Star-Embracing Swordmaster — Chapter 47: The Dragon comes (2)

Chapter 47: The Dragon comes (2)

Kaaaaaah-!‍‌

“…..”‌‍‌

Rutiger‍‍ deeply closed his⁠ left eye as‍ he listened to the Deathworm’s roar‌‌ resonating in the⁠‌ distance.

To‌ delve deeper into⁠ himself, to invoke‍⁠⁠ a world of⁠‍ his own, more‍ solid and robust.⁠⁠‌

Rutiger’s‍‍ world turned red.⁠

A world of anger⁠‌ and passion, like‌‌ an active volcano.‍⁠

“I‌‌ suspect the shiny⁠⁠ thing on its⁠ forehead. I believe⁠⁠ it has something⁠ to do with⁠⁠ magic.”

His‍‌ own wizard spoke,‌ dragging his weary⁠‍ body downward.

Someone⁠ is controlling the‌ Deathworm.

Who‍‌‍ dares to disturb‌‌ the land of⁠ my ancestors with⁠ their tricks in‌ the land of‌ Bayezid.

“Here‌ it comes…”

Rutiger‌ closed his left‌‍ eye, awakening the‌‍ world with fury.‌⁠⁠

¡Kaaaahhhhh-!⁠

“¡Aaaaahhhhh-!”‍⁠⁠

The‍ boy’s eyes opened‌ wide with a scream.

At⁠‍‌ the same time, Rutiger’s sword slowly⁠⁠ rose.

His⁠‍‍ sword was ablaze.

***‌

“…!”

[I⁠‍ think we’re ready!]‌‍

As‍ Vlad rode through⁠‌ the moonless night,‌‌‍ leading the Deathworm,⁠ he felt another‍⁠ person’s world burning‌ fiercely in the⁠ distance.

“That…!”‍⁠

[Temporarily‌⁠ awakened world, a much better knight‌ than I thought.]‍⁠

Involuntarily,‌‌ Vlad shuddered, sensing‍ the fierce determination⁠‌ emanating from Rutiger.‍

It‌ was wilder than‍‌ any knight he had seen, and‍ it burned brighter than anything else.

“It’s‍ different!”

Rutiger’s‌ world burned crimson,⁠⁠ like an active⁠‌‍ volcano, in response‌⁠⁠ to the voice’s⁠ advice, temporarily expanding‍‌⁠ his world through‌ deep meditation.

Only a knight capable‍ of introspection to‍⁠ such depths could achieve this.

One‌ who knows who‌‌ he is.

Because⁠⁠ no one is‌‍ more rooted.

¡…!‍

And‍‍‌ the Deathworm pursuing⁠ Vlad also noticed Rutiger’s world.

There‌⁠ was no one‌‌ in this area,‍‌⁠ no matter how⁠‌‍ ignorant, who did‌‌ not recognize Rutiger’s spirit.

The Deathworm slowed down,‍ turning its head‍⁠ away.

“Damn it!”

Realizing⁠ that the Deathworm‍‌ had been distracted,‌⁠ Vlad cursed and‍⁠ raised his sword high.

But⁠‌‌ the world of‌ the young man‌‍ was still bathed in a faint‌ glow.

He‌‍⁠ couldn’t divert the‌‍‌ Deathworm’s attention from‍‍ Rutiger’s fervent spirit.‍

Nodding.⁠

“Eh?”

The⁠⁠ jet-black horse suddenly turned to look‌‍‌ at the Deathworm,‍‌ assimilating the situation.‍‍

Faced⁠⁠ with the sudden‌ turn, Vlad could⁠ only clutch his⁠⁠ mane.

[…]⁠

“Hey,‍⁠ stop!”

Vlad snorted at this‍⁠‌ incomprehensible behavior, but⁠ his voice was‍‍ just an exclamation‍ of disbelief.

Taking advantage of its‍ momentum, the horse‍ quickly swung back‌ and looked at⁠‌ the Deathworm.

Vlad couldn’t see it,⁠‍ but he could‍‍‍ hear it.

