The scent of the tea was bitter (1)
A horse was falling over on the plain where the blue moon was rising.
With a powerfully drawn silver solid line.
The two shadows that had finally met passed each other in an instant, and all that was left for the one left behind was a fall to the cold ground.
Kuuuung-!
With a loud noise, the white snowflakes on the ground were rising high into the sky again.
To Arnstein’s knights running behind, it was a scene that looked like a fountain of pure white snow.
“I hate you guys.”
-……!
Where a ghost horse had been running, a black horse had taken its place.
It was a horse whose tall horns were full of the colors of cold winter.
“So much so that I want to cut off your heads again.”
The world we encounter must be chosen.
Will we be together or will we trample on each other’s world?
And Vlad had already decided what choice he would make.
-You insolent bastard!
-You little guy doesn’t know how precious your life is!
The Headless Knights, who understood Vlad’s decision, hurriedly stretched out their swords, but Vlad was no longer there.
-No…
what was there was just a shadow left behind by the black horse.
This was because Noir’s movements fooled even the seasoned knights and he escaped the scene before they knew it.
Heeeeeee-!
Until just a moment ago, the center of gravity had been tilted to the right, but the shadow of the black horse had already moved out to the left.
The points of the sword stretched out in that dazzling movement were shaking, with nowhere to go.
“Where are the children!”
-Aaaah!
Every time a silver line was drawn, without fail, the running horses stumbled and white snow fountains began to form.
It was a land that I had tried not to step on until now, but there was no mercy at the tip of Vlad’s sword, and indeed, the headless knights who had been lying on the ground for a long time were unable to get up.
“Where did you take me!”
Noir gradually began to accelerate, trampling on the knights who were falling one by one.
The unicorn blood flowing through Noir was the blood that would not allow any being to run in front of him.
Even if those beings are things that have escaped from death.
-Yes, you guy!
I cut down one, trampled on another, and broke another.
And so, Chat Noir began to roughly hit his shoulder towards the headless knight who finally caught up.
Other horses were ominous ghost horses that didn’t even want to be around, but those things didn’t seem to matter to Noir, the son of the plains.
Kuung-!
“…Well, originally, if you wanted to find someone, you had to try and beat up anyone.”
-what?
Vlad, who was clinging to the man, was suddenly holding the reins tightly in his hands.
However, the reins were not Noir’s, but the old reins that the headless knight was supposed to hold on to.
“So, let’s talk for a moment!”
-……!
Kwasik-!
At that moment, with an eerie sound of breaking armor, the headless knight began to stumble loudly.
However, the stumbling was not caused by the sword piercing the body, but by Vlad’s movements, which were heavily weighted.
-Ugh!
Vlad jumped onto the ghost horse without hesitation, grabbed the headless man, and started pushing him out.
With the dragon slayer sword still in one hand.
The silver sword that pierced the pitch black armor seemed to shine even brighter today.
“Aaaah!”
Two knights tumble down from their faster horses than anything else.
The feeling of floating was dizzying enough to make even the dead scream, but unlike the headless knight who just fell helplessly, Vlad had solid armor that he could trust and rely on.
thud! Coogung! thud!
Armor made by elves and smelted by dwarves.
Although it was rolling noisily, the winter plains rolling along with the other worlds seemed to show a slightly softer side to Vlad.
“…Oh my god.”
Rodrigo and Arnstein’s knights, who had been following for a while, were also watching the scene.
Silver light shining between two knights rolling loudly as if a landslide had occurred.
Even though it was a mess, Rodrigo saw the sparkle still shining and was confident that he had found the right person.
※※※※
“Thank you for your hard work. Lord Vlad Aureo.”
The weather outside was cold, but the heat from the fireplace behind my back was warm enough to satisfy me.
It was also much-needed warmth for Vlad, who had been rolling in the snow just a moment ago.
“thank you. “Count.”
Vlad, who was wrapped in a blanket, sniffed when he saw the steam rising quietly from the teacup.
It was a car given directly by Count Arnstein, the leader of the central region, but Vlad’s expression as he looked down at the car seemed to show a hint of disappointment.
“Did you rescue the children?”
“The children who were there.”
“……okay.”
It must be a night when you need hot alcohol rather than lukewarm tea.
However, Vlad, who had no intention of rejecting the Count’s favor, quietly passed the tea and frowned.
“I thought it was suspicious, but I didn’t know there was such a big person behind it.”
The Count’s expression as he drank his teacup was full of worry that could not be hidden.
That’s because there were many headless knights who fell, but the only one left who was pierced by Vlad’s sword.
The other men had already fallen into the black circle and disappeared without a trace, just like in the previous fog-filled village.
