Chapter 243: Between the Cracks (2)
dUGMThe air in the long, narrow hallway was thick with a stale smell.zLG
dVwJgdRJoseph should have been used to it by now, but the damp stench of the mansion was like poison to him, who needed to breathe.JZaD
3bguYet at that moment, Joseph forgot even the pervasive odor, focusing all his attention on the man before him.uigwUze
bjdP2“You passed through death in an incomplete way. You’re so weak that a mere sigh could knock you down.”pSr
aT2DkMA man who had lost all color.CnGpdSA
sGJKhBut once, he had been the brightest of them all, and now he stood before him.QCxIAa
EclyX3K“I don’t understand what you mean, Your Majesty.”DLFkd
IZxe3xKAlthough he tried not to show it, Joseph couldn’t prevent his heart from racing upon hearing Frausen’s voice.jLf
TDWbYAnd the quickened heartbeat wasn’t just the result of a sense of danger.Y1E
c0RdE‘The founding king…’kvF
EwGDWxThe man who appeared in the storybooks his mother read to him as a child was now standing before Joseph’s eyes.TtNrRt
SRlXr3The existence of the Swordmaster, whom he had vaguely admired since childhood, was like a bubble that Joseph couldn’t grasp.KVtH
T2sH0d“…Don’t call me ‘Your Majesty.’”qdz
mCnqHowever, Joseph was no longer the child he once was, and the man before him was no longer the glorious knight.vLVz6ns
CHtjVGvThey were walking in a place so far removed from what they had once dreamed of, and they simply walked in silence through the damp hallway.SmV8JNQ
9ELqgzYThump-LMb
H06PFThe place where Frausen led Joseph, who was in peril, was his own room.0nV9J5X
KRjIt was a spacious, well-organized room, far larger than any other room Joseph had seen before, and fortunately, the stench that had bothered him did not permeate it.DirS3Br
ZfR“Sit.”TuHVG
SvpG“Yes.”Vjl
9btreAs Joseph looked around Frausen’s room, not even illuminated by a single candle, his expression hardened as if he had finally regained his senses.6hrBqV
Sk0Since he had just been called in while eavesdropping on a conversation between sorcerers, there was nothing unusual about what was going to happen next.vFR9
BeINUz“Joseph of Bayezid. At some point, I had planned to meet you.”VJHJZU
adQj“…”CPN
iP3hSZWas it because he had been in the darkness for too long?g3wQIY
3bxBmIt was a room without light, but Joseph felt he could distinguish Frausen standing before him.ekVD
Yyox“I heard you were the one who first hired that Vlad fellow, correct?”Abm
9FcuBlHis face was stiff as a corpse.Xsj
plPHowever, each time Vlad’s name was mentioned, an expression appeared on his face.Ce2NGZ
MgunI don’t know what kind of emotion it expressed, but it certainly seemed a little more alive than before.lYUD
vlHKB“Yes.”v7DLKa
XZEf9T“Good. Then tell me.”eikD2HQ
6HrJWkQCreak-EOadUx
3AH1vIt was probably just a decorative candle.dPN1s
FNmIKi7Since Frausen, not being alive, didn’t need even the faintest light.JnCcdm
0a9X“Slowly, from the beginning. What was he like?”H2WG
UJw5Fc5But now Frausen struck a match and lit a candle in the dark room.4zej
IvTlUAlPerhaps he did it for the guest’s sake, but Joseph felt that the light he was seeing wasn’t for him.v9n3QGd
u8j3“If you answer sincerely, I’ll turn a blind eye.”MLkhJi
BGoFrausen smiled faintly as he watched the candlelight.ENg5
w6y51However, Joseph couldn’t return the smile.4XYp
5JrxNBecause what Frausen held now was a small teacup that Joseph had been hiding.PKw6
zFPRrK4Joseph couldn’t help but stiffen his expression as he stared at the dwarf’s teacup, completely spotless despite having been filled with tea as black as a wolf’s maw.8BP3
GqZ***bkbLAN
tAjAJA1Two weeks had passed since that terrible battle.jNS
3GhThough the graves that filled the vacant spaces still caused sadness, the lush fence that had replaced them was a great comfort to the elves.epTRP1
FwbU“Is your arm okay?”UV2
IWR7cfAnd now, the green wooden fence of Ausurin was visible from Vlad’s room.zqc
gChJlQbVlad, who was looking at Jager with the image of the young World Tree behind him, made a complicated expression as he saw the bandages around Jager’s arm.exNM
bw0eP8T“…The arm’s fine, but now my leg is bothering me a bit.”HRhp
MzbYROVThere were still white bandages wrapped around Jager’s left arm, where Vlad’s sword had pierced through.HMCTgY1
tFU1rGIt was a serious injury that might prevent him from ever wielding a sword again, but Jager seemed more bothered by the chains around his ankles than by his limp left arm.OKGJW
IC6“No.”BTnB