The‌‍ subtle movement of the mist approaching⁠‌ the creature’s forehead.‌‌

¡Hiiiiing-!‍

Vlad⁠ was speechless as‌⁠‌ the horse not‍‌⁠ only staggered backward⁠‍ but also swung⁠ rapidly from side‌‍ to side, taunting the Deathworm.

The‍ horse’s intentions succeeded.

The slightly glowing mist⁠ had managed to⁠⁠ confuse the Deathworm’s⁠ senses.

¡Kaaaaaah!

The‍‌ Deathworm glared at‍ Vlad on his‍ horse, who dared‌⁠‍ to provoke it.‍‌

It‍ had no eyes,‌ but it seemed‌ to have them.‌⁠

“I didn’t do this!”

Panicking⁠‍‌ as the Deathworm‌‍ lunged towards him,‌ spitting blood, Vlad’s⁠⁠ intentions had succeeded‌‌‍ nonetheless.

‘Neigh-!⁠

The‍‌‌ horse neighed with all its might,⁠ lifting its front⁠‍ hooves.

The‌‌ boy’s armor came off.

Lifting‍ the aura flowing‍‌ from the young‍ man’s world.

The‌‌ faintly glowing mist‌‌ on his forehead⁠‌⁠ began to take⁠ shape as it‌ ran.

Not‍‌⁠ only in the‍‍ world of voices‍ but also in the world of‌ reality where everyone‌⁠ could see.

A mystery, now forgotten,‌⁠‍ rose again in⁠⁠ the world’s memory.⁠

“Let’s go!”

¡Hiiiiing-!⁠

The‌⁠ Moonless Night, which‍‍⁠ had expressed so many possibilities, turned‍‍ around and ran,‌ with the Deathworm⁠ following behind it. {1}

Towards‍‌‍ the active volcano⁠⁠ burning in front‍ of me.

The‌‌ Moonless Night ran,‍ carrying a radiant child.

Here,‍⁠‌ too, was an‌‍ awakened world.

On‌ the horizon where⁠ you and I meet.

I become us.

The jet-black horse and‍ the boy completed‍‍⁠ each other more and more by‍ uniting through the other’s world.

And‌‌ a single white‍ star finally rose⁠‍ in the night‍‌‍ sky.

¡Kaaaaaah-!‌⁠‍

“Close‍⁠ the gap!”

“Boy,⁠ retreat now!”

Rutiger’s‍‌ knights, who had‍ been waiting for‌ the right moment, charged forward in‍ an instant and‍‌ began to flank⁠‌ the Deathworm.

¡Crack!⁠‌

Rutiger’s‍‍ knights from Bayezid‍ slowly closed the‍‌ gap like a stranglehold to prevent⁠‍ the Deathworm from‌ escaping.

With‍‍⁠ the help of‌‍ the knights from‍ their respective places,‍ Vlad had a moment to catch⁠ his breath.

“Lord‍ Rutiger!”

“…..Thank‌ you.”

The⁠‍ stars and the‌‍ fire met in‌ a quick flash.⁠⁠‍

The⁠‍ Deathworm, whose mouth‍‌ had opened wide‍‌ to devour the⁠ boy, was bewildered⁠ by the sudden diversion of the‌ horse from its⁠⁠ course, aided by‌‍ the knights.

The⁠⁠‍ jet-black horse and‍‌ the boy who⁠‌ had mocked it.⁠

But‌ now that they‌‌ were out of⁠ the way, the‍ Deathworm faced Rutiger.⁠‌

“It’s‌‌ my turn.”

Rutiger‍ Bayezid.

The⁠⁠ knight and firstborn of Bayezid, a flame-burning knight.

“This‌‍‌ is the land⁠‌⁠ of Bayezid.”

Rutiger’s⁠ silent fury was‌‌‍ directed at the‌⁠ one who needed‍ to be charged.⁠⁠

“It’s⁠ not for people‍ like you to⁠ dare to meddle‌⁠ with it.”

