Chapter 82: No tree without roots (3)
9VrogM“Now, are we done?”Z8plWz
UuwOksana poured oil onto her hands and rubbed them vigorously, then gestured for the boy to come closer.HsSAV
IM9TF79“You should come closer.”T5XNOJo
U4pp“…Yes.”KSFH6
p9nGOksana’s living room is quiet, but everyone is busy.D3oJ
0zGbE0UThe maids were busy polishing the boy’s armor and ironing his clothes and cloaks, but only Oksana and Vlad remained in silence.5Po
G6bo1lw“I thought this day would come someday. However, it’s faster than expected.”BoVn8
L26AyOksana smiled warmly as she looked at him and carefully brushed Vlad’s hair.s2O0YQ
1d1HUVHair falling between oily fingers.V2Bz
GZL3OThe blond hair shining in the sunlight looked quite good in Oksana’s eyes.ulYM
2yq“It must have been hard.”Ftwb5
v50ehn“…”r8C
eCacpcInstead of responding to Oksana’s words, Vlad closed his eyes silently as he felt her hand pass through his hair.8Q5J
42YcOksana, with a deep look that seemed to understand everything, made him feel uncomfortable, but he wanted to focus on the sensation he had felt for the first time in a long time.mdxpX5e
HYpA1Although he said he couldn’t remember in front of Zemina, contrary to what he said, Vlad treasured the few memories he had with his mother.pFzz
3x3UxE7Among them, the memory he valued the most was that of his mother combing his hair with a fine-toothed comb.kCl9B
79GRiHS“You look great with blond hair. You should be grateful to your parents for passing this on to you.”Oa1
eYkHKB4‘Even so, I’m glad I inherited their blond hair instead of my own dull color.’vq6
d89HKWWhen Oksana’s words brought back old memories with his mother, Vlad unconsciously put his hand on the handle of the sword he was carrying.oXy
JVJ4iL2“Ah.”Qb6jGJ
jeZtoSThe place where the sword that always comforted him should have been.13BJ1
V9hCNHowever, there was only a strange and unfamiliar sword there.6LMvM
k2yMTViThe beings I would have liked to be with right now were no longer in this world.UPo
QK5zwC4The boy couldn’t help but regret.qyuq
EjwhmyeIt would have been great if we could see it together here.I1v
oBKX“It’s done.”LmR4zXC
B51qBtVlad opened his closed eyes at Oksana’s words.VM2tmcY
Zes7FThe afternoon sunlight streaming in through the window was as dazzling as her green eyes.ZMp
CFTKeK3“At this level, I think you can go anywhere.”AaFMj
QsOOksana seems proud of her work.jg5B
zLkDOnly then did Vlad smile when he saw her smiling.s2H
xOa“Thank you.”lYI
rddDNKoWith those words, Vlad silently looked around and saw Oksana’s room through her eyes.zIO9I
35XaVOcVlad, who had remembered everything in Oksana’s living room, including the sounds, the smells, and even the sensation of the flowing air, closed his eyes again.Z1bo
lY4rVAAs the boy moves forward, following the star, the things he left behind will fade away.lqgI
DUU6drBut there’s no need to regret.WduElI
xk4pdSometimes, when you miss them, you just have to reveal the memories that were buried in your head.pf2A
6yrfLike a memory engraved in this moment.Obplw
pJkz***gmYqN
qzlS“Are you nervous?”1rg4vE
38D“Not exactly.”NkfocIm
CPfkwJager simply lifted the corner of his mouth at Vlad’s response, who tried to pretend to be calm.kC8
uGCQ“Act tough only in front of enemies, kid.”9NMFo4M
hSsjzqt“…True.”iQ961P9
0uXlWith those words, Vlad glanced towards the door behind Jager.vtU
NzERotA huge door.E8riSYc
sCSXBThis was the scene he saw when he brought the death worm’s body, but the boy from that day wasn’t worthy to proceed.qA2RnER
7ZSsCNp“You can enter now.”OzLqZDy
0gCD“Alright.”8ew
r5quHSWhen the attendant by his side signaled, Jager stood before the door leading to the Knights’ Hall.DSV1D
OCou0NmA door that today would only open for Vlad.RTeVLZi
eIOOQHThe only person allowed to open it was Jager, the knight who taught and stood by the boy.lKpyn5K
zFmA0WV“Vlad, squire of Bayezid! He stands at the knights’ door, following the Count’s orders!”D8u
ArcOJJager shouted louder than ever for his squire.QhS5A
PbzA“Please let me in!”1gxt9
6KlBQazJager’s shout was strong because he had more confidence than anyone and trembled because he was prouder than anyone.btC
