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Star-Embracing Swordmaster Chapter 77: Choices made by a child (1)

Chapter 77: Choices made by a child (1)

“Stop…‌ ouch.”

With​ a cry of⁠​ helplessness, the barbarian’s⁠‍ eyes began to⁠‍‍ roll back.

Even‌​ the last red‌ tears he shed‍‌‌ along with his⁠‍‍ screams were frozen​ by his cold⁠​‌ breath.

Intense⁠⁠ red color scattered‍ over a field‌‌ of pure white⁠‍ snow.

And​ above them lay​‌​ heaps of barbarian‍‍⁠ shackles.

No,‍ they had not‌ yet become corpses⁠ and were desperately‌‍ trying to move‍‍ away from the⁠ white dragon, but⁠ their pathetic struggles‌ were in vain.‍‍⁠

The‌ arms and legs⁠​ that were supposed‌‌⁠ to move were⁠ cut off and‌‍‍ rolling in the‍⁠‌ snow.

Crunch-‌⁠ clang- clang-

The‌ dragon, whose mouth⁠ was covered in⁠‍​ bright red blood,​‌​ raised its head‍​ as if satisfied.‌​‍

It’s‍‌‌ different from oak,‌ which has a tough taste.

It’s⁠‌‍ different from monsters​​ that smell like‍‌ fun.

Lindworm,‍ the white dragon.​‌‌

The‌ dragon, with the‌‍⁠ taste of humans‌ engraved on its⁠‌ tongue by someone’s​‌ intent, opened its⁠‍ mouth wide and⁠⁠​ roared.

It​​⁠ was a loud‌ sound that not⁠‌⁠ even the scattering⁠​ snow mist could⁠​ hide.

***‍⁠​

“Mr.‍ Rutiger has arrived!”​‌‍

“Open‌‍ the gates!”

With‍‌⁠ the shouts of⁠ the gatekeepers, the⁠⁠ door hanging from​‍ thick chains began‍⁠ to lower.

Rutiger⁠‌ placed his hand‌‌‌ on the hilt⁠‌ of his sword⁠‍⁠ as he watched‍ the castle gate‌⁠‍ slowly descend before‌ him.

Whether‍‌ invited or uninvited,​ the Dragon Slayer⁠​ Knights had arrived.‌​

There⁠‌ must have been​⁠ a good reason‍‌ why they, who‌⁠‌ had shown no‌​‌ interest in the⁠​ North until now,⁠ suddenly came to‍ this northernmost place⁠ in the country.‌

And‌‍ there must have​⁠ been a good‍⁠‍ reason why they‌⁠​ raised their flag‌‌ atop the fortress‍‌ without permission.

“Mr.‌‌‌ Rutiger!”

“Report‌​​ to me.”

Rutiger‌ crossed the castle⁠​ gate over the‌ moat with an‌‌ unusually stern expression​ and quick steps.​

A knight ran towards⁠‌ him and began‍⁠‍ informing him of⁠​⁠ the situation.

“The​​ Dragon Slayer Knights​⁠‌ sent from the‍‍‌ center arrived about⁠‍‍ two days ago.”‍​

“The‌​ reason?”

Seeing‌‍ Rutiger’s momentum change​ in an instant,‍ the knight unconsciously​⁠‍ swallowed and spoke​ up.

“They‍ say it’s for‌‌​ the subjugation of‌‌ Lindworm.”

“…They​ got information quickly.”⁠‍​

Rutiger⁠‍​ clicked his tongue⁠‍‍ in response to⁠⁠‍ the knight’s report‍​ and made a fierce expression.

Sending⁠‍ an armed group‍⁠‌ to another territory‌ was not only⁠⁠‌ rude, it was⁠‌​ an act close‍‌ to a declaration​‍‍ of war. However,​ the Dragon Slayer​ Knights currently in‍⁠​ Fort Bernhem came⁠​​ with a good⁠⁠ justification.

“It’s‍‌ too quick.”

Dragon​⁠‌ Slayer Knights

As⁠ the name suggests,⁠⁠ they were created‍ to kill dragons​ and were a group led by‌‌ the central nobility,⁠ the Dragon Blood‌‍‌ Dukes, with the​‌ guarantee of the‌‌ imperial emperor.

In‍ other words, if‌ it was related‌‌​ to dragons, it‌​‍ also meant that​ activities were guaranteed⁠‍⁠ according to imperial​‍​ law along with‌‌ the emperor’s guarantee.‍‌

Since‌​ they came with‍ a banner and⁠ a cause, not‌⁠‍ even the knights⁠​‍ of the fortress⁠ would have been‌‌ able to do‍ anything about it.⁠

“…”‍

Vlad⁠ followed Rutiger as⁠⁠‍ he ran and‍⁠ sniffed around here⁠⁠‍ and there as‍​ was his usual‍ habit.

