Chapter 189

Chapter 189

***

The devil lives in the heart, and hell was in daily life. Without anything particularly grandiose, suddenly one day, suddenly thinking about it I am in hell right now.

So people who realize this had to choose whether they themselves become devils, or climb up from hell.

It was a sunny spring day. The sound of grass bugs crying squelch squelch, bees and butterflies flying around between flowers and flowers, pollen inducing sneezes, and on the grass lay a sprawling female corpse.

The unusual point was that the bottoms were worn but only the top was taken off, and the belly was split open. At least she hadn't suffered a terrible ordeal, but it was a result even more terrible than that.

The internal organs inside the belly were completely dug up HEJIPPEOJIN in a state. And Rickart was calmly looking down at that.

Even though Roy was used to cruel things to a tolerable extent he frowned his brows and barely looked at it out of the corner of his eye. It wasn't that he didn't look.

"Why would they do this kind of thing?"

"They were looking for something."

"Yes?"

"There are many cases like this in the battlefield. Because when fleeing to take refuge people swallow things like gold pieces and go. So after killing civilians, soldiers definitely cut open the belly."

"......Gold pieces, you say......"

"But exactly what they were looking for cannot be known. Because she doesn't seem like a refugee."

"It's not a very good place. The Esk region is."

"Do you think so?"

"Isn't it?"

"It's everywhere exactly the same. It's just whether it's more explicit, or because they can make a living they don't need to do even this kind of thing. It's only that difference."

"......You are subtly pessimistic, Master."

"Did you only know that now? But when did you learn the word pessimistic again?"

"I am studying hard. I'm learning from Mr. Bori."

"Only do things like studying when you need it. Other than that you're learning dead knowledge. It's useless."

"Yes......"

Now Roy was at a level where he filtered Rickart's words to some extent. And he also knew how to answer perfunctorily.

"Has Master seen all kinds of deaths?"

"I think I've roughly seen them all, but there is exactly one thing I haven't seen. I've only heard of it like exactly a legend or something."

"What kind?"

"A person who grew old finely and died as if peacefully falling asleep in the midst of friends and family watching over. I've never seen such death."

"......It's not easy."

"Right."

Rickart said looking down at the cruelly dead corpse. There seemed to be a difference as big as heaven and hell with growing old finely and dying.

He didn't mourn, but a silence exactly like mourning took place for a moment. The spring flowers nearby were usually cheerful but now they seemed to be expressing condolences.

"By the way until when will she be over there?"

Rickart said looking at a rock a little distance away. Since Roy would also notice the presence if she was this close, he knew what Rickart was talking about.

"Shall I call her over?"

"No. There is no need for that. Since over there is the one who has business with us. Right now she's hesitating. Exactly like an inexperienced child."

It seemed exactly as if seeing through the inner heart of a person hiding without even looking. The conversation of the two people was completely heard up to the rock, and thereupon a moment later one person revealed her appearance.

It was a girl with roughly cut bobbed hair of blonde color close to white. Her age looked similar to Roy, but her eyes were large and her nose was prominent and straight like a blade.

She looked past 10 years old but for clothes she was wearing shabby boy's clothes, and she was barefoot. The affectionate care of parents didn't exactly physically be felt.

With the cruel corpse placed in front of them Rickart and Roy looked back at the girl. It was an indifferent gaze exactly as if there was absolutely no inspiration. For both.

"She's a kid exactly like a wild flower."

Roy said. Rickart didn't have that thought so he purposefully didn't agree. He was a little more firm and cold-hearted.

"If you have something to say say it, if not get lost."

For Rickart to say it up to here was because the people of this Esk region here, whether kids or adults, were all exactly one gang.

Other than exchanging a few words in the first village when they first came, and having a little conversation with Raphael, he had never mixed words with the people of this place. Because they all avoided them.

The girl stared exactly as if glaring at Rickart and Roy piercingly. However she couldn't completely hide the trembling beyond those large eyes. She seemingly made a big resolution in her own way and stepped forward.

"Are you the Swordsman of the Empire?"

The girl asked. Her voice was more clear and bright than expected exactly like water drops falling on a calm pond.

"I have been called by many names. Right now that must be correct."

Red Cloak, Beringen's Genius Swordsman, Siegfinger's Hero, Kaits' Tiger, God of Condemnation, El Cid, Heart of the Storm, etc, etc.

Right now he seemed to be the Swordsman of the Empire. Rickart didn't care what others called him.

By the way the girl knowing Rickart meant rumors had already spread completely among the people. Just because he was known as a terrifying swordsman and it was uncomfortable they simply couldn't dare touch him easily.

Moreover because outsiders were so few, and it was a region highly wary of outsiders he had no choice but to stand out wherever he went. Rickart and Roy felt exactly like being ostracized at a regional level.

"I heard you are looking for Benzinen village."

"Right."

"I can guide you."

"Why?"

"Because I have a request for you."

"As a price for guiding?"

"Yeah."