AZYAs his words echoed loudly, a response came from within the tightly closed door.rjBMT
oP9Xq1“Come in.”PvGHc3
ZiCy1aThe aura subtly emanating from the voice.lka
MWLl2The world of the knights granted permission for the boy to enter.Nw9
nk2IkCreeeek!EWkMS
W5mAs soon as the permission was granted, the tightly closed door began to open with Jager’s fingertips.6a1s
5ZGAs the door that had blocked the boy’s path due to qualifications opened, the cut red carpet began to show the boy’s path.k2b
1ph“…”oPjb
2ISAVlad couldn’t take his eyes off the scene unfolding before him.S6sk7Ph
TD8It was a space where everything gleamed.ywxq7g
5KhKnights lined up on both sides.A0IC6d
G75TThe sunlight streaming through the window shone brightly on the armor worn by the knights.qcNc
VgjN“…”ifFch
B8t13vBriefly, Vlad shifted his gaze away from the bright sight and looked back.nKsoBBH
KpbSny9Standing there was a man who always watched the boy’s back and pushed him forward.bVe
olNA person who couldn’t even stand in front of the door because he couldn’t lift a sword.XknO9SK
T9RBehind the boy, a man with dark eyes smiled with his arms crossed.GbnIo
XkaxAAO“Let’s go.”5FKxKE
iztADCI thought it was a line I could never cross for the rest of my life.hBR5yts
nZ2jBut today, Joseph managed to stake one of his swords, even if it wasn’t him.J4qnoo
IqytEThe boy who never gave up deserves to smile more than anyone.WfGwcZH
zdg“Congratulations.”IY3
kAtzdFJager’s voice reached softly behind Vlad as he advanced towards the Knights’ Hall.D7VkMN0
Io0oHearing Jager’s voice, which was different from usual, made Vlad feel something welling up from the depths of his heart, but he tried to suppress it.ozt
5MV“Vlad, squire of Bayezid, please come forward.”GP1E84
A07oFYVlad lifted his head and followed the direction from where the voice came.nwdbh
DZ2PRwAThe world of the knights, which had finally opened its doors, was calling the boy to come here.ttn
jxqtSXWith the same look in his eyes as that day when he was watching the boy under the moonlight.7RA0K
hESl5“Yes.”h9ym
erx0oX7The red path is the path of honor.F6A
rCAAP3The boy began to move forward, passing by the knights who lined the path.CY1
kRUIK9One step at a time.NcxGL
sZeCFLeave the dirt of the alleys and head towards the place you dreamed of.yVRP
xphAmV“You’ve worked hard to get here.”Cvc1
Zh8VqQdThe boy always dreamed of the stars.1rjq
nu3dfEven though his feet sank into the abyss of reality, his eyes always looked at the stars floating in the sky.daY
M0Q7MxAnd now you’ve reached the star.nGm7HTb
YveybX“Receive in your left hand the discipline of the Sword Master, which will never change.”0bGolop
pD2YSrXGolden parchment.lN6op
dVfpVlad carefully accepted the parchment containing the Sword Master’s oath.Z6Zuv2
WwK8Finally holding in his hand the shining star he had always dreamed of, Vlad gritted his teeth unconsciously.ZjaAdp
TvQ“Kneel and swear. Squire of Bayezid.”IKh
VBePeter’s cold sword landed on the boy’s shoulder as he knelt.R0VvbAe
KLsFtdGThe coldness and sharpness of the sword that fell clearly awakened Vlad’s mind.uQf
EPxSkO“A knight must always accept possibilities. That is the first discipline of a sword master.”66SH9RT
wo6Vlad of Soara.Pf7hg
tyiAThere were knights who gave him that name.UqTV
6IcWAlthough they had met as enemies, they had decided to protect the potential the boy had.RbsSX
aeKFoBecause that was the duty a knight had to fulfill.d06I
A6Ffb“A knight must always be able to hear his own conscience. That is the second discipline of a sword master.”x8C
3XIrIn a fog-filled village, Knight Gregory risked everything and burned with everything in mind.nli
oxQMxpIf you’re where you should be, if you’re standing at the moment you should be, don’t hesitate.k04w1
kcfXqzThe only standard that will decide that is your own conscience.bJj
CgHQ“A knight must always follow an honorable path. That is the final rule set by the Sword Master.”eEJpdsX
ai0mAX6A knight must always be honorable, and to be honorable, he must always look up and move forward.AffEf
