Chapter 174

Chapter 174

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A red horse ran. It ran on the city's roads, crossed the large stone bridge crossing the river, and reaching the outskirts finally dashed across the fields.

Wildflowers blooming in the green fields, and blue sky, white clouds, sunlight, through them the red horse passed exactly like watercolor.

People engaged in their livelihoods briefly stopped their work and looked at the red horse. That horse was truly, red like fresh blood. A clippity-clop, clippity-clop sound was transmitted to their ears.

It was an existence like a symbol, more than an organism. So a few small-scale merchant guilds in Adelun also used the red horse as their crest.

There was no one who didn't know who the person riding that red horse was. The Red Prince of Promise, a master of the sword and hero of national salvation, the owner of Lightning and Crimson Comet, and their King.

However walking past that great symbolism there was the human Rickart. Rickart was unhesitant in revealing himself, and people loved such him.

"It's admission season soon so shouldn't you slowly hit the road?"

Stopping his horse Rickart looked down at the boy weeding in the farmland and asked. Weeding meant the work of pulling out useless weeds grown in the field. Because that way they wouldn't steal the nutrients the crops would eat.

"Well you see, as you can see there's still some work left."

The boy tossed a handful of weeds he held in his hand onto the ground thud and said.

"As far as I know if you miss the timing you can't be admitted."

"Then it can't be helped. I should just farm."

"Where did that ambition from before go? Saying you would go to the Academy, learn swordsmanship and become like me."

Rickart smiled softly and asked. Because the boy who seemed to have already lost the ambition of his youth was cute.

"Thinking about it quietly, since the King has already done all the work I should do it seems there isn't particularly anything to do."

Rickart threw his head back and ended up laughing. At the bold child's words Bori and the knights by his side also held back laughs.

Only Roy glared at the boy coldly whether he didn't like it. Who was that guy daring to act without manners to the King.

"There is a lot of work to do, William. At first you have to find it yourself, and later it becomes uncontrollably much."

"Like fieldwork?"

"More than fieldwork."

"But the King isn't a farmer right."

"That is true, well, it's a pity you're folding your dream. I merely wanted to support you."

"If the King makes an Academy in Adelun I could go since it's close right. Beringen is too far away right?"

Making an Academy was easy to say, whether it was the money going in, raising buildings, finding people, maintaining and managing, it was full of headache-inducing matters.

Like the words Rickart himself just said, it was a case where at first you find it yourself but later the work becomes uncontrollably much.

However what would be the use of saying such realistic problems to a young boy who knows nothing. Rickart merely smiled and said.

"I will consider it."

"Really?"

"I cannot promise."

"Eey."

"Sorry for taking up your time while you're working. I will get going now."

"You can take up more time. My father isn't such an inflexible person either."

The boy named William looked back somewhere. Far away, his parents were standing blankly looking this way. Not only his parents but other village people were seen too.

Even if a King treated commoners without hesitation, from a commoner's position it was hard to treat a King without hesitation.

Because soldiers risk their lives and suffer together they often treat him comfortably, but ordinary people were not.

So William was special. Because this bold boy truly treated the King without hesitation. Of course, the watching father, mother, and village elders were anxious though.

"If you ask this friend he might be able to teach you about a few simple techniques."

Pointing at Bori Rickart said. Suddenly being pointed out Bori was flabbergasted but ended up laughing snicker.

"I'm going. Let's see each other again."

After bidding farewell, Rickart turned his horse's head and ran to the forest. The party followed behind him.

The forest was a mixed forest where broadleaf trees and coniferous trees grew evenly. It was somewhat hard to run horses with ease, going slowly they could wander around passably.

Entering the forest where the sunlight squeezed in an appetizing smell brushed the tip of Rickart's nose. And one ranger revealed his appearance and guided the way. Rickart and the party followed him.

The place the ranger arrived at was a scene where a large deer was being roasted whole. One might think they were preparing a barbecue for the King, but it wasn't that and Rickart was in an invited position.

Rangers receive wages from Rickart and live in the forest, but they were slightly independent existences.

Simply put he had come hearing the news saying HEY WE HUNTED A DEER DID YOU WANT TO COME AND EAT TOGETHER?.

Rather than a King and vassal relationship it was closer to a form where various talented people were gathered centering around the King.

The people also thought SINCE I TREAT YOU AS KING WAS THAT ENOUGH, DID WE REALLY HAVE TO NITPICK THINGS LIKE OUTWARD SHOW.

Because most of the figures around Rickart had never experienced court life, they didn't know well about things like formalities or etiquette. Rickart didn't particularly nitpick such things either.

