CHAPTER 102

Pierre, Bishop of Shoara.

He was a bishop dispatched directly from the Vatican to the northern region, a man who had spent his entire life fighting evil, heresy, and those who had strayed from the path.

However, this time, the matter at hand was something entirely different from his beliefs.

Though he had even offered indulgence to the back alley ruffians to gain justification, in the end, only dismal failure greeted him.

"Lord Bishop, a message has arrived."

"Bring it here."

The once proud mirror of Saint Marello was shattered, and now he was under intense pressure from San Rogino and the mayor of Shoara.

Perhaps he would have to resign from his position as bishop because of this incident.

The northerners had always regarded him sent from the Vatican as a thorn in their side.

"...Nevertheless, it's acceptable."

It was still acceptable.

After all, the message had come into his hands.

Sometimes, one must know how to retreat for the greater good.

"If the knight with the blood of the dragon is with us, he might be able to quell Ramashtu."

There was a time when he only wanted to walk the righteous path.

There were times when he believed he could do so.

However, Pierre had long realized that the world did not always allow one to walk the straight and narrow.

The path to God's will is not always bright.

"It was worth the effort."

The message brought by the priest.

At the bottom of the small piece of paper was the seal of the Dragulia family.

With them by his side, he could once again show the brilliant light of the Vatican to the ignorant northerners.

※※※※

"How about it? Have you thought about it?"

Vlad, who had come to the stables, sought out Gott, who was working there.

"We talked about this before. Let's do something big together."

"I'm not sure if getting expelled from Shoara is such a big deal."

Although Gott was brushing off his proposal, he didn't seem particularly upset about it.

After all, it was Vlad who was facing expulsion, and from Gott's perspective, it was a matter of leaving behind a stable job.

It was a situation that anyone could understand well enough.

"I've said my piece. Of course, the decision is yours."

"..."

Gott was undoubtedly a useful person. 

Unlike Vlad, who had spent his whole life trapped in Shoara, Gott had a wide range of knowledge as he had wandered from place to place, and was also a versatile person who could handle a variety of jobs.

However, being useful didn't necessarily mean aligning with the necessity of being indispensable.

Whatever Gott could do, Vlad could do just as well.

"I'm planning to leave early tomorrow morning. If you have any thoughts, meet me at the castle gate."

"..."

Vlad knew that Gott was using him as an opportunity to rise higher.

However, even if it started as a shallow ploy, Gott was the one who was with him until the end in times of crisis, so Vlad reached out to him with all his heart.

Even if Gott were to reject the proposal, Vlad would have fulfilled his last courtesy to him.

"Leaving already?"

"I've taken care of everything I need to do here."

Whether Gott came or not, and even if he ended up being alone, it wouldn't matter.

Now, he was qualified to stand alone wherever he went.

The back of Vlad, who turned around without hesitation, said that.

※※※※

In the end, Vlad couldn't meet Josef.

He wanted to bid farewell before leaving, but as a sinner and an exile, it wasn't permitted.

Distinction between public and private like a sword.

Josef even refused his greetings to avoid giving up even a single justification until the end, but the reason Vlad was still not offended was probably because he learned a lot from him.

"I've talked to the Kanoor family. When the river melts, Harven receives the fish from Sturma by boat."

"You've already secured the deal?"

"We should prepare for what comes next if possible."

Always think ahead.

Always be prepared for the worst.

Now standing alone, Vlad decided to engrave the advice he received from Josef and Zayar deep into his heart.

"Otar, help with Harven's business. Having you by his side will be helpful."

"Understood."

He had arranged a connection with the Kanoor family for Harven, and as a precautionary measure, he had Otar by his side.

Although they might not be sufficient on their own, it was still a small business, and there would be others to help him along the way.

"Why is this? You're going to need money to stay outside, right?"

"This should be enough. Have I ever lived relying solely on money?"

Vlad quietly took out ten glittering gold coins from his pocket, now containing only 18 gold, and handed them to Harven.

"Use this to take care of the kids outside. The bosses used to do something like this around this time."

