Chapter 225: When I Get Up Again (1)
ImV25lIn his office in Sturma, Peter Bayezid was staring intently at the man before him.DRXpwIq
iT6ENJudging by the fact that the ink on the pen he had set aside was still wet, it seemed this client had arrived at an unexpected moment.MF7eD
Sq7bi8Y“If you wanted to talk to me, you should have made an appointment, Agge.”cZv
04CEsz“The situation is urgent. I have urgent news to report.”VRkI
21KfuA man dressed in poorly trimmed animal skins, with colorful braids throughout his head.fNl4
OJlzvmAgge, from the Budart tribe, had a severe expression on his face, not even shaking off the snow that had accumulated on his shoulders.pvzEcPk
RNNd9“Alright, speak.”Zkl
NPYr4As the son of the tribe chief, Agge was in a position to speak with Peter, the head of the Bayezid family.3SRwlz
s3QjDcHowever, Peter noticed the seriousness in Agge’s expression, so he decided to skip the trivial details.OJz1s5e
00E“I don’t think we can survive this winter. Not just my tribe, but the other tribes as well.”pDzM9
QogtTpQ“Why?”DWYrwg
IqjKn6It was common for barbarians to have a hard time in winter when food was scarce.Gq54T
LDNbTheir original habit of looting also originated for this reason.sj8x
3mvjvHowever, Agge did not come simply to say it was hard to survive due to a lack of food.OKiW
Vu02l“The monsters are rampant.”IDkxWI
Bfr“Isn’t that usually the case in winter?”gmorE
l6GkYa“And also the dragons. The ones you call Lindworm.”W00yh9
ZOcR7Beyond the snowy fields of the north, a dragon and monsters came from a land humans could not reach.Bxz0C9
Sp4QAs Peter said, it happened every year, but this time the number was much greater, and it was a number the barbarians, whose power was weakened by the Dragon Hunters, could not dare to handle.dp8w5
a4SFi“Dragons? Like before?”Cxzn7
floN“It’s worse. Unlike then, this time it’s not just one.”cJjow2
TuOdZPeter’s eyebrows arched when he heard Agge say it wasn’t just one dragon.s8jf7r
UZbYIt may have been affected only when the pieces of Ravnoma moved, but in the current situation, there was no reason for the dragons to rampage at the same time.zep
7cD“Are you sure about that?”CqT
BABkBb“We have already lost contact with two tribes. They were the ones furthest north.”1eB
Q8UAccording to Agge, the barbarians were now moving south, unable to withstand the pressure of the dragons and monsters that had become violent.Jtaaz
9EAqTpYAnd this would not be very good news for Bayezid.X0SLNe
DqtBI“I can’t send troops to help you. We are preparing for war.”FRt
KuDRL1“Then please at least accept the refugees. They want to take shelter within your walls.”UF1a7
zev“I have no reason to do so.”Ggn0nh
AyRtU09The refusal he gave was cold and firm.pxf1g
JSnfHThe agreement between the northern lords and the barbarians was solid, but it only intended to respect the territory they had, and there was no agreement to actively help something like now.mFte3r
PFnQT4“There is not enough space within the walls nor food to feed my own subjects. What you are asking goes beyond the terms of the agreement.”liRK9v
3h45E“…”9oycr
z5Bl“Leave. Do not forget my courtesy in tolerating your disrespect.”oY2f7ly
C3NtJnAgge bit his lip while looking at Peter, who was holding his pen again as if he had nothing more to say.hKK
JnEAoNHThere was nothing wrong with what he said about not being able to help, but still, the anger boiling in his heart was something he could do nothing about.oLug
CRk6Ik“We gave up many things, but in the end, it remains the same. Nothing has changed.”Klmnf
ldwNWI“…”DbMD
tpiljc“Our agreement will break. Future generations will face each other again as we did.”9BD9c
wucThere was a man who told me we should no longer do that.azYZ7km
KM96hHjA man who suggested we set aside the hatred that had been accumulating for some time and join hands for the sake of the next generation.NLx4
iroHe was the man who said that to do that, we must swallow a poison that is now difficult for us to drink.xSGgM
