Young people these days (3)
A tree rooted on a low hill.
A woman with light blue hair was biting her lip, facing away from the window with a clear view of the tree.
“······Count Gaidar has now established a bridgehead leading to the north.”
“To be precise, we took an area where we could establish a bridgehead. In order to go up north, you will eventually have to pass through us.”
A large pile of documents was piled up next to the desk, blocking the sunlight coming in and casting a shadow on her face.
“Would you like to come to us?”
“······You can’t be sure, but you have to be prepared.”
Alicia Hainal.
The head of the Hainal Baron family and the owner of Deermar.
Now, a map was spread out in front of her, and on the map were words representing the family of Count Gaidar.
“It would be comforting to think of it as coming. “I don’t know when it will come.”
“you’re right.”
The Count Gaidar family was now in a situation where they were right under Deermar.
The new Western rulers were constantly expanding and their influence now extended to the North and Central regions.
“······I was blocking the central part, but before I knew it, the west was approaching.”
Alicia tried to let out the anxiety she was feeling as she watched the situation unfold unexpectedly.
The blood of nobles should be blue.
This is because you must be able to make a cool-headed decision at any time.
Alicia continued to struggle to be able to do so.
“I need to write a letter to Count Bayezid.”
Alicia looked down at the map and bit her lip.
Fortunately, I had insurance in place for times like this.
“They will help us. “There must be a duty and a reason to do so.”
“you’re right.”
Bayezid will help Deermar.
Because of their location, if they were to be breached, their next target would be the County of Bayezid, one of the northern pillars.
There was a good reason why the honor duel, which was like a proxy war between the central and northern regions, took place here.
“It’s a good thing you gave me a handkerchief.”
“you’re right. These days, I keep hearing rumors about that boy. “It’s growing great.”
When Duncan praised Vlad, Alicia shrugged her shoulders and continued.
“This time, it seems like they have a connection with San Logino. “There is nothing wrong with being close to the church.”
Duncan listened to Alicia’s words and looked down at her with a subtle expression.
The fact that Shoara’s investigation team discovered ominous omens in Baron Utman was the most talked-about event in the North these days.
However, most lords would listen to the traces of warlocks or the subtle movements between Baron Utman and Bayezid.
“······I invested something in that boy.”
“I understand.”
However, Alicia was more interested in Vlad’s actions than in such trends.
As we continued to monitor Vlad’s movements from the time he left Deirmar, the intelligence network spread across the north was strengthened.
“I think it was a good thing.”
“that’s right. “The higher the value of his name, the better it is for us.”
Vlad, who received Lady Alicia’s handkerchief, had the morals to respond to her call.
And when the boy returns to Dermar with the cause for the handkerchief, he will not be alone.
Because I promised Josef that I would do that.
“Let’s broaden the scope of reconnaissance. So that you can quickly recognize suspicious trends. “For us, who lack military power, we need to buy some time.”
“······All right.”
Duncan saw Alicia quickly changing the topic and decided to move on quietly.
It’s a busy and difficult time, so it would be a good idea to give yourself a moment to breathe.
“I hope it passes safely.”
“I think so too.”
The world was changing rapidly.
To the extent that the old men who have been ruling the world until now could not have predicted it.
The old knight felt sorry for the young people who had to carry heavy burdens in this ever-changing world.
White flowers blooming in abundance on the trees on the hill.
Those flowers, which had begun to bloom right after the boy left, were the only comfort that existed in Deremar now.
※※※※
Kkang- Kang-
Vlad was sitting in front of the loud sound of the hammer striking.
“That old man. “I felt like I wanted to hit it on the spot.”
“······okay?”
Seeing Vlad cursing the old man in front of him, the old blacksmith just struck the hammer in silence with a subtle expression on his face.
Even young people have burdens to carry, but there are times when even old people have to turn a blind eye.
“But what on earth did you cut this time?”
“He was a little difficult this time.”
It was said as a reprimand as he looked at the sword, which had lost a lot of its teeth no matter how long it had been since it had been serviced, but the boy had a good reason for it.
“······What is a headless man?”
The old blacksmith let out a sigh as he heard a being he had never heard of before.
The heated, unadorned sword looked pitiful today.
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“As you go, you fight against more difficult people.”
“I guess it’s fate like that. what.”
Seeing the boy joking that he wasn’t the type of person to live comfortably anyway, the old man silently began to strike his unadorned sword.
This guy used all the power he could, but the sword wasn’t made for this purpose.
“Isn’t it time to change the sword?”
“yes?”
Vlad was taken aback by what the old man hinted at and his eyes widened.
The attitude of the old man, who seemed calm as if nothing had happened, seemed even more unfamiliar to Vlad.
