Uninvited Guest (2)
A long and wide hallway.
There was a man walking in the bright yellow twilight from afar.
The hallway the man was currently walking through was a path that only noble nobles could walk, and at the end of the path, the lords, the most powerful people in the North, were waiting.
“…….”
Steelsmith Timur pursed his lips as he watched Vlad walking towards the conference hall.
Brilliant blonde hair and blue eyes. And even has an aristocratic appearance.
‘When I consciously looked at it… there was definitely a resemblance.’
Watching Vlad walking along with the setting sun, Timur the steelworker was able to recall a very old memory in his mind.
The impression is so strong that it is not easily forgotten. Duke of Sarnus Dragullia.
Vlad’s current appearance was so similar to the impression of the Dragon Blood Prince that I remembered, that I wondered why I only recognized him now.
“Duke.”
Timur, who was contemplating looking at Vlad, slightly turned his gaze at Fernand’s soft call.
“I’m shaking.”
“……hmm.”
The scales the old wizard was holding were shaking.
It was a small scale with an ornate brooch engraved with the image of a dragon on one side and an old coin with a sword engraved on the other.
“Which one?”
“I think we’ll have to come a little closer to find out.”
Just as Fernand said that he was not really sure, the old scale he was holding was constantly shaking.
And the shaking was getting louder as Vlad’s steps got closer.
“…I don’t think he recognizes me either.”
Timur seemed to be able to understand the confused and wavering mind of Libra.
The shadow of the sunset becomes darker as it approaches.
That’s because it was covering Vlad’s face as he walked here.
Is the thing approaching me at the end of the setting sunset a dragon or a knight?
But no matter how close Vlad got, Timur seemed unable to recognize him.
※※※※
Sigh –
The back of Vlad slowly disappearing through the gap in the door.
The seven remaining knights who had to protect the situation remained in the hallway and watched quietly.
“Seeing as Lord Vlad entered, it looks like the meeting has come to a close.”
“I guess that’s the case.”
“It would be better to end on a good note as planned.”
The remaining knights knew very well what Vlad’s position meant.
The meeting is now over and all that remains is a declaration and resolution.
If there’s anything you need at such an event, it’s probably a celebratory drink to liven things up.
“Did you say you’re only 20 years old?”
“They say that talented people are born in turbulent times, and that seems to be true.”
An emperor without a cause ascended the throne, the war in the central region had not subsided, and now even a sinister entity was targeting the north.
In the current situation where there is only gloomy news, the existence of Vlad must be one of the few symbols that the North can find comfort in.
“hmm?”
While the knights were gathered together and talking for a while, Rutger suddenly felt goosebumps and grabbed the back of his neck.
‘what.’
It felt as if a bright blue blade had touched my neck.
The cold warning that my instincts first recognized was rising up the back of my neck and gradually spreading throughout my body.
“…….”
“…….”
Rutger, who was looking around with a strange feeling, was able to see Volkov making eye contact with him for a moment.
It was not just an illusion, but a sensation that Volkov also noticed.
Through each other, the two were able to realize that their current coolness was not just an illusion.
“Something is coming!”
“Sigh!”
Wow!
A dark hallway, a long distance away with no end in sight.
However, Volkov fired the javelin without hesitation towards the place that could be felt even though it could not be seen.
The movement was much faster than Rutger’s warning shout.
“Ugh!”
“What on earth is this…”
Duncan and Ernst covered their ears at the sharp sound of the sound coming from right next to them.
“…!”
Volkov’s eyes became sharp as he glared at the end of the hallway.
It wasn’t visible, but now it’s time to reach it.
However, the long-awaited sound of the javelin being struck was not heard, and the dark hallway was still silent.
“……this!”
Wow!
Volkov, who was glaring at the pitch-black hallway, opened his eyes wide.
Because I saw the javelin coming back with as much force as it was thrown.
‘You mean you caught that!’
