Indra Translations
Navigation
Star-Embracing Swordmaster Chapter 231: City of Outlaws (3)

Chapter 231: City of Outlaws (3)

The‌‌ Man Who Arrived‌​‌ Riding on a Black Lightning

He‍​ felt the wind⁠⁠ brushing through his⁠‍⁠ hair.

Even​⁠⁠ sitting on the⁠‍​ ground, he seemed​‌‍ to perceive the​​‌ scent of fresh​‍ grass.

Although​‍ it was difficult​ to see even​ an inch ahead‌‍ in the room‌ due to the‌ thick smoke, Vlad‍‍ somehow felt as​⁠ if he were‍⁠ sitting in the⁠‍​ middle of a forest.

“Speak,​​​ child of the‍‍‍ Burgund tribe. Why‍‍⁠ has that dragon⁠⁠ come to seek‍‌ me?”

The⁠ old woman had‌⁠‌ covered the surroundings⁠‍ with magical smoke‌‍ to block Sarnus’s⁠ vision, but even‍ so, she did‌​⁠ not seem calm,​‍​ limiting Vlad’s words.‍‍‍

Because⁠‌ she had lived‍‌​ long enough to‍​⁠ have experienced many‍‌‌ things and knew​ well the dragons’‍⁠ obsession with perfection.⁠‍​

“So,‍ the reason Lord‌ Vlad has come‍‌ here is…”

Vlad‌‍‌ nodded silently while‍​⁠ looking at Nibelun,‍​ who turned towards​⁠‍ him as if​‍‍ asking for permission⁠ to speak.

Although⁠⁠ he hadn’t shared​‌ it with Radu‌ and Pedro, Nibelun​ had already heard⁠ about Vlad’s general⁠ objective.

“He‍ has come seeking‍⁠ an ancient mystery.​ A mystery that⁠ the Ruga tribe‍‍‌ has guarded for​‌​ a long time.”​‍​

“What⁠‍ mystery?”

Though​ it was Vlad’s⁠‍‍ situation, it was⁠​⁠ also Nibelun’s purpose.‌

The‌‍‌ mage, who had‌‌​ been wandering in‌ search of forgotten⁠ mysteries, looked at​‌ the old woman⁠‌ with bright eyes.‍

“A⁠ mystery so powerful‌‌‌ that even the⁠ most perfect creature​⁠⁠ was defeated by⁠‍​ it.”

There​‍⁠ was a story‍ that had been‌​ told so long⁠‍‍ ago that it⁠‍‌ could now be​ considered a legend.‌⁠

Some‌ would have dismissed​ it as a story only children‌ would listen to,⁠‌ but now Nibelun⁠‍ could see that⁠⁠‍ the story wasn’t​‌‌ simply nonsense.

“The⁠​‌ mystery that killed‌ the most perfect‍ dragon of all.”​

The⁠ mystery that killed‌ the most perfect​ dragon.

The​⁠ beastmen’s magic spread‍ like poison and​ pierced the sword‌⁠⁠ of the master‌ swordsman, stopping the⁠ heart of the​⁠​ most perfect dragon.⁠⁠

Hearing​⁠ the visitors ask‌ about this ancient‍ mystery, the old‍‍ woman of the⁠⁠​ Ruga tribe opened⁠⁠‍ her eyes in‌‍ astonishment.

“…So,‌⁠ after all, you’re⁠⁠‌ just children chasing⁠⁠ a ridiculous tale.‌ The oldest dragon,⁠‍‌ they say.”

Was‌ it because the‌​ response was completely‍⁠⁠ unexpected?

Nibelun’s⁠⁠ eyes shone seriously,⁠ but the old⁠‍ woman facing those​ eyes only laughed​‍‌ as if in‌‍⁠ disbelief.

The​ smile that seemed‍​ benevolent was so​⁠ natural that even‍⁠ Nibelun, who spoke⁠ on his behalf,‍‌‌ felt uncomfortable with⁠ her actions.

“A‌ mystery that killed⁠⁠⁠ the most perfect⁠ dragon? That doesn’t⁠‍‌ exist. It’s just‍‍ a fairy tale⁠ for children.”

However,​⁠‍ Nibelun didn’t realize.‌​⁠

The‌‌⁠ sound of the​⁠​ old woman’s breath​‌ exhaling the cigarette‌‍‌ smoke had become​⁠​ faster.

Vlad’s​ blue eyes, sitting‍‍‌ behind, shone as⁠​​ he observed the‍‍‍ old woman trying‍ to spit out⁠ mysteries with her⁠ shrunken lungs.

