Chapter 244: Burned Church (1)
rNWm1jThe Great Mother’s eyes, with their heavily drooping eyelids, were fixed on Vlad.lyS
mOp3So was the sharp needle she held.UfYsODy
EvzS0N0Sizzle-KCoWB
Z4M0m“Ugh!”5O7lN
ovSKGbThe dense smell of burning flesh filled the air, mingling with the cigar smoke the Great Mother exhaled.cJQ7c
VN4Every time the hot needle she held pierced Vlad’s skin, the air in the room grew heavier, and the thick smoke became even denser.XxJE
K5V“…I’ll say it again, this is a curse.”34YHJU
BuknEach stitch the Great Mother made left a lightning pattern on Vlad’s skin.rfG7u7
72WThe pattern that started on the back of Vlad’s hand soon climbed up to his shoulder, covering his left arm.Yba
Hio“A curse that introduces impurities into another’s world. Originally, we magicians devised it to fight knights.”0dGU
xk5Although he was trying to stay composed, the pain was already clearly visible on Vlad’s face.t5o
bWyMThe tattoo the Great Mother of the Ruga tribe was inscribing wasn’t just engraved on his skin, but on his very soul.XbTyd
ZoBVlad’s face was already covered in cold sweat, the pain far more intense than he had expected.jtYCS
sw39“And I suppose you already know what those impurities are, don’t you?”Tf2
82tQTo6Seeing Vlad nod silently, perhaps from the pain, the Great Mother set aside the pipe she held.6zPN1Uo
7kxbBWell, there’s no way you wouldn’t know.J35
YxLmuBecause there was already someone within Vlad who had experienced the secret arts of the Ruga clan.5Grl
O86C5aH“Please, don’t use this curse to deeply wound another’s world.”Nba2Lm8
mcn0KWhoosh-!tcP
8fGWith those words, the Great Mother expelled the mysterious smoke from her lungs onto Vlad’s left arm.wE5Fi
m6RZThe smoke, infused with the Great Mother’s sincerity, seeped into Vlad’s arm, completing the drawing.yxEZi
2ED“…Because no matter how deeply you stab others, in the end, the world that will be hurt is your own.”honv
UuqFsThe tattoo, which at first had only been an outline, began to fill with color.ihVhh
ICT6iBThe pattern of black lightning grew sharper and clearer.2Yrjue
JrvLong ago, the mystery of the Ruga clan, said to have been used to mark the most perfect dragon, was now entirely black and sharp, like the lightning that first bonded Kihano and Vlad.kYtMmN
BWiZ***Pdc8G
2iJ3xNumerous soldiers moved, leaving behind the barren land visible in the distance.Xs1bRRx
qSQiYxThese were the imperial and central forces gathered in the capital, Brigantes, advancing toward Namarka, the city of outlaws.DFFkhI
kAtOUnlike when they pursued Vlad, the central army, which had now grown to tens of thousands, continued advancing north without stopping.juTJkun
CJnx“Commander. It’s reported that Count Gaidar has just passed through the Western Gate.”7WTyQ6
yZ5R“…Really?”mT0
3XY4WBqDragon Blood Duke Sarnus, the commander-in-chief of the Northern Expeditionary Force, widened his eyes in intrigue at Mirshea’s report from the side.Kmjyl
QIL“It was a fortress blocking a narrow gorge. Has he already passed through?”HDC
VFQdIfm“Well…”vk6C1
oVqukGAs Sarnus said, Fort Holland, which blocked the west, was a natural fortress built along a narrow canyon.11E
8bvtKNaturally, passing through such terrain required many sacrifices, but for some reason, Count Gaidar, worth little more than half a coin, had managed to pass through very easily.RH0
cyPD“It wasn’t Count Gaidar who conquered it; Count Bayezid voluntarily withdrew his troops.”kheksk
wS8d98mBut the brilliant achievement of Count Gaidar was nothing more than the empty shell Peter had thrown away.IGQn
sCIGNWnSarnus’s gaze deepened upon hearing Mirshea’s report that Peter had voluntarily relinquished the advantageous position.U2rgi
kQPMf3“As expected of the Northern Fox. He was prepared for any eventuality.”m76
4DTdBXBayezid and Baranov, one of the two pillars supporting the North.RQSVH
OjmThey were certainly very different from the weaklings wielded by the Blood Dragon.0VG
tgBsa“I had thought to cut off their supply lines if necessary, but it seems that option is no longer available.”BZRiPPc
Ir7WNo matter how favorable the terrain, if you don’t have the means to hold it, it’s useless.MrVkTt
