Star-Embracing Swordmaster — Chapter 28: The stars watch the boy (2)

Chapter 28: The stars watch the boy (2)

The‍‌ size of the garment didn’t seem‌‍ to bother him,‍ but Oksana frowned‍ as if it‍ were a serious‍‌ matter and instructed‍ her maids to⁠ do something about‍ it.

“You’ll‌ have to stick‌‍⁠ your chest out.”⁠

“…”⁠‍

As‌ she directed, the‌‌ maids clung to‍⁠ Vlad and started⁠ adjusting him. Accustomed⁠‍‍ to women’s touches,‍ the feel of the maids as‍‍ they adjusted his⁠‌ clothing was unfamiliar‌ and uncomfortable.

“How does this feel?”‍⁠

Vlad’s⁠ mind couldn’t stop wandering. The fabric felt very soft.‌ It was an⁠ almost uncomfortably luxurious‍‌‍ sensation for Vlad, who had spent⁠ his entire life⁠ in rough clothes.‌⁠⁠

“It‌ shouldn’t be too⁠‍⁠ tight, right?”

“At‌ 17, you’re still⁠‍ growing.”

“Well,‍‌ Joseph was quite⁠ big by then‌⁠ too.”

Winter‌⁠ had passed, and‌ spring was arriving.⁠‌ New times, new opportunities, and new⁠⁠ clothing. And new‍‌ people.

Oksana‍ rose from her‌⁠ seat as if⁠ she finally liked⁠ how Vlad’s clothes‍‍ looked on him.‌‌⁠

“Dress‍‍ for the season,”‍⁠ she said, “So‌‌ you don’t lose strength.”

Vlad‍‌ held his breath‌‍ as she approached‍⁠ and touched the‍ fabric. He feared his exhale might‍‍ carry a strange‍ odor.

“I’ll‍‌ buy you more⁠⁠‍ clothes this summer.‌ For now, we’ll have to deal with this outfit.”

“I’m‌ sorry.”

Until now, Vlad had⁠⁠‌ managed with the‌ clothes he had‌ worn since the‍ outpost. They didn’t‍ smell bad, though‍‍ the maids had⁠⁠‌ diligently washed them,⁠⁠ but they didn’t⁠⁠ fit well, were‌ out of season,‌⁠ and, above all, didn’t belong to‍ him; they belonged⁠ to the late Liman.

What⁠‌ the men, Joseph,‍ and Jager hadn’t‍⁠‌ attended to, Oksana was taking care⁠ of now.

“Anyone wouldn’t think you⁠ grew up in an alley from⁠ the way you⁠ look now, a handsome young noble.”⁠‌

“…”‌

Oksana’s⁠‌‌ words were true.‍ Right now, Vlad⁠ was an imposing⁠⁠ figure of nobility.‍⁠ Perhaps it was‌‍ because he wasn’t wearing something taken‍‍ from others but‌ something he had‍ earned by proving‍ his worth.

Apparently⁠ satisfied with her⁠⁠ work, Oksana gave‍⁠ a slight pat‌‍‍ and smiled.

“…‍ Thank you. Lady‌‍‍ Oksana.”

Struggling‍‍⁠ to reciprocate Oksana’s‍ smile, the boy looked down in‌ disbelief.

“You⁠‌‌ saved my son’s⁠‍ life, but I should be thanking⁠⁠‌ you,” replied Oksana,⁠ stroking Vlad’s blond⁠‌ hair.

“Such⁠⁠‍ golden blonde color, a color that would be the⁠⁠ envy of nobility, and so different⁠ from my son’s.”⁠

Vlad remained silent, unable⁠ to find the⁠‌ words to respond.⁠⁠

“I‌ apologize for interrupting‌ your training, but⁠‌‌ now you must‌ leave. I’ll fix the rest of⁠ your clothes and‍ send them to‍‌ your room.”

“Thank you very much.”

Vlad took the bundle‍⁠ of clothes Oksana‌⁠ had given him⁠⁠‌ and left the room.

“Take⁠ the ones I left there too.”⁠

“Those…”⁠

said⁠ Oksana, pointing with‌⁠ her hand to⁠⁠ a pile of‌‍ clothes by the‍⁠‌ door as if⁠ she had just‍‌⁠ remembered.

“You’re‌‌ only a real⁠‍ man if you⁠⁠ can be polite‍ when others aren’t⁠ looking.”