Bayezid’s red sword rose‌⁠ in the air.‍‍

Rutiger’s⁠ sword tinkled with‍‍⁠ a supernatural resonance,⁠‍ engulfing everything in its path in flames.

¡Kaaaaaah-!‌

Crimson‌‍ lava erupted from‍ the depths of his soul and shot towards this‍ world.

Without⁠ the slightest hesitation, the knight lowered‍‍⁠ his sword.

With⁠‌⁠ anger in his sword.

And‌‍⁠ the air between‌‌ Deathworm and Rutiger.‌

Everything‍‍ began to burn.⁠‍

“So,⁠ die!”

With⁠‌ Rutiger’s words, a red flash shot‍‍ out from under‍⁠ the blue sky.‌

The‍‌ silent fury pierced⁠⁠ the enormous world‍ with the controlled⁠ precision of a knight’s movements.

¡Kaaaaaah-!⁠

The‌‍ shadow of the⁠ fallen dragon split⁠‌ in half and‍ let out a pitiful cry.

The‌‌ young Deathworm’s final⁠ lament echoed in⁠ the green meadow.⁠‌⁠

The glow on the‍‌ Deathworm’s forehead slowly‌ disappeared as the‍‍ flames burned hotter‌‍ than lava.

***

“¡Eek!”‍

Vlad‍ winced in pain‍ at the fierce‍ heat on his back.

[Looks⁠‍ like he did‍‌ it.]

“…”‌⁠

The⁠ boy’s gaze as‍‍‌ he looked back.⁠

Eeeeeeeeeee-!‌‍

There‌ was a Deathworm⁠⁠ there, its torso⁠ ablaze and writhing.⁠‍

Half‌‍‍ of its body‍⁠‍ was already severed,⁠ squirming helplessly on⁠ the meadow.

Its acrid smell, carried‍‌‍ by the wind,‌‌‌ finally reached the‌⁠⁠ boy’s nostrils.

“How is he able⁠‍ to… do this?”

Vlad‍ asked the voice,‍‌ chilled.

He had always dreamed⁠ of the world‍ of knights.

But‌ what lay before‍ him was larger‌‌ and more overwhelming⁠ than he had‌ ever imagined.

Could⁠ the Knight of‌‌ the Blue Moon‍⁠ do it too?⁠‌

Like‍ the knight who‌⁠ incinerated the Deathworm⁠⁠⁠ as a wall?‍

Is‍⁠‌ this the true⁠⁠ world of knights?‍⁠

[If⁠ his world is‍⁠ so solid that‍ nothing can shake it.]

Lost‌‌ in thought, the‍‍ boy watched the⁠ spectacle that defied⁠‍‍ common sense. The⁠ world of knights‍‍ was like a mountain that could⁠‌‍ be climbed but⁠ seemed to have no end.

The⁠‌ boy was fully‌⁠ aware that he⁠ was barely at‍ the starting line.‌‌

Rutiger‌ knelt on one‍ knee, his sword‍‌ thrust into the‌⁠ scorched earth.

The‌‍‌ sword of Bayezid‍ smiled at the‍ boy.

***‌‌⁠

“Welcome.”

“…”⁠

The‌⁠ vision has ended.‌

It’s⁠ time to return‌ to reality.

Following‍‍‌ the horse’s guidance,‍‍ Vlad stumbled forward‌ and jumped off the horse’s back.⁠‌

“Are⁠‍ you okay?”

“I’m fine… A cold‌‍ beer would be‍ nice.”

Rutiger‌⁠‍ struggled to stand‍ on the scorching‍‌ ground, leaning heavily‌‍ on his sword.‌⁠‌

“Ouch.”‌

But‍ his strength seemed‌ to fail him,‌ and he fell‍ backward to the‍‍ ground.

The price of temporarily⁠ awakening the world‍ was taking its‍ toll.

“…Can’t you get up?”‍‍

“I feel like I’m‌⁠ also going to⁠ die.”

The‍ corpse of the‍ Deathworm still twitched⁠ intermittently.

