Chapter 291: Side Story – The Song of the Forgotten (3)
oxQ5SIt is coming.DtsZ87p
TmKBoy, it is coming for you.YZ4K4
taNb7rFor you, who shine.sD8RmW
sVGjyThat thing that crawled up from the depths of the earth is coming for you.hklJg
9S8z5gK***sq4f
mo4oROOOOOOOAR—!o2OPKy4
7RDAAt that colossal roar that echoed from the edge of the sky, Emil covered his ears.MrSj
9xRuOa‘Ughhh…’etjZkT
sNcSThe only things leaving his mouth were screams, groans, and cries of pain.qwC
vYT08rEven now, the boy’s small heart was beating with such painful intensity that it felt ready to burst.qTeiq
uZNRun.Az2G
g7Wa5You have to run.ngNF
qPjvZrAThat thing has come to devour you.w8R6
tS3xm‘It’s looking at me!’mjQU4
jYCCA gaze descended from an unimaginably distant sky.fLRj
fZl02Dragons were beings born to attain perfection.RttD1K
PIIIAnd what they needed to reach that perfection was potential.rWC
FIIPossibility.qIJ3C
pVqIn the nonexistent eyes of the Deathworm, a young dragon was reflected.g8d1
MTepBright.tTq0VUe
eqhPYoung.r5FO
jEXDEOverflowing with possibilities.3xdKGEs
DQw5wtA‘I… have to run away.’inp
YEgi2kpThe gaze descending upon him was overwhelming.bZxTyW
YIqeThe Deathworm’s world mercilessly pressed down upon the small dragon struggling below.bzI
HxFrAnd beneath that unbearable weight, the world of a young dragon that had not even been given the chance to bloom was beginning to suffocate.v9kC7
EQguy37Flash!I0gZ
GWeMThen a red line cut across the horizon.4jKWpMI
O5oiX1WFrom afar, it looked like nothing more than a thread.VEC8
eCtBut as it approached, it transformed into a blazing wave, as hot as molten magma.qMltoo
a4wuV9“How dare you set foot on my land?!”x63oDI
shrF5zBOOOOOOOOM—!t3W4Z
YXz1AA devastating slash.EDG
3kBLike a volcanic eruption exploding into existence.kzU
MKEEJ7Before that fierce and scorching strike, the most resilient dragon in the world let out a cry of pain.nUP
5zZ0S5JROOOOOOOAR—!ZNqZ
DIW7asFragments of shell and enormous chunks of flesh began breaking away and falling.g7Ip
WoQEuOjWounds.ZBP22
wgSdTdNA concept that should never exist in the world of the most resilient dragon.qnKu
l5iWAnd all of it had been caused by the fury of a single man.fRb53tP
JNZdZg“This is the land of Bayezid!”RUD3
SddaQ0“This place is Sturma! The land of Rutiger Bayezid!”3Jn83
J8zvThe current Count Bayezid.EkwFzb
ZxQs4jRutiger Bayezid.Zl3aC
DbbibPCHis aura-charged voice began pushing back the Deathworm’s world.ViV0z
YKbwGrrrrrrrrr—gsIJk
wFkaHA world burning like a volcano expelled the most resilient world.xYr0w
4sYhyqAnd when Rutiger’s presence spread throughout Sturma, Emil was finally able to breathe again.xW65mwB
NU6“Capture those bastards!”uWYIm
H15znBut Emil was not the only one freed from the Deathworm’s oppression.Rdsddev
2pR“Kill Barbossa’s daughter!”vQd2
VbYaz5vThe assassins, who had remained motionless beneath that crushing presence, began moving again.hlX
ln0ymThey rushed toward Emil and Tarenian.SGoLg
NFNTelsa raised her sword with determination to protect them.p5Olh
Xwww4SBut her body was already covered with countless stab wounds.BDYuW
CR5mv“Milady! You must run…!”qxOb
9BP“Damn you!”mZb
URubFmkBOOM!7i1
VAxl64At the most desperate moment.jtERjQ3
u3fJ4Just as Telsa closed her left eye in preparation for death.QMZxyf
4NvZUpThe remains of a building slammed into the assassins.XW4k
nFkTt“How dare you point your swords at them?!”lb9JG0U
