Star-Embracing Swordmaster — Chapter 295: Side Story – Black-haired Man (3)

Chapter 295: Side Story – Black-haired Man (3)

Munch⁠ munch—

At‍ the camp where⁠⁠ the bonfire burned,‌‌⁠ an early lunch⁠⁠ was in full‍⁠ swing.

The aroma of soup⁠‍‌ rose among the‍ carts arranged in⁠ a circle within‌⁠ the milky fog.

As⁠ if intoxicated by‌⁠ that smell, four‍‌ round heads produced⁠ curiously synchronized sounds.‍⁠

“Eat⁠⁠ slowly. If there‍ isn’t enough, I’ll‍⁠ give you more. Does anyone want⁠ more black pudding?”⁠‌

Blond, yellow, brown, and‍ reddish.

The‍ children, who had⁠⁠ gone all day‍ without food and⁠‌ had barely had‍‍ any water, hurriedly‌‍ raised their hands‍ when they heard they could have⁠ seconds.

All‍ of them had‌ their cheeks puffed⁠‍‍ out like squirrels.⁠

Seeing‍ them, the women‍ around them smiled⁠‍ fondly.

“I‍‌ knew the black‍ pudding would be‌ a hit. When⁠‍ I worked at the shop, I was the one‍ who prepared it‌‍ all.”

White⁠‍ bread, mashed potatoes,‍⁠⁠ hot onion soup,‍ and black pudding.‍‌

Anna‍‍ had been one⁠ of the people‌⁠ responsible for preparing‍ one of the‍‍ dishes known as‌ the Jorge Menu.‌

Although‌⁠ she complained that‍ the ingredients brought⁠‍ from the Black‌‍‌ Bear shop were⁠ not in very‌‌ good condition, none⁠⁠ of the children‍ present were paying‌‍ attention to her‍⁠‍ words.

“Abubu—!”‍⁠

While‌ Lenia was completely⁠⁠‍ focused on eating, she noticed a baby beside her‍ stretching its arms‌ toward her.

The‍‌ child seemed fascinated‍ by Lenia’s skin tone, something uncommon‌ in the North,‌ and kept trying‌ to touch her.⁠⁠

His‌ black hair, soft⁠‍ and fluffy like‌‌‌ cotton, was adorable.⁠‌

“Ma’am,‌‌‌ your baby is‍‍‍ very cute.”

“Really?⁠ Thank you.”

Upon‌‍ hearing the compliment,‍⁠ the woman holding‌⁠ the baby hugged⁠ him more tightly.

“Don’t⁠‌‍ pay him too much attention. He⁠ spent too much⁠⁠ time alone, so‌ now he gets‌ excited whenever he‍ sees someone.”

For‌⁠ a moment, a shadow of sadness⁠⁠ crossed the woman’s⁠ face.

But‌ now she held‌ her son as‍ though she would⁠‌ never let him⁠ go again.

And‍⁠ the baby, enjoying‍ his mother’s warmth,‌‌ moved his head from side to⁠‍ side.

“He‌ looks happy. He‌⁠‌ seems like a very happy baby.”⁠‍

Mother⁠⁠ and son were‍‍ embracing as though‌ all the suffering‌ of the past‍ had disappeared.

Seeing‌ such a scene⁠ overflowing with happiness,‍⁠‌ Lenia found herself‌‍⁠ thinking once more‍ about her mother⁠⁠‌ and Telsa.

“Snif…”

“Huh?⁠ Are you alright?”⁠⁠

“What‌ exactly happened to‍ you on the⁠⁠ road? You children are a mess.”‍‍⁠

Lenia‌‌ started crying in the middle of the meal, and‌⁠‌ the women hurried to comfort her.⁠

While‌‍‌ that small commotion‍⁠ was taking place‍ on one side,‍⁠⁠ the blond boy‍⁠‌ still had his⁠‍ nose buried in⁠‌ his bowl of‌‍‍ soup.

“……”‌

More precisely, he was‌ using the bowl to hide his⁠ gaze while staring⁠ fixedly at the man sitting in‌ the distance.

With‍ narrowed blue eyes, Emil continued to‍ keep watch over‍ Joseph.

He‍ thought he was‌ being subtle, but⁠‍ he didn’t seem⁠⁠ to realize just‍ how intimidating his⁠ stare was.

