A garrison stood on the northern meadows, now covered in grass.
The flags waving among the numerous tents bore emblems representing the Holy See and the Dragon Slayer Knights.
"…Why haven't you entered yet? Lord Radu."
Within the commander's headquarters, more deeply decorated.
Bishop Pedro, who was there, looked at the man in front of him without even glancing at the teacup the host had given him.
"It's been two months since we sent the army. But you're still looking on with great anticipation."
The tone of voice is polite, but there's an anger within that can't be hidden.
Bishop of Soara and inquisitor.
Pedro continued speaking forcefully, as if he couldn't bear it any longer.
"The God above won't be very pleased with your current faithless attitude. So, Lord Radu, even now…"
"I will."
Pedro's words contained enough anger to be ignored, but the man seated before him remained calm.
"At this moment, I'm just waiting for an opportunity."
His carefully brushed red hair, shining with hair oil, caught attention.
However, the blue eyes that met testified clearly that Radu had dragon's blood.
They were blue eyes with an energy that was not human.
"You haven't confirmed how long you'll do this, have you?"
"…"
Radu Dragulia of the Dragonslayer Knights.
The man who inherited the blood of the Dragon Blood Prince was looking at Bishop Pedro and suppressing his impulse.
"So, when do you plan to draw your sword?"
"Isn't it that simple?"
Though facing a bishop promoted by the Vatican, Radu's attitude showed no hesitation.
Because there was only one person he feared in this world.
"When my father permits it."
"…"
Radu put both feet up on the table and shrugged.
Pedro was left speechless at that relaxed appearance.
"...Please don't mix human intentions with the will of God too much."
"Don't worry too much, Bishop. It won't take that long."
Radu lifted the glass of alcohol served to him and shrugged.
Pedro couldn't help but be inwardly angry at his attitude, as if he were telling him to leave now.
The dragon's impulse freed from its leash was already looking toward the Holy See.
"...I'll find out."
"I won't accompany you. Bishop."
In the end, Bishop Pedro had no choice but to bite his lip and leave the tent.
It was a matter that had to be resolved with a flag raised in the name of God or with a human sword, so an army could not be raised without Radu's permission.
Because it was a contract agreed upon to begin with.
'This is bad.'
The midday sun illuminated Pedro's eyes as he exited the tent.
This is the sight I see when I cover my bright eyes with my hand.
Flags waving in the wind.
The space between them was filled with tents arranged in an orderly manner.
'Even after all this.'
Though he had prepared up to this point, in the end, he was misled by the intentions of the Dragon Blood Lord.
Before he knew it, they had taken away his cause and the sword hilt was never his from the start.
"…"
I know why you're so quiet.
They probably wanted to keep the North under control.
The central forces, which had risen after a long time, were stuck like stakes in the center of the northern part, justifying their special existence.
What was at stake driven by Dragon Blood was suppressing the movements of Steel Ball and the Northern Union.
'...I hope it's not too late. 'Dragon Blood'.
Pedro only hoped it wasn't too late.
Baron Utman.
Where the garrison faces.
The sinister energy emanating from there had suddenly taken shape and descended like black mist.
The mist was so thick that neither the approaching summer energy nor the late afternoon sunlight could reach it.
***
Unlike yesterday, the empty village seems unsettling.
In the quiet village, as if everyone had left, only tools and farm things that hadn't been taken away were left lying around.
"Mom, Marie, take care. Even when you go there, keep your composure..."
Among the people slowly leaving, Goethe tightly held his mother's hand and begged her to pray.
"Please take care of my mom and Marie. I thought we were the same family, no, now we are the same family, right?"
"I'll do my best, big brother."
The villagers start to leave Wisteria Village.
In front of him, the village chief shouted loudly, telling them not to leave, but no one listened.
I saw the signs of war approaching right in front of me and it didn't make sense to stay silent.
