Chapter 298: Side Story – Vlad of Soara? (2)
GDayBA world painted only in black and white.rauulFh
DAkUBeneath the Black Moon of lies and the White Moon of truth, at the moment that radiant boy was born, the necromancer lying on the ground opened his eyes in disbelief.q0vFVQY
43K9U‘T-that is…!’eR5o
gK1h1zUThe suddenly taller stature, the firm muscles, and the golden hair shining magnificently beneath the moonlight.k0YhhGY
6hJ0TBut the necromancer was not looking at that dazzling appearance.Dpdg
Fstdp9What he saw were those blue eyes so intense that they were painful to look at.BYMjgur
cNqHbA‘Vlad of Soara!’onU
DyxvA6XVlad of Soara was there.DY4ap
n8xAeQExactly as he had looked when he wiped away the black tears of that woman desperately searching for her child.jPOKDX
I2UBB5XThe necromancer who had cast that curse through a puppet more than twenty years ago remembered perfectly who had destroyed his black magic.DezU
owjM“……!”1cF
JGpZrQAnd that golden beast moved once more.GJhJ
MekcJust like back then.wrlsN
rRvmzyAfter destroying his curse, he advanced to wipe away the black tears of a young girl.BpCS7Ps
jXsMNTSlash!h5r5eAl
hVfAlong with a white trail, an assassin’s head flew into the air.rB77
P20“……!”937
FWB0a7With an expression of complete incomprehension, the head began spinning as it rose.MkgI9WS
hMTNXQGThe last thing that floating head, hanging like a moon, saw was the geyser of blood erupting from its neck and, beneath it, the figure of Vlad holding the young girl.edkNGIM
1rcGs“I-it’s Aura!”7bwbGeK
tWJ9Just as someone shouted, a white world flowed from the boy’s closed left eye.7D0Ip
bNNJbBIThe proof that symbolized knights capable of surpassing human limits.2sAX
LwBvA white so intense it was difficult even to look at flashed like lightning around his eyes.I1Eyq7
L3y“Follow me!”9fBp
fLWg8Emil, bearing Vlad’s appearance, roughly grabbed Lenia’s wrist.bEtx
bTmldaP“I’ll open the way!”O6QT
rF5Emil and Lenia were surrounded by dozens of assassins.tmj
L8ZThe gleaming blades had momentarily stopped, confused by the unexpected situation.TrVc1
LaWeAnd the young beast did not let that opportunity slip away.yct
Lv53X“Get out of my way!”Jc1
zVc6A dragon’s cruelty never hesitates to tear apart its prey’s weaknesses.g7bX
iUVThe dragon’s sharp fangs sank into motionless enemies.ID01
FhwsThe screams of the assassins began to pile up behind the rapid sword strikes.ByxB
tJrxG“Ughhh!”xHXa
JXm“Aaaagh!”RDzDH3g
XFe6The first was cut down.EqJgY4
Gd3bHsFThe second was pierced deeply.SSdHJ53
uma34F6The third received a fatal wound.uDIr6be
zRuSHmAnd the last one—VNBV
7pSS“Kugh!”nwopGx
U1R9RA slash across his waist scattered his entrails through the air.eshC
70GEmil’s swordsmanship was still unrefined.WiIe
fAVhqzxThat was precisely why it was more savage.FWDp6rU
THfSEThe man’s eyes trembled violently, unable to accept that reality, but Emil simply kicked the collapsing torso aside and continued forward.DR5jT
whQkbj‘I can do it!’pt7
QhXRESurrounded by countless enemies, Emil felt a euphoria rising from the depths of his chest.wE42Cmx
hi5YFoBecause his father’s sword, the one he had never managed to imitate, was unfolding before his very eyes.BPoC
XcbdHcS‘Now I can!’YYphTk
ZbMuKp2Each death made it clearer.InpI
RGH24KSEach bloodbath made it more vivid.VpRJ
K4L2And thus, his own path of the sword gradually began to take shape.ykHS
zxTOnly then did Emil understand something.iXR
ITEDwGoHis father’s sword had grown by feeding on countless deaths.5GT0k
4gx“Move!”zZQX
iMbzloFDeeper.h5RjMs
lW7UFaster.7S1CEF
VFZnZgThe fangs of that young dragon who had finally found his path grew sharper and sharper.FC3iPK
