Star-Embracing Swordmaster (Full)

Vlad followed the familiar path toward the "Smile of the Rose." 

However, despite being on his way home, there was a sense of discomfort in Vlad's expression.

"Try to make sure those kids don't follow us," he said.

"And how am I supposed to do that?" Nibelun replied.

"Aren't you friends with them?"

Behind Vlad, the children from the alley were sticking to him like glue. 

Vlad sighed deeply, wanting to avoid the constant challenges from the children playing at being knights as he tried to return quietly to the "Smile of the Rose."

"By the way, how old are you now to still be playing marbles with them?"

The children's eyes shone as brightly as the marbles in their hands.

Unable to bring himself to dismiss those envious gazes, Vlad started expressing his frustration toward the calm Nibelun.

"If you wanted to play marbles, you should've done it with the kids from uptown. Do you know how cunning these alley kids are?"

"Really?"

These were alley kids who had learned about the world far too early because no one was there to protect them.

Given that he was dealing with children who thought everything was about survival, it was only natural that Nibelun's win rate was dismal.

"But I specifically wanted to play with these kids."

"Why?"

Still, the mystery-seeking wizard was eager to win the children's marbles.

"Because the marbles these kids have are the brightest."

"Huh?"

Of all the marbles I've seen, the ones rolling around here are the most radiant.

The eyes of the children, looking at the brightest star in the darkest place, embodied the mystery Nibelun was searching for.

"…Either way, you're not going to win. You've already become an easy target."

"Then help me this time. Play marbles with me, please."

"This is absurd."

A wizard pleading with the sword master of this era to play marbles with him.

After hearing that, Vlad laughed in disbelief and began to touch the rear wall of the building they had already reached.

"Have all the kids left?"

"This is my territory now."

The children who had been following Vlad closely stopped right at the entrance of the alley, not daring to cross.

Perhaps it was an act of respect toward the deeply ingrained territorial rules of the alleys.

"Why are you pushing the wall?"

"This isn't a wall."

In the silent alley, Vlad began pushing hard against what seemed like a wall but was, in fact, a concealed backdoor.

"…I guess no one's used this in a while."

Only members of Jorge's gang knew about the secret entrance to the "Smile of the Rose."

"Ugh!"

It was a backdoor that had constantly been used when the back alleys were dark. 

However, the hidden hinges were now covered in rust, as if no one had used them since Godin's last visit.

Creak-

The secret door opened with difficulty, as if even one had forgotten it was a door at all.

As the door opened, old dust fell onto Vlad's head, and what greeted him was a dark-skinned boy with wide, startled eyes.

"Wh-what?!"

"…"

The first person to greet Vlad upon his return was Ned, who stood atop a large barrel holding a bottle of liquor.

However, his surprised appearance was highly suspicious, as if he had been caught doing something he shouldn't have.

"Vla—Vlad? When did you get here?"

"Hah."

Though unspoken, it was a scene that was easily recognized.

Because it was something Vlad himself had often done as a child.

"Make sure you replenish the liquor you took. I'll tell your brother if there's anything missing from that barrel."

"Wait! I can explain!"

"You better refill it before Otar comes and beats you for what's missing."

Ned hurriedly climbed down from the barrel as if he had finally realized the situation, but Vlad and Nibelun were already at the bottom of the stairs leading to the first-floor lobby.

"I told you, only the smart ones can steal."

"Vlad! Hold on a second!"

Vlad opened the door as if he couldn't even hear Ned's desperate cries from behind him.

Suddenly, bright lights flickered in the corner of his eye.

Vlad frowned for a moment at the glow of the chandelier hanging above him.

"Nothing's changed here."

But soon, the corners of Vlad's eyes softened as he heard the familiar noise of the inn and the scent of food filled his nose.

Though time had passed, and people had changed, the "Smile of the Rose" still welcomed him.

Finally back where he belonged, Vlad began to take familiar steps with a faint smile.

***

Now, the "Smile of the Rose," which had once been a brothel, had transformed into the only luxury inn in the North.

Vlad and Nibelun walked through the slightly altered halls of the place.

"This room is small," Nibelun remarked.

"It's large compared to the others," Vlad responded.

Vlad had entered his room on the fourth floor, a modest space compared to the decorated halls they had walked through. He began to unpack his belongings there.

"Why is it so hidden? It seems like you're the only one who uses this floor," Nibelun asked.

"Back then, I wasn't supposed to be found."

The fourth-floor hallway, which only one customer could enter, was eerily quiet, unlike the bustling atmosphere below.

"I used to talk to myself. I had conversations with Kihano," Vlad explained.

"Oh, that's how it was."

The atmosphere on the fourth floor seemed somewhat lonely.

It was a larger space than needed, and since Vlad had no one to exchange words with anymore, it made the space feel even emptier.

"You're back already?"

"…"

Though Kihano was no longer there, someone was still waiting for Vlad in that place.

"Zemina."

"This time, you returned quite quickly."

A red-haired woman rested her arm on the banister, quietly observing Vlad.

Zemina, wearing a dress as striking as her appearance, stared intently at Vlad.

"Well, considering how in the past you'd be gone for over a year to end a war, six months is a decent time."

However, despite Zemina's beauty, her eyes held the sharp thorns of a rose—piercing and direct—difficult for even Vlad to ignore.

"How long do you plan to stay this time? A week?"

"Lady Zemina. May I excuse myself now?"

"Of course, you can go, cat."

Nibelun, sensing the unusual tension in the air, quickly began to exit the scene.

Vlad discreetly gestured behind his back, asking him not to leave, but knowing when to make oneself scarce was a valuable trait for a member of society.

"Oh, it smells so good. I quite like that meat stew."

"That's potato stew. You hate potatoes."

