Chapter 43

Chapter 43

***

At the girl's words that she was going to Beringen Academy, Rickart and Bori-bori stared at her blankly. If you think about it, she was a junior. Seniors and juniors weren't that important, but anyway.

Early evening, it was a time when the energy of the sun still remained dimly in the navy blue sky. Rickart asked across the bonfire.

"Why there?"

"Because I have to enroll. And..."

Rickart and Bori-bori waited for the next words of the girl who half-buried her face between her knees.

"I definitely have to take 1st place there."

"......Why?"

"Well, that way I'll be useful..."

"Useful where?"

"Just... everything..."

It seemed there was a circumstance she couldn't speak of. So Rickart and Bori-bori didn't ask further.

"But that's fortunate. We're going there too. Beringen Academy."

Bori-bori said. At that, the girl opened her big eyes roundly and lifted her face from between her knees.

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"Are you guys enrolling there too?"

"No. We already enrolled about a year ago."

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

"It's an Adventurer Academy. Sometimes we can take requests. We are returning after finishing a job now."

Rickart spoke as if it were nothing special, but he was on his way back after eliminating all of the notorious Ehrenberg 5, including one of the Empire's 9 Swords no less.

"Oh... Wasn't it dangerous?"

"It's dangerous of course. But what can you do. If you want to be an adventurer, you have to live putting half your life on the line."

"T-that, ah... I guess so..."

"Why? Listening to it, you don't seem very keen?"

"No. I think it might be better actually."

"You must have been bullied quite a bit at home too."

Rickart said. Except for himself, he had never seen a student who grew up receiving proper treatment as a child at home.

"Something like that... But, still, I want to achieve something with my own hands. I think adventurers are a bit freer than knights. I think danger is the price for freedom."

"You're positive. But that's right. Because you aren't bound by oaths. However, you have to set your own principles as important as oaths yourself. Otherwise, it just becomes self-indulgence, not freedom."

"......"

At Rickart's mature words, the girl was momentarily speechless. It was also a slight shock.

"......Then what are your principles?"

"I don't know. That's why I'm at the Academy. Finding them one by one."

The girl fell into thought for a moment, then spoke again.

"Anyway, then we all belong to the same Academy, right?"

It hadn't been long since they saw each other, but the girl seemed to let down her guard a little and feel relieved just by that fact alone. No, she was relieved quite a lot.

"What's your name?"

Rickart asked.

"Ah, um... Marie. You guys?"

"......"

Marie revealed her name first and asked Rickart and Bori-bori back. But somehow, the two boys looked at Marie with an expression that she was somewhat unreliable.

"Why, why? What's wrong?"

"You're a noble, right."

Bori-bori asked abruptly. At that, Marie trembled flinch and was surprised.

"Uh, ah, ah, no. No, I'm not."

It was a clumsy, too clumsy lie.

Rickart was originally sharp-witted like a ghost, and Bori-bori noticed it by feeling because of what he suffered from Rickart before. Honestly, there was no need to even notice. Because it was so obvious.

And Bori-bori learned a lot over the shoulder while sticking with Rickart continuously. Observation was one of them.

Bori-bori asked as if interrogating.

"Custom-made armor, must have a lot of money at home?"

"Uh, uh uh, uh, b-but, just because there's a lot of money doesn't mean everyone is a noble."

Marie was visibly flustered. Since she seemed to hate revealing it, Rickart and Bori-bori didn't push further. And didn't Rickart hide that he was a noble from the start?

"Right, well, you must have your own circumstances. But, belonging to the same Academy means there are no nobles or whatever. Everyone is the same student. So don't be upset just in case."

"I'm not upset. And I won't be."

"You are a noble."

"Ah, no. I didn't mean that."

"Ricky."

"Uh?"

"I'm Bori-bori."

"Uuh?"

"I know too. My name is weird. But Bori Swordsmanship will be cool."

"......"

In Marie's view, they seemed like slightly strange kids. Should she say it's fortunate that no malice was felt? Anyway, it was strange.

However, that strangeness implied many feelings. The two boys were young in age but seemed to have no fear of the world. Even though they were about the same age as her.

Such parts were subtly cool, and somehow she felt she gained courage. How can they be so composed?

"By the way, you'll have to work hard to be Rank 1."

Bori-bori said.

"Uh? Ah, but, I'm confident in the sword in my own way. It might be hard right now, but I will definitely take 1st place."

"Right right, try hard."

Rickart poked the bonfire with a wooden stick as if uninterested and said.

Currently, Beringen Academy's Rank 1 was Rickart, and since he killed even one of the Empire's 9 Swords, taking 1st place at the student level was virtually impossible.

Thinking about the incident with his eldest brother in the past, Rickart would rather not fight than fight and lose on purpose.

"By the way, isn't it too early to play in the water?"

Bori-bori asked Marie. He was referring to her floundering in the river.

"Just... a bit, I wanted to escape..."

"You'll die doing that."

Rickart warned. It wasn't worrying, it was a real warning.

"Sorry......"

"Nothing to be sorry to us about. Anyway, let's eat something, sleep early and leave early tomorrow."

"......Thanks."

Rickart and Bori-bori decided to eat the heavy things among the food first. Because they could lighten the load.

Roasting potatoes or sweet potatoes on the fire, and eating salted meat little by little adding seasoning, it was a delicacy in its own way. Marie didn't seem to be picky about food either.