"Ah..."

When there were still five bosses, during seasons when it became difficult to make ends meet, each of them would distribute food in the alleys.

It might have been a gesture to gain popular support and strengthen their base, but there were people whose lives depended on the meals they provided.

"Now, with only two bosses left, all the kids outside will starve."

"Yeah. You're right."

The belief that if you are weak you will be trampled and that you must fight to survive is still the same.

But even if it was in the alleys, it was only right to take care of the children. Besides, lately, he had been feeling the weight of the children's eyes on him.

"...The kids keep staring at me."

"I know."

He decided to do what he could, and he was in a position where it was necessary to do so.

Deciding to readily offer around 10 gold for the children who grew up in the alleys, Vlad ensured that at least no children would starve to death this winter.

"Now it seems to be done..."

With the alley kids taken care of, it seemed like Vlad had almost completed what he needed to do.

"But this one still hasn't shown up till the end."

Vlad's gaze was directed towards a room on the fourth floor.

It was the room of Zemina, who was in the room next to his, saying she would block the conversation with voice.

※※※※

"I'll buy you that later when I get paid for my virginity."

There was a time when he stood in the mud on the road and looked at the old blacksmith's sword.

"You said it would cost 5 gold?"

There was always a red-haired girl standing by him as he gazed at the sword glinting.

Faced with the cruel choice of being either a fucking beggar or a prostitute selling her body, Zemina smiled and said she would buy him an unadorned sword.

"Do you think your virginity is worth 5 gold?"

"Even if you say you'll buy it, it's bullshit."

Both the boy and the girl laughed amidst jokes and jabs, but in reality, no one was laughing.

Even the idea of protecting someone was a luxury to those in the alleys.

Yet Zemina had managed to give him a sword.

For Zemina, who had nothing, the lush red hair she traded for the sword was akin to her last weapon.

The sword he bought with the girl's tears that day made him a knight.

Perhaps all the achievements with the unadorned sword so far started with Zemina.

"Where are we going!"

"It was later than I thought."

"...Are you not going to answer?"

Lifting Zemina, who was holed up in the room, onto his shoulders, Vlad hurriedly ran out into the alley.

"Let's run a bit."

"...Do as you please."

Zemina seemed embarrassed by her swollen eyes and buried her face behind Vlad's back.

She could feel Vlad's breath through the cold winter wind.

"That's why I told you to do it properly."

"What?"

In the past, he was fleeing, but now he is being driven out. Just when she thought they had barely stuck together, he had to go and make trouble for no reason.

Zemina, once again facing an imminent parting, felt not sadness or anger, but only a poignant sense of loss.

"We are here."

"...Where is here?"

Being dragged out suddenly, she hadn't even had time to put on her shoes. 

The place Vlad had carried her to in a hurry was not the usual alley they frequented, but the central square of Shoara.

"Is the door closed?"

If it were an alley, it would have been a time when the lights were still bright, but for ordinary people, it was time to close shop and head home. Nevertheless, Vlad didn't have time beyond today, so it couldn't be helped.

If he knew he would be driven out like this, he should have placed the order in advance.

Bang! Bang!

"Open the door!"

"Hey! Are you crazy? What are you doing!"

"Owner! Just open the door!"

"The guards are watching!"

The patrolling guards approached Vlad, who was pounding hard on the door.

The alley girl, who always had to cower before the guards, grabbed Vlad's collar in panic and shook him, but now it was just an irrelevant event.

"So what. I am a knight."

"······Ah."

They were able to be confident even in front of the guards, whom they were always afraid of.

Now, Vlad has become someone who can at least protect Zemina, who is on his back.

"What do you want? At this hour!"

"I have a reservation. Is it ready?"

"...Come in, Sir Vlad."

No one dared to disrespect Zemina, who was with Vlad.

It wasn't just simple fear; it was the authority and honor Vlad held that made it so.

The shop, which had passed its business hours, reopened its doors once again.

Zemina could not keep her mouth shut in the brightly lit store, as did the owner's sudden change in attitude.

