Broken Collar (2)
Underneath the World Tree, where traces of a terrible nightmare remain.
An old knight came to a place where work was busy to dispose of Nidhogg’s body.
“Do you mind if I look at this guy’s body for a moment?”
“…I guess so.”
The elves, who had been tearing apart the dragon’s corpse for a while, gave way with a shocked look on their faces when they saw the unexpected visitor.
Auguste, a knight of the humans.
He was clearly a benefactor who protected the World Tree, but from the elves’ perspective, he was also a difficult being to deal with.
“Thank you so much for this. “There are not many opportunities to observe the dragon’s corpse.”
A welcome presence, but at the same time an unpleasant presence.
The old investigator, who had been investigating things all his life, simply responded with a smile to this all-too-familiar reaction.
“……Let’s see. “It starts with the left eye.”
Auguste, who thought he had done all his work here, began to act like a retired knight.
To be precise, he was just following things that aroused his interest.
“…Like I said, I cut down to the inside of the membrane.”
The traces of the sword that started from Nidhogg’s eyes flowed like waves and reached his armpits inside the film.
“This was a fatal blow.”
And even the heart hidden within it.
Auguste realized that this was the fatal moment that took Nidhogg’s life.
‘But it didn’t stop there.’
Even though victory was assured, Vlad’s sword did not stop.
The persistent wound continued along the grain, as if bone and flesh were being removed, all the way to Auguste’s tail, where he had cut off half of it.
‘…Even though I was sure of the end, I didn’t stop.’
Even if the swordsmanship originates from the same root, each swordsmanship has its own individuality when practiced.
And even in Vlad’s sword that we see now, there was a strong personality latent in it that had not yet blossomed.
The name of the personality that Auguste recognized was cruelty.
“This is the guy who hits the goal.”
Auguste stood up, scratching the back of his head.
Among the human groups I have seen while carrying out many missions, there was none that was as difficult to judge as this guy.
The beginning was noble, but the end was cruel.
The young northern knight who wielded the imperial sword was as contradictory as the scars he could see before his eyes.
※※※※
The sunlight coming through the window is warm.
Feeling the spring energy that was now clearly felt, Vlad hurriedly brushed off his hair.
“Can’t you guys go home now? “Please.”
A small ball of fur fluttered onto the table due to Vlad’s hand movements.
A spirit that looked like a chick started to squeak angrily, but Vlad just took off his jacket, ignoring the young spirit’s gesture.
“I feel refreshed now that it’s quiet.”
Visible but not audible.
Vlad breathed a sigh of relief, feeling that the world of images that had been like a storm had finally calmed down.
Vlad had been obsessed with the deep world in order to emit a more pronounced aura, but after experiencing this incident, he was able to realize that maintaining composure was also very important.
“…This medicine is really good.”
After shaking off all the young spirits that were clinging to him, Vlad unwrapped the bandages wrapped around his body and stuck out his tongue.
The scars on my palms from when I grabbed the blade have long since disappeared without a trace, and the wounds I got from my fight with Nidhogg are no longer necessary for bandages.
‘I’ll have to ask for some later.’
A good medicine is like an extra life.
Vlad, who had lived with minor wounds his whole life, recognized at a glance the value of elf medicine.
“iced coffee. “What if I solve it already?”
It was a quiet room with no sound, even though it was crowded with small things asking to be seen here.
There was a girl coming into the room, breaking the silence of the room.
“I feel almost better now.”
“The wound was deep. “There were cracks in the bones.”
What the girl said was not an exaggeration.
If Vlad’s wound had been treated in a normal way, it would have taken at least a month to heal.
“Quickly lie back down. “I have to stay here for another week.”
Sometimes, he looks too young, contrary to his appearance, but other times, he has a virtuous look in his eyes.
The World Tree priestess, whose name I did not yet know, was overly protective of Vlad, even putting aside the fact that he was a precious guest.
“Anyway, the medicine is good. “Can I get some of this later?”
Seeing the girl frowning incongruously, Vlad tried to change the subject.
“And is there any good medicine for coughing? “Assuming there are no side effects.”