“…”⁠

Vlad⁠ looked where Oksana‌ was pointing, and‌⁠‌ the corners of‍ his ears turned⁠⁠‍ red.

The‍‌ objects Oksana had set aside were‌ underwear. What the⁠ boy didn’t know‌ was that sometimes⁠ a mother’s care‌ went too far.‍‌

***

The⁠‍⁠ hallways were tinted⁠‍‍ red in the⁠ twilight.

Vlad⁠ felt the warmth‍‍ of the breeze,‍‌ but a sense‌⁠ of unease arose‌ deep in his‌‌ chest.

“I‍ can’t get used‌ to this.”

Since⁠ entering the Bayezid‍ mansion, Vlad had⁠ tried to adapt‌⁠‍ to his new‍ surroundings, but he⁠‌ consistently felt like‌ he didn’t belong‌ here.

He‍ felt like he‍ was fattening up.‍

Flesh⁠ clinging to his‍⁠ soul.

“.…..”‌‌⁠

Arriving‍‍ in his room, Vlad released a sigh he had‍‌‌ been holding deep‍ within.

“Not yet.”

Looking‍ at the narrow‌ room, Vlad suddenly felt relieved.

This⁠‌ is my home.‍⁠⁠

For‍‌ now.

He‌‍ placed the clothes‌ he had brought⁠ on the bed⁠‌ and took off‍‍ the ones Oksana‌‌ had given him.

Then,‌ he put on‌‍ the mercenary attire⁠ he had grown⁠‌ accustomed to.

Vlad‌‍‌ smiled, feeling the rough fabric pricking‌ the back of‍ his neck.

I’m not ready for⁠‍‍ the fancy clothes‌‌ Oksana gave me.⁠‍ So, this will⁠‍ do for tonight.⁠

“Let’s‍‍ go.”

When he entered the‌‍‍ room, he was⁠‍ Vlad of Soara,⁠ but when he‌‍ left, he was‍⁠ Vlad from the alley.

He‌ needed that tonight.‌⁠

Twilight⁠‍⁠ descended.

Vlad walked through the⁠‍ increasingly dark hallway.‍‍

The‍ boy’s steps were⁠ light as he‍‍ entered the familiar.⁠

***

Night.‍‍‌

At‌‌ the end of‌ the day, during the personal grooming⁠‌⁠ hour in their⁠⁠‌ rooms, someone knocked⁠‍ on Portly’s door.‍⁠

“Who‍ is it?”

Portly peeked out and‌⁠ opened the door‍ to a room‍‌ larger than Vlad’s⁠⁠ but narrow enough‌ for plenty of⁠‌ sausages.

“Vlad?”

“Everything⁠‍⁠ okay?”

Portly‍‌ smiled at Vlad,‍ who, for some‌‌ reason, seemed to‍‍ be in a good mood. He⁠ wasn’t ready to‌⁠ call him a friend yet, but‌ Vlad was the only one still‌ treating him like⁠ a person.

“What’s‍‍‌ up?”

“I‍‌ need something from⁠‍ you.”

“Something?”⁠⁠

Vlad‌ glanced around Portly’s‌ room, and when‌‍ he found what⁠ he was looking for, he raised a finger and‌ pointed.

“Give⁠‍‍ me that.”

“That?”⁠

Where⁠ Vlad’s fingertips pointed,⁠‍ there was a piece of high-quality⁠ ham. It was⁠ expensive, the kind⁠ of premium meat‍⁠ even Portly didn’t‌ waste.

“You‌‍ want that? The‍‌ whole thing?”

“Yes.”‍

Vlad’s⁠ unexpected late-night arrival‍ to ask for⁠⁠ ham left Portly‌ feeling bewildered and⁠‍ bitter.

“It’s⁠ okay.”

Maybe they would never‌ be friends, but‍‌ at least they⁠‍ could share a laugh. Yet, the‌⁠ street kid didn’t⁠ seem to think‌‍ of himself that way. He was‍⁠‌ just a piece⁠ of meat. Even‌ for a hefty‌⁠ kid from an⁠ affluent family, giving away a five-year-old‌⁠ ham was too‌ much.