“Emil,⁠‌ what’s wrong? Did‌‍ that man do‍‍‍ something to you?”‌⁠

Anna⁠‌⁠ looked at the⁠ boy, who was‍ still suspicious of‌‌ the black-haired man,⁠ and asked in‌ confusion.

And⁠‌ it was understandable.‌

At⁠‌ first glance, the‌⁠ man seemed completely⁠‍‌ harmless, merely drinking⁠ a cup of tea in peace.‍

“……Don’t‌‌‍ be frightened. That⁠ man is actually…”⁠‍‍

That man isn’t alive.‍

He’s⁠⁠ a ghost, and⁠‌ he’s been following‌‌ us.

Last‍ night I tried⁠ to touch him,⁠‍ and my hand‌‌ went right through⁠ his body.

“R-Really?”‌

Emil‌‍ explained the identity⁠⁠ of the black-haired⁠‍ man with complete⁠‍ seriousness.

Beside‍‌ him, Hampton and‍ Renvar nodded nonstop‌‌ as if confirming‍‌ every single word.⁠⁠

Anna’s‍ expression became strangely⁠ awkward.

“I‍ see…”

After‍ taking a closer‍ look, Anna had‍⁠‍ to admit that‌‍ she understood why‌ the children were‍⁠⁠ so alarmed.

He‌‌⁠ was tall and⁠‌⁠ thin, had a pale face, and⁠ deep shadows beneath‍ his eyes.

And⁠ on top of that, he was‌⁠‌ surrounded by the whitish fog.

Anyone‌⁠‍ would find him⁠ unsettling.

“Here!”⁠

Tap!‍‍⁠

Convinced⁠ that they would⁠ never get close⁠ to him otherwise,‍‍⁠ Anna threw a small stone at‌ Joseph’s head.

“Ow…!”‌‍⁠

Joseph‍‌ rubbed his head‍ and frowned after‍‌ being struck.

Then‌‌ he looked at‌ Anna with such‌ a bewildered expression‌⁠‌ that the entire‌ ghostly atmosphere surrounding‍ him vanished instantly.⁠‍

“Huh?!”‌⁠

“It‍‍‍ hit him!”

“……Then‍‍ he wasn’t a ghost?”

Just⁠⁠ moments ago he⁠ had looked like‍‌ a spectral apparition.‌

But⁠ now he simply‍ looked like a normal person.

The⁠ sudden transformation caused‍‌ Emil and the others to begin‌ whispering among themselves.‌‍

“If‍⁠‌ he were a real ghost, shouldn’t‍‍ it have gone‌‌ right through him?”‌

Anna shrugged as she‍‌‍ asked the question.‍⁠‍

Emil’s⁠‍ eyes widened, and⁠⁠⁠ he was left‍ speechless.

“……”‍‍

“……”⁠⁠

Both‍ Emil and Joseph‍‌ were bewildered by⁠‌‍ the unexpected situation.⁠‌‌

Their‌ gazes met.

And⁠ Joseph gave him‍⁠ a small smile.‍

“And⁠⁠ even if he‍⁠‌ were a ghost,‌‍‍ what does it‌ matter? Go talk‍ to him.”

“Me?‌ Why?”

“What⁠ do you mean,‌⁠ why? Honestly…”

But‍ Emil still looked⁠‍ at him suspiciously.‍

The⁠⁠‌ situation wasn’t going‍ anywhere.

Anna‍ hit her chest‍ in frustration.

“You⁠‍ want to become‍⁠ a knight, don’t‍‍ you?”

A long time ago,‍‌⁠ Anna had known‍⁠ a boy who‌ said he wanted⁠ to become a knight.

He⁠⁠ had said it so quietly that⁠ it sounded like⁠ a sentence that⁠ had accidentally slipped⁠ from his lips.‍

And⁠‌ from that moment⁠‍ on, she had‌⁠‌ begun paying attention to him.

“And⁠‌ someone who wants‍⁠ to be a knight is afraid‍‍ of a mere⁠‍ ghost? Knights of‌⁠ old even fought‌ ghosts.”

What‍‍ was it that⁠ had made that boy special?

Why‍ had she considered‍ the Vlad of‌‍ those days special?⁠

“So‍ go and try.‍ Do you think⁠ staring at him‌‍ is going to solve anything?”