Whether this kind of personnel management was right he didn't know, but at least to Rickart it was a method that fit somewhat better. Because if rituals, formalities, and procedures were too stuffy from Rickart himself he wouldn't be able to endure it.

Perhaps it might be a privilege only the first King could enjoy.

The deer roasted whole taking off its skin and removing its internal organs, had the rangers' unique sauce continuously applied throughout the long roasting time so it didn't smell like gamey odor at all.

Merely, when Lester ripped off a hind leg rip and handed it over and he took a bite, the scent was a bit strong. Whether this was eating meat, or eating a pile of coriander herb.

Still chewing it it had flavor in its own way and was worth eating. Perhaps because it was roasted a long time over a weak fire the meat was tender and soft, and not tough at all.

As Rickart tore into the meat first, about ten or so men stuck on and quickly began dismantling the roasted deer.

Food a chef poured their heart and soul into was delicious too, but occasionally eating like this also had an extraordinary taste.

Lester gave boiled liquid whose true nature whether it was deer broth or fat oil was unknown putting it in a bowl. Looking with eyes it was disgusting, but fortunately being savory the taste was quite decent.

"How are things with Marie?"

Rickart smirked at the sudden question. Bori's eyes sparkled as if he were truly curious.

"We're doing great. Since we're married anyway."

Around the time he emptied a bowl of the thing whether it was soup or broth, one person entered Rickart's eyes. It was Paolo. He couldn't mingle well with other people and even when they took care to give him deer meat he didn't eat well.

Just as there were people who match well and people who don't match, he was making an expression saying he didn't know why he had to be here.

"You know, Ricky, I thought about it."

Next to him rinsing his mouth with wild raspberries Bori opened his mouth. Rinsing his mouth with wine Rickart waited for the next words.

"What Helauman was doing you know. Wouldn't that not necessarily be wrong?"

"What?"

"I mean possessing great military force with low costs. Unpacking the thing called Sword Master they were empty husks and there were many various problems, but since we experienced it directly I thought couldn't we eliminate those side effects and make it better."

An army costs a lot of money. That was an unavoidable premise, proposition, and problem for any monarch.

So what Helauman thought of was a method of cultivating Sword Masters and monopolizing them in the Imperial Family.

In that process neglecting battle-related abilities, and obsessing exactly only over the Light Blade itself causing things like crazy murderers or the Cult of Condemnation to be mass-produced was a side effect if it was a side effect.

"Do you even have anything in mind?"

"No. It just vaguely came to mind. It's not like catching Ice or Bolka or the kids and forcefully experimenting on them right. The Viola Clan, the Michela Sword Monastery, the Beringen Academy, and the Adelorn Kingdom join forces and create one organization. For the name we just need to attach something appropriate. Like the Empire Peace Coordination Committee or something. Since they are scattered scattered they also tiptoe around Lords and are nervous right. But if you lead it Ricky, it might be able to display great strength."

My ears pricked up. Over the meantime I merely thought it was a relief the friends each lived well taking care of themselves, but hearing Bori's words something like a picture seemed to be drawn.

"Think about it. If not for the Cult of Condemnation incident, don't you think the days when the Adventurer's Guild existed were better? Even though the Emperor was in that shape the security was good in its own way."

It was a correct word. Adventurers had wars among themselves and had many ugly corners, but ordinary people seeing huge damage didn't happen often.

Of course it was an achievement achieved offering countless young lives as sacrifices, but it's not like that now was it?

Bolka, Ice, and Karlrich were each operating their organizations well in their own ways. There were differences in scale, and the goals each pursued were different, but they also shared a common problem.

That was none other than that they couldn't be free from the breath of powerful authority figures.

"What do you think Paolo?"

Thinking for a moment Rickart looked at Paolo and asked. He was frowning his expression with all sorts of grimaces while drinking the unidentified broth, but coincidentally since Rickart asked his face unwrinkled.

"I think it's a decent idea. The utilization value looks high. If utilized well we seem to be able to exercise influence within the Empire without expending funds and an army."

"But specifically what would be good to do? Maintaining security? Dispute coordination? Things like that seem too grandiose and lack feasibility."

"How about a method of receiving joining and operating? Providing military force to the member countries. Since they lack the ability to wage a battle, like protecting cities or castles, or maintaining security right after a war. Although a Sword Master can't play a big role in field battles, like siege defense when only a small number of personnel is needed they would be able to play a big role. And it could also provide a good excuse to You Majesty too."

