Chapter 39

Chapter 39

Although the nickname "heroes" was attached unintentionally, the three people's purpose was revenge from start to finish, and to punish the Ehrenberg 5.

Anyway, Rickart, Bori-bori, and Nameless, the three of them roamed together like one body and defeated villains.

Two boys and a man like a beast who didn't even speak the language, unknown whether he was a Nord or an Imperial. It was a truly bizarre combination, but the three people worked together incredibly well. Like a family.

The three became closer day by day, and especially the relationship between Bori-bori and Nameless was special. Nameless took care of Bori-bori as if indifferent, and Bori-bori acted cute in his own way.

Once, a rural lord treated the three people saying thanks, and they could bathe in warm water after a long time.

The three people scrubbed each other's backs, laughed even though words didn't communicate, wore fresh new clothes, and slept lying on clean beds.

Rickart didn't believe in god so fervently, but he prayed while falling asleep. May the tired and weary rest, and may the thankful be blessed.

Rickart understood how painful it was not to be able to sleep properly even for a single moment until death because of punishing oneself.

So he didn't know if Nameless would have nightmares or sweet dreams, but he prayed truly desperately.

Oh God, please grant rest to this pitiful beast.

Whether that prayer worked, Nameless had a deep sleep after a long time. He couldn't know how long it had been. Since he was half awake due to always sharp nerves.

The journey continued, and the three people went around punishing Nameless's personal revenge targets and bad guys.

Then one day, it was when chasing the last enemy except Steiner.

In a secluded building, a wooden wall suddenly broke Crasssh. And, someone huge broke through the broken wall and pushed another person to the wall roughly.

Thud!

"Kuh!"

The huge man strangled the neck of the person pushed to the wall with one hand. The thick forearm was full of scars, as if cuts were made dizzily on a log.

A battle axe was held in the other hand, and thick blood was dripping tuk tuk from the axe blade.

"Kuh. Keok. Kugh."

The person whose neck was caught frowned deeply and suffered. In front of his eyes, a person wearing a helmet covering the entire face was visible. The helmet had scar-like cut marks all over, so it was very threatening in itself.

What was more scary than that was the blue eyes shining like a beast beyond the helmet. And the unique wheeze, wheeze breathing sound. It was Nameless X.

However, Nameless didn't finish the sworn enemy quickly, and only glared for a long time. Because he hesitated at the emotion he had never felt before.

Futility? Transience? Now? For what on earth? Did he forget the brand he stamped on himself?

Did he mean he forgot those words engraved on his brain, heart, bones, and soul? What are you doing? Tear him to death quickly.

Nameless whipped himself in his head. Accordingly, emotions fluctuated, and the hand strangling the opponent's neck trembled budul budul.

At that time, a young voice was heard from behind Nameless.

"Mister! You have to kill him quickly! Enemies are swarming!"

The identity of the young voice was Rickart.

Right now, they had raided a thief guild disguised as a merchant group. They were guys who bought and sold people behind while pretending to handle normal goods on the outside.

Although thief guilds are all secretive, this time it was especially more secretive and even disguised, so they had a hard time tracking.

"Mister! Quickly!"

Rickart urged and shouted. Then Nameless twisted the enemy's neck with one hand and killed him. It was tremendous grip strength even though his body wasn't sound. It was terrible just to think about how it would have been in his prime.

Crack.

The opponent who died with a broken neck while being strangled collapsed with his mouth wide open. The whole face was blue, and foam was full in the mouth.

Nameless lifted his foot slowly and trampled his head with all his might. Then it shattered like a watermelon breaking in one blow.

Squelch!

"Did you kill him? Did you kill him?"

Bori-bori, who was examining the outside holding a sword in one hand, asked Rickart looking back repeatedly. Rickart looked at the enemy whose head was broken beyond recognition and said.

"Uh, he's dead. Let's go. Mister, let's go."

Rickart pulled his body out through the back door he looked at beforehand. This time, since the enemies were formidable, they decided to just remove the target and retreat rather than dealing with all of them.

When they came out through the back door, there was a dock where a large river flowed, and smugglers looked busy moving luggage. Rickart turned around the alley, went to the square, and mingled with the crowd.

