Star-Embracing Swordmaster — Chapter 59: Town of Niebla (1)

Chapter 59: Town of Niebla (1)

Her‍ long hair began‌ as blue but⁠‌ ended up black.⁠‌‍

Her⁠ walk was smoother‍ than anyone’s, but‍‍⁠ she never touched⁠‌⁠ the ground.

The‍‍ tightly closed heart⁠‍‌ was so cold⁠‌ that no one‍ could embrace it‌‌ anymore.

She‍ arrived with death.‍‍‍

“Can‍ I really save‍⁠ my son this‍‍ way?”

“Of course, my lord.”‍

An‌ exhausted man, a weeping woman.

And‌ a dying child.‌

Everything‌⁠‌ around the man‍ was tainted with‌⁠ despair.

He was trapped in‍ the deepest darkness.‍‌

“I⁠ will. Please.”

“I⁠‍ am ready, my⁠‌ lord.”

Desperation⁠ comes like an accident and devours⁠ our lives.

It‍ even chooses the‍ brightest parts.

Baron‌ Utman used to‌‌ be a rational person, but despair‌‌ was devouring his⁠ brilliant mind.

The agony of his⁠ only fading son‍⁠ and the painful⁠‌‌ wails of his‌‌‌ wife had made‌ him so.

“Don’t‍ torture yourself so much.”

Baron‍‍ Utman looked at‌⁠ the woman before‍⁠ him with moist‌ eyes.

Although⁠ she was pale,‍⁠⁠ the woman looked‍‍ at him with‍⁠ a warmer smile⁠‍ than anyone.

“People‌ like me exist because God cannot⁠ look everywhere.”

The desperate man hoped⁠‌ for salvation, but‍‌ in the end,‍ God’s hand did‍‍⁠ not reach him.‍‌

Only‌⁠ the woman who⁠‌‍ had come with death was smiling.‌‍

Strong⁠‍ wind and rain‍‍ battered the mansion‌ windows.

***⁠‍

Raindrops⁠‌ fell with the‍‌ strong wind.

The group, traversing the‍‌ crest of a mountain with no place to hide from the rain,‌ received the rain‍⁠ falling on their‍‌ bodies.

“…The‍‍ clouds are unusual.”‌⁠‌

Although‌ Gregory was right‍ to say that,‌⁠ it was still⁠‍ daytime, yet rain‌‍⁠ clouds darkened the⁠ sky, making it⁠ as dark as⁠‍⁠ night.

It⁠ was madness to⁠‍ continue forward through this rain and⁠ darkness.

“Cade!”‍‍

“Let’s⁠ go there!”

Despite‌ the wind and‌⁠ rain, Cade, with⁠ sharp eyesight, managed‌⁠ to spot a tree in the distance.

Although the tree had‍‌ strangely pale leaves⁠ for summer, it‌ seemed better than‌ facing the rain‍ hopelessly.

“What⁠ if we get struck by lightning?”‍‍

“Even⁠⁠‌ if it happens,‌ we have to‍‌ move now.”

Although‍ Gregory expressed his‍ concern, they couldn’t‌ stand still here‍ and be beaten⁠ by the rain.

Due‌‍‌ to the unusual‍⁠ weather, the group‍ was forced to‍ stop and set⁠‍ up camp.

“This⁠ weather is crazy.”‌‍

After⁠ enduring the rain‍ and wind, the‌ group arrived unscathed‌ under a tree‍ and quickly shook⁠‌ the moisture off‌ their bodies before⁠⁠ starting to tie‍ up their nearby⁠ horses.

Swooosh-⁠⁠‍

The‍ rain clouds surrounding‌⁠ the area began⁠ to throw thick‍ raindrops like choppy‍ waves, obscuring the‍‌⁠ sky and providing⁠⁠ enough cover to⁠ shield themselves from⁠⁠ the rain.

Seeing⁠ that, Gregory breathed⁠ a sigh of‍‍ relief.

“It’s⁠‍ good I brought⁠ a carriage.”

It⁠‌ wasn’t necessary to‍ bring it, but⁠ there was someone⁠ in the group who needed a carriage.

