Star-Embracing Swordmaster — Chapter 9

Chapter 9

She‌ was the master⁠ of this place‍ even if everything‍ was shattered in‍ the nest. So, she still had⁠‍ work to do.⁠‍

“Wake⁠⁠⁠ up!”

A hand forcibly lifted⁠ Vlad, who had⁠‍ been rolling on‌‌ the ground.

“······M-Marcella.”‍‍

“Snap‌ out of it.‍‌ Do you want⁠‍ to die here?”‌⁠

The knight of the‌ whores, Jorge, was‍ the boss of‌ the back alley‍‍⁠ where Rose’s smiles‌ is located, but‍ he didn’t own‍‍ Rose’s smiles.

“Everyone who was guarding‍‍ this place is‍ now dead. One-armed‍‍ Jack will be‌⁠⁠ here soon.”

Madame‌‌ Marcella.

She⁠⁠ was one of⁠⁠ the flowers of⁠‍ Shoara city and⁠ the master of⁠⁠ Rose’s smile.

“What‍‌ about you, Marcella?”‍

“Worry about yourself, kid.⁠‍‌ You were Jorge’s‌⁠ dagger. Jack’s henchmen‌‍ won’t leave you‍ alone.”

“But…”⁠‌‌

The‌ boy had just‍ poured out all‍ his emotions, so⁠⁠ there was little anger and sadness⁠⁠ left inside him.‌⁠‌

“One-armed⁠‌ Jack might spare⁠ me. He said‍‍ he likes me…”⁠⁠

Slap!‍

A sharp sound rang‌‌‍ out, and the⁠ whores who had been shedding tears‌ all looked in‌‌ that direction.

They‌‍‌ saw Marcella, who⁠ stood there with‌‍ her hand raised,⁠‌⁠ and Vlad, who was flustered while⁠‍ touching his cheek.‍⁠

“Snap‍‍ out of it,‍ kid!”

“······.”‍

Madame Marcella was not‍ a fragile woman.‍

She‌ was someone who‌‌ had built a castle called the⁠ Rose’s Smiles in⁠ the rough back⁠ alleys with her‍‌ own strength.

Some⁠‍‍ even went as‌‍‍ far as to⁠ say that it‌ wasn’t Jorge, the‍ knight of the‍‌ whores, who had‍ chosen her, but‍⁠ rather Madame Marcella‌‌ had chosen him.

“Take⁠ this.”

Marcella‍‌ handed over a dagger that had⁠ been lying on‌ the ground, the‌⁠ same dagger Jorge‍⁠ had given Vlad‌‍ and he had⁠ thrown to block‍‍‍ Godin.

“Do‍ you know what sets us back⁠‍ alley folks apart⁠ from those who‌ live beyond the‌ streets?”

“Marcella…”‍

Vlad⁠ looked down at‍‍ the dagger and‌‌ quietly listened to‌‍ Marcella’s words.

After⁠ all, she had⁠ come to him⁠‍ before even finding‍ Jorge’s decapitated body.‍‍‍

“Listen‌⁠ carefully. The difference‌‍ between them and⁠ us is opportunity.”⁠

“Opportunity…”

“Those‍‌ who live beyond‍‌⁠ the streets can rise again even⁠‌ after a single‍‌ failure. Because they‌‍⁠ can afford it.”‌

Marcella⁠ pointed her finger⁠‍‍ towards the pile‍ of dead gang‍ members.

“Look‍ at them. What⁠ about us? We‌ had failed just once.”

Tears welled up in‌‌ Marcella’s eyes as⁠‌ she yelled at Vlad.

“We‌⁠ die if we‌‍ fail even once.‍⁠⁠ That’s how we‌‌ were born. So…”⁠

Marcella‌ tugged at Vlad’s⁠ collar and continued‍‌ speaking.

“Don’t⁠⁠‍ leave your one and only chance⁠⁠ in someone else’s⁠ hands.”

Marcella⁠‍⁠ was shouting at Vlad amidst countless‍ corpses.

