Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Because soundproofing was poor, sounds of a man and woman thumping from the next room were heard without filtering. Embarrassing groans were also heard continuously.

However, Rickart and Sandy listening to that sound in the inn room had expressions of not caring at all.

Because due to what happened during the day today, emotions that became hard and heavy like stone couldn't be moved by embarrassing noises.

Sandy leaned against the window and looked up at the night sky. Even if countless stars shone, what filled the sky was darkness.

Soon the thumping sound stopped. Silence settled between the two for a while.

"What are you?"

After 6 hours of silence after that incident, Sandy finally opened her mouth.

"What?"

"Roach was a kid who became High Class with his own skill. Even if the Bilton brothers could be killed by ambush somehow, Roach is different."

There is a degree to being extraordinary, a 10-year-old subduing an adventurer who trained Mana Drive and ranked high in Academy competition was too much.

Rickart thought deeply then answered.

"Every movement has a single point where force is loaded. It changes every moment, but if you just turn the direction accurately at the accurate time, eventually they get hurt on their own. Like aiming a spear at the crown of a rushing wild boar. I don't necessarily need to stab. It wasn't me who broke the sword but that guy Roach himself."

Not an exact analogy, but it was similar to a counter in bare-hand combat. Applying that to weapons.

"So what is that...... Saying is easy, how to do it, that."

"You improve as you do it. Later can do it like breathing. In the battlefield, there is no time to thrust weapon multiple times. Must kill one at a time. Otherwise I might die by blind swords and spears."

All martial arts are born and developed according to purpose and use. Swordsmanship in the battlefield had to be concise without superfluity and fatal. Not simply to kill many, but because one survives that way.

Sandy turned her head and stared at Rickart. He was undoubtedly a cute-looking young master.

Surely wouldn't have participated in war at that age, and even if he did, couldn't have much combat experience.

"Said knight family right? Did father teach you? Since childhood?"

"Yeah, something like that."

Rickart equivocated roughly, and Sandy was lost in thought for a while then spoke again.

"I saw many talented kids. And occasionally saw monster-like geniuses who made those talented kids look colorless. But never seen a kid like you, Ricky."

"Is that a compliment?"

"Compliment? Hmm, let's say it's a compliment. But a bit...... scary."

"Now?"

Sandy just looked at Rickart without saying anything for a while. It was a face seeming to think about Rickart seen today in various ways.

Don't know why, but actually what Rickart said all day, "So what", lingered in her ears. The tone, intonation, and sincerity at that time.

Sandy shrugged her eyebrows playfully and smiled.

"That you aren't a kid as thought?"

"Hahaha......"

Rickart also just laughed. Finally the atmosphere seemed somewhat relaxed.

It was late night, and the two fell asleep in the same bed in underwear. It was the first time Rickart slept with a woman other than his mother.

Didn't lie to Sandy particularly, but there was something not said. That she was pitiful. And that it was fortunate she had colleagues like siblings.

Knowing clumsy sympathy is the worst insult, he buried what should be buried.

And now, could arrive at the Academy tomorrow. The journey of four days since leaving home was finally ending.

If there is meeting, there is parting. Rickart recalled people who passed by in Sandy's arms.

Arno, Daisy, Kaufman, Sandy's colleagues, and family, and people who fell in battlefields before that, one by one......

Night deepened.

Beringen, the capital of Beringen, was a military fortress city. Because it was actually a territory in charge of border defense.

There was a low mountain range to the east, and beyond that was a forest where monsters lived not allowing human footsteps. Goblins, Orcs, Undead, Man-eating Spiders, Werewolves, Trolls etc......

Even if a single entity could be handled by humans, if they formed a cluster, human power couldn't handle it at all.

So it was a wise choice just to divide boundaries and not cross over there.

There are records in history that Orcs invaded on a large scale occasionally, but humans never blocked it even once.

There were only records that Orcs turned the area into ruins at will and ate their fill, then retreated on their own only after being divided among themselves.

In other words, it was an era where if monsters decided to invade on a large scale, it was recognized as a natural disaster like earthquake, tsunami, typhoon. Could only hope it passes quickly.

To the north there was a sea far away, which was an area where Nords coming down on boats appeared.

They were merchants and plunderers, just trading when times were good, but didn't hesitate to war if things went wrong.

In other words, Beringen's reason for existence and purpose was to block external invasions when they occurred. Or become prey themselves.

