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Star-Embracing Swordmaster Chapter 71: Lady Zemina (2)

Chapter 71: Lady Zemina (2)

The‍‍ sound of a horse neighing echoed​‌⁠ through the air.‌

The‌​​ clearer your world,⁠ the clearer your⁠⁠​ boundaries become.

The‌⁠‌ boundary of the​⁠ castle wall surrounded‌ by humans was​ as clear as‌⁠ the color of‍ the black horse.‍​‌

“…”‌

The‍ child and the​‌ vividly black horse⁠⁠​ were still difficult⁠ to blend in⁠ with the rest‍ of the world.​⁠​

Vlad‍‌ and the black‌‌⁠ horse stood beneath‍ the human border‌‍ and looked towards​‍‌ the walls of⁠⁠ Soara.

***⁠⁠

“Are‍⁠ you here?”

Ramund‍​‌ drank his drink⁠ and spoke to​‍ the boy climbing⁠ the stairs from‍‌‌ below. The only‌​ guests at the​ inn, which is‌ not yet open,⁠‌ are an elderly⁠​⁠ man and a child.

Ramund’s‍ quiet and resonant‍​ voice was enough‌​‍ to reach the‍ boy, even though⁠‍ he spoke softly.‌​‍

“Is‍‌⁠ it effective?”

“A‍ little.”

Vlad⁠ responded to the‍​ old man’s question⁠​ by licking his‍ lips regretfully.

“I​ guess that barbarian⁠​ didn’t tell you⁠​ any nonsense.”

“Well,‍​ barbarians know better‌‌ what happens in‍​ the prairies.”

With​ those words, a bouquet of red‌ flowers reflected in‍⁠​ Ramund’s field of​ vision as he‌​⁠ drank his drink.‍‍‌

Roses.‌⁠‌

There⁠ was a bouquet‌​⁠ of flowers in​ the boy’s hand​‌⁠ that looked bright⁠ just by looking⁠ at them.

“I’m​⁠​ sure he likes‍‍ horses.”

“They​‍ say it progresses.”‌‌

The​ day Vlad finally‍​​ returned to Soara‌ after avoiding pursuit‌​ by the barbarians,⁠ he felt very​ sorry for the‌ rejection of the⁠‍ black horse.

While‌ Vlad was confused‍‌‌ and didn’t know‍‍​ what to do‌⁠ about the horse’s‍ refusal to enter⁠ the walls of‌⁠‍ the castle full‌ of humans, a barbarian man with‌ a face covered​‌ in tattoos smiled‍ and said.

“That​ boy likes the‍ color red.”

He​ pointed to the‍‍ red thread tying​‌ his hair.

“I‍⁠ didn’t know that​⁠ wild horses followed⁠ climbing roses.”

“I​‍​ guess it’s a method I discovered⁠‍⁠ by my own‍​⁠ instinct. It will‍‍ have to react‍⁠ sensitively to temperature.”‌​

Wild‍​‌ horses live by‌ grazing grass.

That’s‌‍ why it’s inevitable‍‍⁠ for them to‌​ be sensitive to⁠ the cold.

Because‍ icy plains will​‍ offer them nothing.‍

For⁠ these wild horses,​​ climbing roses that‌​​ stretch their bodies‌‍⁠ in response to‌‍ warm energy are‍​‍ like a signal⁠ directly related to‌ survival.

“But‌ it seems that‍⁠‌ this is not​​​ enough.”

Vlad⁠ carefully placed the‍‌ bouquet of roses‍ on the table‍‍‍ and thought deeply.​​​

“The‍‍ redder, the better,‌‍​ right?”

“Yes.”⁠‌

“The‍‌ bigger, the better.”‍⁠

“The⁠ big can serve‌ as the small.”‍

“…It⁠‌ would be perfect‍ if it could‍‌⁠ even move.”

After‌ finishing speaking, Vlad‍‌‌ turned his gaze​​ and looked at‌ the red figure⁠​ moving diligently below.‌‍⁠

A red-haired girl moving⁠‍‌ sighing as she‍​ carried a blanket‌ bigger than her‍ body.

The⁠​ brightest red Vlad⁠⁠​ knew was down⁠⁠⁠ there.

“That’s‍ enough to call⁠ it pink.”

Ramund,‌ feeling what Vlad⁠⁠‌ was thinking, nodded‍⁠‌ with a meaningful‍‍ smile.

“But‍⁠ things don’t seem‍⁠‌ to be going‍⁠​ well these days.”⁠

“That’s‍‌ how we originally‌‌​ were.”