Fort​⁠‍ Bernhem was built​ of stone because​⁠ there were no​ trees around, the​‌ stairs were narrow,​‌‌ and the corridors‌⁠‌ winding. It was‍⁠‍ built in such⁠‍‍ an obvious manner​‌⁠ that its purpose⁠ could be seen⁠⁠ at a glance.​⁠‍

“Fort​​​ Bernhem is also​​ called Bayezid’s beacon⁠‍⁠ tower.”

“Is‍ there a beacon‌‍ tower up here?”​

When⁠​⁠ asked if there⁠‍‌ was such a large beacon tower​ that could be​‌ seen from afar,‍⁠ Ramund simply shrugged.‍‌‍

“This⁠ in itself is​ a beacon tower.⁠ When it’s ablaze,⁠⁠‌ it’s visible from‍⁠⁠ afar.”

“Ah…”‌⁠

Vlad​ looked again at​ the surrounding walls‌‍ upon Ramund’s hinted⁠​ words.

Although‍‌‌ they had tried⁠‍ to cover it​⁠ with lime paste,​​ there were blackened‍ traces here and‍‍ there.

Taken⁠⁠ down and put‍ back up.

Rebuilt​‍​ again from the‌​ charred fortress.

Fort⁠​​ Bernhem was a huge wall for​ barbarians and monsters,⁠‌ and an indomitable‌‌‌ will for the​‌ people of Bayezid.​

“I’ll​‍ be waiting outside.”‌

“…”‌⁠‌

Rutiger‌⁠⁠ had no reason⁠‍ to try to‌ hide his boiling⁠‌ anger, as they‍​​ had raised their‌ flag in a place that was‌⁠​ Bayezid’s pride without‌ anyone’s permission.

“Finally,​‍⁠ you’ve arrived. I’ve⁠ been waiting for​​⁠ you.”

Although​‌ the corridors were⁠​‍ narrow, the hall⁠‍ was built wide⁠ so that the‍‌​ knights could gather.​‌‌

Step​‍‌ by step, there​ was a man‍ standing at the‌ highest point of⁠ the place built​‌‌ with Bayezid’s blood,‍‌‌ greeting the group.‍‍

“Finally,​⁠‌ we meet. I am Mirshea, leader⁠ of the Dragon‍ Slayer Knights.”

A man clad in‌​ gleaming silver armor⁠‌ looked at the‍‌‍ group that had⁠⁠ arrived in the‍ hall with a relaxed smile, as‍ if this were​ his home.

“…A‌ precious person has​⁠ come to visit‍‌​ me without my‌ knowledge.”

At​‍‍ the moment he‍⁠ made eye contact‍ with Mirshea, who​ was looking at‍​⁠ him, Rutiger’s heart‌‍ skipped a beat.​

This​ was because he⁠ was angered by​ Mirshea’s attitude of‌‌‍ daring to take‌⁠ over this place.​​‌

“Rutiger‌ Bayezid. I am‍ the temporary commander‍⁠‌ of Fort Bernhem.”​

Mirshea’s‍⁠ smile deepened as​ he looked into‍‍ Rutiger’s black eyes‍‍​ without the slightest‌ hesitation.

Thump-‍⁠‍

And⁠‌ Vlad, who was‍ looking at the‍ man named Mirshea,⁠​ also felt his‍ heart pounding.

Because⁠‌⁠ he felt the⁠⁠‌ same sensation from⁠ the man above‌ him as when​ he saw the‍​ Death Worm.

The‌ heartbeat was something​⁠⁠ that couldn’t be‌‍‍ controlled with willpower.⁠​

Because⁠​‍ it only moved‌⁠‍ by instinct.

“…!”⁠

Forcing⁠‍​ his heart to‌⁠ calm down, Vlad‍​​ lifted his head​ and was surprised‌‌‍ to see Mirshea‍​‍ in front of‍‍⁠ him.

The⁠ boy wasn’t the​ only one carried‌ away by instinct.⁠

“Were⁠ the corpses of‌ the barbarians outside‌ created by the​‌ Dragon Slayer Order?”⁠

“Exactly.⁠‍ It was necessary.”‌‌

Mirshea,⁠ who naturally adjusted​ his expression in​‍ response to Rutiger’s​​ question, answered his‍‌‌ question with a relaxed smile.