Nonetheless,⁠‍‍ Portly kindly offered‌‌ the piece of‍⁠ ham. He didn’t‍ want to eat‍ alone again tomorrow.‌⁠ The loneliness of‍ being alone and‍ the alienation of not belonging anywhere⁠‍ were still too⁠‍ much for a boy his age.⁠⁠‍

“There’s a guy I know… who says‌ this.”

“What?”⁠

“I‌‌ thought I had‌⁠‍ taken what I wanted and would⁠‌ never look back. But a knight‌‌ only takes what‌⁠‍ is rightfully his.”‌‌‌

“Huh?”⁠

“This‌ is my fair⁠⁠ reward, so don’t be too hard⁠‌ on me.”

“Huh?”

Portly‌ could only shake‍ his head as‍⁠ he watched Vlad⁠ utter his unintelligible‌ words.

“If‍‍‌ some other bastard⁠ knocks on your‌‍ door tonight, don’t‍⁠ open it. Don’t‍ even follow him.”‌

“What‍‌‍ do you mean?”⁠

“Just‍‍ remember that.”

Portly‍ wanted to ask more about what‌‍ Vlad had said,‌ but the boy‌ who wanted to⁠ be free everywhere⁠‌ was already walking‌‍ down the dark‌‍⁠ hallway.

“Take⁠ care.”

Portly⁠‌ called out to Vlad as he⁠‌⁠ walked through the candleless, pitch-dark corridor,⁠ but all he⁠⁠ got back was‍ a whisper.

“Alright.”‌‌

Echoing Vlad’s words.

***‌

Today,⁠ the sky was‍ clear. There were‌‌‌ no clouds, and‍ the wind was‍ calm. Additionally, it‌ was a full⁠⁠ moon night, so‌‌ the darkness didn’t‍‍‍ seem too intense.‌

In‍‌ the clarity of‌ the night, someone⁠‌ was groaning.

“Stop…⁠⁠ aah.”

“Lie down there. If‍‍ you move an‍‌‍ inch, I’ll crack⁠ your skull open.”‌

The⁠ squire, who had‍ fallen to the‌ ground upon hearing‍ the voice from‌ above, decided to‍⁠‍ stay still for‌⁠⁠ the moment.

This‍‌ guy was really‌ going to crack⁠‍⁠ his skull.

“Catorce‌ men for one‌ guy is too‌ much. Not even‍⁠ street thugs do⁠ this.”

“Shut‍‍ up!”

In‌‍‌ a small corner‌ of the mansion,‌ illuminated by the‌ full moon, Sovanin‌⁠ growled at the‌ blond boy who‍⁠ was backed against‍ the wall.

“Let’s⁠ see how far⁠‌ you go, damn it. Bastard.”

“You’re‌ scaring me to⁠⁠ death.”

Surrounded⁠⁠ on all sides,‌⁠⁠ Vlad could only‍‍ muster a bored‌‍ smile.

“Come.‍ I came alone‌⁠ all the way⁠‍ here; you should⁠‍ do the same.”‍

All⁠‍‍ the squires in‍‌⁠ the vicinity swallowed‌‌‍ hard, seeing Vlad’s‍⁠ mocking palm.

He‌⁠⁠ was surrounded, yet‍ they felt surrounded.⁠ It was one man against over⁠ a dozen, but‍⁠ the momentum strangely‍⁠‌ favored Vlad, who‌ was alone.

They⁠ all knew that⁠ if he attacked‍ them one by⁠ one, even the⁠‌⁠ strongest among them would be defenseless.‍‌

“Ughhh…”⁠

“Sovanin…”

But‌ the sight of‌⁠ the other man‍ now lying on‍⁠ the ground made⁠‌ them hesitate. They‌ were in bad‍‌ shape, and the‌‌ position they were in made it‌ difficult to attack‌‍ all at once.‌‌⁠ It looked like‍⁠ a wall of corpses.

“Cee-bah!”⁠

Sovanin‌ let out a wild scream when⁠ things didn’t go‌‌ as he wanted‌‍ and started glowing.

“We‌‍ outnumber him!”

More numbers. Better circumstances.‍⁠⁠ And the vassals,‌⁠ who had grown⁠‌‍ up in better⁠ conditions, surrounded a dog that had‍‌ come out of‍‍‍ an alley, barking‍⁠ pitifully.

“Are‍⁠ we going to‍‍⁠ let that bastard‍ keep causing a ruckus?”

“No!”‍‌‍

“Don’t⁠ let him!”