mDMc“I said move!”jiOV
tOKifAt the same time, the blue in his eyes became increasingly intense.gQlxo9P
XeanehfHis pupils had already split vertically as he looked at the assassin holding Hampton.qsm
BON“…Hah.”eKw262
51RH5AThe man’s breath froze white.8otH10e
276DoqHe tried to move.bsFH8
t17But those dragon eyes permitted no action.E8ijW0N
oMOJust like those poor Frostbreath Rabbits that exhaled one last white breath before dying.XyI
5Ng0TRSlash!A55RI
TEGOHvA white trajectory passed over Hampton’s head.i7FFZP
ZMZNeYtThe killing intent was so fierce that even Hampton shut his eyes.6bydIs
k0iYDThen he heard a familiar voice shout urgently.s2g
V1G“Idiot! What are you doing standing there?!”Zd7Ce
MWjoAfter shoving Lenia toward Hampton, Emil shouted,RnfzZO
SgNd“Run!”cLKIJ
ds7dIn the direction Emil pointed stood a black-haired man.GbY28E1
tdVtWith a banner resembling the night sky planted in the ground, he remained kneeling on one knee while silently praying.o3A
saX1Was he a mage?Ye4ZMU
AwhPA knight?u7LG7hS
BXTnA priest?pWWiPUq
F6iIt was impossible to tell.9Ax4
FWhEAs he recited quietly, he continued declaring truths and lies to the two moons hanging in the sky.ZCQU
jTslg9‘N-now!’M05NEx
S9fHThe necromancer watched the situation with frantic eyes.bpBt
SeieRp2Quickly, he crawled toward one of the corpses Emil had left behind and placed a hand on it.qRUD
qkYj97‘As long as I have a corpse!’GCq
4H1MHrHe was an expert at manipulating bodies.UktV1
uWsHe had been recognized for that ability and was serving his current master because of it.H3B7c
JpK1bThe same necromancer who, more than twenty years ago, had made so many women shed black tears.XlIF5h5
9SVAs he gripped the assassin’s corpse and recited a dark incantation, the man who kept one eye closed did not allow it.W9yKV
Y0Wz[The dead do not rise. That is a lie.]e0VysJR
xphLHHE“Aaaagh!”F5W
IjPiunRJoseph’s world, backed by absolute legitimacy, descended upon the necromancer’s shoulders.qntyKnE
SHceC3zA terrifying pressure that could not be resisted.4vu
TvwOnly then did the necromancer understand the true nature of Joseph’s power.FMr
aAc5ufJBut it was already too late.LxaD
yx1B6E[And I hate lies.]xVb
bYLtJBzJoseph’s world did not move through the sword.mQa
oJZ9EXVIt was a world that discerned truth from falsehood.x9Tf
SYWnmOA world born from someone who had fought desperately to survive with a weak body.pGX
RO747d[So you will have to pay the price.]W3jh
0lkaB06“Aaaaaaaaaah!”1GIaoKU
GT0yywLIt was a world that wielded legitimacy instead of a sword.CscBJ9
358dWs“Haaaaaah!”a0ciz
lN0myxThe necromancer’s body began to be brutally crushed.7RyO8
wUdU1What oppressed him was the Swordmaster’s Rule, one of the highest laws ever created by humanity.8dX
ptHThe sin of trying to crush a young possibility.5DWz5
jradRMThe sin of trying to return death to a place where it did not belong.p3I
AaXxThe weight of those sins crushed his body.C7eAH
rivfiqB“Why?! Why only me?!”JOu0
x1rbThe necromancer, who had understood the black-and-white world, raised a finger with all his strength.PgJUj
4FWEYIt pointed directly at Joseph Bayezid.4x1ja
Xwl“You also… returned from death!”aaV
FkgVMTo challenge the black-and-white world, one had to present an objection grounded in legitimacy.jXbv5qy
llO9It was possible because Joseph manifested his world through an honorable banner rather than a sword.UdJV7GH
AW9“You are no different from me!”HDR
PifAt those words, Joseph opened the eye he had kept closed.6nU
kuMDhdA pale man beneath the light of the Black Moon.ft2B