There⁠‍ were corpses of​‌ barbarians rolling in​ the snow with‍ terrible wounds, and‌ their deaths were⁠ not caused by​‍ ferocious teeth but​‌‌ by sharp swords.⁠‌​

“Lindworm‍‌ is the swiftest​​‌ remnant of the‍‌‌ fallen dragon. It​ means you can’t⁠ catch up to‍‍ it and take​​ it down.”

Joseph‌‍ tried to convey‍⁠​ information about Lindworm⁠‌ to Rutiger through​​ Agge, however, Mirshea‍​ in front of‍‍⁠ him was someone​​‍ who already had‌‍‌ information about Lindworm‍‌⁠ even without Agge.‍⁠‍

The​ Dragon Slayer Knights,​ created with the‍‍ permission of the​​‌ founding king Frausen,‍‍ had accumulated their​⁠⁠ own experience over‌‌ hundreds of years.‍‍⁠

“I‍⁠ can’t keep up,‌ so I have​⁠ no choice but‍​ to incorporate it.‌‌ The corpses outside⁠⁠‌ are bait for⁠ that.”

“Son‌‍ of a bitch!”‍‌

Before‍⁠⁠ Mirshea finished speaking,‌ Agge was letting⁠ out an angry‌⁠ roar and was⁠‌ about to lunge‌‍⁠ forward.

“Bastards​​ of the Empire!‌‍​ You won’t care‍⁠‍ even if I chew you to‌‌ death!”

As‌‍⁠ a prisoner, he⁠​⁠ would have unsheathed‌ his sword if‌ he hadn’t retrieved‍‌⁠ it beforehand.

If⁠‌‌ Ramund, who was​ watching him, hadn’t​⁠‍ taken a step,⁠‍ he would have‍‍‍ already jumped towards‌​​ Mirshea.

“Stop!‌ Get out of‍⁠ the way, old​‌​ man!”

“…If‍ you say another​ word, I’ll cut‌​‌ your head off.”​

Agge’s⁠‍⁠ anger was justified.‍‌‍

Who‌ wouldn’t be enraged⁠ by the idea⁠‌ of their own⁠⁠⁠ people being used⁠‍‍ as bait?

However,‍‍ as justified as‌‌ the anger was,​​‌ it had to‍ have some power⁠ to be justified.⁠

The‌‌ rage of powerless⁠‍ barbarians was nothing‍ more than an‌ insignificant being rolling‍ on the ground‍ like Agge was⁠‍⁠ now.

“The‍ son of Bayezid​⁠ is raising a spoiled dog.”

Mirshea‍‍‌ looked at Agge,⁠ who was yelling‌​‌ at him with​ cold eyes.

“You’re‍​ also raising a cat.”

Dorothea⁠​ quickly lowered her‍​ head upon seeing‌⁠‌ the cold gaze‍‍⁠ upon her.

It‌‌⁠ wasn’t because she‍⁠ was afraid of‌​‍ Mirshea’s eyes, but​‌ because she feared‌​​ her presence would‌ be a bother​ to Rutiger.

“I​‌ don’t know if‌ you trained well.‍ Humble things sometimes​ forget their duty.”‍⁠‌

“…”​

Rutiger⁠ remained silent in​ the face of⁠‍⁠ Mirshea’s words.

Central‍ nobles and lords.​​

Those⁠‍ who believed they‌⁠ were the center‍⁠ of the world​⁠ often mocked those‌‌ outside in this​⁠ manner.

Not‌‌ only for the⁠‍​ barbarians and beastmen,⁠‌ but also for⁠‍ the people of‌‍ the North.

“…But​​ aren’t they still⁠‌ standing in their‌⁠‍ seats?”

Rutiger‍​‍ nodded and exhaled‌‍ as if he‍​​ had made a decision.

Whether‍‍⁠ it was intentional‍ or not.

The​‌⁠ noble in front​‍​ of him had​⁠‌ crossed the line,​ and Rutiger was​‌ the representative of‌ all those from‌‍‍ the North here.‌​

The⁠ anger deep in⁠‌⁠ his heart, which‌‌‍ he always hid‌‍ behind a poised⁠‍‌ smile, was slowly‌​‍ seeping out.

Rutiger’s‌‍​ world was a deep red, like‍​ an active volcano.⁠⁠

A thick anger like‍ lava began to​‍ flow towards Mirshea,⁠⁠‌ who was standing⁠‍ where Bayezid should​​‌ have been.

“So​ you should find‍​ a place for​ yourself too. Director⁠⁠ Mirshea.”

One‍ step at a time.

