Chapter 132 - She calls you (2)

One day when the sun shines warmly and the wind is cool.

Suddenly, as the summer season arrived, the white snake of Deirmae decided to descend from the tree for the first time in a long time.

There's no weather like this to enjoy sunbathing.

On a hill as lonely as it is quiet. A white snake quietly closes its eyes while looking at the silent tombstones.

Its tail swayed gently with the wind.

----?

At that moment, the white snake that had just silently alighted raised its head as if sensing something.

There's a distinct feeling approaching from afar.

It was a sensation it hadn't felt in a long time, so the white snake sniffed to see what was happening.

----!

The white snake's eyes opened as it recognized the scent.

The scent of flowers wafted from afar.

The scent of very young flowers.

It had forgotten it for a while because it hadn't felt it in so long, but it was an aroma that stirred up the nostalgia embedded in its soul.

The white snake stood up incredulously and looked further.

Beyond the Hainal mansion right in front, and beyond the territory.

As the white snake opened its gaze to that point, the image of a familiar man began to appear.

There was a blond knight coming directly to this place from far away from the territory.

A sword made of stars filled with the breath of children.

The child who came riding on the knight's sword spoke to each other.

The possibility of a World Tree is not yet dead.

The tail of the white snake began to tremble violently upon recognizing the child.

***

"...I knew it would be like this."

The Hainal mansion is small and old, but it has been carefully maintained.

A weak voice emanated from the office located at the highest point there.

"I knew it would end up like this."

Beautiful aquamarine-colored hair floated over the desk as if seawater had been spilled on it.

Alicia Hainal.

Now she was collapsing onto the desk from helpless fatigue.

It was a contrast to the white snake nodding enthusiastically outside the window.

"Didn't you prepare everything you knew?"

Although the noblewoman didn't seem as she should, Duncan, who guessed what she was thinking, simply comforted her with a calm voice.

"Are you ready?"

Alicia silently lifted her head at Duncan's words.

The face hidden by the abundant hair seemed somewhat gloomy.

"You know very well that this level of preparation is not enough."

"..."

Duncan was speechless due to self-deprecation rather than criticism.

"So."

Alicia sighed and carefully stroked her hair as she looked at Duncan, who remained silent.

There was a sheet of paper with many writings next to her bedside table.

It was a report summarizing the military composition of the Hainal family.

"...We can't fight Gaidar with only 700 people."

The troops gathered with the intention of squeezing dry rags, but they were only 700 men.

Even if it were an ordinary territorial war, the opponent was Gaidar, the loser of the West, and even the children of the territory would know they couldn't fight him with this number.

"What about the mercenaries? I heard prices have gone up a lot these days?"

"That's right, Lady Alicia."

Alicia's words ended in a dispersed manner like a sigh.

Duncan knew very well how much pressure she was facing, but today he couldn't say anything to cheer Alicia up.

"There are signs of war not only for us but everywhere. So the price of mercenaries has gone up a lot..."

Gaidar's purpose was clear and could no longer be avoided.

A battle was approaching that would determine not only the territory but also the fate of the family, and Alicia planned to do everything possible to fight for it.

"I met some known mercenary leaders, but they all seemed reluctant to stand on our side."

"...I suppose so."

However, contrary to Alicia's determination, the world did not approach her easily.

Poor sir.

And a powerful enemy.

Even mercenaries looking for opportunities would not want to board a sinking ship.

"In the end, we won't even be able to prepare 1,000 people."

"That's right."

Alicia's grim response to Duncan's answer grew deeper.

According to the information sent by Joseph, Gaidar was moving north with the families following him.

With a total of about 5,000 soldiers.

Their soldiers, who were only 700, would be nothing more than a heavy burden.

"But you won't just run towards me at once, will you? Because they have no reason to attack us."

"That's right. Not only will they not stand still in the center, but we also have an ally named Bayezid."

Unlike the West, where everyone was intertwined for various reasons, Deirmar was a territory belonging to a completely different sphere of influence.

If they invaded Deirmar without just cause, not only the imperial family and the central government but also numerous families would criticize them.

"Lady Alicia, the guests have arrived."

"Is it a guest?"

The butler entered politely.

Alicia's office had always been filled with a heavy atmosphere, but through the door through which he entered, fresh air blew.

"These are people from Bayezid."

"Bayezid!"

Alicia jumped from her seat, forgetting for a moment her face at the butler's words.

The sudden movement made her knee hit the desk, but it was more joy than pain.

"Hurry up and bring them in."

"Understood."

Alicia didn't hesitate to invite people who had just arrived at the mansion to her office.

Because everyone ignored Hainal, and they were the only ones approaching.

"It seems that Lord Joseph is also watching this situation."

"Thank goodness."

Alicia leaned back deeply in her chair as if she had spent a while relaxing.

"Do you feel like you can breathe a little better now?"

No matter how Gaidar might be, he couldn't ignore Bayezid.

Bayezid, one of the pillars of the North, was clearly a powerful family.

'...I guess we're teaming up.'

But Alicia hoped for something more than just the good news they would bring.

