Star-Embracing Swordmaster - Chapter 132

She Calls You (1)

A garrison built on the northern plains, now overgrown with grass.

The flags waving among the numerous tents had emblems representing the Holy See and the Knights of the Dragon Slayer engraved on them.

“…Why aren’t you entering? Lord Radu.”

Inside the most ornately decorated commander’s barracks.

Bishop Pierre was standing there, glaring at the man in front of him without even looking at the teacup the owner had given him.

“It’s already been two months since we launched the military. “But you’re still just watching with bated breath.”

The tone of voice is polite, but there is anger inside that cannot be hidden.

Bishop of Shoara and inquisitor.

Pierre continued speaking in a strong tone, as if he could not stand it any longer.

“The God above will not be very pleased with your current unfaithful attitude. So, Lord Radu, even now…”

“I will do it.”

Pierre’s words contained enough anger to be ignored, but the man sitting in front of him was just calm.

“Right now I’m just waiting for an opportunity.”

Red hair neatly brushed with hair oil catches the eye.

However, the blue eyes they were meeting clearly testified that Radu had dragon blood.

It was blue eyes with an energy that was not human-like.

“You haven’t confirmed how long you will do this, right?”

“…….”

Radu Dragulia of the Dragon Slayer Knights.

The man who inherited the blood of the Dragon Blood Prince was glaring at Bishop Pierre and suppressing his momentum.

“Then when do you plan on taking out your sword?”

“Isn’t that simple?”

Although he was in front of a bishop promoted by the Vatican, Radu’s attitude showed no hesitation at all.

Because there was only one person he feared in this world.

“When my father gives permission.”

“…….”

Radu put both feet on the table and shrugged his shoulders.

Pierre was at a loss for words at that relaxed appearance.

“…Please do not mix human intentions with God’s will.”

“Don’t worry too much. Bishop. “It won’t take that long.”

Radu lifts the glass of alcohol he poured and shrugs his shoulders.

Pierre couldn’t help but drool inwardly at his attitude, as if he was telling him to go out now.

The momentum of the dragon released from its leash was already overlooking the Holy See.

“…I’ll go and see.”

“I won’t see you off. “Bishop.”

In the end, Bishop Pierre had no choice but to bite his lip and leave the tent.

It was a matter that had to be resolved with a flag raised in the name of God or with a human sword, so an army could not be raised without Radu’s permission.

Because that was the contract we agreed to do in the first place.

‘You got hit.’

The midday sun fell on Pierre’s eyes as he came out of the tent.

This is the sight I see when I cover my bright eyes with my hand.

Flags waving in the wind.

The space between them was filled with tents arranged in an orderly manner.

‘Even after all this.’

Although I prepared this far, in the end, I was fooled by the Dragon Blood Lord’s intentions.

Before he knew it, his cause had been taken away, and the sword hilt was not his from the beginning.

“…….”

I know why you are so still.

They probably wanted to keep the North in check.

The central forces, which had risen up after a long time, were stuck like stakes in the middle of the northern part, using their special existence as a justification.

The stakes driven by the Dragon Blood Ball were suppressing the movements of the Steel Ball and the Northern Union.

‘…I hope it’s not too late. ‘Dragon Blood Ball.’

Pierre just hoped it wasn’t too late.

Baron Utman.

Where the garrison is facing.

The ominous energy emanating from there had suddenly taken shape and was descending like a black fog.

The fog was so thick that neither the approaching summer energy nor the afternoon sunlight could reach it.

※※※※

Unlike yesterday, the empty village feels eerie.

In the quiet village, as if everyone had left, only the household goods that had not been taken away were lying around.

“Follow along well, Mom Marie. Even when you go there, keep your head straight…”

As the people slowly left, Goat was holding his mother’s hand tightly and begging her to pray.

“Please take care of my mom and Marie. “I thought we were the same family, but no, we are the same family now, right?”

“I will do my best. older brother.”

Villagers starting to leave Wisteria Village.

In front of them, the village chief was screaming loudly, telling them not to leave, but no one was listening.

