CHAPTER 43

"Cough... cough."

A middle-aged knight, leaning helplessly against the wall, was coughing up blood.

Only dark red blood stains remained behind him as he slowly fell.

Though the cold sweat streaming down his face weighed heavily on his eyes, the knight was making an effort to regain composure.

Even though everything came to an end, he was the one who was obligated to witness the end.

Thump, thump...

The sound of someone walking reached his ear.

Dim vision, a buzzing in his ears, and somewhere, the screams of someone mixed in.

The footsteps, blending with such sounds, were quiet but immensely eerie.

"Are you here?"

"······In the end, you made it here."

A mansion now stained with fresh red blood.

The knight, burdened with the duty to protect this place, looked up at the man walking down the corridor.

What he could see in the last moments of his life.

It was nothing but death.

"The Lord's command is the first... Cough, saying that one's honor comes second doesn't mean you have to follow orders unconditionally."

"······."

Blue moonlight coming through the corridor window.

The man standing silently with it only listened to the last words of the knight, whose life was slowly fading away.

"The knights of the former Count Gaidar weren't like this."

"······That's why they all perished."

Into the gradually dimming vision, a gleaming sword illuminated by the moonlight appeared.

It was a beautiful light that didn't seem to belong in this place.

"That light, too, will eventually fade away."

"······."

With those words, the knight under the blue moonlight raised his sword high.

Due to the backlight created by the moonlight, his expression wasn't visible, but it seemed like one could infer.

"······Godin. Deliver this message to Count Gaidar."

In victory, the conqueror stands above, while the defeated lies below.

"Tell him I'll be waiting for him in hell."

Swoosh-

Everything depended on the decision of the victor.

Red blood was flowing down the white corridor.

"······I will convey the message."

A mansion that had been filled with screams just moments ago.

Now, only silence pervaded the place, illuminated by the blue moonlight.

Everywhere the moonlight touched, cries of red echoed.

※※※※

There was a boy leaning his face against the carriage window sill and looking out with a sour expression.

"When will we arrive?"

"We're almost there now."

"You said that we almost arrived a while ago."

"······."

Vlad felt deceived.

Considering that Potree's home was supposedly within Sturma, even if it took a while, he had expected to arrive in half a day at most.

However, contrary to Vlad's expectations, they leave Sturma a day ago, let alone half a day.

For Vlad, who was now sick of carriages, it was like a punishment.

"By this time, our entire family would have moved to the summer villa. It's the season when the grass on the meadows comes alive."

"If we were going to the villa, you should have told me from the beginning."

"······Sorry."

But since the deed had already been done, there was no way around it.

Potree's family had already moved to a villa outside the city, not within Sturma.

While Potree explained that the time spent there would be much more enjoyable, Vlad was annoyed by the fact that two out of the precious seven days of vacation were spent on travel.

"Oh······."

"Isn't the scenery nice? I wanted to show you this."

However, even that feeling was short-lived.

Indeed, as Potree said, Vlad's eyes were filled with a completely different scene just after crossing a hill.

An expansive meadow with a wide-open view.

Even Vlad, who had been somewhat sullenly leaning against the window, couldn't help but open his mouth wide in amazement at the refreshing sight he saw for the first time.

"Wow······."

Vlad couldn't help but be marveled by the scenery in front of him.

A time when spring was transitioning into summer.

Under the warm weather, everything was surrounded by a sea of green grass swaying in the breeze.

With hardly any trees to obstruct the view, Vlad felt like he had entered the midst of a green ocean, stretching as far as the eye could see across the horizon.

"The meadow here extends all the way to the outskirts of Varna. Usually, monsters sometimes pop up, but after Lord Josef's monster subjugation this winter, you don't have to worry about that."

"Oh, really?"

"Yeah. You know, the subjugation you did last time."

"Ah, that one."

There's intent behind every action.

The subjugation Vlad carried out last winter when he first met Josef on a winter day was for ensuring the safety of the current meadow.

"Well, then, I guess I have a bit of a stake in the current scenery as well."

Vlad somehow felt proud, as if he had helped create this green meadow.

"I want to shout."

"I get it. Sometimes, I feel the same way."

In the intense green world outside the carriage, Vlad wanted to leap out and run freely, feeling the exhilarating air.

"Iyayaaaaa-!"

"······Yeah. I totally understand."

The boy's shout echoed loudly in the middle of the meadow.