“It’s a truly amazing sword. “My wizard also suspects that your sword may have caused this phenomenon.”
“Is that so.”
Count Arnstein was making a strange expression as he looked at the silver sword that Vlad was holding.
Rodrigo hasn’t told him yet, but if he finds out that Vlad’s sword is believed to belong to the Silver Knight, his attitude won’t be as comfortable as it is now.
“By the way, something like this also happened in the city of Moshiam?”
“That’s right. “Count.”
The tragedy that occurred in the faraway northern city was just a rumor in the central region.
However, Count Arnstein was now in a position where he had to urgently beg for even the rumor that was spreading.
“I don’t know what it is, but it seems like something great has come down.”
Pablo was quietly making eye contact behind the Count, who was stroking his chin as if he was in pain.
Although he couldn’t show that he was happy due to the situation, Pablo was the one who personally pulled Vlad out from the snow, using the shield he was holding as a shovel.
“It’s a strange being that ate a city…”
It’s not like something like this never happened in the long history of the empire.
At any time, evil beings were lurking in the dark and working in secret, and the people who had to resolve the situation each time were the emperors and lords, the owners of the land.
“…You came here at a troubling time. Especially at a time like this.”
However, unlike before, now is a time when the foundation of power is more shaken than ever.
For Count Arnstein, who had to worry about not only the movements of other lords who were in contact with the territory, but also an unknown, evil entity, another burden was being added.
“How about calling the priests of the Vatican? “They will definitely be of great help.”
“That would be another problem.”
Vlad thought that even the Vatican, with whom he had a difficult relationship, would have to lend its power to resolve the situation.
However, the Count’s answer that was soon heard only contained another complicated situation that Vlad was unaware of.
“Why?”
“That’s because I belong to the faction that follows the royal court.”
Is it a court ball or a dragon blood ball?
The numerous territorial wars currently raging in the central region were ultimately closer to proxy wars between the royal court and the Dragon Blood Duke.
And since Count Arnstein, who Vlad was now facing, was also a member of the faction that followed the Prince of the Court, it was obvious that the Vatican, which was cooperating with the Prince of the Dragon Blood, would probably not provide proper support.
“…Then at least to the Northern Orthodox Church.”
“That is even more unacceptable.”
The Count’s eyes were shining coldly as he put down the teacup.
It was the Count’s true face, with the blue blood of nobility shining through.
“Opening our hands to the Northern Alliance, which declared independence, is no different from giving the cause to other lords. “It’s no different from entrusting my body to a flock of wildcats.”
“…….”
Vlad just bowed his head and remained silent in response to the count’s words.
The firewood in the fireplace was burning brightly behind him, and the steam from the teacup was rising in front, but for some reason, Vlad felt like the room was getting colder.
“I understand. Count. “You are someone who has something to protect, so you should be serious about your actions.”
“Thank you for noticing.”
The Vatican was a place where an evil being was running rampant, but it did not give up its hand in the flow of power.
Likewise, Count Arnstein has no intention of reaching out to the Northern Orthodox Church.
If we take them apart, each person may be right, but in the end, it will only be the powerless people who suffer among them.
“The car is in use.”
It was all bitter.
Vlad could only swallow bitter saliva at the thought that the world above, which he had worked so hard to climb up to, was ultimately nothing more than a back alley somewhere.
※※※※
Above the rising hill, two old men were walking with difficulty with their heads bowed.
The clothes they were wearing were in disarray, making them look like beggars, but among them, the tall old man still had a brilliant light in his eyes.
“This is…”
“Valetta. “What you wanted.”
Along with the brightening horizon, people who had been waiting so far began to gather in front of the slowly opening castle gate.
As expected from a well-known large city in the central region, it seemed to be full of travelers and peddlers coming and going.
“Thank you for leading me this far. “Did you say your name was Sandor?”
“…….”
The wounded man who had been leading the elderly until now seemed unimpressed even when he saw the old man thanking him.
Even the old man who spoke to him made an awkward expression at the dullness of the man who was harder than black bread.
“Welcome to the Northern Alliance. Bishop Pierre.”
A crow was flying behind the man as he slowly turned around.
“I trust that you will act in a way that is consistent with the reputation you have built so far.”
An old man and a man were walking away from a place overlooking the city of Valletta.
Bishop Pierre watched the wounded man until he disappeared from sight, then supported the old man, who was coughing slightly, and started walking towards Valletta.
“…As expected, I don’t like those northerners at all.”
A faithful servant of God who has no regrets about the path he has taken so far, but is uncertain about the path ahead.
Bishop Pierre began his weary walk to follow neither the Vatican nor the Northern Orthodox Church, but simply the path to God.