If they slipped out leisurely like this, it would be a perfect assassination operation, but looking back, Nameless wasn't visible.

"Where is Mister?"

"Uh? Did he not come?"

"I definitely saw him dead..."

"What do we do? Should we go back?"

Rickart thought for a moment and judged quickly.

"Let's go around to the dock for now."

"Uh, uh..."

Rickart and Bori-bori didn't go the way they came, but went around to the dock side. And hiding their bodies in the reed field on the riverside, they watched from afar the place where they caused the incident.

Seeing the thief guild guys looking around duribon duribon, it didn't look like Nameless was caught or a fight broke out.

That is, it meant Nameless slipped out. Then where did he go?

"......He must have gone alone."

Rickart said. Since situation judgment was fast, realization was also fast.

"W-where?"

"To kill the Quintet."

"Why?"

"One of the two. We are bothersome, or..."

"T-that can't be."

Bori-bori, who agreed with almost everything if it was Rickart's words, shook his head and denied.

Although Rickart said so, honestly he had a guess. There was a part he could understand because he was Rickart.

Probably Nameless might have felt that he was becoming weak because of us. Or, he would try to kill Steiner somehow by himself alone. Because he was afraid we might get hurt.

"Let's go to the emergency assembly point and wait for now."

"......Ung......"

Bori-bori answered sullenly. It seemed his throat was slightly choked with sad and regretful feelings.

Rickart and Bori-bori came out of the reed forest and left the city. And waited for Nameless in a secluded vacant lot off the road. It seemed to feel exceptionally colder.

Not knowing until when they had to wait, they tried to chase away the cold by lighting a fire. Like that, time passed gradually. Rickart and Bori-bori said nothing to each other.

The day set, and stars bloomed in the cold winter sky. On the tiring journey, sometimes the moon and stars gave comfort to the heart, but they couldn't fill the empty heart now.

Rickart and Bori-bori eventually spent the night outside in this cold winter even though the city was right in front. While waiting for one person. However, that one person didn't come in the end. He really left.

Dawn broke, and Rickart raised his tired body. But he didn't feel like waking up sleeping Bori-bori. Because even if he woke up, Nameless wouldn't be there.

However, they couldn't just wait blindly like this. Regretful and sad feelings were unavoidable, but we also had work, and there was a place we had to return to.

Every journey gives a special experience, but this time seemed a bit more special. Thinking about it, wasn't it a truly strange connection?

A man without a name who couldn't speak, a beast punishing himself for family revenge. Roaming around the northern area defeating villains together with such a person.

How much time passed? One month? One and a half months? What month is it now? Are the Academy students doing well?

Although he sent money to the Academy through the Imperial Guild Agency whenever he had a chance in the meantime, he was worried because grain prices were so expensive.

Rickart also seemed to feel his mood drooping due to this and that worry and regretful feelings. He wished it would rather snow heavily, that tiresome snow.

Rickart fastened his cloak and shook Bori-bori, who was sleeping curled up as much as possible, to wake him up.

"Bori. Bori. Wake up."

"Ung...... Mister? Did he come?"

"No."

"I see......"

"What do you want to do?"

"What?"

"If we track the Quintet, we might be able to meet Mister. Probably he went alone."

"Then let's go."

"You could die."

"Wasn't it that I left the Academy risking that originally?"

"......Right."

Bori-bori got up from the spot squirming. Tidying up his messy bowl cut roughly with his hand seuk seuk, he tied the bag tightly and carried it on his back. And stood up and looked around.

"Where do we go?"

"Here is dangerous, Siegfinger is better, at least adventurer guild would have a lot of information... Should we try visiting a thief guild..."

To track someone, there had to be information. However, since Rickart poked around here and there and became enemies with the thief guild currently, let alone information, it was fortunate if they weren't attacked.

"Let's move for now."

"Ung."

Three people were one body, and returned to original to become two people. Because it was very empty, the steps weren't light.

Rickart and Bori-bori walked along the road to the east. By the way, after walking for about an hour, there was a person coming from the opposite side pressing a hood deep and leaning on a staff.