"Wow."

Surrounded by countless garments, even though she was barefoot, the exquisite fabrics involuntarily made her step onto the chilly floor.

"But why did we come here!"

This was the most famous tailor shop in Shoara.

"The outfit is ready, but you came late, so I was planning to deliver it tomorrow."

"Sorry for being late. Let her try it on now."

Instead of answering Zemina's question directly, Vlad responded with a gesture.

"Me?"

"Where else could we find someone to wear this lovely dress?"

Zemina's gaze naturally followed where Vlad's hand pointed.

"Try it on."

A dress swayed in the tailor's hand.

The luxuriously dyed bright red color looked good with Zemina's hair.

※※※※

At the jewelry store, they picked up necklaces and earrings. They stopped by the cobbler's to get a pair of bright red shoes. They brought the ordered cosmetics and a fancy fan from the accessory store.

"It looked good on you back then."

"..."

Vlad was taking the items he had reserved one by one and putting them on Zemina.

As twilight descended upon Shoara's square, it grew darker, but Zemina's appearance shone even brighter.

"I got it in the perfect size because I figured you wouldn't grow taller."

"You crazy fool."

"Stop borrowing from Marcella and wear your own stuff from now on."

Vlad remembered.

The time when Zemina came in a red dress to bring in Noir.

That day, she looked like a lady, not a back-alley girl offering herself for sale.

"....How much is all of this?"

Gone was the awkwardness of borrowing someone else's belongings.

The dress and accessories, made exclusively for her, made Zemina shine even more than she did that day.

"Probably around 5 gold."

"Is this really worth 5 gold?"

Zemina grabbed the hem of her skirt and smiled as if it were ridiculous.

While she didn't have exact knowledge, a dress made of bright red velvet alone would easily surpass 5 gold.

"Good. It's beautiful."

Vlad placed both hands on his hips and wore a proud expression.

It was hard to believe that just moments ago, she had been crying alone in the room.

"I wish I had done your hair, but I was too busy."

One week was a busy time to organize the things he had decided to do so far.

Still, Vlad was glad that he was able to use the last night of Shoara entirely for Zemina.

"Take it."

"What is it?"

As if it were the right moment, Vlad nodded and handed Zemina a piece of fabric.

"It's a handkerchief I made myself."

A crude handkerchief that does not suit a woman wearing a fancy dress and accessories.

It was a handkerchief that Zemina had personally made for Vlad, with name clearly engraved on it.

"I didn't know, but nobles do things like this."

Watching Zemina gaze at the handkerchief she had made, Vlad kneeled down.

"....What are you doing?"

Vlad followed the strict etiquette he had learned from Oksana.

Zemina was taken aback by Vlad's sudden actions, but each and every one of his appearances contained an elegance that could not be described.

"Could you please give me your handkerchief? Lady."

Though she may not have been born into nobility, Zemina was someone Vlad had to protect and repay. 

And if a knight must protect a woman, she should rightfully be addressed as a lady.

Zemina was a worthy woman.

"You can give it to me now."

"Huh? Uh, yeah, sure."

Zemina obediently handed over the handkerchief with her name on it.

She couldn't refuse as she felt the undeniable solemnity in Vlad's request for the handkerchief.

"..."

When a knight receives a handkerchief from a lady, there are two ways to do it.

One way is to receive it with the tip of the sword.

The other way is to receive it from hand to hand.

"What are you looking at me like that?"

Vlad looked at Zemina's rough hand on his own.

It was different from Alicia's smooth hand, but it was still an affectionate hand.

"Make sure to use the ointment I bought on your hands when you go out."

"It'll all wash away when I do the dishes anyway."

As Zemina chuckled in disbelief, Vlad joined in with a smile.

Now they didn't have to hide their feelings behind laughter.

In the empty square,

A lady had a knight kneel before her.

Her handkerchief was passed from hand to hand, and although Zemina may not have known it, Vlad through that act pledged to willingly shoulder a duty.

It was a pledge to protect her.