Star-Embracing Swordmaster — Chapter 89: Live up to your name (1)

Chapter 89: Live up to your name (1)

Joseph‍‌‌ loved the snow.‍‌

For⁠ him, with a weak body, the⁠ cold weather was‍⁠ an unwelcome guest,⁠ but there was still a reason‍ why he loved the white snow.⁠⁠

“…It‌⁠ will take some time to return.”‌

When‍⁠ Joseph was young, he felt relieved‌‌ to see the‍ city covered in⁠‍ snow and silence.⁠‌

Because‍‍ at that moment,‍ he wasn’t the⁠‍⁠ only one standing still.

Due⁠‌ to his weak⁠⁠ body, the reality⁠ of sitting alone‌ while others moved forward always made it difficult for⁠ Joseph.

“Mr.‍‌ Joseph. I’m Bordan.”⁠‍

“Come‌⁠ in.”

Joseph,‍‍ awakened from his‌‌ thoughts by the⁠⁠ sound of knocking⁠⁠⁠ outside, opened the⁠⁠‌ door and looked‌ at the knight‌‍ entering.

“It’s⁠‌⁠ a message from⁠ Deirmar.”

A chubby knight who seemed to need‍‌ to take care‌ of his health as much as‍ he did arrived‌ at his office⁠ with a message⁠‍ in hand.

The⁠‌ outcome Joseph had been waiting for‌ must have been‍ written in that‍ small note he held with his‍ thick lettering.

“Hand‌ it over.”

“Yes.”‌

Joseph‍⁠ accepted the note‌ handed to him‍⁠‌ by Bordan with‍ calm eyes.

Although⁠ I did my‍‍ best to prepare‍ him, it must‍‍ have been an⁠‌ overwhelming task for‍‌ the boy.

I hope we can‌ avoid the worst‍‍⁠ outcome.

“…”⁠‌‍

Because‌‍⁠ it was a letter sent by magic, it was‍ not possible to⁠⁠‌ write and send⁠ many letters.

Therefore,‍‍ the letter sent‌⁠ by Jager contained‍⁠ only the results‌ without any explanation.‍⁠‌

“…I‍ didn’t expect this.”‌

Therefore,⁠ the letter containing only a few⁠‌ lines and no⁠‌⁠ previous explanation was‌‍‍ enough to make‌⁠ Joseph’s head spin.‌

“Is Stephen of Gaidar‍ an easy opponent?”

“…That⁠‌ can’t be possible, right?”

Bordan⁠‌ ended up responding⁠⁠ to Joseph’s absurd‍‌‍ question with a reply without realizing‍‍ it.

Just‍‌ in terms of⁠ skill, it would be difficult to‌‍ stand shoulder to‌ shoulder with the‍ existing knights, but‍⁠ Stephen is only‍ in his twenties.

There‍‍ were few people⁠‌ in the West‍⁠‌ who stood out‌⁠ as much as‍ Stephen at that‌‌‌ age, so it‌⁠‍ would be difficult to say that‌‌ Bordan’s reaction was‍ exaggerated.

“Yes.”‌

After⁠ hearing Bordan’s words,‌ Joseph tossed the‍‍ note onto the‌⁠ desk and smiled‌‍⁠ slowly.

It‍ was the kind⁠ of laugh where‌ you want to‍ laugh but don’t‍⁠⁠ know how to.⁠⁠‍

“Call‍ the wizard. I need to respond⁠⁠‌ to Jager.”

“Ah…‌⁠ Okay.”

We‌‌‌ were prepared for‍⁠⁠ the worst, but⁠ not for the‌⁠ best.

Because‍ his thoughtful plans,⁠ born of depression,‌‍ flowed in a completely different direction from the wave‍ the boy was⁠⁠ creating.

“…I‌‌⁠ prepared him to⁠ endure no matter‌ what.”

Joseph‍ chose Stephen of‍ the West as‌⁠ the boy’s opponent‌‌⁠ for his debut‌ as a knight.‌

For⁠ a strong man‌⁠ with such a well-known name, even⁠ if Vlad loses,‌ it won’t be a flaw, and‌ if he even‍ puts him in‌ a difficult situation,‍‌⁠ his evaluation of‌ Vlad will increase‌⁠ significantly.

