Chapter 293: Side Story – Black-haired Man (1)
44VA sky where two moons shone.pp6Gq
8fjZBeneath the thick darkness, the roars of dragons echoed.cN9qv
dpeJ1bKROOOOAAAR—!EUO1E
px58P6From the glaciers of the far north.aS2NpX
hoEDAgFrom the desolate wastelands of the distant west.l7h0E
7kz5ihWFrom beyond the deep forests of the far east.3Lg3B
Li1WGFrom the depths of the sea in the far south.ihzP
VueoUqJAnd also from here, in the center of the continent, in the highest canyon of the central region.qHB
1uPQj1Brigantes.k8Z7mlv
ULmThe capital of the Empire.BCJw
6FTXerUpon the highest hill of the city stood a white palace that seemed to float like a moon.ol36vM
PkT9The symbol of Brigantes.PSco
fPooqZ5The place that any inhabitant of the capital could see no matter where they were or what time they looked up.T6bw
ACUY0The beautiful imperial palace, Albarion.ngpEKkZ
2ilHowever, in that majestic place, a man hurried through the corridors.cO4RJWO
yXe“Haah… hah…”t1KKtgb
5jsx9skHis face was naturally solemn.vvo
OzSpBut the expression he wore at that moment was far from it.Xkpzv
uvP2XyRProbably because of the telegram he held in his hand.72c
Xsn“…Lord Razmael.”QXF
xOb9The man arrived at one of the deepest sections of the palace.feTQ0vD
aeTvAOThe place where the only person allowed to enjoy Albarion after the Emperor resided.twNv
tMJ0hThe office of Grand Chamberlain Razmael.x4LC
3TI“A telegram has arrived.”EX1WH
JJBXHAlthough he had run all the way there without stopping, the man forcibly suppressed his ragged breathing.zx9xJre
dPPbsBecause the one who occupied that office was someone who valued silence.SPVGDF
WQj5D“…What does it say?”5Zc
of4TWHe was a long-haired man.WIYc
LqZ4WOoHis hair was tied back with a simple ribbon, reaching his shoulders.YNK9c
ogC5He looked more like a priest than a noble.NBFm
lpNimA young man with a serene appearance.s3b
Xt5X6“…Total annihilation.”wE2LJ
46o8JblThe shoulder guard identifying him as a member of the Imperial Guard trembled.NOvim
jiq2The absolute elite of the Empire.UprCnmx
h1DNhr5Men trained to remain calm at all times.z7ApNa
DIUYet the guard standing before Razmael could not hide his pale face.i5C
ycj— Wyvern stampede.1ZOqat
BuV— Forces stationed at Vermos Canyon annihilated.SWeqp
RyC07cT— Urgent support requested.HknGK
hReNjn7The telegram he held was stained red.vzck
PbXc“And it is not only Vermos Canyon. We are currently receiving reports of damage caused by rampaging dragons all across the continent.”Yos
esbe7Even excluding the north, where magical communications had collapsed, the reports continued to arrive without end.EzPsnUd
oxkKFrom the west.bKLSNUz
2zeyLFrom the east.DjadL5m
ZimvUxyEven from the distant Southern Archipelago.36hg
u9l1YEvery territory under imperial jurisdiction was desperately sending requests for aid.WZt
aLoF“…Where is Sir Vlad Aureo currently located?”yYoA
DTD8NUWith every telegram, dozens of soldiers died.TsD3GUJ
3Tnr9TcThe situation was critical.W86d
B2MhEvery second mattered.3wl3
DWWkE6cYet even in the face of such urgency, Razmael remained calm as he looked at a tree beyond the window.CsxpIHI
r6ZLtF“Still no news from the Arctic?”hjcoxbG
OYlIn the darkness of the night, flowers swayed outside.wkL
0SqjaXJWhite magnolias dancing in the wind.NPo
gnxThey resembled candle flames on the verge of going out.0Cm
wqc4SbM“Other than the Arctic, nearly all northern territories have lost magical communications, Lord Razmael.”Kb5fPh