“You​⁠ know it, don’t​ you?”

“…I​⁠‍ told you not​ to speak.”

“That’s​⁠​ not a fairy‍ tale.”

“I​ said don’t speak!”‌

Sshhh-‌‍‍

Seeing⁠ Vlad continue to‍⁠‍ speak, the frightened‍‍⁠ old woman poured‌⁠ water over the‍ burning logs.

With⁠⁠ hurried gestures, as⁠​ if afraid of‍⁠ something.

Ssss-​‌

Along‍‌‍ with the loud​ sound of boiling‌‌ water, steam began‌‌ to fill the​⁠‌ room.

Even‍ Nibelun, who had​ always been carefree,‌‍ started to panic‌ as the air‌‌ in the room‍‍‌ became completely stale.⁠⁠​

“Damn​​ you, coming here‍ with nonsense and‌‌ bringing me trouble.”⁠

“It’s​⁠​ not nonsense. It‌‌‍ was a mage‌⁠ of the Ruga​‍​ tribe who engraved‌‍‌ the rune on‍⁠⁠ the master swordsman’s‍ sword, wasn’t it?”‌⁠

“Who‌‌⁠ are you to​ claim I’m wrong?⁠​ Among those who‌ now walk the​ earth, only the⁠ dragon duke Sarnus⁠‌ could remember those‌‌‍ times!”

The​ old woman desperately‍⁠ tried to deny‌ the truth about‌‌ those past events,⁠‌‍ probably for the​⁠‌ sake of the‌ children playing outside.​​​

Sarnus,​‍⁠ the oldest dragon‌ of this era,‌ dreamed of becoming‍​ the most perfect‍​ dragon of the​ past.

If⁠‌‌ he knew that‍‍‌ the Ruga tribe​‌‍ possessed a mystery‌​ that could threaten‌​‍ his perfection, the‍​ future of the‌ tribe, already uncertain,‌⁠ would be even​⁠‌ darker.

“…Not​‍⁠ only the dragon‌​⁠ duke remembers those‌ old times.”

Sssss…⁠‍​

The⁠ old woman’s scream,​⁠ like a lightning‌ bolt, was followed​ by a deep,‍​⁠ dense silence.

However,‍‍​ Vlad simply extended⁠ his sword silently​ while looking at‍ the old woman,‍ who stared at​⁠ him as if⁠‍⁠ she were about‍​​ to kill him.‌

Not​ as a threat,‍ but simply as⁠​​ a gesture for​ her to look‌ at it.

“The⁠ being within me‍‍ is also the⁠‌ one who witnessed⁠​ that moment.”

The‍ silver light of‍ the dragon-slaying sword​⁠ shone softly along‌ with the light⁠ of the crackling‍⁠ firewood.

At‌‌ the end of​‌‍ the light, which​ even the fog⁠​⁠ filling the room⁠​ could not hide,‍ were Vlad’s blue⁠‌ eyes.

“He‍‍ said he would‌​‍ like to have​​ the original engraving‌⁠​ re-etched on my​‌‍ sword.”

Following‍‍ the silver path‌‍ established, towards Vlad’s​‌ blue eyes.

Vlad’s‌ world, which was‍ completely unwavering because⁠⁠ he told the⁠​‍ truth and not‌​ lies, was as‍ clear as a calm lake, so⁠​ it was not‍⁠ a problem for​⁠ the old woman‍ of the Ruga⁠‍ family to investigate‍ it.

“…My‍‌ God.”

And‌⁠⁠ the old woman​​‌ could face the‌‌‌ man who looked⁠ at her from​⁠​ the depths of⁠ the lake.

A tall man with⁠ brown hair.

It‍‍ was so deep‍ that she couldn’t‌ even hear his​‌ voice, but the​ silver memory he​ lifted clearly had​‌⁠ the mark of​⁠‌ the ancient Ruga‍‍ family she knew.⁠⁠‌

“This‌​‌ is impossible.”

A mystery created to‍ taint perfection.

That⁠ magic, which should⁠⁠‍ rather be called⁠‍ a curse, was‌​‌ clearly a technique⁠ that had only‌​ been performed once​ in the history‍​‍ of the Ruga‍ family, and it‌‍ was also a mark drawn on‍ a single person.‌‍

What‍‍​ he holds is‍‍​ a silver sword.⁠

The‌ person holding it‌ is the Master‍⁠‌ of the Sword.​

But⁠​‍ the blood that⁠​ ran through his‍​ veins was dragon⁠‌ blood.

