Chapter 14

Chapter 14

The Eastern Expeditionary Land arrived at after more than a month was no different from hell. Soldiers were drooping without any strength in despair and frustration inside that hell.

When assigned to a unit and entering the camp tent, he smelled a scent that could not be described in words. Smell of fire, steel, blood, and death mixed together.

That night, Ricky was forced to be covered with a blanket and beaten. Enduring while barely holding onto his mind, when the beating ended, a senior soldier smiled and said.

"To survive in hell you must become a devil. Welcome. Newbie."

At first Ricky didn't go out to battle. Just frantically did errands senior soldiers ordered.

If he was clumsy at terms heard for the first time in his life, fists flew without fail. Teaching came after that.

Had to empty shit buckets, maintain weapons, steal various daily necessities to offer.

Going out to first battle, and doing his share in his own way, from then on errand tasks decreased, and curses and beatings also disappeared little by little.

Then when some experience attached, participated in a battle where many casualties occurred.

Don't know if won or lost, Ricky carried a dying senior soldier buried in mud like tidal flat on his back. He was the senior soldier who beat Ricky the most.

Every step taken legs sank deep up to thighs, walked to the garrison clenching teeth all day in that state.

The injured senior soldier defecated while carried on Ricky's back, the smell rose piercing through thick blood smell.

When Ricky finally saved him, he said.

"I won't say thank you."

After that, that senior soldier recovered his body and participated in battle a few more times. Then in a certain battle, threw his body to save Ricky and died pierced by a spear instead.

He said with a smiling face while dying.

"Don't say thank you. Because I can rest now. You suffer fucking hard."

"......"

Ricky realized that day. How trust is made. That trust must be shown by action not words.

Rough talk and various dirty jokes, and somewhat violent traditions. These were all just fever reducers for soldiers living in battlefields, and that wasn't their true appearance.

So Rickart tried to see the intention rather than the words the opponent said itself.

When first entering Beringen Academy accommodation, not getting angry and showing no particular reaction despite provocative words pouring from kids was in that context.

Living with rough soldiers, receiving mad hostility of barbarians and fighting, no matter how severe words kids used to provoke, it was difficult to arouse particular emotion in Rickart.

However, Rickart suddenly thought seeing the blanket in his hand unnoticed. It was an initiation ceremony. If so should have just been beaten.

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

But unfortunately, it was already too late. Because four kids were scattered groaning. Silence hovered.

Then somewhere from the upper bed, someone spoke to Rickart. Appearance wasn't seen.

"Hey, you fight a bit?"

"Well, how about you?"

Sound of smirk was heard. Then jumped down lightly from 2nd floor bed and he revealed himself.

Startled short blonde hair, a student looking so old wondered if he lied about age. However, skin was clean so could be seen as his age. Don't know how old though.

Above all, was head taller than Rickart. And took off upper body, muscles were well defined.

"Wanna do bare fist, or with knife?"

"Do as you please."

"Values. Interesting. It's Pankration!"

Opponent shouted abruptly. Not just shouted but shouted very loudly. Because of that timid kids, or Rickart also flinched surprised. What's wrong with him?

But as if responding to his shout, other kids also shouted. Dozens of kids shouted vigorously at once, so the whole accommodation seemed to tremble.

"Pankration! Pankration! Pankration!"

Is it some slogan? Rickart stood bewildered while opponent turned back and walked towards opposite door. Seemed to mean let's fight so Rickart also followed him.

Coming out through opposite door, accommodation backyard appeared which looked like a kind of training ground.

On sand floor were old or recent bloodstains here and there, and at edges were wooden parallel bars, pull-up bars, wall bars, practice scarecrows etc.

In training ground were kids sparring for practice, exercising, or doing affectionate acts with girls, seeing kids flocking out from accommodation they stopped what they were doing and looked.

In corner of training ground was a round sand pit, and the one who brought Rickart walked into that sand pit barefoot.

Naturally kids surrounded around it, and Rickart took off cloak and shoes and entered sand pit himself.

Kids watching with arms crossed and cynical expressions, kids with eyes shining brightly just excited by situation itself, kids feeling fear at terrible thing to happen soon, their gazes gathered.

Rickart's opponent said with confident smile as if enjoying those gazes. Especially enjoyed gazes of girls more.