rjo7B7k“I didn’t even say anything.”hxoF0x
M2K“Remember that you’re a prisoner of war now.”CSPUl1
sDiFor Vlad, he was a close mentor, but to the elves of Ausurin, Jager was nothing more than a sinister man who had arrived with malevolent beings.DGnX
7ALJager, now lying in bed without his eye patch, nodded as if Vlad’s words made sense.gjEP6P
4Uufi“That’s true, I couldn’t complain if they killed me right now.”lxk4
PmlmgSSeeing Jager laugh heartily as he said that, Vlad let out a brief sigh as if he were exasperated.3LxQPqS
F6OJager’s unique ease allowed him to fool others anytime, anywhere.wOlcn
87X8FIt was something Vlad had always admired, just like Jager’s skill with a sword.U9bNen5
vQFsa“Now tell me. Why the hell did you do it?”tkkJ0
woOR8UF“…”MW3
CVkHowever, the atmosphere between the two, which had relaxed for a while, began to cool once again with those words.jCv
zvczJust a moment ago, Vlad had been concerned about his master’s injury, but now Vlad’s blue eyes, as he looked at Jager, were filled with resolve.ht1FDvF
RGgSHcr“I’m telling you in advance, this isn’t a request.”1IUfb
gNkOVlad’s eyes were turning cold, as if this was the end of the consideration that could be given out of simple acknowledgment.zCfEcVg
TD8CeAfter seeing that, Jager must have realized he couldn’t hide it anymore, so he closed his remaining eye.KbIQc
nigR“I’m sorry.”egohM
VifOIp“An apology is fine. Where is that woman in black now?”xteA9l5
9u9zOSqueak-PvRXzWf
q6LA sharp sound came from the chair Vlad had pulled closer.JJD
GuPt1wmThe sound that pierced Jager’s ears also showed Vlad’s determination not to back down easily from this position.i5D
dny“That woman has killed more than a hundred people, just among the ones I know. If we count those I don’t know about, the number might exceed a thousand.”FP25
3xO“…”wA2OWi
seF“What makes her a true bitch is that she only kills the weakest, like children. If it were just regular warfare, killing indiscriminately, it wouldn’t have bothered me so much.”nkepzU
U1qVlad had never considered himself a righteous person.Oyz
444rtHowever, he firmly believed there were lines all people should follow.r0W7
397The reason Vlad had been able to avoid losing himself in those alleyways that felt like sewers was because he had fiercely maintained a minimum level of conscience all along.xXSx7m
Klkb“…So, where is that bitch now?”wa1s3
j2hT7And now, Vlad was sitting here, trying to uphold the line he had drawn.h5lzYN
KyzuVlad’s determination to repay all that he had received and to take care of what he owed was as firm as the solid wooden fence visible outside.cQWpy1
sLf“I don’t know where she is.”bM3ULg
jmv“Jager.”25A6L
2hPMUD1“That bitch you’re talking about doesn’t belong to ‘any place.’”vWSMV
8ZNaJager, who had noticed Vlad’s determination, had no choice but to tell him.ZS6I
y9UThough it was a bit earlier than expected, Vlad was fully prepared to know the truth.98C
pgEVybw“Ramashthu is a woman who lives in memories. I’m not a sorcerer, so I don’t know for sure, but at the very least, she’s not walking on this earth.”ep66s
43smB3The woman known as Ramashthu, as Jager recognized her, did not exist in reality.yVz
r3EHmShe was merely an existence settled in an illusion that swelled like a bubble and occasionally rose like a nightmare.5skIfA
ucPr“But I can point you to some places that might lead you to her. Though I’m not sure if they still work.”K5V4J
XHe2However, her dark bubble, which should have been eliminated long ago by those responsible, was already overflowing to the point of threatening reality.BTqf
TIbsQw“Point them out.”Bay
YkMq59Jager raised his healthy right arm toward Vlad, who was calmly lifting the map.U2elE9
l5LHis hands trembled as he marked the map, one place after another, but neither Vlad, who sought an answer, nor Jager, who spoke the truth, said a word.zOIB
CIO“Why don’t you ask?”RntffZP
mOhJ“About what?”jLKv96g
wfE2Kk“About Lord Joseph.”MYJDy
0lRHJager, who had marked the last place he knew, spoke with his dry lips, but Vlad’s response was not heard for a long time.Esl
jqM“I’ll ask him in person.”ST0B435
SkJ2cC“…Alright.”G7t
MqsOjJager was about to pass along Joseph’s final message, but decided not to after hearing Vlad’s response.G4e
NdPv8tHe believed there would be no need for an intermediary between the two, who would soon meet face to face.rqE3pv0
5ysfs***O73W
6jUcDF“Lord Peter. There’s a report.”w98LP
