Chapter 207

Chapter 207

***

Vilter and Rudy passed through a foggy valley and reached Kelbron, even though it was daytime. The first thing that greeted them was the horizon, glowing red as the sun set.

Not far away stood a simple farmhouse, where a shepherd was just in the middle of herding cows into a large barn.

The shepherd, wearing shabby clothes and a straw hat like a farmer, looked slightly older than Vilter and Rudy—perhaps fifteen or sixteen years old.

Vilter approached the shepherd as if drawn by a magnet, and Rudy followed after him.

"Hello."

The shepherd, herding the cows into the large roofed barn, turned to look at Vilter, who had offered the greeting. Even though a sword hung at the waist of Rudy, who followed behind, the shepherd showed no particular sign of wariness.

"Yes?"

"This is Kelbron, right?"

"Hmm... yes. To be precise, it's Bukelen Hill."

"I see. We've come to Kelbron on some business. Since the day is ending, could we stay the night?"

"Sure."

Rudy thought to himself, Wait a minute, isn't this a bit strange?

It was strange for Vilter to suddenly ask for a place to stay, but it was also strange for the shepherd to accept so readily.

After herding all thirty or so cows and calves into the barn, the shepherd gestured for them to follow and led Vilter and Rudy somewhere.

Not far away was a house where the shepherd lived alone. It was actually closer to a shed than a house, but it didn't smell as bad as one might have thought.

Inside were old utensils and a hearth. Since it was early spring and the weather was still chilly, the shepherd started a campfire first.

"You can lie down and sleep anywhere."

The shepherd handed them blankets. They were surprisingly clean, well-washed, and bone-dry.

"Do travelers stop by often?" Rudy asked as he spread out his blanket.

The shepherd answered while taking out potatoes, corn, and other items to roast over the fire.

"Yes."

"I doubt only good people come by. Aren't you wary?"

"Even criminals stay quiet here. Because this is Kelbron. Besides, what business would anyone have with a shepherd like me? If they wanted to raid the cows, they’d need a lot of people, and I’m not the owner of these cows anyway. There is a separate owner."

"Really? Who is the owner?"

"The Kelbron Court Count. Is it Count now instead of Court Count? I don't know much about those things."

'Kelbron Court Count' had been Helauman’s title in the past. After the Emperor died, the status of the title became ambiguous, and after Helauman died as well, it became even more so.

A 'Court Count' was a position meant to manage the Emperor's lands on his behalf. In other words, Kelbron was essentially the Emperor's direct territory.

Consequently, after the Emperor’s seat became vacant, the Kelbron family found themselves in the position of a kite with its string cut. Martelia, the new Empress, had the authority to dispose of it, but she had taken no particular action.

This was because the Empress herself had been born here.

While her true intentions were unknown, perhaps she didn't want to get involved, or perhaps it was a form of love-hate. It was impossible to say.

Regardless, even if its prestige wasn't what it once was, the Kelbron family was still going strong.

"If we follow the river, will we find a city?"

"Yes."

"I assume there’s an Adventurer’s Guild there?"

"There isn't."

"Pardon?"

"There is no Adventurer’s Guild in Kelbron. There’s no need to entrust requests to them."

Kelbron was one of the few territories in the Empire that was not a member of the Master's Federation. Therefore, there was no branch of the Adventurer’s Guild.

"Is that so...?"

Rudy looked as though he didn't quite understand. Was there a city without an Adventurer’s Guild? How was public order maintained, then? Rudy, being of the modern generation, found it difficult to imagine a region without an Adventurer’s Guild.

But aside from the oddity, there was a problematic part. It was the fact that there was no way to obtain information about Skat of the 'Glass Bell.'

The most important part of catching a wanted criminal was the process of gathering information and tracking. Rudy had learned this in theory, but reality was always different from theory.

No Adventurer’s Guild... then what should we did? Rudy looked back at Vilter with such an expression.

However, Vilter didn't exactly have a clever solution either—except for asking directly.

"By any chance, have you ever heard of Skat of the 'Glass Bell'?"

"I don't know much about world affairs, but I have heard of that person. They say that on foggy days, you can hear the sound of a beautiful glass bell that makes you want to cry. And after that sound is heard and the fog clears, someone is always found dead."

"..."

They had thought it was just a simple murderer, but what came from the shepherd’s mouth sounded like a Ghost story.

"From what we know, that person has committed more than twenty murders."

"Twenty? Well, if even I know about it, I’d think it must be over a hundred. I wouldn't know."

"A hundred? Could it be because of a grudge?"

Rudy asked based on what he had learned. According to what was taught at the Academy, most motives for murder were based on anger, such as grudges or passion. However, the answer came from Vilter, not the shepherd.