kxDbAnd indeed, just as the necromancer said, Joseph should not exist in this world either.bywavDm
apcf[But I am different.]k47CcR
36VHowever, the necromancer had overlooked another one of his sins.B4WT8
10uvx[Because I already paid the proper price.]yUZ
pwbopqu“…What?”FSvA
XjXThe necromancer’s eyes widened.nBosTnc
XfPVDHe could not understand Joseph’s answer.5Sctifb
7RJkWithin the rules of black magic, that answer made absolutely no sense.3a9AN4x
EwbL5acAfter all, necromancers were beings who deceived death to return the dead to life.9uPAa
LZCYaUA world where the very concept of a legitimate price could not exist.RRLN
PnUjOBut Joseph was different.GFzqZv0
Cel[I put that there myself.]P9XSSdh
1ujMmJoseph’s fingers pointed toward the Black Moon hanging in the sky.syPN45z
it3pXF[Containing the souls of children, using a fragment of the Perfect Dragon as material, and together with the Swordmaster of this era.]ArxSFoK
dW98ocGA man who only became a knight at the very instant he reached death.23wZhs
1ZTA man who ran to protect children, did what he had to do where he had to do it, and ultimately offered up his life as the price.2E7C
haR22[But you do not know me.]LGKG
1ld9CYet no one believed it was he who had raised the Black Moon into the sky.IotMF1
lfwVTgtNo one in this world knew that Joseph Bayezid was the last knight of the Founding King.V1MYOj
GT2qzMi[That is why I am here now.]jJvgCpG
DmvYIt was nameless glory obtained in place of radiant fame.t3dR
ZRXXkrWhat he left behind were deeds that would never be recorded in history.Rs3pz
iAWtImrThus stood Joseph Bayezid, the noblest knight in this world, who had never let even a single honor coin fall.pTZ6
RrL9d[Now that you understand, die.]jCsKqU
kEFAt that declaration, the necromancer began to be crushed.w5KZ
2yhXEven as his eyes seemed ready to burst from their sockets and his spine bent grotesquely.dqg0
tRcM9TVYet not even under such punishment was he able to resist.7SQbQl
6KNr6“Ghk! Aaaaargh!”x4X
gqNNCtThe necromancer’s body, crushed beneath the weight of his sins, gradually flattened.iW48n
YQMYAt the same time, countless footprints began to mark his back.U9Q3sfS
36KDozens of black tears shed by those women celebrated his death.wyQ
GMH[…Yes, Vlad. That’s how it should be.]kDTi
LND2OEAfter delivering that legitimate judgment, Joseph looked up and watched the young dragon fighting fiercely in the distance.yFM2v
k0R[If it is you, then you must do it.]eLooHFK
a1gvuEBeneath the black-and-white world was a young dragon unleashed.S77H
dnNFBut despite that savage ferocity, a smile appeared on Joseph’s face.Ta7j
DAquBecause behind that dragon were the children he was trying to protect.BGoae9
RGBzz“Damn it!”cTqNZ
7pmThe situation was extremely dangerous.M081WHi
dWnhxHe had taken advantage of the element of surprise, but to maintain that momentum he needed constant speed.PGyzKZ
XQV68GHowever, now his steps had stopped.wGMzf
OSbwjf5And blocking Emil’s path was the leader of the assassins, with a dagger pressed against Renvar’s neck.AfH
88g“…If you move, this boy dies.”pnF
6CXThe leader’s expression was completely serious.scEsUjC
R2nUbAnd for good reason.f9R1Yk
B5TGfBeside him lay the necromancer’s corpse, twisted into a monstrous shape.0Yvk
Pl69“If you want to save your friend, tell that man to open a path for us.”GcT
aaNaYNeither the mission nor the money mattered anymore.MF4n
4ypyWwYNow they stood before a mysterious black-haired man and a blond boy who had grown in an impossible way.s3Pi
Hpp9DThe priority was to retreat and survive another day.FVW32BK
9N86sqThat was why the leader intended to escape using Renvar as a hostage.Jty06Od