Vlad, who had lived his whole life in dark and cramped places, only wanted to express the overwhelming and fresh emotions rushing through him without restraint.

※※※※

A villa that reveals its presence in different colors like a buoy floating on the green sea.

Someone was waving towards the carriage in front of it.

"He is my family's butler."

"Oh, the butler."

Since he was waving so warmly, Vlad thought it was a family member, but it turned out to be the butler.

"Is the house big enough to need a butler?"

"There are a total of two butlers in my family."

"······Really?"

Although the Kanoor family was not noble, it held some influence in Sturma. Initially, Vlad had formed a friendly relationship with Potree with that in mind, but the wealth of the Kanoor family exceeded the imagination of a boy who had grown up in the back alleys.

"It's been a while, butler!"

"I'm also glad to see you again. Young master."

Dogs always seemed to cuddle with their owners regardless of their size. And now, Potree's appearance perfectly matched that picture.

The old butler's legs were shaking as he tried to lift the plump Potree.

"Where is my father?"

Being the youngest in the Kanoor family, Potree seemed to be well-loved within the household, judging by the butler's actions. 

However, despite Vlad, for whom they had been eagerly anticipating to visit, arriving right in front of them, no one, except the butler, came out to welcome the guest.

"Well, that's······."

With a wry smile expressing the awkward situation, the butler asked for Vlad's understanding.

"The head is welcoming unexpected guests, so he might be a little late. Would you like to tour our family's renowned ranch first?"

Unexpected guests.

Observing the butler's awkward expression, Vlad responded casually, "Sure, let's do that."

It was almost rude to ask him to wait because an unexpected guest had arrived, but Vlad didn't really care.

"Thank you for your consideration."

Seeing Vlad's reaction, the elderly butler's face brightened with a wide smile.

[Well done. Generosity is likely to be repaid someday.]

'...I didn't say it with that intention.'

Vlad quietly replied in his mind as he listened to the voice.

When was the last time he had received proper hospitality? Even though it was belated, the current situation felt like a dream compared to the past.

And if he expected to be treated well for just the minor deeds in Deomar, he would become dull and inflexible in the future. 

Therefore, the boy decided to be as bold as possible in everything.

"Instead, I want to start by looking at where the horses are. I had high expectations."

"Of course, you should. The head of the house will personally introduce the really expensive ones, but it wouldn't be a bad idea to check out the rest in advance."

Instead, I need to find out where the provisions are stored. I can compromise, but I won't tolerate any losses. That has been the way the boy has lived his life so far.

※※※※

Hiiiiing-

Fwoosh-

Thunk thunk thunk!

"······."

"······."

Cows, horses, sheep, and even the shepherd dog, all the animals in the ranch were panicking, running away in fear at the sight of Vlad.

"······This is a bit serious."

While Potree and Vlad had expected some reaction like this, the elderly butler, witnessing such a scene for the first time, was shocked to the point that his face turned pale.

"Have you by any chance... visited the church?"

"Priest Andrea vouches for my identity."

"Ah... I apologize."

The butler had been asking if he had been cursed, but he had no choice but to lower his head when he heard the name that came out of Vlad's mouth.

Being a butler for the Kanoor family, who was engaged in both livestock and ranching, he had experience handling animals. 

However, he had never seen a situation where horses and sheep, let alone a shepherd dog, would flee in panic.

'Even riding a cow seems impossible now.'

Whether the old butler next to him looked surprised or not, Vlad just stared at the empty fence with mixed feelings.

Gott jokingly said that he should at least ride a cow, but considering the current situation, even that seemed impossible.

Vlad felt disheartened.

"······."

Potree, watching Vlad's dejected state, sympathetically made a promise.

"Let's go see all the animals on our ranch. There might be at least one that suits you."

He promised to show every animal on their ranch. Whether for combat, riding, work, or slaughter, they would bring out every single one for Vlad to see.

"Still, there must be at least one that will follow me, right?"

"Of course!"

However, making a promise does not always mean that it can be kept.

Nonetheless, they diligently searched through the ranch, hoping to find an animal that would accompany Vlad. Unfortunately, all the creatures seemed too busy avoiding him, and amidst this, the poor butler overworked himself.

"Even so, I didn't expect it to be to this extent..."

Although Vlad had prepared himself for the possibility of such an incident, witnessing it unfold before his eyes was truly maddening.

Even the small hope he clung to shattered.

What was the use of using an aura if he couldn't even ride a horse?

