The end of winter was coming to an end, but this place was still filled with coldness.
A cold place that couldn't even be warmed by the approaching spring's warmth.
The man sitting there had eyes as sharp as a sword.
"Have you come all the way here just to say something like that?"
The only Duke of the North. Timur Baranov, the steel smith.
He was now looking at the man in front of him with a cold expression.
"If you give me a piece of the dragon, I'll go back."
"Are you threatening me now?"
The Romanovs of the West have already disappeared.
The pilgrims who were witnessing the oath brought the dragon pieces that Romanov had guarded 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. Isn't Lindworm already attracted to that possibility?"
"…"
After all, things about dragons cannot be hidden from them.
Deacon Devious, sent by the Dragon Slayer Knights, had already realized that Timur was holding onto both pieces.
"We, Dragulia, will share that burden. Please do not misinterpret our offer."
Is it just an illusion that I bow deeply, but I cannot feel sincerity in it?
Timur's eyes as he looked at Devious were deeply sunken.
"I believe Baranov will be able to resolve this issue as long as the steel smith pays attention only to the North and not to the dragon."
Timur's steel knight's eyebrows moved when he heard Devious's suggestion.
In the end, Dragulia was forcing him to make a decision.
Is it a dragon sculpture or is it for Baron Utman?
However, no matter which of the two was chosen, it would only be a painful loss for Timur.
"Steel never changes."
The man with his head bowed had sinister eyes.
A dove sent by a dragon.
The area where the dove spat was still filled with the smell of blood.
"The oath to the Sword Master will be like this too."
Timur shook his head as if to shake off his worries.
After making his decision, he slowly got up and walked towards Devious.
"Go and tell the Lord of the Dragon's Blood."
Ruler of the North and guardian of the oath.
Baranov, a family recognized by the Sword Master.
The Lion of the North approached Devius, who had his head bowed, and opened his mouth with a cold breath.
"Don't talk nonsense."
Get rid of those messy toenails. Fallen dragon.
Because steel has no intention of bending to a dragon.
"…Will you not regret it?"
"That's nothing for you to worry about."
This decision was made not only for the oath but also as a serene monarch.
We must not give chances to a bound dragon.
"We will also support the Utman family. Because you cannot fraternize with those who have accepted an evil existence."
The family that was in charge of a pillar of the once-strong Northern Union had rotted.
So you have to cut it off.
To rise with all the power of the North.
Spring was approaching everywhere, but in the north, a cold atmosphere still prevailed.
***
The light streaming through the window scattered here and there.
Vlad furrowed his brow slightly as he watched the sunlight spreading haphazardly across the table.
"Sword, sheath, armor…"
Goethe swallowed nervously as he looked at the elf armor gleaming in the sunlight.
"How much does all of this cost?"
"Get away from me."
Seeing the disrespectful squire daring to put a price on his weapon, Vlad kicked Goethe and pushed him away from the table.
"No, you can think about it for a moment."
"You just rolled your eyes. Where's the scam?"
"…Did I do that?"
Goethe felt overwhelmed by the lingering presence of a street thug within the noble knight, and he finally ceased to be himself.
Though outwardly he appeared a noble gentleman, Vlad had been fighting all his life, and inside he still harbored a fierceness he couldn't quell.
"Anyway, it's worth risking your life. Isn't it, captain?"
"...Try to shut up a little."
There was no way he wasn't happy because the knight he served was generously rewarded.
However, the unfortunate thing was that the rewards received from the elves were items that couldn't be shared with Goethe.
"They said the sword sheath was made from a piece of the World Tree."
The sturdy-looking black sheath still had a streak of light wood despite being processed.
Whether it was the intention of the craftsman who created it or the strong energy of the materials, it exuded a unique feeling.
"Is it flexible at the joints?"
"Besides, it's thin."
The plate armor provided by the elves looked elegant despite being clearly made of iron.
This was probably because there were many empty spaces here and there to emphasize agility.