She was hoping for someone who could give her a moment to breathe in the current situation where everything seems to be blocked.

A small smile formed on Alicia's lips as she thought of him.

"They're already here."

"Tell them to come in."

Alicia quickly brushed her hair after hearing the butler's report, and before she knew it, she had returned to the appearance of a proud noblewoman and was greeting the guests.

Her eyes shone brightly towards the door that was about to open.

"Long time no see. Baron."

The door opened with Alicia's expectations.

There was a man who opened the door and bowed courteously.

A knight sent by Joseph, a man who is often scolded by him but who always delivers results.

"My name is Bordan of Bayezid."

"...Ah."

An old knight wipes sweat with a handkerchief, as if he were hot, as he greets.

Looking at him, Alicia stuck out her tongue unknowingly.

The white snake outside the window was still raising its head and moving from side to side.

***

Men with black hoods.

Vlad and the Thornwood mercenaries were heading to Deirmar with them.

"Is that why you came here?"

"...You shouldn't ask me that."

A scarred man who doesn't give clear answers to his questions.

Seeing him like this, Vlad realized he had other duties besides taking him away.

Maybe he was aiming for someone else's head, like in the days of Endre Hainal.

"But how should I address you? Elder?"

I don't know who he is and I don't know his intentions.

It could be said that Vlad's actions of continuing to seek information from a man full of doubts are a natural attitude derived from his survival instinct.

"Mmm. There was an issue with the title."

After hearing Vlad's words, the hooded man stroked his chin and began to think for a moment.

"I guess a superior is a bit like that. If possible, it would be better to pretend you don't know me."

"Why?"

"Because it's best if both parties know nothing."

The scars on his face distorted along with the man's smile.

An unknown man silently warning Vlad through non-verbal signals not to delve further.

Vlad noticed the warning he was sending and nodded silently.

"Just call me by my name."

"What's your name?"

The man, who remained silent for a moment in response to Vlad's question, finally opened his mouth as if he had thought of something.

"Let's go with Marcus. You can call me Marcus from now on."

"...You're talking as if you're not Marcus at this moment."

"The hardest part is coming up with a name. At this level, it's quite good."

A man with a black hood who doesn't bother hiding the fact that he just made up a name.

The man, who I would now call Marcus, turned his head and looked in Stephan's direction.

"We didn't have enough workers anymore, but we did a good job. Are you employed?"

"Not yet."

"I'll give you a subsidy. Let them hire you."

It may not have been his intention, but Marcus smiled happily seeing Vlad leading a group of mercenaries.

Even though it was a frightening smile that made those who saw it feel intimidated.

"Not a bad choice for the Thorn mercenaries. They're talented and, above all, they have a good mission completion rate."

"Is that so?"

Vlad nodded as he listened to Marcus.

Knights have honor, mercenaries have confidence.

These were the main virtues that demonstrated one's worth in each field, and Stephan was demonstrating his confidence through a high mission completion rate.

"For some reason, he didn't run away."

"Really?"

I knew well because I had been in the mercenary industry for a while.

Those who call themselves mercenaries are people who escape at every opportunity.

However, the Thornwood mercenaries did not flee even during the battle with August.

I liked that attitude, so I took him with me until now, even though I was aware of his superficial intentions.

"If you plan to keep taking him with you in the future, be careful with relationships with women."

"Yes?"

Marcus simply shrugged in response to Vlad's question.

"Even with that level of skill, there's a reason why they wander."

"…Ha."

The rookie squire, who perfectly understood Marcus's words.

Vlad turned his head and looked at Stephan, who was following behind him.

Stephan, who was casually looking at him, immediately smiled and winked as soon as he made eye contact with Vlad.

The fact that the other eye didn't even frown wasn't something he had done once or twice.

"Hmm?"

A crow began to circle above Vlad's head, who was having a meaningless snowball fight with Stephan.

"I guess something urgent is happening."

The crow circling in the sky landed on Marcus's forearm in a familiar manner when he extended his arm.

"It's not a pigeon, it's a crow."

The crow fluttering in the sky descended onto Marcus's forearm in a familiar gesture when he extended his arm.

"Umm..."

Vlad's eyes gleamed with curiosity as he looked at the crow, but Marcus's expression only hardened when he heard the news the crow had sent.

"Let's part ways here."

"What?"

It was Marcus and his group who said they would go together to Deirmar.

But now he simply turned his head hastily as if he had left something behind.

"Is something wrong?"

"...I told you shouldn't ask me that."

Marcus clicked his tongue as he watched Vlad ask another question naturally.

This guy is a smart one.

Because by pretending to be innocent, by pretending not to know, you're crossing the line once again that you warned about.

As expected, I should have asked Peter about this guy.

"It's okay."

Vlad nodded, looking at Marcus's intense gaze.

Because the warning in his eyes wasn't directed at him.

"Go quickly to Deirmar. Lady Alicia's Knight."

Go quickly. Lady's knight.

Because she's desperately calling for you.

"It won't be too late."

"..."

So go ahead and fulfill your duty.

Before the collapsed skies of the empire fall upon her.

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