Back then, Anna didn’t‍‌⁠ know.

But‍‌ after all these‍ years, now she‌ could answer.

“Come⁠⁠ on, go! This⁠ lady will be watching from over⁠ here!”

It⁠‌ wasn’t his handsome⁠⁠‍ face or his brilliant golden hair.‌‌⁠

What‌‍‌ had made Vlad⁠‌ special back then was his willingness⁠ to act.

Unlike‌ the men of‍ the back alleys,⁠‌⁠ who only knew⁠⁠ how to talk,⁠⁠⁠ Vlad truly moved‌⁠ and fought with‌ everything he had.⁠

Watching‌‍ him, Anna had⁠‌⁠ come to believe‍‌ that that boy‍ really might escape⁠ the back alleys.⁠

She⁠‌ had even fooled‍ herself into thinking⁠ that, if she⁠ stayed by his⁠‍ side, she too‌‌⁠ might be able‍ to get out.

“…Alright.”‌‌

At‍‌ Anna’s strangely energetic‌‌ words, Emil scratched‌‍ his head as‍ he stood up.

There‌⁠ was something about‌‍ her that reminded‌ him of a certain person from‍ Soara.

And‍ seeing her holding‍ a stone as‌‌ if she were‌⁠ ready to throw⁠‌‌ it at the‌‍⁠ man if he⁠ did anything strange⁠ gave him a little courage.

“Yeah,‌‌‍ what the hell.‍ I’ll just ask⁠‌ him directly.”

If‍ you don’t act,‌‍ you can’t solve‌ anything.

And‍⁠ if you don’t⁠⁠ solve anything, all‌ you can do⁠ is be swept‌‍‌ along.

The‌ women who had⁠⁠‌ ultimately ended up‍ shedding black tears‌‌ watched the blond boy stand up.

“Alright.⁠ Then tell me.‌ Why are you‌‌ following us?”

Emil‌ planted himself in front of Joseph, who was still‌ drinking tea.

He was still immature,‌ but there was a clear determination‌⁠ in him.

The⁠‌ Knight of the⁠⁠ Black Moon, appreciating⁠ that attitude, straightened‌‌ his posture and‍ opened his mouth.‌⁠

“…You‍ must be very‍‍ confused by all⁠⁠ of this.”

There‍ is no point⁠⁠ in trying to talk to someone‌ who is not‍⁠ prepared to listen.‌‍

Joseph⁠ knew that perfectly‍ well.

That‍‍ was why he‌⁠‍ smiled when he‌ saw that Emil⁠‍⁠ was still trying⁠ to start a conversation.

“I‌‌ wanted to explain⁠ everything to you calmly. So that‍‌‍ you wouldn’t be‍ frightened.”

Now‍‍‍ that he was⁠‍‌ listening carefully, the‌ man’s voice was⁠⁠ deep and calm.‍

It‍‍‍ wasn’t particularly loud‍‍ or authoritative.

But it had something‌ that compelled people‍‌ to pay attention.‌⁠

“However,‍ we no longer‌ have time.”

Rumble—! Rumble—! Rumble—!

“Aaah!”‍

“What’s⁠‍‌ that?!”

The⁠‌ moment he finished‌ speaking, the ground began to shake‌ violently.

A terrifying vibration.

A vibration that made‍‌‍ the hair stand‌‍⁠ on end.

Thump!‍ Thump!

“…A⁠ moment ago it⁠ passed through Varna.”‌‌‍

The‌ women hurried to‍‌‍ embrace their babies‌‍ as the vibration‍ seemed to resonate‌ all the way⁠ into their souls.‍

But⁠ the little ones,‍ unable even to‌ open their eyes‌‌‍ beneath the pressure‍‍‌ of that approaching‌‍ draconic world, could‍ do nothing but‌‌ cry inconsolably.

“And⁠‍‍ now it’s heading‌‌⁠ toward Soara.”

“……!”⁠⁠

At⁠⁠ the mention of⁠‌ Soara, Emil’s eyes‍⁠ flew open.

His‌‌ father’s city.

The‌‌ city where the‌‍ people he loved‍ were.

And‌‌ now the most‌⁠ resilient dragon in⁠⁠ the world was‌ advancing toward it.‍⁠

“But‌ fortunately, we are⁠‍ where we are‌ supposed to be.”⁠

While‍ the women and‌‍ children screamed in‌ terror, Emil remained‍ motionless.

