Chapter 27

Chapter 27

It looked like a structure built by giants. It was hard to imagine that humans had built it. Even looking from afar, its magnificence felt right in front of one's eyes.

Not far from Torveil, there was a huge gate between deep valleys. The name was also the Gate of Giants. No one knew who built it, when, or for what reason.

And that gate was exactly the gate to the Eastern Expeditionary Land, Fernland. It was the same as it was over a hundred years ago.

Rickart came out a little away from the city and stared at the gate aimlessly. The memory of that time, and the emotions that memory held. Fear, worry, anxiety, and resignation.

The gate was firmly locked as if sealing a huge devil that would destroy the world.

"Wow, this really feels good. I can't stop touching it."

Bolka said while touching Rickart's fluffy blonde hair. The skin returned quickly, but the hair was still the same. It seemed he would have to live like this for a while.

Rickart didn't care much about the playful touch. But when he stayed still, everyone tried to touch it, so Rickart waved his hands over his head like chasing flies.

Then Bolka and other students giggled, Molti smiled gently, and Ice just stared blankly.

"What did the old man Alter say?"

Rickart asked looking back at Bolka. Alter was the Branch Manager of the Beringen Adventurer Guild Torveil Branch and a Clan Master.

And surprisingly, unlike Rheinfurt living in a rented thief guild building, Torveil had a separate building worthy of a branch. Wasn't it surprising but natural?

"He just says the same thing. While talking about higher-ups blah blah, just wait for now."

Rickart's party came out to support the request strictly speaking. Investigating deserters was the adventurers' job, and they were in a supporting role.

But since such a thing happened on the way, the guild also had to respond in its own way. Whether to go to war regardless of the request, or end it here, and if ending, what agreement to reach.

It had been a week since they came here, in short, everything was stopped now.

Of course, thanks to that, they enjoyed a vacation that wasn't a vacation well. Warm bath water, fresh food, and cool and exotic scenery.

"Hey! Over here!"

When looking back as someone called from behind, it was a guild person. He beckoned them to come. The Academy students scattered here and there in the field gathered as one and approached him.

"Come to the branch. The Branch Manager has something to say."

"What to say? Are we finally going to perform the request?"

Bolka asked. But the guild adventurer just shrugged his shoulders.

"I don't know. Instructions coming down from above are divided into public and private ones."

Well, I'll know if I listen directly, Rickart thought.

Rickart and the party entered a slightly tilted cylindrical building inside the city that a witch would live in.

There was an attic on the 2nd floor, and it was a cozy building where it would be fine if just an old woman lived.

Scroll documents were stuck dizzyingly in the bookshelf, and various herbs were hanging from the ceiling to dry. Weak flames were burning quietly without sound in the fireplace.

The person sitting at the desk beckoned with his hand when he saw Rickart's party. That person was the Branch Manager Alter, who was fat enough to wonder how he became an adventurer.

Rickart and nine students approached him. Then Alter stared at Rickart blankly for a while.

He was tall compared to his peers, and his limbs looked quite strong, but his face was unmistakably just a kid. Above all, that curly hair......

"No matter how much I look, I can't get used to it......"

"To what?"

"That you killed 'The Jackal' Lorenz."

"Isn't he too stupid to be called a Jackal? Since he touched a quiet beehive."

It meant provoking the Rangers of Griffinswald for no real benefit.

"Stupid...... He was a guy famous for being cunning. He was a tricky guy for us to deal with too. Well anyway. The Master met the opponent Master and had a talk. The Rubens Guild side demanded the death of a Clan Master level on our side equally."

Saying just Master meant the Guild Master.

"That doesn't make sense."

"Right, it doesn't make sense. Naturally, that was rejected. Next, they demanded to hand over the person who killed Lorenz."

It was Rickart who killed Lorenz. The students behind made expressions of 'No way'.

"So?"

"The Master told me to give this to you on the spot."

Alter took out a gold cloak fastening pin from the drawer and held it out. It was a sculpture of an eagle holding a snake, symbolizing Beringen along with the laurel tree symbolizing the Emperor.

"What is this?"

"It's an object symbolizing a High Rank Adventurer. I don't wear it because it's embarrassing. Don't sell it. Ah, but you are not officially an adventurer. After graduating, until keeping the contract period. Anyway, it's yours for now."

Although not an adventurer yet, it meant they would treat him as a High Rank Adventurer virtually. Because he could quit becoming an adventurer in the middle.

"And these are yours."

Alter again took out silver cloak fastening pins from the drawer and spread them on the table. There were laurel trees and eagles, but the eagle wasn't holding a snake. It was an object symbolizing Mid Rank.

It was an unprecedented promotion. They hadn't even seen a deserter yet. And it was also a provocation made in front of the opposing guild side.

Actually, they didn't say it like that, but hand over the kid who killed Lorenz? Fuck off, that will absolutely never happen, it was no different from declaring face to face.

Rickart looked at the gold fastening pin blankly and asked.

"Then is it war?"

Alter shook his head.

