠‌ say anything more!”​‍

The‍ long, sharp fangs‍‍​ and blue eyes‍‍⁠ of the knight​‍‌ had turned pale.​ The knight’s name‌​​ was Vlad Dragulia.‍

Vlad’s‌‍ world, shaken by‌​ anger, suddenly resembled‌​​ that of his‌‍​ father whom he‌‌ had never seen.‌​

“…It’s​ a dragon.”

The‍​‌ other side of‍ Vlad, driven by‌ anger, was the​ world of the⁠ dragon he had​‍ inherited.

Frausen,‍‍‍ who finally discovered‌‌‌ traces of a dragon in Vlad’s‍ world, which had​‌ many sides, did​ not hide his​ confused expression and⁠‍‍ asked if he‍‌ had also changed.‍‌‌

“And​​⁠ I am a Dragon Slayer.”

There‌ was a dragon​⁠ running down the‌⁠ hallway.

However,‍⁠ the world reflected‌ behind the dragon‌ was no longer⁠​ the brilliant golden⁠‍⁠ color seen before,​ but a sinister‌ blood-red.

Frausen‌ raised his sword⁠⁠⁠ towards a sinister​‌ world that was‍‍​ no longer worthy‌‌ of respect.

Thud!​

The​‌ Dragon Slayer’s sword​‍ that pierces the‌‌‌ most perfect dragon,‌ destroying and shattering‌​‍ the sinister world‌⁠ of dragons.

Thus,⁠​ a young writhing‍ dragon was caught‍​ by the tip⁠ of the sword⁠⁠ that had been‍​ thrust.

“Argh…”‍‍

It⁠‌ was once a sword that could‍ have been wielded,​​ but now it⁠‌ was a silver‍‌ knight who had​ pierced me.

The⁠ silver knight protruding‌ from Vlad’s back⁠​​ trembled slightly towards⁠⁠ the brightly shining⁠ moon today, remembering​​ the young knight​ he had seen‍‍⁠ at the World‌ Tree.

“You’ve⁠‌‌ done well until‌​ now, Vlad Aureo.”‍

The‍ blood flowing from‌ his mouth splattered‍ on Frausen’s face.⁠​‍

But‍⁠ why did Frausen’s⁠‍‌ heart grow cold⁠‍​ even though the‍ dragon’s blood was⁠⁠ right in front⁠⁠ of him?

“But‌‍​ in dragon form,‍‌ you can’t stop​ me.”

“…Gah.”⁠‍

Crrr!‍⁠⁠

The‍⁠‌ sensation of pulling​⁠‌ it out was‍‌​ more painful than​ when it pierced.​​

Vlad⁠‍ shuddered involuntarily from‍ the chill of‍ the sword that‍‍ felt like it​‌‌ pierced his entire‌‌ body.

“I’ll‍ try to remember‌ the name Justia.⁠ At least it‍‍​ deserved that.”

As‌​ the sword withdrew,⁠‍ the world inverted.‌

The​⁠ ground was closer​ and the sky‌ farther.

Thud!‌⁠​

After‌ falling from the‍ completely broken wall‌‌⁠ of the second⁠‌​ floor and hitting⁠ the ground, Vlad’s‌‍ eyes were filled⁠‍‍ with a bright‍⁠ and clear moon⁠‍​ he had never‌ seen before.

And‍ the appearance of‌ a man approaching‌‍‌ me, covering the‌⁠ moon.

“…Lord‍‍ Joseph.”

The⁠​‍ sword was still‍‌​ clenched in his​ hand as if​ he wanted to‍⁠⁠ keep trying, but‌‍‌ the look in​ Joseph’s eyes was​‌⁠ extremely cold.

Seeing‌​⁠ those eyes, strength‍​⁠ slowly left Vlad’s‍ hand.

“…It’s‍​‌ not true, is‌​ it?”

With‌​⁠ black hair and​⁠⁠ black eyes.

The⁠ eyes that always​‍ looked at me​‌ with the bright⁠‍​ window behind them​‍‌ were there now.​​

The​‌ black eyes always‌⁠ seemed like they⁠ would never change,​​ but today they​‌⁠ looked so unfamiliar‍ that I couldn’t‍ bear it.

“Say⁠⁠ it’s not true…‍‍​ please.”

The⁠​ ground I lay‌​ on was cold,‍ but the sight‍ my eyes saw‌ was even colder.‌⁠

Vlad‌ spoke sincerely to‌ Joseph, who looked​ down at him,⁠​‍ but the only‍‍​ response he heard​‍ was the cold⁠⁠​ winter wind.

Vlad‌‍‌ let out a small cry to‌⁠​ Joseph, who looked‍ at him in‍‌‌ a world that⁠ had turned upside‌ down.

“You​⁠‍ no longer have‌ anything else to‍​⁠ repay me, Vlad.”⁠

Despite⁠‍ Vlad’s pleas, Joseph’s​ body moved farther‍ away.

Towards‍​‌ the black woman⁠‍ in front and​ the black carriage​ that brought her.‌⁠‌

Each​‍ time Joseph got‍‍ into the wolf’s‌‌ mouth-like black carriage⁠​‌ that looked like⁠‍⁠ a coffin, the‍⁠⁠ world Vlad had‍ built shattered horribly.‍⁠

That​‌ world was created‌⁠‌ by Joseph, who‌ approached me one‍⁠⁠ winter day when​‍ I wandered with⁠ only a sword‍​ in my hand.‌

“Kuhff…”​⁠‌

Perhaps‌​⁠ because of the⁠​ blood he was​‍ losing, or maybe‍ because of Joseph’s‍‍⁠ gaze, Vlad gradually⁠​‌ shrank from the​⁠ piercing cold.

“Aaah!!”‌

Joseph‍ was slowly disappearing⁠⁠‌ from his blurry​ vision.

Vlad‍ shouted loudly to​‍‌ look here and‌⁠ not there, but‍⁠ when Joseph turned‍ around, his back‍⁠‍ was solid without​ the slightest disturbance.⁠

“No!‌‌​ Khg…! It’s not‍ true.”

The​‌​ night was cold⁠ and the moonlight‌⁠ heavy.

Just​⁠ like the winter⁠​ they met.

Joseph’s⁠​ back was fading​ more and more‌‍ due to Vlad’s‌ tears mixed with‌⁠​ blood.

What did you think of this chapter?
0 reactions

0 Comments


There are no comments yet. Be the first!

Reader Settings
Page mode
Timer
Text Indent
Auto scroll
Tap to read
Pin menu
Translate page
Select language to automatically translate chapter content.
Audio & AI Voice
This chapter has pre-loaded audio
Ads Blocker Image Powered by Code Help Pro

Ads Blocker Detected!!!

We have detected that you are using extensions to block ads. Please support us by disabling these ads blocker.