Extra 9 - The Mansion That Remained Unchanged

The halls of the mansion, which Vlad had not visited in a long time, carried an air of familiarity. 

This was the Bayezid residence, the place he had arrived at following Joseph, carrying only a sword, during those frigid winter days. 

However, unlike back then, when everything felt foreign, this mansion now felt like a second home. 

"Nothing has changed in this mansion." 

"There's no reason for it to change. Although, it's been a little livelier lately." 

Following Jager, Vlad turned his head from side to side, taking in the sights of the mansion. 

The scene was nostalgic, bringing back memories as Vlad retraced the same paths he had walked as a squire. 

"I didn't know you'd become the Captain of the Knights." 

They passed the dining hall where he had recently shared sausages with Portly. Further ahead, he could see the training field where he had once been humiliated for not knowing how to ride a horse. 

But among all the unchanging sights, what struck him the most was the figure of Jager walking ahead of him. 

"You used to say you hated hassle, yet you accepted the position of captain. That's not what I expected." 

"…I had no intention of taking it. If it weren't for Lady Oksana's request, I would've refused outright." 

Jager despised inconveniences, even more so those that brought additional burdens. 

Knowing Jager's personality well, Vlad found it surprising that he had accepted the role. It seemed even Jager had his reasons. 

"Lady Oksana?" 

"Because of you, my name gained unexpected prestige. I suppose Lady Oksana wanted to capitalize on that in some way." 

The continent was captivated by the emergence of the new Swordmaster. 

Vlad, who had recreated a legendary scene by defeating the oldest dragon, was the first Swordmaster since the founder-king Frausen. It made sense that the Bayezid family would want to leverage his fame. 

"In the end, having a good disciple has helped you rise." 

"…Keep living in your little bubble of self-satisfaction." 

Without further response, Jager led him down a hallway unfamiliar to Vlad. 

It was a central part of the mansion Vlad had never accessed during his days as a squire. 

"This is my first time here." 

"And it would've been a problem if you had come here before. A squire has no business here." 

Jager chuckled mockingly, but it wasn't bothersome. 

Perhaps it was because he still saw Vlad as someone under his care. 

"Go ahead. Enter." 

"Understood." 

The room that had once belonged to Peter now belonged to Rutiger. 

Jager knocked softly on the door, and as if they had been waiting, it opened with a low creak. 

"…Oh." 

A mystery protected by Ragmus that had now found peace. 

A place accessible only to those authorized by the leader of the Bayezid family, located deep within the mansion. 

"You're later than I expected, Vlad." 

Despite the unfamiliar setting, there was something familiar waiting for him—a welcoming smile. 

"Since this morning, the crows have been circling. They said you'd be coming." 

A man with black hair smiled at him under the sunlight that illuminated the office filled with symbols of authority. 

Yet even within this formal atmosphere, the presence of Rutiger Bayezid made the space feel warm and inviting. 

"Here, it must've been an exhausting journey." 

Rutiger, the next leader of the Bayezid family, tossed something toward Vlad with a wide grin. 

"You're not going to refuse this time, are you?" 

"...How spiteful you are."

Vlad couldn't help but smile as he caught a small peanut that Rutiger had thrown at him. 

***

"Lately, I feel like each day helps me understand my own abilities a little better." 

Rutiger, seemingly at ease, was sitting in a relaxed manner. His legs were spread out, and his long sighs indicated his comfort—a posture not just anyone could take in front of another. 

"I always thought I'd be good at this, but leading a family is much harder than I imagined." 

"So it seems." 

Vlad, holding a cup of tea that Dorothea had served, observed Rutiger out of the corner of his eye. 

His skin was paler than usual, as if he hadn't seen the sun in a long time, and the dark circles under his eyes were deep—evidence of the toll taken by the weight of his responsibilities. 

Although Vlad had always thought Rutiger and Joseph were dissimilar, seeing him now, he couldn't help but notice a resemblance in Rutiger's face to that of his late brother. 

"And amidst all these challenges, you are a significant part of the problem." 

"Me?" 

Vlad shrugged incredulously, as if he genuinely didn't understand. 

But Rutiger, irritated by his indifferent attitude, frowned. 

"You have an influence that transcends any single family, yet you live in an inn. Do you know how many complaints I have to deal with because of you?" 

"This is the first time I'm hearing of it." 

"It's the third time I've had to convince Mayor Bordan not to resign. Even the Duke of Iron has offered you land—why do you refuse to settle down?" 

The first Swordmaster had founded an empire. But the new Swordmaster didn't even want his own territory, leaving everyone baffled. 

"What about Moshiam? It's still ownerless." 

"It's a place I have no connection to and don't like." 

"What if we turn a slum into an autonomous zone?" 

"There's no need. They manage fine without me." 

"…" 

Rutiger let out a long sigh, frustrated by Vlad's firm refusals. 

"Is it so uncomfortable for you to stay in Soara? Isn't it advantageous?" 

