The Return of the Prodigal Son (1)
The end of winter was drawing to a close, but this place was still filled with coldness.
A cold spot that cannot even be warmed by the approaching warmth of spring.
The eyes of the man sitting there are as sharp as a sword.
“Did you come all this way just to say something like that?”
The only duke in the North. Steelworker Timur Baranov.
He was now looking down at the man in front of him with a cold expression.
“If you give me a piece of the dragon, I will return. “Are you threatening me now?”
The Romanovs of the West have already become extinct.
The pilgrims who were watching the oath brought the dragon pieces that Romanov had kept and left them in the hands of the North, and the man in front of him was now asking for one of them to be handed over.
“As you know, Duke, the potential of dragons becomes more perfect as they gather together. “Isn’t Lindwurm already attracted to that possibility?”
“…….”
After all, the dragon-related matter cannot be hidden from them.
Deacon Devious, sent by the Dragon Slayer Knights, had already figured out that Timur was keeping the two pieces.
“We, Dragulia, will share that burden. Please do not misunderstand our offer.”
Is it just an illusion that I bow my head deeply, but I can’t feel the sincerity in it?
Timur’s eyes as he looked at Devius were deeply sunken.
“I believe that Baranov will be able to resolve this issue as long as the Ironman only pays attention to the North and not the dragon.”
Steelworker Timur’s eyebrows twitched when he heard Devious’s suggestion.
In the end, Dragulia was now forcing herself to make a choice.
Is it a dragon sculpture or is it by Baron Utman?
However, no matter which of the two was chosen, it would only be a painful loss for Timur.
“Steel never changes.”
The eyes of the man with his head down below are ominous.
A dove sent by a dragon.
The area where the pigeon spit out was still filled with the smell of blood.
“The oath to the Sword Master will also be like that.”
Timur shook his head as if to shake off his worries.
After making his decision, he slowly stood up and came down towards Devious.
“Go and tell the Dragon Blood Lord.”
Ruler of the North and keeper of the oath.
Baranov, a family recognized by the Sword Master.
The Northern Lion approached Devius, who had his head down, and opened his mouth with cold breath.
“Don’t talk nonsense.”
Get rid of those messy toenails. Fallen dragon.
Because steel has no intention of bending to a dragon.
“…Won’t you regret it?”
“That’s nothing for you to worry about.”
This decision was said not simply because of the oath, but also as a cool-headed monarch.
We should not hand over possibilities to a dragon on a leash.
“We will also support the Utman family. “Because you won’t be able to rub shoulders with those who have accepted an evil existence.”
The family that was in charge of one axis of the once strong Northern Union had rotted away.
So you have to cut it out.
In order to stand up with the full power of the North.
Spring was coming everywhere, but there was still a cold atmosphere in the north.
※※※※
The light coming through the window spreads here and there.
Vlad frowned slightly as he looked at the sunlight scattering here and there on the table.
“Sword scabbard armor…”
Goth swallowed his saliva without realizing it as he looked at the elves’ armor shining in the sunlight.
“How much is all this?”
“Get away from me.”
Seeing the disrespectful squire who dared to put a price on his weapon, Vlad kicked Goth and pushed him off the table.
“No, you can think about it for a moment.”
“You just rolled your eyes. “Where is this scam?”
“…Did you?”
Goth was completely depressed by the sight of the back-alley gangsters still existing in the noble knight.
Although he looked like a smooth nobleman on the outside, Vlad had been fighting all his life, and inside he still had a ferocity that could not be put to rest.
“Anyway, it’s worth risking your life. “Right, boss?”
“…Please be quiet.”
There was no way he wouldn’t be happy because the knight he served was rewarded handsomely.
However, the unfortunate thing is that the rewards received from the elves were items that could not be shared with the goths.
“They said the sword sheath was made from a fragment of the World Tree.”
The sturdy-looking black scabbard still had a clear wood grain despite being processed.
I don’t know if it was the intention of the craftsman who created it or the strong energy of the materials, but it gave off a unique feeling.
“Are your joints flexible?”
“Plus, it’s thin.”
The plate armor provided by the elves looked sleek even though it was clearly made of iron.
This is probably because there are many empty parts here and there to emphasize agility.
