Chapter 291: Side Story – The Song of the Forgotten (3)
QJaYIt is coming.x8NFs
2DO4g1Boy, it is coming for you.Y18
UeMsFor you, who shine.UxyY
SowHEThat thing that crawled up from the depths of the earth is coming for you.RHUVT6
wK64mua***H3ajU
dcAFROOOOOOOAR—!m3crC
5skhpGAt that colossal roar that echoed from the edge of the sky, Emil covered his ears.7rhZQe
eEP‘Ughhh…’Oz3Id
mD8tpThe only things leaving his mouth were screams, groans, and cries of pain.i7UA6o
lkBa9SEven now, the boy’s small heart was beating with such painful intensity that it felt ready to burst.TVn
FqcxyRun.kTsOMX
6Va8xYou have to run.c4H4
AWtPn7That thing has come to devour you.hkHQecr
fzIN‘It’s looking at me!’F1QS
MHbA gaze descended from an unimaginably distant sky.ScrL4Dr
f89XuDragons were beings born to attain perfection.bjktWF
5WsBkCeAnd what they needed to reach that perfection was potential.ArB7f
WFLjwLQPossibility.JNz
ibBTQIn the nonexistent eyes of the Deathworm, a young dragon was reflected.GUk2
EJpW1uBright.ye5mbw
2UHKYoung.bhbvhI
Qts6sOverflowing with possibilities.v1pt5a
85B0‘I… have to run away.’v4K
4bpjJThe gaze descending upon him was overwhelming.YaUF
GuHcThe Deathworm’s world mercilessly pressed down upon the small dragon struggling below.cz2
0IDdoMAnd beneath that unbearable weight, the world of a young dragon that had not even been given the chance to bloom was beginning to suffocate.qdKj13
gGxa82oFlash!bBhDtls
WeblS9Then a red line cut across the horizon.2WVL9yz
2NGIpFrom afar, it looked like nothing more than a thread.9wjN
RKKBut as it approached, it transformed into a blazing wave, as hot as molten magma.1KOE26j
Wno“How dare you set foot on my land?!”l6GOq
VK7z1sBOOOOOOOOM—!JUx
XlHusEA devastating slash.VRirEiA
RCsDkwLike a volcanic eruption exploding into existence.RHAhA9
kK7DcBefore that fierce and scorching strike, the most resilient dragon in the world let out a cry of pain.rrICF1
DBmeROOOOOOOAR—!gy8
lWhRXGVFragments of shell and enormous chunks of flesh began breaking away and falling.ms1jTa
has19DWounds.2HF
WUCA concept that should never exist in the world of the most resilient dragon.lUb
TPJAnd all of it had been caused by the fury of a single man.dBuLp
CDMX“This is the land of Bayezid!”umJC
iMC“This place is Sturma! The land of Rutiger Bayezid!”n4zwkA
gopThe current Count Bayezid.1F3K1
hQxdRutiger Bayezid.jwE1T
G9pHis aura-charged voice began pushing back the Deathworm’s world.c3UbVC3
oapkGrrrrrrrrr—WUu
9IkzhA world burning like a volcano expelled the most resilient world.wA13
iVtj98kAnd when Rutiger’s presence spread throughout Sturma, Emil was finally able to breathe again.ufClEd
6vL“Capture those bastards!”60C1xA
judgHWbBut Emil was not the only one freed from the Deathworm’s oppression.Ar4
PEe5Bt“Kill Barbossa’s daughter!”6YRhi4
p1uUWnThe assassins, who had remained motionless beneath that crushing presence, began moving again.JudVXi
cavThey rushed toward Emil and Tarenian.QXhD
XZbLyP1Telsa raised her sword with determination to protect them.msN3
GLIUBut her body was already covered with countless stab wounds.cSgD0I
Q5A“Milady! You must run…!”H5h
qKd6Ow“Damn you!”pPx
IrjBOOM!uHiXk4
UqaAt the most desperate moment.Pfb
qBG1NJust as Telsa closed her left eye in preparation for death.jEWVbu
EpMV9zThe remains of a building slammed into the assassins.br2