He didn't seem to possess a weapon, and was carrying a lute on his back. A bard?

So they were about to just pass by, but a familiar voice was heard.

"Young Master?"

Rickart looked back at him. They say if there is parting, there is meeting, it was a welcome face. The delivery man of the Imperial Guild Agency who took Rickart from hometown to Rheinfurt.

"Uh? Arno?"

"It is Young Master indeed. What are you doing here? Wasn't it that you entered the Academy?"

"I am an Academy student. I just came out for a while because of work now."

"Is that so? was the Academy livable?"

"Uh. It was okay? I made good friends too. Let me introduce. This is Bori-bori. My friend."

Rickart introduced Bori-bori standing next to him bewildered.

"Nice to meet you. I am Arno."

"Uh...... Hello? But who is Young Master?"

"Young Master is Young Master. This person here. Boar Slayer of Stormhearts, I mean Young Master Rickart."

"......Yes?"

Bori-bori looked at Rickart with a face saying it was absurd. Rickart just laughed awkwardly and said.

"Just well, thought everyone might be uncomfortable. Actually, my name is Rickart. Ricky is a nickname family called me."

"......What are you talking about?"

"It just means it's like that. Not important."

"You mean you were a noble?"

"Yeah well, something like that......"

"Eeeeng!?"

Bori-bori, who didn't know Rickart was a noble, opened his eyes wide enough to tear. Arno blinked his eyes not knowing the reason.

Rickart attempted to change the subject hurriedly.

"Did you stay well Arno? That, what did you say? Going to the west to be a monk?"

"Ah, hahaha. The goal changed. I'm trying to become a bard now. So I am going around here and there collecting stories."

"Then did you quit the delivery job?"

"Yes, it became like that."

"Mm...... Don't know well but anyway I support you."

"Thank you. You still have a very kind heart. You haven't changed."

Rickart smiled slightly.

"Well. Ah right, by any chance have you heard of Ehrenberg 5?"

At Rickart's question, Arno's expression hardened suddenly.

"......Why do you ask that?"

"Just because of work? Did you happen to see them somewhere recently or hear any rumors?"

"It is good not to get involved with those guys. Young Master. I'm telling you they are terrifying guys. There was a time they massacred a village in the past. They just killed everyone. There is also an ominous rumor that they skinned all skin of children with fine skin."

"I know they are bad guys too. Asked if you know about recent news."

"......"

Arno stared at Rickart quietly for a moment. They say kids change day by day, but Rickart looked like he didn't change at all except getting a bit taller.

About calmness no matter what happens, and somewhat chilling atmosphere, things like that.

"I don't know about all 5, but I heard that the laboratory of a person called Experimenter Leto is in Sidria Swamp."

"Really? Where is that?"

"For Sidria, you have to go up a bit more to the north from here. It's a place where not many people live. They say it's a place where necromancers appeared occasionally from old times, but actually going there, it's just a place where squishy ground covered with moss unfolds endlessly."

"Is it okay if we go this way and turn north?"

"......Young Master. I don't know why, but this is not it. They are crazy guys. Do you know what is the most creepy fact related to them?"

"What is it? They say they eat people?"

"No. They are guys who committed those terrible things, but they are not wanted. Isn't it strange?"

"......Uh? That's true."

Just the villains defeated so far roaming with Nameless were trash among trash. But, it was strange that guys more heinous than them weren't wanted.

Rickart was performing the 'request' to kill Leto and Erze currently, not chasing wanted criminals.

"According to rumors, they say the Emperor gives them orders secretly when punishing vassals he doesn't like. Of course, because it's a profane rumor, everyone keeps it quiet though."

No matter if it was the Emperor, direct dominance only reached his own direct territories.

That is, he was always in tension and conflict relationship with vassals, so he tried to check and conciliate vassals regardless of means and methods.

In this context, the Emperor's Champion was a kind of political asset rather than a direct force means. Therefore, there was virtually no case where the Emperor's Champion was dispatched to a distant province where he didn't even know where it was to maintain public order.

Whether it was a limitation of feudalism, not only the Emperor but the lords of this era generally had similar ways of thinking. The Emperor was just at the peak.