"I went to Marcia and got locked up. No matter how territorial a battle is, it's rare for a city to be captured."
"Be careful, Goethe. Mom always worries about you more than anyone else."
Goethe's eyes are full of concern as he looks at his mother's wrinkled face.
They were so moist they looked like they were about to drip.
"...Take care of the money I gave you. Send a letter to Soara as soon as you arrive. At least you should be able to make contact there."
"You should also be careful, big brother."
We were a family that finally reunited, but now we have to part again.
Having to send his family through a difficult and treacherous evacuation route also made Goethe feel like he was going to lose his composure.
"Tsk."
Vlad clicked his tongue as he watched Goethe, who was worried about the unfortunate parting.
A son preparing to bid farewell to his mother.
Vlad, who observed the scene in silence, scratched his head and frowned.
"Hey. Goethe."
"..."
"Hey. Can't you hear me?"
Goethe silently waves his hand as he watches the people move further away.
Vlad grabs Goethe, who is busy saying goodbye, by the collar and holds him up to his face.
"What's, what's going on, Captain?"
For some reason, Vlad's expression looks fierce.
Goethe shrinks back seeing his expression as if something about it makes him uncomfortable, but what he hears is completely unexpected.
"You're leaving too."
"Eh?"
It was a journey that anyway would only return to Soara
So he no longer needed Goethe's guidance.
"...What's that?"
"These are vacations. I'll give you plenty of time off."
Though it was just for a moment, Vlad could recall old memories through Goethe's family.
So, if possible, he just wanted to fully remember it.
Now the memories he had were so old and worn out that he found it difficult to remember them properly.
"In exchange, it's unpaid leave."
"...Captain."
Goethe froze, as if embarrassed by Vlad's sudden suggestion.
The fingers of the cunning scammer trembled as if he had noticed something.
"Was I fired?"
"...It's vacations. You're crazy."
"Unpaid long leaves: that's how employers usually talk about layoffs."
Vlad felt like he could feel Goethe's life story through the conversation he heard.
"Leave quickly. I'll see you later in Soara."
"Eww, uh!"
Only then did Goethe understand Vlad's intention and quickly mounted his horse.
Consideration contained in a cold tone of voice.
Vlad's consideration was even felt in the spoon he stirred in front of his mother last night.
"Thank you, Captain!"
For some reason, the procession of people visible over the hill in the distance seemed confused.
The shorter the moment of separation, the better, but Goethe couldn't easily leave his position.
"I'll take my mother to a safe place and come back for you right away!"
"Will there be space for you by then?"
With sincerity.
But there would be no misunderstandings.
The two people who met on a winter day had already reached a level where they understood each other.
"...You're not good at receiving ships like Harven."
Vlad smiled bitterly as he watched Goethe go to his family.
When they met, he seemed like a fraud, but when he left, he seemed like a sincere person.
Goethe from Wisteria Village ran to his family.
"It's okay, go quickly."
Although he said he would come soon, it was a farewell that, at best, would last for several months.
Perhaps I won't see you again.
Vlad knew very well that separation was temporary.
"...To be honest, it wasn't delicious. Potato stew."
Looking at Goethe's back as he left, Vlad uttered a word he couldn't bear to say.
It tasted like mom's, but it didn't taste good.
The afternoon sun hanging in the middle of the sky tickled Vlad's eyes.
Blue eyes covered with palms to shield from the bright sun.
The color of the eyes watching the departing people was cold, but the warmth contained in them seemed warm.
***
"As expected, the further north you go, the colder it gets."
Men walking along a small forest trail.
Stephan joked and approached Vlad.
However, his words only made him tremble under Noir's fierce gaze.
It seems that Vlad wasn't the only one saddened by Goethe's departure.
"How far will you follow me?"
"To the north. Is it only a week until Soara?"
Stephan and Thorn's mercenaries.
They were now following Vlad.
"Why do you have to follow me to Soara?"