Thinking‍⁠‍ about this mission,‍‍ he worried it‍⁠‌ would be a burden hard to⁠‍ handle, but now it was actually‌⁠ becoming a great‍ help to the group.

“Are‌⁠ we preparing to⁠‍ camp?”

“Sure.”‌

Goethe,⁠⁠ who also accompanied‍ the mission as the coachman, began‍‌‌ to move diligently‍⁠ and set up⁠⁠ the carriage’s camping‌ equipment.

Using the carriage’s roof⁠‍ as a pillar, they attached an‍ oil-soaked cloth to‍ a rope and⁠ staked it to‍⁠‌ the ground. In‌⁠ no time, a decent-looking tent was⁠ erected.

The⁠⁠ tent was enough‍ to block the‌ raindrops still falling‌‍ around them.

“It’s⁠ a pity. We‍ were close to‍ our destination.”

Vlad, helping to hang‍⁠‍ the tarp, looked⁠ longingly at the⁠ distant light while‌‌‌ clicking his tongue,‌‌⁠ as if it were only illuminating‌ the darkness.

There‍ were traces of‌⁠ humans there, shining⁠ dimly like torches‌ shining alone in the darkness.

“Life‌ doesn’t always go‌ as planned.”

Although⁠⁠ the plan to⁠ reach the village‍ today had failed,‌⁠‍ Gregory still wanted to stick to‍ his plan to⁠⁠ drink. He opened‍⁠‍ a small bottle‌ of liquor he‍⁠ had in his‌‍⁠ coat and began to drink.

“It’s⁠ a bit cold.⁠ The weather isn’t‍‍ helping.”

“…”⁠

What‍‌ could a simple⁠ group member say⁠‌ when the leader‍‍⁠ was drinking?

Vlad‍ nodded and decided⁠ to prepare for‍ the final camp‌‍‌ preparations.

“I’ll‌‌‌ gather some branches.”‌

“It won’t burn well‍⁠ because it’s wet.”

“Even‌⁠‍ if they’re wet,‍ we should give⁠ it a try.”‍‌

Goethe‌ is building a temporary camp by‍‍‍ setting up another‌‌ tent on the‍‌ other side of‌‌ the carriage, and⁠ Cade is looking‍‍⁠ around for anything‌‌‍ suspicious.

Meanwhile,⁠⁠ Vlad, who couldn’t‍ just stand there and drink, was⁠‌ preparing a fire‍‌‍ with the branches⁠ he had gathered‌‍ and getting ready to make a bonfire.

“These‍ will do. It’s‌ dry inside.”

“Thanks.”⁠⁠

Cade⁠⁠ suddenly approached Vlad,‍ who was searching⁠‍ nearby in the‌‍ rain, and began to help with‍‌ the work.

It⁠‌ seemed like the knight was helping‍ out a squire,⁠‍⁠ but Cade didn’t‌‌ seem to mind‌‌ much.

“I⁠ haven’t had a chance to say⁠⁠⁠ anything since I got here. I’m‍‌ grateful for that⁠⁠ moment.”

“…I⁠ was just doing⁠‌‌ my job. Don’t‌⁠ worry too much.”

Although⁠ Vlad and Cade⁠ had never formally‍ met in person, they knew each‌⁠ other.

This was because the‌‌ two were in the same place⁠‍ when they defeated‌‌ the monsters they⁠‍ had recruited in‍‍ Varna last winter.‌

“Are‌ you feeling better⁠⁠ now?”

“It⁠ would have been better if we⁠ got cut somewhere.”⁠‌

Cade‍‌ responded to Vlad‍ with an awkward‍‍ smile.

A woman shedding black‍‌ tears searching for⁠‍‍ her son.

The‌‍ two knights who⁠⁠ had remained in⁠ the garrison to‍ protect Joseph during‍‍ Jager’s absence were‍⁠‌ in danger of‌⁠‌ death due to‌‍ the attack.

If⁠‍ the boy hadn’t borrowed the world⁠ of the voice back then, Cade⁠‌ wouldn’t be where‌‍⁠ he is today.⁠⁠

“Now⁠‌ that I see‌ it, I selected‌‍ the people well.‍‍⁠ There are many‍ kinds who are⁠⁠‍ knights and don’t⁠ do this kind of thing.”