The first person who came to mind when looking at Absilon with its clear green color was Josef.
My lord, who always suffered from a cough, was always suffering from the cold northern air.
The elves would definitely have a medicine that would suit Josef.
Such a precious medicine would definitely make a great gift on the way back.
“Cough…medicine?”
The girl tilted her head and thought for a moment when Vlad asked her to give her medicine.
The golden eyes of the girl who was facing Vlad sparkled for just a moment.
“…….”
Vlad suddenly realized that the girl was looking somewhere other than him.
It felt as if he was looking further away through his own eyes.
“…If you ask me, I’ll give it to you, but it won’t mean much.”
Suddenly, the girl turned her head to the medicine bottle and returned to the normal appearance that Vlad knew.
“The reason you were able to recover so early is because the vitality you were born with was strong.”
The girl shook her head with an apologetic expression.
“So no matter how good the medicine you take, it won’t be of much use to that person. “That’s what our medicine is like.”
“……okay.”
He spoke as if he knew who to give it to.
As Vlad listened to the girl, he was struck by a strange feeling.
I couldn’t clearly understand something, but it felt like it made sense.
Knock knock.
Vlad, who had been lost in inexplicable thoughts for a while due to the girl’s mysterious energy, was finally able to come to his senses when he heard a knock on the door next to him.
The girl, whose name is still unknown, took Vlad into a fantasy-like atmosphere moment by moment.
“who are you?”
Unlike the girl who bursts open the door, it is a polite sound that announces her arrival.
Although he was a guest, the one who was waiting for Vlad, who opened the door as the owner of the room, was an elf with dark blue eyes.
“How have you been? “I’m sorry I wasn’t able to look into it because I was busy with work.”
Leader of the Rangers. Varadis.
He was leaning on the threshold and smiling.
“Even if it’s your own room, why don’t you wear some clothes? “There is a priestess there, but it doesn’t look good.”
Varadis’ eyes were looking beyond Vlad and at the girl sitting on the bed.
A girl who welcomes Varadis, waving both hands as if she were here.
Varadis’ eyes began to narrow in an instant when he saw that only Vlad and the girl were in the room.
“That was because I was applying some medicine…”
“Yes. “It could be because I have trouble moving around.”
Varadis, who strode inside despite not being told to come in, immediately picked up the jacket from the bed and handed it to Vlad.
“I haven’t applied it all yet.”
“are you okay. “It’s all better than that.”
Vlad took the jacket and looked at Varadis with blank eyes.
“I told you to hurry up and put it on?”
Varadis’s expression was smiling, but somehow slightly stiffened.
And even the girl behind his shoulder returned to her normal eyes again.
Vlad didn’t know why, but their faces seemed to overlap in a strange way.
※※※※
“The old knight requested an interview before you. So, I think the elders called me a little late because they were handling that matter.”
“is that so.”
Vlad and Varadis leave the building given to the guests and head toward the World Tree.
The eyes of the elves who saw the two were round.
To be more precise, everyone was smiling happily as they looked at the young spirits following Vlad around.
“So I hope you don’t feel too upset. “The elders definitely haven’t forgotten you.”
“You must have been busy. I understand.”
Vlad remembered.
Old Geronimo, who had placed a magic circle on himself to fight off Nidhogg’s claws.
Vlad, who saw the elder of the elves collapsing and vomiting blood, was able to fully understand the elves’ embarrassment.
“Anyway, it’s a shame that your sword and armor are all broken.”
The blow to the elves was certainly great, but for Vlad personally, the subjugation of Nidhogg was a huge loss.
I lost my sword and armor, which can be said to be the foundation of a knight.
Even putting aside the symbolism and protection it possessed, the two items alone cost 20 gold.
“……Yes. “I guess.”
Vlad looked at the silver sword he was holding along with Varadis’ words.
The sword master’s sword that he couldn’t bear to wear around his waist.
However, Vlad could feel that the weight of the sword had become much heavier than before.
The weight, which was quite different from when he stretched out toward Nidhogg, made Vlad worry a lot.
“Go in.”
The tallest building in front of the World Tree.
