kscans

t/n: Seal also mean stamp, usually used in japan, usually as signature.

1

Bard borrowed a horse from Count Linz and headed east with Jurchaga. He tried to borrow another horse for Jurchaga, but Jurchaga refused, saying “Hmm. I am grateful for your sentiment, Sir. It’s just my professional dignity or stubbornness. If my businesswere to depend on horses, it would be over.”

Jurchaga’s running speed was extraordinary, keeping up with Bard’s horse without falling behind, although it was not too fast to burden the horse. On the fifth night, they arrived at a small village protected by a guardian contract with he Tercia family. The contract meant that in exchange for paying taxes and tribute, the family would provide protection to the town with their military and political power. The content of the contract varied depending on the situation. Although this village was far from the main castle of Tercia and was rarely inspected, the fact that the Tercia family would retaliate if the village was harmed undoubtedly contributed to the peace of the village.

They stayed at the village chief’s house that night. The next morning, Bard left Jurchaga to take care of the horses and went to a certain house, which was rather splendid house for a rural village. The owner of the house was an old woman. The old woman used to be a Idora’s. She had gone with Idora when she married Gwendell. After that, she returned to the village to take care of her sick mother.

Bard did something he had never done before. He asked her what had happened during the year and a half she had spent at Gwendell’s villa. It was a long story. When the story was over, Bard learned the truth about the current events. The old woman did not know the identity of the young man they had met, but she could guess. However, they still did not know where the seal was located, and they were not entirely sure of Gwendell’s intentions.

What was clear was that they needed to meet with the envoy as soon as possible. If they met Gwendell without prior knowledge, the envoy would be in danger. If the envoy’s party were brutally killed, it could lead to a war that would engulf the entire region. Bard returned to the village chief’s house. While drinking tea, Jurchaga heard something and listened outside the window. Soon, Bard could hear it as well. Several horses were approaching the village, making a fast and loud noise.

Bard and Jurchaga told the servants to keep quiet about their presence and went outside. Jurchaga hid the two horses in the forest, and Bard watched from behind the village chief’s house. Five knights arriveda at the village. The leader wore black leather armor and a black cloak. His gloves and boots were also black. The other four knights wore helmets, but the leader’s long, shiny black hair was blowing in the wind. His black mustache and beard gave him a sense of roughness and elegance. His eyes had a dreamy light. He figure was tall and imposing.

Panzer (Windstorm) Jog Ward.

He was Gwendell’s illegitimate son who inherited the branch family. He was two years younger than Julelan, so he would be twenty-six years old this year. He was arrogant, but he had the strength to back it up. He was a man who had inherited the strength of the Gwendell bloodline.

The five of them asked the villagers about the village chief’s house and entered without even asking for permission. Jog sat in a chair pulled by his men, leaning his large sword in the middle of the table. The movements of his fingers, with which he use to wields his sword while wearing black gloves, are delicate and beautiful. Then, with a wild gesture, he sat down in his chair. He put his long legs in front of him, his left elbow on the table, and rubs his chin with his left thumb and forefinger. His gaze is directed at a point on the wall, but no one knows what he is looking at.

The village chief and his wife were brought back and made to stand in front of Jog. “How much tax does this village pay to Tercia every year?” the five knights asked the village chief. The chief replied with the amount they paid. Jog kept his left thumb on his chin and stroked the side of his nose with his ring finger. After stroking it for a while, he lazily raised his right hand and opened all five fingers. Both his right and left hands were still wore black leather gloves. His gaze was still fixed on a point on the wall.

The accompanying knight looked at Jog’s right hand, nodded, and said to the village chief. “Then pay five times as much to the Gwendell family, starting this year. You don’t have to pay taxes to Tercia.”

The village chief protested against Jog’s outrageous demand. One of the knights drew his sword and tried to strike the village chief. Jog suddenly stood up and kicked the knight away. The kicked knight hit the wall and broke through it, and rolled out. Jog’s long, beautiful black hair spread out in the wind and quickly settled down.