Faced‍‌ with the enormity,‌ Vlad sank to the ground.

Feeling⁠ the warmth in‍⁠ his backside, Vlad‍‍ stood up again.

This⁠⁠ is not what‌ I came here‌‍ for on vacation.‌

“You’re‌ a good rider.”‌‍

“I‍‍ wasn’t the problem.”

Rutiger‍‌ could only laugh‍⁠‌ at the boy’s⁠‍ cheeky response.

Gradually,‌ the knights who‌ had been driving‌ the Deathworm to⁠‌ help Vlad escape‍ began to gather⁠ around Rutiger.

“Not‍ bad for a kid.”

“Yeah,⁠‍ not bad.”

“Well‍ done, kid.”

Bayezid’s‌⁠‌ knights passed by⁠ the boy, patting‍ him on the⁠ back and tousling‍ his hair.

“…”‌‍

Vlad⁠‌ felt something he‌ hadn’t felt in⁠⁠ a long time‌ as he saw‍ the knights display‍‍⁠ their unabashed camaraderie with him.

If⁠‍ you can smile in the most‌ dangerous of places,⁠⁠ it’s because of‍‌ the warmth people‍⁠ create.

Even in the alleys.‍

And‌‌ in front of the flaming corpse‌‍‌ of the Deathworm.‍

The‍‌‌ boys and knights‌‌‌ who faced the‌⁠ mighty Deathworm today‌ were comrades in arms.

“Lord‍ Rutiger, are you‌⁠ okay?”

Another⁠ knight came running⁠⁠⁠ with the sound‌‍⁠ of a squeaky⁠ wheel.

The‍ knights who had‌⁠ been guarding the‌⁠ pilgrims in front‍‌ of me realized that the situation‌‍‌ was over and⁠‌ led the priests⁠⁠⁠ to Rutiger.

“…Ahh.”⁠⁠‌

Vlad‌ smiled as he⁠‌ saw them carry⁠‌ the priest Andreas‍ on the dalguzi.‍⁠ {2}

That⁠ was the world‍ he had protected.‍⁠

“Vlad?”‍⁠

Andreas,‍⁠ pale and nauseous,⁠ recognized Vlad and‌⁠ looked at him with a kind‌‌‌ gaze.

“Yes. Father.”

Vlad‍‌ stood up, gripping‌⁠‍ his wobbly thighs,‍‍‌ and approached Andreas.‌

The‌ boy’s unsteady movements‌‍ were enough to‍⁠ pity the terrified‌‌ priests.

Andreas‌‍‌ welcomed the boy‍ with open arms⁠‍ as he approached,‍‍ looking weak.

“Well‍ done… Thank you.”‍

From⁠ a distance, he‌‌ couldn’t see the⁠‍‌ details, but the‌‌ small scars on⁠⁠⁠ Vlad’s face said⁠ it all.

That‌⁠‌ the boy had‌ done his best.⁠

“Come‍ here. Vlad Of⁠⁠‍ Soara.”

Vlad‌⁠ closed his eyes‌ as he embraced⁠ the priest who‍ opened his arms⁠⁠ to him.

He‍ felt his body‍‌ as warm as‌‌ the sun on‍⁠ the day he‍ had given his name before the⁠⁠ gods.

“God.‌ Have mercy on the boy who⁠‌ has received your‌ will here today,⁠‍ for he has‌ done it willingly…”‌

Vlad‍ breathed a sigh of relief as‌⁠⁠ he listened to⁠⁠ Andreas recite the‍ prayer.

He‌ couldn’t help but‌‌ smile.

The⁠⁠ boy was once⁠ something fragile.

But‍ today, by his⁠⁠ own decision, he‍ protected Andreas.

The⁠ boy who protected the only root forming his world‍‍ deserved to be‍‌ comforted.

Because he had fought‍ for this moment.⁠

The knights closed their‌‌ eyes, listening to⁠ the priests’ prayers‌ silently resonate over‌‌ the green meadows.⁠

***⁠

Sturma‍ at dusk.