6YWkMyA hand emerged from the cloud of dust and seized an assassin by the throat.Bz9arpn
1PUIt was an old hand.8hnKz
dfI8GkwSo aged that it seemed as though the skin barely clung to the bones.qnB
TVrlbhBut the principles of Body Reinforcement contained within those fingertips still granted it strength comparable to steel.H06t33
9y8vqs2“Bastards!”795R
OZpekrGCrack!0Zs
tdRVSHoThe assassin’s neck broke before he could even react.r2j
wynBut that was not enough.KGHNu1
wNhoSR3Ramund charged straight into the center of the enemy ranks.v0mO
Kjk“In front of me!”9J3Mpb
vjeM5uUsing a corpse as a shield, he plowed through the assassins.PPFi4p
Gn2VCjzThe swords descending from every direction were incapable of stopping the old knight’s charge.uHxv
xK229yZ“You laid your hands on my child!”ez6Gg
eo7hHe caught a sword in midair and tore it from its owner’s grasp.sRnMt6s
Fot5xHe drove the broken blade into another man’s throat.8h1w
5wzxcHe trapped a sword beneath his armpit and struck his enemy’s jaw with the palm of his hand.8FtQ
a05lPBoom!exj
ZIBgThe head exploded.h7KUOli
CXqm3vGFragments of brain and blood rained down.HLnxy
ja9OIwEveryone’s vision was covered by that sticky, nauseating shower.AHMBz
R9GKzBut the demon named Ramund did not stop.nZu9rVL
ZLn“Die! Die!”aKUsj
83YCjG4On the battlefield, the vanguard must never stop.gy2
h0fTK4qBecause if I stop, those behind me will die.alo1q7
EVcFyK“How dare you lay your hands on children, you filthy vermin?!”XbqpDB
FDNNORamund crushed the assassins while maintaining the speed and fury of his charge.r083tol
I26It was not elegant swordsmanship.GaCf
pLENor was it refined technique.bgP
X9rhQIt was pure violence.eQjDid
r3cgH9Brutal movements that could only be born on a battlefield.6CZinO
eAfjjwAnd those movements awakened a primitive fear in his enemies.BHy
CcE3ay“Die! Die!”BY8r6oB
fdVZdHe looked like a human battering ram created solely for killing.Rec
88N8Emil watched the scene with eyes completely captivated.kV2wurj
M3XIKdUntil a voice came from the distance.RRYJ
ENCRYYE“Emil!”Q45
L24Qzo“Uncle!”dX4
gwM6iAt the sight of that enormous figure approaching, tears welled in Emil’s eyes.gtq
pvxJBgVBecause the person descending through the rubble of the building was an adult he could trust.cMWWO
h2YnMvVHis father’s friend.Oz2zDN3
tA78Portly Kannor.QHxLcr
9jWLPq“Are you alright?! Are you alright?!”lw1F9
JXLPortly lifted Emil up like a doll and began frantically inspecting him.XP1tO4M
sRiX8zd“Damn bastards! They’ve torn his clothes to shreds!”pmJ
3g2BsAfter quickly confirming that he had no serious injuries, he understood the situation and shouted to the men accompanying him.VoC
59Nxxs4“Protect the children! Take care of the wounded!”X5Ekkdq
1KsdunArmed men immediately spread out.8HhXp
5P4They were mercenaries hired by the Kannor Trading Company for the festival’s security.1cNwi
N7OPortly had gathered them in a hurry.0m8C
whjC9p“Emil! Are you alright?!”7P9d8Pe
za4z0N“Hampton…”Xk5m
2rm8Seeing a familiar face, the tension finally began leaving Emil’s body.e4w1
9SbRCj7“What the hell is happening?”rweVUy
91HaF“I don’t know…”CCre
Aae2Leaning against Hampton, Emil blinked in confusion.eIjuSd
Y7KThere was a blond boy standing behind him.mnO
EzuijLq“…That fat old man dragged me here too.”fWy7k4G
HmNIt was Renvar.IbCb
hafRqAlthough he spoke indifferently, it was obvious that he felt uncomfortable.VSFuXi
