Star-Embracing Swordmaster - Chapter 102

When that snow melts (3)

Pierre, Bishop of Shoara.

A bishop dispatched directly to the North by the Vatican, and a person who has fought against evil, heresy, and evildoers all his life.

However, this incident was nothing more than an ordinary affair that was completely unrelated to his beliefs.

In order to gain his cause, he even gave indulgence to back-alley street thugs, but in the end, he only failed miserably.

“Bishop. “A telegram has arrived.”

“Come here.”

The mirror of St. Marello, which was a source of pride, was broken and was now under great pressure from the mayors of San Logino and Shoara.

Maybe I should resign from my position as bishop because of this incident.

Northerners have long thought of themselves as a thorn in the side of the Vatican.

“…But that’s okay.”

Still, it worked.

Because in the end, this telegram ended up in my hands.

If you want to achieve a greater cause, sometimes you have to know how to go back.

“A knight with the blood of a dragon would be able to put an end to Ramasut’s life.”

I always wanted to walk the right path.

There was a time when I believed I could do that.

However, Pierre had already realized long ago that the world cannot always walk on a straight path.

The path to God’s will is not always bright.

“It was incredibly rewarding.”

A telegram brought by a priest.

At the bottom of the small piece of paper was the seal of the Dragullia family.

Together with them, we will be able to show the foolish northerners the bright light of the Holy See once again.

※※※※

“how is it? “Have you thought about it?”

Vlad stopped by the city hall and visited Goth, who was working in the stables.

“You did that before. “Let’s do one big thing together.”

“…I’m not sure if being expelled from Shoara is a big deal.”

The goth was speechless at his suggestion, but he didn’t seem particularly offended.

In any case, he was in a situation where he was being exiled, and from Goth’s point of view, he had to give up his stable job.

It was a situation that anyone could understand.

“I said what I said. “Of course, the decision is yours.”

“…….”

Goth was clearly a useful person.

Unlike Vlad, who was imprisoned in Shoara for most of his life, Goth wandered from place to place, so he had a wide range of knowledge and was also a versatile person who could handle a variety of jobs.

However, he did not equate the term useful with the term necessary.

Because anything he could do, Vlad could also do.

“I’m planning to leave early tomorrow morning. “If you have any thoughts, let’s meet at the gate.”

“…….”

I know he was trying to use himself as an opportunity to climb to a higher place.

However, even if he started with a shallow strategy, he was a person who was with me until the end in times of crisis, so he extended his hand with all his sincerity.

Even if Goth declines the offer, it will be his last courtesy.

“Go already?”

“I’ve done all my business here.”

Even if Goth doesn’t come and he ends up alone, it won’t matter.

Because now I have the qualifications to stand alone no matter where I am.

The back of Vlad, who turned around without hesitation, said that.

※※※※

In the end, he couldn’t meet Josef.

He wanted to say hello one last time before leaving, but as an outcast who was no better than a sinner, this was not allowed.

Distinction between public and private like a sword.

Josef even refused his greetings in order to avoid giving up even a single justification until the end, but the reason he was still not offended was probably because he learned a lot from him.

“I spoke with the Kannor family. When the river melts, Haven receives the fish from Sturma by boat.”

“Have you already found a business partner?”

“We should prepare for the next task if possible.”

Always think about the next move.

Always prepare for the worst.

Now that he had to stand alone, Vlad decided to take the advice he had learned from Josef and Zayar to heart.

“Otar. Help Haven’s business. “Having you by my side will help me.”

“hmm.”

He gave Haven, who had a boat, a connection with the Kannor family, and placed Otar next to him in case of an unexpected situation.

Just the two of us may not be enough, but since it is still a small business and there will be people on the side to help, I think it will be possible.

“Why is this? “You’re going to need money to stay outside, right?”

“Even without this, it will be enough. “When did you live with money?”

Vlad quietly took out ten sparkling gold coins from his pocket, which now had only 18 gold left, and handed them to Haven.

“Take care of the kids outside with this. “There’s something bosses usually do around this time of year.”

“iced coffee…….”