Ragmus⁠ spoke to Fether,⁠⁠ who gazed out‍⁠ the window at‍ the rear of‌‍ the Bayezid mansion.‌‌

“Count.‌ A message from‍‍ Dorothea, sent through the crystal sphere.”

Fether⁠‌ took the note‍‌ from Ragmus with⁠ an impassive expression and began to‌ read.

His‍ jet-black eyebrows began‌ to furrow.

“The⁠ land…”

The‌‌ words on the⁠ small piece of⁠⁠ paper.

The⁠‍ words were scrawled⁠ with ominous news.‌

“Dark⁠ magic again?”

“It‍ seems to have⁠‍ taken root in‍⁠ the north.”

At Ragmus’s words, Fether‍ turned his head‌ and saw the⁠ red sun through‍ the city walls.‍‌

Sturma.‌‍‌

A city built on⁠⁠ the blood of the Bayezid.

The⁠ walls surrounding the city are the⁠ family’s history.

“As‍⁠ the empire crumbles, the cursed old‍⁠ ones crawl in.”‍

“…”

Ragmus‍‍ said nothing in‍⁠ response to Fether’s⁠‍ lament.

Time‌‌‌ passes, and times⁠⁠ change.

And‌‌ Fether Bayezid presided⁠‍⁠ over a house‌ during perhaps the most turbulent time‍‍‌ in the family’s‍‌ history.

“But‍‌‍ there is comforting‍‍ news, isn’t there?”⁠

“Yes.‌ The squire.”

Fether⁠ remembered the name‍⁠‌ in the last‍ sentence of the‍ note.

Vlad,⁠‍ the squire brought‍‍‌ by his own⁠⁠⁠ son.

“Lately,⁠‌⁠ I hear his‌‌ name a lot.”‌

“That’s‍‌⁠ because exceptional children‌‍‌ tend to show‍ up wherever they‍‌ are.”

The⁠‍ squire had caught⁠‍‌ his attention, even⁠ in his clash‌‍‍ with the other‍ squires.

From‌⁠‌ the monster slaying‌‍ last winter to‌ the work with‌‍⁠ the pilgrims now, Bayezid would have‍⁠ struggled without him.⁠⁠

He‌ was a peculiar boy.

“You⁠‍ get what you deserve.”

With these words, Fether rang the bell‍‍ on his desk.‌

The‌‍‍ silver bell rang⁠‍‍ clear and loud,‌⁠⁠ resonating outside the‌⁠ Oval Office.

“You⁠ called for me,‌‍ Count?”

“Bring Joseph.”

“Yes,‌‌ sir.”

The‍‌‌ butler, upon hearing⁠‍ the order, exited‍ the office.

“Are‌ you sure he‌ has permission?”

“Because‍ you deserve it.”‌‌

Deep‌‌‌ down, he wanted⁠ to pat him on the back,‌ but the eccentric‌‍‌ squire belonged to⁠‍ Joseph.

Any‌ sponsorship or reward‌‍‍ would have to⁠ come through him.‌

The‌ blond boy’s talent‍ belonged to Joseph.⁠

“…”⁠‌

Fether’s gaze once again⁠⁠ landed on the‍ city walls beyond⁠ the window.

The‍ Sturma walls were‍ bathed in a reddish twilight.

Forged‌ with blood, the‍ walls had never‍ faltered.

Just‌‌ like Fether, who⁠‌‍ now stood tall.Translator’s⁠ notes:(1): The truth‌‌‍ is a bit‌⁠ confusing to understand⁠ since they use‌‌ the word “World” a lot to‍⁠ represent various things,‍‍ but I’ll try‍ to make it‍‌‌ distinct and comprehensible.

(2):‌‌‍ This is not explained well; I don’t know if‌ it’s a Horse,‍ Wyvern, or something‍ else. For now,‌⁠‍ I’ll leave it‍ as is. Later,‍ when it’s explained,⁠‍ I’ll make the⁠ change.