Episode 220: Drip-
drip-tuk-tuk.
dripping drops of blood.
The red earth that permeates and stains.
An endless army of maces advancing in front of the dizzying eyes.
South Carpe.
The morale of the enemy army, which had taken Violen in the south, which was called the realm of unbreakable gold, and now swallowed up the Lowen Plain, was piercing the sky.
A mace in one hand.
Confederate forces were desperately defending themselves, holding the supply and demand of the Carpe soldiers in one hand and receiving insults from those who provoked them while shaking them.
it used to be there
Valentine, who had been visited by a golden lion once.
It was the castle of the Countess of Valentine and the last boundary line to protect the center of the South.
“Is it collapsing like this…”
The owner of Valentine’s Castle and the present Count Valentine, looking at the defenses and enemies fighting beyond the wall.
Tala de Valentine was watching the war with a young noble kid.
‘Lauren von Ruidren.’
He was the eldest son of Luidren and the only son of the former Golden Lion, Lauren.
The burden was too heavy for a 14-year-old to take on.
A brooch symbolizing the insignia and count on young Lauren’s shoulder.
And the sword at the waist, which still looked heavy, made her feel sorry for her.
What is the boy who lost his father and grandfather in a single war thinking as he watches the crumbling walls?
Is it anger that burns in the eyes or is it shimmering fear?
As he himself had lost his father three years ago, he fully understood how the young Count must feel.
“Count Ludren.”
“Yes, Count Valentine.”
Brilliant blond hair resembling a golden lion.
and blue eyes.
Because of her appearance, which has not yet been refined, she said,
“How do you view the situation. It’s embarrassing, but I have no interest in mercenary skills or tactics. This is my first time in a war.”
“The South wouldn’t have lasted this long if Count Valentine hadn’t supported the soldiers’ swords and armor from behind. Do not humble yourself in front of anyone else or in front of me.”
“Ha ha ha… I should have comforted you with this, but I was comforted instead.”
“no. Everyone needs to be comforted.”
Everyone loved Lauren, who was wise and caring even though she was still young.
Even though he must have suffered enough, he was aware as a monarch and shouldered the responsibility for each and every soldier’s life.
Tsuala felt sorry for and proud of Lauren, but it was also a situation where she had to worry about her own safety before thinking about others.
“It’s not good….”
Since Ruidren’s area collapsed.
From the time they couldn’t protect Violen Gorge, the situation rapidly deteriorated.
There is no need to worry about running out of munitions because the treasury is full due to the land law enacted after King Clara ascended the throne.
But Carpe was always out of time.
It takes time for a child to grow up, become a soldier, and become a knight.
There was always a lack of time for them to experience the war and learn tactics.
Those with experience and skill died and left behind a sword and an empty seat.
Some couldn’t even leave a sword behind.
Humiliatingly, many generals disappeared as weapons of the enemy.
‘I never dreamed that Count Ruen would leave in vain.’
It’s been more than three years, but the memories of that time are still clearly engraved in her heart.
The story of the lunatic growing Gide who appeared in Valentine’s Castle, the southern lion who defeated him, and the northern wolf had long been an anecdote that made Tala strong.
‘Even Count Zervan would be very sad if he found out that he had gone in vain.’
Aren’t they colleagues who stood shoulder to shoulder together?
With no comrades anymore and only a child who resembled him, he felt so sad about himself, but how could he be so?
“dismissal!”
“Speak.”
“Their provocation continues in the Rowen Plains. Shaking the supply and demand of allies…”
“Haa, other things.”
“He invited surrender. This…”
What the soldier handed over was a ring and a mace.
The family head’s ring with the Luidren family’s crest engraved on it and a luxurious-looking mace.
“Right.”
Tala recognized the inner meaning of the ring.
It was a kind of warning and exhortation.
Surrender.
open the gates
If you do, I will spare your nephew, the head of the household of Ruidren, who is still young.
The mace was a tool that reminded them of their purpose once again.