I saw the signs of war approaching right in front of me, and it made no sense to remain silent.

“I went to Marcia and was locked in. “No matter how territorial a battle is, it is rare for a city to be captured.”

“Be careful, Goat. “Mom always worries about you rather than me.”

Goth’s eyes are full of worry as he looks at his mother’s wrinkled face.

It was so full that it felt like it was going to drip down.

“…Take care of the money I gave you. Send a letter to Shoara as soon as you arrive. “You should be able to at least get in touch there.”

“You need to be careful too, brother.”

We were a family that we finally met, but now we have to be separated again.

Having to send his family through a rough and treacherous evacuation road also made Goat feel like he was going to lose a thousand dollars.

“Tsk.”

Vlad clicked his tongue as he looked at Goth, who was preoccupied with the unfortunate send-off.

A son preparing to say goodbye to his mother.

Vlad, who was quietly watching the scene, scratched his head and frowned.

“hey. Goth.”

“…….”

“Hey. “Can’t you hear?”

Goat quietly waves his hand as he watches the people moving further and further away.

Vlad grabbed Goth, who was busy seeing him off, by the scruff of his neck and held it in front of his face.

“Why why boss?”

For some reason, Vlad’s expression looks fierce.

Goat cringed at the uncomfortable expression on his face, but what he heard was completely unexpected.

“You follow too.”

“huh?”

It was a journey that would only return to Shoara anyway.

So you won’t need Goth’s guidance anymore.

“…What is that?”

“It’s vacation. “I’ll give it a long time.”

Although it was only for a moment, Vlad was able to recall old memories through Goth’s family.

So, if possible, I just wanted to remember it completely.

Now the memories he had were so old and worn out that it was difficult to recall them properly.

“Instead, it’s unpaid leave.”

“……Leader.”

Goth froze, as if embarrassed by Vlad’s sudden suggestion.

The quick-witted conman’s fingers trembled as if he had noticed something.

“Did I get fired?”

“…It’s a vacation. “You crazy guy.”

“Long unpaid leave, that’s how employers usually talk about layoffs.”

Vlad felt like he could feel Goth’s life story through the conversation he heard.

“Quickly follow me. See you later in Shoara.”

“eww. huh!”

Only then did Goth understand Vlad’s intention and hurriedly get on the horse.

Consideration contained in cold tone of voice.

Vlad’s consideration was felt even in the ladle he stirred in front of his mother last night.

“Thank you Captain!”

For some reason, the procession of people visible over the hill in the distance looked hazy.

The shorter the moment of separation, the better, but Goth was not able to easily leave his position.

“I’ll just take your mother to a safe place and come find her right away!”

“Will there be any space left for you by then?”

With sincerity.

But there will be no misunderstanding.

The two people who met on a winter day had already reached a level where they understood each other.

“…You’re not good at receiving ships like Haven.”

Vlad smiled bitterly as he watched Goth leave for his family.

When we met, he looked like a fraud, but when he left, he looked like a sincere person.

The goat of Wisteria Village was running towards its family.

“Okay, go quickly.”

Although he said he would come soon, it was a farewell that would take several months at best.

Maybe I won’t see you again.

Vlad knew very well that separation was such a fleeting thing.

“…Honestly, it was tasteless. Potato stew.”

Looking at Goth’s back as he left, Vlad uttered one word that he could not bear to say.

It tasted like mom’s, but it didn’t taste good.

The afternoon sunlight hanging in the middle of the sky tickled Vlad’s eyes.

Blue eyes covered with palms to avoid the shining sun.

The color of the eyes that looked at the people leaving was cold, but the warmth contained within them seemed warm.

※※※※

“As expected, the further north you go, the colder it gets.”

Men walking along a small forest path.

Stefan joked and moved closer to Vlad.

However, his words only made him tremble under Noir’s fierce glare.

It seems that Vlad wasn’t the only one who was sad about breaking up with Goth.

“How far will you follow me?”

“To the north. “Is there just one week left until Shoara?”

Stefan and the Thorn Mercenaries.

