Star-Embracing Swordmaster - Chapter 42

A vacation that doesn’t feel like a vacation (2)

A moon-bright night. A vacant lot with no one around.

There was a boy sweating alone there.

“Sigh!”

The boy was trying.

By pushing myself harder than any other squire here.

“Heoheok heoheok.”

A drop of sweat on the tip of the boy’s chin captured today’s moonlight.

However, the boy hurriedly wiped away the sweat drops with his hands before they even hit the ground.

The word effort was cool, beautiful, and shining, but the boy didn’t want to show it.

Because I didn’t want to be seen by others.

I see myself putting everything down and doing poorly.

These are things that may seem weak.

“Hmph!”

From the small vacant lot in the old back alley to the training center that was taken over by the current servants.

The boy, who didn’t want to show his weakness to others, just found a place where no one was around and swung his sword like he always did.

[I wish the waist was a little tighter.]

“……Stretch your back? Stand upright?”

Still, Vlad corrected his posture while listening to the advice of a voice that he could interpret slightly differently than before.

The voice and Xayar had told the boy that there was no quick way back.

He also said that only mastery gained through repetition and experience accumulated over a long period of time can be trusted.

“Whoa…”

What a blessing it is to be able to prepare for tomorrow’s possibilities with all my might.

For the boy, compared to his life in the back alleys where he couldn’t even foresee the future, this was like heaven.

Vlad was fully aware that this was his golden age.

[Let’s stop here for today.]

“Already?”

[The daily quota has already been met.]

The voice understood the boy’s feelings well.

Therefore, I did my best to control the boy so that he could burn slowly.

Don’t burn out too quickly and burn yourself out.

[The final warm-up is the most important. If you get injured, all the efforts you have made so far will be in vain.]

“I understand.”

Following the voice’s advice, Vlad relaxed his muscles and took the finishing posture that Xayar had taught him.

It was unfortunate that he could not train with Xayar yesterday due to his own fault, but he did not neglect his efforts to move forward.

Because only those who are prepared can always seize opportunities.

[Let’s go in.]

“Hmm.”

The boy, whose entire body was drenched in sweat, walked towards the mansion to avoid the increasingly cold night air.

“…….”

However, not only the boy was awake tonight.

Although he was watching from a distance and couldn’t hear the boy’s words, the one-eyed knight was also looking at the empty lot.

Raising people is the most difficult.

Some things are said to grow well if you just give them love, but people also need a harsh reprimand.

That’s the only way it didn’t go astray.

After watching the boy enter, the one-eyed knight left.

It was a night in which the two men, who felt awkward in their respective positions, had many concerns.

※※※※

“Good.”

Josef answered inside the brightly lit office.

“……thank you.”

Although it was a slightly profane thought, Vlad felt sorry for the shadow in Josef’s eyes that did not disappear no matter how much light shined on it.

In fact, he was sick for a few days right after returning from Deremar.

“I was already thinking of giving you a vacation. Besides, we’ve already created a place for you to go, so there’s no reason not to send it.”

Although permission was obtained from Josef, Vlad only looked at him with a withdrawn expression.

Because there was a one-eyed knight who showed no reaction even though he kept trying to make eye contact.

“…….”

Josef was aware of the awkward atmosphere between the two, but did not say anything.

Even if you are the highest person here, there is a relationship that must be respected.

“…No matter how much of a vacation it is, a knight must never let go of his sword.”

The one-eyed knight was the first to break the delicate silence.

Although his gaze was subtly diverted, Xayar was clearly speaking to the boy.

“I’ll see when I get back.”

When it comes to training, if you don’t do it for a day, you know it, and if you don’t do it for a week, others know it.

Xayar knew that Vlad would take care of this without having to say it, but in the current situation, there were no words that came to mind.

Because he was a person who had no experience raising people, including seeds.

“All right.”

Vlad responded in a loud voice to Xayar, who was finally dealing with him.

“Still, it would be best not to expect too much from horses. “Your problem will be difficult for even the Kannor family to solve.”

“……yes.”

However, Vlad’s expectations could not help but be dampened again by Josef’s subsequent words.

“Just roughly figure out to what extent the horses are rejecting you. “If there are those that are of a lesser degree, let’s find out what region they come from.”

Josef was clearly aware of Vlad’s inability to ride a horse, and he also knew that it was not the boy’s fault.

Although it was a very special case, there were times when horses rejected people, as in Vlad’s case.

If the smell of blood is too strong or if the person is under a special curse.

Or this was the case with a knight who had too much momentum.

‘……In the first place, knights with strong momentum control it on their own.’

First of all, in the case of boys, it would be better to leave all possibilities open.

Like Alicia, he was a guy who didn’t know where to go.