Give the princess of the duchy.
Their purpose is to protect the public woman.
It is a war and an attack for him.
“It should not be accepted. If Valentine Castle, which is called the center of the south, is breached, they will penetrate Carpe at once while waiting for reinforcements with food and rest here. You must never open the gates.”
“I know, so don’t worry.”
T’ala sighed as she tapped Lauren’s shoulder as she shouted in anger.
“You have this. It’s a keepsake. And throw it away.”
“But…”
“We are Carpe. Even though the sword may break, it does not bend.”
“All right!”
“Throw it as far as you can.”
Soon, the soldier threw the mace with all his might from the top of the wall.
Whirly Rick.
The mace, thrown far and wide through the wind, flew in a parabolic arc before falling with a dull noise.
puck.
When the mace fell from the head and stuck to the ground, the waiting commander got off his horse and trudged along.
Then he raised his mace and nodded, wearing a feathered helmet.
right after.
“All troops!!”
The booming general’s voice resounded across the Rowen Plains.
At that time, even the birds were silent as if they were holding their breath.
The longevity’s voice echoed through the whole body, and Tala and Lauren unknowingly clenched their fists.
Because I know more than anyone what will happen soon.
Because it was a decision made and thrown away.
however, nonetheless.
Knowing better than anyone else the horrors of the battlefield to come, I watched with trembling.
chuck! chuck! chuck! chuck! chuck!
Along with the iron spirit of the army that has completed battle preparations in line with the ranks.
“charge-!!”
The cheers of the Air Force engulfed the area.
Looking down at the air force rushing in like a tidal wave, Tsuala said to Lauren.
“Count Ludren.”
“Yes, Count Valentine.”
“Someone needs to tell this. When I heard the news, I heard that the imperial army in the west is withdrawing. His Majesty the King will also redeploy the troops in the west and send reinforcements to the south.”
However, that time will not be soon.
“I was born in Valentine’s Castle, grew up here, and must protect this place. Even if I die, I made up my mind to die here.”
“…”
“But you are still young. Far from bearing fruit, it is a bud that is just growing. You are not old enough to realize and stock up on the strength that your father and grandfather will achieve.”
“I can’t.”
“You who have received the grace of God, your potential is higher than mine. Go to the royal road. go and tell It is said that Tala de Valentine fought fiercely and was killed. Unfortunately, the southern wall has been torn down. tell it like that.”
“It could be…!”
Took.
Tala, who held onto Lauren’s shaking shoulder, looked into the child’s trembling eyes and spoke again.
“I didn’t want to put anything more on your shoulders. I can’t help it.”
Tuk-tuk.
Tala, who tapped her shoulder, said while looking at Lauren who bit her lip as if holding back her tears.
“Live. Live and plan for the future. Revenge of the father. Revenge for your grandfather. And let the land avenge you. Whatever you want to do, shouldn’t you survive first?”
“Count…!”
Soon, Tsuala nodded as she saw the knight standing next to Lauren.
“I’m sorry, sir.”
“Roshit! let go of this!! It is an order!”
“I cannot follow that order today. I will pay for my sins later.”
Rosht carried Lauren on his back and bowed his head to Tala.
“Come on. He’s the one who killed my brother and father. I won’t let you live just because you’re my nephew.”
“Count Valentine!! Tala hyung-nim!!”
Seeing the end of Lauren screaming as if screaming, Tala pulled out her sword from the scabbard on top of the castle wall.
“In the end, I couldn’t grow up like my father said.”
Create a sword that is stronger than anything else.
before anyone else.
I wanted to give them a present.
With the golden lion who is no longer there.
to the gray wolf.
Kung Kwajik! Kwaaang-!!
“The castle gate has been breached!!”
“I am the traitor Luteon! Kill!!”
“Aaaagh!”
“Stop him!! Whoops!”
The corpses of the fallen soldiers who had their stomachs pierced and their throats cut are piled up one by one.
