Chapter 306: Side Story – The Young Dragons in Search of a Place to Go (3)
Hlk5WIt was already late afternoon in the city of Nassau.yYPCjE
NVqUqInside the governor’s office, a man standing by the window scraped the surface of an old coin between his fingers with his fingernail.j0VjyAu
nfJnWGIts silver gleam shone beneath the setting sun.Pu8
AQKAfter verifying the Retired Knight’s identity through that coin, the governor of Nassau slowly nodded.8cYnl
ScTsKfk“You made the right decision. I mean sneaking into Nassau instead of coming directly to see me.”fl3z9H
lf4A1vApparently, the light streaming in through the window was too bright for the Retired Knight.oqo
W06EIqIt was hardly surprising.CN3W
R2V4UxaAfter all, he had just come out of a jail cell.G7P
5CQo“And what good did it do? In the end, it was all for nothing.”6t95o7
XZ0pN0TAs he raised a hand to shield himself from the evening sunlight, the mustached man let out a deep sigh, as though everything had gone wrong.NgAiu
lca5p43He had entered Nassau incognito, even paying a bribe.2fN8
6Sath8Then he shot Emil a sidelong glance.Yn5ThM
kEX“…Yesterday, you were the one who said that anything that could be settled on the spot should be settled right there.”rxNPuNi
dRYThat brat simply didn’t know when to keep his mouth shut.8gIVKGW
9DK8Cg1Perhaps because he was a child, Emil had an incredible talent for throwing the man’s own words back at him.pC3WC6
f4UmThe mustached man could no longer hold back his anger.kN6opIM
trjeP“Hey! Do you really think that’s what I meant?!”iy1E1M
ry7nqHe had met every kind of child throughout his life.CfsN
82smyiYInsolent children.JZYoIs
jFF8Troublemakers.77z
vV2bBH2Rebellious children.Khzq
fM8x2DUHe had seen them all.Mfd
4iK9qVZBut he swore this was the first time he had encountered one who possessed all of those qualities at once.6TwG
qFI“I told you to stay put! And how many people did you end up killing?! Three?! Four?!”uU5
MbdRThey had only been apart for half a day.GweayBR
SnhHe had even given Emil money for potato stew specifically so he would stay quietly at the inn.haZ7
ocVAnd what did he find when he came back?zM9dqx
Qa9A pile of corpses.apnFs
GqzmSThe boy covered in blood from head to toe.le1PV5q
aqqbAnd then that whole speech about…DiJ
fevcaA fair payment?iCuPhP
GmtHBg“In my entire life, this is the first time I’ve seen someone kill people and then use it to win over a girl! Is everyone from the North like this?!”DCGjf
NvIch“…I wasn’t trying to win her over.”oKQK
BAVEmil puffed out his cheeks slightly.xoH6
MrWR9D“I only gave it to her because I was grateful.”nIo
xCP08RHe had simply wanted to do it.1r3
esbBsHe was also grateful for the barley bread she had given him.05HmCvA
jtbw6x“All right, all right. Calm down, both of you.”0HT
ZCx9SThe governor of Nassau let out a hearty laugh as he watched them continue arguing.6kC
ebn“Seeing you like this brings back a lot of memories.”JWR
Ky0gA Retired Knight and a blue-eyed boy.nD96hg
bmiThey weren’t exactly the same, but long ago he had seen a very similar pair.mA3fk
QA6kN0“The young master’s father and Sir Auguste used to argue just like this.”cwkKa4h
JsXeX6qThe man’s orange hair glowed beneath the sunlight.OuRy
A6TcslHe was Stephan, the current governor of Nassau and the former captain of the Thorn Mercenary Company.zwzf1v
2ZKNeDWatching them bicker exactly like those two had done years ago, he smiled nostalgically.3wBMhzP
etw“In any case, your journey to Trinova has been exposed. There’s no guarantee there aren’t spies from the center here.”MTs
xHRFSince the magical telegraph was still out of service, Stephan had been unable to learn all the details of what had happened.tjhj
5Q69However, the refugees who continued arriving had confirmed the story with their own testimony.JWO
uzSfu“I’ll prepare a ship. Young Master, you must leave immediately.”4qT1b9
mIm6CStephan also agreed that Emil should be sent to Trinova.IDi
