Chapter 248

Chapter 248

***

Wild beasts were dangerous. Because they harm livestock and eat people. However on the other hand, they were also incredibly timid.

There were rarely cases where they fight until bleeding profusely like fighting dogs. Because in the wild even a small wound can be fatal for survival, they easily surrender early on.

There was a reason why stories of dogs raised by humans defeating wolves were unexpectedly common.

From a wolf's perspective there was no reason to fight even being prepared to get wounded. What remains even if they win? It doesn't help survival at all.

Shepherds chasing away bears or wolves was a similar principle. While actually fighting and winning was effectively impossible, if you don't back down and make loud noises to make your body look big, even wild beasts get scared beforehand and flee.

Of course, if you show even the slightest hint of fear it's dangerous. Because unlike humans beasts have highly developed senses of smell, and smell the scent of fear better than anyone.

Whether the one in front of their eyes was truly brave, in an excited state, forcing themselves to stand, or if they will quickly collapse with just a little threat.

A pack of foxes and wolves surrounded one person. Piquing their senses they watched the man they surrounded.

However what stimulated their sense of smell right now was the smell of innards, blood, and filth. Specifically the organs spilled by the tiger mutant.

To smell the opponent's thin momentum masked by that gruesome smell, the mutants piqued their senses of touch.

However not a single bit of fear was felt from him. He was so relaxed it even felt heterogeneous. Merely facing the wind, his attitude was as if the enemies around him weren't even in his eyes.

Those watching from the wooden fence were incredibly anxious. Because unlike ordinary beasts, mutants were far more cunning. If they looked away even for a moment his body could be torn to shreds.

Unable to just watch Gundar grabbed a bow and spear and was about to leave the settlement, and right then a wolf mutant as large as a calf pounced on Rickart from behind.

However once again a faint solid line was drawn behind Rickart, and the wolf mutant flew exactly in the direction it jumped with its neck severed.

Other mutants who lunged simultaneously also had their front legs cut off or heads blown off. Rickart merely slightly dodged his body, but that was closer to dodging the pouring blood and innards rather than dodging the opponent's attacks.

In the end not a single piece of foreign matter got on the surcoat he was wearing, so he merely dusted his shoulders thud thud as if dusting off dust.

As soon as he slashed down three or four mutants, the other mutants fled at a very fast speed like cockroaches exposed to light. Only then did Rickart take only the tiger pelt and return to the settlement.

While going out he jumped off the wooden fence, but returning the gate was open. Entering inside the settlement people all stared at Rickart with their eyes wide.

"Please tailor this for me to use as a cloak. I will pay the price."

Rickart handed the tiger fur to the people, but no one came to take it. Because to them Rickart was no different from a wild beast. What on earth was that Ghost-like swordsmanship?

So Gundar took it and packed it. Receiving familiar gazes, Rickart deliberately slipped away from their sight. Because he didn't want to show off, nor did he want to needlessly scare them.

Night fell. Just as there was nowhere in the world sunshine doesn't reach, stars rose in the night sky of this far East as well.

How far on earth was it from Stormhearts to here? Watching the bonfire where embers soared, such a thought brushed past Rickart's mind.

Snapping twigs snap, snap and tossing them into the fire, his gaze seemed like he was lost in thought. Just then Gundar who approached from behind handed him something. It was a tiger fur cloak.

Rickart received the cloak, unfolded it, and draped it over his shoulders. It was warm. They say a beast leaves its skin when it dies, so even if they gave up being human that one thing seemed beneficial to the world.

"Gathering warriors to strike Edelrich seems like a difficult task. Though he is a despicable person he seems to have the ability to gather people and build up a faction, so going into a faction war there is no chance of winning."

Gundar said naturally sitting together.

"I thought Vikings only knew how to unconditionally charge risking death, but I see you make plans in your own way."

"Warriors unconditionally charge. Squeezing out wisdom is the chieftain's lot. Avoiding bad luck and chasing good luck is also the chieftain's lot. When the results are bad the chieftain can't even excuse it as bad luck. Even if they don't easily collapse from one or two failures."

It truly seemed to be a wrong prejudice that Vikings were ignorant. It was just different, their dexterity was good, their metallurgy was excellent, their navigation skills went without saying, and if they had a goal they also knew how to make meticulous plans.

Seeing only the appearance of them fighting bravely to the point of recklessness mmade people think they're ignorant, but in reality they were also thorough and meticulous. That's probably why they made the world tremble in fear during the early Empire days.

However right now even that thorough and meticulous Viking seemed to be in a difficult situation. Seeing how he slyly came to Rickart seeking advice, I mean.

"Right, say we're pushed back in a faction war, what other plans do you have?"

"Ricky, you help me a bit. If the son of God is together there will surely be God's protection. It will at least block bad luck."

"The price?"

"Take the spoils as you please. The Prophet's Staff too."