chk5W0ZWithout shame, only for a fair reward.ntb
eui“Swear before my sword and the discipline of a knight. Vlad of Soara.”ob6K
w6zGlOnThe boy had always contemplated the possibility of a sword.F4ccsw
UZhKEThe red-haired girl standing in the mud next to him would testify to that.lefb
Cz0Although it was a life in the dirt of the alleys, the boy had protected the things he had to protect so as not to be dragged down by it.y9Sm
3f5ICPJThe knight of the prostitutes who protected the smile of the rose would testify to the boy’s conscience, who always tried to preserve what was good.I15ARh
Z5if“I swear.”j6WUcUl
PJShzqkAnd as the boy was looking at the star, he lifted his gaze and moved forward to take it in his hand.cicA
R2qo3wvWithout stopping, even if you crawl.lluC
gPNRxIt was a rule he didn’t know, but the boy did his best to follow it.exhT
aZXO“I swear to defend the rules of the Sword Master with all my might.”FrbR
BQHgQAnd the sword he had been fighting with would bear witness to the boy’s final discipline of the Sword Master that he had been following without even knowing it.I45
B4c9“I, Peter Bayezid, the Lord of Bayezid, declare.”MFcLAz
joxvAlong with the boy’s oath, he declared loudly the rightful owner of this place.tol4
oqYc4d“The boy in front of me was Vlad; he was a humble squire when he kneeled, but when he rises again…”VJJ
u3EXNyA new star was born under his sword.n1NWkw
BNnrG“He will rise as the proud knight Vlad of Soara.”Q7NFH
25SqxmbThe knight of Lady Alicia.B452
L0LEF2bThe one who protected the children blessed by Saint Rogino.4UyUuZ
uSJmpflThe Dragon Slayer shouted for Lindworm’s blue blood.Dtt
MsEAnd now Vlad of Soara, a knight recognized by Bayezid.D0CGj
ezFZOnYHe stood with confident steps.ZvyR
gtrA4Rh[You’ve done a great job.]rhB
ppPThe voice that had been watching the boy closely, closer than anyone, acknowledged that.AUTyVq
oc1With the Sword Master’s Oath held by the boy in his left hand.sdFUcIi
MucxIToday the rootless boy had created his own roots with his own will.KcSv
7SX64d9Under the name of Vlad of Soara, not as someone’s son or descendant of someone.TQCl78i
iv0All the stars here would testify to those roots.1WQNF
hWwC8***bHRdOEX
aMgEmF5The candlelight flickered in some office somewhere.YnGx
WMxbIsIThe middle-aged man, the owner of the place, frowned as if something displeased him.cEJb2A
yOo11“These dwarfs in the back are really annoying.”DWZLR
H09VhA large body.yXC0uTd
bIwgAlthough he seemed slow at first glance, anyone who knew the man even a little would know that he hid strong muscles under his thick skin.oBNe
PgOdz5“So this time I decided to act more meticulously, like the other nobles.”M7OX
SPyyThe man holding the nuts in the dish cracked them effortlessly and continued speaking.74u
lxBV“They say Baron Alicia, Of Hainal, still doesn’t have a husband.”2Vqn7Xw
NkjH“That’s right.”SNc
0cS2HAlthough he was a noble noble, he was a man who spoke bluntly without hesitation.ykS4MGR
BSpA pioneer and conqueror who cared for nothing.jAnt
YOK0“Is that why I’ll use him? It would be difficult for a woman to survive alone in this harsh world.”xmaqzD
TTTGAlways hungry no matter how much he ate, and another prey had just caught his attention.d9r
UMBHd“So, this time you need to use some force.”fjdl
RtFb“Please, tell me, Count.”kVEWY
4lmZshCount Sigmund Gaidar.dio8X
uGtDNfThe man who became the loser of the new west.YkbN8
aZ71USPThe man standing outside the candlelight bowed his head at the order given.iILk
YK9Fl“Go to Deirmar with my son. Get a just cause there.”Pl2lhF
gpMtuC8When Sigmund said he would expand through a cause rather than violence and war, the knight nodded as if understanding.Lxy
yXdm4Along with his son, who is of Gaidar blood, he could secure at least a small cause.3ShfQk3
0lQ“I believe you won’t disappoint me as always, Godin.”vqMVN
qfoW6EThe knight lifted his head at Sigmund’s words.uCRwW
5TgB“I’ll do my best.”2kYcRy
H0EkQqGodin, the knight of Gaidar.ymyQ
a1GZfIVThe blue moonlight shining outside the window fell upon his head.fWMfluO
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