"Surrender or die. Only that to end fight. Everything allowed except biting, groin kicking. That is Pankration."

"Really? You prepared to die then?"

"What? Hahaha, funny. Funny. Hey, someone wrap bandages on him."

Then Bori-bori popped out quickly from kids group, held Rickart's hand and wrapped bandage.

Bandage is wrapped to protect fist, not to make opponent less hurt.

Rickart's opponent had girlfriend wrap bandage, and Rickart had Bori-bori wrap, but looking at Rickart's hand without a single callus Bori-bori thought match was already over.

"If hit once just pretend painful and fall. Bolka won't kill you, but still can get hurt badly."

Bori-bori said quietly. Opponent's name seemed to be Bolka.

"Indeed, didn't feel much resolution."

"......Eh?"

Bori-bori was bewildered not knowing what Rickart was saying.

"Until when you gonna wrap? Watch us fucking or what?"

"Hahahahaha!"

When Rickart's opponent Bolka said, surroundings laughed Wahaha, and girlfriend pretended to dislike but signs of liking inwardly revealed on face.

"Done. Go."

Rickart said to Bori-bori. Bori-bori went out of sand pit thinking something was strange.

Then Bolka seemed to bounce lightly in place then walked around Rickart as if taking a walk. Doing so seemed to narrow distance secretly, then stepped front foot hook and threw punch.

Thud!

No, tried to throw. Bolka's eyes flashed, head tilted back and punch cut air in strange trajectory. Then one knee touched floor with thud.

Surroundings were quiet as if poured with cold water.

Bolka tried to correct posture somehow staggering wildly barely holding onto string of consciousness. However this time too light flashed in front of eyes, and just blacked out.

Rickart slapped head with high kick. To others, appearance kicking head of opponent taller than self was truly like a picture.

If weight could be weighed on silence, now seemed like heavy rock was placed. To extent hard to even breathe carelessly.

Students who had smiles on faces had expressions hardening slowly, and all opened mouths blankly like idiots. Kids watching cynically with arms crossed naturally uncrossed arms.

About 3, 4 seconds passed. Bolka regained consciousness and made bewildered expression at first then tried to get up moving stiff limbs barely. Didn't even realize bleeding from nose and mouth.

"Could have killed you twenty times more. Won't surrender?"

Rickart standing still watching Bolka said. Only then did Bolka know he fainted.

And knowing shocked gazes of kids gathered on him, shame arose. Above all among those gazes was his girlfriend too.

"......Fuck off......!"

Bolka burned fighting spirit in his own way, and swung fist widely.

No, this time too eyes flashed before swinging. With thud sound fist cut air ridiculously. Bolka knelt on both knees on that spot.

However didn't faint like before, and enduring with mental strength vehemently reached arm forward to drag into wrestling. However no strength loaded so just floundered.

Immediately when Rickart's knee plugged into Bolka's chin he fainted again.

Crunch!

Thud.

This time about 5 seconds passed, and Bolka opened eyes lying face down on sand pit. Not that body didn't listen but strength itself didn't enter.

Barely turning head slightly directed gaze upwards, Rickart was looking down at him quietly.

"You said. Won't end unless surrender or die."

Then Bolka with broken nose and burst mouth bleeding, making Pu-, Pu- breathing sounds barely said. Eyes were half loose state.

"......Fu, fuck, off."

"Really? Then I lost. Done?"

Rickart untied bandages on spot and threw at Bolka who couldn't get up lying face down, and left scene.

Receiving his cloak from watching kid, walked away holding shoes without looking back.

Heavier silence than earlier settled in venue. Kids couldn't come to senses not knowing how to accept this shocking situation.

Bolka buried face lying on sand pit and couldn't get up for a while. Shaking shoulders seemed like crying too.

Bandage Rickart was wrapping was placed messily on his head. Even if no such intention, as if mocking loser.

Rickart didn't know which bed to use so just stood looking here and there, kids entering late saw Rickart and stopped on spot.

Couldn't approach Rickart, nor tell to move, passage was blocked tight with kids like congested road.

Then Rickart discovered kid who wrapped bandage on his hand among kids. It was Bori-bori.

"Uh? You. You know me right? Wrapped bandage earlier."

"......Me, me?"

"Yeah, you. Where is your seat?"

"Me, me?"

"Are you perhaps imitating animal crying Me, Me?"

"Me, me?"

