Chapter 194

Chapter 194

***

Dramatic changes rarely come in our lives. But occasionally, when a dramatic change visits it was usually an unhappy event.

Whether a finger was cut off in an accident, or becoming crippled by injuring the back, or losing parents when young, or suddenly one day strangers invading the village and randomly killing and burning.

However among all those dramatic misfortunes the most unhappy thing was the point of being born into this world.

The birth of all humans starts from misfortune. Whether woman or man, whether king or beggar, whether the strong or the weak.

But there was no need to despair. Rather it was a matter to rejoice. Because having started unhappily, only getting better remains.

The matter of executing the devil in the Esk region was both a dramatic change, and not so dramatic. Because outwardly there wasn't much that changed greatly.

People didn't extol Rickart. They didn't send praises saying he accomplished a great deed either.

Merely, a short story like 'wielding the moonlight he executed the devil', occupied a fragment of the boring and long story named Esk.

That was meaning they accepted the outsider into a part of our own soon, and meant they would respect his authority.

In the mansion in Clorence village where Raphael resided, a signboard saying 'Master's Federation Esk Branch, Benzinen Problem Solving Office' was hung.

At dawn when the sun hadn't risen yet, amidst the dimming light Rickart wearing a hood looked up at that signboard once, then turned his steps along with Roy.

It was fine even without extolment or praises. Because there was no psychology of compensation regarding such things in the first place.

But there was a question stopping the departing steps. It was Lehman's voice.

"Isn't the 'Problem Solving' too comprehensive and vague a concept?"

"I intentionally did so. Since we can do everything whatever comes our way."

"What are you saying you will do whatever comes your way?"

"Well, things like maintaining public order or mediating conflicts......"

"Why? Why do you do that?"

"There is no grand intention. Just wishing whatever it is gets a little better. Thinking quietly recently everyone seems to neglect the work they should do so I am doing it at least. By the way are you going back Lehman? The sun will rise soon, will you be okay?"

"To think you would worry about such things, it is surprising. Since it is a path towards death determined by myself anyway, if death suddenly strikes it is rather a welcoming matter. Because I would have seen my will through to the end."

Lehman was a vampire who decided to starve to death. His words meant if he died suddenly in an accident he would consider it rather fortunate since he kept the decision he made until death.

Papa was a pervert too, but Lehman also wasn't an ordinary pervert. Merely, it was a matter of whether it was harmful or harmless.

Rickart looked back at Lehman. The hood covered half his face.

"Tell me anytime if you need help. I do not want to live owing a debt."

"Since you helped me once in the past, I merely helped too."

"That was a request rather than helping. It was work."

"It was not work to me. Actually the concept of a request doesn't exist for me either. I merely followed my personal favor in the manner of humans."

"The manner of humans? But one thing I am curious about, weren't you Lehman also a human once? Is it hard to remember because it was a long time ago?"

"Rather than not remembering, you realize from the moment you become a vampire. That I have perfectly become a different existence, that I have left humans forever. You feel the enchanting world of the night being unbearably ecstatic, and everything is the same yet everything has changed. So wouldn't what one thinks or what one pursues all be different?"

"Is that so......"

"Live long without illness or trouble. May we meet again coming and going."

Lehman's farewell greeting was no different from any other human. He entered into the thick shadow cast by the mansion and disappeared.

Roy who was listening to the conversation of the two people asked.

"He's a strange vampire."

"In what aspect?"

"Because he feels more personable than a human. But for what reason did he decide to starve to death?"

"From his own mouth he called it the final resistance towards God. From what I see it looks like a fierce struggle to recover humanity."

"What is that?"

"You'll know when you grow a little older. But do you not need to say goodbye?"

He was saying didn't he need to go to Belynn and say goodbye. Roy was currently 11 years old, and although still early he was at an age where he could form a family in a little while.

"Yes? Ah. I don't know."

"Let's stay a little longer then go. Until the people wake up."

"I, I'm okay."

"Really? Then let's just go. We'll be able to meet coming and going. Since they belong to the Federation now."

Rickart didn't offer once more and moved his footsteps. Roy's footsteps didn't fall easily but because of the words he spat himself he had no choice but to follow Rickart.

Just like when they came, the two people had nothing else when they left either. No, a piece of connection settled in a corner of their chests.

If that was the reward for this entire revenge play, it was sufficient.

The weather gradually became hotter. Now undeniably, it was summer.

The Master's Federation steadily expanded its power including the Count of Caldebern's territory, Duke of Brumbaer's territory, Duke of Frederia's territory, Margrave of Beringen's territory, and the Esk region, and its influence reached the entire Eastern region of the Empire.

The Imperial Succession War was still ongoing, but what causes more damage to the general public was trivial fought rather than armies clashing with armies.

Just like mold and poisonous mushrooms grow in damp places, if public security becomes unstable bandits gather and ordinary people easily fall into the temptation of crime too.

The Master's Federation was handling that series of problems. In a way it played a role similar to the Adventurer's Guild that existed in the past, but compared to then it was much more systematic and professional.

As merchant routes became safe naturally materials circulated actively, and damage caused by the war was alleviated a lot.

As a result starting from small and medium-sized cities or villages, places wishing to join sprang up like bamboo shoots after rain even up to large cities.

To handle these works required definite wage guarantees and suitable personnel, but what was most desperately needed right now was personnel.