QX3o6And among all those flowers, there was one that particularly caught his attention.XHu
1XlbisJThe largest.SSG
KmQd6ZMThe most beautiful.jzw
oRTThe only one that remained standing despite the wind.AiYbZ
PBlUUK“…Even after growing so much, he still cannot protect anything.”1ueG
mLdeFA“Pardon?”Rq66m
PCrKwMMFor an instant, Razmael’s expression twisted slightly.x8xMyCu
3HXcyIt was such a subtle change that anyone could have missed it.rgGpSO
mr81sBut the guard who had served him for years noticed.I9EY
IkluHiV“There is only one Swordmaster. But the calamities that have emerged number in the dozens. We cannot continue waiting forever for Sir Vlad.”hxH
gwaFKNWith that, Razmael unfolded a sheet of paper.u4ZY
Iz5p9FV“Take this to the Protector of the Realm. Tell him that both His Majesty the Emperor and I, Razmael, have given our approval.”W1w61W
SwTPxsYThe guard received the document and froze.T82yFh3
K4hOYDBecause two seals were stamped upon it.zKNX4T4
eEk6qThe emblem of the Grand Chamberlain.VDrv
vFFAnd the exclusive symbol of the Emperor.nXOD6X
SVYh0lThe Imperial Order of the Golden Seal.SWoe
C0cwGOA decree issued by the ruler of the Empire and executed by his right hand.ifbd
yHp36iF“We will restore the Dragonslayers.”cCdqm
waQ8A single flower, no matter how brilliant, cannot protect every possibility.1ac
0OXRX1The winds blew from every direction.Oy3ahe
APUhNubAnd the flowers continued to fall one after another beneath the roars of maddened dragons.ZinYivG
rjF“Transmit this to every family and territory that can still receive telegrams.”j68
9GxwIDRazmael’s eyes shone with unwavering determination.pA0
zEs“Let all knights who swore under the name of the founding king, Kihano Frausen, hear this. From this moment onward, all those whose names are recorded in the Registry of the Dragonslayers are to proceed to Brigantes. This is an imperial order issued by the Emperor of the Empire.”1gsYys
bU4XThey did not need the brightest dragon.37LL
7W5eNor a Swordmaster who could not even be present.AZkN
6lgzsUuWhat the Empire needed now were not legendary heroes.KqU2cI
5fdgZ5But human swords capable of protecting themselves.XBFjR
jICwYZ“From this moment onward, we will kill the maddened dragons.”jM8en
LN6hThis world was filled with poison.YC8
grlzsDPoison left behind by previous generations who pursued nothing but prosperity and glory.9gTN
Hyj7fAnd Razmael did not believe that poison existed only in dark and forgotten corners.PZoJKw
VM0WUjPerhaps the greatest and cruelest poison was hidden behind the most glorious names.IjG
yCrh“……”rskn6
NXh6RThe Black Moon seemed closer than ever.OSviRtL
F7dIkH7The Black Moon created from a fragment of the most perfect dragon and sent into the sky by the Swordmaster of this era.Gat5
8QyAnd Razmael knew one thing very well.pNCKhi
6rC99zSThe closer that moon came,0TPoKyE
0x8rfthe louder the dragons’ roars became.5lj
m2g***d5U
lxymOn a northern prairie illuminated by the faint light of the Black Moon.rawTmsQ
LWbIn the middle of that vast plain where there was no trace of human presence, a small campfire swayed gently.Px52
vOacUp1“Snif…”ONX0M
gMrA dark-skinned girl cried as she stared blankly into the flames.C3Ic
iGDiShe had cried so much that the tear tracks reached all the way down to her chin.ouGp
3qfAnd she was not the only one.lFnLDeb
335NFZMAll the children around her were the same.hWBs