Preventing external invasions coming inside the Empire somehow was the role Beringen had to do, and inescapable fate.

Beringen Fortress was located on a somewhat higher place than surrounding areas by cutting the hill to make the ground flat.

Sturdy walls surrounded the whole hill, and inside the population was about 200, the Margrave didn't live there but his territory administrator was dispatched and stayed.

Rather more people lived below the hill. Like traces left spreading wide when water drop falls on the floor, about 10,000 population lived spreading wide around the hill.

Farming, hunting, grazing livestock, engaging in commerce and industry, lived like that. Without relying on city walls.

However, Beringen Academy existed neither on the hill nor below.

There was another small fortress like an outpost on a sheer rocky mountain a half-day distance from the city, that was exactly Beringen Academy. Just using a fortress built long ago as Academy building.

Climbing narrow stairs along the rock face, a phrase was engraved on the castle gate exuding heavy and savage atmosphere like this.

There was a boy looking up at that phrase somewhat absent-mindedly. Sweat beads formed on his forehead as it was hard climbing up.

"What? Who are you?"

At the somewhat provocative question flying suddenly, the boy snapped out of it.

A person looking slightly older than him, roughly 16 to 18 years old, stood crookedly wearing a sword at waist looking at him.

"Ah...... I, I am called Bori-bori, came from a place called Dussen, came introduced by Mr. Hartmann, heard feed and sleep provided......"

"Bori, what? What is the name?"

"Bori-bori."

"Are you kidding me?"

"No, really my name is Bori-bori......"

The boy wearing sword at waist looked at Bori-bori frowning deeply.

Yellowish-brown bowl cut hair, slightly sad looking eyes, cute nose and mouth was on large side. Age unknown but looked about 10 to 12 years old, and height was exactly that of kids that age.

Problem was Bori-bori's appearance was beggar-like.

"Wash first. You are fucking dirty now."

"So, sorry."

"Hey."

"Yes?"

"Here no words like sorry. Got it?"

"Yes?"

"If asking back one more time know you'll be beaten to death."

"So, sorry......"

"This bastard really!"

Thud!

The boy wearing sword threw a front kick abruptly. Bori-bori hit on stomach knelt down with bent back unable to breathe properly.

"What do you understand human speech as, you bastard? Don't make me say twice. If don't want to die. Dirty bastard."

And dragging him by hair took him to the well in the courtyard. Some students passing by looked, but just giggled or mostly didn't seem to care.

The boy wearing sword drew water with bucket and poured on Bori-bori abruptly.

Splash!

Hit hard once and poured with cold water chilling to bone, Bori-bori shivered unable to come to senses.

"Take off clothes."

"......"

Bori-bori tried to answer Yes? reflexively, then shut mouth hurriedly and did as told. Took off clothes in broad daylight where everywhere was open.

Might feel shame, but born as bastard living persecuted and bullied so much, endured this much just like that.

The boy wearing sword poured water a few more times, then pointed to a certain building with thumb and said.

"Throw away clothes, wash yourself and go in there."

And just left.

Cold, stomach still throbbing, Bori-bori shivered naked as if became prisoner of war.

He washed body drawing buckets with trembling not subsiding easily.

Among students watching from afar there were kids looking giggling, among them were girls too.

Bori-bori washed scrubbing until no dirt water came out, covered important parts with hands and went to place the boy wearing sword taught earlier.

Opening door carefully and entering inside, except narrow passage, 60 bunk beds stretched far away unfolded before eyes.

"Who are you?"

Unkind question flew again. Seemed like people showing hostility rather than interest to first timer.

"I, I am Bori-bori. Came first time......"

"So what."

"Yes? No, sorry, no......"

Couldn't ask back, couldn't say sorry, Bori-bori couldn't say anything.

"Don't exact your ugly appearance fucking to see, stick somewhere out of sight."

"Says his name is Bori-bori? Why is the name like that. Kick kick kick."

"Hey, if dying die somewhere far away. If make us clean your corpse you die, really."

Spitting one word each here and there, there was really not a single affectionate word and only contempt and disgust.

But told to stick in corner but beds were stuck close together so no place to stick.

Bori-bori couldn't tackle water moisture and moved steps in naked state casually taking place in a bed seeming empty carefully. Then kids nearby giggled and laughed.

After a while, some kids entered from where opposite door was far away, among them one reached where Bori-bori was.

He was bigger than average adult, and looked like 40s.

