CHAPTER 135

The black eyes Vlad had seen for the first time in a long time were looking at him.

The corners of the eyes seemed to be about to smile, but there was a somewhat uncomfortable expression.

Vlad was also hesitating whether to smile or not while looking at that expression.

"Why you?"

His lord whom he met in the summer even though he left in the winter.

Josef's eyes, which seemed to have become slightly darker, raised sharply towards Vlad.

"Are you just here to cause trouble?"

"...I'm sorry."

In response to Josef's reprimand, Vlad quickly lowered his head and apologized.

He knew very well that his record in Deomar was brilliant.

"You broke the heirloom of the Hainal family... It's really unbelievable."

Josef, who leaned back heavily on the chair as if he was saying it himself, let out a deep sigh.

Even though they were solidifying their relationship with Deomar in the face of a major war, breaking the heirloom of Hainal and coming back.

Josef still felt good about Alicia's tears welling up at Vlad's words.

"You've been all the way to the east and nothing has changed."

The one-eyed knight opened his mouth on behalf of Josef, who was speechless.

Despite being banished with the meaning of calming down, Zayar still sent a fierce gaze with his one remaining eye toward his student who was still causing trouble.

"...".

Vlad also had something to say, but he knew it wasn't the right atmosphere to say it now.

Vlad, who had spent his entire life watching people's reactions, realized that he had to keep his mouth shut for now.

"This stupid guy."

With a short exclamation, Zayar's body swayed like waves.

Zayar, who used his footwork, which were the foundation of his movements, swung at Vlad's shin without hesitation.

"....!"

"Hmm!"

But he didn't hear the screams of someone he expected.

The sound of the wind passing fiercely.

The only thing that came back empty was his kick that cut through the air.

"...".

"...".

Vlad, who had stepped back unnoticed to avoid Zayar's kick.

Contrary to his bewildered expression, Josef slowly pulled up his upper body, which was leaning on the chair, as if he was surprised to see that he had clearly widened the distance between them.

"Ah."

Josef, who was making a subtle expression as he looked at Vlad, and Zayar, who was still frozen with one foot raised.

Vlad, who was rolling his eyes around while surveying the atmosphere of the office, cautiously spoke up.

"...Was this supposed to happen?"

"...Looks like it."

Seeing Vlad subtly presenting his shin again, Zayar couldn't help but wear a bewildered expression.

Indeed, this guy was unpredictable. Since their first meeting until now.

"As expected, you idiot."

Taaaak-!

A light hitting sound was heard inside the office.

Vlad's blonde hair swayed heavily.

Zayar succeeded in hitting the back of Vlad's head instead of his outstretched shin.

"I told you to be prepared for a follow-up attack."

Looking at Zayar, who was smiling subtly at him, Vlad couldn't help but smile back a little.

"I'm sorry."

Everything was just like before.

Josef, who was looking at him with the sun behind him, and Zayar standing quietly beside him.

Although he was being scolded, seeing that nothing had changed, Vlad somehow felt relieved.

※※※※

"Baroness Alicia has decided to let this matter pass quietly. Be grateful to her for her generosity."

"Yes."

Josef and his entourage were inspecting the temporary encampment set up within the territory after leaving the mansion.

Tents and campfires spread all around.

Watching the thin smoke rising from the places where soldiers gathered, Vlad couldn't help but feel that it was a scene that didn't quite fit with Deomar.

"From today onwards, you will officially be working as Lady Alicia's knight, not under my command."

"Do we really need to do that?"

"Now is the time to be careful."

In this war, Vlad had to act not as Vlad of Shoara, but as Vlad, Knight of Alicia.

Vlad was still a criminal to the Vatican, and the Vatican's military power was entrenched in the northern middle, so being careful would do no harm.

"How long will I be under Lady Alicia's command?"

"Why? Don't you like it?"

"It's not that, but..."

Vlad stumbled over his words in response to Josef's question.

Even though Vlad had never fought in a war, there was one fact that he understood well.

"I think I prefer being called Vlad of Shoara."

"Hmm."

Josef and Zayar nodded as if there was some merit in Vlad's words.

The honorable titles attached to knights revealed not only their affiliation but also their identity.

Therefore, no matter how much Vlad had a connection with the territory of Deomar, he had no choice but to be reluctant to give up the title of Vlad of Shoara.

"Still, it's best to develop some attachment."

But Josef left behind cryptic words and simply continued to survey the camp.

"Lady Alicia said she would let it pass quietly, not just let it go."

It was a prestigious heirloom passed down from the ancestor who founded the family.

No matter how much Vlad was considered a benefactor of Deomar, this matter required him to take responsibility in his own right.

"Baroness Alicia has requested priority negotiation rights regarding you. After our seven-year contract ends, that is."

"Negotiation rights?"

The relationship between Josef and Vlad was not bound by a lifelong oath of loyalty.

The seven-year contract in exchange for opportunity and trust was now in its third year, and after the contract ended, Vlad was completely free.

"Can I refuse?"

"In that case... she might be disappointed."

After all, it wasn't about enforcing the contract; it was simply asking Vlad to discuss it before seeking another lord.

Lady Alicia, the owner of Hainal, wanted Vlad as her knight under her command.

"Anyway, is your horse still doing well?"

"Are you referring to Noir?"

"Yeah, that guy. Your notorious horse who doesn't listen to you."

However, all of these conversations would ultimately take place after victory in the war.

While Vlad's affiliation would outwardly align more closely with the Hainal family, the command authority still rested with Josef.

Josef had already devised plans on how to utilize Vlad as a knight.