Dpo3V“Telsha… snif…”A1lx
Kma“……”Xti9Zr
zJAThe atmosphere was gloomy.mpSCI
Dw7THNo, gloomy was not even enough to describe it.TqJ2c
9T7xEcIt felt as though everyone wanted to bury themselves underground.7QEH1
wwLSGAnd the wrecked carriage parked nearby only made the scene even sadder.GNNB0
eaY6xH“So, where exactly are we, Renvar?”2R1P9q4
muzt7O8Emil asked with bloodshot eyes.BEmwfi
YIIUUDThe cloth wrapped around his head was stained red.73rTRk
sxfEIt had been Tarenian who, through tears, had torn her own clothes to improvise that bandage.DTOU
DhyGA“…I don’t know that either.”pEN
xhwK93vRenvar scratched his head awkwardly.FDuD3su
WH9ssThen he glanced at the yellow mole as if asking it for help.OBaJE
4xSdkBut the creature completely ignored him.qmP6hE
SPL“I just followed the direction that thing was pointing.”As1
6uj6cTXThe mole was sprawled across a broken wheel as if it had exhausted all its energy.LZAc8q
9xVaEDuring the desperate carriage escape, the creature had remained on top of Renvar’s head, constantly pointing the way.YKFs
P6Hv68And considering that Renvar had actually managed to guide them by following those directions, that alone was a miracle.IbiyKmT
5gA5RmBut the problem was that now none of them knew where they were.C6GbYl
97WK“…It’s a prairie between Sturma and Varna. I know because I came here with my father.”Fl3
vEMoSebHampton, who had remained seated in silence until then, spoke as he wiped his nose.QvmeKCB
QbIB9eS“If you keep heading south from here, you reach Varna. That’s why my father and I used to come here often to…”AQaD
qVFvHe tried to hold it back.pZ7zAOm
1SQ2CBut one word remained stuck in his throat.ei6v
L88N“…to drive cattle and horses.”r6Xg
qbH6Even now, whenever he closed his eyes, he felt like his father would appear in front of him.vHzb
hIEHe could still see him waving.FtvjW
eBhGpOIt felt like a dream.HVN
D9SilXBut the cold sensation of the brooch hanging around his neck reminded him that it had all been real.hSE9
kj3“Come here, Hampton.”q4Ha
6yaRm“Snif…”U4L
NYLEmil placed his hands on his friend’s shoulders.LyUsG93
c5G9r“I know too. I was there with you. Every summer we came here together, remember?”afY
npT“Uuuh…”3B1hYyi
WtXXeHqThey had been happy children.Wxyn
gNkgDChildren who crossed those prairies following their fathers among cattle and horses.NQyYIK
vdYRT3Children who pitched tents at night and roasted meat.RcDb9rI
5JbmqAnd who always ended their vacations fishing in Sir Ramund’s vineyard.YGIeEuU
XyeIDE“I promise you. I’ll do it.”UxeENGA
ZavKjYYour father was like my father.M03nj
AHEPNVDAnd my grandfather was like your grandfather.eA6c
9dfThat’s why.oJ0SfK
jkPiDni“I’m going to kill him.”R8TJs
8LaThe man who had returned from death.v1ZlOUC
WIKrQThe man who had gone mad.oQt1
WR2HAUsIshtvan Gaidar.lzGSWCZ
SsmA blue light shone in Emil’s eyes as he spoke those words.4S9jq
DTnNXNfSomeday he would have to overcome that wound.jzrVeQ
VTpBut for now, the mark Ishtvan had left inside his world was still open and bleeding.Ue1q3
WVbANb“I’ll do it…”iSQLAZ6
0PQKEejAfraid that the flame burning inside his chest might go out, Emil buried his face between his knees.CKd0h
4W5sAnd as silence settled over the children once again, a voice spoke softly.6mA9pj
BEcy[…But Sir Ramund would not want you to seek revenge.]oebZNP
gtPshMIt was a calm voice.LpzE4R
gum2sA voice trying to comfort a wounded young beast.HeTuEu
