Chapter 197 - The Smile of a Mother (1)

Two people were walking along a completely frozen path.

Vlad and Nibelun, who had previously been accompanied by a large crowd, now walked alone towards Sturma.

"Ugh… it's cold. So cold."

The winter wind, growing harsher each day, mercilessly hit Nibelun's face. 

Being on an open road, there was no way to escape that wind, so Nibelun could only clutch his coat and huddle up.

"How can you say it's cold? Winter in the north is just beginning."

"I don't like… I don't like the north."

"But aren't beastmen usually covered in fur?"

"Except for the ears and tail, my skin is just like yours, Lord Vlad."

"Really? I've never seen that."

Seeing Nibelun, who seemed to have lost his mind from the cold, Vlad could confirm once more that, although they had met in the north, Nibelun clearly wasn't from there.

"Where are you from? With how sensitive you are to the cold, you don't seem to be from the north."

"Ugh…"

Nibelun took the bottle of liquor Vlad offered and quickly uncorked it.

Then, the intense aroma of wood seemed to calm his shivering body a little. It was a warm fragrance that caressed his completely frozen nose.

"From the south, I'm from the south."

"Ah, that's why you feel the cold so much."

"Actually, I'm from an archipelago in the south, a very warm place, unlike here."

"An archipelago? A group of islands?"

On a road they traveled alone, sharing a bottle of liquor. The wizard, drunk from the cold, slowly began to tell his story.

"If you're from the sea, you must know how to swim."

"Ugh…"

Nibelun tried to respond immediately to Vlad's question, but the air outside his lips was too cold, and the liquor passing down his throat was very strong. The whiskey traveling down his esophagus made him feel every part of his insides, and Nibelun could only frown.

"Ahem! It seems you don't know. But most beastmen hate water."

"…How can they hate water if they live by the coast?"

Just as the people of the north adapted to their environment, it was expected that the beastmen living by the coast would do the same. However, the aversion to water of these beings living by the sea piqued Vlad's curiosity.

"That's because… originally, our land wasn't an island."

"Eh?"

Nibelun, who took another swig, began to straighten his ears as if regaining his senses. On the contrary, his melancholy gaze seemed to recall his now distant home.

"A long time ago, when our ancestors settled in the south, there were no islands."

"Really? So why is it an archipelago now?"

Although it had once been part of the continent, it was now a series of points in the sea. At Vlad's indifferent question, Nibelun tilted the bottle again.

"That's because, a long time ago, the most perfect dragon destroyed our land."

"…"

The most perfect dragon. Every time Vlad heard those words, he felt a pang in his heart. He used to consider it a legendary creature, but now he understood what ran through his blood.

"The dragon's breath burned the lush jungle and sank the solid ground, leaving it as it is now. It's a very old story, but even so."

Vlad, who received the liquor bottle again, felt Nibelun's gaze on him. Nibelun's amber eyes, now narrowed vertically, seemed to hold a dragon that knew nothing.

"That's why we continue to wander the continent, seeking the mysteries that fled from the dragon back then."

After losing their home and seeing their mysteries scattered, the beastmen continued to wander the continent, aimlessly, even centuries later.

Although it wasn't something he had done, the story, intertwined with his roots, made Vlad feel strangely complicated.

"Oh, I see a city there."

"Huh?"

But, even amid his confusion, their steps continued to lead them to their destination.

A white city, covered in snow, could be seen in the distance. Sturma, with its enormous walls, welcomed them.

The small flag hanging behind Noir began to flutter vigorously, as if recognizing the city where it had been born.

***

The capital of Bayezid, Sturma.

The guards who patrolled the area recognized Vlad and greeted him with impeccable posture.

"I haven't even said a word, and they already recognize me."

"I've spent a lot of time here."

Vlad smiled slightly at the memory of how he used to be, seeing Nibelun, who still wasn't used to such a reception, looking around nervously.

'You idiot! Aren't you going to put that away immediately?'

Jager's voice echoed as they rode, but at that moment, he was excited.

Finally, it was time to use the identification that Priest Andreas had given him.

Even though Joseph was at the front, Vlad insisted on showing his identification to the guards, feeling at that moment as if he had the world in his hands.

-Welcome back to Sturma, Lord Vlad!

However, now, in front of Vlad, there was no Joseph, and he didn't have the identification in his hand, but Sturma recognized him.

Seeing the city gates that he could now pass through without showing anything given to him by someone else, Vlad scratched his cheek.

"Ohhh... This is Sturma."

Though it wasn't as large as Bastopol, Nibelun began to look at the ancient city of Sturma with bright eyes.

Even though Vlad couldn't see it, in Nibelun's world, mysteries seemed to float all over the city.

"Don't get distracted. There's no one here to take care of you."

"It's quite an impressive city. By the way, where are we going now?"

Although he was told to behave, Nibelun seemed to have no intention of listening.

Vlad, thinking it must be the curious nature of beastmen, just clicked his tongue.

"To Bayezid's mansion."