"What is that request? Let me hear it first. If you're not going to say it we'll find our own way."

In a word it meant your help wasn't very much needed. Actually it wasn't like that. Right now Rickart and Roy were at a point where help was desperately needed.

Because they had to gain information and find their way by asking local people, but since they couldn't mix words they had no method.

However Rickart's so-called playing hard to get negotiation tactic worked on the girl. Was she naive, or was she responding knowingly.

"Kill 'Papa'. That is all I ask."

"......Who is that person?"

This time Roy asked.

"Papa is Papa. He's not human. I'll only talk up to this much right now. Or else you two will run away."

"Are you saying he's even a vampire or something?"

"......"

Rickart asked again. The girl merely kept silent, neither affirming nor denying. But it seemed to be right. Rickart wondered if a vampire lived in a place like this.

Just living quietly so they don't reveal themselves, actually vampires lived all over the Empire. It seemed there was one in the Esk region too.

"......Right."

Thinking she wouldn't answer the girl slightly delayed her words then nodded her head and affirmed.

"Just because he's a vampire doesn't mean I am afraid. Because they being placed at Crossroads is exactly the same as humans too. I have seen excellent vampires, and I have seen vampires fallen wretchedly too. Which side is this bastard called Papa?"

Since Rickart unexpectedly seemed to know well about vampires, the girl seemed a little surprised. Roy was too. Because it was a story he heard for the first time.

"Papa...... likes young boys. It's not that he hates girls. Only, while loving us he torments us too. He said such words once. When a child completely trusting him breathes their last and the vitality is lost from their eyes, it leads to a complete love. That it is forever together. That it is living forever."

Rickart couldn't understand what dog-shit sound it was. However he could clearly know that he was a solidly twisted pervert.

While there were vampires advancing to a higher realm through penance, there were also empty shells not satisfied with ordinary pleasures. No matter how you looked at it Papa seemed definitely the latter side.

The girl took out and showed something from her bosom. It was a small medicine bottle hanging in the form of a necklace.

"It's a vampire elixir. The one said to have raised up the Dragon Slayer Ilya. Papa's underlings are looking for this right now."

Rickart's eyes instantly opened round. What sound was this? I ate Ilya's fragrant oil though.

Moreover the fragrant oil he ate was a yellowish golden liquid, but the one hanging on the girl's neck was a transparent liquid. Isn't it a fake? Was what I ate a fake? That couldn't be.

Anyway for now to find the place where the quartz mine was, especially the ruined Benzinen village the girl's help was needed. Reaching that place was the first goal.

Because the mysterious stranger they met in the middle of the night said he would give information about Dunkel if they came that far. Of course it was a little doubtful whether they had to did this even while making a vampire an enemy.

"Fine. I'll kill Papa for you. Before that take us to Benzinen village first. Since you don't seem safe anyway consider it the price for us protecting you."

Rickart demanded unilaterally. After achieving his purpose he could ignore the girl's request so it was a disadvantageous condition from the girl's position.

However from what Rickart saw the girl had no choice, and he himself had no intention to break the promise. Then this was right.

"......Understood."

"Is Benzinen village far from here?"

"We've already passed it. It's a day's distance from here."

"Then let's diligently move while the sun is up. So we can arrive during the morning tomorrow."

Rickart immediately tried to move his steps. However the girl stopped them.

"Just a moment."

As Rickart looked back the girl was in the middle of plucking the flowers of the field. Plucking a full armful she placed them on the split belly of the corpse. The flowers covered the terribly dug-out internal organs. Perhaps they seemed to be acquaintances.

There was no more mourning. Because it was a luxury. Rickart tried to move again. But this time Roy stopped them.

"Just a moment."

Roy took off his bag and took out a leather cloth covering goods from inside. Looking to see what he was doing, he knelt on one knee and tried to wrap the girl's foot none other than.

"Lift your foot a bit."

The girl didn't refuse, and wasn't embarrassed either. She merely left her foot protruding staring intently down at Roy. Roy wrapped the girl's foot with the leather cloth and tied it with a string.

You must tie it well and make the knot well so it's not uncomfortable, and Roy knew well how to make such temporary shoes with his experience from when he was young.

"What is your name?"

"Belynn."

"I'm Roy. Done. Tell me if it's uncomfortable. Since I just need to adjust it a bit."

Roy casually put on his bag again and stood up. Only then could Rickart truly move his footsteps.

The bobbed-haired girl followed the two people. The touch felt on the soles of her feet was unfamiliar but didn't feel bad.

Rickart and Roy went back the way they came, walking exactly as Belynn directed.

It was a fresh spring day but it wasn't an atmosphere to fully enjoy the spring energy, and there was no vague nostalgic atmosphere either.

The scenery of white clouds floating in the blue sky was exactly like a painting but the anxiety and terror inherent in Esk made all those beautiful things colorless.

The three people didn't converse much with each other either, and Belynn followed a little way apart.