Alicia even calculated that‌ if he lost the handkerchief, he‌‌ would have no‍ choice but to⁠ take Bayezid’s hand.⁠⁠

“I⁠‌ guess I’ll have‌⁠ to rethink everything.”‍

As‍‌ his thoughts became⁠‍ more complicated, Joseph‍ leaned his head against the cold⁠ window and took‌ a deep breath.‌

From‌ outside came the⁠⁠‍ sound of the‌ crunchy snow falling‌⁠ to the ground.⁠

Now‍ it was an⁠‍ unpleasant sight.

***‍‌

Knights⁠‍ facing each other in a large‍ hall.

Even‌ though the weapon⁠ was sheathed, the⁠‌⁠ look in the‌ eyes between the⁠ two groups was nothing short of⁠‌ brutal.

However,‌‌ if you look⁠‌⁠ closely, you will see that the‌⁠‍ reactions of the knights are slightly‌⁠ different.

The‌ Northern knights wearing⁠‍ fur cloaks smiled‍‌ oddly.

The‌ Western knights with their capes billowing in the wind‌ clenched their teeth.⁠‌

Winners‍‍ laugh, and losers bow their heads.

The‌ Northern knights were⁠ in the hall,‌ enjoying the rights‌‌ granted to them‌ by their junior.‍⁠

“I‌⁠‌ wish I could‌ get my sword‌⁠‌ back.”

Godin,‌ who was always⁠‌‌ smiling, now looked‍ at the man⁠‍‍ in front of‍⁠⁠ him with a slightly severe expression.‌‌

Godin‍ always treated his‍‍ opponents with a flexible attitude, but‌‍ he had never⁠⁠⁠ faced such a humiliating situation as‌‍ the current one.⁠⁠‍

“Hmm.”⁠

After hearing Godin’s words,‌⁠ Jager simply stroked‍‌ his chin and‍‍ made a concerned expression.

“There‍ doesn’t seem to‍‌ be any problem‌⁠ with the procedure. But wouldn’t it‌⁠ be cumbersome?”

Stephen is the eldest son of Count Sigmund.

He⁠ was responding, but⁠ Godin was asking‌ if he might⁠‌ suffer the repercussions‍ of taking that⁠ man’s sword.

“I⁠‌‍ suppose it’s a problem we can‍ solve on our‍ own.”

Jager‍ crossed his arms‌ and scoffed at Godin.

Bayezid’s‌ attitude toward Gaidar⁠ could be seen⁠⁠‌ in his attitude⁠‍ that there was‍⁠ no need to⁠⁠ worry at all.⁠

“Still,⁠‌ taking a sword during a duel‍⁠‌ is uncommon. This has clearly crossed⁠ the line.”

As‍ Godin said, taking⁠⁠ a sword during⁠ a duel could⁠‌ be considered excessive.‌

However, in the current⁠‍ situation, it would‌ be a trophy‍ that would pose‍ no problem.

“I think Gaidar was‌‍‍ the first not‌⁠ to think about‌‌ what happened.”

Obviously,‌ Gaidar was the⁠ first to ignore⁠ Hainal and Bayezid,‌‍‌ so the current‍‍ shame is also⁠‍⁠ the result of⁠ his own contribution.

All‌ these were consequences‌ they had to bear.

“Besides,‍ they crossed the⁠‍ line first.”

He‍ was smiling but‌‍⁠ not laughing.

Although‌ he was the‌ only eye left‍‍ to Jager, the⁠⁠⁠ light emanating from‍ him exuded a strong presence.

“…Tell‍ me what you⁠ want.”

The⁠‍ situation is already⁠ a catastrophe.

Godin,‍‌ at a loss‍‌ for words to‌‌ justify the situation⁠‍⁠ he himself had‍‌ provoked, made one⁠ last attempt to‌⁠‍ retrieve Stephen’s sword.‌

“You can’t ask me‌ that.”

Jager’s⁠ eyes deepened at‌‌‌ Godin’s question.

The⁠‍ winner of the‌ duel was Vlad,⁠ and the owner of the loot‍‌ was also Vlad.⁠

So,‌‍ to change the⁠‍ fair price, the‍‌ intention of the‍‌⁠ boy will be⁠ important.

“You‍ know very well‌⁠ why he took‍ Stephen’s sword.”

Jager leaned his body⁠ against the table as if there‍ were no doubts anymore.