"Yes, it is… but that doesn't mean it doesn't cause me problems." 

With the fall of imperial authority, Vlad's presence in Soara had turned the city into a place of great interest. 

While this brought benefits, it also placed enormous pressure on Rutiger as the leader of the Bayezid family. 

"But no matter who it is, everyone keeps pressing me. Honestly, it's a headache." 

However, to wield a brilliant sword, one must bear its weight. 

The person who stirred things up in Vlad's name, while receiving no clear answers, was none other than Rutiger, who was most closely tied to him. 

"So, you won't be emperor?" 

The casually thrown question made the atmosphere in the office tense. 

Even Dorothea, who was serving tea, paused for a moment. 

"…Perhaps it's better to start something new for everyone." 

To break free from the tragedy of an era, sometimes one must destroy it entirely. 

Just as Kihano broke away from the Age of Dragons, Vlad now had to break away from the Age of the Empire. 

"I see." 

Rutiger smiled, as if Vlad's response was exactly what he had expected. 

"We'll continue this conversation tomorrow. Rest for now." 

"Understood." 

When they had arrived in Sturma, it had been midday, but now the sun was beginning to paint the sky red. 

"Oh, before you rest, there are some guests who want to see you." 

"Understood." 

"And if you have time, you should take a look at the new squires. They're your subordinates, you know. Give them some attention." 

"…" 

Although phrased as a request, his tone was unusually firm, almost making it seem like an obligation. Vlad could only nod reluctantly. 

"And also…" 

"What now?" 

Rutiger's voice stopped him, and Vlad looked at him with exasperation. But Rutiger's next words silenced him. 

"You should visit our mother. I'm sure seeing you will make her happy." 

"…" 

Sturma was bustling with celebrations for the upcoming festival, but the place where that woman resided remained eerily quiet. 

A woman who, day by day, lingered in front of a gravestone, consumed by sorrow. 

Remembering the smile she had always given him, as a mother, Vlad slowly nodded before leaving the room in silence. 

***

"…When is he supposed to arrive?"

In a dark hallway where night had already fallen, a door opened silently.

From inside the room, the faint light of a candle illuminated a shock of red hair sticking out.

Zemina, timidly peeking her head through the door and glancing down the hallway, quickly shrank back, intimidated by the oppressive silence surrounding her.

"I'm supposed to be a lady. Is it okay to leave a lady alone like this?"

Vlad, who had left saying he was going to meet the new count, had yet to return. 

Goethe, who claimed he was off to see some acquaintances, had also not come back, likely enjoying drinks somewhere. At that moment, Zemina was the only one left in the room.

"Those idiots...! When they come back, they're going to get an earful from me."

Though her words were harsh, her voice trembled slightly.

In familiar Soara, she would never have felt like this. But here, in the unfamiliar Sturma, the encroaching darkness filled her with unease.

"Hello."

"Kyaaa!"

As Zemina peeked into the hallway, hoping someone would finally arrive, a voice sounded beside her.

It was a clear, refreshing voice, but to Zemina, already on edge, it was terrifying.

"I just wanted to…"

"A dress! White!"

"Maybe you're looking for Vlad—"

"Kyaaa!"

A pale, unfamiliar figure floated alone in the dark hallway.

Barely visible, the faint figure appeared to be a little girl who seemed utterly out of place in the mansion, making the scene even more frightening for Zemina.

"…Should I come back later?"

"Hiiik!"

The World Tree Priestess halted, seemingly confused, as she watched Zemina collapse to the floor.

She had rushed over excitedly, eager to meet the red-haired figure she had seen in her dreams, but it seemed her enthusiasm had been a mistake.

"W-who are you?"

When Zemina finally managed to form a question, the Priestess scratched her head awkwardly.

Lacking a proper name, she appeared to be thinking about how to introduce herself without scaring Zemina further.

"I just… wanted to give you this."

Not skilled with words, the Priestess decided to act instead. 

She extended a piece of paper, offering the painting she had brought with her, her apologetic expression clear.

"W-what is this?"

"It's something I saw in a dream."

Zemina, still trying to calm herself, took the sheet of paper the girl offered and tried to examine the drawing on it. 

But the faint moonlight streaming in through the window wasn't enough to clearly make out what was depicted.

"I think Vlad will like this."

"To Vlad?"

Hearing a familiar name, some color returned to Zemina's face. 

But by then, the World Tree Priestess had already begun retreating slowly into the hallway.

"I think it's going to take a bit longer for you to smile at me."

"Huh?"

In her dreams, the Priestess had seen the red-haired woman smiling warmly at her. 

However, during this first encounter, the distance between them was still too vast for that connection to form.

"We'll meet again, Zemina."

With those words, the World Tree Priestess left the painting in Zemina's hands and turned to leave.

Zemina, still in a daze, remained sitting on the floor, watching as the girl's platinum-blonde hair vanished into the dark hallway.