Survive‌ somehow through your‌‌‍ own choices.

Marcella’s words to Vlad⁠ were advice worth‍‌ a fortune.

It‍‌⁠ was a valuable‍‌‍ lesson from a woman who had‍ dedicated her entire‌ life to gain‍⁠ her precious existence.‌

“I‍ understand.”

That‌ advice, accompanied by‍ Marcella’s tears, sank⁠‍ deep into the⁠‌ boy’s soul.

“If⁠ you want to‍⁠ live, leave Shoara.‌ Right now.”

And⁠ Marcella’s desperate cries‍⁠ and tears once⁠ again brought Vlad back to reality.‍‍⁠

“Yes,‍⁠ you’re right, Madame.”⁠‍

“Alright…”‌

Marcella‌ saw the light returning to the⁠ boy’s eyes.

“I’ll‍‍ leave. Right now.”‍⁠

The boy struggled to stand up, but‍‍‍ the red-haired girl supported him.

“Zemina.”⁠‌

“I’ll just give you support. Don’t hold‌ me by my‌⁠ ankles.”

“Just let me go.”‌

“You’re‌⁠‍ still stumbling. I’ll⁠ help you move‌ to a safe‌ place, and then‍⁠ I’ll escape.”

“······.”‌

Vlad tried to forcibly‌⁠ detach himself from‌ Zemina, who offered⁠ to assist in their risky escape,‍‍ but the girl’s determination couldn’t be⁠‍ easily broken.

And‌ everyone present knew⁠⁠ that Zemina would⁠ never let go,⁠ no matter what.‍⁠

“Please‍ help him, Zemina. And make it⁠‌ to the monastery‌‌ before dawn.”

“Alright,‌ Madame.”

“You‍‍ have to come⁠⁠ back even if⁠ you want to‌‍⁠ go with him.‍‍ If you move‍ together, you’ll be‍⁠⁠ caught soon, even after you escape⁠‌⁠ outside the city.”‍‍

“······I‌ understand.”

Zemina‍‌ just nodded calmly⁠ in response to‌ Marcella’s words urging⁠ her to say‍ their goodbyes.

There⁠‌ was no more‌ time.

One-armed⁠‌ Jack’s henchmen were‌ already keeping an eye on Rose’s⁠‌ Smiles.

Even⁠‍ if they didn’t‌ know the exact‌ situation inside, it⁠⁠ was just a matter of time⁠ before they figured⁠‍ it out.

Without‍‌ Jorge, Rose’s Smiles‍ was just a piece of meat‌‌‍ without an owner.⁠

One-armed⁠ Jack was always‍ a hungry wolf.‌‍‌

“I’ll‌ definitely come back.”⁠

“Vlad…”‌

Marcella⁠ gave a sad‌⁠ smile as she‌ looked at the⁠ boy who promised⁠‌ to return.

“Do⁠ you know how‍⁠ many men have‌ said that to‍‌ me?”

“I’ll‌ be different.”

Listening‌‍ to the boy’s‌‍ promise to come‍ back, Marcella remembered⁠ the time when‍‌ Jorge had brought⁠ back a pitiful‍⁠ puppy.

She⁠ had taken care‍⁠ of the child⁠ who lost his⁠ color, fed him,⁠‌ and cleaned him‍ up. That’s how⁠‌⁠ she had brought⁠ back his golden⁠⁠ colored hair.

But‌ now, it was‌‍ time to let‌ him go.

“Hurry,‌‌‌ go.”

She⁠‌ wanted to keep‍‍ them a little‌‍ longer, but Marcella‌‍ handed Vlad a pouch.

The‌⁠ jingling pouch didn’t‍‍ contain much, but‍‌‌ at least it‍ was filled with‌‌⁠ Marcella’s worries.

“Take‍‍ care, Madame.”

“See‍ you at the⁠ monastery!”

The‌‌ blonde boy and‍⁠ the red-haired girl⁠ hurriedly began to descend into the⁠‍⁠ basement.