Even though it was a javelin that even the fastest dragon, Lindwurm, could avoid.
However, it appears that the opponent did not dodge or block it, but simply grabbed it with his hand.
Taaaang-!
“Whoosh!”
A loud flame flew out between the hastily struck window and the window.
The sharp shock waves that spread along with the flames alone caused the knights who were not equipped with the world to stumble greatly.
“Is this an attack?”
“…It looks like there was a hole in it.”
Caroi and Guillermo, who noticed the situation by looking at the bouncing flames, quickly blocked the group’s path.
A space located in the deepest part of the city that cannot be penetrated.
The fact that he came all the way here without any warning was also proof that the attacker in front of him was not of average skill.
“What kind of guy are you!”
Karoi’s closed left eye began to glow, accompanied by an angry grinding sound.
Bastopol is said to have never been captured in history.
Even though Karoi was not a knight of Baranov, the city of Bastopol was the pride of the northern knights.
“Stop hiding and come out!”
With a loud shout suppressing the steamship, Knight Karoi began to strengthen his defensive posture with his raised axe.
If the central region has Arnstein’s Pablo, the northern region has Kharkita’s Karoi.
Like a castle wall, their stance was so strong that no matter who they faced, it would not be easily breached.
Quaaaaang-!
It definitely had to be that way.
Karoi’s protective stance is incredibly strong.
“Whoosh!”
A shadow protrudes from the darkness.
However, by the time he noticed, the attacker had already approached and was smiling coldly at Karoi.
‘This……!’
As the ax and sword collided, a turbulence like a typhoon began to occur.
It was such a shock that you could tell just how much force was released from the blow just by feeling the wind against your skin.
“Oops!”
Karoi was unable to withstand the impact and fell into the wall with a single scream.
His defensive stance, which was like a solid castle wall, was uprooted with just one blow.
“Karoi!”
“You’re not an ordinary guy!”
Guillermo and Ralph started running towards Karoi after he fell miserably.
A dark hallway now filled with moonlight, not the sunset.
There, a lone blond man was smiling coldly as he watched the fiercely charging Northern knights.
“Dragon Slayer Knights?”
Guillermo, swinging his sword vigorously in the pouring moonlight, was able to make out the shining emblem.
Dragons killing dragons.
The man’s bright blue eyes were shining above the armor with Dragullia’s emblem engraved on it.
Exciting-!
“It’s obvious.”
“what?”
Romnier’s sword is said to be able to deceive any knight.
However, the blue-eyed man was able to stop Guillermo’s changes with just one stab.
“It means your intentions are too shallow.”
“…!”
Guillermo got goosebumps when he saw Mircea smiling at him.
This is because I felt the cold touch of the sword digging into me along with his laughter.
“Aaaah!”
“Yes you bastard!”
There was a knight rushing in from the side of Guillermo, who was in pain.
A space where I had no choice but to pray because I was stabbing my sword.
Ralph of Maringen, an experienced knight, took Guillermo’s crisis as an opportunity and swung his sword without hesitation.
‘If it’s here!’
Since he was stabbing Guillermo with his right hand, he would not be able to easily respond to this attack.
Even if it does react, it’s just a slight evasive movement…
Paaaan!
“Cough!”
However, Ralph felt a heavy pressure on his stomach and fell backwards.
This is because the kick was extended towards where Ralph was approaching, as if he had been waiting.
Even in Ralph’s fading mind, he could tell that his opponent had already predicted several moves ahead of him.
“Step back!”
“Whoosh!”
Guillermo, whose shoulder was impaled, was only able to escape with Volkov’s support.
As he hurriedly retreated, bright red blood splattered across the hallway.
“I can’t believe there were only so many articles saying that the North was proud. “This is such a disappointment.”
“……”
Volkov, who had taken Guillermo out, raised his javelin towards the man standing in front of him.
The scenery seen when the moon, which had been floating awkwardly, fully ripened.
