Star-Embracing Swordmaster - Chapter 9

Broken Nest (2)

Even if everything was a broken nest, she was the owner of this place.

So there was still work to be done.

“wake up!”

There was a hand that roughly lifted Vlad up from rolling on the floor.

“……Ma Marcella.”

“Wake. Are you going to die here?”

Jorge, the knight of the whores.

He was the boss of the back alley where Rose’s Smile was his base, but the window called Rose’s Smile was not actually his.

“Now everyone guarding this place is dead. “One-armed Jack will be here soon.”

Madame Marcella.

It was she who was one of the flowers of the city of Shoara and the owner of the rose’s smile.

“What about Marcela?”

“I’m more worried about you than I am. You were Jorge’s dagger. Jack’s men won’t let you go.”

“Bah…but.”

The boy who had poured out all his emotions just now had little left.

Anger, sadness, and smart judgment.

“Maybe One-Armed Jack will save me. He likes me….”

Oops!

All the prostitutes who were crying at the sharp ringing sound looked there.

There was Marcella, who raised her hand, and Vlad, who looked embarrassed and caressed his cheek.

“Wake. bantling!”

“…….”

Madame Marcella was not an easy woman.

She was a person who built a castle called Rose Smile on her own in a rough back alley.

Some people went so far as to say that it was not Jorge, the knight of the courtesans, who chose her, but Madame Marcella who chose him.

“Listen to this.”

Marcela said, handing over a dagger that was lying on the floor.

It was given by Jorge and was the dagger that Vlad used to stop Godin.

“Do you know what the difference is between those of us who live in the back alleys and those who live across the street?”

“Marcella…”

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

Because she came to see her before the headless body of Jorge.

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

“Opportunity…”

“Those who live across the street can stand up again even if they fail once. “Because they are people who can afford it.”

Marcella pulled out her finger and pointed.

The place was full of dead bodies of gang members.

“look. What about us? “It was just one failure.”

As Marcela shouted at Vlad, cloudy drops formed in her eyes.

“If we fail even once, we die. Born that way. therefore.”

Marcella said, pulling on Vlad’s collar.

“Don’t leave your once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in someone else’s hands.”

Marcela was shouting to the boy, leaving behind numerous corpses.

Survive somehow by making your own choices.

Marcella’s words to Vlad were advice worth ten million dollars.

Because it was a valuable life lesson learned through the sacrifice of one woman’s life.

“all right.”

That advice, along with Marcella’s tears, penetrated deep into the boy’s soul.

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

And Madame’s urgent cries and tears brought Vlad back to reality.

“that’s right. “Madam is right.”

“Yes…”

Marcella saw the light return to the boy’s eyes again.

“I’m leaving. Right Now.”

A red-haired girl clung to the boy’s side as he stood up shakily.

“Jemina.”

“I’ll just support you. “Don’t hold on to my ankles.”

“Get away right away.”

“You’re still staggering now. Just move it to the right place and I will fall out.”

“…….”

Seeing that Jemina was willing to help her escape from danger, Vlad tried to force her away, but the girl’s stubbornness did not break that much.

And everyone here knew that Gemina would never run out.

“Please help me. Jemina. And come to the convent before dawn.”

“all right. “Madam.”

“Even if you want to go together, you have to come back. “If you move together, even if you escape out of the city, you will be caught quickly.”

“……all right.”

When Marcella told her to break up, Jemina just nodded calmly.

There was no more time.

One-Armed Jack’s men were already monitoring Rose’s smile.

Even if you didn’t know exactly what was going on inside, it was only a matter of time before you found out.

Rose’s smile without Jorge is just a piece of meat without an owner.

One-armed Jack was always hungry.

“I will definitely come back.”

“Vlad…”

Marcella smiled sadly as she looked at the boy who said he would come back.

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

“I will be different.”

Marcella remembered as she listened to the boy’s promise to return.

That time when Jorge came with a scruffy puppy.

The child who had lost his color was fed, clothed, and washed.

So, I had to look for the golden color again.

But now it was time to let him go.

“Go quickly.”

I wanted to stay with you a little longer.

Marcella said, handing Vlad the pouch.

The jingling bag didn’t contain much, but it was at least full of Marcella’s worries.

“Be careful, Madam.”

“See you at the convent!”

The blonde boy and the red-haired girl hurriedly started going down to the basement.

You could probably sneak out through the back door there.

“……good.”

Marcela, who succeeded in expelling the last traces of Jorge, wiped away her tears and looked around.

Eyes full of tears.

There were poor lives there.

They cannot live without a man to rely on.

“everyone.”

Now Marcela had to finish.

Because that was the last duty of the owner.

“As of today, Rose’s Smile is closing its doors.”

Because it was something only a prostitute who could be confident without a man could do.

“I will give you severance pay. Those who will stay, stay and those who will leave, leave. and.”

Marcella’s eyes were looking out across the boulevard.

“Let the children who are still virgins come to me.”

Everyone was sobbing.

Now they will never have it again.

A madame who protects them like Marcela.

Knights of prostitutes who held up swords for themselves.

That I will once again live a life that is shaken back and forth in someone’s hands.

The nest was broken.

Now was the time for even the youngest birds to fly up on their own.

※※※※

“Everyone is dead.”

“…….”

The gang members guarding the back door were all separated.

By neat but merciless sword play.

“Big…!”

“are you okay. “Vlad?”