Perhaps‌ they could sneak out through the⁠ back door there.‍

“······Good.”⁠‍

Marcella,⁠ who had successfully⁠ sent off the⁠‍ last trace left‍ by Jorge, wiped‍‍⁠ away her tears⁠ and looked around.‌‌⁠

Her⁠ eyes were still‌‌ filled with tears.⁠

There⁠‌ were pitiful lives‍ here. Women who‍‌ couldn’t survive without‍⁠‍ a man to‍⁠ rely on.

“Everyone.”‍⁠

Now,‍⁠ Marcella had to⁠‌‍ bring things to⁠‌⁠ a close.

It was her final‌ duty as the⁠⁠ one in charge.‍‍‌

“As‍ of today, Rose’s‍⁠ Smiles will close‍⁠ its doors.”

It was something only‌ a whore who‌ could stand tall⁠ without a man‍‌ could do.

“I‍ will give you severance pay. Those‍‌‌ who want to‌⁠ stay can stay,‌‍ and those who‌ want to leave,‌‌ please leave. And…”‍

Marcella’s⁠‍ gaze was fixed⁠‍⁠ beyond the street.‌‍‌

“Young‌⁠ girls who are‌⁠ still virgins, come‌‌ with me.”

Everyone was sobbing. Now‍ they would never‍ have a madam‌⁠ who would protect them like Marcella.‍ And the knight‌ of the whores‌‍‍ who wielded his‍‌ sword for them.‍⁠‍

They‍⁠ have to live‍ a life that‍ would now be‌ shaken back and‍ forth in someone⁠ else’s hands.

The⁠ nest was broken.‍‍

Now,⁠‌ no matter how‍ young the birds⁠‌ were, it was⁠ time for them‌⁠‍ to fly on‌ their own.

※※※※⁠‌

“Everyone’s‍ dead.”

“······.”⁠‌

The⁠ organization members guarding⁠ the back door‍⁠ had all neatly‌ cut in half‍ by the skilled swordsman.

“Ugh······!”⁠

“Are‌⁠ you okay, Vlad?”‍‍

Zemina asked, looking worried‍ as she saw⁠ the staggering Vlad.‍‌‍

It‍ was a dire‌ situation, but Vlad’s‌⁠ stamina had already⁠ reached the limits. He had spent‍‍‌ over five days‍ outside in the cold and had experienced shocking situations.‌⁠⁠ On top of⁠⁠ that, he had‍‍‌ fought with the⁠ knight and suffered‍‌ minor injuries.

“…..‍⁠‌ Let’s go.”

However,‍ even though his⁠⁠ energy was drained,‍ the determination in⁠‌ his eyes was still strong.

The‌⁠ boy swore that‍ he would definitely⁠ kill the knight‌‌ named Godin.

“I‌⁠‌ can’t end things‍‍ here.”

“Right! Let’s move!”

Zemina supported Vlad, and⁠‌ they hastily began‌ to make their‍‌⁠ way out of‍⁠ the alley.

They‍ had to escape‌‌‍ the eyes of‍ One-armed Jack and⁠ head outside the‍ city beyond the⁠⁠ familiar area they‌ knew.

The‌ boy and the⁠ girl clung to⁠⁠ each other to‍‍ survive just as⁠⁠ they had done‌‍‌ so far, and‍ doing their best‍ to survive.

But the world had a way of‌ not always going‍‌ as planned.

“We’ve‍‍ found them!”

“There,‍ it’s Jorge’s kid!”‍

One-armed⁠‍⁠ Jack’s hungry gaze⁠ found them much⁠⁠ faster than expected.‌⁠‍

Vlad‍ and Zemina moved as carefully as‍‍⁠ possible, taking advantage‍‌ of their knowledge‌ of the back‍‌‍ alleys, but the‌‌‍ same was true⁠‍ for One-Armed Jack’s‌‍ henchmen.