b9ph“Joseph Bayezid would have allowed us in. Because that is what he did in the back alleys of Soara.”DbFsMh
TgD9fc“…Enough.”x2zwYT
QSmz“There is no one left in the north who extends a hand first. The winter has returned!”pG7nSQV
u5a0t61“I said enough!”XXNV
i4Vhv5Bang!qLYx2
z9gFu5A heavy silence invaded the office accompanied by a loud noise.59fFGU6
IuOyEHowever, Peter’s bloodshot eyes were still wide open as he looked at Agge.0cV
SZsDT“…I thought he could do it. But it was a mistake.”xY5b
AV9DAgAgge, who looked at the disheveled Peter, slowly backed away and left the office.nzKpr
mqsme9VBecause he knew he could no longer communicate with him.KFO
wb1KQGLHe had sought a Bayezid who saw them as equals, but the only thing he carried away was the cold dividing line between their worlds.jCtxzL
gHBGhv“…”PX6G0R
yPexjEven after Agge left, Peter remained there with clenched fists for a long time.4zbUVT8
s0S0Although he had tried to be unyielding all his life, this time it was difficult for him to calm his emotions.TLQ7ZN
2i06ASeeing the traces his unfortunate son could not achieve, Peter realized that tonight he would need a strong drink.XB6EI
6ulMBu***mtZ7W
uGRcqfEThe workers were busy removing piles of stones and debris, as if they wanted to erase the nightmare of the previous night.Ydicp
Phbc9NNHowever, the scattered bloodstains and the half-collapsed mansion remained a heartbreaking sight.4pn
nK00GPablo, who was looking at that figure before him, silently gazed at the window of the mansion that had not yet collapsed, carrying his very dented shield on his back.P06x
PzQr“He still hasn’t woken up.”qGBLRhf
Xd4Ek6p“It’s a miracle he’s still alive. He was pierced through the chest.”oae5O
oHyUnlike the bed that seemed soft, the room had cracks in all the walls.ritju
tGMThe disheveled appearance resembled Vlad, who was currently lying in the bed, and it seemed to inexplicably increase the feeling of desolation.Jq7xC3
kc096t“They say even bad luck is luck. I really didn’t think he would survive.”mv40
ntHU7“You say that, but I saw you taking great care of him.”QyWSldw
ZiLWB“…That’s because I swore before God I would do that in front of the sick!”wVMWhyQ
e8APedro shouted, unable to contain his growing anger, but the hand he showed to Vlad at that urgent moment was sincere.j4eTv
oQhWrJbAlthough he was a former Inquisitor, he could not use healing techniques, but if it were not for his skilled treatment, Vlad would already be in a coffin.UCe
ton“Even so, I hope he recovers soon. The servants are looking at us strangely.”Z3SRGIT
sl6YbS“Mmm. That’s something that can’t be helped.”XXgV
Uu7XThe mansion of Arnstein, which was almost half destroyed, was like a deep scar left in the city of Valletta.02D5r
N2zThe broken flags, the collapsed walls, and the knights and soldiers who died in the attack were damages that could only be healed after a long time and were costly losses.ZI2B
i1aIcYTAnd the fact that Joseph’s betrayal was at the center of all this made the group, who had not yet left the mansion, feel increasingly uncomfortable.cLc5
zhXD8“Didn’t you notice anything? You said you were together all this time.”kEj
vtpREe“Not at all. I can say for certain that regarding the mystery, there were no indications.”Vs10
YXb8RIf it had been said by an ordinary beast man, he would not have believed it.GzHfI
B4GSCHowever, Pedro, who had worked with Nibelun, knew very well that he did not lie, as he was a fairly simple and honest person.JPD
Qi57XH2“He was a very intelligent man. One of the best in the north.”guo3K
4QCsPedro slowly scratched his chin, recalling Joseph who had faced him.A11S1F
h6XQh1The second son of Bayezid, who was ingenious enough to oust him from his position in Soara for a long time.0hW3K
8fXsIWith that ingenuity, it was easy to deceive a foolish cat and a young dragon.wGZ
kZz“…Well, I was a bastard. So was that guy.”xmY3
