Burnt Church (1)
The godmother’s eyes, which lifted her puffy eyelids, were directed at Vlad.
Also the sharp needle she is holding.
Chiik-
“Pfft!”
It was filled with the acrid smell of burning flesh along with the cigarette smoke exhaled by the godmother.
Every time the hot needle she held pierced Vlad’s skin, the air in the room became heavier and the thick smoke became thicker.
“…I’ll say it again, this is a curse.”
A pattern of lightning that is engraved one by one every time the godmother touches it.
The pattern that started from the back of Vlad’s hand soon rose up to his shoulder and filled Vlad’s left arm.
“A curse that introduces impurities into the world of others. “It was originally a method devised by us wizards to deal with knights.”
Although he was trying to appear calm, a look of pain was already evident on Vlad’s face.
The tattoo given by the Luga clan’s godmother was not engraved on the skin, but in the soul.
Vlad’s face was already covered in cold sweat from the pain that was much more intense than he expected.
“And you already know what that impurity is, right?”
Seeing Vlad nodding his head without saying a word, perhaps because of the pain, the godmother flicked away the cigarette pipe she was holding.
Well, there’s no way you wouldn’t know.
Because there was already someone who had experienced the secret arts of the Luga clan residing inside Vlad.
“Please don’t pierce someone else’s world too deeply with this curse.”
Whoop-!
With those words, the Godmother blew out the mysterious smoke contained in her lungs onto Vlad’s left arm.
The smoke that flew in with her sincerity had already seeped into Vlad’s left arm, completing a picture.
“…Because as much as you stab others, it will ultimately be your world that gets hurt.”
The tattoos, which were merely connected by lines, gradually began to fill with color.
The black lightning pattern becomes more evident along with it.
The mystery of the Luga clan, which was said to have been used to identify the most perfect dragon in the past, was all black and sharp, like the lightning that had first brought Quihano and Vlad together.
※※※※
Numerous soldiers were moving, leaving behind the wasteland visible in the distance.
These were the imperial and central forces that gathered from the capital Brigantes and advanced to Namarta, the city of outlaws.
Unlike when they chased Vlad, the central army, which had now swelled to tens of thousands, was still advancing towards the north without stopping.
“Commander. It is said that Count Gaidar has just broken through the Western Gate.”
“……okay?”
Dragonblood Prince Sarnus, the commander-in-chief of the Northern Expeditionary Force, widened his eyes as if he was intrigued by Mirshea’s report coming from the side.
“It must have been a fortress blocking a narrow canyon. “They’ve already dug through that place?”
“That…”
Just as Sarnus said, Fort Olympus, blocking the west, was a natural fortress built along a narrow canyon.
Naturally, in order to break through such terrain, numerous sacrifices had to be made, but for some reason, Count Gaidar, who was equal to half a penny, was able to break through very easily.
“It is said that Count Gaidar did not attack, but Count Bayezid attacked the army himself.”
However, Count Gaidar’s brilliant achievements were nothing more than a shell thrown away by Peter.
Sarnus’ eyes deepened as he heard Mirshea’s report that he had voluntarily given up on the advantageous formation.
“As expected, it’s the fox of the north. “I’m keeping even the most unexpected situation in mind.”
Bayezid and Baranov, one of the two pillars supporting the North.
Indeed, unlike the single shells wielded by the Dragon Blood Ball, they were by no means formidable.
“If necessary, I tried to block the supply route, but I guess I can’t use that method anymore.”
No matter how good the terrain was, it was useless if you didn’t have the ability to handle it.
And Peter already knew that for the far-flung Northern Allies to fully control Fort Holland, they would have to pay more costs than the benefits they would gain.
“I’m going to change direction. From now on we move through the Eastern Road.”
Thanks to Peter not taking the tempting bait, Sarnus, the dragon bloodsmith, clicked his tongue and decided to change his original plan and implement the second plan.
“From Maringen in the north. “We will occupy it from there and then move straight upward.”
Not toward the northwest, where Bayezid is, but toward the northeast, where Timur the Iron Man will be.
Now that Bayezid has been tightly tied up by the Golden Duke and Gaidar, the army led by the Dragon Blood Prince has decided to head straight to Bastopol, the heart of the North, where the Iron Duke will be.
“……But father. No matter how many we have, I don’t think dividing the army into two would be a very wise choice.”
Seeing the flag of Dragulia that suddenly raised its head, Mirshea began to admonish Sarnus as if she was worried.
Even though it was one of the things that had been planned, it was obvious that dividing the single front into two would be a huge burden for the expeditionary force.
“The damage will be great.”
“…….”
It may be possible to end the war in a short time, but it is a choice that inevitably involves great sacrifices.
However, there was not the slightest wavering in the voice of Sarnus, who was trying to push tens of thousands of troops onto the cold snowy field.
“I know everything. “Son.”
He just quietly whispered to his son in the voice of a fierce dragon.
“Of course, a lot of humans will die.”
What are those who are moving north now for?
Are they an army to conquer the North that rebelled against the Empire, or are they scarecrows following the dragon’s breath of perfection?