A0R8LEV“How dare you point your swords at them?!”pGWBNT
v10zpS6A hand emerged from the cloud of dust and seized an assassin by the throat.xc8M
WDBI5It was an old hand.CXo
JHoQ49So aged that it seemed as though the skin barely clung to the bones.Pdn
6PK7dIjBut the principles of Body Reinforcement contained within those fingertips still granted it strength comparable to steel.nc8K
4Xt“Bastards!”7JYUnJ
87XCrack!6mmR26F
LYUfC8KThe assassin’s neck broke before he could even react.SewL4Id
Z1c6But that was not enough.IrFxI
TbXRamund charged straight into the center of the enemy ranks.vXZkr9
G0xGt“In front of me!”lhd
bq2Using a corpse as a shield, he plowed through the assassins.ELH
HcdThe swords descending from every direction were incapable of stopping the old knight’s charge.Tnx
vVUjj5j“You laid your hands on my child!”TVs
jL6BSbHe caught a sword in midair and tore it from its owner’s grasp.2DRNlsA
2iLjHe drove the broken blade into another man’s throat.iQ6mB5
gLyU7P4He trapped a sword beneath his armpit and struck his enemy’s jaw with the palm of his hand.x1la
SQZsEBoom!hmAmV
VjfdThe head exploded.LuGm
pW2t82VFragments of brain and blood rained down.myRuQ
JoggyVEveryone’s vision was covered by that sticky, nauseating shower.mPFg
pFGOBut the demon named Ramund did not stop.Bew
yBLc“Die! Die!”hmvjqhi
VKvIOn the battlefield, the vanguard must never stop.uEm
2AIkfrBecause if I stop, those behind me will die.Zp2RmQ
pBsC5“How dare you lay your hands on children, you filthy vermin?!”YhoeAt
17aUTDrRamund crushed the assassins while maintaining the speed and fury of his charge.daUdHx
YdImIt was not elegant swordsmanship.36YDBH
acDKNor was it refined technique.pbr1Vo
yrsvN4It was pure violence.NXsrSW
YLfJeBrutal movements that could only be born on a battlefield.Zg0LV
YKHjghGAnd those movements awakened a primitive fear in his enemies.An5j
Ys8T4d“Die! Die!”rQrF
zaVLKIHe looked like a human battering ram created solely for killing.mQ1XKN
FATZ0nEmil watched the scene with eyes completely captivated.Rc20D
2ao3AvUntil a voice came from the distance.YuRZ
Rs1D“Emil!”UDIed
Upjn“Uncle!”wdQDYRH
hFZwNAt the sight of that enormous figure approaching, tears welled in Emil’s eyes.MZmZJ6U
bcziGBecause the person descending through the rubble of the building was an adult he could trust.CAqwOCK
2rlTaHis father’s friend.fL6cHr
ZEcPortly Kannor.r5r07K
BjF“Are you alright?! Are you alright?!”jdLH
2ZbPortly lifted Emil up like a doll and began frantically inspecting him.JWdgS
LncKvbt“Damn bastards! They’ve torn his clothes to shreds!”pcDl
bSQtFAfter quickly confirming that he had no serious injuries, he understood the situation and shouted to the men accompanying him.rnmk
qm1dlK“Protect the children! Take care of the wounded!”hdMWdO
oDZVG5AArmed men immediately spread out.jK4zxX
lwcThey were mercenaries hired by the Kannor Trading Company for the festival’s security.Busv
ayEoPpPortly had gathered them in a hurry.P7h9r
svIN1“Emil! Are you alright?!”di1w
Bpfc“Hampton…”UCnv
jAeXBmQSeeing a familiar face, the tension finally began leaving Emil’s body.edUrhP
GM5“What the hell is happening?”mLZhs3
7fhiu“I don’t know…”TGRT3gZ
1kvrLeaning against Hampton, Emil blinked in confusion.i6A4c
Z9aZgThere was a blond boy standing behind him.MRyEPDC
lRGT“…That fat old man dragged me here too.”gfLngF
Fsr9It was Renvar.j3Q
