Dwarf Liberation Front Nidavellir (1) In
the early morning when everyone was asleep, Vlad and Xayar were facing each other on the empty sparring hall.
It wasn’t a battlefield full of life, but the tense atmosphere between the two was reminiscent of a real battle.
“okay. “Please come and see sometime.”
Hearing Xayar say he was ready, Vlad quietly caught his breath.
It was a sparring match with Zayar that I had done countless times in the past, but there was a reason why I was particularly nervous today.
[As you know, Xayar is the type of swordsman who sets a trap and waits. Be careful of the other person’s guidance.]
‘I understand.’
The smiling figure with the sword lowered is full of cunning.
However, Vlad knew well that there was a flash inside it that was sharper than a snake’s teeth.
“why? “Would you like me to go in first?”
“…….”
A battle does not necessarily start when swords clash.
There are variables that are determined before a battle begins, and Xayar taught Vlad that he should secure as many of those invisible variables as possible.
It’s like you’re taunting Vlad with a grumpy expression.
“I have to go in first. “You’re old, so your joints probably aren’t going well.”
“……bouncer.”
“Who did I learn all this from?”
“no. “You were a mess from the beginning.”
The position of your toes as you move forward, the angle of your raised sword, and even your constantly shaking gaze and gestures.
Although they did not cross swords, Vlad and Xayar were still fighting fiercely, each using tricks to deceive the other.
And at the end of the skirmish, Vlad’s sword finally began to sparkle in the moonlight.
“Then let’s go!”
“…!”
The pile of dirt thrown out from behind Vlad bounced loudly into the night sky.
Unpredictable speed.
Vlad’s rushing power, which exploded even without using Aura, was something that even Xayar had not expected at all.
‘What a bastard!’
Wow-!
With a loud crack, the frozen ground began to crack.
It was a mark made by Xayar, who was unable to handle Vlad’s power and was pushed away.
“I learned some cute moves!”
“This is just a run!”
Xayar was able to catch a glimpse of Vlad’s eyes through the trembling sword.
His eyes were bluer than when he was a boy, and had gone beyond the ferocity of his childhood and had now reached the realm of ferocity.
‘They say I inherited dragon’s blood!’
Vlad’s world that can be felt even without Aurors.
Vlad realized who he was and accepted his identity as Dragulia.
Now, not only the seed Vlad that Xayar created, but also many Vlads that he created himself, reside within his current blue eyes.
“attack. “I told them not to stop.”
“okay. “Don’t give up the flow to your opponent.”
Xayar nodded, looking at Vlad’s eyes becoming increasingly blue.
If you fail to strike, you should never stop.
Opportunities will arise only through constant movement.
“Uuuuuuuuuuuu!”
So what now fills Xayar’s gaze is the roar of a young dragon.
Under the constant barrage of swords, Xayar’s eyepatch began to twitch.
‘…I can’t control the flow at all!’
The stabbing blow was as fierce as lightning, but the direction in which it extended was as smooth as water.
Xayar could not hide his surprise when he saw Vlad, who was able to embody the sword skills of a completely different person in his footsteps.
“You made quite a mess!”
“how is it. “It’s useful, right?”
Although it was an insult, Vlad, who knew it was a compliment, began to smile brightly.
Xayar also smiled fiercely as he saw Vlad grow much more than expected.
“bouncer!”
But the laughter was not entirely from joy.
It was like a predator’s laugh that came out naturally because it found a loophole in the other person.
Empty! Teuong!
From the tip of Xayar’s sword, a noble counterattack that only the original can unleash began to explode.
The tip of Vlad’s sword began to shake due to Xayar’s elegant counterattack to bring about the flow.
“The center is still shaking, isn’t it? “Sweetheart.”
“…Off.”
The world of Gajinba may have been intense, but there were still gaps in the swordsmanship he wielded.
Although Vlad had been compensating for his shortcomings through his swordsmanship of one-hit kills, he had no choice but to reveal his weaknesses to Xayar, who was so protective of his opponent.
“If this is all I’m upset about. is not it?”
“Then… it can’t be done!”
Vlad, who was blinded by his swinging cloak, quickly widened the distance and got out of Xayar’s gap.