Looking‌​ at Vlad, who‌⁠‍ had escaped from‍‍⁠ the blue lake⁠‍ and now faced‌​ him in reality,​​‍ the old woman​⁠ of the Ruga​‌ family could realize‌ what kind of‍‍ being she was‌ now facing.

“Ah…”‌‍‍

Finally,⁠⁠‍ the old woman⁠⁠ recognized Vlad and‌ uttered a name‍​⁠ she had feared⁠​‍ to pronounce.

The⁠ name was so​ ancient that no‍​ one spoke of‌‌‌ it anymore, like‌⁠‍ a master of​ the sword who⁠⁠ no longer exists.‌‍‌

“The⁠ most perfect dragon.”‌

The‍ only way to​ break the perfection‌ that exists on​‌⁠ its own is⁠⁠​ to contaminate the​​ pure world of​​‌ that perfection.

To⁠‍ corrupt that purity,‌⁠​ the Master of‌​ the Sword from‌‍ long ago decided‌⁠ to add an⁠‍ impurity that would‌‍ not be easily‍‍ erased in the‌⁠ most perfect world‌⁠⁠ of dragons.

Riding​‍​ on the engravings‌‌⁠ of the Ruga⁠‌ family along the‍ deeply embedded silver‍​​ knight.

The⁠​‌ name of the‍ impurity introduced into‍ the perfect world​ of dragons was‍⁠ none other than‌‌ the honorable knight⁠‌‍ Kihano.

***‌⁠

That⁠‍‍ day was a day when the​​ sun was hidden.​​​

Hidden‍ by the moon,​ only a faint​​ golden ring remained,⁠‌⁠ withering like a flower losing its⁠​⁠ glow.

“…Kihano.⁠‍⁠ You have finally​ come this far.”‌‍‍

The⁠ sword was lodged⁠⁠⁠ in his heart,‌‌‍ and red blood‌ flowed from the‌ wound.

However,‍‍‌ no matter how‍‍ red the blood‌ flowed, it could‌‌ not compare to​ the countless amounts‌‌‌ of blood flowing⁠​​ here now.

“Did‌ you sacrifice everyone​ for this moment?”​​

“…It​ was not a sacrifice.”

Even‌‌​ now, there were‍⁠ helpless corpses on​ the hill.

The⁠ coldly cooling corpses‌​⁠ behind Kihano were‌ his subordinates and⁠​ companions who had⁠⁠​ been wildly shouting‍⁠ just a moment‍‌⁠ ago.

“They​‌ chose it.”

Humans,​‍‌ elves, dwarves, and‌⁠​ even beastmen.

Thanks‌ to their sacrifice,⁠ which can never​‍ happen again, Kihano⁠ finally reached this⁠‍ moment.

Thanks‍⁠ to the path‍ they opened, the​⁠ duelist who bore‍​​ the fate of‍ the world finally‌⁠‍ plunged his sword‌⁠​ into the heart​ of the most​‌⁠ perfect dragon.

“…I​ am perfect, and⁠‌‌ therefore immortal. Their⁠ sacrifices to me⁠ are nothing more‍ than a fleeting​ dream of a night.”

Even​ with the sword​​ lodged in his‌‌ own heart, the‍​‍ most perfect dragon⁠⁠‌ ended in complete​⁠ disaster, caressing Kihano‍ as if feeling‍ pity for him.⁠​

As​ his slender fingers‌ wiped the blood‍​‌ from his face,‌ Kihano’s expression, hidden‌​‌ until now, became​ visible.

“That’s⁠‌ why I prepared‍⁠​ this sword.”

Buzzing-‌‌

The⁠⁠ silver sword wept.‌

Feeling‍‌​ its master being‍⁠ torn apart more⁠⁠⁠ and more as⁠‍​ tears flowed with​​ blood.

The‍‌ crack in the‍⁠​ world that began‌‌ from the depths‌ of the soul​ had an echo‍​​ so great and⁠​​ devastating that even​ the silver knight‌​‍ in contact felt‍⁠⁠ pain.

“You⁠‍‍ will no longer‍‌‌ be perfect. Because‌‌⁠ at some point⁠‌ in the future,​​ I will shatter​ you again.”

The⁠​ engraving on the‌⁠ sword shone along⁠‍‍ with Kihano’s words.⁠

It​ was a somber​ light that did‍‌‌ not match the‍‍ silver gleam of​ the sword.