IJLfwlAlthough he spoke indifferently, it was obvious that he felt uncomfortable.O7Kk
XhyStBHe knew perfectly well that in the middle of such chaos, it could not have been easy to worry about him as well.u3y5oT
rNcGwXg“Good. Let’s return to the manor first. The knights will be there, and—”V2eDsK2
D27caqP“No.”Vkf1
49s6cPortly attempted to suggest a retreat.BJIC1
H8fQVBut Ramund, who had just returned, was staring at something in the distance.Us8EFP
ws9And he spoke in a grave voice.BQc1ca
pW9“Right now, that is the most dangerous place.”DPdsCnK
QkTbStrengthening his vision with aura, Ramund looked toward the Sturma manor in the distance.82r
b33S1AAlong the hill road leading to the manor, countless masked men were advancing.yfxGKEM
zBADhokIt seemed they had entered through the tunnel opened by the Deathworm.54kQlai
ZoXYqThe knights and Jager were holding back that mass that multiplied like a plague of cockroaches.OJlbceF
HUn“They’re preparing a second strike.”JTU
0SDr2nBehind the knights, Rutiger stood with his sword planted in the ground and his eyes closed, immersed in deep meditation.tInyV
kOJRjRutiger’s secret technique for drawing out a deeper world.ny7
fVXThe 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.DH8
ld3YIt was the result of the mage Dorothea unleashing every magical formation she had accumulated over the years.WzdgpW
lNVwON“Right now, the manor is the most dangerous battlefield. We cannot take the children there.”qYG
b9f9QHe believed they would win.fIuf
cNrBut that did not mean he could take the children into the heart of the battle.qRucb6
Ib5ARamund wiped the blood running down his chin and said to Portly,OODUD
L8Wz“Let’s go to Soara. We need to leave Sturma for now.”gDzi
jAmThanks to the instincts he had honed over a lifetime on the battlefield, Ramund made the best decision possible.dlG80a
61bkStorms are not stopped.PNkdY
6Kn6KjDThey are avoided.uzfvD
vVcK0They needed a place to take shelter until the situation calmed down.dNU7k
AYj4ZMAnd Soara was the most obvious choice.pDd
nnpJy“Of the nearby cities, it’s the safest.”PA9Uhr
bTn2AURamund wiped his sticky hand and patted Emil on the head.Cg9fUPA
MggTThe Rose of Soara.hIGD
3RzThe Scarlet Lady.BO3e
MnVQTShe would protect Emil and the other children even at the cost of her own life.A4z2Er
FnMrwmP“Then let’s head to our trading company first. We can get a carriage there.”HAyT1
JOQYSrFortunately, the Kannor Trading Company building was not far away.MO4R
lLe9EAt Portly’s suggestion that they obtain horses and a carriage there, Ramund nodded wearily.xY4YY7k
ID3nx“Good, let’s move!”sW1l2
HTnDcEA dozen mercenaries surrounded the children and began advancing toward the company.zybpxY
RlVmSome carried the injured Telsa.1VUPJN
mjIs7PaOthers helped Ramund walk, as he had exhausted much of his strength.MDCJ
7MmB9l6As they cautiously made their way through burning streets and collapsed buildings, Emil frowned when he heard that strange voice in his ears once again.Aih
qN2OT“What is it, Emil? Are you hurt?”k0yskj
W2HTarenian looked at him with concern.Ae8Xj
HBS0iBut Emil could not answer.NnDHC
n89Ce‘Again.’hyy
IZsnSRAccompanied by that stabbing sensation, the mysterious voice rang out once more.EfhlGNb
c4CtYBHe knew he had avoided danger thanks to it.YE1M
0Su9Y9So he focused all of his senses on listening.NBTLKM
jpFuG[……!]AoY