However, the reason Vlad was able to smile even though the momentum was tilted was probably because he was able to see that he was completely different from before.
“It hasn’t hit my shins yet. “Right?”
“under. “You’ve been getting more and more rude since you’ve been out.”
How much has I grown as a person now compared to when I first started?
The only person who can fully answer the question Vlad is curious about is probably Zayar, who is in front of him right now.
The traces of the past, carved like a child measuring one’s height, will still remain in the world of Xayar.
“This time, I’ll split your shins so you can’t climb up.”
“With that said, you are trying to aim for the top rather than the bottom?”
Although they were glaring fiercely, the two smiling knights actually raised their swords willingly.
Because it was a moment to confirm that I had grown this much and that I had grown this much.
Xayar caressed the eye patch as he looked at the traces of me that would continue to remain even after I ceased to exist.
※※※※
“So what happened? “Did you win?”
“……what.”
It’s morning when we have to leave Sturmah. Vlad loaded the last of the luggage into the carriage and pulled Chat Noir with a limping step.
“Didn’t you spar with Xayar yesterday?”
“How do you know that?”
“Why don’t I know that?”
Portli spoke excitedly, his cheeks flushed red from the cold.
“The sound of the two of you fighting was so loud last night. “I figured it out, so I guess the knights and squires in the mansion already know about it, right?”
“……okay?”
After hearing Portli’s words, Vlad slightly turned his gaze towards the mansion.
As expected, just as Portli said, there were plenty of knights loitering nearby.
“What is everyone so curious about? “Huh, Potli?”
“Huh…”
Portli’s fingers, which had been counting the boxes, returned to their initial counting position at Vlad’s fierce voice.
Thanks to the naturally shrunken shoulders, my already round body seemed to have become even rounder.
“I’m just curious… If you don’t want to talk, you don’t have to talk.”
“I won.”
“really?”
Potli was shocked to hear that he had won, but soon he began to look suspiciously at Vlad’s limping feet.
“Xayar looks fine?”
“That’s because I committed a foul.”
Vlad showed his white teeth as he looked at Xayar standing at the front of the procession in the distance.
‘…I decided not to use it as an Auror.’
The world of Xayar is a world that flutters green like the aurora in the night sky.
That was the color Vlad saw yesterday before he got hit on the shin.
‘Oh my! ‘Stop without even realizing it.’
What on earth does it feel like to win but lose?
I still felt like I could hear Jayar’s voice laughing as he looked down at me in pain last night.
“Vlad Vlad.”
“why.”
“excuse me. “The Countess is looking for you.”
“huh?”
I didn’t realize it because I was concentrating on Xayar, but there was a gesture calling for Vlad in front of the mansion’s entrance.
It was a gesture from Oksana, who came outside to see the group off.
“Did you call me?”
“okay. “Vlad.”
I don’t know why, but there was a small teardrop in one of Oksana’s eyes.
Nevertheless, the reason she tried to smile was out of consideration for Vlad who was right in front of her.
“If you had told me in advance that you were coming, I could have prepared more.”
“…….”
Vlad looked at the bundles of luggage that Oksana’s maids were bringing out.
They were all bundles containing clothes.
“In the summer, you should wear summer-appropriate clothes, and in the winter, you should wear winter-appropriate clothes. “Now that you have become a noble, you shouldn’t just dress like you do now.”
“sorry.”
Oksana said, caressing Vlad’s protruding collar.
Although it was made of high-quality fabric, the clothes that looked unseasonably thin were the summer clothes that Vlad had given to Oksana when he was a squire.
“I cut it a little bigger than before, so it will probably be right.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
“and.”
A woman who is always difficult to make eye contact with.
Therefore, Vlad had his head down for no reason, but he had no choice but to raise his head when he felt a heavy touch wrapping around his shoulder.
“But where did you sell the cloak I gave you before?”
“……ah.”
Vlad unconsciously touched the fur that gently wrapped around his shoulders.
The cloak, which was much thicker than the one he had given to Charles, was warm enough to make him forget the cold of midwinter.
“It’s a cloak made of sable fur. “Don’t forget this time.”
Vlad was at a loss for words as he watched Oksana unbutton the cloak she was wearing and fasten the laces of a new cloak by hand.