“I created this guy thinking that at most I would be lucky if I just went out and cut up monsters. “The material is just ordinary iron, and the person who made it is just an ordinary blacksmith.”
“but.”
“If you keep using it like this, it will break one day.”
As the boy grows up, he will encounter more difficulties, but the unadorned sword will forever remain like this.
The old blacksmith hoped that the sword he had made would not break the boy’s ankle.
This guy who is lying hurt right now probably doesn’t want that either.
“I’m not saying you should change right now, so think about it.”
“······Do you also accept custom orders?”
The old blacksmith just laughed at the boy’s words.
Although he usually pretended to be an adult, at times like this he seemed young and it was hard to understand.
“This is my last work. “Find a blacksmith other than me.”
It is the privilege of young people to regret a breakup.
For the old people who looked like old people, it was just like everyday life.
“Are you going to take it today?”
“I might have to use it later.”
“okay.”
The unadorned sword that came out after cooling down its heated body in a bucket of water had once again returned to its smooth appearance.
It still seemed like it would be okay to be next to the boy.
“It’s hot, so be careful.”
“yes.”
The old man watched the boy leave the blacksmith shop, frowning as his eyes became sore from the flames.
‘······.’
The boy’s steps outside were confident and sure, unlike before.
Now, I can easily get through the mud in front of me.
“That’s right.”
The old blacksmith nodded as he looked at the scene and closed the door to the blacksmith shop with a coughing sound.
Today’s business is over.
Because I had just poured all my strength into the boy’s sword.
※※※※
Vlad was on edge these days.
It wasn’t just because Josef had placed him on probation.
‘······.’
[There is someone following behind.]
As the voice said, there was someone following Vlad since yesterday.
Vlad, who seemed to know who the owner of the gaze was, quickly left the familiar alley and began to deliberately twist his path.
Vlad walked quickly in front of the skewer restaurant filled with acrid smoke, widened the distance, and passed by the crowded street, hiding his presence.
Then, seeing the boy suddenly disappear in front of the dark alley, the old man stopped in his tracks.
‘You’re quick to notice.’
The old man didn’t even notice his presence, but before he knew it, he felt the boy standing behind him and shook his head.
There was also a reason why he received Bayezid’s leather armor.
“Why are you following me?”
“I was just going my own way. What are you talking about?”
At the old man’s calm answer, Vlad seemed to be unable to bear it any longer and began to growl.
“I think you’ve been messing with me too much since yesterday.”
‘······Sharp and good spirit.’
The old man nodded, looking at the boy who was angry but was not swayed by it.
Judging from the fact that he knows how to control himself, he is a guy with a wide personality.
In that case, the rebellion back then was definitely intentional.
He seems like a noble guy.
“That’s why you shouldn’t have done something stupid in the first place. “Did I say something wrong back then?”
“······.”
Vlad noticed the old man frowning in front of him.
The old man is now provoking himself.
There must be a purpose and something you want.
“If you don’t like something, why don’t you just say it. “Don’t just turn it around for no reason.”
The old man smiled as he watched the boy growling and slowly grasping the sword handle.
The boy had a raw feeling that he had not felt in a long time.
It was something I missed, but also something I was glad to see.
“If they tease you, attack them. Hey.”
Vlad strengthened his resolve as he saw the old man waving his hand at him.
I didn’t know who it was, and I didn’t know why he was doing this, but the old man was someone Josef vouched for.
Acting like this now must have been intentional.
“······They started first.”
Vlad quickly drew his sword, determined to destroy even that intention, if it had any intention.
An old man who has survived countless battlefields must be stronger than himself.
However, the boy who lived in a world where being ignored meant death was a person who was ready to attack anyone at any time.
Cheaeng-!
Vlad drew his sword at a speed that exceeded expectations, following the technique of a single strike.
‘You know how to do some tricks!’
The old man’s wrinkles smoothed out when he saw the sword approaching, sharply cutting through a narrow alley with no space to avoid.
For such a young boy, it was quite remarkable that he was able to capture his own characteristics in a single sword.
So, I guess I should show myself something.
“What are you doing if you’re not taking it away?”
“······!”
Vlad was confused.
It wasn’t because the blow he struck was blocked in vain.
Because I had already predicted that much.
If you move to the right, it will move to the right.
If you move to the left, to the left.
As the old man continued to follow him and strangely pressed the tip of his sword, Vlad realized that his movements had already been read.
‘shit!’
Vlad quickly closed his left eye as he watched the old man’s magical sword play.
It was expected, but as expected, it wasn’t something to measure.
“Why on earth are you doing this to me!”
The huge worlds always pressed and kicked the boy.
