Chapter 19

Chapter 19

It was a night when dusk fell and even the last purple of twilight disappeared. A bonfire was burning in a secluded vacant lot somewhere east of Beringen.

The wavering fire looked like a wicked devil smelling death smacking lips and flicking tongue.

Snap. Crackle. Snap......

The entity stayed still but the shadow lengthened and shortened by itself, looking exactly like the dance of a cursed doll.

Someone sitting on a fallen tree stump grabbed the sword on his waist and stood up quietly. He looked at the boy across the fire.

"In the past, you see, if a bud was seen, seniors cut it in advance. These days seem to have become really good."

Meant killed people who will become competitors in future before growing bigger.

But what does that have to do with me? Rickart looked at him with eyes burning with anger and said.

"To say your life value is merely a few silver coins. Cheap life. Worse than country bandit."

Was referring to Bolton brothers. Since those guys were also 30 silver coins per head.

At Rickart's cold criticism, the opponent drew his sword skillfully with a stable posture. The sleek blade glistened in the firelight.

Bori-bori watching from afar felt his hair standing on end seeing a real sword.

When seeing a sharp sword actually, it had that specific coolness. And strangely felt charm or something like magic power.

On the other hand, Rickart looked back at Bolka without any particular expression change and said.

"Bolka, lend me your sword."

"Uh? Uh......"

"Quickly."

Bolka looked at people around the bonfire, then approached Rickart hurriedly and whispered small.

"He is Rank 7. He handles mana. Not too late even now so say sorry. I will try to settle."

Whether doing so or not Rickart pulled out the sword from Bolka's waist abruptly. And pushing him slightly said.

"Step back. Bolka. Might get hurt."

As situation became this far Bolka's heart beat fast and become worried and anxious and scared. What should do?

Not knowing Bolka's heart Rickart drove the situation to extreme, and it was already spilled water.

However, the opponent let out a hollow laugh as if absurd looking at Rickart holding the sword.

Because the length or weight of the sword didn't fit Rickart. In a word, it was appearance of a kid holding a knife.

But on one hand, it looked strangely stable. Right, wouldn't be not trained at all.

The opponent didn't take a separate stance and walked to the side of the bonfire. Accordingly, Rickart also moved to the side of the bonfire.

"Don't know why you lost fear like this, but logic of world is so. Talent is given by God, therefore those without talent must serve us."

Rickart was dumbfounded sincerely. Really, couldn't be but twisted thought of immature guy.

"Sorry but, talent doesn't guarantee your life."

At Rickart's words seemingly piercing a needle without losing a single word, the opponent felt very offended. Perhaps the appearance itself not being scared even though taking out sword was offending. Should fear me and crawl trembling naturally.

"Hmm...... Must see appearance you begging mistake crying and blowing. First from one arm."

Saying so opponent didn't take separate stance likewise, just breathed deeply with sword hanging down to side.

Then bonfire burning wavered a little heterogeneously even though wind didn't blow. Seemed utilizing mana probably.

And he exhaled long, then stopped for a moment. Then at certain moment, bonfire lay down flat to side as if hit by strong wind.

Whoosh.

"Hah!"

The opponent appeared in front of Rickart's eyes suddenly. With eyes opened wide and mouth filled with air, was lifting sword high above head.

As if middle process was cut off distinctively, narrowing distance was inhumane speed.

Dark moonlit night, sword light flashed.

Clang-!

And metallic sound tearing silence of night was heard.

Rickart's opponent felt emptiness along with shock transmitted through wrist. His sword was broken in half. Uh? Wait a moment.

In short moment five thousand thoughts brushed his head. Defective product? No. Maintained every day.

He wasn't sophisticated in technique handling mana yet, and passed Rickart by far.

Shouted towards his friends to give new sword hurriedly. However voice didn't come out.

"Cough! Kuck!"

Uh uh, why like this this. Uh, wait a moment. He felt his front becoming damp, and brought hand to neck hurriedly. Hot blood wet hand in an instant. Only then his eyes became big.