"And this chainmail armor…"
However, even if there were many empty parts in the armor, there didn't seem to be much need to worry.
A flowing silver inner armor.
The chainmail armor given by the elves was sewn so tightly that it looked like normal clothing from a distance.
"This looks like it could be worn as clothing."
Though his old gambeson armor could be functional, its comfort left much to be desired. [1]
It was the smell, the heat, and above all, the things hindering agile movements.
However, the chainmail armor he held now not only fit snugly to his body but was also lightweight, so Vlad couldn't help but like it.
Knock, knock, knock
"…Goethe. I'll show you the way."
A girl knocking on the door making noises.
Goethe quickly composed his expression and opened the door to welcome the girl.
"You've arrived. Miss."
"What do you think, Vlad? Do you like it?"
He was greeted with a bright smile, but as soon as he entered, Goethe's expression turned sour as he saw the girl only seeking out Vlad.
"It's so nice. I've never seen equipment like this in my life."
"Really?"
The tips of the girl's ears turned a little red, as if it were a compliment to her.
"I'm sorry. It's because I didn't do 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 pounding the meteorite might have had a rough shape, but it was a sword that seemed to possess extraordinary strength.
"It's because it's the first time we've done it. I didn't do it well."
However, though it may have a shape, the sword in front of him couldn't be considered a finished product.
It was something that couldn't be helped since it was the young ones' first attempt at this ritual according to the weak records.
"My grandfather used to say he sharpened the blade but didn't temper it properly. Still, I think it'll be usable…"
Toes tapping the floor, kicking without realizing.
Vlad realized the girl was genuinely remorseful as her voice grew quieter towards the end.
"No. Lady."
The girl said there was an issue with durability, but the old blacksmith said it was definitely there.
He understood that if the weapon wasn't truly usable, he wouldn't even have been given it, worried it might be a danger to Vlad.
"This is a sword I really like."
The new sword, reminiscent of his old 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.
"If? Then I'm very happy."
The girl, suddenly feeling better after hearing Vlad's words, quickly handed him a letter and smiled.
"This?"
"This is my letter to Alicia, the Lord of Hainal. I wrote that I regretted what happened to the amber stone."
Vlad, who saved the World Tree, received a reasonable reward, but Alicia, who lost the relic, had nothing to give.
Perhaps this matter should be resolved within the realms of Hainal and Ausurin rather than through individual negotiations.
"Maybe it's just the priestess…"
"The elders' is included too."
"Yes."
I feel anxious handing over a letter from a girl who doesn't know where it will go.
However, if it contains a letter from the wise elder Geronimo, you can rest assured.
His item, which was only a nuisance to Alicia, seemed to bring some comfort to the letter he held.
"Maybe soon we'll send scouts to Hainal and Dobrechi. I also want to meet the spirits there."
"It's okay."
If the elves are going to form a relationship with humans anyway, it would be better to form a relationship with lords who are at least somewhat related to them.
And for Alicia, who has few places to lean on, wouldn't the power of Ausurin, though far away, be a source of comfort?
"And this."
A note folded crookedly, unlike a letter.
The note, folded like a four-leaf clover, was clearly something the girl had personally handed over.
"Open this later when you come to a crossroads."
"…A crossroads?"
A girl whispering softly in Vlad's ear, wondering if anyone would hear her.
The tip of her toe raised in effort conveyed the girl's sincerity.
"Then, goodbye. I won't be able to see you off tomorrow."
"…"
A girl who only says what she has to say and doesn't respond.
However, the bright golden eyes were filled with Vlad's image.
"I've always been curious about this."
"What?"
Now it's the farewell.
The girl, who didn't know when she would see him again, continued to smile to herself.
"Can I ask you what your name is? I didn't even know your name until now."
In the human world, relationships are established by transmitting names.
Of course, out of courtesy, Vlad asked the girl's name.
"…Name?"