"Hey."

"......Yes?"

"Wanna die?"

Bori-bori looked up at him blankly feeling fear of death, giggling sounds around became louder. Then big guy glared at giggling kids and said.

"Hey you fucking bitches. You guys who stayed still are more fucking disgusting. Wanna die really?"

"So, sorry. Molti. Hey, come here."

Kid some distance away called Bori-bori. Bori-bori got up quickly and went to that kid.

"Here is empty bed. Clean roughly and stay here."

Not clean for empty bed and messy with this and that trash.

"Th, thanks."

"Don't say thanks here. No sorry either. When passing passage just move back unconditionally first."

"Okay."

"Rank is priority here. Not necessarily so but kids using upper beds generally have high rank, and among them going inside over there more strong kids. If want to get seat you want or hate moving back in passage, have to fight and win."

"......"

"Wipe body roughly with this, wear this clothes. Clothes kid using this bed before wore."

Not new clothes. Furthermore not washed clothes. However not in position to be picky.

Bori-bori swallowed words of thanks rising to throat, and silently tidied himself.

"By the way, uh, where did kid using this bed before go?"

"Died."

"Huh?"

"Died. Here have to earn money oneself for anything to live. Guess knife fight happened while working in city. Got swept there."

"......"

"Don't worry too much. There are safe jobs too. He overdid it needing some money."

Had nothing to say. Words like entered wrongly came to mind wildly. But if leaving here where to go? Family treats as nuisance, there was cruel place no less than here.

Nowhere to go was same for other kids. Sometimes there are those leaving, but surprisingly many kids didn't leave this place.

Because could feel shallow sense of belonging here not provided even at home.

Bori-bori was same. Born as son of maid grew up watching legitimate children bullying mother. Legitimate children forced Bori-bori to participate in that bullying too.

Mother, sorry. Can't live like this, saying so left body.

Here were no kids without miserable story. If worse than Bori-bori then worse, no kid was less.

But that night, Bori-bori was forced to cover with blanket and beaten excitedly. Kids shouted.

"Welcome to Chicken Coup! Newbie!"

Beaten until fainting, when opened eyes was morning. Except few kids resting inside, mostly went to take class or went to city.

Age varied from 12 to 16, size difference was very big depending on development.

Bori-bori adapted little by little reading room. Looked around accommodation, made friends to talk to barely knowing face though not close.

Unnoticed a month passed, and meanwhile saw kids entering newly like him getting pranked many times.

Then, there was a newbie coming wearing red cloak. Blonde hair and hazel eyes. Not beggar appearance like himself when first came, quite neat attire.

"Hey, what are you?"

Kid near newbie asked provocatively. Bori-bori just watched from slightly distant seat.

"Ricky."

Newbie entering newly was none other than Rickart.

"Likes of you? Name is grand."

"What is your name?"

"What?"

"Asking what your name is."

"Why you know that for? Wanna die?"

"If not sincere better be careful with words."

"W, what?"

"So where is my seat. I'm first here."

Bori-bori's eyes became round. Not been here long, but among newbies seen so far no kid was bold like that. All withered and beaten.

Seems many kids besides Bori-bori felt that, eyes naturally gathered towards entrance.

"You, you what bastard are you? Really wanna die?"

"Sorry but, not scared at all. Doesn't suit you either."

"W, what?"

Kid picking fight blinked eyes being dumbfounded and absurd.

"Using interesting kid entered after long time."

Someone said. And as if to fix habit properly, few kids left bed and approached newbie. One of them approached stealthily from behind holding blanket.

"Hey."

"Why?"

"Can't be helped. You get beaten a bit."

Simultaneously kid approaching from behind covered with blanket abruptly. Kids rushed immediately to stomp, kid facing Rickart had eyes flash.

Thud!

And along with flapping sound dull sounds were heard continuously.

Bam! Thud! Thud-thud! Thud!

Bori-bori's eyes became wide as saucers. Couldn't know what happened even seeing, result was Rickart standing alone and rest were scattered around groaning.

"Ugh......"

"Ah...... Fuck......"

Rickart slammed one kid holding hair into nearby bed leg.

Crack!

Then that kid collapsed spilling nosebleed. Unnoticed blanket was in Rickart's hand, Rickart looked at blanket and collapsed kids alternately.

Then said unbelievable sound.

"Ah, was it initiation ceremony? Sorry. Wanna do again?"