Chapter 251

Chapter 251

***

Ethnicity might be an illusion. Like being an Imperial, Barbarian, Salaman, Norseman, or from the North, South, Nibelungen, Stormhearts, Adelorn, or Haiden.

It's not to say that all humans were ultimately the same. It was clear that people's temperaments differ by region.

But while that temperament might be due to historical and cultural backgrounds, aren't history and culture ultimately determined by geopolitical location and natural environment too.

People living in regions geographically vulnerable to foreign invasions were wary of outsiders, people living in barren places for survival were strongly bellicose, and people who settle and farm inevitably become honestly steadfast to the point of foolishness.

People from some regions handle swords well, some regions ride horses well, and some regions build ships well.

Even faith seems to be determined by the natural environment. Like how the Norsemen believe going to heaven if they die fighting bravely, to further incite their own bellicosity.

Because life was barren they have to project surplus labor outwards, and in the process didn't they create and believe in a combative faith themselves to guarantee success.

However what kind of natural environment, what kind of survival conditions, and what kind of faith the city at Lake Rus, Rusgorod, had was confusing.

Because Norsemen, settlers of Norsemen origin, nomads, and natives lived mixed together. There were even a considerable number of Salamans, wandering where and how on earth they came from.

In Rickart's common sense Salamans were people who live across the far southern sea, so it was simply surprising how they came to this faraway northeast.

"If you go straight northeast from the Lunadan region there's an Empire called Argentium. Past there the great steppe appears. In the great steppe there is a country of nomads called Karahan, and there are cities and villages there too. Continuing to come north this is at the end of it."

A dark-skinned Salaman wearing a turban on his head said. He seemed to be a merchant, laying out a stall and selling spices, glass crafts, and such.

Turning one's head a horse market was also seen, and there were quite a lot of healthy and good horses.

To Rickart all of this was unfamiliar. No, to be exact he couldn't understand it.

Because he thought it was normal for swords to be swung immediately and stab each other to death. Since he had only seen such things.

"Did you come from the West? There shouldn't be a path there."

The Salaman merchant asked Rickart.

"There is no path but it's not like you can't walk it."

"A wise answer to a foolish question. By the way is she your daughter? She looks truly pretty like an elf but is it okay to eat something like that?"

The Salaman merchant said looking behind Rickart. To be precise he was saying it looking at Hushike, and she was currently in a state where her wings were hidden and didn't show.

With mysterious long silver hair she was merely draped in Rickart's top garment. Without even shoes.

Such shabby attire wasn't strange to the Salaman. Since kids originally went around wearing just anything anyway. Just, what he pointed out was what Hushike was currently eating.

Rickart abruptly grabbed *hwak* Hushike's hand. And frowning with all sorts of wrinkles he said. Because in her hand a large larva was cut in half, dripping juices *jiljil*.

"Didn't I tell you not to eat this?"

"Ricky, you ate mice too, so why won't you let me eat bugs? This is a delicacy!"

While coming to Lake Rus their food completely ran out so they ate all sorts of things, but what Hushike mainly ate were bugs.

Though she looked like a human girl on the outside right now, she was actually a fairy in reality so it was fine even if she didn't eat. But she deliberately caught and ate bugs.

Rickart nervously snagged the bug and tossed it *pak* on the ground. And trampled it.

"I said if you're going to travel with me you can't eat that. Because I lose my appetite."

"Mm...... But it's delicious...... But since Ricky's memories are more delicious it's difficult."

Strangely she had a lot of gluttony. Of course looking on the outside she ate far less than humans though. What she mainly ate was Rickart's memories, and besides that bugs or fruits.

"I was just about to boil apple soup so let's eat together. Since you came from the West wouldn't you be hungry?"

The Salaman said. In a world where it's hard to expect goodwill he bestowed goodwill on Rickart whom he saw for the first time.

Rickart, Hushike, and Gundar's group joined their meal. By the way though he called it apple soup, they were small apples about the size of a thumb. There were several baskets of them.