Around when the sun passed its peak and slowly tilted, Rickart reached a gentle mountain path. Sparsely grown shrubs and dry grass, mostly dirt and stones.

Rickart looked around the terrain all the way, then pointed to one place and said.

"Let's go over there."

"There is no path there."

"I know."

Event the local guide Belynn said no, but Rickart was obstinate. Roy guessed why.

"There's exactly a reason the Master says let's go. As I think, probably he's preparing for an ambush. Because while coming all the way here we couldn't not have caught someone's eye."

Rickart walked a steep place without even a path, and if doing one wrong misstep they could slide down and be hurt greatly. Roy followed silently, and Belynn wearing foot-wrapper level shoes seemed seemingly having a hard time.

Roy slung his bag to the front and said.

"Get on my back."

Belynn stared at the boy's back for a moment, then didn't even reply and just got on his back.

Roy who had a large build and good strength compared to his peers walked silently even carrying Belynn on his back. By the way she was excessively light. Belynn wasn't on the thin side, but Roy felt like that.

"You're really light. Exactly like some feather."

"Sorry. I will become heavy in the future."

"Yeah."

Walking the dangerous path for a long time, relatively gentle terrain appeared in its own way. However as Rickart who was going ahead turned the ridge and entered, they exactly ran into some strangers.

As if they didn't know Rickart's party would come this way, they too seemed bewildered by the sudden encounter.

The setting sun caught on the peak was dyeing the sky red.

"You know me right? What was it? Something like the Swordsman of the Empire?"

Rickart asked abruptly. However the enemies' answer was taking out weapons from their bosoms.

As fast as the name lightning flash Rickart's sword was drawn, and in an instant the head of the closest person flew away. The enemies were just about to take a stance. Even if fast it was too fast.

Profuse fresh blood sprayed everywhere, and those surprised started to be flustered. In that short gap as Rickart's sword danced like the knife of an experienced chef handling fish, heads and limbs fell patter.

Around that time Roy who turned the ridge belatedly had his eyes widen completely. Because Rickart disappeared for a moment then appeared again and a complete sea of blood was spread out.

If it's to this extent it's lawful to run away but someone aimed a crossbow towards Rickart. And another someone quickly threw a hidden weapon.

However Rickart abruptly grabbed a collapsing headless corpse with one hand, and used it exactly as a meat shield.

PEOBEOBEOBEOK!

He pushed the corpse forward as it was and leaped towards the people using ranged weapons.

In an instant holding his sword in one hand with his legs drawn up, Rickart's appearance narrowing the far distance in an instant entered the enemies' eyes exactly as if time had stopped.

The sunset formed at the tip of the blade. As he swung the sword exactly like scattering that sunset, a red line crossing the enemies' weapons and bodies was drawn exactly like an afterimage. The result was that everything was completely sliced.

"Hiiiik!"

Only then did someone suck in an empty breath. It took 3, 4 seconds at most. For a bloody wind to blow.

However right then from a close place a firecracker soared up and burst in the empty air.

PIYUUUUNG- PPEO-EONG-!

White smoke moved billowing. Rickart holding the hem of his cloak with one hand, and holding a sword with one hand, raised his head and looked up at the sight of the firecracker bursting.

"You are finished now......!"

Whether his spirit lived in that short time calling allies, the person trying to say something to Rickart died before finishing his words. After killing him Rickart quickly went up the ridge.

Indeed reaching the end, from the opposite side dozens of enemies were rushing over in a crowd rumbling. They ran into Rickart standing on the ridge.

Whether a coincidence or what couldn't be known, but in the enemies' eyes Rickart due to the angle had the sun scattering sunset light exactly like a halo on his head. The sun was blood-red.

If it was an ordinary skilled person seeing this many enemies they would have run away or at least been terrified, but Rickart was not.

Only, a golden flame quietly bloomed from the tip of the blade entirely wrapping the entire blade. And as the power named Inner Fire circulated in his body after a long time golden flames also formed in his pupils.

When realizing reality was hell someone takes it upon themselves to be a devil, and someone tries to escape from hell.

The Rickart of his past life was the former. And he had exactly peaked there. Clumsy devils recognized their King at a glance. And quickly realized this was something wrong.

Whether the enemies were the vampire's underlings, or Eskas Rickart couldn't know. But did he purposefully need to know that?

Although called by many names, right now it was only clear he was the God of Condemnation. The enemies finally ended up witnessing exactly the God of Condemnation.

Actually being bastards without the capability to dare pounce they merely turned around and ran away wildly going down the mountain madly. Blood being sprayed didn't happen anymore.

Belatedly Roy and Belynn came up to help Rickart. But what the two boy and girl saw were enemies fleeing hastily. Belynn who had barely any words all along asked.

"What happened?"

Rickart who had returned to ordinary answered exactly as if it was nothing much.

"Well, maybe because it's almost time to sleep?"

"?"

"Let's slowly look for a place to camp too."

Rickart moved his footsteps again. The sun scattering sunset light kept completely silent about what it witnessed.