Rickart standing by fire looked back at him. Anger subsided somewhat, and cold indifference was dwelling in eyes. And eyes of all people including his friends became big enough to tear looking at himself.

At the same time, two thoughts collided in his head.

One was denying reality, and the other was thought trying to accept reality objectively. I lost? Can't be. No, wait a moment. Dying? Lie. Doesn't make sense right. Dying. Just. I just......

Since didn't have even resolution about death, he wasn't prepared to accept this situation now.

However, no matter how denial and affirmation thoughts fought in head, soul was already approaching half to afterlife.

More than other things started to choke. Blood escaped from fixed path called blood vessel was blocking airway.

"Cough! Cough! Grrr......"

Clang.

He missed broken sword from hand, staggered for a while then head became dizzy and front of eyes became blurry and fell with thud. And soon drooped loose and vitality escaped from eyes.

His neck was cut exactly enough to die, not more not less. And even after dying vomited blood gulp gulp for a while.

Bonfire burned. Moon floating in sky was also still same. Whether he dies or not.

Everyone froze in that place at unbelievable situation. Even assuming broke sword by one in ten thousand probability, cutting neck cleanly in one trajectory was impossible unless magic. If that was intended had to get goosebumps.

However to Rickart opponent was just monkey moving fast.

Rickart knew the logic that timing precedes speed, and accuracy overwhelms power, and had ability to implement that logic actually.

So opponent trying to move simply fast through mana or do something with power couldn't be Rickart's opponent.

Rickart looked through high ranks of Academy with contemptuous gaze holding Bolka's sword.

Strangely Bolka's sword was in state not even small nick occurred. Rather as if craving more blood, flame reflected on blade fluctuated.

Boy's appearance standing receiving firelight was confident. Even putting high ranks of Academy in front, beyond not being intimidated rather overwhelmed.

Tags like inside or kid attached to Rickart also fell off all. As world turned over, gazes looking down until just now also disappeared entirely.

Now changed to gaze where distrust unable to believe result, and shock hard to accept reality, and fear that I can die coexist.

No matter how doing appearance of young child, spirit of person who made world tremble with fear wasn't level students didn't even step into society could handle.

Due to gap with outward appearance felt more creepy and fearful.

"Listen to my story straight from now. Don't blabber about talent or whatever in front of me until graduating. Anyway you are all fuck-ups. There is no tribute money or such anymore. And another one. From now on I am Rank 1. Guy having complaint come out now."

People couldn't recognize reality in front of eyes immediately, then threw gaze naturally to existing Rank 1 Ice and that gang.

Rickart's gaze also headed to silver haired boy resembling moonlight. But he showed neither hostility towards Rickart, nor surrendered, just dry expression.

Ice took out tribute money from bosom put on ground, then left seat quietly with his gang without raising complaint. To others seemed surrendering.

As Ice left seat, two black silhouettes watching this place from far away also left seat.

Might be somewhat bland, but decided with this. Rickart was Rank 1.

Rickart organized rank literally in one slash, and received tribute money back all. Corpse knowing not name was recovered by his friends.

Returning sword to Bolka, way returning to Guild Headquarters together three people, Rickart handed money to Bolka.

"Now don't have to pay tribute money. Captain."

"Ri, Ricky......"

Bolka received money back and looked at Rickart with trembling eyes, then looked at money placed on his hand, suddeny clenched molar and bowed head. And struggled to swallow things coming up gulp gulp. Clenched really tight as if molar would break.

However independent Bolka is, he was also young age yet. Couldn't be no mind wanting to rely, and wanting to be protected sometimes.

That sorrow and deep resentment spanning lifetime wouldn't be able to speak all, that tender heart suppressed meanwhile surged up all at once.

"We, we go first. Ricky."

Bori-bori pulled Rickart's cloak hem said.

"......Yeah."

Since Rickart also has sense, emptied seat for Bolka. Because knew leaving alone is consideration now.