“And this chain armor…”
However, even if there were many empty parts in the armor, there seemed to be no need to worry too much.
A silver inner armor that flows down with a rippling sound.
The chain armor given by the elves was sewn so tightly that it looked like ordinary clothing when viewed from a distance.
“I think I can just wear this like clothes.”
The cotton armor (gambeson) previously worn as inner armor may have good functionality, but it was not very convenient.
The smell, the heat, and most of all, it was an obstacle to agile movement.
However, the chain armor he was holding now not only fit his body well but was also light, so he couldn’t help but like Vlad.
“Knock knock knock.”
“……Goth. “Let me guide you.”
A girl who knocks on the door while making noises with her mouth.
Goat quickly adjusted his expression and opened the door to greet the girl.
“Are you here? Lady.”
“What about Vlad? Do you like it?”
He was greeted with a bright smile, but as soon as he entered, Goth’s expression turned bitter as he saw the girl looking only for Vlad.
“It’s so good. “I have never seen equipment like this in my life.”
“okay?”
The tips of the girl’s ears turned a little red, as if it was a compliment to her.
“Sorry. “Because I didn’t make it properly.”
With the girl’s apology, Vlad’s eyes turned to the sword on the table.
A long sword with a light blue glow.
The sword created by the World Tree, the girl, and the young spirits by beating the meteorite was a sword that seemed to have unusual force, even if its form was rough.
“It’s because it’s our first time doing it. “I didn’t make it right.”
However, although it may have the form, the sword in front of me could not be called a finished product.
It was something that could not be helped since it was the first time the young people had tried this ritual according to the faint records.
“My grandfather said that he sharpened the blade but did not temper it properly. Still, I think it will be usable…”
My toes were kicking the floor without even realizing it.
Vlad could tell that the girl was truly sorry as her voice grew quieter towards the end.
“no. “Mistress”
The girl said there was a problem with durability, but the old blacksmith said it was definitely fixed.
He was worried that his sword might catch Vlad’s ankle, so I know that if it had been truly unusable, he wouldn’t have given it up in the first place.
“This is a sword I really like.”
The new sword, reminiscent of an unadorned sword, subtly changed color each time Vlad looked at it.
Every time he saw that light, Vlad felt as if something inside his heart was being filled.
“okay? “Then I’m really glad.”
The girl, who suddenly felt better after hearing Vlad’s words, quickly handed her a letter and smiled.
“This?”
“This is my letter to Alicia, Lord of Hainal. “I wrote that I was sorry about the amber stone.”
Vlad, who saved the World Tree, received a reasonable reward, but Alicia, who lost the heirloom, had nothing to give.
Perhaps this issue should be resolved in the realm of Hainal and Aushurin rather than through individual negotiations.
“Perhaps it’s just the priestess’s stuff…”
“The elder’s stuff is also included.”
“okay.”
I feel anxious about handing over a letter from a girl who doesn’t know where it will go.
However, if it contains a letter from wise elder Geronimo, you can rest assured.
Her article, which was only a nuisance to Alicia, seemed to bring some comfort to the letter she was holding.
“Maybe soon we will send envoys to Hainal and Dobrechti. “I also want to meet the spirits there.”
“All right.”
If elves are going to form a relationship with humans anyway, it would be better to form a relationship with lords who are at least slightly related to them.
And for Alicia, who has few places to rely on, wouldn’t the power of Aushurin be a source of comfort, even though it is far away?
“And this.”
A note that was folded crookedly, unlike a letter.
The note, folded like a four-leaf clover, was clearly something the girl had personally delivered.
“Open this later when you reach a crossroads.”
“…A fork in the road?”
A girl whispering quietly into Vlad’s ear, wondering if anyone would hear.
The tip of her toe raised with effort conveyed the girl’s sincerity.
“Then goodbye. “I won’t be able to see you off tomorrow.”
“…….”
A girl who just says what to say and doesn’t answer.
However, the sparkling golden eyes were filled with Vlad’s image.
“I’ve always been curious about this.”
“What?”
Now it’s farewell.
The girl, who didn’t know when she would see her again, was still smiling at herself.
“May I ask your name? “I didn’t even know his name until now.”
In the human world, relationships are established by passing on names.
Of course, out of courtesy, Vlad asked the girl’s name.
