Star-Embracing Swordmaster - Chapter 144

On the day the cuckoo cries (1)

Josef’s office bathed in gentle sunlight.

The office that Alicia gave specially for Josef was not as big as the mayor’s office in Shoara, but it was a nice enough space.

“Only 10 people went out there and committed a provocation…”

However, in this wonderful space, all that was heard was not a friendly chat, but just the sound of banging on the desk.

Zayar, who is expressionless but showing signs of discomfort next to him, is probably a bonus.

“According to the scout’s report, it was said that it almost hit them?”

“…….”

Vlad just rolled his eyes back and forth in response to the question he heard.

In fact, it wasn’t just before it hit, it was like it was hit.

Although they didn’t take out their swords, a few people quickly kicked them away and returned, so it was a provocation that could be considered an actual engagement.

“sorry.”

Josef hates lies.

Vlad, reflecting on the valuable lessons he had learned during his time as a praying Riemann, quickly adjusted his stance as if this was a model of a reflective posture.

The posture of politely putting one’s back behind one’s back and slightly lowering one’s head seemed to be something that had only been done once or twice.

“……done.”

Josef didn’t even sigh anymore as he watched Vlad just say he was wrong without any intention of making an excuse.

“I did it because I thought it was worth doing.”

From the first time I met him, I thought he was a difficult guy to deal with, but I was actually a bit wrong.

Vlad was the type of person who shined when left alone, not controlled.

“I hope your provocation was done with cool-headed judgment.”

Josef decided to respect his blossoming individuality.

It was something I did based on my own judgment, neither inadequate nor wrong, so now I had to judge it based on the results.

The knight named Vlad sufficiently proved that he had become a complete knight through this operation.

“Just remember. “A knight’s thoughts must be serious and his steps must be heavy.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

However, I wish you would be a little more careful.

From now on, when your name is known, the traces of everything you do will be engraved like footprints and will follow in your footsteps.

Until you stop. endlessly.

“Make sure you get some rest. “It would be a good idea to stock up on stamina.”

“All right.”

Josef’s words telling us to stock up on stamina in preparation for the coming war.

Contrary to what he expected, Vlad surprisingly did not receive a harsh scolding and was a little embarrassed.

“What are you doing? “I told you to get out.”

“……yes.”

However, Xayar was still glaring at Vlad with his head tilted crookedly.

With a grim look in his eyes as if telling him to look forward to the future.

Unlike Josef, Xayar still seemed to have a hard time letting go of Vlad.

Squeak –

Bordan, who was sitting on a guest chair drinking tea, stopped snorting as he watched Vlad step forward with a refined posture without letting go of his tension until the very end.

“That guy is still a mystery.”

A knight who is absolutely ruthless in what he does, but has an elegant appearance.

Bordan had never seen a knight with such a distinctly different appearance.

“It seems like an amazing mix.”

“…It bounces around here and there, but it’s the color Bayezid needs.”

An article that has grown on its own, not a made-up article.

Josef wanted such a knight, and Vlad lived up to his expectations.

“It’s a color that even you covet.”

Josef picked up Vlad’s report on the desk and quietly walked to the window and looked out.

The soldiers looked somewhat excited.

They’re probably talking excitedly about Vlad’s provocation that happened today.

“Among Bayezid’s knights, how many of them want to do such crazy things?”

Josef smiled faintly as he saw the garrison becoming more lively for the first time in a long time.

A shabby flag erected in the corner of the office.

Gaidar’s eagle, along with Stephen’s sword, became a great trophy and became another decoration.

※※※※

“Vlad.”

“oh. “Stefan.”

People crowded into a small mansion.

It was inevitable that Vlad and Stefan would meet familiar faces after just a few steps.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“You say what I have to say first.”

“I don’t have anything to say.”

Mercenary leader Stefan naturally followed Vlad’s side and spoke to him.

“Where are you going?”

“To see the horses.”

“Oh, that guy.”

“I have to go take care of him at least once a day. “Because my personality is so damned.”

Stefan quietly nodded at Vlad’s words.

Although his abilities are excellent, his temperament is dirty.

Even though he was watching from the side, he was a formidable guy, so Stefan was able to easily think of Noir.

“Can we take care of the little things? “I can at least provide you with food.”

“Yes, thank you.”

I would appreciate it if you could do that, but I don’t know if I can do it.

There was no stable keeper other than a goth who could cling to him.

“I’ve already requested a contract extension from Lord Bordan, so don’t be too clingy.”

“……ha ha ha. I didn’t necessarily mean that.”

Vlad knew why Stefan was clinging to him.

Mercenaries are people who chase shiny gold coins.

However, since everyone knew the importance of gold coins, in this world, noise was always bound to occur at the stage of giving and receiving.

“We just want to work with Vlad one more time.”

“Speak with spit on your mouth.”

In that sense, Josef Bayezid must have been a great employer.

Because he was not a deceitful person like Count Vitskaya of Tanovo, nor was he poor like the Dalmatian Baron of Dobrechti.

“This way. “They said the location of the stable has changed compared to before.”

Stefan follows Vlad as if he is familiar and finds his way.

Stefan, who had arrived at Dermaar in advance with Marcus, had quickly figured out the location of the mansion.

Stefan knew very well that each little preparation like this would increase his own evaluation.

“It’s right here, though. But it looks like there is a passenger.”

“hmm.”

Anyone can see that it is a black horse that occupies a large space by itself, unlike other horses.

However, there was already a small shadow clinging to Noir’s side even though Vlad did not allow it.

It was a child with familiar green hair.

“What are you doing here?”

“…….”