As‌‍ much as Sovanin⁠‍ looked and shouted,‌ none of the⁠‌ vassals were willing‍ to step forward.‍⁠

The‍ man in front⁠‌ of them was‍⁠ more powerful than‍ Sovanin’s fervor by‍ his side. They‌⁠‌ didn’t dare to compare.

“…”⁠‍

Blue‍ eyes burned intensely⁠‌ in the shadows‍ under the moon.⁠‌

“That⁠‍ bastard…”

Those⁠‍ eyes had hunted⁠‌ the squires when‌‌ they were alone⁠ and flashed sharp⁠ teeth. Still stunned‍⁠ by the horror,⁠‌ Sovanin’s group couldn’t move easily.

“…”‌

Sovanin’s⁠‌ wild charge and⁠⁠ the squires stopping‍⁠ short created an⁠ ever-growing gap between‍⁠ them.

“…‍⁠‍ Yes.”

It‍ was like someone‍ who had already‌‍ lost the will‌ to fight out‌⁠‍ of boredom.

The⁠⁠⁠ gap between Sovanin‌‌ charging forward and⁠⁠ the squires stopping‍‌ was widening.

“Only⁠‌ once more!”

Sovanin’s lack of understanding‌‌⁠ of the situation only fueled his⁠⁠ anger at Vlad’s‍ mockery.

A wooden sword charged with power. One‌ hit with it,‍‍‍ and even he‌‍⁠ would be dead…‍

But Sovanin’s eyes widened‌‌ as he rushed‌ towards Vlad. Vlad⁠ had only needed⁠ one movement, and‍‌ now his body‍ was leaning to‌⁠ the left.

It‌ was like a rippling wave.

“I⁠ got him!”

The⁠⁠ wooden sword that had missed its target struck the‌ ground with fury.‍ The kicked-up earth‌ covered their view.

“Have‌ you ever killed⁠ someone and dare⁠‌ to say that?”‍‍‌

A chilling voice whispered‍ into Sovanin’s ear.‌‍ The voice, whispering⁠‌⁠ in the darkness,⁠⁠ mocked.

“That‍‍ bastard…”

Bam!⁠⁠

“Kuck!”⁠

A flash of light.‍

Sovanin‍ recoiled sharply, unable‍‍ to make any sound as a rough sensation pierced‍⁠ through his lungs.⁠ Followed by a strong blow to‌‍ the jaw.

“Hold on!”

The‌ blow was barely‌‌ blocked, but Vlad⁠ seemed to have⁠‌‍ anticipated it and⁠ kept attacking.

A continuous flow of‍ blows. But there⁠⁠‍ was a sharpness to it that⁠⁠ Vlad was born⁠ with. It was‌ the kind of⁠ energy that could⁠ spread poison through⁠ a person’s body⁠⁠⁠ with a single‍ cut.

“Crazy!”‍

Sovanin‍ felt caught in‍ a great stream⁠ that he couldn’t‌ control.

“He‌‍ hasn’t even wielded‌ a sword for‌ long!”

Sovanin was deeply perplexed‍ as he watched‍‍ Vlad, who was⁠⁠⁠ not the same‌ man he had‍ dueled.

[That’s right, you catch⁠ your opponent within⁠‍ the gap you‌‍‍ create.]

“…”⁠

In‌‌ the slaughterhouse, Vlad⁠⁠ had done little‌ more than deliver‍‍ a series of‌‌ concentrated blows. But⁠‍ with Jager’s training‍⁠ and the Voice,‌ Vlad had matured‍ and now knew‌‌⁠ how to create his own flow‌⁠ in battle. It‍⁠ might not seem⁠‌ like much, but⁠ if you were⁠⁠⁠ aware, you’d know‌ that Vlad had‌ leveled up.

“Kaboom!”⁠⁠

A level that the‌‌⁠ boy swinging the⁠⁠ wooden sword hadn’t‌‌ reached yet.

“That’s⁠‌ not how you do it!”

Sovanin‌ shouted as the attacks came from all sides.

The‍⁠ tables need to‍‍ turn.

With⁠ that thought, he‍⁠ was about to⁠ plunge his wooden‍⁠ sword into Vlad.‌‌

“Huh?‍‍ I thought I saw a flash of light from⁠ Vlad’s wooden sword.”‌

With‌ that thought, the world tilted.