"Wouldn't it be difficult to commit a hundred murders out of a grudge against an individual or a group? It seems murder itself is a hobby."

"Is that possible? Murder as a hobby?"

"Don't try to understand it; just accept the information. Only then can you see the truth."

"Even so..."

"That's right. It probably isn't because of a grudge. Rather than a grudge... perhaps they were conditioned that way. An impulse that suddenly surges when it’s foggy, or anger, or perhaps an unbearable emptiness..."

The shepherd spoke his opinion calmly, without a single sign of fear despite the Ghost stories going around.

It was understandable, given that the nature of a shepherd’s job involved more boredom than fear. A person who feared being alone could not work as a shepherd in the first place.

"When does it get foggy often?"

"At dawn."

"In what season?"

"All year round. Kelbron has many valleys. There’s even a saying, isn't there? That fog rises from the valleys."

"I see. Hmm, then by any chance, do you know any of the Glass Bell's victims?"

"How would I know anyone? The only person I know is Mr. Tire, who stops by occasionally. He works under the Kelbron family. I don't know what his position is, but perhaps his job is to see if I'm taking good care of the cows? I don't know if he enters the castle often, but you’ll be able to see him if you go to the pub in Bukelen village. I see him there whenever I go down the hill."

"I see."

The shepherd, apparently having finished roasting the potatoes and corn, sliced some salted meat and brought it over in a bowl along with some green apples. It was the best hospitality he could offer.

"Thank you."

"Thanks."

Rudy and Vilter replied simultaneously. The scent had already been spreading, but the savory and appetizing aroma made their mouths water.

Vilter cut the food with a dagger to eat, while Rudy ate with his hands, somehow managing despite the heat.

By the time they had roughly finished eating, the shepherd served them clear water. Tilting a ceramic water jar, he poured it into the bowls Vilter and Rudy had just eaten from.

"Having many valleys means there is plenty of clear water."

Vilter drank the water first, followed by Rudy. Having eaten their fill and drunk cool water, their bodies, exhausted from the long walk, seemed to demand rest.

The shepherd spoke as he snapped small twigs and tossed them into the campfire.

"I suppose you two are adventurers?"

"Something roughly like that, you could say," Vilter answered shamelessly. He was not a student, and certainly not an adventurer.

"What is it like outside the world?"

"The adults say many things have changed."

"In what way?"

"They said it's not that dangerous to travel between villages and cities? These days, goblins and orcs are more of a problem."

"What do goblins and orcs look like?"

"They both have green skin, but goblins are short and said to be like very ill-tempered children. People actually call misbehaving kids goblins. Orcs are just large beasts that walk on two legs. With their rugged builds and immense strength, they say it’s hard to handle them even if ten people jump in."

"Have you seen them personally?"

"No."

"What?"

Rudy, listening to the story from the side, was nearly speechless at Vilter’s shamelessness. He had been listening with interest because Vilter spoke as if he had seen them.

The shepherd didn't particularly point that out.

"How great is Augustus?"

"Augustus? Ah, do you mean King Augustus of Adelorn?"

"Yes."

"I don't really know. He’s just... ordinary. Isn't he just a father raising his children now?"

"And you haven't seen him personally either?"

"Well, would you believe me if I said I had?"

"Since I cannot go outside the world, I have no choice but to believe."

The shepherd spoke with a faint smile. Vilter found himself smiling as well.

"What is life as a shepherd like?" Vilter asked this time.

In the quiet night, there was nothing to did but talk, and these two, living different lives, were curious about each other.

"If you ask what it's like... I don't know. I just do it."

"How long have you been doing it? Herding."

"Hmm... has it been about five years?"

"What did you do before that?"

"I feel like I was training hard for something... but I don't remember well."

"You don't remember? What about your parents? Your family?"

"Billy, that's rude."

Rudy stepped in and chided him slightly, thinking he was being too nosy.

"Is it? Sorry. I didn't mean it that way."

"It's fine. Affection for family is nothing but a weakness, after all."

"Pardon?"

"Think about it. Occasionally, when wolves appear, I have to fight them alone. If I had a family, could I fight bravely? Not only that, but there are werewolves too. They sometimes come in their human form and ramble on with nonsensical words. Listening to them makes me feel like I’m going crazy too. Still, unless it's a night with a full moon, there's no need to be that wary. At other times, they're more like well-behaved dogs."

"...Pardon?"

"The villagers said it. That herding is more dangerous and difficult than thought. So they told me I could quit anytime. But if not me, then who would do it? Everyone has a family, so their weaknesses are clear."

"..."

They were grateful for the hospitality, but as they listened, the shepherd seemed like a strange person. Was it because he had been alone for too long?

"You with the blonde hair, you seem to resemble me. I can tell just by looking. You feel like you're going to die of boredom, don't you? Right?"