Now they were following Vlad around.

“Why do you have to follow me to Shoara?”

“That’s because I haven’t settled in yet.”

Their wanderings, which began in the eastern city of Tanovo, have not yet ended.

As times went by, the value of mercenaries was increasing, but that didn’t mean they could sit down anywhere.

“After all, I am in the position of doing business with my only life. “You have to be sensitive when choosing an employer.”

“……After listening to it, it wasn’t really my fault. “Because you’re so picky, I haven’t been able to find a place until now.”

“haha! Isn’t that why he survived until now?”

Stefan just smiled brightly at Vlad’s scolding.

If possible, I had to please this young knight.

‘I can accept as much as I want.’

His tone of voice is harsh and his attitude is cold.

However, since his behavior toward his squire was warm, it was clear that he had a not bad personality.

‘Even if his personality is a bit of a mess, it’s still worth following.’

I could recognize him because he was Stefan, who had been with Vlad for a long time, from when he rescued the wandering thing in the forest of Dorrechti to the wisteria village.

This guy is going to be bigger.

Unlike before, Vlad’s value was now shining so brightly that anyone could easily recognize it.

“If you stop by Shoara, how do you receive the mission right there?”

“…I don’t know, so I have to go to find out.”

If you have good skills, good personality, and great prospects, it would be right to get on board without delay.

This was clearly an opportunity, as even the strongest competitors were eliminated on their own.

“Why are you asking about my job?”

“Hehe. Isn’t this also fate? “How can I have a drink in Shoara…”

Stefan showed a friendly smile and tried to joke around.

However, Vlad’s eyes narrowed as he looked at him.

“for a moment.”

“yes?”

Sounds that follow the wind.

Vlad’s sensitive hearing began to pick up something.

Sounds coming from far away.

It was the sound of horses’ hooves.

“Someone is coming.”

“…!”

Vlad quietly places his hand on the handle of his sword.

Stefan, who recognized that Vlad’s appearance was unusual, quickly sent a signal to the crew.

“Prepare your formation!”

Following his signal, a group of Thorn mercenaries immediately surrounded Stefan and Vlad with their horses.

Vlad was momentarily surprised by their neat appearance.

“I can see it.”

“hmm.”

Stefan naturally sits next to Vlad and begins to report.

Through their field of vision, they could see men approaching from afar.

‘It looks like there are 20 people.’

Although the number seemed to be twice as large as the group, there was no need to back down.

The Thornwood Mercenaries were seasoned men, and they clearly knew what position they were in.

“stop. “The person in front must identify himself.”

Men in black hoods confidently approach as if they have nothing to hide.

Although they were disguising themselves as ordinary people, Vlad could sense an unusual energy coming from them.

“I’m starting to feel a bit more irritated now. I’ve grown a lot. “It’s completely different from back then.”

“…You seem to know me, right?”

A man with a smile on his face as if he knows him.

Vlad raised his sword towards the unknown man.

I don’t know, but there is nothing more suspicious than someone who knows me.

“Who the hell are you. Just answer the question.”

“…….”

The man paid no heed to Vlad’s growing momentum.

He quietly searched inside his chest and pulled out a stiff piece of paper.

It was a piece of paper with a familiar seal engraved on it.

“Joseph sent me here. Knight Vlad.”

“what?”

The man’s face becomes visible when he lifts the hood along with the order he is holding.

His face was covered with countless deep scars.

“From now on you will not come to Shoara, but go to Deirmar.”

“what?”

Vlad recognized the man along with the scars.

It was only a one-time encounter, but it was an unforgettable sight.

He was a man remembered by Vlad for his first impression as strong as his face.

“Until further instructions, I command you to act as a knight of Lady Alicia and not as Vlad of Shoara.”

The leather pouch that Josef showed in the carriage.

Inside was the head of a man with his eyes wide open, unable to close them.

“It is the name of Josef Bayezid, the noble blood of the North.”

The hidden sword of Bayezid’s family.

The unknown knight who had cut off Endre Hainal’s head was now standing in front of Vlad.