He blindly smashed them with a hammer, put them in a pot and boiled them. And put whole herrings caught from the nearby Lake Rus in. It was hard to imagine what on earth it would taste like.

What was fortunate amidst misfortune was that whether because he was a Salaman he generously sprinkled spices that would catch the fishy smell. Of course because of that he couldn't know even more what it would taste like though.

Anyway he thoroughly boiled the herring apple soup and passed around a bowl each. Rickart carefully smelled it first, but Hushike and Gundar's group were busy eating hurriedly. Seemed they had been very hungry all this time.

Of course Rickart was also very hungry, but it was passably bearable so seeing the group eating hurriedly he felt somewhat ashamed. Himself, being nitpicky about things like taste.

Rickart also drank it straight down with the feeling of 'ah, whatever'. It was an aroma that sharply pierced *pak* the nose. It was truly hard to express the taste as his sense of smell seemed to be paralyzed in one shot.

"If you go to the Taiga Forest there are many of these small apples. They're strewn all over. But the astringent taste is somewhat severe."

The Salaman said. By the way whether it was salted and dried beforehand, the herring was salty and edible.

The group ate it all up in an instant like a crab hiding its eyes and ate several more bowls. Among them the one who ate the least was Rickart.

After the Salaman gently finished the meal, he even treated the group to tea.

Pouring water boiled from a kettle he said.

"You don't look like merchants, what business brings you to this faraway place?"

"Mm, because there's someone we need to meet. Thank you."

Rickart said receiving the teacup.

"Who is the person you need to meet?"

"He's called Edelrich, have you heard of him by chance?"

At Rickart's question the Salaman seemed to think deeply, then his eyes widened as if he remembered something.

"Ah, Edelrich, the Exile King Edelrich. Seems that person is a mercenary captain, do you intend to join him? But is there a reason to deliberately come to the end of the world to join him? When mercenaries are everywhere in the world I mean."

"It's not that. Do you know his whereabouts?"

"I heard words he was going to the Taiga Forest. But after getting soundly beaten by the nomads he seemed to be wandering around here. The damage seemed somewhat big. I think his lieutenants died?"

"Beaten by nomads?"

Gundar asked while taking a sip of tea.

"I wouldn't know. What dispute arose, or whether the nomads considered the Taiga Forest sacred. I guarantee you, absolutely do not make enemies of the nomads. Because you might not be able to leave this city for the rest of your life. On the steppe you absolutely cannot beat them even if you die."

Actually steppes varied too. The Rusgorod where Rickart currently was had tundra terrain around it, the optimal place to run horses. Since Rickart had no knowledge about such terrain he just knew it all as plains.

"Shall we go ahead and wait? Since the Taiga Forest seems to be the destination anyway."

One of Gundar's comrades said. Then Gundar shook his head.

"I heard the Taiga Forest spreads to the end of the world. Where and how do we wait. For now let's ask the nomads for his whereabouts."

"It'd be better not to mix words......"

The Salaman said negatively. But there was no other way. So Rickart thought quietly, then decided to reveal their objective.

"We came to take revenge. To kill the bastard named Edelrich. If we recite the story we could reciting it for you, but having come to this faraway place I think you'll know how firm our will is. Since you are a merchant you definitely probably have connections with the nomads. We will pay the price so we'd like you to connect us."

Hearing they would pay the price the Salaman merchant smiled faintly, seeming to think this was finally something to talk about.

He treated Rickart's group because seeing their outfits he somehow thought they'd bring money. Information was always a precious commodity.

"How much can you give?"

Rickart took a money pouch out from his chest. It wasn't full, but in a half-used state.

"If you definitely connect us I'll give all of this."

Then the merchant didn't even open the money pouch and slyly took it, then said.

"If you've finished your meal let's go make a real transaction."

The merchant got up from his seat and walked towards the horse market. Rickart's group also naturally followed him.