cbWHowever, even if he was such a talented person, he eventually fell into a dark temptation and could not guess what was happening in the world.LO7l
Ybl“Where are you going?”Gqq3exf
Jzh“Why? Do I have to inform you every time I go somewhere?”WW3
Vag“No, but…”qOU1sVK
pt6He wanted to be in company because he felt uncomfortable being alone, but he only received the sharp criticism of an old grouch.rXi5ca
VHpRUPedro grabbed the creaking doorknob, turned it, and walked alone down the hall, sighing and muttering to himself.pHQx
QMX3“I never thought I’d grow old and have to care for dragons.”7R5
HT1L2WLFrom Vlad, who was unconscious, to Radu, who had now aged.9wsCY
TPw1Pedro left the room and walked down the hall, lamenting how his life had turned out, and began to walk quickly.krccaq
iAW6In this mansion full of uncomfortable glances, Pedro was the only one who took action for the children of Dragulia, who had no one to care for them.2w4TxU
q0h***tpX
paNwOxIt was an autumn landscape.Dv8qzJR
y5yVBelow, the wheat fields were a bountiful gold, and on the hill where they sat, the red leaves fell abundantly.emysVp
V4oPNThe sight of the World Mother Tree in Kihano’s world was something that would make anyone smile, but Vlad simply sat there, melancholy.aFtnz9
93kw“Why did he leave?”Kk6OAV
IKxqaP2[Only he knows.]F33
2VqVD5It was a quiet hill where only the sound of the wind could be heard, but Vlad was not the only one sitting there.2uv4
ShFIAlthough his face was still not visible, a man with brown hair was sitting next to Vlad.tLkG
ge1OyrY[It is almost impossible to fully understand another being. Such are the encounters between worlds.]HhtKR
CEMSsoq“…”kLparIH
kENJHearing Kihano’s words, Vlad buried his head between his knees.X6KA
TF48DtZAlthough he knew he was trying to console him, the farewell of last night was too terrible for those words to offer any comfort.6LkcQ
bxEapAVlad, who buried his head deeply as if he did not want to see anything, only reproached himself for not knowing anything until this happened, and blamed Joseph for not saying anything during that time.QtLMoav
G828O“I’m tired. There is no end. I can’t rest.”OEbA
XLBJe[…I understand.]CGThfz2
bT0MY0Vlad’s desire to reach the stars was pure, but nothing in the world lasts forever.QG0Cw
rTxhXqEvery time he climbed a flight of stairs, Vlad grew exhausted, and every time he defeated someone one by one, a part of his soul was torn away.ARZ
aJu3RIAnd now, having lost someone he trusted, it was understandable that Vlad felt downcast.7D3h1T
2TS7kz[If you need to rest, rest. If you want to run away, run away. No one can force you to do anything.]qqP
sx1crKihano did not press Vlad.DVipQd
PmacpHHe only told him to rest as much as he wanted.RIzD7E
pyFVlad had fled to his world because he could not bear his own, and Kihano was there to support him.fwt
yKvFCn“…Can I really do that?”59g
t4hx[Of course.]tQWli4
4qrVYKihano patted Vlad on the back while looking at the twilight in the distance.4xdqc3
dTJVN[It’s okay.]VKfxV
ES9TCRed maple leaves fluttering amidst the autumn landscape.Y2OZiDx
VLf1KNpToday’s twilight seen under the World Mother Tree, which is no longer there, still remained despite the passage of time.VSfDFyV
hd2l0s[Because the only thing you have to do is get up again at any time.]Ng5sl
7YAAkyYou are still young, and your time continues to flow smoothly.m9Gw1K
mfV0OANot like my time, which I cannot reverse or move forward.JVnDf
pd22k7ZYour time, which can go anywhere because it flows, will not pass in vain even in this moment of worry.v4C2G
ortE“…The sound of the wind is pleasant.”46yK
K2iWC[It is a sound that can only be heard when the surroundings are silent.]DeRkr6
sIfI2Kihano and Vlad sat in the same place under the bright red maple for a long time.vD9Ervt
WeXYvvdIn this place filled only with the wind, there was no Joseph who betrayed him, nor Frausen who stabbed him, only Kihano waiting patiently.hNcq5nE
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