The three knights who had fallen miserably were now writhing behind Volkov.
They were knights whose names were never taken lightly.
“Mirsea… Dragulia.”
“Long time no see. Lord Volkov.”
And there was a man who destroyed those articles in just the time it took to drink a cup of tea.
Among the numerous knights in the empire, the Dragon Slayer Knights compete for supremacy.
“I came to see the steelworker. “Could you please get out of the way?”
And the leader of the knights, Mirshea Dragulia.
“I also wanted to repay you for the kindness you showed me by caring for my younger brother Radu.”
He was now laughing over a city that had never been captured.
※※※※
“……!”
You can reach the conference hall in just a few steps.
At a distance where he could even see the faces of Peter and Alicia in front of him, Vlad stopped walking.
Exciting-!
The strange heartbeat I had felt since entering the city was becoming increasingly rough.
So much so that I can no longer control it.
“……What is this.”
As he moved forward and got closer to Timur, his heart, which had been pounding, now began to beat on its own, beyond Vlad’s will.
A heart that starts racing not by will but by instinct.
Vlad, who had never felt anything like this before, bit his lip and began to stop.
“…Duke.”
“Say it.”
The lords who were sitting were also turning their heads towards Timur, as if they sensed Vlad’s strangeness.
However, Timur is only looking at Vlad even though the lords are looking at him.
Timur’s naturally hanging right hand was in a position where he could pick up the edict next to him or the sword hanging at his waist.
“What is it?”
The man finally arrived in front of me through the setting sun.
The balance, which had been shaking due to Timur’s question, finally tilted significantly.
“…It’s a dragon.”
The pendulum pointed by an old scale that tells the truth.
It was home to a richly decorated dragon-shaped brooch.
Cheaeng-!
“…!”
Timur hurriedly looked ahead at the sudden sound.
There was Vlad with his left eye closed and his sword drawn.
‘Vlad…!’
Vlad drew his sword towards the lords.
Peter was shocked by the extremely disrespectful attitude, and Alicia let out an inward scream when she saw Vlad’s eyes turn even bluer than usual.
“What kind of action is this now? Vlad Aureo?”
“…….”
In response to Vlad’s sudden action, the lords who knew how to use swords slowly began to stand up.
Only those who survive the harsh cold can become lords of the North.
The lords who are rising now, like Peter and Timur, were all knights who represented the previous era.
“I have not yet permitted you to draw your sword. Vlad Aureo.”
The distance between the conference hall and the hallway is just one step.
Vlad, who was standing at the border, was quietly clutching his chest with his bright blue eyes lowered.
Quijano’s voice, rising through the sound of his pounding heart, was echoing in Vlad’s world.
[Don’t look down. What is there is not yours.]
There was a place where the blood you were born with pointed to.
It was located at the bottom of the city of Bastopol, and it was a place with an intensity that even the mystery of an experienced wizard could not completely hide.
[Where was the place you always looked at? Where was the blue moon called Godin hanging?]
But now even Vlad knew.
That there is a perfect piece calling to me beneath this city.
It was a piece that could make me, who was born from the mud, dignified just by holding it in my hand.
[Remember where the unadorned sword you wanted was hanging.]
Vlad’s heartbeat began to become rough, as if trying to drown out Quijano’s voice.
Vlad was on the verge of losing his mind as the call of pieces increasingly filled his ears.
‘…Kihano. Was I a dragon?’
His mother was a prostitute in the back alleys, and it was common for him to be an orphan whose father was unknown.
However, Vlad was greatly embarrassed by the whispering of my veins from the sculpture below.
Come to me quickly, young dragon.
Find me locked up here.
I am someone who will make you dignified just by holding on to me.
Join me and you will achieve eternal perfection.
The whispers that only those born as dragons could hear were still ringing in Vlad’s ears.
It was a fascinating sound that was difficult to pass by.