"......"

Rickart tried to ask as softly as possible maintaining smile, but at this point wondered if he was mocking him so expression cooled down.

Then kids around Bori-bori pushed Bori-bori out as if dragging him.

Rickart and Bori-bori came to face each other, and Bori-bori only rolled eyes here and there couldn't even look at Rickart.

"If having disability nod head. Will understand."

"......"

Bori-bori just stayed still.

"Then if tried to mock me stop it. Can you do that?"

"Ye, yeah. N, no. Didn't mean to mock......"

"Where is your seat?"

Bori-bori raised hand and pointed. It was near the end of lower floor.

"Space next to you occupied?"

Bori-bori looked back. Then owner of that seat shook head diligently.

"......Empty."

"Really? Then let's stay together. Okay? Hurt anywhere?"

"N, not hurt. Okay."

"Because I'm first time here don't know many things so that's why. Help a bit."

"Yeah......"

Since seat decided Rickart went to new nest and unpacked. Messy things that were there before pushed aside.

Newbie shouldn't do that carelessly, but no kids said anything.

Inside of accommodation atmosphere was restless and no one spoke so quiet as if cold water poured, Rickart thought it was originally quiet place.

Bori-bori just sat still right next to Rickart, but seemed conscious of Rickart whoever looked.

Rickart asked.

"How does lecture proceed?"

"Lecture?"

"Yeah. Will teach something right."

"That...... About 1 year go to city and earn money, meanwhile train stamina on own or make friends, remaining 1 year pay donation with money saved and take class, said so."

"I have some money will this not work."

Rickart untied his money pouch and poured on bed with clatter. Money obtained disposing of Bilton brothers' heads and valuables from corpse bosom. Dozens of silver coins and few gold coins.

Bori-bori's eyes widened. Because first time seeing such big money in life.

"Uh...... We, well."

Bori-bori entered earlier than Rickart, but since he was also only a month didn't know everything thoroughly.

"Then here just solve sleeping, earn money on own, pay donation and take class, then fill 2 years leave here and active in guild for 3 years, after that become real adventurer or take final exam, becomes like that?"

"Uh...... Is it? Maybe? But give bread morning evening. There is place receiving. But too hard so that's hard to eat, to eat properly and live well need money anyway......"

Rickart already had much money. Of course insufficient to buy good weapons and equipment later, but overflowing to use for living first.

"I see. Thank you."

"Uh? B, but here shouldn't say thank you......"

"Really? Ah, know what it means. Sorry."

"......Shouldn't say sorry either......"

"Haha, right, feels a bit like army."

"Army?"

"Yeah. Real comrades don't need to say thank you or sorry to each other. Because know I will risk life to save colleague, and colleague will do so too."

Bori-bori looked at Rickart carefully. Looked young to say had army experience. Wondered if bluffing, but looking at fighting skill seemed true......

"Ah, and here rank is important. Deciding seat, or who moves back first when meeting in narrow passage here, rank decides such things."

"Rank? Who decides that?"

"Not someone deciding, just everyone knows."

Even if no official ranking, among kids knew who fought best and who was what number. And actually decided concretely while challenging and fighting.

Rickart stuck head out from sitting seat and looked at kids in accommodation roughly. No matter how he looked just kids. Looked all like so-called pushovers wondering what rank to decide.

"Then what number is your rank?"

Rickart asked.

"I have none. Just lower class."

"Lower class. Too much. Then to live comfortably here is it good to have high rank?"

"Just giving up everything and living like dead mouse is comfortable they say. Then fill 2 years and leave to find other work they say."

"......Bit sad, that. By the way didn't ask name. I'm Ricky. You?"

Talking for a while Bori-bori seemed to relax fearful feelings about Rickart a bit. First looked like some ghost, but thought person is person.

"I'm Bori-bori."

But when saying his name silence came for a moment. Rickart's face which was speaking with smile sank coldly once more.

"You mocking me right?"

"N, no! Re, really! Really my name Bori-bori!"

Rickart glared at Bori-bori for a while without withdrawing suspicion. But then, opposite door opened and someone entered. It was Bolka.

He was all covered in blood around nose and mouth. Entering stumbling, sat with thud on some lower bed not his original seat.

"What is his rank?"

Rickart asked. Then Bori-bori answered calming surprised heart.

"......He is our Captain......"