OEQKkHe did not know the exact situation in the North, but he had received reports of suspicious movements along the road to Deirmar.fiA
WDg3“For now, the best thing is to get you somewhere safe. I’ll handle contacting…”V0kG
shXOMJl“What about the compass?”qOCfB8
bW0asThe Emperor.MxB5
O4lThe Dragon Slayer Knights.0Vl
GDoJ7DbThe enemy was far too powerful for a child to confront.aEpCsp
CNfiThat was why Stephan’s only concern was getting Emil out of there as quickly as possible.ZbBy
MFdyK8MBut the boy’s attention was focused on something else.ra9KA
0Uw0Zhz“What did the priests say? That object is really dangerous.”MxW3Gd
FcPfEmil remembered the fog-covered northern prairie.UGwUF3
pXOHe remembered the old knight weeping black tears, unable to die.K5W3Z
wcRxgh8And he remembered that sinister compass.wHkms
hdk“It was something the necromancers used. They said it was meant to lure the Deathworm.”lR5Up
QxUQx3He also remembered the gigantic dragon he had seen above the ruined Sturma.tdJ67i
BP7Beneath that creature, he had lost people who were very important to him.F18uc
EXfpkRamund.yeps
OFgBPortly Kannor.fzh
j9xTelsa.MQTKmJ
RXLlxkFEach of those names had been engraved as a deep wound in the boy’s heart.cGP6
jz03m“Maybe I can help. So…”AIO1Y
UiKts“Young Master.”6bQ
UfiSPQHe had lived through all those tragedies.ivx9g
ChkDbRMAnd precisely because of that, he was willing to do whatever it took.A1p
T2sixAGBut Stephan remained firm.Unu
Onim7V5“Leave this to us and get out of here as quickly as possible.”Oz2fRy
8YoStephan’s unwavering eyes looked directly at Emil.GfEf
Utxa5“Even if you don’t trust us, we have no other choice.”1wOSE
275pThe child insisted that he could do it.XyPyXLm
ZfdIThe adult answered that this was as far as the child would go.bBgXR1
0fSGEmil looked at Stephan resentfully.dIExKO
pgEfBut Stephan had more than enough reason to stop him.0tZzAf
HMSz“…The priests examined the object throughout the entire night. There wasn’t enough time to complete a perfect analysis, but you were right. The items found in the warehouse really were meant to lure a Deathworm.”HwKvU6
CDqMWhen he heard that his suspicions had been correct, Emil clenched his fist.CVk
UnnHowever, what he heard next left him completely frozen.Ai84z
O47C6B“I’m not talking about the compass. There was something else.”3l8
2JIMLjThe pirates from the Southern Archipelago had stolen the necromancer’s artifacts and were fleeing with them.NrMVbmA
p93If everything had gone according to plan, they would have marked the final point to lure the Deathworm toward Soara.VrUTQ3
nTovCmBut the necromancer leading the operation had died while trying to hunt the Retired Knight.62c
ezBPAnd there was one item that the necromancer had guarded with particular care.Yzx
czCxU1L“…Inside the warehouse you attacked, there was a Deathworm hatchling.”ExU2SD
UsUxff2In the deepest part of the warehouse stood a sealed chest.GAFM
GKNA coffer protected by an extraordinarily powerful curse.0Hc
sIkQInside it writhed a tiny Deathworm hatchling that had not even been weaned from its mother.tVMd7cF
g33i“It seems they didn’t even know what they were transporting. They only intended to sell it for an enormous amount of money.”ijG
nxOAOWhy had the Deathworm gone mad?Kp1
tVFdZWhy had it destroyed Sturma?UCMfLR
JFfYWhat was it desperately searching for?a6MHry
vR45CBIts hatchling.jDH
dulIt was searching for its little hatchling, trapped beneath that curse and writhing in pain.Ttj1wX6
n3XGKS“T-Then… what if I’m the one who carries the hatchling? After all, I’m a dragon too. That way, the mother will definitely follow me.”Kyy4
mjwUpon learning that there was a Deathworm hatchling, Emil was completely shaken.odzkpk
pnRj6oUntil that moment, the Deathworm had been nothing more than the object of his resentment.jTdZpgY
5bcaL81He had never imagined such a reality.LZiP0y