Now that Vlad was tired of being treated like that, he unleashed the anger he had built up until now and rushed towards the unknown old man.
‘That’s great!’
The old man raised the corner of his lips as he felt the boy trembling under his sword.
Even when he was active, there were few people of this age who had such clear Aura skills.
“I’m that easy!”
Kyaang-!
The swords of a boy and an old man clashed in a narrow alley.
The boy’s energy, which could not be suppressed with technique alone this time, clung to the old man with a wild flame.
“You’re in good spirits!”
It wasn’t just good momentum.
The boy, who was trying to cling as much as possible to prevent himself from doing anything, was thinking right now.
I may not be able to keep up with you in terms of technology or experience, but I, as a young person, can probably overwhelm you in terms of strength.
The boy’s movements, analyzing the opponent’s weaknesses and asking for them, clearly showed a desire for victory.
Gigigigigi-!
An old man being pushed to the end of the wall with a harsh clanking sound.
Indeed, the passage of time was so cruel that he was unable to stop the young man who was pushing him away.
“That sounds plausible.”
“Let’s see how long you can laugh.”
Seeing the old man’s leisurely smile, Vlad became very intoxicated and pushed back his unadorned sword with all his might, aiming it at the old man’s neck.
“The move was good, but I got the wrong opponent.”
“······?”
However, the moment when Vlad felt an ominous feeling while looking at the old man’s leisurely smile.
“what?”
The old man’s sword.
No, the old man’s arms were shining.
Vlad was shocked when he saw the old man injecting aura into his arm instead of his sword.
This is because, among the knights I have seen so far, I have never seen one that injects auras into the body rather than a weapon.
“It’s pretty useful, right? “It’s about strengthening the body.”
The old man, who was joking as if introducing a toy, began to push Vlad’s sword back with all his might as if it was now his turn.
“Ugh, uh…”
Feeling a completely different force than before, Vlad’s sword gradually began to be pushed back.
The old man was pushing the young man away with force.
“If you apply it, something like this is possible.”
“······!”
There was no time to be embarrassed by the strange flow.
This time, the old man’s palm glowed and he grabbed the boy’s sword without hesitation.
Since it was a sword that had just been repaired, it would have been sharp, but there was not a single drop of blood on the old man’s hands.
The old man’s palms, harder than steel, made it possible.
‘what’s this!’
Vlad let out a silent scream inside.
It was a scream that shattered every bit of common sense I had built up so far.
[······.]
In a situation where there was no voice to advise whether he was doing it on purpose, Vlad made an instinctive decision and gave up his sword.
He then quickly pulled out Jorge’s dagger and dived into the old man’s arms.
“······under!”
The old man let out an exclamation of admiration when he saw Vlad’s astute judgment.
A boy who throws away his sword and runs away as if it doesn’t matter whether it’s for his face or his pride.
It was a bold move that only someone with the heart of an animal could make.
I feel it again, but this guy is born with it.
“this guy!”
In an irregular movement that no properly trained knight would make, the old man unknowingly threw a fist full of aura.
“Gagging!”
It was just one room.
It was quite a fierce battle of strength, but one blow from the old man caused Vlad to fall backwards with a crashing sound.
The blow was so strong that the armor on the boy’s shoulder exploded.
The snake’s protection, which had been broken in the last battle, could no longer protect the boy.
“······this!”
However, even if it was just a single punch, Vlad’s efforts to bring out the old man’s sincerity on the topic of a puppy for a day were definitely praiseworthy.
To the extent that Josef or Zayar, who would probably be in city hall, would be surprised if they saw the current situation.
“Are you okay?”
The old man was blaming himself for not being able to control his strength and was shouting at the boy, but the person he had to answer to was just lying around in the distance.
It seemed like he had fainted from such a strong shock.
“······Your tenacity is a bit lacking.”
The old man, who had finally caught one flaw, walked towards the fallen boy with a truly satisfied expression.
For some reason, there was a reason why Zayar smiled mysteriously.
“······!”
However, the old man who went to help the boy was frightened when he saw the blue eyes rushing at him in an instant.
Gregory had said.
The flame must not go out under any circumstances.
And the boy hasn’t given up yet.
“Look back!”
“······this!”
Vlad grabbed the old man who was trying to help him up with his whole body and headbutted him.
The old man, who was stuck so tightly that there was no room to dodge, had no choice but to accept the current attack.
Wow!
The sound of something breaking echoed through the empty back alley.
Clearly, Vlad’s intentions were successful.
“Seed······.”
In his hazy mind, Vlad let out a low curse.
The last thing Vlad saw before he lost consciousness was the old man’s wrinkled forehead, sparkling with aura.
