Chapter 109

Chapter 109

***

The rules of the clan are absolute. Those who steal have their wrists cut off. Blitzringen was peaceful because there was strict law enforcement.

From early morning, Blitzringen Castle was in an uproar. It was because the clan's quartermaster was dragging Roy around by his hair, shouting at the top of his lungs.

"Thief! He's a thief!"

Before the morning roll call even took place, the students rushed out wondering what was going on. The official clan members staying in the inner keep also looked out the windows or watched from afar.

Due to the crowd, Roy's parents initially couldn't even dream that it was their son.

Even when Roy's sister Becca screamed in shock, they couldn't believe it. Because they thought their son would never do such a thing.

"Roy!"

However, a sense of anxiety suddenly washed over them. Repeating 'It can't be, it can't be', they pushed through the crowd, only to see an adult man dragging Roy around by his hair as if abusing an animal.

"Hey!"

Hartmann shouted like an angry beast, sparks flying from his eyes. He rushed at the quartermaster and grabbed him by the collar, but blades suddenly shot out from all sides and were pointed at Hartmann's neck.

Yet, even though he had reason to hesitate, Hartmann didn't cower in the slightest and shouted as if he were going to devour the quartermaster, thrusting his face right in front of him. His skin was cut by a blade, and blood flowed from his neck.

"Let go of that hand!"

At that, the quartermaster, who had been furious to the top of his head, was overwhelmed by the momentum and let go of Roy's head.

Just then, Bolka limped out of the inner keep. The trainees who had drawn their swords hurriedly sheathed them.

"What's going on?"

As if a storm had passed and the weather cleared, a brief silence flowed before the quartermaster pointed at Roy and said.

"This rat-like bastard sneaked into the clan's warehouse and stole the stockpiled food. He also broke the Master's cherished alcohol."

At that, a murmur could be heard among the apprentices. 'Just as I thought,' 'Beggar bastard,' 'A woodcutter's child'—such were the words. Les hid in the crowd and watched the situation with trembling eyes.

Bolka looked back at the murmuring people and said.

"From now on, anyone who speaks other than the one I question will have their tongue cut out. Everyone shut your mouths."

Then, it became as quiet as an unseasonal frost falling. Even though Bolka had come to limp on one leg, his charisma as a captain and leader managing many people seemed to have developed even more than before.

Bolka looked at Roy quietly, as if observing him. He saw a boy huddled up, full of fear. Rolling his eyes, he looked like a rabbit just waiting to die.

"Is what he says true?"

At that, Roy looked at Bolka with trembling eyes. His parents nearby, and his sister too. They looked as precarious and desperate as if standing on the edge of a cliff.

Looking at them, Roy's heart was so complex it was beyond description. But for some unknown reason, he simply kept his mouth shut without asserting his innocence.

"......"

Saying nothing made it seem as though he was admitting guilt.

"On this land, the clan's rules are absolute. No matter how much of an honored guest you are, there are no exceptions. Those who steal have their wrists cut off. Will you still say nothing?"

Did they really have to go this far? Even if he had truly committed the crime, was it really right to inflict permanent bodily harm over eating a few pieces of ham and cheese?

It was too long-standing a customary law to argue about equity. Those who steal have their wrists cut off. That was exactly the punishment people considered reasonable for theft.

"Please say something, Roy."

His mother pleaded with her son as if begging. She couldn't accept it. She couldn't accept having his wrist cut off, but above all, she couldn't accept that her son had done such a thing.

Roy was conflicted. He didn't know why he felt conflicted, nor why he couldn't easily tell the truth.

He looked around at the people nearby. Gazes mixed with contempt and disgust, the desperate gazes of his parents and sister, and Bolka's unwavering, stern gaze were all gathered on him.

And his eyes met with Les, who was in the crowd. Then, Roy couldn't look back at himself. He merely saw his terrified friend.

So, even while trembling violently, he blurted this out:

"......I did it."

The moment those words dropped, his mother Elia collapsed as if fainting, and the people around her quickly supported her. His father Hartmann's eyes reddened, perhaps out of anger.

Roy closed his eyes to the world. Let's die. Only I have to die. If someone has to die, it's me. He just felt sorry towards his father and mother. It will pass soon.

However, as long as one received proper treatment, cutting off a wrist didn't kill anyone. Anyway, Roy was truly prepared to die.

The moment he confessed to the crime, everything was over. Only the execution of the sentence remained.

But then, Hartmann suddenly stepped forward and stood blocking his son. And thrusting out his thick forearm, he shouted loudly.

"I will take responsibility! As a father, I will pay the price for my son's sins instead! Cut off my wrist!"

Roy shed tears. His mother also collapsed powerlessly and shed tears in her daughter's arms.

They thought they had finally made it. They thought all they had to do was live a new life here, without needing to go all the way to the Eastern Frontier. To think such a tragedy would suddenly occur.

Rickart, who watched all of this, didn't step forward until the end. Because no matter if they were traveling companions or how young they were, if a wrong was committed, it couldn't be covered up as if it never happened.

And while he had seen Les enter with Roy but come out alone, he didn't know exactly what had happened inside the warehouse.