When a rural lord was in trouble, there was no guarantee that the upper lord would help even if he requested help. Especially mobilizing the army was more so.

Because helping others while cutting one's own flesh sometimes caused fatal results.

So criminal organizations were also quite clever, acting while keeping the line to some extent.

What it meant was, if they murdered a noble or did something a bit excessive, really angry great nobles might mobilize the army.

Isn't there a lord like count or duke to protect his own land on his own? Then why should I fix your fault? Spending my money like blood and sacrificing my people, that was the basic way of thinking of the current era.

It wasn't that the concept of a nation didn't exist, but it was sparse. One could die for one's own honor and family, but not knowing well what a nation is, it was difficult to think about dying for that.

It was a characteristic of feudalism that they unite together only when foreign invasion or great tribulation occurs.

It wasn't that society ran by a strict legal system, but a way running according to the monarch individual's leadership, capability, and charisma.

So depending on who was the Emperor, King, or Lord, everything from socio-economy, military, diplomacy, even art fields fluctuated.

Of course, just because of that, it wasn't that monarchs just neglected vassals.

Politics was complex, there were many things to consider, and if politics was that simple, the world wouldn't have been tragic up to this point. Because in the end, it was always the powerless people who suffered the biggest damage.

So, it was an era needing heroes.

"You say the Emperor is behind those guys?"

"Of course it is a rumor."

"......"

"Anyway, nice to meet you after a long time. These days people's hearts are very ominous because it's winter, but they say Siegfinger is better off because heroes appeared suddenly one day and defeated villains. Since bad guys sucking people's blood disappeared, they must be surviving this winter safely which even the Emperor can't help."

"That's fortunate."

It was a work achieved by three people, Rickart, Bori-bori, and Nameless, but Rickart didn't show it. Because it wasn't something done to get praised or extolled. It was literally. Fortunately, they live well.

"Right. Very fortunate. So isn't a frail guy like me walking around the road alone? Hahaha."

Rickart smiled slightly looking at somewhat changed Arno. Because his change didn't look bad.

"I was glad to meet you too, Arno. Let me hear a song when we meet next time."

"Understood. I will definitely compose a masterpiece and let you hear it."

"Wish you luck in war. I'm going."

"May luck in war be on Young Master's path ahead too."

They couldn't say goodbye properly when parting in the past, but the two people who met again after time passed could say goodbye really properly this time.

Letting each other go with smiles, regretful feelings were less.

As Rickart was about to move his steps again, looking back at Bori-bori suddenly, he was blinking his eyes with a face saying it was absurd.

"Why?"

"You know, I......"

"Uh."

"Felt betrayed by Ricky."

"What? Why?"

"To say a noble."

"Do you mean you felt betrayed because I'm a noble, or felt betrayed because I hid it?"

"Both."

Rickart chuckled in disbelief.

"Then does it mean all the moments we smiled together having a hard time together in the meantime are fake?"

"That's not it but......"

"Let's go. Have to find Mister."

Rickart took a step. Bori-bori followed behind.

Being silent for a while, Bori-bori following asked.

"Why did you come to the Academy?"

"Just. Being a noble isn't particularly more special than you."

"That can't be."

"Think however you like."

"Then which part of the North are you from?"

"Not North, Central South. Stormhearts. Third son of Caldebern family, Rickart."

"Ek. Sounds like speaking some foreign language."

"Hahaha."

"Anyway Ricky is Ricky, right?"

"Yeah."

"By the way, what Bolka said was correct."

"What?"

"That he sees a crazy guy like Ricky for the first time. For a noble to come to the Academy, can't understand."

Rickart going ahead turned his head, glared at Bori-bori and said.

"Hey."

"It's okay. Even if you're a crazy guy."

"No, that's not it."

Perhaps thinking he teased Rickart after a long time, Bori-bori only giggled. Rickart also just smirked.

Although they say if there is meeting there is parting, there were also people who stayed together all the way. The two boys couldn't fill the empty heart without Nameless, but still could soothe it with other things for a while.

Sprouts were coming up small on trees grown on the roadside before they knew it. Slowly, that fierce winter was also withering.

Chapter 39. End.