Chapter 266

Chapter 266

***

They have no country, no land, and no people. However they have an army. That was precisely mercenaries, and wandering warrior groups.

Those who were unwelcome wherever they go, those who receive fear and contempt simultaneously. That was precisely the group led by Thorval.

They were hired by kings to go on long expeditions, or otherwise went on plundering themselves.

Even if they gained great wealth through successful plundering, they merely wandered around aimlessly. Because, perhaps, it was because they couldn't handle the heavy duty of having to rule over people.

Even if they settle the land quickly becomes desolate and people leave, so it was closer to living doing the things they did under the saying that stealing was what they learned.

So the only way to live filling their stomachs was to become plunderers, arsonists, slaughterers, and robbers.

That was the path they chose.

The place where Thorval's group stayed reeked of piss from afar. Because they used to just urinate while drinking and playing inside a Viking-style building.

Whether outside or inside, regardless of who was watching they engaged in sexual acts anywhere, and fistfights were a daily routine.

So their appearances seemed somewhat crushed somewhere and there was no one with properly even teeth. When they opened their mouths it smelled from afar, and there were more without remaining teeth than those with.

Since there were no particular guards protecting the building either, Rickart, Alimantar, and Ingvar could just enter inside. The stench was severe but unexpectedly Alimantar didn't frown his face even once.

Several people were seen just sprawling on the floor or sleeping face down on tables, and fortunately there was a woman who seemed to be a passing maid.

She wasn't surprised even seeing Rickart's group, and while wiping the tables carelessly dropped food scraps on the floor and stacked the dishes one by one after wiping them roughly with a dirty cloth.

Since the only sober person was her Rickart asked her.

"Where is Thorval?"

"The boss? He is over there, but he's in the middle of a job right now."

Surprisingly the maid just told him without any wariness or suspicion.

"What job?"

"What other job would a man and woman do differently?"

Rickart felt somewhat dumbfounded and tried to wait a moment. But as Alimantar was about to step forward he grabbed his arm.

"Let's wait a little."

"Why?"

"That...... That's the right thing."

"Is that so?"

Alimantar seemed not to understand but followed Rickart's words. Next Rickart looked back at Ingvar, put a hand on his shoulder and said.

"You have to take the lead. You know what I mean right? We are just helping."

"......Yes."

His voice trembled considerably. Looked like his legs would give out and he would collapse even now, if this was courage it looked like anxious courage.

But not long after the maid checked the inner room again and said.

"Seems he's finished though?"

Hearing those words Rickart made Ingvar take the lead. Crossing something like a hall going to the room inside, since there was no door the inside could be seen from the outside.

One woman was half-sitting on the bed expressionlessly fixing her fingernails, and a white-haired old man was sitting by the bed drinking liquor straight from the bottle.

Although he was an old man his physique was very sturdy, his build also looked quite large, and there were many scars here and there like medals of past days. Yet seeing his limbs were intact he seemed to be a person of considerable skill.

Seeing Rickart's group entering the room the old man merely stared blankly in his naked state without even being surprised.

"Who are you?"

Rickart tapped Ingvar's back *tuk*. Then Ingvar hesitated and stepped forward, the old man who seemed to be Thorval scanned such Ingvar up and down and smirked.

"Embracing a man is indeed the ultimate pleasure, but I want to rest a bit right now."

What was he talking about? At the incomprehensible words Rickart was flustered for a moment, and a memory he wanted to forget brushed his mind. Namely, someone he saw in the Esk region who enjoyed being hit with a whip.

Rickart poked Ingvar's back *kuk* as if telling him to speak quickly. Then Ingvar who was only twitching his lips spoke as if it burst out without him realizing.

"I, I am Gundar's son Ingvar Gundarsson."

"Gundar? Ah...... Now I remember. He was a bastard whose eyes I really didn't like. Well, so he was tasty to eat."

"What did you say?"

"If it's Gundar aren't you talking about Gundar of the Hellangi tribe? And you're that bastard's son."

Thorval was in a defenseless state in a way but spoke nonchalantly without any nervousness at all. However, at his nonchalant words Ingvar trembled *budeul-budeul* then suddenly shouted.

"Do not speak carelessly about my father! You decrepit old bastard!"

Even if he looked like a coward on the outside, it seemed a Viking-like anger was also inherent inside. And the key to open that was affection for his father.

Watching from behind Rickart thought, now I like him.

However even at Ingvar's shout, far from being scared Thorval didn't even have the slightest sign of being flustered.

"Hmm, yeah yeah...... Now that I look the eyes do somewhat resemble him. So when will the women capable of bearing children be ready?"

"Shut your mouth! Hand over my father's remains!"

"Remains? What remains? I didn't kill that guy. In case you came to seek revenge you came to the wrong place. Unending ties with that bastard ended a long time ago. How am I supposed to know where he died a dog's death."

At Thorval's nonchalant question this time Rickart spoke.

"You have a molar don't you. I heard he pulled out a molar when he left your group."

Then Thorval *seuk* glanced once at Rickart and Alimantar wearing the hood deeply, then grabbed a fist-sized pouch that was on a small table nearby and threw it in front of the group.

The pouch fell on the ground and something spilled out *jwareureuk*, none other than human molars.

"Find it and take it. Instead, have the women ready by tomorrow."

Whether he was some kind of molar collector there was a pile of molars he had collected during that time.

