SIDE STORY 24

SIDE STORY – ICE AND WIND (1)

Half a year after the wedding of Jude and Cordelia.

A white steed was running through the north with a man dressed in black on its back.

The man was good-looking.

But what stood out more than that was the face of the man.

Depending on your view, the face of the man seemed to be in his thirties or forties and appeared to have come out of a painting.

In other words, he was handsome.

A handsome man that anyone would remember once they saw him.

But the man was also skilled.

He was one of the Ten Great Swordmasters in the Sälen Kingdom, and among them, he was particularly outstanding and had the title of Sword Saint.

The Sword Saint of the Wind.

Alex Bayer.

Count Bayer.

He was traversing the territory of the Argon Empire and not the Sälen Kingdom.

But there was no hesitation in his actions.

As if he had traveled across this place several times.

“Nothing has changed.”

Count Bayer slowed his running speed and said as he viewed the surrounding landscape.

It had been almost thirty years since he had visited this area again, but the scenery in front of him and the scenery in his memory matched as though it was free from time.

There was a snow-covered mountain that connected the sky and earth, and a majestic winter forest spread out below it.

“It hasn’t changed.”

Count Bayer whispered as if he was talking to someone unknown or talking to himself, and raised his head to look at the snowy mountain again.

***

Count Bayer and Count Chase had one thing in common.

The fact that both counts did not have a countess, the so-called lady of the house.

Coincidentally, there was no significant difference in the time the position of the two countesses became vacant.

A difference of one year at most.

But there was also a difference between the two families.

There was a small but beautiful household shrine built in honor of Countess Chase.

Countess Chase also had a spirit tablet, and Count Chase must always visit the shrine at least twice a day to honor the soul of his wife whenever he stayed in the mansion.

But Count Bayer did not do that.

Or rather, Count Bayer did not have a household shrine or spirit tablet to honor the countess.

Moreover, Count Bayer did not even hold a funeral for Countess Bayer.

Not because Count Bayer was cold-blooded.

Nor was it because Count Bayer did not love the countess.

The reason was simple and obvious.

Countess Bayer was not dead.

Count Bayer believed so.

***

It had already been more than 15 years since Countess Bayer disappeared.

It would have been around 18 years if one counted the years right after Jude was born.

Most of the long-time servants of Count Bayer remembered the countess.

She was always bright and kind.

Countess Bayer was not as graceful as Countess Chase, but had a lively vitality instead.

Like a flower blooming in a field.

No, it would be more appropriate to say that she was like a white evening primrose blooming on a snowfield.

But in the memories of the servants, she was not always bright and cheerful.

Because she suffered from a lingering illness a few years before Jude was born.

Most of the servants thought that Countess Bayer was dead.

That she died after giving birth to Jude.

Even if she did not, perhaps the weakened she could not endure the second childbirth.

They did not doubt it.

A few days after Jude was born.

Count Bayer suddenly took the ill countess and left the Bayer county.

The people of Count Bayer did not know what happened because only his close friend, Count Chase, was allowed to follow them.

And a month later.

Count Bayer and Count Chase returned, but Countess Bayer was no longer with them.

What happened to her?

Count Bayer did not open his mouth, nor did Count Chase.

“Perhaps… she went home?”

When the old butler of Count Bayer recalled the memories of the past with a voice mixed with regret, the servants around him also nodded.

Was not there a place that Countess Bayer, who was about to die, wanted to visit for the last time?

Perhaps that was the reason Count Bayer went on his last trip with her.

It made a lot of sense to think that the funeral was also held at the travel destination.

“He probably will not want to get married again.”

“That’s true.”

Because Count Bayer loved Countess Bayer very deeply.

He was one of the Ten Great Swordmasters.

Moreover, Count Bayer was one of the family heads in the 12 northern families.

Numerous remarriage proposals were sent to the young count in his thirties, but to no avail.

No matter how beautiful the woman Count Bayer was introduced to, he did not budge at all, nor was he shaken by the story that a mother was needed for the young and sick Jude.

“Maja is enough.”

A girl who was seven years older than Jude.

She was a very smart and sincere girl, but only a child of ten years or so.

However, when Count Bayer said that she was enough, everyone had no choice but to give up one by one.

Because they quickly accepted that his words ‘Maja is enough’ had meant that he had no intention of remarrying, even if he had to entrust Jude to a ten year old.

The vassals and servants of Count Bayer felt both joy and sadness at his decision.

Although it was not much as Count Bayer, they also loved and cherished Countess Bayer, so they were happy at the affection Count Bayer showed for his wife.

But at the same time, the thought that the count, who was now only in his early thirties, would be single for the rest of his life made them feel sad.

“It can’t be helped.”

Because no one could blame the heart of a human.

The people of Count Bayer respected his will, and Count Bayer quietly accepted the passage of time.

***

Count Bayer left the horse at the village below the mountain and began climbing the mountain alone.

It was a white and beautiful snowy mountain, but at the same time, it was a very dangerous place.

Not only did dangerous mountain animals wandered around, but it was also a perfect place for first-timers to get lost.

“Everything’s the same here.”