6kgWrHe knew perfectly well that in the middle of such chaos, it could not have been easy to worry about him as well.wfjofR6
5Gf“Good. Let’s return to the manor first. The knights will be there, and—”Bh5rB6J
ixkXpD“No.”EJXzA
VbrtgRPortly attempted to suggest a retreat.1WF
Ts4But Ramund, who had just returned, was staring at something in the distance.l7a
SOEAnd he spoke in a grave voice.zgcPoe
CkO“Right now, that is the most dangerous place.”e6F
nXBQ9Strengthening his vision with aura, Ramund looked toward the Sturma manor in the distance.C5t
5SEjZAlong the hill road leading to the manor, countless masked men were advancing.O1m9T
TjnSvIt seemed they had entered through the tunnel opened by the Deathworm.Eyw4d
HMtThe knights and Jager were holding back that mass that multiplied like a plague of cockroaches.0G2
jFPEOVQ“They’re preparing a second strike.”RntXXF
S7CNdBehind the knights, Rutiger stood with his sword planted in the ground and his eyes closed, immersed in deep meditation.ost
5zmHZRutiger’s secret technique for drawing out a deeper world.nJTDUo
40RWThe Deathworm seemed to have sensed what was coming and was thrashing wildly, but countless magic circles surrounded the most resilient dragon in the world, preventing it from advancing.cjpz
n79CYIt was the result of the mage Dorothea unleashing every magical formation she had accumulated over the years.n0yL
7riB“Right now, the manor is the most dangerous battlefield. We cannot take the children there.”MhZreqg
fCtB1He believed they would win.dzqJa66
XMFZHBut that did not mean he could take the children into the heart of the battle.q4pV3
wV6cKlRamund wiped the blood running down his chin and said to Portly,AzNZkm
fxVw7DQ“Let’s go to Soara. We need to leave Sturma for now.”SbKfBD
L9GqThanks to the instincts he had honed over a lifetime on the battlefield, Ramund made the best decision possible.oFN
nanStorms are not stopped.mJJjvTx
9iQ7YhThey are avoided.VYOkj
9QOxThey needed a place to take shelter until the situation calmed down.YXwKX
4jmE9hAnd Soara was the most obvious choice.lurvNh
JekKis“Of the nearby cities, it’s the safest.”WpB
F7SsRamund wiped his sticky hand and patted Emil on the head.2OROyWH
VRHOThe Rose of Soara.kjghp
3NnpYFThe Scarlet Lady.Dr6
5i1fShe would protect Emil and the other children even at the cost of her own life.CVoW
hd5“Then let’s head to our trading company first. We can get a carriage there.”c5cvS
t5hbFortunately, the Kannor Trading Company building was not far away.GOgm
7dXAt Portly’s suggestion that they obtain horses and a carriage there, Ramund nodded wearily.QUrNejx
Y9y“Good, let’s move!”YiCj5KJ
QmFFtA dozen mercenaries surrounded the children and began advancing toward the company.aRjy
GCAGSome carried the injured Telsa.7X4
Sb5iPLOthers helped Ramund walk, as he had exhausted much of his strength.hcMuFXG
eWoAAs they cautiously made their way through burning streets and collapsed buildings, Emil frowned when he heard that strange voice in his ears once again.QXK92W6
nA764“What is it, Emil? Are you hurt?”EWnX3gf
utLTarenian looked at him with concern.N2gjXc
QpvnTBut Emil could not answer.6bewGpJ
MjVM78Q‘Again.’fn41NyO
UjtfyDbAccompanied by that stabbing sensation, the mysterious voice rang out once more.mvw3tC
NLOij0He knew he had avoided danger thanks to it.pc6qfHL
PRsSo he focused all of his senses on listening.3gsYpa5