Gregory⁠ tilted the bottle‍‌‍ as he watched⁠‌ the men move‌ naturally, looking for‌⁠ something to do‍ even though they⁠ hadn’t been given an order.

“Let’s‍ keep it that‌‌‍ way. From now on, we won’t‍ be knights but‍ mercenaries.”

Everyone‍ in the group‌ nodded at Gregory’s⁠⁠ words.

It⁠ was that kind⁠‍ of mission.

The⁠‍‍ mission is to‍ sneak in and‌⁠ look inside the⁠ village instead of‌⁠‍ showing off with pride.

If‌ the village the‍ group wanted to‌‍ go to was within the county‍‌ of Bayezid, they‍‍ would have immediately⁠⁠ mobilized soldiers to‍ investigate, but it⁠ was a village⁠ owned by the⁠⁠ Baron Utman family.‍‍

For‍⁠ Joseph, who had discovered its whereabouts⁠ but didn’t have‍⁠‍ solid evidence, this was the best‌⁠ he could provide.⁠

The⁠⁠ group began to‍‍ camp with their‌‌⁠ destination ahead of⁠⁠ them and decided‌‌ to conserve their‌ strength for tomorrow.‌

The‌‍ sound of the‌ strong wind blowing‌ and the sound⁠‌ of the rain‌‌ hitting the tent.‌‌

Vlad⁠ wrapped himself in⁠‌ his cloak as‌‌ he watched the‍ barely lit campfire.‌⁠‌

“Why‍⁠ are you smiling‌ so eagerly?”

“It’s not a big‍ deal.”

“Tsk,⁠ it’s soft.”

Vlad‌‌ remarked without reason‌‌ as he lay‌‍ comfortably with his‍‍ cloak covering him.‍‍

He‌ thought that if‍ Oksana saw this⁠‍ now, she would‌ be proud.

The‍‍ day that seemed⁠‍ like night passed.⁠

Vlad,‌‌ who didn’t know‌ she wasn’t his‌ mother but understood⁠ clearly the affection‌‌‌ she gave him,‍ lay down in the warmth of⁠ the campfire.

I hope the sad screams I heard‌ that winter day‌‌⁠ aren’t here.

***‍‌‌

A town built with‍ gray stones.

A dense fog rose‍ from a village⁠ that had been‌⁠‍ swept by rain.‍⁠‍

Gregory clicked his tongue as he looked⁠ at the thick⁠⁠ fog that obscured⁠ his vision.

“Looks‌‌‌ like something’s about⁠ to happen.”

“…”⁠

The⁠ group, aware that there might be‍ people involved in‍ black magic hidden here, simply rode‌‍ cautiously along the‌ road.

Is⁠ it because it’s‌⁠ still early or⁠ because the weather‍‌ isn’t good?

Although‌⁠⁠ they ventured quite⁠‍⁠ far into the village, there were‍⁠ no people walking‍ around, making the‍ city’s atmosphere increasingly⁠⁠‌ gloomy.

“There’s⁠ an inn ahead.”‍

“That’s‌ good to hear.”⁠‌

Perhaps⁠⁠ because it wasn’t‍⁠‍ a very large⁠⁠ village, it wasn’t‍‍ until they entered‍ the center that⁠ they finally saw‍‌ an inn.

“Let’s⁠‌ go in.”

Four‍ men drove a carriage and a horse and entered the inn.

Gregory‍ opened the door⁠ of the inn‍‍ with the creak⁠ of the carriage.⁠

“Is⁠‍ the owner here?”‍

“…The‍‌ guests arrived quite‌‌‍ early.”

“Yesterday,‍ due to the‌ rain, we couldn’t⁠⁠⁠ enter even though⁠ we were right⁠ in front of‌‍‍ the village. Please⁠ give me a plate of hot‍‌⁠ soup.”