Charles was making a truly subtle expression as he watched Vlad enter the stable.

It seemed like he was happy to see me, but in a way, he also seemed uncomfortable.

“How often do you say this?”

“why? “If you have money, can you buy it?”

Vlad took the brush brought by the summoned stable keeper and brushed Noir’s fur without even looking at Charles next to him.

Noir was sensitive to the unfamiliar voyage, but as he felt Vlad’s consideration for the first time in a long time, he began to purr like a dog.

“No matter how much money you give, there are some things you can’t buy. “He’s like that too.”

“…….”

It was a question that seemed rude in some ways, but it probably wasn’t something he really wanted to buy.

I guess I just said it because I had nothing to say.

Seeing the breathtaking awkwardness between Vlad and Charles, Stefan quickly left the stable and made room for them.

“Is she okay? “The woman who was hit by an arrow.”

“ah.”

Now there are only two people in the stable.

Looking at Charles, who stubbornly refused to leave despite being warned, Vlad could sense that the child had nowhere to go.

Because Vlad was all too familiar with the appearance of not being welcomed everywhere.

“Marta is fine. “I feel much better.”

“Why don’t you go and nurse me?”

“They said I needed to take it easy. So, you must not disturb.”

A woman named Martha was not the mother who gave birth to Charles, but she was the nanny who raised him.

Since he saved the only person he could rely on emotionally, it was understandable that Charles would hang around Vlad.

“A cloak. “I’ll give it back to you.”

“…I’ll keep it for the time being. “It’s just a hassle during battle anyway.”

Vlad thought of the woman growing cold while holding the child, and felt fortunate that she was safe.

Even though she was an unrelated person, there was still something familiar about her that came to mind.

Vlad was hoping that his cloak would be of some help to her.

“……This one.”

“What is this?”

The girl disguised as a boy handed Vlad a small necklace as if she had thought about it for a while.

“I was taught to always show sincerity when expressing sincerity. “Because that’s what Ravnoma has to do.”

“…….”

A brown necklace given by Charles.

The necklace, which appeared to be made of brass rather than gold or silver, had a smooth shine as if it had been carefully polished amid all the chaos.

“Why are you giving this to me?”

“Because you saved Martha. And me too.”

Charles remembered Vlad, who had posed as a decoy to save the group.

If it weren’t for Vlad’s sacrifice, he would be rolling around in the cold wasteland by now.

Because the grace of life-saving was a heavy burden, Charles was determined to give as much as he promised, even if not right away.

“I have nothing to give right now. But I’ll do it later…”

“Put it in.”

Vlad threw the brush he was holding into the bucket and opened his mouth bluntly this time, examining Noir’s hooves.

“Is that a keepsake or an heirloom or something? “I decided to never accept anything like that again.”

“…….”

It was an object that seemed to have a story at first glance.

Regardless of whether it was worth it or not, Vlad was a person who had resolved not to accept such items indiscriminately.

The reason I still avoid Alicia here and there was because of that reason.

“And…”

After examining all the hooves, Vlad placed his hand on Noir’s sturdy waist and chuckled.

It was nothing special, but as I tried to say it out, a strange feeling welled up in my chest.

The time has come for me to tell this to others.

After all, I don’t know what’s going on in the world.

“…A knight should receive only fair compensation.”

These words are bound to be heavy because I have always kept them in my heart.

Drivers should receive only fair compensation.

There was someone who said that to a boy in the back alley who was nothing.

Through him, Vlad confirmed the reality of the vague dream and was still chasing him, looking up into the distant sky.

The boy’s arrow, which he had shot toward the blue moon, was still flying toward the sky.

“I have already received fair compensation for this mission. So I won’t take what you give me in return.”

“…….”

As Charles finally looked at Vlad looking back at him, he was silenced by the strange feeling of weight emanating from him.

A knight talking about qualifications and a girl who doesn’t even have the qualifications to say Ravnomara yet.

Charles naturally grabbed the necklace he had held out again.

For some reason, I felt resentful.

“…But I will definitely pay you back later.”

From a lying knight to a boy in a back alley.

And again to the girl who has nothing to give.

The knight’s oath, which had a strange resonance, continued to be passed down to someone else.

※※※※

“It will arrive in the next two days.”

“I get it. Godin.”

Now Dermar is so close that you can see it if you squint your eyes.

Although there were teeth-gnashing checks and obstructions, Sigmund succeeded in leading the main force without much trouble.

Even though it was a quick move, there were not many people who left, showing Sigmund’s excellent leadership skills.

“It has been delayed by a month, but it is still within the expected range.”

Sigmund’s fierce smile was directed towards the north.

A place where your goals and objectives are.

As he watched the black dirt under his feet becoming increasingly shiny, Sigmund could feel with his whole body that he was getting to where he wanted to be.

“…….”

Not the desolate western wind, but the refreshing scent of summer.

Godin, like Sigmund, quietly closed his eyes and felt the approaching wind of Deirmar.

‘yes.’

Birdsong can be heard from far away.

Among them, Godin found the sound of birdsong that clearly reached his ears and opened his closed eyes with a faint smile.

‘The cuckoo should cry in summer.’

Cuckoo sound.

There was the sound of a cuckoo on a winter day that announced the beginning of a long-lasting relationship.

Although we missed each other, we thought we would never see each other again because we passed by, but in the end, our fate turned around and we found ourselves face to face again in this place.

“There are a lot of things to go and find. “There are some things that need to be completely cut off.”

“That’s right, Count.”

The lord and knight, thinking the same thing, nodded at the same time.

Western Allied Forces of 5,000 troops.

Now they were taking their first steps into Deirmar’s territory.