Ramund⁠‌ looked at the​ boy who responded‌​ as if it⁠⁠ were no big‌⁠ deal and clicked‍ his tongue as‍‌ if he regretted⁠ it.

Sometimes​​⁠ there are things‍‍⁠ that are so‌⁠⁠ close that you⁠ don’t know how‍⁠ precious they are.‌

“How‌⁠‍ is such a relationship okay in⁠‍ the first place?‌‌ Hey.”

“It​‍ just is.”

However,‍​‍ Vlad’s gaze was​​ still focused only‌ on Zemina’s red‌‍ hair, and the‌‌ old man’s advice,⁠ akin to a lament, did not​‍‍ reach his ears.⁠‌

“I’ll​ leave.”

A few days later,‌‍‍ the black horse⁠ was still standing⁠​ sadly outside the‍ castle walls, waiting​⁠ for the boy,​‍‍ and without him,‍⁠​ Vlad would have‌ to live a life of endless‌⁠ somersaults once again.‌​‌

Hoping​ that the girl‌​ he sent out​⁠‍ of Soara would‍ bring the black⁠​​ horse this time,‌​‍ Vlad picked up⁠‍ the bouquet he‌⁠ had left and⁠⁠‌ descended the stairs⁠‍ towards Zemina.

Ramund⁠ could only click⁠‌‌ his tongue as⁠​ he watched Vlad​​ approach the girl⁠ hastily.

***​​​

“Zemina.”‌

“What?”‌⁠⁠

Zemina,‍⁠ busy preparing the​‌⁠ inn that would‌‍​ soon open, looked‍⁠ up when she‍ saw Vlad blocking‍‌‌ her way.

“I’m‍ busy.”

“Listen​‌ to me for​‌⁠ a moment.”

Despite‍ Vlad’s urgent plea,⁠ Zemina continued with​ her work as⁠ if nothing had‌‍ happened. Under Zemina’s​ fingertips, which had‌​⁠ been doing household​‌ chores for a long time, the‌ curtains fell back‍​ into place, and​⁠ the sheets were⁠‌‌ quickly organized.

“I​‍ don’t know what‍‍‌ you want, but⁠‌‍ go and tell⁠ Lady Alicia. Because‌⁠ I’m busy.”

“….”‌‌‍

Zemina,‌​⁠ still upset about​​⁠ the handkerchief that‍‍‌ came out of‍⁠ Vlad’s arms, simply‌​ ignored him.

She‌​ had cut her‌​ hair and gone⁠‌ to great lengths⁠⁠‍ to save his⁠​‌ life, but all⁠‍ she received was‌‍ a handkerchief with⁠‍⁠ another woman’s name‍ engraved on it.⁠

From⁠ Zemina’s perspective, it​ was something to‍ be very upset‍‌‌ about.

“I‌ wanted to ask​​‌ you a favor.”‌

“I​‌ said I’m busy.‍ Can’t you see‌ I’m busy!”

At‌ that moment, Zemina​​ shouted loudly when​​⁠ she saw Vlad​‌⁠ still blocking her‌​‌ way.

“Hey.”‌⁠⁠

“…What⁠⁠ is this?”

Suddenly,⁠ she began to⁠‍⁠ panic as she​‍ looked at the‌ red bouquet placed⁠ in front of‍​ her.

“Help‍​ me with this.”​

“Your​‌‍ request is to‌​​ go talk to⁠ Lady Alicia.”

“No.”​

Vlad‍⁠‌ said seriously as⁠ he held a bouquet of flowers.‍⁠

“This​ is something only⁠‌‌ Lady Zemina can​​ do.”

“….”‌⁠​

Zemina‍‌ heard the words‍‍ that came out⁠‌‍ of Vlad’s mouth,‌‌ and only then‍ did she raise‌‍ her head and​‍​ look at the‌‍‍ boy. A blue-eyed‍​⁠ boy giving a bouquet of red⁠ flowers. Amidst colors​​ that made it‍ hard to look‌ away from anything​​ else, Zemina turned‌ her head with⁠​⁠ difficulty and responded‌⁠​ bluntly.

“….What’s​‌ going on?”

It⁠ wasn’t because she​ heard the name⁠⁠ Lady Zemina. Even​ if he hadn’t‌‍​ said that, Zemina‍⁠‍ would have listened‍ to Vlad.

