Chapter 76: Cold-hearted dragon (2)
SHZW1qp“This time it will take a month.”JDI5dZ
jslUpIkWith those words, Vlad pulled up a small chair, leaned against the wall, and began to polish his sword.XQP85
TyvThe sword illuminated by the candlelight, as always, soothed the boy’s mind.VHOGa
vbbYX6k“Mmm. It’s good to be busy.”5I9M
yUXsZemina, who responded to Vlad’s words with little sincerity, sat on the bed, picked up the flag, and began to sew it.gbt5
ayblmOA phrase sewn by a red-haired girl was engraved next to the phrases sewn by a noble lady.OGf
beXn“You’ve been doing well these days, Vlad.”RVvsl
c3IZemina, who had been concentrating all her attention on sewing to not be embarrassed compared to the phrases nailed next to hers, raised her head and looked at Vlad in front of her, as if she had suddenly remembered something.ppi
ASqTj6w“Madam would have been pleased to see this too.”QYnhUU
uXZVlad suddenly looked at the girl speaking of his mother with a subtle expression.Xeo3
4sG387Zemina sometimes embarrassed Vlad with these out-of-context conversations.dmS
lj8QGk“Why did you mention that suddenly?”RdMef7Q
38tuHz“No, an idea just came to me out of the blue.”whs
O3HsKdNow, more than ten years later, only a few people remember Vlad’s mother, but Zemina is one of those few people.YFb
jPCOne of the few people who can speak of memories no one remembers.S5lXyn
jF7“I don’t remember my mom, but I remember your mom.”rEDo
vGDZ“Well?”DSV5
lkdbvThere were traces of wounds in the words the girl spoke carelessly.V8dZDX
0DPuC3Vlad’s mother let her son die, but Zemina’s mother did not.5o8Q5oa
1mdrBgEZemina, like many other children in the alleys, was an abandoned girl.mS45r6G
4u9El“I don’t really remember my mom either.”WPAUINg
bS42LFThere are wounds you can’t heal on your own.4KqR5
ITcMVlad, who found traces of that in Zemina’s words, only responded calmly as if nothing had happened.h3RpOP
rIiSBBecause it was one of the few considerations that could be given to a girl.IC56
MZl8X“It’s done.”RJP
eYWDAs if she had properly heard Vlad’s concerned words, Zemina simply shook his hand and stood up, waving the white flag as if to show off.dMSL0vI
SxLgX“It won’t be noticeable at this level, will it? The Countess’s skills were so good.”rZiXwCg
AximZmyThe white flag with which the boy proves himself.1u2hG
iIKThere was a new phrase engraved there by a red-haired girl.G3t
S3m“…It won’t be noticeable if you look from a distance.”hPDaB
a1mqThe shield of San Rogino gleamed in the candlelight.QMs9
jDCaJust as Vlad pretended to be indifferent and worried about Zemina, Zemina also worried about Vlad, who, as usual, went to a dangerous place.ZSNd3
iyyw3nI haven’t seen a dragon in person, but it’s definitely a dangerous creature.IKFQVSK
8WAOtherwise, the experienced old knight in the next room wouldn’t have had reason to prepare well.jEfm52M
FwDsY“I won’t arrive until winter. So.”7Ad0
oyV“I guess so. Because autumn is a fast-passing season.”CWt
7P8657p“Then take this too.”o7Im0SZ
nU4m2gqVlad looked puzzled at the piece of fabric that Zemina had casually thrown on the bed.E1c
CNUl“What is this.”1hy
NrAi“It’s a handkerchief.”p7CG26
YiCLM8Vlad smiled as he looked at the handkerchief, which was as white as the flag.e6o
HF3R“I guess you didn’t have anything to do?”DuEzm8
BzX6“I made it for you because I felt sorry for you wearing a handkerchief you couldn’t even use.”s9axqq5
HMXFAt Zemina’s words, Vlad grabbed the handkerchief and examined it closely.nT6XmYt
AhnQc3QZemina’s handkerchief, as she said, was made of precious silk and was not intended for actual use.YlRdkW
qO2CiZ“It’s pure cotton. It’ll be good to use here and there.”wSde
ppUxEqVlad silently held the handkerchief in his hand as he looked at Zemina’s fingerprints, who had done her best.F0SqY
Xols84Zemina left and left him a message to be careful.vn4Y2B
K1cwIn the empty room where only he remained, Vlad carefully folded the handkerchief with Zemina’s name on it and tucked it into his chest pocket.lxG81CR
ZdBW“…It was made to be used, but why did you engrave a name?”TqopLr