They‍⁠ started to move‍‍⁠ like greedy hyenas⁠ searching for the⁠⁠ young lion who⁠ had strayed from‍⁠‌ the pack.

He‌ kept moving forward‌ with support, but‌⁠ his movements were‍⁠‌ relentless and desperate.‌‌

The⁠ doom was approaching‌‍ the young lion.‌

“Vlad!”‌‍

“Go⁠ back, Zemina.”

“No!”⁠⁠

“You promised! Go to⁠ the monastery! Or⁠ even to Harven!”‍

“I‌‌ don’t want to!”‌⁠⁠

Vlad‍‍‍ bit his lip‍‌ seeing Zemina stubbornly‌‌ shaking her head‍ and shedding tears.

“Shit!⁠ Why do you⁠‌ never listen to‍‌‌ me!”

He‌‌ had known it⁠ would be like‍ this.

“You stupid girl! You⁠‍ just promised to‌ help me halfway!”‌⁠‍

“Ugh…uh…”‍⁠‌

Vlad⁠ let out a deep sigh watching‍ Zemina cry.

“How‍⁠ long do you‌‌ think I can‌ keep protecting you?”‍⁠

Two‍‌ vulnerable young lives⁠‌ leaned against the‌ wall. They came‍ this far by‌‍ supporting and protecting⁠‌ each other, but‌⁠ the grimy back‌‍ alley was not‌ willing to let‌ them go easily.‌⁠

“Damn‍‍ it.”

The weight that the‍⁠‌ girl had to⁠ carry for today‌‍‍ was too heavy.‌ And it makes⁠ it impossible for‌‌ Vlad to give‍‌ up even if⁠‌ he wants to.⁠‍

“…”⁠⁠⁠

That’s‌‍ why he had⁠⁠ to escape.

But how?

Vlad’s‌‍‌ steps naturally led⁠‌ him to a familiar place as‌‌ he was pounding‍⁠ this thought.

They had to get‍‌ inside somewhere, anywhere,⁠ for now.

That‌‍ was the only way to avoid‍ One-armed Jack’s henchmen‍ who were scattered⁠⁠ in the back‌‌ alley.

“Old⁠⁠ man! Open the‌ door!”

Vlad’s‍ halted steps brought‍ them to the⁠ front of a blacksmith’s shop.

The‌ place where he had always stood⁠‍⁠ for a while‍‌ and looked at‍⁠⁠ the sword.

“What‍‍ do we do…⁠ It seems he⁠‍ is not here.”‌

No matter how much⁠‌ they knocked, the⁠ old blacksmith gave⁠ no response.

Zemina’s‌ large eyes filled⁠‍‍ with fear as‍ she looked at‌⁠ the silent and⁠‍ worn door.

Vlad‌‍ foresaw the impending‌⁠ future seeing that⁠‍‌ fear in her eyes.

One-armed‌⁠ Jack was that‍ kind of person⁠⁠ who preyed on‌ the wounded and‍ used those who⁠‌‌ had fallen as‌ stepping stones.

“I‍ can’t let that‍ happen.”

He‍ couldn’t allow Zemina⁠‍ to become like⁠‍ that.

“Move‌ aside!”

Light⁠ returned to Vlad’s‌‌⁠ blue eyes.

“Uh,‌‌ okay!”

Vlad pushed Zemina aside,‍ and drew his‌‍‌ dagger. He desperately twisted the lock⁠ of the forge.‍

The‌ craftsman had built it strong and⁠⁠ sturdy, but if‍ you didn’t consider‌‌ the consequences, brute‌⁠ strength was the‍ only way at‍ this moment.

“Open‍ up!”

The‍ dagger containing the‌‌‌ boy’s desperation was‍ screeching as it‌⁠ twisted the lock‌ on the door.⁠

Creak…

And⁠⁠⁠ it responded to‌‍ his urgency.

Gradually, as One-armed Jack’s‍ henchmen approached, Vlad⁠‌ finally managed to⁠ bring down the‍‌ lock that had‍ barely opened with‍⁠ the handle of‌ his dagger.