It⁠ was as if‌‌⁠ the ground was⁠ rushing toward him‍ while he remained‍ still.

“Why?”‌

Sovanin’s⁠‍ sword was already⁠⁠⁠ beyond the squire’s⁠ comprehension.

The‌‍ beauty of a fatal blow comes⁠‌‌ from the unexpected.⁠ And by unexpected,‍ I mean something‍ beyond unpredictability. Like‌ now.

Thump-.‌‌‍

With‍ a loud hit,⁠‍ Sovanin’s body fell like a kite⁠ from its string.‍⁠

“Ugh!”‌

Sovanin‍⁠ struggled to recover‍ from the fall.‌‍ In the reflection⁠‌ of his eyes,‌‍⁠ all he saw‌⁠⁠ was the moon floating in the⁠ night sky.

“Get⁠ ready.”

And out of the⁠‌ corner of his‍‌ eye, covering the‍ moon, was the‍ face of someone.‍‌‌

“…”‌‌

Sovanin‍‍‍ thought Vlad was⁠⁠ smiling, though it was hard to‌ tell in the moonlit background.

Winners⁠‌ are above, losers‍ below. The winner‍‍‍ has it all.‍

The‌ winners take everything!‌

With‌‌ each flash of‌‍ the wooden sword,‍‍‌ someone’s blood splattered.‌ Along with a grotesque scream that‌‍‍ couldn’t withstand.

The‍ squires around Vlad⁠‍ staggered backward from‍‌‌ the maddening slashes.‍‍

“Aaaaaaaargh!”⁠

“…‌⁠ I’ll tell you‌ this once, don’t‍⁠ make eye contact with me in⁠ the future.”

Vlad⁠‍ spat at Sovanin,‌ writhing on the ground, whether from⁠‌‍ pain or fear.‌

The‍ dripping saliva coldly⁠‍ clung to Sovanin’s cheeks.

“Don’t‍ even think about‌ touching Portly.”

“Ugh…”⁠

It⁠ was humiliating, but⁠‍ Sovanin instinctively tried⁠⁠ to avoid Vlad’s⁠‌ gaze.

“Understood!”‍‍

Helpless,‌⁠‌ Sovanin could only⁠⁠⁠ nod as he⁠ faced an unknown‌‍ fear for the‌⁠ first time in his life. It‍ was the kind⁠⁠ of fear that‍⁠ only someone who⁠⁠ had truly killed⁠ a man could exude.

“That’s‌ it…”

Vlad‌ raised his head‍‍‍ and stretched his stiff neck.

His⁠ revenge against Sovanin⁠ had just ended. And the price⁠ for the ham‌‌ collected.

They⁠ were small things,‌ but they had‍ to be done,⁠‍ and he wanted‍‌ to do them.‌

“Who’s⁠‌ next?”

Now‍ that I’ve done⁠‍ what I had to do, I can run freely.⁠ Vlad lifted his‌‍ head, his sweaty blond hair gleaming‌ in the light of the full⁠‌ moon.

“Who⁠⁠ are you?”

“…”‍‍‌

Vlad’s eyes glowed fiercely⁠‍‍ as he raised⁠⁠ his blood-stained wooden‌ sword.

But‌‌ there wasn’t a single person who‍‌ dared to answer his question.

“If you’re not coming,‌‍ I’ll go.”

Vlad‍ disappeared into the‍‍ shadows in the⁠⁠‍ moonlight.

Life‌⁠ is a struggle.‌ A child born in a place‌⁠ where you can‌ only eat by⁠‍⁠ taking from others‌ knows this well.‌ That’s why today‍‌⁠ he stumbles in⁠‍ the darkness, fighting‍‍‍ a battle he’ll⁠ never tire of.‍

To‍⁠‍ survive. And for‌ the other revenges‌⁠ he must take.⁠⁠

“That’s‍‍ great.”

Someone nodded, listening to‍‌‌ the cries of⁠ the squires echoing‌ in the night‌ sky. Their gaze‌‍ remained fixed on⁠‌ Vlad, a satisfied⁠⁠ smile on their‌‍ face as they⁠⁠ surveyed the battlefield⁠⁠ splattered with blood.‍‌

Like‌ the stars in‍‌‍ the night sky,‍‌ the boy’s wooden‌‌ sword still glowed⁠‌ in the moonlight.‌‌