The‍‍‍ two knights knew‍ well why the‍⁠ boy so desperately‍ desired victory in‍⁠ yesterday’s duel.

“…I‍ suppose so.”

Godin⁠⁠ inwardly nodded at⁠⁠ Jager’s words.

Godin‍⁠ remembered it.

Although‌ the sword was‍ aimed squarely at‌ Stephen, the blue⁠ eyes were aimed‌‌ at him.

It‌‍‌ was as if‌⁠ he were telling‌ me to look‍ here or at‍‌ me.

“…Negotiations have failed.”

Why did Vlad take‍ Stephen’s sword?

It‍⁠ was to declare⁠ war on the⁠ Blue Moon Knight.‍‌

Godin‌‍ was no longer‌‌ the only one who could receive‌ a fair reward⁠ for victory.

The‌‌ relationship that began⁠‍ with Jorge twisted⁠‌ and eventually ended‌ here.

Flowing‌‌ and flowing, the⁠ current relationships I knew in Deirmae‍ were relationships that⁠⁠⁠ could have transcended‌⁠ karma or the‍⁠⁠ trend of the⁠‍‍ times.

“After‌ all, we’ll see‍⁠⁠ each other later.”‍

Stephen⁠ and Vlad.

The‌⁠⁠ first skirmish between‌‍‌ the West and⁠ the North.

The‍ winner of that‌‌ war was the‌ North.

“Get‍ out.”

Said‌⁠ the North.

Now,⁠‌‌ leave Deirmar.

“Please say goodbye on‌ my behalf.”

“Okay.”‍‌

The‌ Western knights who‍ lost the encounter‍⁠⁠ had no choice‌ but to rise‌ and make their⁠ way.

The Northern knights opened‌‍ the door to⁠⁠‍ the cold corridor‌⁠⁠ for them to stand up.

***‍‍

Alicia‍‍ was carefully embroidering‍⁠ a handkerchief brought⁠ to her office‌‍ by a maid.‍‌

“I‌‌ did it. I didn’t say anything.”

Since‍ the handkerchief was‍⁠ almost completely finished,⁠ it didn’t seem⁠⁠ to need her‌⁠ help, but a cause is important⁠‍⁠ at any time⁠‍ and place.

“I’ve‌ done everything up⁠ to this point.”⁠‌

“…You’re⁠ right.”

There⁠⁠‌ was nothing she‌ couldn’t do if⁠‌ necessary, but Alicia‍⁠ found it difficult to fulfill the‌ duties of the⁠ head of the family.

Anyway,‍⁠ it was true⁠ that Alicia had‍‌⁠ embroidered at least‍⁠‌ one stitch, so the child who⁠ received this handkerchief⁠⁠ would fully understand‌‍⁠ the current situation.‍⁠‍

“Hmm.‌ There’s no need⁠ to accept Joseph’s‌ offer now, is⁠‌ there?”

“That’s‍ correct.”

Alicia⁠ nodded as she⁠‌ carefully folded the letter Joseph had⁠ given her and‌‍ placed it back‍ inside the envelope,‍‌ as if indicating‌‌ she was done.‌

Now‍ that Vlad has‌⁠ halted Stephen’s proposal‌ as his knight,‍ there’s no longer‍ a reason to⁠‍ have Oksana as‌‍‍ his godmother.

“Yes,⁠ it’s a relief.‍‍ Although Bayezid’s embrace‍⁠ is comforting, it’s‌ always wise to‍ avoid giving them‌‍ excuses.”

“You’re‍ right.”

Alicia’s⁠ goal is the‍⁠ survival of Hainal⁠‍‍ and the reconstruction‍‍ of Deirmar.

Alicia,‌‌ who knew that‍⁠ no matter how‍‍ warm Bayezid’s embrace was, their goal‌‌⁠ was eventually to⁠⁠ take control of⁠ this place, was‍ struggling to stand⁠⁠‌ on her own.‍

And‍‍ her struggles were‍‌‌ now finding a new target.

“…A‌ knight like Mr.‍ Vlad is rare,‍⁠ isn’t he?”

“Of‍‌ course, Lady Alicia.”

If‌‌ you get a woman, you can‌‍ get full rights⁠ to Hainal and‌‍‌ Deirmar.