Ajd“Fuuuh…”mv18
pHUVtBxBut Emil did not answer.R7Y
ZLV‘I don’t have much time left.’3cJFD
JaVChNo one had explained it to him.ZKTQ9
lQO68OoBut he could feel that the time he could remain in this form was running out.pBTl
BLox‘My eyes hurt too much.’jtsSf
ZSMiqWith a single honor coin, he could only reproduce Vlad at sixteen years old.6XE2z
q9nOn top of that, he was using Aura, even if only in a rudimentary manner.18Zl
wAy9The strain on his body was immense.Qo1Py
mtt“What are you waiting for?! Do you want to watch your friend die?!”Cbi
jfMJxnkReceiving no response, the leader pressed the dagger harder against Renvar’s neck.OyxdNQD
aArDjb“Ghk…”WHcL
4IhNBlood began to flow from Renvar’s neck and drip onto the ground.7OuH14
ye9QOye“E-Emil.”PSOc
kEsHe was trying to stay strong.TTrid
mGnXSIBut the fear was obvious on his face.SIjQl
yJtp1lSEven though they were not particularly close, Renvar had risked his life for the people of Soara.nZBrNB
hHLAarAnd Emil had the responsibility to protect him.b9FJrH
OnGDX“…Seizing the initiative by taking advantage of unexpected movements.”bRxls
J0XwNegotiate?i8d
6e4XNCould he save Renvar through negotiation?Abl
nRPvNo.ApgwOaW
19REmil knew perfectly well that it was impossible.RaSK
mqdc“…Controlling the battlefield through perception that is always one step ahead.”CCGseQ
ABYROnce he made his decision, white lightning began to burst from his left eye.iHZ4
4ZYZzIt was the last Aura he could squeeze out.th6c
3xJTVThe final drop of strength he had left.HLcx
6A3J4GSeeing the trail of blood running down from Emil’s left eye, the leader of the assassins began to grow nervous.bUl
RbnWL[That is the principle of One-Strike Kill.]n1k2
JsY7sThe air began to compress.YFM
FVjREverything converged toward the boy who was drawing himself inward like an arrow ready to be fired.TGyk1u
rxKg5wWhen the stretched bowstring reached its limit, Emil’s eyes snapped open.5ud
WDu“You bastard!”tsAy
7FORXccThe muscles in the leader’s hand holding the dagger moved for only an instant.KTZ
cX2v8LIt was such a tiny movement that no one should have been able to see it.awVSdR
Ct0But Emil’s dragon eyes and the borrowed world he now inhabited allowed him to.BIQ
N3JjOfZ“You killed him, you idiot!”Oa6Ws
OKi5Lz3The man’s words no longer reached his ears.9KPgCR6
47JG6Because there was a sensation that dominated the entire world.Jme
luvB93Because he was absolutely certain that he could do it.ysGJc
9Bot7Within the black-and-white world, he felt as though he were the only one capable of moving.dQw
zGkxbfEIn that fraction of a second divided into hundreds of moments, someone shouted from a world unimaginably far away.V05i
50YVU50[Now!]PAeZ
gmUlBang!EkeY
FzFpThe released bowstring violently propelled the arrow.am4vSlV
Ij96HmAs the tip of the sword born from a single point shot forward and drew a brilliant line like a bolt of lightning, the black-and-white world began to split apart.hwV6r
oJs1‘Watch carefully, Emil. This is the true principle of One-Strike Kill.’cdne
sIITThere was the path of the sword he had seen as a child.DOvE
FM5That technique his father had shown him once while speaking about the principle of One-Strike Kill.mrTGX9
eikHa5The swordsmanship he had always admired and dreamed of reaching.qOc
9eZAnd as he watched his friends running toward him with their arms spread wide, the boy finally understood that he had reached the very edge of that sword.yCXd
What did you think of this chapter?
Report comment
Please select the reason for reporting this comment. False reports may result in account suspension.
0 Comments
There are no comments yet. Be the first!