There is no tree without roots (2)
Big lock, strong chain.
Two boxes that were tightly sealed with magic spells and the church’s inscription engraved on them.
A man was standing in front of the box with his back turned.
“Report it.”
An old knight with silver-colored hair that is close to white.
His strong beard and unruly hair looked like a lion’s mane.
“The subjugation of Lindwurm was successful.”
Behind the old knight looking at Ham, Volkov stood with a stern posture.
“Fortunately, Bayezid’s knights finished the battle, so we were able to avoid giving up the cause to the Dragon Slayer Knights.”
“What about him?”
It was a small voice, but it resonated everywhere.
The man was at a level where he knew how to convey strong energy with just his voice.
“Mirsea, leader of the Dragon Slayer Knights, has left the North. “We watched Bayezid’s knights until the last moment of their departure.”
“Right.”
After hearing Volkov’s report, the man nodded and looked at the ships in front of him.
Just a few days ago, they were in resonance with each other and spreading dragon energy, but now they were silent as if they were asleep.
“Then there will be no reason for these guys to run amok anymore.”
The white dragon Lindwurm died, and Mirshea, leader of the Dragon Slayer Knights, left the north.
That meant there were no more dragons for these pieces to call from the North.
Because dragons who have realized their potential no longer exist in the North.
“I’m sure there isn’t just one Lindwurm. “Duke.”
“I guess so.”
Steelsmith Timur Baranov.
He agreed with the advice of the wizard beside him.
Even now, somewhere in the northern snowfields, there are probably young dragons holding their breath.
And when the time came to regain one’s potential, something like this might happen again.
“As expected, this problem arises when two pieces are stored at once.”
The ship was originally stored in the northern part of the country.
And when the Romanovs collapsed, the priests moved to the western ship as if to rescue them.
It didn’t matter when we were far away from each other, but when we were close together, this side effect occurred.
“You have to let the pieces fall.”
You need to separate two pieces that react to each other.
But who will take care of this?
As it requires great obligations and responsibilities, it may be a problem that cannot be decided solely on one’s own thoughts.
“Duke. “I have something to tell you.”
“Is there anything else to report?”
Volkov quietly nodded at Timur’s words.
“A new dragon slayer has been born.”
There was a boy who chased a white dragon on a snowy field.
The boy, who was not the strongest but the fastest, did not miss the opportunity he had created.
“name is?”
Timur twitched his thick eyebrows as he heard the sudden appearance.
In this generation of the Bayezid family, I thought only Rutger was worthy of attention.
“This is a boy named Vlad. “It’s still just a seed, but it has great potential.”
“satellite······.”
After hearing Volkov’s report, Timur stroked his chin and looked at the boxes containing the dragon pieces.
“And he’s a boy.”
A name I’ve never heard before.
I couldn’t tell if it was hidden or if it came out on its own, but young things have always been difficult to predict.
“Young guys grow up quickly.”
Because they were beings who could not know what they would become or what they would become.
Time passes and generations change.
Timur knew that time was no longer on his side.
The pieces of the dragon had to be moved away before the new dragon somewhere realized its potential.
Because that was his job as the guardian of the oath.
※※※※
Vlad put down his tray and looked around.
It’s been a while since I stopped by a restaurant for servants.
It didn’t seem like anything had changed, but he could sense that the eyes of the servants eating next to him were focused on his sword.
“Did anything happen?”
“Nothing happened. At least for me.”
Portli smiled as he faced Vlad, whom he had not seen in a long time.
Maybe it was because he was no longer being bullied, but his once chubby face seemed to have become shiny.
“If you have something to say, say it.”
“······Can I ask something?”
Portli hesitated for a moment, looking at Vlad who was putting a spoon to the soup.
Although the environment he was living in had improved a lot, it seemed like he had not been able to overcome his naturally timid personality.
“One question, one sausage.”
“But is that sword given to you by Rutger?”
Portli spoke as if there was nothing to think about Vlad’s suggestion.
Vlad frowned at Portli’s reaction, wondering if he had made a deal too easily.
“······Are you curious about that?”
“Not only me, but everyone else is curious, right?”
Vlad felt the surroundings suddenly become quiet along with Portli’s words.
Everyone probably wanted to ask.
Did Rutger really give the sword the boy is wearing now?
“Because the original one ate it during a mission. “Of course I should get it.”
The boy did his best to catch Lindwurm, breaking his own sword in the process.
And Rutger, as the leader of the group, had the responsibility to compensate for that.
“That’s amazing.”
Vlad spoke calmly as if nothing had happened, but Portli and the servants around him who were listening to him nodded with their eyes sparkling.
“what?”
“You are the most likely person to be the next head of the family. “It’s definitely something special to be given a sword by someone like that.”
People around him did not think that Vlad received Rutger’s sword simply as a reward.
That sword was proof that Rutger recognized the boy and vouched for him.
“Maybe I gave you a choice?”
“······Just stop there.”