Zemina asked worriedly, looking at Vlad who was staggering.

Although the situation was urgent, Vlad had already reached the limit of his physical strength.

I spent over 5 days outside in the cold and experienced a shocking situation. At the same time, I ran into a driver and suffered minor injuries.

“……let’s go.”

However, even though the energy in his body fell, the energy in his eyes did not die.

The boy swore.

I will definitely kill the knight named Godin.

“It can’t end here.”

“that’s right! “Let’s move!”

Zemina began to quickly exit the alley, supporting Vlad.

Go beyond the familiar areas you know and go to the outside of the city, avoiding the eyes of One-Armed Jack.

As they had done so far, the boy and girl did their best to survive while hugging each other.

However, the world does not always go as planned.

“found!”

“There’s Jorge’s kid!”

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

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

The greedy hyenas began to move in search of the young lion that had escaped from the group.

Although he was constantly moving forward with support, this was just a movement like a struggle.

Doom was coming.

“Vlad!”

“go back.”

“no!”

“You promised! Go to the convent! Or even to Haven!”

“I don’t like it!”

Vlad bit his lip as he looked at Jemina, who was shaking her head even though she was about to shed tears.

“shit! “You’re so disobedient!”

I knew it would be like this.

“You stupid bitch! “They said it would just fade a bit!”

“Huh…Huh!”

Seeing Zemina shedding tears, Vlad let out a deep sigh.

“How long do you think I can protect you?”

Young lives leaning precariously against the wall.

We came this far by supporting and protecting each other, but the muddy back alley was not willing to let the children go easily.

“Damn it.”

The weight that the girl had to carry for today was too heavy.

The weight that makes it impossible to give up even if you want to.

“…….”

So I have to get out.

But in what way?

Amidst the pounding thoughts, Vlad’s steps naturally found a familiar place.

First of all, I had to go somewhere.

That way, you’ll be able to avoid Jack’s men in the alley.

“Inspiration! “Please open the door!”

The place where the boy’s steps stopped was in front of the blacksmith shop.

The place where the sword that I always stood and looked at for a long time was located.

“What should I do…I guess it’s not there.”

But no matter how many times he knocked on the door, there was no answer from the old blacksmith.

Jemina’s big eyes were filled with fear as she looked at the old, unresponsive door.

Vlad saw that fear and had a premonition of the coming future.

One-armed Jack was that kind of person.

A person who bites the wounded and collapses those who are exhausted and uses them as stepping stones.

“You can’t do that.”

I couldn’t make Jemina like that.

“Move!”

Light came into Vlad’s blue eyes again.

“Yes!”

Vlad pushed Gemina away, took out the dagger and desperately twisted the lock of the forge.

It was made by a craftsman and was solid and sturdy, but if you didn’t think about the future, this was the most reliable method.

There were moments when force was the only way.

“Open!”

The dagger containing the boy’s desperation was screaming and twisting the lock on the door.

Kkeikiik-

And that earnestness was answered.

When he sensed Jack’s men slowly approaching, Vlad struck the lock that had barely opened its mouth with the handle of his dagger.

Just–!

I saw a gap.

A small opening that allows access into the dark forge.

“profit!”

Gemina, who is small in stature, enters the gap that opens first.

“Whoa.”

Vlad moved after him.

With urgent movements, he pulled the remains of the lock that had fallen to the ground inside.

I was able to enter the blacksmith shop where there was no answer.

“Heo, heo, heo…”

“Are you okay?”

“quietly.”

Although Vlad had exhausted all his stamina, his senses were still sharp.

“I can hear it.”

Just like when he secretly let Stanga and Godin in, he was concentrating on the sounds and keeping track of the movements of Jack’s men.

The sound of pounding footsteps was running here and there in the back alley.

“…I can’t go out.”

The sounds that filled the room reached Vlad’s ears.

“Sigh!”

“…….”

And it was getting close enough that the girl could hear it.

Jemina was trembling, covering her mouth with both hands.

“Where did these go!”

“It definitely came this way.”

Vlad drew his dagger and leaned close to the door.

The distance between the breathless children and the hyenas was only a thin wooden plank.

“They’re young, so they’re quick. “Did you fall into another alley?”

“Find it quickly! “If you find the blonde haired guy, Billy will give you a separate reward.”

“Are you trying to get revenge for your broken tooth?”

In contrast to Zemina’s trembling shoulders, Vlad’s eyes were sinking heavily.

If they notice, you have to kill them.

Otherwise, you will die.

Even though the dagger that Jorge left behind was twisted in an unsightly way, it could have solved that problem.

The boy concentrated.

Because even the girl’s future was hanging on his shoulders.

“let’s go. “Before it gets taken away by others.”

“Haa…Where did all these kites get away?”

Vlad listened intently as he followed the signs of the men moving further and further away.

That’s why I didn’t notice.

“Who is there?”

The movement of someone quietly happening inside the blacksmith shop.

“…!”

Jack’s men haven’t gone far yet.

Vlad was feeling frustrated and tried to move quickly.

“Woo don’t move. Yeonggam.”

Beside Vlad, there was a red-haired girl supporting him.

“I’m really going to stab you.”

A girl threatening an old blacksmith while holding a piece of metal rolling around in the blacksmith shop.

“You…why are you here?”

Winter moonlight seeped in through the cracks in the old blacksmith shop.

Only then was the old blacksmith able to see.

The girl’s tears hanging pitifully, reflected in the moonlight.