The‌ ground continued shaking‌‍‌ without pause.

Yet‌ even amid that⁠‍‍ chaos, his gaze⁠⁠ remained steady.

Because‍ the man standing‍‌ before him was‌ facing it with⁠‍ the same calmness⁠ he himself possessed.‍⁠

***‍⁠

“Now…‌⁠ it’s ready.”

Somewhere‍ in the prairie‌ covered by dense‍⁠⁠ fog.

A harsh voice, like⁠‌ metal scraping against‍ metal, echoed through‍ the mist.

It⁠ was the man⁠ wrapped in an‌ old robe with‌ his hood pulled‌ deeply over his‍‌ face.

The leader of the group beside him⁠ frowned without trying⁠ to hide his⁠‌ disgust.

“This‌⁠ is getting to‌‌ be too much.”‍‍

He⁠‍ covered his mouth⁠‍ with a handkerchief,‌ as though he‍⁠ didn’t even want to breathe near⁠ it.

And he had good‌ reason.

Because‌ in front of⁠‍ the hooded man‌ was a rotting corpse.

“…Normally⁠‍ I don’t care⁠ as long as⁠ I’m getting paid,⁠ but this is‍‌ too much even for me.”

It‌ was a corpse‌ in such a miserable condition that‌‌ even the assassin‌ leader was complaining.‍

The⁠‍ shriveled skin and‌‌ white hair revealed‍ the dead man’s‍ advanced age.

Yet‌‍ despite that, he had fought such a fierce battle⁠ that scarcely any of his limbs remained intact.

“What?‍ Was he some⁠ kind of sworn⁠⁠ enemy or something?‌ Why did you‍ leave him in‍ such a state?”

But‌ of that entire‌⁠ horrific scene, the‌ most striking thing‍⁠ was a sword.‍

A sword that pierced⁠ the corpse’s abdomen.‌‍

It‌ had been driven⁠⁠ through from the⁠ back until it⁠‌ sank into the‌ ground.

As‍‌ if it were⁠ a giant nail‌‍ meant to pin‍‍ the body down‍ so it could‌‌ never rest.

“And‌ what’s that?”

Fog,‌⁠‍ corpses, and strange⁠ magic circles.

The‌‌ leader finally fixed‍‌ his eyes on‍ the object the‍ hooded man was‌⁠ holding.

It was the only⁠⁠ thing shining in‍ that macabre place.‌

And‍⁠ it was shaped like a coin.‍

“…You’re‍‌‌ wondering what this⁠ is?”

A single shining coin‌‌ held in a hand that looked‌ as though it‌⁠ belonged to a corpse.

It‌ was silver in⁠⁠ color.

The⁠ assassin leader couldn’t⁠‌ help staring at⁠‌ it.

But⁠‍ that reaction seemed‍ to amuse the‍‌ hooded man.

“After‌‍ all… humans are⁠ always most interested‌ in the things‌ they can never⁠ possess…”

An‌ unpleasant laugh escaped‌⁠ his lips.

Then‌ he began muttering‍ something.

At‍ the same time,⁠ a sinister red⁠ light began gathering⁠‌‌ over the silver‌ coin.

The same light also⁠‍ began flowing from‌‌ the magic circles⁠⁠‍ surrounding the corpse.⁠

“This…⁠‍‌ is something people‌‌ like you and⁠ me can never‌⁠⁠ have…”

Tap.⁠‌‌

The man dropped the‌‌ coin in front‍ of the corpse.

“So…‍⁠⁠ perhaps that is‌ precisely the kind⁠‌‍ of thing I most wish to‌ destroy…”

The⁠‍ coin began to‍‍ tremble.

Kraaaaaaah—!⁠

Along‍ with the vibration‌⁠ of the coin,‍ a draconic roar‌ echoed from the⁠⁠‍ depths below.

It‍‍ was the roar‍‌ of the most resilient dragon.

The‌ same roar that‍ had come from‍‍ Sturma.

Every‍‌ time that red⁠‍ light flashed, the‌⁠ assassin leader had‍‌‍ the feeling that⁠ the sound coming⁠ from beneath the⁠⁠ earth was drawing‌‍ closer and closer.⁠‌⁠