Getting lost was easy because there was only snow everywhere.

Furthermore, mana flowed in the snowy mountain.

Those who climbed the mountain for the first time were almost certainly bound to get lost.

Therefore, the villagers at the bottom of the mountain earned pocket money by guiding visitors to the snowy mountain, but they did not make such an offer to Count Bayer.

Or to be exact, the village chief dissuaded the young people who wanted to make such an offer.

“Long time no see.”

“It’s been a while.”

Around thirty years ago.

If he counted more accurately, it would be around 29 years ago.

The village chief remembered the young swordsman from the kingdom who traveled all the way to the empire, saying that he was practicing his swordsmanship.

***

Thirty years ago, the Sword God of the empire was still alive and well.

Or rather, one could say that it was his prime.

Alex Bayer wanted to meet him.

He wanted to learn from him and make the Sword of the Wind freer.

So after taking only a bit of travel expenses, he wore his sword around his waist and headed to the empire.

In short, he ran away from home.

“Because the way of the wind is free.”

Count Bayer never spoke of those words when he grew old, but had liked it very much in his youth.

To the point that he always said it.

In any case, his runaway trip close to bravado was not very easy.

He experienced many things as he traveled abroad for the first time in his life.

If he went to places where the security was a little unstable, thieves and backstabbing mercenaries appeared as if it were natural.

While traveling through the kingdom, he hid his noble identity because he could not leave a track record of having run away from home, and after going to the empire, he pretended to be a commoner because he could not reveal that he was a noble from the kingdom.

Therefore, Alex Bayer was regarded as a naïve commoner swordsman who longed for the Sword God and sought him, and in fact, there was no difference if that naïve commoner was changed to a naïve noble.

The young Alex Bayer seriously admired the Sword God and was naïve at the same time.

***

The journey of Alex Bayer was longer than expected.

The young him had a youthful figure, and the various experiences he accumulated during his journey gave him, in a shallow way, a dignified figure.

When three years had passed since he ran away from home.

Alex Bayer was finally able to face the Sword God of the empire.

“Did you say that it’s the Sword of Wind?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

At the courageous answer of Alex Bayer, the Sword God had an inexplicable smile.

He liked young talented people ever since he pursued the Sword of the Sky in his youth. Because he hoped that someone else could attain the Sword of the Sky if he could not do it.

But the Sword God 30 years ago was not an old man, but at his prime, so he was not as tolerant as he was 30 years later.

Therefore, he could not close his eyes to Alex Bayer.

“Your swordsmanship is good. But it reveals too much of your heart.”

“My… heart?”

“You want to be recognized.”

At the words of the Sword God, Alex Bayer turned red.

Because he immediately understood what the other meant.

I want to make the Sword of Wind freer.

I want to better use the Sword of Wind by adding the teachings of the Sword God.

It was true.

But that was not all.

I want to show the greatness of the Sword of Wind to the Sword God.

I want to make him aware that there is a swordsman named Alex Bayer.

I want to let the world know that the sword of the Bayers are still sharp even though we have stepped down from the margrave position.

“It’s not bad. It would be a good thing if it motivates you to work hard at anything. But an impure motive – no, your desire to show it to others is not a very good motive.”

At the words of the Sword God, Alex Bayer blushed and did not respond.

The Sword God had liked such an Alex Bayer.

So he gave Alex a few lessons, and even promised to meet again someday and compete with the sword.

The day after the Sword God departed.

When Count Bayer opened his eyes while lying in the inn bed, he realized that it was time to go back home.

He traveled as much as he wanted and met the Sword God, receiving his teachings, so he had achieved all of his goals.

‘No, not everything.’

Alex Bayer covered his face with both hands.

Because he felt ashamed again.

What if the Sword God paid attention to his talent and offered to make him a disciple?

If he was the Sword God, he would recognize that Alex was a genius, right?

Won’t he want to learn the Sword of Wind instead after realizing how wonderful it was?

His delusions were truly childish and ridiculous.

“Haa.”

He thought that he was going to die from embarrassment.

He even wanted to hit his past self for grinning and thinking of such delusions.

But in the end, Alex Bayer had an awkward smile.

“But there are results.”

He faced the Sword God.

He saw the sword of the Sword God.

Like in hero stories, he came to a realization that there was a sky above the sky.

So it was not that bad.

Instead of being frustrated that he was like a frog in a well, Alex Bayer was delighted to realize that there was a higher sky and that there was a way to it.

‘But let’s go home.’

He wanted to see his parents, and also because he was still the only heir to the Count Bayer position.

It was time to graduate from running around and playing like a foal on a spring day.

“Still…”

How should I say this?

Should I say that it’s a pity to just go?

Alex Bayer got up from his bed with a dazed expression and opened the window of his inn room, and saw the things he had not seen yesterday because of his excitement in meeting the Sword God.

A white snowy mountain that connected the sky and the earth, and the majestic forest below it.

Alex admired the view as he inhaled the cold air, and made a decision.

‘Let’s just go up there.’

Let’s go back after standing at the top and looking down on the empire.

If I don’t go now, I won’t be able to go for the rest of my life.

I’m sure I’ll regret it later when it comes out in my dreams.