jrwcZSw[……!]KnFj
o6kVTkBut all he could hear was indistinct noise.l4m
fWuJLLNothing he could understand.w8Tis0
G73SzobBecause the city of Sturma was completely dominated by the presence of the Deathworm and Rutiger.gTBLCK
uyW3DfThere was no room for another world to interfere.gpcgY
tgm“We’re here, sir! I can see the sign!”L2UwjsG
2bRvVCBut if Emil had been able to understand that voice.OJV
39cM8CeIf he had managed to reach it.yV9c
GvSHe would have heard.5eg
DE9E[Don’t go in there!]HjG7LD1
qvDf“Let’s go inside.”N4z6KR
PZyThe door opened with a creak.Phu
sy4r0bSThe group entered the trading company building.9KNth
klQgKBut perhaps it was because they finally felt safe.Ww1
ETyOr perhaps because the chaos surrounding them had distracted them.L892Cq
m8i85mNo one noticed that the floor beneath their feet was wet and sticky.UyI269n
WflWNor did they notice the strange metallic smell hanging in the air.ucUCzu
wwaZ“For now, here… Huh? Father!”1bNx
JdOa7One side of the building had been destroyed and was shrouded in darkness.qAIEc
su20VuFrom that dark area, the head of the Kannor family emerged.CyFPBvW
StbqOx“Grandfather!”h94qCH
xmBOlson Kannor.K6LG2
rqNgPatriarch of the Kannor family and Portly’s father.AASkW
nc15vyuThe moment he recognized that familiar face, Hampton was about to run toward him.b2J
IH7ABut a hand immediately stopped him.iLCvOgn
JAkux“Don’t go!”ZDSxy1M
QhMCEmil’s hand gripped the back of his clothes so tightly that the fabric creaked.zT3xzpu
3s1Yet Hampton could not ask him to let go.7LMk
HwM5LkcBecause Emil’s eyes, fixed on the darkness, were trembling without end.jQy
9F62W50“That bastard really is smart.”Hp0Q
MjGrOlson Kannor walked out from the shadows.N2aqY9
9h1Without a body.HmeuPq
iKEvcOnly a head being carried by someone.jcgbHu
Y5iDLolSwaying weakly as it moved forward.JIo
K1Ge2Z“He said you’d all end up coming here.”9GPu3h
Y343LjXThe man holding Olson’s head stepped out of the darkness.kYgA
6eLfG“That’s why I had no choice but to listen to him.”xFin
2yQhF9NBrown hair.YV9H
QWqgThick eyebrows.K4xPD
HpLclvBA sturdy physique.WMZ9
gMFOpOBut what stood out the most was the gigantic sword he carried.WhlbV
5eaAs enormous as he was.rDYn
LAgJ5V“So you’re Emil. Right?”TZz
DAH45HThud.W6Q0rC
u9CZ3Rolling across the floor, Olson Kannor’s head came to a stop at Emil’s feet.Q7YJ1
hUREverything felt unreal.MJJZj7p
EDMOdnEmil silently stared at the head of his friend’s grandfather.pHezO
Gw9mt“I don’t even need to ask to know.”gpbE7O
t4fEThe man smiled.QtYCk
gGWq5“You’re Vlad’s son.”90Xj7XR
l5aYes.tJY
HS5DThere was no need to ask.m252
LtwBecause the gaze with which he looked at him was exactly the same as his father’s.lFlu1xP
0jfcvThat cursed shade of blue.zgr
ozHKdIt was identical to Vlad’s.nI0E
BclWohT“I’m glad to see those eyes again.”2uD
c4vpiThat was why he wanted to ask that blue color.KsNsFxQ
LTfkXLWhether he could take it back now.bZHU
YLfUk49Whether the time had finally come to reclaim it.X4W6CqW
yeb“My name is Ishtvan Gaidar.”qShimF
3agThe banner he carried bore an eagle, the symbol of the Wastelands.3TY
z7oLQd9“I’ve come to reclaim my sword.”fFHA
jxMeVAnd beside the eagle was another coat of arms.sJ2zAe
xzVVrWThe emblem of a decapitated dragon.TkG
624i7Swaying in the blood-soaked wind, it stared directly at the boy.dSNvr
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