EL9And Peter already knew that for the distant northern allies to fully control Fort Holland, they would have to pay more in costs than they would gain in benefits.8HFBef
CGgWlrE“We’ll change course. From now on, we’ll move along the eastern route.”YDn7N5D
V7BA9Clicking his tongue at Peter’s refusal to take the bait, Sarnus decided to abandon his original plan and execute his second option.vPd
8hLfO90“We’ll start by taking northern Maringen. After securing that, we’ll head directly upwards.”rIr
kJquoNot northwest toward Bayezid, but northeast toward Timur, the Iron Duke.XNHB
uS890Now that Bayezid was firmly tied down by the Golden Duke and Gaidar, the army led by the Dragon Blood Duke had decided to march straight to Bastopol, the heart of the North, where the Iron Duke resided.It3T0n
mkh3Cju“…But father, no matter how many we are, dividing our forces doesn’t seem like a wise choice.”EQ0YU
vrr1kfSeeing the Dragulia banner suddenly lifted, Mirshea began to admonish Sarnus, concerned.qEOTd93
6MtBThough it was part of the plan, it was obvious that splitting the unified front into two would place a heavy burden on the expeditionary force.GeO
89BZIou“There will be great losses.”NepaZ
Lj0QSYM“…”k8o
xsnIt might be possible to end the war quickly, but it was a choice that inevitably involved significant sacrifices.ga0W
sDjioNHowever, there wasn’t the slightest hesitation in Sarnus’s voice as he prepared to push tens of thousands of troops into the cold, snowy fields.r9Z
zIMiKg“I know, son.”48lQt3
LDfTql3He simply whispered softly to his son with the voice of a fierce dragon.6IbvDCf
6wXU“Of course, many humans will die.”PqrbpT
ZZSAWhat were these men marching north for?B03aD
P2mx6Were they there to subdue the North, which had rebelled against the Empire, or were they mere puppets moved by the dragon’s breath in his quest for perfection?E4R430
iPy“Don’t forget, Mirshea. The victory we seek lies elsewhere.”Z7s
ltKmp5B“…Yes.”50ru
dgPIThe answer to that was found in the banner now flying in front of Sarnus.oZqPBH
7lPHBtaThe Dragulia banner had a slightly different design from the original flag that depicted the beheading of a dragon.Ir8tp7S
uaHXwBd“This father wants to show you the world of dragons as it was in its perfect form in ancient times.”INu
fWjld6Behind Sarnus’s head, as he smiled kindly at his son, a banner flew.Iu6O
whS1The Dragulia banner, now standing proudly before the imperial standard, was emblazoned not with its former tattered appearance but with the enormous wings of a golden dragon.T0Q
nVnkSd****k14iwdF
cAg93It was a room filled with pure, white sunlight.22N
6EKnyhKA room so bright you could feel the softness of the fluffy quilt just by lying in it.Sp1
TCd67RtHowever, Vlad, who should have been lying there, was instead sitting at a small desk, intently studying the maps laid out in front of him.VE5Bc
SmW8A“And now?”QAg
aaD“…Here.”HFlX
cD9tjuVlad’s voice sounded somewhat irritated as an old finger pointed to a spot on the map.DBK
T295As the circle on the map expanded with each indication, Vlad’s brows furrowed more and more.qbYG
poJi6“You’re not lying this time, are you?”ej7
vJrPd“I’ve never lied to you, little brother.”66anK
o7e1“Go to hell.”vyEz0JV
wXpMb1nVlad began to smirk sarcastically at the voice of Radu next to him.xOZnzT
LLudlN“How is it that someone like you got caught while trying to escape?”hcp8gwj
S9l0“…”lukuM
vlphqu5Today’s sunlight streaming through the window made Vlad’s blonde hair shine intensely.4b2a
98qsBut it was the deep blue of Vlad’s eyes that weighed more heavily on Radu than the blonde hair he lacked.Itba
dPDSince the battle, the blue in Vlad’s eyes had deepened, reminding Radu of their father, whom he had feared so much.nFhWLm
Dxny“If you were going to leave, you should’ve done it quietly. Why did you try to steal Noir?”7z4
rqiR“…Because he’s fast.”DXkkZUJ
Qu4v5o8Even thinking about it again, the aged Radu stood helplessly next to Vlad, who laughed as if it were absurd.POKisG
LRYHe had wrinkled skin around his neck, where a black thorn tattoo was marked.8vG8