"Unfortunately I am not a mercenary. I mean I am not a person moved by gold and silver treasures."

He wasn't that close with Gundar either. Thus he didn't have the loyalty to did dangerous things risking his life either.

If he doesn't need money, and there's no loyalty, what should he use to draw a person in? Must he appeal to compassion at least? A Viking?

Gundar watched the bonfire quietly then said.

"Edelrich, Hlyod, Lemunsen, Akiba. When I was ten years old, these four led the way to kill my father and violate my mother. I swore revenge while running away relying on a single small boat. I couldn't receive help from anyone. I was completely alone."

Gundar's blue eyes reflecting the flames were calm. Looking on the outside he didn't seem to have such deep-seated grudges. But the content of his words wasn't so.

"I entered Thorval's warrior band and started from the bottom. There was nothing I didn't do. However enduring tenaciously I eventually became independent with a few comrades who followed me. In return for getting a molar pulled out though. To not forget the favor every time I eat food for the rest of my life. Together with two comrades we first went to find Hlyod and executed him. We peeled off his back skin, cut his ribs, and pulled out his lungs. Once I achieved my first revenge the warriors who had ties with my father began to help. After Hlyod we took revenge on Lemunsen and Akiba in turn. When we finally went to find Edelrich he had already cowardly run away. What was waiting for me were the corpses of my mother and half-siblings. Do you know how old I was then?"

Rickart shook his head.

"Sixteen. My age now is twenty-six. What I fear is not dying, I fear my thirst for revenge fading. However due to the long summer crops grow well, the tribe grows large, and the comrades joining us have increased. The families they and I built have increased too. Is it right to drive them into danger for my personal revenge? Is it right for me to take revenge, or is it right to give up? Which one would God be more pleased with, and which one would he be more angry about?"

It was an inner thought he wouldn't reveal to anyone. That heavy anguish of a chieftain responsible for a tribe.

Whether because he believed Rickart was the son of God, or because of his outstanding abilities was unknown, but Gundar revealed his deepest inner thoughts to Rickart who he wasn't even that close with.

"Mm...... God says to forgive rather than take revenge, but my opinion is slightly different. Even if you take revenge only emptiness will find you anyway, but it's still better to achieve revenge and feel emptiness. Because if you don't take revenge it lingers in your head for a lifetime. If that happens, directionless anger will end up harming those close to you. Rather than that it's better to feel emptiness. And there's also realizing 'Ah, so this is what revenge is' in its own way."

"Ricky, have you ever held a grudge?"

"I have."

"Against who?"

"Toward the whole world."

"......What does that mean?"

"It means the whole world was hateful."

"......So did you achieve revenge?"

"I just killed everything in sight. Until I died from exhaustion. But as you see, I am alive."

"......"

Gundar looked into Rickart's eyes. Though their colors were different, they were equally calm, and the flames blazing were the same.

However amidst that calmness, as if they knew what a blood-vomiting feeling was, grudges of the past were asleep in both of them.

From the first time he met Rickart, Gundar strangely felt he was a similar kind of person to them, and he considered this was probably why.

Myths inevitably reveal the character of that ethnic group. The Norsemen's myths were no different from a banquet of revenge dotted with atrociousness and blood. The enemy of the clan, the enemy of one's wife, the enemy of one's child, the enemy of one's parents......

Just when it seems small happiness had arrived, inevitably they meet a tragic destiny all of a sudden. Among them, the heroes didn't hesitate to advance even knowing their own tragic destiny.

"If a faction war is difficult, assassinating with a small number of personnel is also a method. By assassination I don't mean sticking a knife in his back, but somehow approaching and killing him. There are three reasons why the one named Edelrich must die. First, because he is your enemy he must die; second, though pursuing desires is fine, because he harmed others; and third, because he desecrated the temple. Whether he knows you, Gundar, are chasing him is unknown, but let's first figure out his location, movement route, his plans, current standing, and things like his trust among people."

Rickart told him a plan. Though he didn't know what kind of plan abruptly suggesting assassination was, suggesting doing prior investigation was advice if it could be called advice.

And, giving advice also meant he would walk the path of revenge together.

"Thank you."

"There's nothing to thank me for. I only hope you have the driving force to live on even after you achieve revenge."

Rickart said dryly. He wasn't particularly affectionate, comforting, or warm. However since he decided to help that was enough, anything else was unnecessary.

And thinking about it since he himself was also doing his own business, saying he's helping wasn't an accurate word.

Merely, as someone who experienced it first he gave a warning or advice. That the biggest problem of revenge was after revenge was achieved.

At the tip of the flame, sparks rose. And quickly disappeared. Just like a vain life. Of course even so, what must be done will be done.

The manly men Rickart had met so far were people who did what they had to did rather than what they wanted to did. Silently, without making any excuses.

Making meticulous plans and definitely settling it. There was no need to have any sentimentality there.

So whether the thirst for revenge cooled down or burned hotly didn't mean much.