Varadis opened the door leading there and guided Vlad inside with his outstretched hand.
“…….”
Inside a huge building with sunlight shining everywhere.
Vlad took a deep breath, feeling as if he had entered the inside of a tree.
It smelled like the forest.
“Go up.”
Stumps carved like stairs.
Stepping on them one by one, there was a huge door there.
“This is Varadis. “We have welcomed guests from around the world.”
“Please come in.”
Kkei-ik-
A door that opens on its own without anyone pushing it along with the permission heard from inside.
“…….”
After entering, Vlad frowned for a moment as the sunlight shone from everywhere.
A huge space that felt familiar, but overwhelmed everything with its size.
Inside, the scattered eyes of the elders were quietly looking down at Vlad.
“Welcome. Knights of humans. “Vlad.”
The elders’ attitude toward Vlad is gentle.
The fact that he protected the World Tree even though he was a citizen of the empire and a foolish human being that he could not help but hate was enough to change the attitude of the stubborn elders.
“I don’t know if you’ve had a comfortable time so far.”
“It was a comfortable night, like home.”
A knight was lying wounded, without his weapons or armor.
This wasn’t just a simple courtesy, but the attention the elves showed towards Vlad was extreme.
“Okay, then that’s a relief.”
However, no matter how generous the treatment was, it would not be the full price of Vlad’s kindness.
If Vlad had not protected the World Tree against Nidhogg that day, the only thing that would echo in Aussurin now would have been sad cries, not the sound of a clanging hammer.
“I heard you lost both your sword and your armor. Of course, we plan to provide sufficient compensation for that.”
The elder, who was presiding over the meeting on behalf of the Great Elder, stretched out his hand and pointed to the weapons hanging next to him.
“This.”
“It’s armor. “One is the armor you wear on the outside, and the other is the armor you wear on the inside.”
Vlad’s eyes followed the elder’s hand gestures.
Silver armor that sparkles in the morning sunlight.
It was similar to the armor given to me by San Rojiro, but it was somewhat sleek and looked light at first glance.
It was an armor that clearly showed the characteristics of the elves, who value agility.
“Still, there was one intact piece of the broken armor left, so I attached it to the new armor.”
Vlad’s eyes followed the elder’s explanation.
Breastplate portion of left chest.
The phrase engraved there looked familiar.
“A knight who saved the lives of children. “I think it’s a phrase that really suits you.”
From the fog-filled village to the World Tree here.
The young knight’s steps were always heading toward the same place.
“And the sword…”
I gave you the armor, so now it’s time to give me the sword.
However, the ending of the elder’s words as he spoke next only became fainter.
A silver sword held by a young knight.
A sword that cannot be replaced no matter how much they give away.
The eyes of the elders were sinking in confusion as they looked at the sword of the Sword Master who had guarded the World Tree for a long time.
“You can take it if you want. Unfortunately, it is also a sword we cannot handle…”
The Sword Master’s sword was here to protect the World Tree.
And the young knight in front of them now is someone who is fully qualified to wield this sword, as he drew that sword and protected the World Tree.
That is an undeniable fact, so even if Vlad says he will take the sword, there is nothing he can do…
“I will give it back.”
An unpredictable being.
A mass of possibility and unexpectedness.
He was slowly putting down the silver sword that everyone could not help but covet.
“…No, why?”
The elders opened their mouths wide as they watched Vlad slowly put down his sword.
The Sword Master’s sword was an item that not only humans but also elves could not help but covet.
“They say they don’t like it.”
“……what?”
“They say they don’t want to leave here. This sword.”
A silver sword that sticks as soon as you place it on the ground.
The elders and Varadis were at a loss for words as they looked at the silver sword stuck to the floor.
“If you’re going to hand over your sword, please make me a new one.”
You don’t need the best sword.
I just need my own sword.
I want a sword that can completely contain my will.
“I hope the sword listens well to what I say.”
More than the countless stars floating in the night sky, the boy wanted the one faint star hanging in the blacksmith shop.
Only your own sword.
Vlad still missed the unadorned sword.
The sword that was made from an old man’s dream and bought with a girl’s tears.