“Stupid. If you kill the village chief, it will be difficult to get him to pay taxes and to give orders. Don’t kill men and young women.” Returning to his chair as if nothing had happened, Jog said this and began to rub his beard with his left hand, while resting his elbow on the table. His eyes were wfixed on a point on the wall. The knights intimidated the village chief and tried to force him to accept their demands. The village chief, with a trembling voice, still refused the request. One of the accompanying knights pulled off his wife away from the village chief. Another knight drew his sword with the intention to kill her as an example. Jog did not try to stop them this time.

At that moment, Bard appeared from the front door. The knights stopped moving and stared at Bard. Jog slowly turned his head and raised his eyebrows when he saw Bard. A maddening light lingered in both his two wide-open eyes. He grabbed his left chest with his right hand and said with a twisted expression, “Bard Rowen.” Jog’s mouth twisted into a fierce smile.

2

Bard had faced Jog on the battlefield twice before. The first time, Bard was 48 years old and Jog was 16. Bard thought he was a young man with ambition, but his mind couldn’t keep up with his physical strength. His swordsmanship was rough, and he couldn’t see his opponent’s movements, so he was no match at all. He thought it would be too cruel to kill him, so he kicked him off his horse and let him go.

The second time, Bard was 54 years old and Jog was 22. Jog had grown remarkably. He swung his great sword on horseback and cut down Tercia’s knights one after another. Bard blocked the great sword with his shield in his left hand and sliced Jog’s left chest. Jog had an unbelievable expression on his face. As he watched Jog retreat, protected by his comrades, Bard thought that no one would be able to defend against his sword in a few years.

Today, Bard is 58 years old and Jog is 26. He exudes an overwhelming ambition, and without proper swords or armor, he is not one to be trifled with. Moreover, he was accompanied by four knights. It was also inconvenient for them to know that he was here, not far from the Gwendell family stronghold.

However, he couldn’t let the wife of the village chief be killed like that. Bard thought, “Well, it’ll work out somehow. If not, I’ll just take a sword strike and die.”

He changed his mind and appeared. After showing himself to the enemy, Bard said nothing and walked out. Jog and the four knights followed him out. Jog took off his cloak and gave it to one of his companions. He drew his great sword and handed the sheath to another. After looking around at the four men, he ordered them “Wait there and do not interfere.”

Bard turned around about twenty steps away. His right hand was hanging down, and his left hand was holding the mouth of the sword sheath.

Jog approached. One step, two steps, three steps. His gaze was fixed on Bard’s sword. It was a piercing gaze.

While walking, Jog swung the sword he held in both hands. From the lower right to the front. From the front to the left. He circled his arm around his head and walked backwards. From the back to the right. One turn, two turns, three turns.

When he caught the enemy in range, his great sword would attack with terrifying speed and destructive power. Jog’s eyes remained fixed on Bard’s sword.

If Bard’s sword collided with Jog’s great sword, it would shatter instantly. Besides, in his current physical condition weakened by age, it was impossible to defeat Jog head-on.

Bard took half a step forward with his right foot and shifted his weight forward. He planned to charge and run past the enemy’s right side. Then, as he ran past, he would slash at the enemy’s left flank. There was only one chance. Bard tried to grab the hilt with his right hand, but was shocked.

“I can’t move!”

His right hand did not move at all. Despite his desperate efforts, his right hand didn’t react at all.

It was the right hand that he had used hard since his youth. Recently, his right shoulder had become very stiff, and he couldn’t lift his hand straight up. Sometimes he felt intense pain depending on how he used his arm. It was understandable, and he had prepared himself for the day when he couldn’t even hold a sword. But why now? Jog approached mercilessly.

“Now!”

At that moment, Bard jumped with all his might. His right hand still didn’t move. He grabbed the hilt with his left hand, pressed against the scabbard, and tried to draw his sword no matter what.

Jog seemed to have noticed Bard’s aim as well. He didn’t take his eyes off Bard’s sword, probably for that reason. If he looked at the hands or feet, he might be confused by their movements. So he just looked at the weapon. The moment Bard drew his weapon and attacked was the moment to kill him.

Bard finally drew his sword with his left hand. Since the sword was short and his arm was long, he was able to draw it. His right hand still didn’t move. It was too late to slash the enemy’s flank. Bard corrected his timing by tilting his body backward.

That was fortunate.