For Alice, who had‍‍ no power to‌‌ protect herself, the‍ current situation was‌⁠ that her mere⁠ existence was a weakness.

“How⁠‌ far do you‌‍ expect me to grow in the‌‌ future?”

Therefore,⁠⁠⁠ the gentleman named‌ Vlad, whose potential‍ in the future‌⁠‍ was more anticipated⁠‌‌ than in the⁠‌ present, was clearly⁠‌ someone who had‌‌‌ all the elements⁠‌ he could covet.‌‌⁠

“If he continues to‍ grow like this,‍ he will probably⁠‌ represent the entire‍ North in the⁠ next generation. That’s‌ the magnitude of‌‍ the situation.”

Duncan⁠⁠‍ already had the⁠‍‌ age of a knight, but his‍ eyes, trained by⁠ experience, were still‍⁠ sharp.

As‌ someone who had witnessed the two duels in Deirmar,‌⁠ Duncan had already‌ realized that the‍⁠ child’s potential was extraordinary.

“Mmm.”‌

Alicia⁠ fell into deep concern after hearing⁠⁠ Duncan’s words.

Although her appearance didn’t‍‍ fit her furrowed‌‌ brow, she was‍‌ now gaining the‍ grace of being⁠⁠ the mistress of‍‍ a mansion rather‌⁠ than an ordinary‌ lady.

“…After‌ all, it’s not‍ easy for a woman to take on the role‌⁠⁠ of the head of the family⁠‍ alone. There’s no‌ guarantee that something‍‍‌ like this won’t⁠‍‍ happen again.”

Insects⁠ are drawn to‌ beautiful flowers.

Although there were no‍ marriage proposals like⁠ Gaidar’s, in her⁠‌‌ office there were⁠ already accumulating letters‍ from numerous noble‍ men requesting their⁠⁠ right to triumph.‍‍

It⁠‍ was dangerous as‌ it was.

“It‌ would be better‌ to have an‌ inexperienced knight under‌⁠ my protection.”

In‌ this situation, Alicia‌ only had one‌ way to solidify⁠‌‌ her foundations as⁠‍ the sole Hainal.

The⁠ only way was⁠‍⁠ to find as a husband an‌⁠‍ untimely match from another family.

“Oh,‍‍ oh. Lady Alicia.”⁠

Duncan‍ was surprised when‍⁠ he realized what⁠⁠ Alicia was implying.‌⁠

No‍‌‍ matter how likely⁠ it was, the child was still⁠‌ a child who⁠⁠‌ had only been‍ a knight for a few weeks.‌

“Bayezid‍‌⁠ might like my proposal too. In‍ a way, doesn’t⁠‍ it feel like⁠‌ a blood pact?⁠‌ Isn’t it still⁠ too soon? No‌⁠ matter if a knight is a semi-noble…”

“I‍ heard he’ll be‍⁠ bigger.”

Duncan⁠‍ felt like he‌ wanted to take⁠⁠ back what he‌ had just said.‍

However,‌⁠ as he was‌‌ in a situation‍‌ where he couldn’t⁠‌‌ suggest an alternative⁠ proposal than the⁠⁠ one by Alicia, he simply lowered‍‌ his head with‌‍ a sad expression.‍

“It‌⁠ would be better⁠‍ to get him‌ first before others do.”

“…”‌

Duncan⁠ silently agreed that⁠‌⁠ Alicia’s decision was‍⁠‌ not entirely unfounded.⁠

“…But‍‌ don’t make decisions‍‍ too hastily.”

“It’s better than marrying⁠‍ a stranger.”

With‍⁠ those words, Alicia‌ turned her head‍ and looked to‍⁠ where the Hainal⁠‌ tree was.

“Besides,⁠ what he’s doing‍ is amazing too.”‌

Alicia’s teary eyes watched‌ the boy’s actions‍ there.

The‌‍ hill where my‌‍‍ parents’ graves are.‌

The⁠ child was pouring⁠‌ the alcohol he‍ held with his‍‌ head bowed towards‍⁠ the owners of‍⁠ the Hainal family.⁠⁠

It‍‍ was as if⁠ he was grateful⁠‍ for taking care‍ of him.

The⁠ other men were‌‍⁠ just making a fuss to gain⁠ trust, but the blond boy was‍‌ serving alcohol to his parents.