okDVBBut Emil was too busy feeding the fire burning inside him.g8OVW
erC“…Shut up.”187
QilY3p[I’m sure he would rather you be safe.]uIR
M1qBw3The voice continued speaking.NVDQJ
kp0PuaUnaware of the boy’s pain.PlYpgyS
czS“I told you to shut up, Renvar.”w91
vknowGrowling, Emil lifted his head.DGx
7Kc5Am0Why the hell do you keep bothering me, Renvar?!D5x1OKY
dveMBut the words died in his throat.VJjL8
on2vL“…Who are you?”UNE
RCidiBecause the person sitting in front of him was not Renvar.wJ8O9Y
vhYE1o5It was someone completely unfamiliar.dxW0Y8
V483nu[It’s been a long time, Emil.]dkcBD
tPvvHe was a black-haired man.DKoqWu
cxwcpppThin.Hm4gnzH
80yNSILWith deep shadows beneath his eyes.Udp
ff7But to Emil, his appearance was the least important thing.tIRbR7x
PKU“Huh?”ccOMon
UOgBecause the man was blurry.ELiiJDk
zn1aSo blurry that he could see Tarenian sitting behind him.6zg
OoxrqW“Huh?”ZFb2gzu
gugSomeone was sitting right in front of him.8PZi
LUpAnd yet he could perfectly see the person behind him.5nbByC
6RnlAUUnable to understand what was happening, Emil stretched out a hand toward the stranger.28M
XUaO4Fwoosh—c3FB
0GTB“……”NyseYd
Z6TkBHis hand passed straight through the man’s body without meeting any resistance.GxZOS
Z4tFMETIt continued forward and ended up touching Tarenian’s cheek.uLPw3S
Tg9AgEmil slowly turned his head toward the others.KV9R6B
4wQRDNe“…Can you see him too?”ago7R
KYp4fXHampton nodded.0etI
M4N7Renvar as well.gW5xSF
4bP8CsWThe yellow mole nodded too.T8ZF6n
RKLAnd when all their gazes met…tJQVY3
z9p“AAAAAAAHHHH!!!”7a7
vsyrj“KYAAAAAAAHHHH!!!”gYWMDZ
7KdRW“HIEEEEEK!!!”80btOyD
boFj9l“WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?!!!”BYX
AVnJGhu“Kyu! Kyu Kyu Kyu Kyu!”kAm
vBAz4DNThe children sprang from their spots like springs and began screaming hysterically.oNx
50Wep[Children, please listen for a moment…]bhmNg
0YogaIt“IT’S A GHOST!!!”qCIcAMi
9yq“Where’s my sword?! Get me a sword right now!”cO9KgK3
hnaa“Idiot! How are you going to stab a ghost?”Mf3
k4qN“Moooom!!! Telsaaaaaa!!!”xn9ers
hr7The children crowded together on the other side of the campfire.9QBAX
sYC6Pushing each other.3nLcQdv
giNbdRArguing about who should stand in front.UYxNs
tSvThe shadows cast by the fire mixed chaotically.sGPA
0sbNAnd in the end, Renvar, being the tallest of them all, ended up at the front.15wbj
Sp4SsHe crossed two fingers into the shape of a cross and shouted.qwcaz
qpfj“Back off! Get away! Get away!”ncPUk
3QrcVThe others hid behind him as if he were a shield.nOs1
wuEoUkWith tear-streaked faces, they barely peeked their heads out to look at the stranger.RycD
ZFbqSeeing that, the black-haired man smiled awkwardly.v4o
2eg1[Nice to meet you. My name is…]qfpPe
D3X1l“Don’t listen to him! If we listen, he’ll curse us!”Vid
xjsH“Bleeeeh!”rpDV5
i6R“Saint Justia of San Rozino! Please save us!”O6t
Ea8cpd8The peaceful prairie filled with desperate screams.KoIIIt
GVNZAnd as he watched the children panic, the semi-transparent man scratched his head.bRp2ja
SbND8La[Children, why don’t we try calming down a little?]wTU9
C8mJoseph.MjX
5A5v7A man who understood all kinds of strategies and conspiracies.c4K5
kbNJBut who had never learned how to deal with children.Lu0wU4J
GjkAnd beneath the Black Moon, which seemed closer than ever, he could only wear an utterly helpless expression.bLam
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