The‌ symbol of the​ black lightning engraved‍ on the inscription‌‌ shone slowly, injecting‌ deadly poison into‍‌ the heart of​​ the most perfect‌​​ dragon.

“The‌​ name I give‌‍‍ you is Kihano,⁠ the champion Kihano.”⁠⁠​

I send my world‍​​ into yours, so​​‌ deep that you⁠⁠ will never be⁠ able to rid‌ yourself of it.‌⁠⁠

The⁠​⁠ most perfect dragon⁠⁠‍ felt Kihano’s world​ entering his, and‍‌‌ his expression changed⁠ to one of⁠ surprise.

“The⁠​ sword is cold.”⁠

“…”‍​

“My⁠‍ eyelids feel heavy.”⁠‌

“…Sleep.”​⁠‌

Kihano’s‍ head gradually lowered⁠​‍ as if losing‍‍ strength.

“Because⁠‌ when you wake‍ up again, you‍​ will not be‌‍​ yourself.”

“Before‍​​ I fall asleep,‌‍ tell me one‌⁠ last thing.”

Asked⁠⁠‌ the most perfect​⁠ dragon, grabbing Kihano’s⁠​⁠ head as it​‌‍ gradually descended.

“What​‍⁠ did you think⁠‍ of me when​​ you saw me?”‌‍

A perfect dragon capable‌‍ of encompassing all‍‍ aspects of the‌ world.

The‌ most perfect dragon,‌⁠​ who was desire‍ for some, anger⁠ for others, and​‍​ fear for others,⁠ wanted to know‌​ how he appeared‌ to Kihano one‌⁠ last time.

“…I​‍ will never tell​‌ you.”

Crack!⁠‍

However,‌‌ Kihano did not‌​ give the final⁠ answer that the​‌⁠ most perfect dragon‍‍‍ wanted.

He‍‌‍ only pushed the⁠ sword deeper into‍​ the dragon’s heart.⁠⁠‍

The‍ world called Kihano⁠⁠ that fell with⁠‌‍ him began to​‍​ fall into the⁠‍ most perfect world⁠⁠‌ of dragons through‍⁠‍ the tip of​​ the silver sword.‍

“Kihano—No!”‍‌

Sarnus,​‍‍ caught by a leash, cried at‌ the foot of​‍ a hill, watching​ the last tremors‍⁠⁠ of the most‍ perfect dragon.

However,‍‍​ his cries shattered⁠ like an unfulfilled⁠ dream and only‌‌​ floated over the⁠ deserted hill.

Although⁠‍ countless people climbed⁠​ this hill where⁠⁠​ the sun was⁠ setting, only two​‍ people remained.

No,‍‌​ only one and⁠ a half.

Frausen,​ with a vacant‍⁠ expression, looked at⁠‌‍ the most perfect⁠ dragon, now deeply​⁠ asleep, and raised⁠​ his head again⁠⁠ towards the rising⁠​⁠ sun.

***‍

There​‌⁠ was a boy‍​ lying in the‌ mud.

The⁠​​ boy’s name was‌⁠ Vlad, and he‌‍ was cold in‍‌‌ the street, but⁠‍‍ no one approached​​​ him.

“Why‌ did he suddenly⁠​ fall?”

“They​⁠‍ said he was⁠‌‌ struck by lightning‍ from a clear‌ sky.”

People​‍‌ gathered and murmured.‌⁠​

I could only shrink​ back, not daring​‌​ to approach the‍‌‌ strange phenomenon I had never seen⁠ before.

“But‌ wasn’t the color​‍ of the lightning‍ simply black?”

“Yes.‍‍ Maybe he was⁠⁠ cursed.”

It⁠⁠ was said that‍‍​ on that day,‍‍‌ the boy was‍ struck by lightning‍ and collapsed.

They⁠​ said it was​‍ a black lightning⁠‍‍ that seemed sinister.⁠‍

[······.]⁠‍

The​‌‍ boy’s blue eyes⁠‌ were still half-open,​‍⁠ perhaps shocked by‌ the sudden jolt.‌

The‌⁠ last thing he‌‌ saw before falling‍​ was the image⁠⁠ of a simple,‌‌ unadorned sword that‌‍‌ shone in the⁠‌ middle of a dark alley.

A simple sword that‍⁠⁠ shone without needing‍⁠​ to be hung​‍‍ on high.

The‌ day the boy,​‍​ who never became⁠‌⁠ perfect, was struck‍ by the black‍​ lightning was the​‌ day he embraced​⁠ a small star​ in his heart.⁠

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.