As Rickart and Bori-bori became far only then tears flowed down like rain from Bolka's two eyes closed tight. And soon sat down on bare ground buried face in arm and cried loudly.

Sound of Bolka crying was heard behind Rickart's back. Sounded like sorrowful beast vomiting resentment.

It was night moonlight was exceptionally soft.

Next day Rickart and Bori-bori woke up in state covering or not blanket crumpled carelessly, and tangled dizzily.

Rickart looked around with sulky hair then realized Bolka was absent. Wondering if something happened last night dressed up roughly and went down to lower floor.

"Dunkel Uncle, didn't see Bolka?"

"That, Uncle is a bit."

"Dunkel Ajae, asked if didn't see Bolka."

"......Went out early in morning. Young Lord?"

Dunkel threatened Rickart turning insidiously. Was silent pressure that will reveal being noble if calling Uncle or Ajae repeatedly.

Rickart also knew that intention, grinned as if fun. Look at this person? Skilled? Well, enough if Bolka is safe.

"Do you know where Bolka works?"

"I don't know either. Because work doing differs time to time."

"Uh...... Then until when can stay here. Will go today though, should say greeting to Bolka at least."

"Stay until lunch time. If intending to stay after that pay room charge."

Rickart tapped bar with finger, thought this and that like time taking to return to Academy. thought waiting until lunch time, if couldn't see can't help it.

Returned to room for now woke up Bori-bori, had breakfast first. After that walked around Headquarters building surroundings, watched city even a little.

But not fun at all, not excited either. Just watched this and that blankly then returned to Headquarters around lunch.

Prepared to leave and had meal, even then Bolka didn't appear.

Well, since not missing or went wrong, Rickart thought and decided to return to Academy.

"See you next time. Dunkel Ajae."

Like that offered greeting as if throwing and left building right away. Walked retracing road came with Bori-bori.

Escaping population dense area, spring wind blew. Smell of grass and flower brushed tip of nose. Looking back at field for a moment, Bolka's voice was heard from behind.

"Hey! Ricky! Bori-bori!"

Rickart and Bori-bori pretended nothing wrong from morning until now, but as hearing voice wanted to hear finally turned back suddenly as if waited.

Bolka running from far away was seen. Then smile spread on expressionless face only then.

"Is work doable? What work doing?"

"Doable and whatever, take this and go. I have to go again."

Bolka handed something. It was clothes. Unfolding in air rustic purple violet was embroidered on chest.

No way he embroidered himself directly, seemed busy from early morning asking acquaintance to make in hurry. Would have been not easy to obtain purple thread.

"Like this won't wither right. And......"

Bolka hesitated for a moment touching nose as if shy, said to Bori-bori.

"Last time sorry. Throwing flower outside."

It was surprising thing. Bolka apologizing. Might be miracle-like thing maybe.

"I, I also sorry. Behaving like girl."

Bori-bori also apologized. Don't know if that is matter to apologize though.

Bolka scratched his short hair repeatedly whether embarrassed.

At that time cool spring wind blew and passed stroking three boys like God's touch. Seemed saying everything is okay.

"I will go. See in Academy anyway."

"No."

Rickart shook head. Rickart denying when not expected Bolka and Bori-bori stared.

"Can see not only in Academy but anywhere. Since eternal friends."

Rickart pointed at violet embroidered clumsily on clothes said. Then two boys also laughed.

Then Bori-bori said as if thought suddenly.

"By the way didn't we decide not to say thank you or sorry to each other?"

Rickart thought this and that good words or minimum excuse, just gave up.

"Um...... Sometimes would be okay?"

"Hehehe, right."

"You guys go quickly. Castle gate closes when evening comes."

"Okay. Bolka go too."

Even though saying go to each other step didn't fall easily. Because hated showing appearance leaving as friend, even if watching appearance friend leaving. Somehow, just, was so.

Spring flowers bloomed fully in field, and was like garden of heaven. Purple violet fluttered in wind.

Chapter 5 – Just friends not comrades. End.