uGnxdKIn an office in Sturma, a city where the winter’s chill still lingered.2KSJ
qZlrlMIn a place where there were as many books on the shelves as there were swords, Advisor Ragmus approached Peter with several pieces of paper.Y8TjYr
DyAi“It is said that the Gaidar family is moving north, towards the Western Gate.”78Gzy2Q
iWJ“…”jWAaN3E
t1MnPeter, who had been reviewing documents for a while, raised his eyebrows at Ragmus’ words.Izhi
qEVBHjThe Gaidar family of the west had returned after suffering a heavy blow in the giant hall of Deirmar a few years ago.MyQ
qrxBut now, as if they had recovered from the damage, they were once again rising up, trying to remove the northern shield that blocked the canyon.k9ErR
pbix5Hl“They’re moving faster than expected.”Os8E
TlH5t“It seems there’s support from the Golden Duke.”kFCgAmZ
Y8FAuq7To be precise, it may have been the intention of the Dragon Blood Duke.TCH
KhXvtSeeing the Gaidar army advancing northward, along with the central army marching from the heartland, was clearly a smart move—one that would have been difficult to execute without someone pulling the strings from behind.WyE
Skig“Defending up to that point would stretch our lines too thin. We must pull back.”k7l
xrlo“How far do you want us to retreat our forces?”CA6Ab
TfsxAlthough the Northern Alliance’s Olympic Fortress was a stronghold for the seven northern families, it wouldn’t be enough to block the forces of both the Golden Duke and Gaidar at the same time.Osiy
dTg07PPPeter, who had full authority over the fortress, decided to retreat in order to consolidate their defenses.2dXU
SqCPZvI“To Deirmar.”afVuu77
fMXYjIPeter, who had been studying the map for a while, picked up the pen he was holding and began marking the location of Deirmar.YDhAT
eILThough Deirmar was a small city, it was a suitable gathering point for the northern families to establish their base and was also close to their own city, Soara.NJLE
VZGKIqG“…And, Lord Peter.”OculF6
0RaGk1P“Yes?”J1y
YIC“This is the report from Lord Joseph.”sagdv
oLeBThough Peter was focused on the imminent threat, his expression softened at the mention of a note from Joseph, handed to him by Ragmus.liO4
9nS9“…It’s been a while since we’ve had any news from him.”kN3R
Po4“It’s an important report.”Vn8riX
z9v2wNFThough carefully folded, the paper on which the report was written was badly worn, as if it had been hastily prepared.qxh
ak9qyAs Peter unfolded the note, he recalled his son’s hand desperately clutching the paper, and a complex mix of emotions crossed his face.8hK
o7jI5A“He’s done his best.”UFY
Uath“Yes.”WS2pnsP
KrROFIn the middle of the unfolded note was his son’s familiar handwriting.Eftc3e
5LGIThough the writing was smudged compared to before, it was still readable, as it was his son’s blood.66FL
Bfj“Prepare a message. Ragmus, we need to inform the Iron Duke and the Northern Church.”S5GU2
1tUAfter reading the note, Peter closely examined the map he had just been studying and picked up a pen.NM8lE
fLy“Wouldn’t it be better to inform the Court Duke as well?”0iQmpMk
6xI“The Iron Duke will inform him. We shouldn’t send too many messages from our position.”rflD
okTZEven in the face of the telegram sent by his troubled son, Peter didn’t show the slightest hesitation.Jzz
BdLTsy3He simply made a sensible decision, fulfilling his role as lord and commander.dGUUInx
HEjGH1k“I’m revoking my previous order. We will withdraw the Northern Alliance soldiers to Soara.”w5V
GdRcDc0With those words, Peter began drawing a bold cross over the mark of Deirmar.shmiHd
eYCUfFrom Deirmar, they would retreat to Soara.GiPp
7okrm9Advisor Ragmus nodded gravely as he watched Peter, who had drawn the defensive line that needed to be fortified as much as possible.xm71Aj
aU1“Understood, Count.”WR16Hc
XfztTFPeter stood in silence, watching Ragmus exit the office with those words.EgZU7W
BQoCarefully, he reopened Joseph’s note and, after pondering for a moment, went to the bookshelf, where he pulled out a small book and delicately placed the note between its pages.OVZgM
M0FqZ“…I’m proud of you, Joseph.”zk4vt
TzlqHPOn the cover of the book that Peter had taken out was a colorful drawing, likely meant to appeal only to children.6Ys
s7mNCFIt was an old children’s storybook, one that had been his youngest son Joseph’s favorite during his childhood. On the worn cover, a knight could be seen charging valiantly at a great dragon.jlFTgVQ
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