Vilter stared intently at the shepherd. He didn't nod, nor did he shake his head. He gave no answer. The flames were reflected in his blue eyes.

"Day after day, month after month, year after year—the same things repeat every day, so sometimes I feel like I'm going to suffocate. Because of that, there are times when I want to wound my own body with a knife. I barely manage to suppress those impulses. Because I don't know when a wolf might appear. I shouldn't become vulnerable myself. But sometimes, I really can't stand it."

"...I am not like that."

"Really? Am I the only strange one?"

"No. I do understand."

"Right? See, I’m a good judge of character. I can tell when I see it."

Rudy couldn't understand what kind of conversation these two were having at all, so he looked back and forth between the shepherd and Vilter with a frown.

"I’m tired. I’ll close my eyes first."

Vilter spoke as he covered himself with the blanket the shepherd had provided.

"Sure, get plenty of rest. Sleep is best when you're bored. It makes it feel like time has disappeared. Then doesn't that bring you a bit closer to death?"

"..."

It seemed certain that the shepherd’s mind was somewhat abnormal. Any further conversation had to be stopped, if only to protect his own sanity.

Only the sound of the campfire burning cut through the silence. Though it felt strangely out of place, the shepherd was not a bad person. Both Vilter and Rudy felt that clearly.

Time passed, and the two boys experienced the disappearance of time, just as the shepherd had said. Perhaps because they were tired, it felt as though they had just closed and opened their eyes when the day broke.

The campfire was already pitch-black and cold, and a desolate light entered through the cracks.

The shepherd was nowhere to be seen, and Vilter, after waking Rudy, left the house with his hair messy. As expected, it was a morning thick with fog.

"I should have asked where the village is."

Rudy spoke as he roughly smoothed his and Vilter's hair. Though smoothing it didn't immediately fix the bedhead.

Vilter remained still under Rudy's touch, then headed toward the barn. The cows the shepherd had herded in yesterday were still there.

"Isn't it strange?"

"What is?"

"The shepherd isn't here, so I thought he went to let the cows out, but they’re still here."

"Maybe he went to take a dump or something."

"...Could be."

"Anyway, it seems like his mind went a bit strange from being alone too long. Right? He lied about werewolves and all that without batting an eye."

"At least he wasn't a liar."

"How do you know that, Billy?"

"Just because."

"Well, whatever. It doesn't seem like we should wait until he comes back. Shall we follow the river for now? As we go, something—a village or a city—will surely appear."

"Good."

The thick fog made it hard to discern their surroundings, but the sound of the river flowing from the valley could be heard in the distance.

The two boys walked toward the sound and soon found a river of moderate width. They then walked along the riverbank in the direction the water flowed. The sound of pebbles crunching under their feet could be heard.

They walked for a while, talking about this and that, when suddenly a sound caught Vilter’s ear.

Tinkle...

"So then he suddenly took off his pants..."

"Rudy, wait a minute."

"Why? Do you need to pee too?"

"No, that sound."

"..."

The two of them stopped walking. Rudy initially wondered what Vilter was doing, but soon he clearly heard something like a small bell ringing.

Tinkle. Tinkle...

"Ah!?"

He wondered if this was the sound of that glass bell, and goosebumps broke out all over his back. Regardless of whether Rudy was surprised or not, Vilter continued to focus on the sound. It was a very faint sound. So faint that it felt like it would bring tears to one’s eyes.

"It's that way. Draw your sword, Rudy."

"Wh-what?"

"The fog is thick. If anyone approaches, just stab them."

What was he talking about? Rudy's eyes went wide.

Ignoring him, Vilter dashed toward the direction of the sound. By the time Rudy hesitated for a moment, Vilter had disappeared into the fog.

Terrified, Rudy followed in a scramble, but in his panic, his sword wouldn't even unsheathe properly. Was it always this tight? Dammit!

Fortunately, Vilter hadn't gone far and was stopped at the entrance of a village. He was looking down at something, and when Rudy drew closer, he saw that what Vilter was looking at was none other than a corpse.

The corpse was the shepherd who had provided them with a place to sleep and food last night. His throat had been slit, and blood was still gushing from it. There was no other sign of anyone nearby.

What was peculiar was that his clothes had been stripped off, revealing many scars all over his body. It was hard to tell if he had done it to himself or if someone else had.

Rudy froze with his half-drawn sword in his hand, and Vilter showed emotion for the first time. What was gathered in his blue eyes was a cold rage.

It was impossible to tell where it came from or whom it was directed at. Was it rage at the arrogance of the culprit who blatantly committed such an act, or was it disappointment in himself for being unable to did anything for the person he had been with until last night?

It was unknown. Like the fog.