“Please take good care of my son during this journey. “Vlad, no, Lord Vlad.”
Looking at Oksana’s eyes, which looked somehow sad, Vlad nodded quietly.
Even though she was someone else’s mother, her warmth penetrated much deeper than the sable fur cloak.
“Then I’ll leave.”
“okay.”
Vlad bowed his head deeply, feeling tickled, and quickly found his assigned seat and entered.
He noticed Oksana’s eyes constantly looking at him from behind, but he didn’t want to take away the time for the two mother and child to say goodbye.
“Oh… that cloak.”
“Cape what?”
Nibelun, who was riding on the roof of the carriage instead of the donkey he usually rode, started laughing as he looked at Vlad’s new cloak.
“Could you please lend me that cloak later?”
“why?”
“Right now, my warmth bag is empty. “I guess I hit him too hard and he ran away.”
Nibelun was smiling awkwardly, waving the warm bag he used before.
As he said, the pocket, which had become thin, seemed to contain nothing.
“This can’t be done.”
“Oh, don’t do that.”
Despite Nibelun’s courtship, Vlad only adjusted the collar of his cloak and did not give him the slightest opportunity.
“Find something else. “This is not possible.”
Nibelun’s ears drooped as he saw Vlad’s resolute attitude.
“Okay… I have a favor to ask you instead.”
“what?”
“Could you please ask the one-eyed driver at the front to leave a little later? “I tried saying it, but it didn’t work.”
“Let’s leave late? why?”
In winter like this, it would not be enough to leave before dawn, but Vlad could not hide his puzzled expression when Nibelun suggested that he leave later.
“That’s it… “Because there are people who haven’t arrived yet.”
The wizard on top of the carriage let out a deep breath as he looked at the castle gate in the distance.
“I think it will come if you wait a little bit.”
“…Sometimes I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
It was incomprehensible advice from a wizard who deals with mysteries, but Vlad decided to do it.
Because it was a world I had personally encountered, I knew very well that he did not speak in vain.
“Mom, I’ll go now.”
“okay. okay.”
As Vlad approached Zayar, Josef and Oksana were saying their final goodbyes.
Oksana was telling her to go, but her hands were still holding on to Josef.
But now that she knew it was time to part ways, her hands slowly relaxed.
“I will always be here, so come back anytime.”
“yes. mother.”
Now, seeing his mother in tears, Josef made an effort to turn his head and look at the mansion.
The morning sunlight coming through the castle walls illuminated the mansion where I was born.
“…I’ll be back.”
Contrary to what he said, the mansion felt somewhat distant, but Josef decided to make an effort to return.
※※※※
On a dusky morning, there was a group of people approaching the gates of Sturma.
The men, wearing thick hoods pulled up to the top of their heads, were constantly letting out white breath, as if they were not used to the cold in the North.
“This is Sturm…”
A man who looked like the leader among the group began to look up at the walls of Sturma with deep eyes.
As we got closer, the majesty of the high and strong castle walls left a deep impression on anyone who saw them.
“Stop! Those in front must identify themselves!”
Even though it is not yet time for the gates to open, the men are standing still and looking up at the castle walls in wonder.
Seeing them, Sturma’s guards looked wary, but eventually they heard a word and had no choice but to lower the spears they were holding.
No, to be precise, it was because of the men’s pointed ears that were visible when the hoods were lowered.
“We are from Aussurin.”
Listening to the now familiar demands of the humans, Varadis, the leader of the rangers, searched inside his chest and held up a document.
The Hainal emblem was drawn on the outside of the beautifully sealed document.
“……Elf?”
“This is a letter of guarantee written by Baron Alicia Hainal.”
The guards seemed quite taken aback when they saw the elves in front of them, who were said to be difficult to see even once in their entire lives.
That’s because Sturma is a place where it’s hard to see not only elves, but even the beastmen who roam the continent.
“And if there is a knight, Lord Vlad, in this city, I would like you to send him word that we have arrived.”
The elves are looking for Knight Vlad with the certificate of guarantee certified by Baron Alicia Hainal.
The people the far-seeing wizard had been waiting for were now in front of the gates of Sturma.