In the past, when there were five bosses, when a season like now came when it was difficult to make a living, each boss would gather food to eat in the back alleys.

It may have been nothing more than a formality to attract public sentiment and solidify the foundation, but in reality, there were people who survived on the meal they provided.

“Now that there are only two bosses, the kids outside are all starving to death.”

“okay. “You are right.”

It was still the same today to believe that if you are weak you will be trampled and that you must fight to survive.

However, no matter how remote it may be, it would be wise to take care of children at least.

Moreover, these days, the eyes of children looking at him keep getting trampled.

“…The kids keep looking at me.”

“I said I understood.”

I decided to do it because I could, and I was in a position where I needed to do it.

I decided to willingly give about 10 gold for the children who were looking at the knight who was born and raised in the back alley.

If that’s the case, at least no children will starve to death this winter.

“I think it’s done now….”

Now that he had taken care of all the back alley kids, he was almost done with what he had to do.

“But he doesn’t come out until the end.”

Vlad’s eyes were focused on a room on the fourth floor.

She said it was Gemina’s room where she had dragged herself right next to it, saying it was blocking the conversation in her voice.

※※※※

“I’ll buy you that later when I get paid for the virginity.”

There was a time when I stood in the mud on the road and looked at the old blacksmith’s sword.

“You said it only takes 5 gold, right?”

While I was staring blankly at the shining sword, there was a red-haired girl who always stood next to me.

Amidst her cruel options of being either a fucking beggar or a prostitute selling her body, Gemina smiled and bought her an unadorned sword, which she did.

“Do you think your virginity is worth 5 gold?”

“Even if you buy it for me, it’s a damn thing.”

In her jokes and scolding, the boy laughed and the girl laughed, but in reality, no one was laughing.

For those living in the back alleys, even protecting someone was a luxury.

However, Gemina gave herself a sword.

The rich red hair that she held out in exchange for her sword was like her last weapon to Jemina, who had nothing.

The sword she bought that day with her girlish tears made herself her knight.

Perhaps all the achievements she had made with the plain sword so far began with Jemina.

“Where are you going!”

“It was later than I thought.”

“…You’re not going to answer?”

Vlad came out, carrying Gemina, who was locked in her room, on her shoulder, and was hurriedly running down her alley.

“Let’s run a bit.”

“……Do whatever you feel like.”

Gemina, embarrassed by her puffy eyes, buried her face behind Vlad’s back.

I could feel Vlad’s breath through the cold winter wind.

“So, do your best.”

“what?”

They used to run away, but now they are driven out.

I thought she was finally sticking around, but she acted like a fool for no reason and created this division.

In the face of yet another separation, she felt neither sadness nor anger, but only sadness.

“It’s here. Is it here?”

“…Where am I?”

She was dragged out so suddenly that she couldn’t even put her shoes on.

The place where she ran after being carried by Vlad for a while was not the back alley she usually saw, but the central square in the center of Shoara.

“Is the door closed?”

If you’re in a back alley, it’s time to light up, but if you’re an ordinary person, it’s time to close your business and go home.

Still, Vlad only had time today, so it was inevitable.

If he had known he would be kicked out like this, he should have ordered it in advance.

bang-! bang-!

Open the door!

“hey! it’s crazy? What are you doing!”

“Owner! “I told you to open the door!”

“The guards are watching!”

The patrolling guards approached Vlad, who was pounding hard on the door.

The girl from the back alley, who always had no choice but to cower in front of the guards, was embarrassed and grabbed Vlad by the back of his neck and shook it, but in reality, it was nothing to do anymore.

“So what. “I am a knight.”

“……ah.”

I was able to be confident even in front of the guards, whom I was always afraid of.

Now, Vlad has become someone who can at least protect Jemina, who is on his back.

“Who are you at this hour?”

“I reserved something, right? “Are you finished?”

“…Please come in, Vlad.”

No one could treat Gemina poorly while she was with Vlad.

It was not simple fear, but Vlad’s authority and honor that made it so.

The store is open again, although business hours have passed.

Inside her shop, which was brightly lit again as was her owner’s sudden change in attitude, Gemina could not keep her mouth shut.

“wow.”