AHozZemina’s handkerchief, lying next to Alicia’s handkerchief, did not seem destined to fulfill the purpose the girl had in mind.WgMAam
mZz1kVlad deeply embedded it in his breast pocket so it wouldn’t easily fall out.lmBRV
MigTa***xeSYGF
W8ExThe group advanced northward along endless white snow plains.yxXWLS
tA3cJuoAfter traveling for over a week, they finally reached the northernmost part of the county of Bayezid, with about half a day’s journey remaining to their destination, Fort Bernhem.I2A
iCX0The knights Rutiger had already stationed would be waiting for the group there, preventing the barbarians from moving southward and exploring Lindworm.zTwSbI3
DCN97“I definitely only asked for you.”taZfUC
6X4“.…”vvLW
BwE“But obviously, I asked for one, and they gave me three. What does this mean?”tFObXFy
vWnh“Isn’t it consideration for your brother?”EDm3jZt
ZbiDYDPRutiger shook his head firmly at Vlad’s uncertain response.AKlBc3
oPg7rrg“That guy Joseph must be dissatisfied with me for something. Is that what you think?”EMN8rm
KebFNXjLooking at Rutiger speaking confidently, Vlad could only shrug.QHzHiN
bOTx1eOJoseph couldn’t have done it on purpose, but seeing the two men looking at each other behind them was a situation where such a misunderstanding could have occurred.7Ovfbry
qKRIvoHA barbarian warrior and an old knight from Bayezid.TDoC
CthZdIf handled well, it would definitely be of great use, but for now, seeing the two people who couldn’t get along was just a headache for Rutiger.Ih80A
ssIqPJU“I haven’t even arrived yet, but I’m already exhausted. From now on, you’ll be in charge of those two.”wDit
NYy“I’m not in a position to do that.”1hheF2
r3wfrAlthough the refusal had its own reasons, Vlad had no choice but to nod when he saw Rutiger, whose eyes were as low as Joseph’s.YACaDDz
PdhOHgpSetting aside age, Ramund was a knight who had served Bayezid for a long time, so Rutiger wouldn’t have been able to speak to him firmly, not even out of respect.9cXvQE
tPqEwxX“…I’ll try my best.”PKgYnin
tE6Bvk“Thank you.”wXYejZI
uRC0For that reason, Vlad, who could at least keep them together, might have been a better alternative.BL2Zo
n4yaFrom Rutiger’s perspective, Ramund’s attitude towards Vlad was clearly soft.eeuel
REOZH74“I managed to get out of prison without dying.”uRWvon
oowe0Ya“The young master has managed to survive until now. I can smell the dirt just by being around him.”GA3G1mE
30oTe4“Hehehe. There’s no order in which we go.”b7QS7Fv
U0mCWOAt the moment Rutiger tightly closed his eyes against the sharp sounds of the barbarian and the old knight that he could still hear, Vlad raised his hand and stopped the group.YRRrDzo
oOp“Wait.”iAwPM
dN4BtIt’s already working.Gfj0YM
qIzRutiger nodded with a satisfied expression, saying that he had done as he was told, but Vlad’s moderation came from a completely different direction than Rutiger’s wishes.9UBX
IbY“…I think there’s something ahead of us.”X8wp
z1MB“Hmm?”dlnoeq
pmiQAfter hearing those words, Rutiger looked in the direction Vlad’s finger pointed with nervous eyes.lPOh
LLVA snow-covered field to the north where only white snow fell endlessly.f42
uBdVlad pointed beyond, which he couldn’t clearly see, and looked at Rutiger with a stern expression.eVLYQ9
0eBv“Take the lead from now on.”YLtmQs
io1Epo8During the week-long journey north, Vlad showed great sensitivity.G4pDcqE
1U2q7IEHearing, sight, smell, and even a subtle, sharp energy.DJBaW
vO2F3mcThis time too, Rutiger, who thought he had discovered something unusual through his senses, didn’t easily overlook Vlad’s report.ufVd
Ja12VI0“You’ve stirred up a wild one.”8aICl
UJ9XJO“.…”ZFGrKAW
Nz1TjRAnd following Vlad’s guidance, the group reached the center of the snow-covered field and discovered there a terrible scene.CGnizxU
bGT033The corpses of the barbarians were scattered everywhere in a gruesome manner.jul
ut1gGTgHorses, sheep, and even people were strewn about.1Fh
CP6FtzWAgge’s expression grew increasingly harsh as he saw the warm beings lying on the frozen snow.tarkJu
Vbv“It seems you came here.”irYow
479WMARutiger dismounted his horse and turned to the bodies lying on the ground.qyej8