0im46“Let’s take it as far away from any city as possible. While I keep running, we can find a way to break the curse…”ywJ
jFPt“That’s exactly why we can’t allow it.”6EN
lc9The aimless anger inside the boy began to boil once more.AXVGjVF
oFZ0TjEven so, he forced himself to stay calm.j2x
0mmBut Stephan had already made his decision.o1EIx
8ZuK“According to the priests, it’s a curse far beyond anything they can break.”cUbBWi8
jkimStephan’s eyes remained fixed on Emil.Q8TZI
kpOsfQN“And everything indicates that the curse’s true target is a young dragon.”gri2V
avh5WT0The curse could be transferred.boD
cdj4wThat was what the priests claimed.f2y
huO2qB5No one had asked them about it.4c6AM6
7UGk0f2Even so, they had made that clarification because they knew perfectly well that Emil was in the city.lhSe
FIBZ1xp“But…!”HKGgQF
FKh0R5p“Young Master. As the governor of Nassau, I order you.”Gd5Rbh
vTEAcChildren always strive for the best possible outcome.0YtDhuw
XJYkgb3Because they sincerely believe they can achieve it.OyQ2y5f
qY2pOBut Stephan, as an adult, could not share that way of thinking.CXmjG2Y
VsiEULl“Emil Aureo will depart for Trinova as soon as the ship is ready.”h0fZC
p8CAdults do not pursue the best outcome.QCG9WW
iweCbzBecause they already tried once.SnAj
aYeHAnd they know better than anyone how far away that ideal is and how difficult it is to achieve.cmUhdEi
qwk0D“In the worst-case scenario, I must at least make sure the Young Master survives.”Z0QNJ
S4g6N3AThat is why adults choose the second-best option.SZ9wu
WJ6Vg9OBecause only those who have realized that not everyone can be happy truly become adults.59tVFCq
rXgEzZ“…”q3R
XKYTqxiStephan’s finger pointed toward the door.X3IE9
IrmqRGFaced with that cold order to leave, Emil had no choice but to lower his head helplessly.g6bvgR
OUx***rjmJlM
jGj31It was the inn near the harbor once again.qEoNB
ZJqWcPWhen the freckled girl saw Emil return, she greeted him with a bright smile, but he did not respond.oHk
hsHGqX“This doesn’t make any sense! We haven’t even tried!”pNWLz
YGXThe moment he entered the room, Emil began stomping on the floor in frustration.c9bRwQG
v9zZB2Seeing him like that, the mustached knight answered coldly.OrShK
E8ThsZw“There’s no need to try. There’s no reason to put you in danger.”6B0FDu
LVXBzVbEmil wanted to protect Nassau.Zwjj
p4i49mHe did not want to witness another city fall.mkSh6
0MJjpThe desperate screams of Sturma still echoed vividly in his ears.Ycjb
PYJIMML“I’m telling you, the curse won’t affect me!”ZKPkCFC
o4Ti“Are you seriously bringing up that ridiculous ghost story again?”m9NqM
N18He had spent the entire night listening to the story about the fog-covered prairie.FOA8TrW
Ww1The story of the black-haired man and the moonlight.vZG
WbPBut the mustached man did not believe a single word of it.OAn
kyVGzLAnd even if he did, he had no intention of putting Emil at risk.sp21sg
Wrs1SO“Let someone else take the hatchling out. They can even carry it to the center and abandon it there.”btqf
3oV“And what if the mother doesn’t follow it?”vmewKNO
abz“Then a city will be destroyed.”QH9
az3YEaThe matter-of-fact way he answered left Emil speechless.dBz
RRf0xF“So what if a city is destroyed? People may die. It’s regrettable, but that’s how things are.”102
u5oHe was a man well versed in the calculations of adults.xuDv
USQgxCHe knew exactly what had to be sacrificed and what had to be protected.OWodrJ8
OEv“A destroyed city can be rebuilt. The people who die? It’s tragic, but that will be their fate.”YduTdhV
I6tdWhat is valuable always comes before what is insignificant.Luca5W
zqWdWhat cannot be replaced is always supported by those who can.Dz6j
RBOLZThat was how the world worked.ZTp5bJZ
Gkl1C“But you’re different. Because you’re the Swordmaster’s son.”FgO0Nas
1r29rfDBut.AvIak
agoWho decided that one thing was more important than another?RetMj
KuspWho decided who was worth more than everyone else?tY1