“Don’t forget. Mirshea. “On which side is the victory we must pursue.”
“……yes.”
The answer to that was given by the flag that was now waving in front of Sarnus.
Dragullia’s flag is engraved in a slightly different form instead of the original flag that cuts off the dragon’s head.
“This father wants to show you the dragon world that was perfect back in the day.”
A flag was waving behind the head of Sarnus, who was smiling kindly at his son.
Dragulia’s flag, which was waving in front of the imperial flag, was now filled with the huge wings of a golden dragon, unlike its previous shabby appearance.
※※※※
It was a room filled with pure white sunlight.
A bright room where you can feel the texture of a puffy cotton blanket just by lying down.
However, Vlad, who should have been lying there, was sitting at a small desk, looking intently at the maps placed in front of him.
“And again?”
“……here.”
Vlad’s voice sounded somewhat angry, and an old finger pointed to a place on the map.
As the circle drawn on the map increased with the finger he pointed at, Vlad’s eyebrows narrowed more and more.
“You’re not lying this time, are you?”
“I never lied to you. “Little brother.”
“You’re being damned.”
Vlad began to smile viciously at the sound of Radu’s voice coming from next to him.
“A guy like that got caught sneaking away?”
“…….”
Today’s sunlight coming through the window shone brightly on Vlad’s blonde hair.
However, Radu was under more pressure from Vlad’s deep blue eyes than from the blonde hair he did not have.
The only thing that deepened after that battle was that Vlad’s blue color was comparable to that of his father, whom Radu feared.
“If you’re going to go, you should go calmly. “Why on earth did Noir try to steal it?”
“…Because it’s fast.”
Even thinking about it again, an old Radu stood helplessly next to Vlad, who was laughing as if it were absurd.
A pitch black thorn tree was drawn on the wrinkled nape of the neck.
Vlad smiled coldly as he looked at Radu, who had the same gold engraving as his father.
“…We promised back then. “I will help you until the Dragon Slayer Knights are eliminated.”
In the smoke-filled village of outlaws, Radu drank Vlad’s blood and made a promise.
I will stop the Dragon Slayer Knights who are currently attacking the Luga tribe.
The oath engraved in the blood he swallowed was still floating through Radu’s veins, and he still wanted a fair reward for it.
“My blood is not that cheap. is not it?”
Radu just nodded as he looked at Vlad, who was smiling quietly.
Indeed, as Vlad said, the contract they made with Namarka has not yet been kept.
The knights led by the oldest dragon were still roaming the continent, and Radu’s fair price had not yet been properly paid.
Knock-knock-
Bright red drops of blood began to fall from the tip of Vlad’s finger, which had been lightly slashed with a dagger.
Radu swallowed his saliva without realizing it as he watched the vivid colors slowly seeping into the teacup.
“……Where is here?”
“where?”
“Where you just took the picture.”
Vlad said as he unfolded the two maps he was holding.
One is a map marked by Zayar.
Another page is the map that Radu just marked.
Vlad, who had been tracking Ramasht’s location based on the testimonies of knights who had come in contact with evil beings, was finally able to find a place where their testimonies matched.
“Achiuk.”
Achiuk, one of the villages of the Salonta Baron family.
However, the village that no one lives in anymore was only a week further east from Dobrechti, the city I had previously visited.
“Yes, I did. “I met some warlocks there.”
Radu Dragulia, the son of the Dragon Blood Prince, was once powerful enough to command Dragullia’s army in the northern city of Moshiam.
Even though he was in such a shabby state now, the information he dealt with back then would still remain in his mind.
“We promised to cooperate with each other there. “Up until then, our alliance was clear.”
“Can you guide me here?”
“Water, of course. “Because I’ve been to that church once.”
At the word church, Vlad’s eyes began to sparkle.
However, the dragon, thirsty for red blood, seemed not to have noticed the look in its eyes and just spewed out answers that were not even asked.
“The church has collapsed. “I was standing in a village that was now completely burned down.”
“…….”
“The village has been empty for almost several decades. It would be difficult to find without a guide.”
A church stands alone above a burned-out village.
Vlad quietly folded the map he was holding, recalling a scene that seemed familiar even without being there.
“drink.”
Old Radu drinks his tea cup as soon as he gets Vlad’s permission.
At the same time, the evidence of the oath engraved on the nape of his neck was fading, but Vlad was not looking at him as he left the visit.
[I can feel it. I think that’s probably the right place.]
The burned down village of Achiuk. Now it is a ruined place where no one lives.
As Vlad was thinking about the scene there, he felt like he could hear children singing in his ears.
“yes. I think so.”
There was a view seen through the window of a bright hallway.
Now, the children of Aushurin can run around and play as much as they want because they have no worries.
Vlad stopped walking for a moment as he saw the elves and the Luga children playing together, regardless of race.
“…Let’s see the end this time.”
It was said that the church that burned down a long time ago was built by a noble nun.
The name of the woman who held in her arms many orphans who had nowhere to go was Tramasche, a saint recognized by the Vatican.
Vlad looked down at the tattoo on the back of his hand and quietly chanted her name.