“……name?”
However, after hearing Vlad’s question, the girl just stood there and froze like a pumice stone.
The fluttering ears were gradually turning red.
“…Why the name?”
The silence subsided in an instant.
The goth’s eyes were darting here and there, trying to understand the frozen atmosphere, but human common sense and elf common sense were completely different.
The girl’s upright ears were gradually turning red.
※※※※
“It was a snowy field when I came in.”
“Winter in Aussurin is short. “The World Tree hates the cold.”
After hearing Varadis’ words, Vlad raised his head and looked at the hills in the distance.
The faintly visible hills were still covered white with snow.
“That’s it.”
“Thank you for seeing me off.”
The border between the worlds of elves and humans.
Noir, standing in front of them, purred as if he didn’t want to leave, but their world was not in Aussurin.
“Aushurin will not forget the favor you gave him.”
Although he is saying thank you, Varadis’ voice has become strangely hard and uncomfortable.
It seemed that asking the girl’s name was quite annoying.
“For elves, the concept of names is much more sensitive than for humans, so be careful in the future.”
“……yes.”
Varadis introduced himself as Varadis, but said it was not a name with a true meaning.
Perhaps the act of showing it or asking about it seemed to be quite a sensitive part for the elves.
Although Vlad didn’t want to, he made another mistake and his knowledge broadened.
“and.”
Varadis approached Vlad and spoke in a serious voice.
“I don’t know what the priestess said, but please don’t ignore her words.”
“……All right.”
Varadis left a small warning to Vlad in case something unexpected happened.
Right now, the girl who was the goddess of the World Tree and his own younger sister was lying in bed sick.
It must have been because of the revelation given to a knight named Vlad.
“Please tell me thank you for worrying about me until the end.”
“Thank you for protecting the World Tree. “I look forward to seeing you again next time.”
With Varadis’ greeting, the spirits riding on Noir’s back began to descend.
Wings, tail, hair, etc.
Each person was waving the part they could shake and saying goodbye to the driver leaving Aushurin.
“Then let’s go.”
Rangers and spirits lightly waving their hands at them.
Vlad’s eyes caught sight of a huge tree standing behind them.
It now seemed distant and faint, but the branches were swaying to and fro in the wind.
“let’s go.”
“huh. Leader.”
A knight and a squire turning their horses’ heads.
A white flag began to flutter behind the black horse.
On one side of the flag was an emblem that looked exactly like the world tree seen now.
※※※※
“By the way, Captain. “Where are you going from now on?”
It would be natural for Goth, the squire, to ask Vlad for directions.
It wasn’t clear, but it was Vlad who set the goal so far.
“…….”
Three forks in the road.
However, Vlad’s mood at that crossroads was extremely heavy.
Vlad’s frown was gradually narrowing as he read the note.
“…Where do I go to the right?”
“That’s where we came from. If you go here, it will lead to Dobrechti via Tanovo. “If you are going to return to Shoara, this is the way.”
It seemed as if Goth wanted him to come back and say something, but Vlad quietly turned his head towards the central path.
“What if we go here?”
“If we take the middle path…”
Goat quickly took out the map and clicked his tongue.
“I think it will penetrate the central region. “First of all, the closest city is Marcia.”
“Then let’s go here.”
Vlad, who held the note the girl gave him, grabbed Noir’s reins and headed down the middle path.
“Why does that note say not to go to the left?”
“…If you go to the left, there’s something.”
Noir and Goth horses moving along the widest road.
Vlad, who had walked until he could not see the fork in the road, spoke to Goth in a low voice.
“I saw it earlier. If you go left, you will meet the road leading to the capital Brigantes.”
“okay?”
“Yes. The old man probably headed that way?”
Vlad, who remembered Auguste at Goth’s words, felt his appetite become sour for some reason.
As a final greeting, he told the Brigantes to come find him, so he probably followed Goth’s words and headed toward the capital.
“I guess I’ll have to look at the list of dragon slayers later.”
Vlad quietly closed his left eye and burned the note the girl handed him.
Pieces of paper fluttering in the wind.
-Never go to the left.
Small letters written on a burning note.
The last thing the girl gave Vlad was not a thank you or a goodbye, but a stern warning.