A boy who was Joseph’s squire but was recognized by Rutger.
To others, it would clearly appear that Vlad was standing in a complicated air current.
Vlad didn’t like it when people around him imagined things about him.
“I have something to pay back to Joseph.”
“······I apologize if I made you feel bad.”
Thinking about old times, Vlad quietly tore a piece of bread and soaked it in the soup.
There was a time when my current actions, which seemed like nothing special, were a lifelong dream.
Even though he looks bright now, Vlad never forgot where he belonged.
It was only because a man named Josef recognized the boy that he was able to take root in a place called Bayezid rather than in the dirty mud of the back alleys.
Vlad had a duty to repay it in good faith.
Because I wanted to do that.
“But you know what?”
Portli, who noticed that Vlad’s complexion was very uncomfortable, quickly changed the topic.
“what?”
Vlad, who noticed Portli’s efforts, raised his head and looked at the squire who had a perplexed expression on his face.
If it were anyone else, he would have coldly ignored it, but Vlad was indebted to the Portli and Kannor families in one way or another.
Even Gregory was a person whose blood was mixed with the Portli in front of us.
“They say all of Bayezid’s knights are gathering here.”
“entire?”
In response to Vlad’s wide-eyed interest, Portli raised his spoon and spoke as if relieved.
“At least everyone nearby has gathered.”
“Why all of a sudden?”
“I don’t know that.”
Sturmah is the capital of the Bayezid family.
In some ways, it would have been natural for knights to gather in such a place, but listening to Portley’s words, something was definitely strange.
“It looks like all the knights on duty are gathering here. According to rumors, the Count himself summoned me. “Do you know anything?”
Portli continued to think that Vlad, who was active outside of Sturmma, would be more sensitive to rumors than himself, who was still inside.
“no.”
However, Vlad also had no inspiration about the sudden summoning of knights.
A knight is a symbol of force.
The fact that such people are gathering together probably means that another threat like Lindwurm is approaching.
“Time will tell.”
There is no need to be anxious about what is to come.
Because the boy was ready to pull out his sword at any time.
The sound of dishes quietly echoing throughout the restaurant.
Hearing that sound, the servants were quietly observing Vlad’s thoughts.
Vlad might not have known, but the servants who had seen the boy for the first time in a long time could.
The fact that the blond boy who had been with them as a squire was now so far away that it was difficult for them to look at him.
The presence in one action and one look in one’s eyes proved it.
The boy had grown too big to remain in the position of a squire any longer.
Only the boy, who was concentrating on the soup, didn’t notice it.
※※※※
“I’m going to stop going on pilgrimages now.”
“Have you decided?”
The head office.
Ramund put down the teacup in front of him and continued.
“It was the choice I wanted, but it was a really hard time.”
“······I understand.”
With those words, Peter looked at the coin placed next to Ramund’s teacup.
The coin, which was so worn and unsightly that it was rusty red, seemed like something that would not be welcomed even if handed to someone.
“Then do you plan to hand over the last ducat to a boy named Vlad?”
“Because he deserves it.”
Ramund shook his head and answered Peter’s words.
From the intensity of their first meeting to this time’s subjugation of Lindwurm.
The old knight who had been watching Vlad right next to him was convinced that the boy was fully worthy of receiving this coin.
“The shoulders of this boy named Vlad must be heavy since he received the price of honor.”
“That’s what I’m saying.”
Ramund leaned back deeply on the back of his chair and sighed, as if he had just spent some time relaxing.
“I feel relieved because I feel like I have completed all my duties as a knight and as Bayezid’s vassal.”
“Thank you for your effort.”
Although Peter was a noble nobleman and the head of the Bayezid family, he did not hesitate to bow deeply to Ramund in front of him to show respect.
The old knight, who has fulfilled his duty and honor, will now be able to truly retire.
It was the kind of finish that every knight dreams of.
“But please stay for a few more days.”
“Is something wrong?”
Ramund looked puzzled for a moment at Peter’s words.
The person he knew named Peter was a person who did not regret separation.
“When someone retires, shouldn’t someone else come forward?”
Ramund tilted his head for a moment at Peter’s words, but then struck his knee with his palm as if he realized what he was talking about.
“Even the head of the family approved it.”
“I think it’s a little early, though.”
It has only been one year since the boy came here.
And in Bayezid’s history, no squire was recognized within one year.
“This appointment will break the record of being the youngest and shortest person.”
“It’s okay to break such traditions.”
Peter smiled faintly as he listened to the words coming from the mouth of the old knight who always valued tradition.
“······I feel even more confident after hearing those words directly from Mr. Ramund.”
Peter looked out the window as he said those words.
The walls of Sturma have always protected the city with a strong appearance.
White winter flowers were fluttering above the castle walls.
And Peter remembered the boy who came to Bayezid with Winter.
Knights were flocking to Sturma.
Holding the banner of Bayezid.
Everyone was looking forward to the birth of a new honor.