“Take​​‍ this and come​‌ somewhere with me.”‌⁠

Vlad‍⁠⁠ smiled as he‍ watched Zemina’s face⁠ turn bright red‌​⁠ as she held‌ the bouquet he‌​‌ had given her.​‌

Red⁠ hair, a red‍ bouquet, and a flushed face. The‌ redder, the better.‍‌ I’m sure she’ll⁠ like it at‍⁠ this level. Thinking‌‌ so, Vlad nodded‍⁠ as if he‌‌⁠ were satisfied.

“You’re⁠⁠⁠ in for a tough time, kid.​ Tsk, tsk.”

Ramund,‌ leaning on the⁠⁠‍ railing on the‌​⁠ fourth floor and‍‌​ sipping a drink,⁠⁠ watched what Vlad‌‍ was doing, clicking​ his tongue.

Vlad,⁠ who was concerned‌⁠​ about the situation​ in front of⁠‍ him, may not‍‌‍ have known what⁠ he was doing,​ but Ramund, who‌​ was watching with​​‌ the eyes of‍ a third person,​‍​ was surprised.

“Well,‍ you’ll figure it​‍⁠ out.”

The‌ person who made‌ the flower bloom⁠⁠⁠ must take responsibility‌‌‍ for it.

And‍‌ Ramund’s eyes saw⁠ a glowing rose‌ on the face​​ of a girl‍‌‍ who was trying​⁠ to avoid his‌ gaze.

***⁠​

Joseph⁠ and Jager stepped‍ forward holding the​ torch given to⁠ them by the⁠ guard.

In​‌⁠ a dark prison,‌ two men stood⁠​ facing each other⁠​​ with bars in‍​ front of them.‍

Two‍‍ people standing on​⁠​ either side of‌​​ the barrier separating⁠​ their worlds.

The⁠ shadow cast by‌‍‍ the torch further‌⁠‌ darkened Joseph’s dark‍ eyes.

“It’s‌​ an honor for⁠ the mayor of‌‍‌ the city to‍⁠ come see a barbarian.”

“I‍‍ hope it’s worth⁠⁠⁠ coming here.”

Although​​‍ he chuckled inside‍ the cell, Joseph​ spoke what he‌⁠‌ wanted without being‌‍ swayed by Agge’s⁠‍ provocations.

“I⁠​ want to know​⁠‌ the real reason​‌‌ you followed the⁠​ horse.”

Agge‌​ stroked his chin‍​ as he looked‌ into Joseph’s eyes,​ which were very‌‌ deep for someone​‌ his age.

I’ve⁠⁠‍ seen many people‍ try to show‌ their coldness or‌⁠ dignity, but I’ve‌‍‌ only seen a few people who‌ truly harbor them⁠‍ inside.

However,‌‍‍ the mayor of​​​ Soara in front‍‌‌ of him had⁠ them despite being⁠‌‍ of a similar​ age.

“It‌‌‌ was because I needed it.”

“I’m⁠‍‌ asking about that‍ need now.”

Jager,​⁠​ holding the torch,​​ frowned at Agge’s⁠‍ insincere response.

“At‌ first, I thought​⁠ it might be‍ a tradition or⁠⁠ ritual of your‍⁠ tribe, but it​‌ wasn’t.”

Joseph​‌​ sought counsel from‌⁠‍ people who knew‍ the customs of⁠⁠ the barbarians, including‍‍‌ Ramund.

And​ they all shook‍ their heads at⁠⁠⁠ Joseph’s question.

“I⁠​ heard that using⁠​ wild horses is​ a taboo for⁠ you. Am I right?”

“….”⁠⁠

Every​‍ world has its​⁠⁠ own area where⁠​ it can shine‌⁠ the brightest.

Those​‍‍ with swords are‍ on the battlefield,‍‍ and those with‍‌ picks are on‌⁠‌ the farm.

And‌ wild horses, which⁠‍ can only shine‍ when they run,⁠‍ would be better‌⁠ off in green‌‍‍ pastures.

Barbarians‍‍ were people who​‍‍ respected those principles.‌​

“I‌⁠ came here to‍ break the taboo‍ and ask the⁠ real reason we​‍​ went beyond the​⁠⁠ realm of steelworkers‍ and came here,‍‌‍ to the county⁠‍​ of Bayezid.”

After‌‍‍ finishing speaking, Joseph​‌​ simply looked at⁠ Agge with his‍ mouth shut as⁠‌‌ if it were‍⁠ now his turn.‌​

A strange impulse that‌ cannot be denied.⁠⁠​

Agge​‍‌ looked at Joseph​‌ in front of‍ him and thought‍​ that maybe this⁠ person could answer‍ his question.

Because‌​ I also had⁠​‍ something to ask‍ the people of⁠⁠ the empire.