However, upon hearing Vlad's question, the girl simply stood there and froze like a pumice stone.
Her perked-up ears gradually turned red.
"…Why my name?"
The silence dwindled in an instant.
Goethe's eyes moved back and forth, trying to grasp the icy atmosphere, but human common sense and elf common sense were completely different.
The girl's perked-up ears gradually turned red.
***
"There was a snowy field when I arrived."
"Winter in Ausurin is short. The World Tree doesn't like the cold."
After hearing Varadis's words, Vlad lifted his head and looked at the distant mountains.
The barely visible mountains were still covered in white snow.
"That's all."
"Thank you for seeing me off."
The border between the worlds of elves and humans.
Noir, standing in front of them, neighed as if reluctant to leave, but his world was not in Ausurin.
"Ausurin will not forget the favor you've done."
Though saying thank you, Varadis's voice had become strangely stiff and uncomfortable.
It seemed asking the girl's name was rather bothersome.
"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 wasn't a name with true meaning.
Perhaps the act of saying it or asking about it seemed to be a rather sensitive matter for elves.
Though Vlad didn't mean to, he made another mistake as his knowledge expanded.
"And."
Varadis approached Vlad and spoke with a serious voice.
"I don't know what the priestess said, but please don't ignore her words."
"…Okay."
Varadis left Vlad with a small warning in case something unexpected happened.
At this moment, the girl who was the priestess of the World Tree and his own younger sister lay sick in bed.
It must have been due to the revelation given to a knight named Vlad.
"Please, tell him thank you for his concern until the end."
"Thank you for protecting the World Tree. I hope to see you again next time."
With Varadis's farewell, the spirits riding on Noir's back began to descend.
Wings, tails, heads, etc.
Each one waved the part they could shake and bid farewell to the knight leaving Ausurin.
"Then let's go."
The rangers and spirits waved them off lightly.
Vlad's eyes saw a huge tree behind them.
Now it seemed distant and faint, but the branches swayed back and forth in the wind.
"Let's go."
"Uh, Captain."
A knight and a squire turning their horses' heads.
A white flag started waving 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 will you go from now on?"
It would be natural for Goethe, the squire, to ask Vlad for directions.
It wasn't clear, but Vlad had been the one setting the course up until now.
"…"
Three forks in the road.
However, Vlad's mood at that crossroads was extremely heavy.
Vlad's brow furrowed gradually as he read the note.
"…Where do I go to the right?"
"We came from there. If you go this way, it will take you to Dobrechi via Tanovo. If you're heading back to Soara, this is the way."
It seemed like Goethe wanted him to return and say something, but Vlad silently turned his head towards the middle path.
"And if we go here?"
"If you take the middle path…"
Goethe quickly pulled out the map and spoke up.
"I think it will lead into the central region. The nearest city is Marcia, to begin with."
"Then let's go here."
Vlad, holding the note given to him by the girl, grabbed Noir's reins and headed down the middle path.
"Why does that note say not to go left?"
"If you go left, there's something there."
A black horse and Goethe moving along the wider path.
Vlad, who had walked until he couldn't see the fork in the road, spoke to Goethe quietly.
"I've seen it before. If you go left, you'll find the road that leads to the capital, Brigantes."
"Yes?"
"Eh. You're probably heading there, right?"
Vlad, remembering August at Goethe's words, felt his appetite sour for some reason.
As a final farewell, he told him to come visit him in Brigantes, so he probably followed Goethe's words and headed towards the capital.
"I guess I'll have to look at the list of dragon slayers later."
Vlad silently closed his left eye and burned the note the girl had given him.
Pieces of paper fluttering in the wind.
-Never go left.
Small letters written on a burning note.
The last thing the girl gave Vlad wasn't a thank you or a goodbye, but a stern warning.
T/N: (1): A gambeson is a padded protective garment worn under armor to provide cushioning and protection against impacts and chafing. It was commonly used in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance as an additional layer of defense for fighters.
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