“Go. “I’ll see you in a week.”

“All right.”

“There is no need for gifts when you come.”

“……yes.”

Listening to Josef’s ambiguous words as to whether he should bring a gift or not, Vlad left the office with a worried look on his face.

“The Kannor family…”

Josef frowned slightly as he looked at the door Vlad left through.

“If we do well, we might be able to meet each other.”

“They are both very notable people.”

Josef, who knew Vlad’s destination, wrinkled his lips as he thought about the possibilities that could happen there.

“Well, if it’s urgent, I’ll use it myself.”

“Wouldn’t they keep an eye on it?”

In response to Zayar’s question, Josef just buried his head in the documents as if he had nothing to think about.

“If there is something you want, you are the person who will come and ask for it. “I’m the kind of person who doesn’t like things like manipulating people behind your back.”

Zayar could only nod his head at Josef’s answer.

Josef is probably right.

Because they were the two people who knew each other best in the world.

※※※※

“What I was thinking of came at a very good time.”

In Oksana’s drawing room, where even the sunlight had an orange glow, Vlad stood stiffly again.

The maids walking around were constantly trying on clothes for Vlad.

Seeing the sights he encountered every time he came here, Vlad knew that it was best to just stand still for now.

“……”

Vlad left Josef’s office and was immediately grabbed by the maid, as if he had been waiting.

Since she introduced herself as Countess Oksana’s maid, she could not even resist and was dragged along like a tightly held pillow.

And when I came to my senses, this is what it looked like now.

“The colors match very well. “I tailored it with the intention of wearing it with leather armor, but it matches better than I thought.”

“……thank you.”

Oksana was smiling with satisfaction as she looked at the black cloak wrapped around the boy’s shoulders.

Vlad looked at Oksana’s smile and carefully touched the cloak.

A cloak made of warm wool material had enough warmth to be used as a sleeping bag when camping.

This is probably because Oksana took care to ensure that it was not only nice to look at, but also practical.

“The bone structure is definitely strong, so it goes well with anything. “It’s rewarding to wear it.”

Oksana was clapping her hands as she saw the color combination that matched her expectations better than expected.

The boy’s gorgeous blonde hair was a great highlight that enhanced the perfection of his fashion.

“You’re going on vacation with the Kannor family?”

“That’s right.”

Apparently, I had just received leave from Josef, so how did I find out?

The boy, who had not yet realized the power of the Countess, who oversaw all affairs in the mansion, only thought that he should behave more properly from now on.

“When you are invited to someone else’s house, you have to look much neater. “It’s polite and it’s an action that doesn’t disgrace your parents.”

“…….”

The boy had no parents to criticize.

“So don’t insult me.”

“…Is that possible?”

Even though Oksana was not the boy’s mother, she said she would take responsibility.

The support she gave Vlad already went beyond the realm of sponsorship.

“I’m really grateful for my work at Deremar.”

“I just did what I had to do.”

“No, it was worse than that.”

Oksana may not be doing this simply because she likes a boy named Vlad.

It may be because the boy in front of him is a great help to his son.

He would do this to himself, a mere squire, but how terrible must Josef, his blood-shared son, feel.

“Then I guess we’ll have to hire a tutor after this vacation ends. Making that mistake once would be enough. yes?”

“……sorry.”

Although Oksana was speaking with a soft smile now, Vlad would probably have been on his knees in apology if he had known that she had stumbled for a moment in shock after hearing what happened with Alicia.

“The title of knight you are aiming for is also a position equivalent to semi-nobility, so you need to learn how to behave accordingly.”

“All right.”

Anyone who sees young children who have potential but are still lacking will inevitably feel a desire to help.

And Oksana’s feelings were being conveyed to the boy through various forms.

“good night. “Go now.”

“thank you. Oksana.”

Vlad, who had been allowed to leave after a long time had entered, was about to leave her drawing room with a stiff gait.

“And when you go, make sure you take the things you left nearby.”

Vlad turned his head towards the baskets placed next to Oksana’s words.

“This is…”

“It’s a lemon. “These are the things Josef brought this time.”

Oksana answered, smiling at the boy who was looking at the lemon in confusion.

“When going to someone else’s house, it is rude to go empty-handed.”

“…Thank you for your careful consideration.”

Vlad had seen many people trying to take something from him, but he was not immune to people trying to give him something.

So I had no choice but to say thank you and come out with both hands full of fruit baskets.

“Huh…”

Vlad let out a small sigh as he left Oksana’s room, where he always received more than he expected.

Vlad slowly walked down the hallway and looked at his reflection in the window.

Luxurious-looking clothes and a stylish cape. And even a basket full of fruit in both hands.

It didn’t suit me.