Clang!‍

A gap appeared.

A small opening through‌‌ which they could enter the dark‍ forge.

“Go!”⁠‌

Zemina, who is small‍‌ in stature, entered first through the gap.

“Whew.”‌‌

Vlad‌‌ entered after her.‍

He quickly pulled the⁠ fragments of the‍⁠ fallen lock inside,⁠ and they were‍‍ able to enter‌ the previously locked‌ forge.

“Huff,‌ huff…”

“Are⁠‌ you okay?”

“Quiet.”‌‌⁠

Vlad’s stamina was drained,‍ but his senses‍⁠‌ remained sharp as‍⁠ ever.

“They‌ can hear us.”‍‌‌

Just⁠ like when he⁠ had sneaked Gordin‌‌ inside, Vlad focused‍ on the sounds⁠‍ to determine the‌ movements of Jack’s henchmen.

The‌⁠ echoing footsteps were‍ running around in⁠‌ the back alley.

“…‍ We can’t get⁠‍⁠ out.”

He‍ heard sounds surrounding‍⁠‌ them.

“Ha!”

“….”

And‍‍ it was getting‍⁠ close enough that‍‌ even Zemina could‍ hear it.

Zemina‌‌ was trembling and‌‍⁠ used both hands⁠‍ to cover her‌ mouth tightly.

“Where⁠ did these kids⁠‌ go?”

“They‌ definitely came this‍⁠ way.”

Vlad‌ held his dagger.⁠⁠ He took a deep breath and‌‍ leaned against the⁠‍⁠ door.

The⁠‍ distance between them⁠ and the henchmen was only as‍‌ thin as a single wooden plank.‌⁠

“They’re‌‍ fast for kids.‍ Maybe they slipped‍‌ into another alley?”‌

“Hurry⁠ up and find⁠‍ them! Billy said⁠ he’d give a separate reward if we find the‌‍‌ blonde guy.”

“Trying‍‌‌ to get revenge‌‌‌ for his broken‍ tooth, is he?”‍

While‌‌ Zemina trembled, Vlad’s‍‍⁠ gaze was heavy⁠‍ and serious.

He‍⁠‌ had to kill‍ them if those guys noticed them.‍

Otherwise,⁠‌ both of them⁠ will die.

Though⁠‌ the dagger Jorge‍‍ had left behind‍ was modest and⁠‍ slightly bent, it⁠ should be enough⁠‍⁠ to deal with‍ these guys.

Vad‌‌‍ focused because even‍ Zemina’s future was‌ hanging on his⁠ shoulders.

“Let’s‍ go. We have‌‍ to catch them‍‍ before they’re taken⁠⁠‌ by someone else.”‌⁠

“Ugh…⁠ Where did those‍ jerks disappear to?”⁠

Vlad⁠ listened carefully to the footsteps of⁠⁠ the men who were getting farther‌⁠ away. So, he⁠‍⁠ didn’t notice the‌‌ movement occurring quietly‍ within the forge.⁠

“Who’s‌ there?”

Someone‌⁠ was moving quietly‍‍⁠ within the old⁠‍‌ forge.

“…”‍

The‍ men had not‌ gone too far‍ yet.

Vlad‌‌ was feeling frustrated‌ and tried to move quickly.

“Don’t‍‍ move, old man.”⁠

Zemina,⁠ who supported Vlad,⁠⁠ was standing there.‍

“I am really going⁠‌ to stab you.”‍⁠

She‍ was threatening the⁠ old blacksmith while holding a piece of metal rolling around in the‍ forge.

“…..‍ Why are you⁠ here?”

The‌‍ winter moonlight seeped⁠⁠⁠ in through the‍ gap in the⁠‍ old forge. Only then was the old blacksmith able⁠ to see.

Zemina’s⁠⁠ teary eyes glistened‍‍ in the moonlight,‌‌ making her look‌ pitiful.