He merely watched quietly the words and actions of the people, his friend's judgment, and the young child's resolve.

The grip on Marie's hand holding his tightened. Rickart also held it tightly back. Being forced to merely watch was harder than he thought.

However, here, Bolka demonstrated astonishing calmness and insight.

"My decision hasn't been made yet. So esteemed guests, please step back for a moment. Who will pay the price for the crime can be discussed after that."

Then he looked at the quartermaster and asked.

"Quartermaster, how did you discover the scene of the crime?"

"Yes?"

"Explain in detail what happened then."

"What do you mean 'what happened'... Because the padlock was locked, which was strange, I brought the key to open it, and this little bastard was inside, wasn't he?"

"Why is it strange that the padlock is locked?"

"Yes?"

"Shouldn't a padlock normally be locked?"

The quartermaster was momentarily at a loss for words. Because the fact that he didn't usually lock the padlock was, in a way, negligence of duty and poor management.

At Bolka's question, the apprentices and trainees watching also thought, 'Huh, is that so? Something feels a bit strange.'

They had simply swept up in the atmosphere and thought they were just going to cut off the arm of some beggar-like kid, but that wasn't it.

"If you lie here, Quartermaster, you will also be punished."

Bolka spoke while glaring fiercely at the quartermaster. Only then did the quartermaster break into a cold sweat. He opened and closed his mouth a few times before barely answering.

"W-We don't usually keep the padlock locked. Opening and locking it every day is a bit... And sometimes if I forget the key and come out, it's far to go back again..."

It was a preposterous excuse. No matter how far it was from his quarters to the warehouse, just how far could it be?

"We will discuss your negligence of duty next time. But right now, we will only judge the crime of theft. If it was locked from the outside, how did this child get inside?"

"......?"

Hearing that, it was strange. He could have gotten inside because it wasn't locked, but how did he lock it without coming out?

That meant at the very least there was an accomplice, or someone else was framing Roy.

Bolka looked at Roy again and spoke. Roy had thought everything would end if he confessed, but it wasn't as simple as he expected.

"If you really committed the crime, tell me in detail how and under what circumstances you did it."

Roy was at a loss for words. It was because he couldn't say that Les woke him up at dawn and he followed along, leading to all sorts of things happening.

He hadn't done anything wrong. If anything, he had tried to stop it. Yet the reason he confessed was because he hoped to bear it all alone and that the others would be safe.

Even if it was foolish, stupid, and impossible to understand with common sense, it was the only way he could think because of his young age.

"I, I don't remember."

"Something that just happened and you don't remember? Then how did you confess to the crime?"

"......"

"Let's go to the scene. Then you might remember."

Bolka limped and moved. Then the crowd parted ways to make a path.

Arriving at the warehouse not far away, even standing outside the door, they could see everything that had happened. A few scattered pieces of ham and cheese, and a broken alcohol bottle.

And above all, there were footprints stamped on the ground. At that time, they were too surprised and flustered, leaving no time to examine them.

"Huh!?"

The quartermaster who accompanied them widened his eyes in surprise. Because looking at the footprints, it was clear that two people had been inside.

Bolka headed towards the messy spot, avoiding the footprints stamped on the floor. Roy was dragged along too, and the others watched keeping their distance.

"Looking at the footprints, one more person besides you came in. Did he go outside and lock the padlock?"

"......"

"Perhaps he panicked when the alcohol bottle broke. So he probably tried to pin the blame on you."

Bolka's insight to reconstruct the incident was truly outstanding, probably because he hadn't been acting as the leader of people for just a day or two. He was strictly not someone easy to deal with.

In fact, when leading people, all sorts of things tended to happen. Bolka had handled things like this more than once or twice, and he had dealt with things much more serious than this many times.

So the clumsy actions of kids couldn't deceive his eyes.

However, right now, the specific matter was grave. Theft was a felony. It couldn't just be overlooked simply.

Being in a position leading and holding responsibility for many people, he had to show it in front of them. How fairly and wisely he handled matters. Bolka knew that if things like this shook, the group would shake as well.

It wasn't a position where he could just let things go simply because he wanted to. Nor could he just randomly kill or cut off arms haphazardly. Bolka was a person who felt such responsibility heavily.

"Who was the kid who came with you?"

Cornered, Roy trembled violently. Having a personality that couldn't lie to begin with, he couldn't say anything.

"Even if you keep your mouth shut, I will uncover it. Do you think your friend will be safe then? An even harsher punishment will be waiting. Hey! Identify the personnel who were missing from their beds in the apprentices' quarters around dawn! We will compare them with the footprints!"

Bolka shouted towards the people. If so, it would inevitably be uncovered very quickly.

But at this time, Roy felt driven by the thought that he had to do something, and he suddenly swept all the alcohol bottles off the shelves. The premium alcohols fell onto the floor and shattered with a crash.

It was something no one had expected, so everyone was startled.

Roy, who had kept his mouth tightly shut the whole time, looked at Bolka with a resolute expression and spoke. For this moment at least, he wasn't trembling.

"Is that enough? I did it. Hurry and cut off my wrist."