"When others engage in magnificent cavalry charges, I'll be chasing after their dust, eating dirt..."

"Still, there are some good pedigrees brought by my father."

However, to bring those horses required the permission of the head of the household.

The anticipation that had swelled up inside Vlad deflated miserably, and he had no choice but to return to the mansion with heavy steps.

As the sun set beyond the horizon, casting its glow on today's sky, it painted Vlad's slumped shoulders in shades of red.

※※※※

Dok-dok-dok-chiik-

"······."

Vlad entered the restaurant and fell silent as he saw the scene unfolding before his eyes.

Meat was sizzling ceaselessly on the grill, tended to by servants. 

The warmth emanating from the oven alleviated the somberness that lingered in Vlad's heart.

Although he complained that it was too far from the carriage, Vlad truly thought so when he saw the current scene.

It was worth coming here.

"Welcome! I apologize for not personally welcoming such an esteemed guest!"

Vlad stood like a statue in front of the rotating meats, rolling his eyes as if they were marbles. Olson Kanoor, the head of the Kanoor family and Potree's father, seemed pleased with Vlad's genuine reaction, patting the boy's back with his large hand.

"Pleased to meet you. I am Vlad, a squire of the Bayezid family."

"I know, I know! Rumors about you have already spread throughout Sturma!"

Olson Kanoor smiled brightly as he watched Vlad bow to him following the greeting he had learned from Countess Oksana.

Indeed, the Swordmaster's discipline had been invoked after a long time.

The people of Sturma, who knew that the boy was in their city, constantly shared stories about Vlad with their own pride. The birth of a new star was always a cause for celebration.

'Potree has made at least one good friend!'

Looking at the robust boy in front of him, Olson Kanoor couldn't help but be under the illusion that the lad must be famished, despite not having eaten anything.

All this time, he had been worried that Potree seemed to be having a hard time adjusting to Bayezid's mansion, but when he looked at the boy in front of him now, Olson's worries seemed to disappear.

"Sit here! I truly want to hear stories about the Swordmaster's discipline after so long!"

Vlad, relying on his instincts honed in the back alleys, attempted to deduce Olson's temperament based on his attitude. 

There was sincerity in his gaze and demeanor, and his hearty laughter carried a sense of confidence.

He seemed to be a person with a very extroverted personality, as he seemed to be a person who was commonly referred to as a good man and was eager to treat guests.

In other words, he seemed like a person with the right personality to run a business.

"Today, esteemed guests have come to our house, so as the owner of this place, I am delighted!"

Upon hearing Olson's words, Vlad remembered that there were other guests here today, aside from himself. 

'Does he invite other guests to sit together?'

Being unfamiliar with the rules of nobility or wealthy families, Vlad assumed that Olson, as the host, would handle such matters.

"Moreover, everyone here is from the Bayezid family, making it an even more joyous occasion!"

'Bayezid?'

Vlad tilted his head when he heard that other guests who came here also came from Bayezid.

As Olson warmly guided him to his seat, Vlad, sitting down, finally learned the identity of the other guests.

"······."

Knights.

Skilled and well-disciplined individuals.

While Vlad might have held his head high when he was oblivious, now, having glimpsed a bit of the world, he felt the pressure emanating from these individuals.

Among them, a man sitting in the center, gazing at Vlad as if he were the host of this place.

A familiar face with black hair, the man smiled at Vlad.

"It's been a while, hasn't it? How have you been?"

A man resembling Vlad's lord but with a confident smile instead of the stern gaze. 

".....I didn't expect to meet you here. Lord Rutger."

The man sitting there was Rutger Bayezid, the eldest son of the Bayezid family.

"I don't know if you can eat something with me today. Isn't the food too good to turn down?"

As Rutger finished speaking, the knights sitting next to him began to exude a fierce aura. 

It was understandable; after all, Vlad, who was sitting right in front of them, had refused the gracious favor of their lord.

"······."

Pointing his thumb at the continuously rotating pig roast behind him, Rutger grinned teasingly. Observing him, Vlad couldn't help but ponder why he stubbornly refused to eat peanuts at that time.

From a man with such a menacing presence.

"······Today should be fine."

However, even though Vlad might appear somewhat intimidated, he did not bow his head. He firmly held the fork in front of him and locked eyes with Rutger, unwavering.

"I was looking forward to it as well."

"······Is that so?"

Rutger smiled deeply as he looked at the boy looking at him with his fierce blue eyes.