6zwVlad smiled coldly as he looked at Radu, who bore the same golden mark as their father.M3BY
kYlnL3“…We made a promise back then, remember? That you would help until we destroyed the Order of Dragons.”fDV435
tyvIn the outlaw city filled with smoke, Radu had drunk Vlad’s blood and made that promise.YtnKR5
wScBStop the Dragon Slayer Knights who were currently attacking the Ruga tribe.R57UbeN
sDHZSThe oath marked in the blood he swallowed still coursed through Radu’s veins, and he still wanted a fair reward for it.HXIOZu
kZI“My blood isn’t that cheap, is it?”7G4i7WZ
nVCvtTVRadu only nodded as he looked at Vlad, who smiled calmly.ZDW
1GZADaMIndeed, as Vlad had said, the contract they made in Namarka had not yet been fulfilled.SpRQqE
UKoLgalThe knights led by the oldest dragon still roamed the continent, and Radu’s fair price had yet to be properly paid.QuQP
4h3ShDrip- Drip-iJThf
oTtSzrBright red drops of blood began to fall from the tip of Vlad’s finger, which had been lightly cut with a dagger.AJL
p0XtLgWRadu swallowed hard, unconsciously, as he watched the vivid colors slowly seep into the teacup.2O0QQf
fjSwgjd“…Where is this?”AOyBOJ
LKNZz“Where?”3CG5v
3BC2“This place you just pointed out.”jyoO
33oE8zVlad said as he unfolded the two maps he held.3y4K
nNkpxRmOne was a map marked by Jager.NFhG
dY0UmThe other, the one Radu had just indicated.PGM9m1Z
Kc0EVlad, who had been tracking Ramashthu’s whereabouts based on testimonies from knights who had encountered evil beings, had finally found a place where their testimonies overlapped.PXDxc
C2c5“Achiuk.”7WnG
EOaDwzJAchiuk, one of the villages under the Barony of Salonta.FMMQDuK
CMXOTKHowever, this village, now abandoned, was only a week further east of Dobrechi, the town he had visited previously.lzgtyhl
f5ugaW6“Yes, I remember. It was there that we met the dark sorcerers.”m6K4O
SHqmwvKRadu Dragulia, the son of the Dragon Blood Duke, had once been powerful enough to command Dragulia’s army in the northern city of Moshiam.Nled
vVoEven though he was now in such a pitiful state, the information he had dealt with back then would still be etched in his mind.UbW7
HtOqxm9“It was there that we agreed to cooperate. At the time, the alliance was clear.”QOmVx
TTaRc4“Can you guide me there?”nuRik
fS2w8F“Y-yes. I’ve been to that church once.”shUeg
PexigWAt the mention of the word “church,” Vlad’s eyes began to gleam.mRVkdg
HSH8eeHowever, the bloodthirsty dragon didn’t notice the intensity in Vlad’s gaze and continued speaking hastily, answering questions that hadn’t even been asked.wpK
BK1ICro“A ruined church. A completely burned village, with the church standing in the middle.”ZyLU8
I1w“…”9EU7
gjO“It’s been uninhabited for decades. Without a guide, it’ll be hard to find.”ZTWUS
uy3A church standing alone in a burned village.CApa66n
Z2lgmu4Vlad silently folded the map he was holding, remembering a scene that felt familiar even though he hadn’t been there.RF1RjoP
xKsbW“Drink.”onUAEz
XVTqjMThe old Radu quickly drank from the cup of tea as soon as Vlad permitted him.sXUyFyt
4vUrThough the mark of the oath on his neck began to fade, Vlad didn’t stay to see it as he walked out of the room.Zu9jMT
A1CdYVA[I can feel it. I think that’s probably the right place.]OIkAeQq
Cy09iThe burned village of Achiuk. Now a ruined place where no one lives.0LkksI
d08a9qAs Vlad thought about the scene there, he felt as if he could hear children singing in his ears.V1EB7
zEA7o2q“Yes. I think so, too.”USgz
PjbPThrough the window, a bright corridor came into view.ZtRJpG
UEE0WW7The children of Ausurin could now run and play freely, without worry.seQbX9
n9AvPknVlad paused for a moment as he watched the elves and Ruga children playing together, unconcerned about their race.elGvm
JOj“…This time, I will finish this.”VIZJGp
b18It was said that the church, long burned down, had been built by a noble nun.SeezS
vrQLThe name of the woman who held many orphans with no place to go in her arms was that of a saint recognized by the Vatican. Tramasu.0DJdmU
p2kSjHzVlad looked at the tattoo on the back of his hand and softly murmured her name.mrEj34S
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