“Yes, the way of the wind is always free.”

Alex Bayer had a nice smile as he hurried out of the inn.

And he later confessed to himself.

The decision he made that day was the best decision he had ever made in his life.

***

“Where the hell is this? Huh? Where am I?”

Was this the price for ignoring the son of the innkeeper who said that a guide was essential?

Alex wandered all over the white snowy mountain.

It did not seem that high from a distance, but when he looked at it closely, it was huge and even had rough paths.

In addition, it was hard to even properly look around because the forest in the mountain was covered in snow and looked white, so he could not see it from afar.

‘Calm down, Alex. Calm down.’

Who was he?

Wasn’t he Alex Bayer, the heir to the Sword of Wind?

There was no way that a future member of the Ten Great Swordmasters would die in a place like this.

Moreover, because he had wandered from the road from the very beginning, he had not gone up to a very high place. He was at least halfway up or halfway below the mountain.

It was not even snowing, so if he could not find his way back, he could just sleep around here overnight and watch the rising sun in the morning.

“Okay, then let’s find a place to sleep here.”

Alex Bayer spoke to himself and made a decision as he sat next to a large rock where he could escape from the wind.

The fire did not lit well because the branches were wet from the snow, but he somehow made a campfire and sat down above his cloak on the ground.

And time passed.

Alex was staring at the campfire and holding his hungry stomach, but silently moved his hand and grabbed his sword.

Right after he prepared himself, he stood up and pointed his sword towards the bushes on the right.

“Who is it!”

The gaze he sensed earlier.

He had first thought that it was an illusion, but it was not.

It was such a blatant gaze that he could not help but notice it.

Who in the world?

Who is looking at me?

“Come out!”

When he shouted using Chivalry, the magic of the knights, not only the surrounding bushes but also the ground began to rumble.

Alex Bayer was startled at his own cry, thinking ‘What if a landslide happens because of this?’, but the bushes rustled.

“Uh… ah… well…”

A beautiful woman stood up from the bushes with a hesitant voice.

A woman with blue hair and green eyes.

Alex Bayer unconsciously swallowed his breath.

Because he was instantly captivated by the beauty of the woman.

Her green eyes were so mysterious that it felt magical.

As he blankly stared at her, he suddenly shook his head and came to his senses.

‘M-Magical?’

It was not.

It was not like that.

Therefore, Alex Bayer looked straight ahead and calmed his rough breathing, but was mesmerized again.

The woman was indeed beautiful, but her eyes that looked at him with curiosity while hesitating had once again captivated his heart.

But Alex Bayer slapped himself in the face and calmed his mind again.

He hastily spoke to the woman who was startled at his sudden violent action.

“Who are you? I-I mean, may I know your name? Why are you looking at me?”

Alex Bayer was holding a sword but was quite polite, so the woman hesitated and soon blushed.

Covering her face with both hands, she said very softly.

“…-some.”

“Excuse me?”

“Y-You’re handsome.”

Alex blinked with a dumbfounded expression, and the woman covered her face and groaned, shouting as her ears and neck even turned red.

“B-Because you’re handsome! Very handsome!”

In other words, was it a story of how she was supposed to pass by, thinking that he was just a human, but he was so handsome that she unknowingly hid in the bushes to look at him?

What kind of strange story was that?

Moreover, he was so enchanted by the beauty of the woman that he did not recognize that the woman had a lot of strange things about her.

Despite being in such a cold place, she was wearing a short skirt that exposed her bare legs, and was even barefoot.

Her sleeves were long and large, and her clothes were thin, so it did not seem that effective in protecting her from the cold weather.

And her ears were pointed.

It was not as long as an elf, but her ears were clearly different from those of humans because of its pointed tips.

And one more thing.

Alex Bayer was unaware of it, but whenever she panicked, something that looked like horns appeared and disappeared repeatedly through her blue hair.

Alex took a deep breath.

And he thought.

I got lost in an unfamiliar mountain.

But suddenly, a passing beauty appeared in the bushes and unconsciously stared at me, saying that it was because I was very handsome.

Haha, hahaha.

What kind of nonsense is this?

Anyone can tell that it’s suspicious.

Unfortunately, the person in this place was not the Sword Saint of Wind who had experienced everything since his birth.

He was just a child who had yet to fully use the Sword of Wind.

Moreover, he was a child who was very fond of compliments that called him handsome.

‘It’s thrilling, it’s always fresh, and being handsome is the best.’

Moreover, shouldn’t the Sword of Wind be always free?

After reciting his motto in his mind, Alex Bayer withdrew his sword.

The reason in his head was yelling ‘What is this crazy guy doing?’ but sadly, the Alex Bayer of that time was a young man affected by his emotions.

So he decided to stick to his immediate feelings.

“My name is Alex Bayer. Beautiful lady, would you give me the honor of kissing the back of your hand?”

His words would make the future Count Bayer writhe in embarrassment, but not for the young Alex Bayer.

He even finished his lines well with a cool smile.

And at the words of this handsome young man, the woman covered her face again with both hands and then nodded her head.

She stretched out her hand to Alex Bayer.