“…I⁠ thought about it​⁠‌ while I was‍‌‍ being captured here.”​

Looking⁠‌‍ into Joseph’s unwavering⁠⁠​ gaze, Agge, who⁠​ had been sitting‌⁠‌ comfortably until now,​ slowly stood up‍​ and approached the⁠​⁠ bars.

“Maybe‌‌ it was a good thing we‍‌ were captured here.”‍‌

Agge,​‌ emerging from the‌ darkness, gripped the⁠‍ bars with both⁠ hands and brought​‌​ his face closer‍‍ to Joseph’s.

A dog about to​ bite does not‍​ bark.

It‌‍​ just holds its⁠‌‌ breath silently and‍​ looks for an‌ opportunity.

“There​ is only one‍‌‍ reason why my‍ men and I tried to control‍‌ the Son of‍ the Plains, even​‌⁠ breaking tribal taboo.”‍‌

“Because⁠‌⁠ we needed the⁠‌ fastest being we‍​ know.”

Joseph‌ thought as he⁠⁠⁠ looked into Agge’s​‍ tattooed eyes.

They​‌​ say it resembles​ the eyes of​‌ a wild child.⁠

“What‍‌ the hell have⁠⁠‍ you done?”

“What⁠ does that mean?”⁠

Joseph‍‌⁠ watched as anger⁠‌ slowly boiled in‍⁠​ Agge’s eyes.

And‌‌​ that anger was‌‍ directed not only‌‍⁠ at himself but‍⁠ at the entire​​ North.

“The​ dragon is going‍ mad.”

“…?”‍‍‌

While‍​ Joseph was puzzled​‍‍ by the sudden⁠‍ horse, a wolf‌⁠ on the prairie⁠⁠‍ began to howl​‌‍ within the bars.‍​‍

“The​‍ dragon that has‍ been calm until⁠⁠ now is going‌ mad!”

Agge’s⁠‍‌ eyes, trapped within‍​⁠ the bars, burned​ with anger.

And​ that anger was​ not just accumulated‌‍⁠ by Agge alone.‌​​

It‍ was built up‍‍ by all the​‌⁠ barbarians who were⁠ pushed to the‌⁠ periphery by the‌‍⁠ empire and lived⁠‍​ in constant ostracism.​‍​

“You‌⁠‍ are the highest-ranking​⁠ person here, so​ you know what‍‌‍ I’m talking about.”⁠‍

Because‌​⁠ of the force‍‍ emanating from Agge,​​⁠ Jager placed his‍​ hand on the​​⁠ sword hilt.

It‍‌​ was that kind​‍​ of impulse.

“What‌ did you do⁠ with the dragon⁠ pieces?”

A wolf on the⁠‌ prairie growling at⁠‍ the leader of⁠‍ the humans.

And‍ the one-eyed knight⁠⁠⁠ had to step​⁠ forward to subdue‌ the wolf.

The​⁠‌ dark-eyed man who⁠ sat motionless between​ the two was‍‌​ grasping the sinister‍​ omens hidden in‍ Agge’s words.

The​‍ dragon is going⁠ mad.

The​ son of the‌ tribe leader descended​⁠⁠ in search of​ a horse to⁠ prevent the dragon‍ from going mad,⁠⁠ even breaking the‌⁠‌ taboo.

Even​​ deep within the⁠‍​ empire’s territory.

Joseph’s⁠ dark eyes began‍​‍ to sink deeply.⁠⁠‌

“Bring⁠ me the blond⁠‍ boy who defeated‌ me.”

“What’s‍ the motive.”

Agge,‌‌⁠ who let out⁠ his burning anger,‍‌⁠ let out a deep sigh and​ leaned his head‌‌⁠ against the bars.⁠‌

“Because‍ the only one‌​⁠ who can reach⁠‌ the dragon faster⁠⁠ is the Son‌‍ of the Plains,​⁠ who inherited divine‍​‌ blood.”

Remnants​⁠ of the fallen​​ dragon.

Distributed‌⁠ throughout the world⁠ and existing in​⁠ various forms, sometimes⁠ it was an​‌​ object of admiration,⁠​⁠ but also a source of fear.‌⁠⁠

Perfect⁠ dragon blood contained‍‍‌ great potential.

“This​‌​ won’t end only‍‌⁠ in our area.​‌ Right?”

“….”‍‌

Two‌ men, facing each​⁠‌ other, under the​ flickering torchlight.

The‌ two said nothing‍‍⁠ more in the‍‌ dark prison.

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