xAMwFEHThere was one who had a gruesome wound piercing through his chest.RFCE
cF5dyviRutiger looked at the wound and frowned at the reality that was different from his expectations.FKColou
hj49“…They were cut.”mffL
f34b8pwCertainly, they seemed like people who had been pursued by the ravaging Lindworm, but the wounds they bore told a completely different story.RItYfO
R1y4A cut from something sharp, not from something that had been broken or violently burst open.zqyF
MGdoRutiger looked at Agge, observing the wounds that only a human could have created.49poqf
ynRX“Is this from your tribe?”zxgu
lBsn3j“…Not exactly.”fLu5HI
xJAT59cIn response to Rutiger’s question, Agge silently shook his head.dW8y
dqVAt first glance, the body of a barbarian with tattoos all over resembled Agge, but it was not from the Budart tribe to which he belonged.RNwX
EBCMd0“They’re not from our tribe, but we know each other.”qP0
R90kzIt was fortunate that it wasn’t Agge missing, but that didn’t mean they could breathe a sigh of relief.KZfiQsV
nRztThe barbarians were moving southward simultaneously, and the reason for this was a being called Lindworm.zi0L
cQGWdThe Budart tribe that followed suit must also be roaming somewhere in this area.32A2iL
rhd“The ones from the north wouldn’t have done this.”5WU
R4I4Rutiger nodded at the words of Ramund coming from behind him.lpD
m8LAlthough the barbarians and the north hated each other, they still rubbed elbows, so there was no reason for such extreme massacres as now.ceoo5
D79GBecause both forces knew very well that if they did that, a long fight that would have to be washed with blood would erupt.wR3wUEG
dcdVlYThis would be especially true for Rutiger’s knights at Fort Bernhem.GzL
jfOCd“Move quickly.”wx2z
5Ob5GXSomething unusual was happening on the northern border.7cifP
HGMPRutiger, sensing this fact, planned to quickly reach Fort Bernhem and investigate the situation.sF5
MBQ“….”f7BY
SeWubwThe group advances, urgently urging their horses.mmxaa
kStMfkHowever, Vlad simply frowned as he held onto his chest atop the black horse.mJwb2KD
JV3VJ56Thump-RoqB
z6WVlad, remembering the beats he felt when he encountered the Death Worm, simply bit his lip, holding his heart as it beat strangely while he advanced.xCFu5U3
A7WIn an urgent situation, the black horse, sensing the boy’s discomfort, carefully adjusted the upper body and tried to reduce the vibration.y7j9zv6
Sdver8F***JOn1I
qsZbceFortress of Bernhem.3Vko
rRDg5aA military installation that forms the northernmost border of the county of Bayezid.veIqd
nbyAfter arriving at the place that Peter cared about as much as the three cities owned by the county, the group simply looked at the highest point of the fortress with puzzled expressions.zUBa
lEa“Are there two flags?”khxScw
1o2C1IiVlad, who was in the darkest circumstances, asked as he looked at the flags waving at the Fortress of Bernhem.uNwTFT
NCWomOne flag was the emblem of Bayezid, which he was familiar with, but the other flag was a type of emblem he had never seen before.Io3V
2Pclc“Why are those people here…?”2ZLm
9SUSHowever, Rutiger and Ramund, who recognized the flag, were also confused because they couldn’t understand the situation.mUocU
AGW6GvOVlad approached Ramund, who was blinking, and gently tapped him on the shoulder.c8bcWv5
2Ahz9“What kind of flag is that?”WFACbu
dlb0“It’s not the Northern flag.”7hZylxl
H9Slg4AIn response to the boy’s question, Ramund squinted.8xRaPj
6b9y8ZA“It’s the central one.”wDDA
Fojyw“The center?”b7iUp
32k“Yes, the center.”ZsFC6ub
iTRmWhen Ramund said it was the center, not even the central region, Vlad raised his head once again and looked at the waving flag.XGT5Bte
uFsiuzIts shape was that of a dragon spewing fire.sLCd3
cUf9“It’s the emblem of the Dragon Slayer Knights, an order of knights directly subordinate to the Dragon Blood Prince.”ir7SZ
Wm3gQnThe image of a dragon spewing fire represented on the flag had a peculiar drawing engraved.RB0n8
9rR3It was a drawing symbolizing a sword sharply cutting the dragon’s neck.1vyt
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