qxx7dkyBut all he could hear was indistinct noise.Vgo
oNTNothing he could understand.gfc9q
tPEBecause the city of Sturma was completely dominated by the presence of the Deathworm and Rutiger.1EI
1eH7hThere was no room for another world to interfere.J2G
WLI“We’re here, sir! I can see the sign!”pql
ErRLPhBut if Emil had been able to understand that voice.VxJI
eK2HIf he had managed to reach it.XI4P
Af0M2wHe would have heard.JjZjvgk
Irapu[Don’t go in there!]ICh4p
3yG“Let’s go inside.”MiXJdaO
tthN0The door opened with a creak.2Try8
KRxThe group entered the trading company building.89D
1wUQabBut perhaps it was because they finally felt safe.9ix
gWpmK5Or perhaps because the chaos surrounding them had distracted them.BnI
yUSA1U8No one noticed that the floor beneath their feet was wet and sticky.8JvEU
i50WNor did they notice the strange metallic smell hanging in the air.Uy6tmBE
K5JwM“For now, here… Huh? Father!”E3yORtI
yXTfcOne side of the building had been destroyed and was shrouded in darkness.ryTrhq
aVEhoFrom that dark area, the head of the Kannor family emerged.PIaB64o
UPbO“Grandfather!”JxMC2YB
05KdkeOlson Kannor.1Y8Y
fmZoRjPatriarch of the Kannor family and Portly’s father.8GMm
JdqC5QSThe moment he recognized that familiar face, Hampton was about to run toward him.iZQ4D8
Iv71GBut a hand immediately stopped him.jg1wsr4
beP“Don’t go!”L8NJ7
RlU1hEmil’s hand gripped the back of his clothes so tightly that the fabric creaked.ztZ41NA
z4yJAYet Hampton could not ask him to let go.tJO7Jsu
FcrdIMqBecause Emil’s eyes, fixed on the darkness, were trembling without end.TtXN
FwD“That bastard really is smart.”d9RD
fDrONz8Olson Kannor walked out from the shadows.2lqKK8
EDIMDk0Without a body.51oXX
yIZ6gOnly a head being carried by someone.tIc4f3
zEsWceSwaying weakly as it moved forward.GN4s
b25tm“He said you’d all end up coming here.”jjZUOHx
WKsPThe man holding Olson’s head stepped out of the darkness.yP8
EQgux“That’s why I had no choice but to listen to him.”bAmpA
kMjE8AlBrown hair.xVWc
2DSELThick eyebrows.nGYK5
cnVCKA sturdy physique.PGJhr
JEhBut what stood out the most was the gigantic sword he carried.171eyE0
SrFYAs enormous as he was.rvd
Jj1pbTg“So you’re Emil. Right?”2JEXJl
1s3TxThud.ew1jhZj
pad8KGRolling across the floor, Olson Kannor’s head came to a stop at Emil’s feet.6MNlgYN
Ujb6Everything felt unreal.HrgX7v
dLW3Emil silently stared at the head of his friend’s grandfather.D9S
JmmsOW“I don’t even need to ask to know.”61NpfNz
G9VVKYuThe man smiled.iI2Kw
sk3gB“You’re Vlad’s son.”xjFt
4H6MrxYes.brZnxsv
1EZmWThere was no need to ask.VgM0e4
2tDSALBecause the gaze with which he looked at him was exactly the same as his father’s.u7ppe
NwSJbjgThat cursed shade of blue.3aeoUYs
8KcB9It was identical to Vlad’s.3IC
KwWzGDX“I’m glad to see those eyes again.”h619Cu1
FPioRThat was why he wanted to ask that blue color.zk4g
ZMpN2Whether he could take it back now.uxPgB
kqwpPWhether the time had finally come to reclaim it.HVeBKdR
rFz“My name is Ishtvan Gaidar.”IoRH3JT
pGjgThe banner he carried bore an eagle, the symbol of the Wastelands.VXYDLPz
nHX7a“I’ve come to reclaim my sword.”owH
SpHLNAnd beside the eagle was another coat of arms.Q5x
STb6mfThe emblem of a decapitated dragon.yPg
gKrJtSwaying in the blood-soaked wind, it stared directly at the boy.ehVF383
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