Seeing that sight, Rickart's eyes widened greatly. Bolka, who had maintained a calm and cool demeanor the entire time, was also so flustered he could only blink his eyes.

Les was watching the situation too, but seeing Roy act to such an extent gave him such a massive shock he felt like he would hyperventilate. I betrayed you, yet how could you go this far?

For this moment right now, this young child was overwhelming the crowd. His parents, the other adults, and even the disciples training hard were all at a loss for words.

For a moment, this thought crossed Bolka's mind. Setting all this uproar aside, this bastard is the real deal.

Amidst the silence, Rickart stepped forward. Walking in front of Roy, he looked down at the boy and asked.

"Why won't you tell the truth?"

"I, I don't know."

"I saw. I can also point out the kid who was with you right here in this spot. Instead, if you tell me why you are going this far, I too will keep my mouth shut."

Then Roy hung his head entirely and spoke in a voice small as an ant crawling.

"......Because he's my friend."

"Good. Since you stubbornly insist on carrying that heavy burden, I understand. I shall help carry it together with you."

Rickart said, looking back at Bolka and the onlookers.

"From now on, this child is my disciple. I respect you as my friend, Bolka, and as the Master of the clan, and I also strictly respect the rules of the clan. However, if it's for my disciple, to hell with the clan and its rules. If you tell me to withdraw, I will withdraw, but if you forcefully try to punish this child, you will have to fight against me. Anyone who has complaints, speak to me."

Rickart was someone stronger than anyone else but he didn't prefer suppressing others with force; however, this time was different. Perhaps for the first time in his life, he put his strength forward and acted in a 'cut my belly open' manner.

For the child trying to bear an honorable dishonor, he intended to carry that dishonor together.

Though unrefined yet, he was a child whose inner core was truly solid. Rickart wanted to protect that core. A seed that might perhaps grow up noble and great.

Bolka looked at his old friend and spoke.

"If it was in the past I might have laughed it off, but not right now, Ricky."

"I understand."

"For now, I'll make a decision on this matter after thinking a little."

Bolka let out a deep sigh and turned around. And then limped away.

He had pondered this once before. The thought crossed his mind on which to choose if he had to choose between the clan and a friend. Because of the problem relating to Ice, Bolka always said he would choose the clan.

But as time passed, he wondered what all of this was even for. Ultimately, he just wanted to live peacefully with the people he liked.

Even firm thoughts were bound to shake and change as time flowed. Bolka felt like he didn't quite know what came first anymore.

Rickart looked back at Roy. He seemed like he didn't properly understand how things were unfolding.

"If I were you, I would have killed the bastard who betrayed me with my own hands. Roy, you are the opposite of me."

"......I just feel sorry towards my parents. I don't know why I did it either."

"Perhaps, do you think? These things might have happened for an even greater event. God's arrangements are something no one can know. You only know looking back."

"Anyway, thank you."

"By the way, I took you as my disciple as I pleased; are you okay with it?"

"Ricky-hyung whom I've seen all this while seems like a cool person. I like it."

Rickart smirked.

"Cool my ass."

Rickart took Roy and left the warehouse. Bolka had left, and outside the warehouse, people were still gathered in groups. They all stared at Rickart and Roy.

With a somewhat sneering expression, Rickart swept his gaze across the people. Most were unfamiliar faces.

When they first started, there were only a few friends. He wondered if the clan right now was truly the clan he knew and liked.

Bolka had achieved many things and created an even better environment. However, is there a place for me here? Not too sure.

Simply put, Rickart wasn't very fond of the current system and people. Didn't speak up, that was all.

Where there was competition, pursuit of profit, ignoring, contempt, being servile to the strong, and treating the weak harshly.

He understood that it was inevitable for efficient organization management, and he didn't think it was bad, but he thought it didn't align with him.

"Move."

Rickart said. His tone was somewhat cold. Even if it was lesser compared to how these people had treated Roy.

Rickart took Roy and passed by the people. The waiting Hartmann and Elia approached. The family all embraced each other and first sighed in relief that Roy was safe.

A day passed, and after careful consideration, Bolka made a decision. The disposition was exile for Hartmann's family.

Thus, those who would stay stayed, and Rickart set off for the Eastern Frontier again. Those accompanying him were Hartmann's family, Bremen, and Marie.

As they exited the castle, Les followed. Even up to the moment they passed the causeway and reached the border of the domain.

It was morning with the sun just rising; Roy, who was finally carrying luggage befitting his size, looked back at Les before stepping onto the mountain pass.

Les hesitated for a long time, then approached and spoke.

"Sorry......"

"There's no need to be sorry between friends."

Then Les's face crumpled, and shedding streaming tears, he spoke.

"Sorry......"

"I'm fine. If only you feel at peace upon receiving my acceptance of your apology, I will accept your apology. I hope you learn hard, and become a cool swordsman later."

"Yeah...... I promise. I really will. I won't betray you this time."

Roy looked at the crying Les with a bitter gaze before turning his footsteps towards the people waiting for him. Far away, the sun hung over the mountain ridge.

"I'm going. Live well."

In the cool morning, on the mountain pass of the Blitzringen Viola Clan's autonomous dominion, violets bloomed with every step.