"While the troops stationed in Deomar will primarily focus on defense, it would not be desirable for us to simply wait passively."

There was another tent erected there, far away from the other tents.

It was a tent that stood alone, as if it couldn't blend in.

"Wait! Who is this?"

A tent markedly different from the unified color scheme of Josef's army.

Vlad's eyebrows furrowed as he saw a man emerge from inside.

"Why is he here?"

"It was part of the agreement from the start."

Josef shrugged as he looked at Vlad.

"Go say hello. You guys have to work together from now on."

With an ominous undertone to Josef's words, Vlad turned his gaze forward, wondering why they sounded so foreboding.

A man who approaches Vlad with his arms outstretched so that anyone would mistake him for being a close friend.

Braided hair, tattoos everywhere.

"It's been a while!"

Aage of the Budart tribe was smiling brightly while greeting Vlad.

※※※※

"You've made quite the career for yourself, Sir Knight."

"Shut up."

Vlad wiped his face with both hands as he heard Stefan's words.

Seeing him like this, Stefan just chuckled softly while chewing on some jerky.

"After all, just getting a promotion is a big deal in itself. And on top of that, Sir Knight, didn't you say this is your first time in a war?"

"....That's right."

Vlad listened to Stefan's words while looking at Noir, who was snorting in the stable.

Stubborn, rough, and living by his own rules, Noir had all these flaws, but he was also the son of the grassland.

"Moreover, it's not just any scouting unit; it's an assault team. Considering my experience, this is a really good opportunity."

Josef was paying attention to Vlad and Noir's mobility.

And he intended to assign suitable soldiers to match their mobility and lead them into battle against the Gaidar.

"You're not just an ordinary knight; you're in charge of a squad, so you'll definitely make a big impact in this war."

"...If those barbarians listen to me."

Vlad was put in charge of the Budart warriors by Josef. 

Vlad couldn't understand the reasoning behind the selection, as he was the only one associated with the barbarians among the knights Josef brought.

"Where are you going?"

"For a walk."

"I'll come with you."

"No, don't follow me."

For the barbarians, it was better to have someone they knew, like Vlad, as their leader rather than some strange guy. Stefan was promoted to Vlad's adjutant as soon as he was hired, so it was a good thing for everyone.

Except for Vlad, whose mind was in turmoil.

"It's not a place that anyone can enter."

"Understood."

Vlad decided to take a moment to clear his mind and take a breather.

Originally, there was someone desperately searching for him.

As the sun set and soldiers bustled around the camp, Vlad left the bustling camp and walked to the quiet backyard of the mansion.

There, he encountered a white figure perched on a hill, staring back at him.

"Why are you looking for me like this?"

On a low hill, a huge tree with the Hainal family emblem engraved on it.

A white serpent stood there, staring at Vlad.

※※※※

"······Sniff."

Alicia lay alone in a spacious room, illuminated by moonlight streaming in from outside.

"······How can he really break it just because I gave it to him?"

Her reddened nose and scattered handkerchiefs on the bed testified to her recent outburst of tears.

No matter how strong a dam is, it can collapse from even a small crack.

Alicia, who had endured countless attacks from all sides, had finally succumbed to a single trigger: the amber stone.

"It was something my father left me."

Although it was an heirloom passed down from ancestors, it was one of the few items that reminded Alicia of her father.

But now, it is gone, melted away.

"Okay."

It didn't matter anymore.

One of her father's traces was forever lost.

Alicia, who stood up wiping away tears, decided to take comfort in the fact that she did not shed tears in front of people.

"It's fine. I gave it to him to use like this, anyway."

Her father had said the yellow amber stone contained an inexplicable divine blessing.

That's why she lent it to him, and in the end, Vlad came back in good health.

Alicia tried to convince herself as she nodded at her reflection in the mirror.

"But it's not just about breaking it."

Sitting by the bed, Alicia sighed as she looked at her swollen eyes and then retrieved the letters that Vlad had handed her instead of the amber stone.

"Ausrina... Elves."

The forest of the elves, Ausrina.

Though it was a place rarely open to humans, rumors had spread that elven goods were now being sold at high prices even in central regions.

'If I handle this well...'

Although Vlad had lost the amber stone, he had brought back letters from the elves.

Perhaps the letters she held now were more valuable than the amber stone her father had left her.

Alicia vaguely speculated on the value of the letters she now held.

'Huh!'

As soon as she opened the envelope sent by the elves, a sudden gust of wind made Alicia close her eyes.

"....What's this?"

Alicia, who was already very depressed, panicked at the sudden wind and went to the window and started rubbing her eyes.

While Alicia rubbed her eyes, the wind from the envelope began to swirl around, decorating her room with the refreshing scent of the forest.

"······."

Alicia, barely opening her eyes due to the wind blowing through the open window, caught sight of someone climbing the hill, illuminated by the moonlight pouring in.

"Now he comes and goes like his own home..."

Recognizing the sparkling figure even in the moonlight, Alicia watched the back of Vlad climbing the hill with pursed lips.

Bowing towards the graves, waving towards the Hainal trees, Vlad, Alicia's knight, stood atop the hill

"Huh?"

Momentarily startled by the unexpected sight, Alicia blinked again.

"There are no fireflies on that hill?"

Yet fireflies were visible.

Particles of light emitted from Vlad.

Although she couldn't clearly tell because she was looking at it from a distance, Alicia could clearly see lights floating on the hill.

Clearly, tiny fireflies that looked like they had just been born were coming out of Vlad's sword.

T/L: Read more chapters here: - https://ko-fi.com/revengerscans ]