In the horse market there were many people wearing thick fur hats and crude fur clothes. Whether they didn't wash them properly before wearing, with several people gathered a nasty body odor could be smelled even from afar.

Their outfits were similar yet different, and even from afar there was an exceptionally conspicuous person. Unlike the Imperials his beard wasn't bushy but stretched out in three strands.

As the merchant walked to him he merely sat somewhere staring back. And briefly glanced *seuk* up and down at Rickart's group too.

To the extent that it would be hard to approach if the merchant hadn't guided them, the chieftain was surrounded by numerous mounted warriors.

"Chieftain, they say they came to kill that bastard Exile King. For revenge. They say to please tell them his whereabouts."

Seems he was the chieftain leading the nomads here currently.

Since revenge and grudge were a common language wherever you go in the world, he didn't deliberately ask what revenge they came for. He merely said this.

"Whether you folks take revenge or not is none of my business. But that bastard is holding my three wives and children hostage. If even a single one of my children hadn't been captured, I would have killed that bastard long ago."

"So the condition is?"

"If you can save even one of my children I will tell you. However if all my children die you folks will beg me to kill you."

In short it meant the rescue operation came first. Since hostages were captured, he himself probably couldn't easily approach.

"What will you do?"

Rickart asked Gundar quietly. Gundar and his comrades exchanged glances then nodded.

Rickart looked at the chieftain again and said.

"We will definitely rescue your children."

"Before that, I must see your skill. Sharkan."

The chieftain called someone. Then a large male stepped forward. His height was similar to Gundar's group but his shoulders and torso were several times larger. His hands were like pot lids.

The chieftain said.

"If even one of you beats Sharkan in wrestling I will tell you where that chewed-up bastard is."

Then Sharkan took off his top. A burly muscular body mixed with flesh was revealed.

"The rules?"

Rickart asked.

"Take off your tops. Stand shoulder-to-shoulder and grab each other's waistbands. If your knee, hand, or upper body touches the ground you lose."

It was simple. Rickart didn't even think for a moment and immediately took off his top. Then the nomads nearby giggled.

Nothing else, but because compared to the opponent Rickart's body looked very diminutive.

"Ricky shouldn't get hurt......"

Hushike muttered sullenly.

"You ate my memories and you think I'll lose?"

"But you're not fighting with a sword."

Seems she still didn't know Rickart drank Holy Oil of Ilya yet.

"Let's make a bet. If I win you stop eating bugs."

"I'll eat where you can't see. So your appetite doesn't drop."

Rickart stopped conversing any further. He merely stepped forward to face the man named Sharkan.

Sharkan had drooping eyes, but his face was so big and expressionless it felt even more overwhelming. However Rickart was not intimidated by the opponent's appearance or bulk.

He merely placed his shoulder against the opponent's, properly fixed his jaw, and gripped the opponent's waistband tightly. At that moment Sharkan felt something was strange.

Because grabbing him he could tell. How strong the opponent's power was. Rickart didn't budge an inch like an old dead tree or a heavy boulder.

However the chieftain didn't notice, and started the match.

"Begin!"

Simultaneously with that sound Rickart stuck closely to the opponent and applied full force. Then Sharkan's huge body floated *bung* in the air. In an instant the giggling laughter around them abruptly stopped.

Sharkan wrapped his legs around Rickart's legs and twisted his body trying desperately, but Rickart didn't care and bent his waist backwards. Then naturally, Sharkan's crown ended up smashing into the ground.

*Kku-ung.* / Thump.

And he hung limply. Rickart straightened his waist again and dusted off *taktak* his hands.

Receiving his own top handed by Gundar, Rickart walked to the chieftain and said.

"Keep your promise."

The money pouch dropped *tuk* from the Salaman merchant's hand, and the chieftain's blunt expression had broken down at some point as he was blankly looking up at Rickart.

A moment later, he gave Rickart and his group four fine horses. To ride them to the place where Edelrich was.