Jog had focused his attention on Bard’s right hand drawing the sword, so his breath to swing the great sword was slightly delayed. The great sword, surrounded by a violent wind, passed over Bard, who slid in from his feet. Jog, realizing he had missed his prey, put his left foot down to stop the rotation of the great sword. Bard’s sword was driven into that left foot.

Bard drew his sword with his left hand, placed it on his arm, and rubbed it against his opponent’s foot. It was a desperate attack, but Bard’s weight and momentum, and the fact that he slashed at the moment Jog put all his weight on that foot, increased its power.

Bard slipped past Jog and turned his body to the right. With his left knee on the ground and his right knee raised, he made a harsh sound to stop the acceleration. Dust rose.

Bard stood up as soon as his body stopped sliding. He held the sword in his left hand in a reverse grip. He was three and a half steps away from Jog. If Jog took one step forward, he would be within the range of the great sword.

Jog turned his body as he watched Bard pass under his left side. Then, he swung the great sword wide, stepping hard with his left foot as the pivot. His left foot, which was wounded by Bard’s sword, couldn’t withstand the impact. His stance collapsed, and the great sword swayed in the air. Bard didn’t miss the perfect opportunity. He quickly ran up to Jog and tried to slash at him with the sword held in a reverse grip.

However, Jog’s movements, young and supple, exceeded Bard’s expectations. He bent both knees, lowered his body, forced his stance with a kick from his right foot, and slammed the great sword into Bard’s chest. As the great sword pierced his chest, grazing his left elbow, Bard knew his defeat and death.

The death that was supposed to come did not come.

Jog didn’t swing the great sword any further after it struck Bard’s left chest. Bard’s sword sliced through the air, playing in the void. Jog looked at Bard’s right hand, which still didn’t move. There was still fighting spirit in Bard’s eyes. Without fear or hesitation, Bard looked directly at Jog. Jog kept looking at Bard’s right hand. The hand that didn’t move.

The killing intent left Jog’s body. Without saying a word, he sheathed his sword and turned away from Bard, heading for his companions. He mounted his horse and silently left the village. The accompanying knights followed him, confused.

3

As the five figures disappeared, Jurchaga emerged from the forest, leading his horse. He approached Bard, who had stopped near the horse post.

“Are you okay? I heard a loud noise,” Jurchaga asked.

“I’m fine, I don’t feel any pain,” Bard replied as he entered the village chief’s house.

He sat down on a chair and said, “I caused a commotion, sorry about that.”

The village chief, whose wife had been saved by Bard, tried to express his gratitude, but Bard waved it off and asked for a glass of water instead. After he drank it, he removed his chest plate.

His right arm had regained movement by this time. “Thank god,” Bard thought.

The left side of his chest plate had been deeply cut. If Jorg hadn’t stopped the great sword, Bard would have died. However, he didn’t feel much pain despite the impact. What saved Bard was the small knife he had hidden in his chest plate for eating. No wonder he had heard a metallic sound earlier.

The knife was slightly bent from the impact.

“Wow, what a nice knife. It tickles my thieving heart,” Jurchaga said, making an ominous remark.

“May I see it for a moment?” he asked, and Bard handed him the knife.

Jurchaga examined the knife from various angles for a while and then asked, “Can I take it apart?”

Bard replied, “There’s no way to disassemble it.”

“Wait a minute,” Jurchaga said as he pulled some tools out of his pocket and fiddled with the knife. Eventually, the handle of the knife split into two with a snap. Inside, there was a small square piece of metal with a coat of arms-like design engraved on it.

“This is holy silver. It’s small, but it looks like a family crest. Isn’t this an emblem?” Jurchaga said, surprising Bard.

Bard took it and looked at it closely. It was indeed an emblem.

Come to think of it, this knife was given to him by Idora when she returned to Pakula territory. It was so long ago that he hadn’t thought to connect it with the current incident, and he had grown so accustomed to it that he didn’t even think of it as something he had received from Idora.

“Why did the princess give me this knife?” Bard wondered.

While Bard was lost in thought, Jurchaga stared at the holy silver emblem with a mischievous look in his eyes.

t/n: Short chapter this one. We are still a long way to catch up with the manga. This is vol 0: manga is end of vol 1. Do check it out.