They hired people from the Beringen Academy and Viola Clan en masse, but it was insufficient to catch up with the growth trend.

Even Rickart didn't have a clear solution for the personnel shortage problem. And also among the nobles people who slowly sent gazes of doubt arose.

With what underlying intention on earth was the King of Adelorn undertaking such work taking it upon himself? By any chance, ddid he have greed for the Imperial Throne?

They had no choice but to doubt like that because things like maintaining public order or mediating conflicts were works the Lord of the corresponding region should did. Or did it with the Emperor's authority.

Meaning what they were pointing out was why were you Rickart doing that.

As for Rickart he couldn't protest saying I'm doing it at least because you guys aren't doing the work properly. Because as stipulated in the Council of Six charter too, they couldn't infringe upon the Lord's rights.

The work the Master's Federation did, honestly speaking was a bit dangerous. Because while pretending to help, actually fundamentally they were nibbling away and encroaching upon the Lord's rights.

"So about that, I think I need to step down from the Chairman position."

In the Federation's headquarters which wasn't fully built yet but had roughly taken shape Rickart said.

From outside the sound of workers going heave-ho, heave-ho was heard, and the sound of hammering hammering was heard. It wasn't to the extent of interfering with the conversation.

"Is there a person to take charge besides you Ricky? Honestly speaking, if doing this one wrong slip it collapses. The person holding the center is important."

Karlrich who took charge of the Federation's administrative processing revealed a negative opinion.

That was a justified point, because having spread out business not business here and there if there was no person holding the center they could each voice different voices.

If it became like that the organization collapsing was in an instant. Moreover, the Adelorn Kingdom or Beringen Academy, Viola Clan, and Michela Sword Monastery each had completely different natures so harmony was difficult if it wasn't Rickart.

If their works flowed in the manner of each covering their own family members noise could arise everywhere in the organization.

"No, right now is the time I need to step back briefly. That is right. Things that cannot be done with my capabilities are gradually increasing. Friction with the Lords of various regions is a bigger problem."

"Then who do you plan to nominate as Chairman? Do you even have a person in mind? Bolka?"

Bori said looking back at Bolka. Because regarding running the organization he was at least capable. However the party in question Bolka was skeptical.

"Sorry. I'm a bit eh. Honestly speaking for me the Clan is first. The Federation's size is too big. I could handle general work a bit, but facing the nobles my talking points run out you know."

"Then I don't have the capability to do it, and Ice does it? That's even more unimaginable."

Bori said. Ice was in the seat too but he didn't purposefully deny his words. Although the two were great swordsmen, managing was an ability in a different field. The only one capable of both was Rickart.

No, there was one more person.

"Don't you guys care too little about Marie?"

"......Ah, right."

Seemingly remembering only then Bori said. Marie was just put in as a member of the Council of Six, but because she had been protecting the Kingdom all this time and couldn't be together until now they had been forgetting.

However Karlrich with his arms crossed and deeply frowning his brow, was still an expression of displeasement.

"Inhale...... If so wouldn't it be more dangerous."

"What is?"

Rickart asked.

"Wouldn't the nobles accept it as more blatant? Even her, no, the Queen too is a royal after all. Seen from the outside whoever looks at it wouldn't it seem like you Ricky are putting the Queen forward and coveting the Imperial Throne from behind?"

Since Karlrich was the same class as Marie but the two didn't have much intimacy, he corrected his words to Queen midway.

"......Is that so? Paolo said it would be okay though. That we could pressure them even more rather."

"Ricky if your thought is stepping down from the Chairman position, pressuring the nobles doesn't fit the front and back (is contradictory). You need to loosen up and reduce doubt."

It was a word that had reason. Let Paolo's opinion have reason too.

Rickart's intention was trying to take a kind of catch one's breath for greater growth, but showing externally that he had no selfish motives was not easy.

Mobilizing the army was something done when the target was clear, when strategic problem solving was needed, engaging the army in a situation like now was tantamount to inviting oneself to fall into an unmanageable swamp.

As Rickart fell into deep deliberation, Ice said.

"Don't we need to decide the route definitely?"

"What?"

"Whether you Ricky want it or don't want it, whether you aim for Emperor, or whether it's up to here."

They were words piercing the essence. The act of subtly expanding power to the public while pretending not to was bound to catch the eye if the size grew.

The Master's Federation was a private organization to the end, it was not an officially recognized organization. The reason the Adventurer's Guild could operate in the past was because it was work permitted by the Emperor's authority.

Meaning, to exercise influence over the entire Empire there was no answer other than the Emperor's authority. So Ice pointed out that part.

"At first wasn't it something we made just among ourselves for security guarantees? It might have been greed drawing other people in."

"Exercising influence in the Eastern region is also a great feat. Let's do it up to here, Ricky. You continue as Chairman."

"I also think that is right."

Bori and Karlrich, Bolka said in order. The opinions of three out of six of the Council of Six coincided. However Rickart couldn't readily give an answer.

No matter how much he thought a clear answer couldn't be seen, ultimately the conclusion reached after a long deliberation was this.

"Let's ask Marie."

Speaking excluding the party in question perhaps was an absurdity.

However, the decision on this matter had no choice but to be careful because they didn't know what dramatic change it would drive in. And dramatic changes were usually unhappy.

However occasionally, overcoming misfortune and standing up they also achieved great feats. How it would turn out only God knows, and deciding whether to move forward or step back was the free will of each individual.