zBdly4p“The Swordmaster is the only card capable of turning this situation around! And what happens if you do something reckless here and the Emperor ends up capturing you?! All you’ll do is put a leash around your father’s neck!”XQY9
59vTeFaThe man’s words were completely rational.2PIpcK
939daBut standing before him was no longer Emil Aureo.AVkHQQ
DDXWOwLAll he saw was the Swordmaster’s son.WA060nx
wsYLaBl“So stop acting like a spoiled child, and let’s go to Trinova!”2tX
rie“I don’t want to!”EY9hy3y
zBhKnYBang!KNmyrR
xJvqxhThe wooden floor beneath his foot shattered into pieces.C1F
4CKIn an instant, the entire room fell silent.S0E1G
bw9KL29“I can do it!”7Dsz9o
JtFiBang! Bang!vp0
vNaA blue radiance began to burn in Emil’s eyes.mijSRDL
7fUIt was his anger toward those who refused to see him for who he truly was.irNL
sJl“My father isn’t here! I’m the only one here! So I have to do it!”5aUKsDJ
h1FThis was not the simple tantrum of a child.Puph
yeBT9It was the determination of someone who genuinely believed he could succeed.ri8Q
iN7J“I’m telling you I can do it! I’ve already done it once! Can’t you trust me?!”O55m
nocu6R“…”cG8f
226WGRIt was a heartbreaking sincerity.6TiVN83
BepB2The desire to stop being nothing more than a bystander.JnyeDJ
M5xO0IThe conviction that he could do it.PGV2bq
njLZAs he looked into those eyes, the man found himself speechless.aMbWns
lKW4zs“Can you really do it?”F9D
LDXGmmtThe world judges people by its own standards.uovd1
pPfsHVrIt doesn’t matter how much they say they want to do something.hl4G
aRYIt doesn’t matter how desperately they ask for a chance.0yWRIa1
uWo5XIn the end, it always draws a line and blocks their path.Iwd
uMSr0“Can you really do it?”Ct3NNmu
7y5SvZFaced with the man’s serious question, Emil nodded firmly.ROfoeqQ
gc4X3“Very well. Then tell me.”ao0t
c1kYgyiHe had once been the same.0E2wK
ZJutyHe had imposed his own standards.MIOscQ
leJuHe had decided that others were incapable.b720
yqVzAt the time, he believed it had been the right decision.JB10N3c
wSFspBut now, after all these years, he understood something else.5WJTG
Su8RhkQ“If you say you can do it, then you should be able to say your name with pride.”iG0
JChqHe understood that back then, he should not have given up so easily.kjF
nDNBHe should have given those willing to try a chance.Jd5VR
RCCHl“So tell me your name, boy.”H6wNNn
XoqThese were words he had never been able to say during the Honor Duel of Deirmar.Q5LAAXf
BSaviWords he had always wanted to say someday.dRavp
oFuHis lips trembled slightly as he spoke them.fzdz4jt
cHs03H“Emil.”Wozci
icEytXThe man asked him to say his name.a28gQ
BG04ljHe had been unable to do so before.Mmnxqx0
8dMUrGBut this time, he decided to give the boy who claimed he could succeed a chance.GZ6ix6
M3AA“Emil Aureo.”pvcHG
WXapWhat would that road he had never taken have been like?uQCMoI
CEWDDOeHe had always wondered.KHNGiU
kvffFor years, he imagined what it would have been like to choose honor instead of obedience.nNTwS
kYHWWhAnd now, after such a long detour, someone was reaching out a hand to him.TxpB4G
gy2kTqK[It’s been a long time.]2PpWrR
XnYzSomeone had appeared behind the boy who had just spoken his name.3UmTTiL
6qKCA dark shadow, like a veil, covered the room.kkDxRn
U20bLKWhen that darkness faded away, it revealed a face the man had known for a very long time.S5yzSd
3mEUHm[This is the first time we’ve met since Deirmar, Sir Zuber of Shazad.]qhZqoNt
odiPThe black moonlight began streaming through the window, now wrapped in the night.gZhv
HttRiding upon that light, a man returned.M9Yu
IE3dHis name was Joseph Bayezid.Do84Zuz
8UghLOxAs Zuber stood frozen in complete astonishment, the Knight of the Black Moon held out a shining silver coin to him.S0vTC
mUprh7It was a genuine silver coin that could only be received by knights who walked the path of honor.V9s
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