"Originally, massive wars don't happen often. Even if they do trivial sword fights like this usually. This time they deliberately started something, but probably didn't expect it. To lose a Clan Master to Academy students. So, the conclusion is, an agreement was reached on the condition of returning the prisoners without receiving ransom. Since the opponent also suffered a big loss, our side didn't demand up to that."

It meant it became a negotiation advantageous to our side somehow. With this, for the time being, they didn't have to worry about Rubens' side's attack while performing the request.

Of course, those guys might act crazy and ignore the agreement, but if that happens, it gives justification for other guilds to attack based on the violation of the agreement, so it seemed unlikely that Rickart's party would be attacked again unless something unusual happened.

"I intended to tear that son of a bitch Lorenz to death someday, but having his head cut off and burned isn't bad either. Kehehe. And honestly speaking, it was damn refreshing. For me. Probably other branch kids feel the same. But, you have to be that careful. Rubens kids will be sharpening their knives. So wear a hood. Cover that golden broccoli-like hair."

"I didn't make this hair on purpose."

Rickart said touching his currently bubbly hair.

"Yeah yeah, anyway. And you guys, have to work now, right? I wanted to let you rest a few more days, but chasing guys running away is a matter of time. Divide into three teams among yourselves. And just follow the kids I assign."

Rickart and the students looked back at each other. It was time to split up. Something like regret seemed to pass by.

"Can't we do it by ourselves?"

Bolka asked.

"Don't fool around. Hey, fighting and working are separate things. Stop talking nonsense and go watch and learn. This is the down payment. Originally don't give to students, but I'm giving because you guys are cute. Deducted from my salary for now. Understand?"

The pot-bellied Branch Manager threw money bags on the table one after another. Bolka snatched them up.

"Anyway, you will see each other again when you go to the Academy after finishing work. If there is dangerous work, use our kids as shields. Don't die. Go. Go wait at the inn."

Branch Manager Alter waved his hand as if telling them to leave. Something like he was embarrassed about what he said. Rickart smiled unknowingly. He's a cute old man.

Rickart and the students came out of the witch's house-like building. And looked back at each other once again.

"Are we splitting up as originally?"

One female student said. But when no one answered readily, Molti offered an opinion.

"How about mixing?"

"What?"

"Let's mix. Don't want to?"

Meaning, instead of the people who were originally three groups, let's make three new teams by mixing personnel.

"I'm, well, fine with it......"

Bolka said blurring the end of his sentence. But, unexpectedly, Ice stepped forward first.

"I'm with Ricky."

Then everyone's eyes widened and looked at him.

"Why? You said mix. I'm with Ricky."

"Good. Then I'm with Lara."

Molti, who suggested mixing first, pointed to one female student as if waiting. Then Lara opened her eyes round, then lowered her head slightly for no reason and averted her gaze here and there.

Rickart wondered what is this, and Bolka also hurriedly pointed to the remaining one female student.

"I'm with Delphi."

"What, is there no veto power?"

Unlike Lara, the female student named Delphi frowned.

"There is no such thing."

But Ice cut it off firmly. Who are you to say?

Anyway, those to point pointed, and the remaining people split again to form three teams of three. Coincidentally, as there were nine people, the number fit perfectly.

Rickart split from Bolka and Molti he was originally with, and formed a team with Ice and the male student who used to go with the female student. The male student's name was Pallen.

Pallen looked somewhat intimidated, and it was not for nothing since the people he had to go with were Ice and Rickart. It felt like being stuck between two monsters. The rank was also 1st and 2nd.

Rickart and Ice didn't even care, but Pallen was restless alone and spoke for no reason.

"You guys must be happy. Being able to choose girls as you please."

Then Rickart and Ice looked back at him. And staring at his face, they didn't say anything. Pallen was about to sweat cold wondering if he did something wrong.

In fact, Rickart and Ice didn't know how to respond.

Waiting inside the inn, Beringen Academy students chattered. They seemed to have composure. Fear of new things or unknown territories seemed to have lessened somewhat.

The students played jokes on each other and laughed. Throwing their heads back and laughing loudly. They knew how to just laugh over things they would have reacted sharply to in the past.

Because after going through great difficulties, they realized that things they reacted sensitively to were actually nothing special.

Sometimes hardship and adversity make people frustrated and desperate, but if overcome, they are bound to become harder and more resolute people.

People called it growth, and maybe the students had taken a step closer to being adults.

Sword fights, blood, battles, death of colleagues surrounded their lives, but just because of that, there was no need to be always depressed or succumb to such things.

Rickart liked this feeling. Watching boys and girls grow. Then how about me? A question remained, but the thought was so what.

He didn't know if there was a need to wage war over a hundred years ago, but the thought occurred that these things were very good to look at. Because there was no such thing as an Academy back then.

What if there was an Academy back then too? A thought occurred briefly. Even though he had no family, if there were friends like now.

Still, in the end, it was Rickart himself who led them to grow one step further. It was a very proud thing. Enough to feel it was worth risking his life.