Every time she heard the screams of the soldiers, Tala came down the wall with a reverent expression and headed towards the fortress.
His tumbling gait showed traces of his efforts to resemble that of a man who was more aristocratic than anyone else.
Office in the castle.
Sitting in the same seat where successive castle lords had sat, Tala closed her eyes and thought.
and after a while
I hear someone’s footsteps
It wasn’t until after I heard the sound of the knights guarding the office collapsing.
Tala opened her eyes.
Then, what I see resembles the golden lion Luen and his son Lauren, but they are different.
A man was standing with a spear.
This is Lutheon.
It must be the traitor Lutheon.
“How was the end of the golden lion?”
Tala asked softly.
Then, holding the spear, Lutheon tilted his head.
“Do you know him?”
“You are my benefactor.”
Unlike him.
“You who killed him and I are enemies.”
“They said they worked harder on hammering than cutting, so it must have been true. I never thought I would be stuck in an office like this without even thinking about leading the soldiers to fight.”
“If it is original. I wanted to die in the forge. I wanted to pick up a hammer and hit metal for one more day before I could die. However, that is my selfish mind. The duty I have to do now is not that of hammering, but that of the castle owner.”
“Is that just sitting here waiting for death?”
“….”
Tala did not go along with Luteon’s provocation.
Because he seemed to know why he came all the way here.
“Are you looking for your nephew?”
“Where are you?”
“Find out what to do.”
“There is no reason to tell you that.”
“It’s a story that most people in the provinces of Valentine know that since I was young, I didn’t have any talent for swordsmanship, so I went to miscellaneous books first. I am well aware of the old anecdotes that are dismissed as nonsense.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Making a corpse is the same everywhere on the continent. It was said that there is a causal relationship between swords, and that the nature of a sword changes depending on who makes whom. This is also what was written in the book of my teacher and enemy.”
“…”
“It was written there.”
The story of a madman who killed his blood kin and turned them into swords.
“It is not possible to simply conclude, but there were people who were convinced that a stronger sword appeared when a sword was made from someone who knew or who had a lot of emotional exchanges than a sword made by killing unknown people.”
Truly a lunatic.
However, he believed so, and there were actually a few cases like that.
“It is said that he killed his biological father and mother and killed all his relatives who were moving forward and made them into swords. And when there were no more kills, he made his own son and killed him to make a sword. You know what happened after that.”
“Tell me.”
“They say that the swords made from blood-mixed families were melted down and made into one. It’s not really crazy.”
“…”
Lutheon’s face was distorted.
A madman who turned all his relatives into swords.
And Lutheon, who wants to pierce all his relatives with a spear.
What was the difference between the two?
“Leave Lauren alone.”
“…What are you doing to warn me? The one who came to die.”
“If you swear, you won’t get hurt.”
“Can I hurt you?”
Rutheon held back a sneer.
His strength was gone, and he was a half-penny who couldn’t even hold a sword properly.
However, Tala calmly continued to speak in spite of his ridicule.
“Since ancient times, I’ve put a hammer in my hand more than a sword. But after that, I lost my father and had to keep the castle alone. I know it well thanks to you.”
what if
“Does the castle collapse easily?”
Kwajik Kwajik Jik.
“What have you done?”
“I just made it easy to break. After all, this castle is old. I just broke the iron cores of several pillars and used a little gunpowder.”
thud! thud! Quaang!
Patter!
“You’re crazy.”
“It’s you who are crazy, not me. How far do you intend to kill my flesh and blood!!”
“…until I kill him.”
“!?”
hooked!
“Keep.”
“I will put the last of you in my eyes. Goodbye. It’s the last Valentine.”
thump thump.
Looking at the back of Luteon, who was disappearing, with a darkened view, Tala couldn’t even swing the sword in her hand, so she sat down in a chair and closed her eyes as the castle collapsed.
“Lauren, please live and avenge yourself…”
And then.
find him
He will be the only one who can help you and protect you.