"I decided I'd start liking them today. The potato stew looks truly delicious."

Nibelun floated along like water, despite Vlad's silent efforts to dissuade him.

Vlad lowered his head in exasperation as he watched Nibelun disappear down the hallway Zemina had created.

"The guests keep arriving, but there's no space left. It seems they'll open the fourth floor soon as well."

"This time, I had no other choice. You know the Orthodox Church requested it."

"Yes, I know. I went after the witches at Andreas' request."

To quell the embers of the war and, at times, to hunt down surviving witches.

For two years, Vlad had traveled the world, never putting down his sword.

"But don't you think it's time to rest a little? Back then, I spent nearly several months bedridden."

"Of course, I'd like to rest too."

"Ha. You don't realize it because you're still young."

But Zemina, who had been watching from the sidelines, knew well.

The current Vlad was moving to fill the void in his heart rather than doing what he needed to.

"Later, when you grow older, all of this will return to you as bone disease. You know what happens to mercenaries who act recklessly, right?"

"…"

"Take a long break this time. I heard Harven returned as well."

People around me praise me every time I swing my sword.

But Vlad gave a bitter smile to the only person who told him it was time to rest.

"Hey…"

Vlad hesitated as he opened his mouth toward Zemina, who had turned her back as if she had already seen it coming.

"What?"

"I'm going somewhere again right now."

"…Really?"

When Vlad said he had to leave as soon as he returned, Zemina's eyes began to cool again.

"Go. I'm busy."

A stubborn boy who always tried to follow his own path, no matter what others said.

Zemina, who knew there was nothing she could do because she understood him better than anyone else, let out a soft sigh and began to descend the stairs.

"Shall we go together? This time."

However, even Zemina couldn't help but freeze in shock at the words she had just heard.

This time, not alone, but together.

Zemina was surprised by those words and turned to see Vlad holding out a letter from Bayezid in front of her.

"Would you like to come with me to the Rutiger succession ceremony?"

"…Together?"

The succession ceremony of the Rutiger family, where all the nobles of the North would gather.

Zemina was well aware that asking her to go there with him had a deeper meaning than just companionship.

"…Can I go?"

"Of course. I can't take anyone but you."

"Really?"

As she saw Zemina's face gradually soften, Vlad began to smile along with her.

However, even his smiling face couldn't help but harden when Zemina opened the letter she had taken out.

"I don't think so."

"…Mmm."

Zemina pulled out a letter as if to review it. 

On the outside of the letter was a white tree emblem that Vlad was very familiar with.

"I was going to give it to you tomorrow so you could rest today, but I have no choice."

For some reason, Zemina's smile while holding that letter seemed cold.

"I have to decide, Vlad. Who will I take with me to the succession ceremony?"

A letter filled with the scent of lemons, sent with a rose's smile.

The person who sent the letter was Baroness Alicia Hainal, another one of Vlad's ladies.

***

"This year's crop has been excellent, my lady. Everyone is pleased with the good harvest."

The city of Deirmar, filled with the scents of summer.

Through the window behind her, the trees of Deirmar, greener than ever this year, greeted Alicia.

"…Really?"

This year was a good harvest.

Thanks to trade with the elves, the city prospered, and the faces of the people in Deirmar, the territory of Hainal, were full of smiles.

"And what good is that?"

"Pardon?"

However, on Alicia's face, the lady of the city, there was no smile of joy, but rather a deep shadow.

"What good is it that the harvest is bountiful and the territory thrives!"

Everything was going well, but within Alicia's heart, there was an unease she could not shake.

"What good is it for the territory to flourish when Hainal itself is withering?"

"Lady Alicia…"

Even though her face was shadowed, the lady of Hainal was still beautiful.

But Alicia felt sorrowful, for there was no one to appreciate that beauty.

"…Have any marriage proposals come for me? Whether from a noble or even a knight of no status?"

"That…."

In response to Alicia's question, the old knight Duncan lowered his head as if unsure of what to say.

"Not a single one this year…"

"Not a single one?"

"Yes, not a single one."

In the past, marriage proposals that would have come in abundance had recently ceased altogether.

Baroness Alicia had wealth, fame, and even a territory.

However, though she had everything, there was a clear reason why no young man dared to propose to her.

"It's all because of Vlad!"

Watching Alicia shake her head and shout seemed quite odd.

However, Duncan simply nodded as if he understood her feelings.

"Why did he have to become so famous and ruin all my chances of marriage!?"

Lady Alicia's knight, Vlad Aureo.

Now that everyone across the continent knew of their relationship, with even rumors of exchanged handkerchiefs, no one dared propose to the lady of the Sword Master.

"Will this be the end of the Hainal line? Will I be remembered as the ungrateful daughter who let her family die?"

"Oh, Lady Alicia…"

If this was how it was going to end, she wished she had never started anything with Vlad.

Alicia regretted that because of Vlad, her legacy and her family's treasure were destined to fade away.

"No, this can't be. I can't let Hainal, which I've protected for so long, be lost."

Alicia's eyes, as she gazed out the window, grew colder.

It was like the last stand of the Hainal line, shaped by noble blood.

"At this point, I just need to secure his seed. Somehow, I must continue the lineage."

Blonde hair and blue eyes. And, furthermore, the bloodline of a Sword Master of this era, guaranteed.

Alicia's eyes sparkled strangely as she dreamed of that possibility.

-······!

As if supporting Alicia's decision, the trees of Deirmar swayed gently.

The small spirits dancing beneath the green trees and a white snake moving along the branches seemed to encourage her.

"What's gotten into them?"

"What? Are they celebrating something?"

Even the elves sent to the city seemed confused by the spirits celebrating joyfully, as if calling out to Alicia to secure the seed quickly.