It Was Time to Leave, But Winter Seemed Reluctant to Go.
The winter wind lashed against the window, as if trying to hold on.
Joseph had an idea as he gazed at the winter wind blowing through the window.
"That's right, Joseph of Bayezid. You've come from far away to find me."
Joseph was pulled from his thoughts by the voice he heard and looked at the man in front of him.
An old man smiling with a crackling fireplace behind him.
He had an impressive and elegant mustache and was Baron Moldavir, lord of Kisignor, a town around here.
"Thank you for granting me this audience, Baron."
"This winter has been long, and I've had few visitors. Your arrival is welcome."
What he heard was clearly a response full of affection.
However, Joseph, who was carefully observing the baron's eyes, realized that he wasn't particularly pleased with him.
"Nevertheless, despite your visit, I can't help you this time."
As expected, Baron Moldavir, who put down the tea cup just as Joseph had thought, shrugged and continued to refuse.
"It is difficult to intervene in the affairs of another family without a good reason. Besides, you have already been eliminated from the competition for succession."
The baron didn't say this with any particular malice, but his words were even sharper for it.
He was saying that Joseph's proposal lacked weight and was just empty noise.
Joseph, who understood the baron's words, simply bowed his head in silence.
"Although I can't offer you much help, please feel comfortable during your stay here."
Despite seeing little utility in Joseph's visit, Baron Moldavir didn't dismiss him abruptly.
This was because he didn't want to lose ground to Bayezid, who was now gaining power in some way.
"By the way, this tea you've brought is quite good."
"I'm glad you like it."
"Well, although the tea leaves have a black color that isn't very attractive."
Perhaps due to the rejection a moment ago, the air in the room seemed a bit cold.
However, even in that atmosphere, Joseph showed no signs of disappointment.
It seemed too natural to say that he was trying to hide his disappointment.
"The tea set and the tea you've brought are quite refined for someone so young."
"The cups were a gift from my mother. She always wanted me to drink hot tea instead of ruining myself with alcohol."
Joseph, who was naturally arranging the tea utensils he had taken out, just looked indifferently at the baron, who was drinking tea as if nothing had happened.
Joseph's tea had a sinister black color that made it difficult to call it common green tea.
While watching the baron's throat slowly swallow the tea, Joseph's gaze darkened.
***
While Joseph was meeting with Baron Moldavir, Vlad and Nibelun were investigating all over Kisignor.
To be precise, they were looking for rumors that the missing Frausen and the Woman in Black might have left behind.
"Haa... We'll have to return to the north."
However, despite all their hard work, there didn't seem to be any results.
The knight, elegantly dressed, ruffled his hair in frustration as the nearby patrons began to discreetly leave.
"The people here really know nothing."
The tavern owner frowned as he watched the customers leave, but Vlad was lost in his thoughts.
"You should try the church. They might have information."
"...The church here belongs to the Vatican."
Vlad tapped on his left breastplate as if to check something.
Vlad touched his left breastplate, clearly showing the inscription that the Pope of the Northern Orthodox Church had engraved.
"They probably hate me more than they hate you, beast-man."
"Oh. That's not good."
In the north, it might have been an honorable phrase, but in the central region, where the Vatican's power was strong, it was simply evidence of heresy.
Since there was nowhere to seek help, Vlad tried to do it himself, but the results he achieved were minimal.
"...But the way you eat seems very natural, doesn't it?"
Vlad's expression began to darken as he watched Nibelun carelessly biting the skewer in front of him.
Even the shop owner had an expression that made him shudder, but Nibelun simply offered another skewer to Vlad as if nothing had happened.
"We need to find him quickly. Dragons keep dying in the west, which is a bad omen."
"That's right."
As Vlad listened to Nibelun, he thought of Frausen, who had a strange obsession with dragons.
And with him, the Woman in Black who was spreading fog in the city of Moshiam.
"I hope we can stop him before something happens again."
Bringing down evil beings was a natural duty for knights, but Vlad had a somewhat more special motivation.
Frausen is connected to Kihano.
And from the mist-filled village to the black-clad woman who had long been entangled in a bad relationship.
The continuous appearance of these enemies made him feel an unavoidable obligation.
"It's a pleasure to see you again, Vlad."
"...!"
Was it because he was lost in worry?
Vlad was startled by the sudden voice.
Apparently, he hadn't noticed anything until now, but now a man was sitting next to Vlad.