It was impossible to find Gundar's molar among these. Rickart contemplated whether to take all this or not.

However Ingvar was slightly different. A little while ago something surged up *ulkkeok* too, but seeing the molars he felt his head becoming clear. That was one of the phenomena that occurred when one was too heated up.

A human's true nature never comes out unless a certain situation was given. He might have been raised peacefully by his father and became a coward, but that was strictly just an outer appearance. Inside, he might perhaps be a berserker as much as his father.

Ingvar glared at Thorval with reddened eyes almost like he was going to cry and said.

"You pull out one molar too."

"Hmph, why should I?"

"If you refuse I will pull it out by force."

"Suit yourself."

Though it wasn't a direct challenge to a duel, it was practically no different from a challenge to a duel.

Thorval was nonchalant just like the beginning, but the silence mixed with a sense of incongruity seemed to foretell the situation to come. His weapon was on the small table. It was a sword.

Ingvar hadn't drawn his yet, and Rickart and Alimantar were watching from behind.

While no one rashly made the first move, there was one more person at the scene. It was the woman who had mingled bodies with Thorval until a short while ago.

Noticing the unusual atmosphere, she covered her body with the blanket and slowly stood up from her seat.

Doing so she tried to quietly slip out of the place, but Rickart grabbed her arm.

"Please go out a little later."

Because it wouldn't did if she went outside and called other personnel. The woman stayed still caught by Rickart. Though she looked a bit worried, since she was used to sword fought she wasn't exactly in such a terrified state.

Ingvar's hand approached the sword hilt at his waist. It was then. Thorval suddenly threw something. Earlier, it was a small weapon hidden in his hand when he grabbed the pouch of molars.

*Chaeng!*

When did he draw his sword, Alimantar swatted the hidden weapon. Simultaneously Thorval sprang up, grabbed his sword and drew it, and Ingvar hesitated in surprise then barely drew his sword belatedly.

"Do not interfere in a sacred duel!"

Thorval shouted like a beast. But throwing a hidden weapon was an action not fitting a sacred duel.

While his gaze briefly lingered on Alimantar, Ingvar passed Alimantar and thrust his sword towards Thorval. It was a thrust where the momentum to kill was clearly felt.

But it was clumsy, and the highly experienced Thorval skillfully twisted his body and dodged.

A blind spot was exposed. It was the end. For a very brief moment conflict arose in Rickart's heart. Should he just let him die like this?

But fortunately, there was no need to intervene in the duel. Because when the attack missed Ingvar just threw his body and rammed into Thorval.

Thorval's blade couldn't reach Ingvar who was too close, and falling to the floor he struck his back hard with the end of the sword hilt. And once more, yet once more.

While doing so his left arm tried to wrap around Ingvar's neck. Since Ingvar also hadn't completely not learned wrestling, he stuck his chin close to his neck and wedged his hand there to secure his windpipe.

After doing that, springing up surprisingly he even hoisted Thorval up as he was. Seems he was strong in his own way. Or maybe that desperate.

Ingvar slammed Thorval onto the corner of the table just like that. Even so Thorval somehow tried not to fall off Ingvar, and tried to strangle him to the end, and holding the sword in reverse grip with one hand tried to kill him.

But during that time Ingvar hoisted Thorval up once more then slammed him down. Because out of all things it wasn't just the floor but a table corner, the pain Thorval felt was considerable.

*Peok! Peok! Wajikkeun!*

Finally the table shattered, and the arm trying to choke his neck loosened. At that gap Ingvar snatched Thorval's sword and wildly stabbed his face and body. Because he stabbed with such force it simply pierced even hard ribs.

Just, because he didn't cut a vital spot at once or such Thorval raised his arm to block or offered some resistance.

But it wasn't enough. Dying was a matter of time. Whether his strength drained out Thorval floundered weakly then collapsed *tuk*. Nevertheless Ingvar continued to stab.

Only after stabbing dozens of times did he stop panting for breath. Panting heavily *heok-heok*, Ingvar belatedly regained his senses and looked back at Rickart and Alimantar.

"You won right? You did well."

Rickart said. Whether all his strength drained out, or whether he burned up all his anger, Ingvar threw the sword to the floor. Then Alimantar shook his head and said.

"You should pull out the molar."

Hearing those words Rickart nodded his head.

"I think it would also be good to offer the spoils of war to the spirit instead of your father's remains. Let's take all the molars and go."

At that time the woman violently shook off *pak* Rickart's hand then running outside she shouted.

"Hey! Thorval is dead! Hey! Everyone wake up! Thorval is dead!"

Only then was Ingvar startled and didn't know what to did. Even though he accomplished the most important task, in fact the real problem was that the enemies' numbers were large.

Rickart drew his sword as if it was nothing and said.

"What are you doing? Draw. I said I would help. I am helping from now on. You did what you had to do well. You are a warrior. Return to your kin proudly and speak. That you executed Thorval. That there is no need to offer the women of the kin."

Rickart glanced *seuljjeok* outside the room. Burly Nordians were flocking *ureureu*.

Turning his head again and looking inside the room, he saw Thorval dead so gruesomely his form couldn't be recognized. Ingvar was busy pulling out the molar using a knife to poke.

As an achievement accomplished at fifteen it was very amazing. Of course, that was if there was the premise of returning alive.

Rickart bloomed a flame for his brave father, and for that brave son.