Looking at the countless clothes surrounding her

Wonderful fabrics that made me feel like I was stepping on the cold floor even though I was barefoot.

“But why did you come here!”

This was the most famous dressmaker in Shoara.

“It was finished, but you came late so I was planning to bring it to you tomorrow.”

“I am sorry for being late. “Let’s put it on now.”

Instead of answering Gemina’s question, Vlad simply gestured with his hand.

“me?”

“Who else here would wear this little dress but you?”

Jemina’s eyes naturally turned to where Vlad’s hand was pointing.

“Try it on.”

A dress swaying in the hands of the dressmaker.

The luxuriously dyed bright red color looked good with Gemina’s hair.

※※※※

She opened the door of the jewelry store and received her necklace and earrings.

A tanner stopped by the house and picked up her bright red shoes.

I brought the cosmetics I had ordered and a fancy fan from the jewelry store.

“When I saw it at that time, it looked good on me.”

“…….”

Vlad took the items she had reserved one by one and put them on Jemina.

With the setting twilight, Shoara’s square was getting darker, but Gemina’s outfit was shining even brighter.

“I didn’t think she would get any taller, so I made it the perfect size.”

“Crazy guy.”

“Now don’t borrow it from Marcela, wear your own.”

Vlad remembered.

That time when Jemina came wearing a bright red dress to bring in noir.

At that time, she was not a back alley girl who said she would sell her virginity, but a lady that anyone could recognize.

“…How much is all this?”

Since she borrowed something from someone else, the awkward look no longer exists.

The dresses and accessories made just for the girl made Gemina shine even more than what she had seen that day.

“Probably about 5 gold.”

“Can this be 5 gold?”

Jemina grabbed the hem of her skirt and smiled as if she were dumbfounded.

I’m not sure because I’ve never bought it, but the bright red velvet dress alone was easily worth more than 5 gold.

“good. “It’s pretty.”

Vlad put his hands on her waist and looked proud.

It was hard to believe that just a moment ago she was a woman who had been crying in her room.

“I wish I had done her hair too, but I’ve been too busy.”

One week was a busy time for her to organize the things she had decided to do so far.

Still, it was fortunate that I was able to use the last night of Shoara entirely for Gemina.

“receive.”

“What.”

After nodding her head as if it was now done, Vlad handed Jemina one of her pieces of cloth.

“This is the handkerchief I made.”

A crude handkerchief that does not suit a woman wearing a fancy dress and accessories.

It was a handkerchief that Jemina had personally made for Vlad, with someone’s name clearly engraved on it.

“I didn’t know, but they said nobles do this.”

Vlad knelt down on one knee as Zemina stared at her handkerchief, which she had made herself.

“……What are you doing?”

The etiquette of a nobleman, learned harshly from Oksana.

Zemina was taken aback by Vlad’s sudden actions, but there was an elegance that could not be put into words in each of his appearances.

“Could you please give me your handkerchief? Lady.”

Even though she was not born with noble blood, the girl was something that Vlad had to protect and repay.

And if she is a woman whom a knight must protect, she naturally deserves the title of Lady.

Jemina was a qualified woman.

“You can give that to me now.”

“huh? Yep.”

Gemina meekly held out her handkerchief with her own name engraved on it.

From the way Vlad asked her for her handkerchief, I felt a seriousness that I couldn’t dare refuse.

“…….”

There are two ways for a driver to receive a handkerchief from a lady.

One way is to receive it with the tip of her sword.

Another way to receive it from her hand.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

Vlad looked at the back of Jemina’s dirty hand in her own hand.

Although hers looked different from Alicia’s smooth hands, they were still hands that one couldn’t help but feel fond of.

“Be sure to apply what I bought you on her hands.”

“If you wash the dishes anyway, everything will get erased.”

As Zemina laughed as if it were absurd, Vlad also started laughing along with her.

Now we no longer have to hide our feelings with laughter.

In a square with no one around.

A knight knelt before the Lady.

Her handkerchief was passed from hand to hand, and although Jemina may not have known it, Vlad pledged through that act to willingly carry one of her duties on her shoulders.

It was an oath to protect you.