While⁠‍ Gregory pretended to‌ be a mercenary‍‌ and spoke with⁠‌ the innkeeper, Vlad‍‍ watched a girl⁠ peeking her head⁠ out from the‌ hallway connected to⁠⁠‌ the inner kitchen.‍

“…”‌‍

A small child climbs⁠‍ onto her lap.⁠‍

A girl who may‌ be 3 or‍ 4 years old‌⁠ but still very cute.

Vlad‌ gently waved his hand as he⁠ looked at the‌ girl who reminded⁠ him of Zemina’s⁠‍ childhood.

The‍‍ chubby child’s rosy‌ cheeks seemed to‍ have become a little redder.

“…So‍ many bad things⁠ are happening nearby‍⁠ these days…”

“I⁠‌ plan to stay a few days‍⁠ at least because‍ of the weather,‍‌ but are you‍ going to let‌ us go like‌‍ this? I plan‌‌ to eat here‌ as well.”

While Gregory and the‌⁠⁠ innkeeper haggled over the price, Vlad‌ slowly walked around‌‌‍ the inn and⁠ checked the surroundings.‍

It‌⁠ was a behavior⁠‍ that came from‌ a long-standing habit,‌⁠ so when Vlad‌ took his eyes‌‌ off him, the⁠⁠ child gradually began‍ to move ahead of the group.‍‌

A large cauldron boiled‍ over a brazier in the middle‍ of the inn.⁠

I don’t know what’s⁠‌ inside, but it’s‌ time for Vlad‍‌ to whet his⁠ appetite as he‌ looks at the pot, which smells‌⁠ good.

[¡Vlad…‍‌ Vlad!]

The‌‌ usually calm voice‍ urgently called the‌ child back to‌‌ his senses.

‘What⁠⁠ happened?’

When‍ Vlad placed his⁠‌ hand on the‌ sword’s handle, the⁠‍ sound became clearer.‍⁠

[…I‍⁠⁠ guess this is‌ the right place.]‌⁠

In⁠ a gloomy tone,‌‌ the voice told Vlad to turn⁠‌ his head and⁠‍ look at the‌‍ girl approaching him.‍‌

“…”‌

On⁠ the opposite side of the brazier‍‌ where he was,‌‍ there was a girl looking at⁠‌⁠ him.

The‍ girl who was⁠ hiding behind the⁠ chair and staring‌‌ at Vlad, probably‍ because she was‌⁠⁠ embarrassed, looked cute‍⁠ to anyone.

[I’ll‌ lend you my‌ world.]

Maybe‍ that appearance wasn’t‌ everything.

Vlad‍‌ nervously opened his‌ left eye.

‘…!’‍

The‌ girl was smiling⁠ happily at him⁠ as she looked‌ at Vlad, who‍‌⁠ had closed his‌‌‌ eye and looked at her as⁠ if trying to⁠ catch his attention, but Vlad felt⁠‌ a chill creeping⁠‍ up from behind when he saw that smile.

[It’s‍ a curse.]

Vlad⁠ closed his right‍⁠⁠ eye and looked⁠‍ at the world through his left‍‌ eye.

The⁠‍ girl’s neck was‍‍‍ held by a black hand that‍‌ looked like a corpse.

It looked like it⁠‌‌ was going to‍⁠ twist the girl’s‌ neck at any moment.

‘…Damn‌‌ it.’

Vlad⁠ thought he could‌‍ hear the screams‍ of the woman⁠‍ he heard last‍⁠‌ winter in the scene he was‍⁠ seeing, so he⁠⁠ quickly closed the‌ world of the⁠ voice.

Ding-ding-ding-⁠⁠

The‌ sound of the⁠‌ church bell, indicating‌ the hour, resonated⁠ in the damp‍‍ village.

Although‌ it should have‍‌ been a pious‌ sound, to Vlad,‍‍ it sounded like⁠ it was enveloped‌ in a sticky⁠ fog.

As‌ he returned to‌ reality after closing‌‍‌ the world of‌⁠ the voice, Vlad stared fixedly at‍‍ the girl’s neck,‍‌ which until a moment ago had⁠ been caught by‌ a black hand.‍⁠

There‍⁠ was a necklace hanging around the⁠ girl’s neck.

It‌⁠ was a necklace‌‌ with the church⁠⁠ emblem engraved on it.