Rutiger‌‌ ascended to the‍ highest point by​​‌ stepping on the‌‍ stairs made by​ Bayezid.

As​ he approached Mirshea‍ with the confident⁠‍ steps of a qualified person, the‌​⁠ members of the⁠⁠ Dragon Slayer Knights​ around him began‍⁠ to place their‍ hands on the⁠⁠ handles of their​ swords, one by‍‌ one.

“Who⁠⁠ gave permission to‌​‌ raise the flag?”‍

Rutiger⁠​ finally came close⁠⁠ enough for their​​⁠ foreheads to touch,‍ and he looked​ into Mirshea’s blue​ eyes without moving⁠⁠ an inch.

“I‌‌ requested it. My‍‌ men raised it⁠​‌ because no one⁠‌‌ else was moving.”​⁠

He​ didn’t growl like‌‌​ Agge or press​‍​ the other person‍​ with a smile‌‌⁠ like Mirshea, he⁠ just stood still.​

“From⁠ whom did you‌‌ get permission to‍​ come here?”

“…Ha.”‍

It‍‌ wasn’t unexpected, but​‍⁠ Mirshea smiled coldly‌​‌ upon seeing Rutiger⁠​ openly attempting a power struggle.

“The​⁠ Dragon Slayer Knights,​​ who deal with‌‍‍ dragons that appear‍‍​ as disasters, have‌​ the right to‌ properly use all‍ facilities and personnel​ in imperial territory‌‍⁠ according to imperial​‌ law.”

“Assuming​ you get permission‍​ from the owner.”‍

Rutiger​‌⁠ and Mirshea slowly‍‍ turned their bodies‌ according to the‌⁠‌ momentum they found.​​

Rutiger’s⁠ deserved momentum was‍ pushing Mirshea towards‌ the stairs.

“Does⁠‌⁠ this mean you​ won’t cooperate?”

“I‍ plan to cooperate.”‍

Rutiger’s‍‍ finger pointed towards‍ the hall below.‍

“As​‍ long as you​ follow the proper‍ procedures.”

The⁠⁠​ knights of Bayezid,‍‌⁠ who understood Rutiger’s⁠‍⁠ intentions, hastily opened‍​ the hall door​ and began to‍‌ run towards the‍‌ highest point of‍‍ the fortress.

“Ask‍‍‌ them to lower‌‌‍ the flag. Knight‌⁠‌ Mirshea.”

“…”‍

The‌ highest point of​ the fortress.

The⁠​⁠ dragon waving alongside‍‍‌ the Bayezid flag⁠ carved into the‌ solid wall lowered‌ its head.

“Please‌ help me kill‌ the dragon in‌ Bayezid’s land.”

Their‍⁠‍ worthy, just, and‌ loyal masters bared‌​ their teeth at‍‍⁠ the dragon hunters.‍

“No⁠ one move.”

“The‍​‍ owner of this⁠‌⁠ place didn’t allow‍‌ it.”

The‍​⁠ knights of Bayezid,⁠ who had issued‌ a stern warning,‌ had already surrounded⁠​ the Dragon Slayer‍‍‌ Knights and were‌⁠ blocking their path.⁠⁠‍

Rutiger​ and Mirshea.

The‌ Knights of Bayezid‌‍ and the Dragon‍ Slayer Knights.

The​​‌ keen force they​⁠ created enveloped the‍ hall with a coldness worse than‌ the cold northern‌ wind.

“Let’s​ start over from​‌​ there.”

Mirshea​​‍ turned his head⁠ and looked in‍‌ the direction Rutger‌ pointed.

Center​ of the hall.⁠‍

A position where one⁠ had to crane‍⁠⁠ their neck to‌ look up at‌‌‍ Rutiger.

“You⁠ will regret this.”​​

“Anyway,‍⁠‍ no matter what⁠ you choose in⁠⁠ life, you’ll only⁠ regret it.”

Rutiger‌‍⁠ only smiled gently​‍‌ at Mirshea’s low‌‌‍ threat.

“And​ if you’re going‍ to regret it‌ anyway, you should⁠ do what you​​‌ have to do‌ and repent.”

The​ black eyes flowing​ through the veins‌‍ of Bayezid looked⁠⁠‌ at the man​ in front of​⁠​ him with a thick aura oozing​ out like lava.‌

Blond‍‌ hair and blue⁠ eyes.

And‌‍‌ an aristocratic appearance.⁠⁠

Towards‍​‌ a man of‍ cold heart who‌ even uses living‍‌‍ people as bait‍⁠ for the dragon.⁠

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