"That's because I haven't adapted yet."
Their wanderings, which began in the eastern city of Tanovo, were not yet over.
As time passed, the value of mercenaries increased, but that didn't mean they could just sit anywhere.
"After all, I'm in the position to do business with my own life. You have to be picky when choosing an employer."
"…After hearing that, it wasn't necessarily my fault. Since you're so demanding, I haven't been able to find a place until now."
"Haha! Isn't that why you've survived until now?"
Stephan simply smiled cheerfully at Vlad's reprimand.
If possible, he had to please this young knight.
"I can accept whatever you want."
His tone of voice is rough, and his attitude is cold.
However, since his behavior towards his squire was warm, it was clear he didn't have a bad personality.
'Even if his personality is a bit messy, it's worth following him.'
I recognized him as Stephan, who had been with Vlad for a long time, from the moment he rescued him from the Dobrechi forest to the Wisteria Village.
This guy is going to be big.
Unlike before, Vlad's value now shone so brightly that anyone could easily recognize it.
"If you pass through Soara, how can you receive the mission there?"
"...I don't know, I'll figure it out when I get there."
If he has good skills, a good personality, and great prospects, then joining without delay would be the right thing to do.
This was clearly an opportunity, as even the strongest competitors were eliminated on their own.
"Why are you asking about my job?"
"Hehe. Isn't this also fate?"
How can I have a drink in Soara...?
Stephan shows a friendly smile and tries to joke.
However, Vlad's eyes narrowed as he looked at him.
"Wait a moment."
"Yes?"
Sounds following the wind.
Vlad's sensitive ear began to pick up something.
Sounds coming from far away.
It was the sound of horse hooves.
"Someone is coming."
"…!"
Vlad quietly places his hand on the hilt of his sword.
Stephan, who recognized that Vlad's appearance was unusual, quickly signaled to his group.
"Prepare formation!"
Following his signal, a group of Thorn mercenaries immediately surrounded Stephan and Vlad with their horses.
Vlad was momentarily surprised by their neat appearance.
"I can see it."
"Mmm."
Naturally, Stephan stands beside Vlad and begins to report.
Through their field of vision, they could see men approaching from the distance.
"It seems there are 20 people."
Although the number seemed to be double the group's, there was no need to back down.
Thornwood's mercenaries were experienced men and knew clearly in what position they stood.
"Halt. The person at the front must identify themselves."
Men with black hoods approached confidently, as if they had nothing to hide.
Although they disguised themselves as ordinary people, Vlad could feel an unusual energy coming from them.
"I'm starting to feel a little more annoyed now. I've grown a lot. It's completely different from what it was back then."
"…You seem to know me, don't you?"
A man with a smile on his face as if he knew him.
Vlad raised his sword towards the unknown man.
I don't know, but there's nothing more suspicious than someone who knows me.
"Who the hell are you. Just answer the question."
"…"
A man who doesn't care at all about Vlad's increasing impulse.
He silently rummaged inside his chest and pulled out a piece of stiff paper.
It was a piece of paper with a familiar seal engraved on it.
"Lord Joseph sent me here. Knight Vlad."
"What?"
The man's face becomes visible as he raises the hood along with the order he holds.
His face was covered in countless deep scars.
"From now on, you won't come to Soara, but you'll go to Deirmar."
"What?"
Vlad recognized the man along with the scars.
It was only a single encounter, but it was an unforgettable sight for Vlad.
He was a man remembered by Vlad for his first impression as strong as his face.
"Until you receive new instructions, I order you to act as a knight of Lady Alicia and not as Vlad of Soara."
The leather pouch that Joseph showed in the carriage.
Inside was the head of a man with wide-open eyes, unable to close them.
"This is the name of Joseph Bayezid, the noble blood of the North."
The hidden sword of the Bayezid family.
The unknown knight who had cut off Endre Hainal's head was now standing in front of Vlad.____
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