Vlad's gaze, in response to Nibelun's question, was directed to the highest point in the city.

Bayezid's mansion. The place where he took his first steps as a knight.

Joseph's office, filled with light, was still clearly in his mind.

***

"Well, look who's here!"

"It's been a long time, Sir Gregory."

The first person to greet Vlad as he entered the mansion was Knight Gregory.

"You should have let us know you were coming!"

"I didn't have time to send a message."

The older knight who had guided Vlad from the fog-filled village, Gregory, smiled as he measured Vlad's height, which seemed to have grown a bit since the last time.

"Portly has grown stagnant over time, but you keep shooting up."

"How is Portly?"

"Since you're here, you should go see him."

Although not as much as in Soara, Vlad had warm relationships in Sturma as well.

Although it was less than a year, Sturma was the city where Vlad achieved the greatest realization of his life.

"By the way, what happened with that? I heard Bastopol was attacked by the Centrals."

"That is..."

As he tried to respond to Gregory's question, Vlad noticed the presence of other knights around.

Far away, close by, or in unseen places.

They all tried to appear normal, but they were attentive to what Vlad was saying.

"Sir Vlad. If you're not too tired, would you like to see the Countess first?"

"...I'll speak about it later."

The person who needed to be informed first about Peter and Rutiger's news was Oksana Bayezid, the mistress of the mansion.

The person who took care of the mansion and Sturma in place of the head of the family and his children, who were always absent.

Seeing the butler's unease among the knights, Vlad could deduce how much Oksana was eager to hear the news.

"Please, lead the way, butler."

"Thank you, Sir Vlad."

With Nibelun following, Vlad walked through the familiar hallways guided by the butler.

Although it was a brief ray of winter light, the hallways, filled with a yellowish tint, were exactly as he remembered.

"... Do I look presentable?"

"What?"

"Nothing's broken or out of place, right?"

Hearing Vlad's cautious question about his appearance, Nibelun was a bit surprised.

Vlad seemed more nervous than when he met the Duke of Iron in the North, which was very unusual.

"You look perfectly presentable. Completely."

Apparently, Nibelun's words reassured Vlad, whose face began to relax.

"Are you ready? May I announce you?"

"Yes."

In front of the door to the parlor, Vlad adjusted his clothes one last time and nodded to indicate he was ready.

Knock, knock, knock.

Seeing the door the butler knocked on, Vlad took a deep breath.

But, even though he tried to brace himself, he knew very well that all his effort would be in vain in front of the woman behind that door.

"It has been a while, Vlad."

As the door opened, a familiar scent filled the air.

A scent he hadn't felt in a long time but had always been deep in his memory.

"Maybe I should call you Sir Vlad now."

Seeing the lady smiling with that scent, Vlad lost the words he had prepared and began to murmur.

Although he had met many people since stepping into the outside world, he didn't know how to behave in front of this woman.

"Would you like a cup of tea?"

"No, thank you."

"Lord Ramund recently tried growing tea in his territory."

"..."

Even though he said no, it seemed the tea would be served anyway.

For Vlad, who came from a cold day, Oksana began to prepare the tea herself.

"Who is this person beside you?"

"I am Nibelun. Vlad's new magical advisor."

Under Oksana's gaze, Nibelun bowed his head and began to observe the room silently, which was unusual for him.

However, he soon seemed captivated by the various tea leaves arranged by the window.

"I heard you just came from Bastopol. How are the head of the family and Rutiger?"

The news of the attack on Bastopol by the dragon knights was something that concerned Oksana.

Knowing this, Vlad began to answer as detailed as he could about what he knew.

However, while speaking, he tried to omit the most dangerous parts, only out of consideration for Oksana.

"...It must have been hard for you."

But if Oksana couldn't deduce what wasn't said, she wouldn't be the lady of Bayezid.

Understanding what Vlad had gone through, Oksana smiled with effort.

"By the way, it seems you've gained some weight since last time."

"Really?"

Having arrived with the harsh wind, Vlad looked down at Oksana's smile.

Though Zemina and Alicia also smiled at him, Oksana's smile was different.

"When I first saw you, you looked all bones. Now you seem to have regained your form."

Leaving the teacup, Oksana began to stroke Vlad's head.

Though the spot where her breath touched tickled, Vlad looked into Oksana's eyes.

"I'm glad to see you're well."

"It's the first time I've heard that, even though I have two sons."

Seeing Vlad worried about her well-being, Oksana's eyes curved in a smile.

Knowing that the boy who once showed only thorns now knew how to be gentle, gladdened Oksana.

"..."

However, though Vlad smiled with his mouth, he couldn't with his eyes.

Because he saw the worries on Oksana's face that were hard to erase.

"Joseph will also be glad to know you're back."

"Really?"

The smile that once melted the cold winter seemed a bit weaker now, which saddened Vlad.

A mother ages faster worrying about her child.

That's why Vlad could now also see the wrinkles on Oksana's face.

But still, seeing Oksana trying hard to hide her worries and smile, Vlad also tried to show only a smile.

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