Paolo although untrustworthy always showed anew perspectives. In operating a nation one couldn't just trust friendship and loyalty and go, his cold-hearted and professional perspective was a lot of help to Rickart.

"What kind of excuse are you talking about?"

"A justification to intervene. In doing the work I am working on this time, aren't you bothered by Stormhearts. First move the Peace Coordination Committee or whatever it is, and if Stormhearts is attacked, as a member country it becomes a justification to participate in the war."

The work Paolo was working on meant the estrangement between Duke Frederia and Duke Brumbaer. It was a plan to split the two, make them fight, and seize the gold mine in that gap.

The problem was that the Caldebern family was under Duke Brumbaer, if they made something like an international organization and deployed it first, a justification for the Adelorn Kingdom to intervene would naturally arise too.

The more the story proceeded the more his ears pricked up. Over the meantime because of national interest and personal blood ties there were parts that weighed on his mind somewhat, but it was a plan that could cleanly resolve that.

"But wouldn't that be using the kids too much?"

Rickart looked at Bori again and asked.

"No. They gain power too. Bolka was recognized for autonomy from the 5th Prince right. But do you think the 2nd Prince or the Lords who follow him will recognize the autonomy? Rather they would recognize them as enemies. They always had to tiptoe squeezed between Lords. Ice too lives like he's dead not to be noticed for no reason right. But if we make something like that, if you lead Ricky, they wouldn't have to tiptoe like that."

It was too good an idea. Too. To the extent not a single drawback could be found. It was exactly to the point of feeling a sense of self-reproach over why he couldn't think of this idea until now. However was it truly so?

To make such an organization who provides the money? What if the friends refuse? Even if they make such an organization, how will they operate it? Must there be a headquarters?

Trying to make up his mind there were various parts that bumped.

Quietly watching such an expression of Rickart's from the side, Bori spoke exactly as if reading his thoughts.

"Is it a King's agony, or have you become an old fart? In the past Ricky you used to cause trouble and see first. Have you completely become a coward?"

No matter how much of a King's friend he was, even if it was okay to treat the King comfortably, the words seemed a bit harsh.

Deer bones were rolling around nearby, and the people drinking alcohol looked at Rickart wondering if he had crossed the line.

Fortunately a pleasant smile was hanging on Rickart's face.

"Of the things I've done until now it is exactly the hardest."

Perhaps because he had a friend who spoke like Bori, Rickart might barely be able to hold the center.

The position called King had all sorts of information he didn't even want to know entering his ears, and while there were things he could did because he was King, there were also many things he couldn't did because he was King.

Problems without correct answers were stuck thickly all over Rickart's body.

Like the story of the umbrella seller and the salt seller, policies a King unfolds inevitably brought profit to someone, and loss to someone else. There was no perfect policy in the world.

Suffering from such matters, even that great Rickart had somewhat withered sides too.

"We just have to hope the things we do remain as a good legacy for our sons and daughters. If there's something wrong they can fix it, or throw it away. They'll take care of it themselves."

"Now that's a bit like Ricky."

"By the way what should we decide the name as? Peace whatever Committee seems too grandiose."

"How about simply the Adventurer's Guild? Just like the Empire is just the Empire. In the past there was one in every province but if we newly make it now it's only us right."

"Rather that is better, but let's first ask the kids and decide. Since their tendencies are all different."

"If you say let's do it Ricky, they'll all probably say understood."

"Is that so? Well."

Rickart rose from his seat. He didn't leave right away and looked around the rangers' hideout or strolled in the forest.

Turning his head Adelun was seen beyond the trees. The vast farmland that had been abandoned for a long time was touched by human hands again and crops were growing.

In the midst of that people were seen dot-by-dot, and among them William seemed to be there too.

Beyond the farmland Adelorn's royal castle situated on a hill was seen. Was all of that mine? Rickart felt an unknown sense of heterogeneity. No, should he say it wasn't realistic.

In the past he wandered searching for the reason for war, but now he was walking towards beyond that.

Martelus II, Helauman. They had their own justice. As villains of the world usually did, from the villains' position they were justice.

The point was, wasn't it to accept, fix, and rewrite their justice rather than blindly denying it.

Thus if he could move towards a slightly better justice, the past bloody history might be able to possess meaning even if a little.

Right, let's leave a legacy. Whether a long time flows, or a short time flows, even if ultimately it gets old and dirty and was denied by descendants, let's did our best and leave a legacy. Rickart thought like that.

Thinking like that now finally a bit, the weight of the crown seemed to be lightened. Exactly as if clothes that didn't fit stuck to his body.

Chapter 37 - A King's Agony. The End.