"Lord Marcus?"
"I don't know what you're so focused on."
A man with scars all over his face.
Marcus, who gave a new name every time they met, took a skewer in front of him and looked at Vlad.
"...How did you get here?"
"I had some business to attend to."
Although it was a familiar and welcome face, Vlad couldn't help but be on guard.
This was because Marcus, Bayezid's hidden sword, couldn't have come here without any intention.
"What business do you have?"
"As I told you before, I can't talk about my missions."
"Are you here for Lord Joseph?"
"..."
Marcus didn't respond, just looked at the skewer Vlad was holding.
"How is Lord Joseph?"
"You should know better than I do."
Joseph has the right to succession, but he had been eliminated from the competition to be head of the family.
The fact that he was traveling alone through the central region and meeting other lords wouldn't be something that would please Bayezid.
Vlad suspected Marcus and wondered if that was the reason, but the answer he received was vague.
"I don't know. At least in appearance, he seems fine."
"...?"
"But there's something I want to ask you."
Marcus's response, which was a bit hard to understand, made Vlad want to ask what he meant, but the conversation was still dominated by the scarred man.
"Did you ever travel alone to the east? When you met the elves."
"...Why do you ask that?"
"Did something unfortunate happen then?"
It seems that the reason Marcus appeared this time was himself, not Joseph.
The unexpected question about his trip to the east made Vlad frown.
"Something unfortunate?"
"For example, stealing something from someone?"
Marcus was staring intently.
Although his presence around him was weak, Vlad naturally became nervous seeing him leave a strong impression on those he knew.
"Or killing someone?"
"..."
Vlad missed the moment to answer Marcus's question, which was hard to understand.
However, Marcus, who was closely examining Vlad's expression, simply nodded silently as if he understood.
"So it wasn't like that. I hope you can clear up any misunderstandings."
"What?"
Clang!
Despite Vlad's question, Marcus simply left the coins without saying a word and quietly left the shop.
However, the coins he left were more than enough to pay not only for his own meal but also for Vlad and Nibelun's.
"The central region is not a good area for you. Personally, I'd advise you to quickly move to another area."
"..."
"Until next time."
Vlad watched Marcus intently as he left, giving him advice.
Vlad couldn't erase the complicated expression on his face as he watched him disappear, despite thinking he had blended into the crowd.
***
The Sun Was Setting, and It Was Time to Close the City Gates
Heeeeeee-!
Now, at a time when even the street vendors wouldn't be watching, there was a group approaching the city with the loud sound of horse hooves.
The gatekeepers of Kisignor began to get very nervous upon seeing them arrive, clad in gleaming armor and riding sturdy-looking horses.
"Stop! Identify yourselves!"
The captain of the guard, following his duty, halted the riders, but upon seeing the banner they carried, he turned pale.
The black flag with a descending white lightning bolt.
Not only the guard commander but also the surrounding guards quickly raised their hands and began to salute at the simple yet powerful design of the banner.
"Welcome to our city!"
"…We have received reports that the knight from the north, Vlad Aureo, is in this city. Is that true?"
However, the men who received the courteous greeting only asked cold questions as if they were not impressed at all.
The guard commander, who realized that there was an anger difficult to conceal in that coldness, quickly began to think of Vlad's name in his head.
"Vlad... Lord Vlad Aureo must have visited our city yesterday!"
He didn't know why they were looking for him, but the image of the blond knight was clear in his mind.
The knight who came with the dark-eyed noble was the one who brought with him so many symbols that it was hard to count them.
"Really?"
A knight from the north who came with a flag full of honor.
However, when the men heard the response, their expressions only hardened.
"In the name of Prince Armand, protector of the kingdom, I order that all gates of Kisignor be closed."
"...B-but..."
"Do it without question."
The captain of the guard bowed his head as the knights' eyes shone fiercely.
The order from Prince Armand was enough, but the knight's gaze was even more terrifying.
"...We have finally found him."
Without waiting for the captain's permission, the riders with the unknown flag entered the city.
Everyone on horseback had such an impeccable spirit that it was impossible to look at them in vain.
"Finally, I will be able to avenge Lord August."
The appearance of a pure white lightning bolt engraved on a black flag.
The only people who could raise the glorious banner, which was said to be a tribute to the Sword Master, were the Imperial Guard, responsible for the security of the capital city of Brigantes.
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