After the meal, Rickart took off his cloak and covered Marie with it. At that, Marie was restless for no reason and rolled her eyes here and there.

"T-thank..."

"Do it only sometimes."

"Uh?"

"Say thanks and sorry only sometimes. If you do it too often, it becomes light."

"Ung..."

After that, Rickart covered himself with one cloak together with Bori-bori. Leaning against the wall and looking at the bonfire, they took a rest.

Before they knew it, the sky was black and stars were singing silently.

Marie couldn't seemingly sleep properly as her tension wasn't completely released yet. Moreover, sleeping outside itself was uncomfortable beyond measure.

However, if mind and body were tired and one ate heartily, one would fall asleep unknowingly.

The sound of the bonfire burning crack, crack sounded like a lullaby.

Next day at dark dawn, Rickart rubbed out the cooled fire with his foot. And he said to Marie who was standing awkwardly wearing his clothes. The girl was still wearing Rickart's red cloak.

"The gambeson hasn't dried yet so I think it's better if I wear the armor."

Gambeson referred to a kind of thick coat and clothes worn under armor. It had some defensive power in itself, so it was clothes many people loved to use.

However, since the inside was filled with cotton, it was hard to dry all the way to the inside in just one night even if dried by the fire.

"Uh, okay."

"You carry the helmet and gambeson."

"Ung."

Rickart wore the chainmail Marie wore. After fastening the belt to fit his waist, he handed a sword to the girl.

"And this. Use this for now."

It was Steiner's sword. Because Marie lost her sword and only had the scabbard.

Inferring the size of the sword she usually used from her scabbard, it was similar to Steiner's sword.

"Don't wear it on your waist, it'll be better to carry it on your shoulder like me."

"Ung."

It didn't matter if she wore it on her waist, but if she did, the weight would lean to one side and she would tire quickly if she walked for a long time.

Since combat equipment was basically made based on adult men unless custom-made, carrying it to fit the body was also important. Marie's armor was custom-made, but the sword wasn't.

Rickart really taught her everything from one to ten, even trivial things. Because while he didn't know her swordsmanship skill level, her field capability seemed low.

Field capability referred to the overall ability to adapt and overcome all situations like sleeping outside, eating, walking, running, whether it rained or snowed. Stamina had to be good, and mental strength was also important.

That is, swordsmanship skill was obviously important, but in actual combat, field capability was more important. Because there were really many cases where people were killed without being able to demonstrate their skills properly because they were tired and exhausted.

In addition to that, accurate situational judgment ability, decisiveness, concentration, tactics understanding, courage, patience, etc. had to be good for excellent combat power to come out.

The reason Rickart was strong was because he had transcendent swordsmanship skills, but also because all these abilities were unrivaled.

When they finished preparing and were about to hit the road again, Rickart said to Marie for the last time.

"Wear the hood."

"Uh?"

"Because bugs might gather for no reason."

At that, Marie was flustered thinking she smelled. But that wasn't it.

"You're pretty."

At Rickart's words, Marie momentarily stiffened. Because she had never heard that she was pretty so directly.

She had heard expressions beating around the bush without soul or words with all kinds of rhetoric attached though.

Her face flushed, but fortunately, it was dark dawn.

"Uh, uh uh......"

Marie put on the hood pretending to be unaffected with effort.

"Let's go."

Rickart spoke indifferently and moved his steps.

Like that, the three people walked toward Beringen Academy.

Walking on the path in the field, the sun rose gradually. The field illuminated by the dawn was the color of the sea. Then sunlight spread like a carpet, and greenery holding moisture from melting snow unfolded.

Rickart and Bori-bori walked exchanging jokes or playing pranks once in a while.

Bori-bori said armor seemed to suit Rickart, asking how about being a knight instead of an adventurer. Told him to practice horse riding a bit even now.

In fact, the reason knights were scary was because of the horse. No matter how much a person trained mana, if hit properly by a running horse, bones would break and they would die.

Moreover, mobility or utility in actual combat was much higher than a regular swordsman. A knight was no different from a tank collapsing the formation.

However, the skill of fighting while riding a horse wasn't something achieved by training for 1 or 2 years. It was an advanced combat skill that had to be polished for at least 10 years, further, for a lifetime.

The disadvantage was that it cost a lot of money. The horse price was the horse price, but maintenance costs were formidable. It was to the extent of pouring money.

Marie seemed a little alienated, but since the two boys didn't push her away on purpose, she got closer little by little. Rather, this was more comfortable for Marie than caring too much.

The two boys took care of Marie while seeming indifferent. Just like Nameless.

When Bori-bori imitated her tone of voice mimicking an adult man, Marie was flustered and told him not to do it, and Rickart laughed loudly.

Compared to when leaving the Academy, the steps were light. Marie also seemed to have her fear of uncertainty relieved.

Because when young, having no one known and being alone when going to an unfamiliar place was bound to be the most fearful thing.

The three people walked resting sufficiently in between. Doing so, she felt like she came out on a picnic.

Maybe she relaxed her guard quite a bit later, Marie also laughed loudly, pahaha. Marie laughing refreshingly was truly dazzlingly beautiful. Enough to not notice the unfitting clothes and somewhat shabby appearance at all.

And he didn't know, but Marie had attractive slightly large front teeth reminiscent of a rabbit.

However, the two pure boys just treated Marie as she was rather than her appearance, and Marie was also purely happy escaping from the stuffy life like a birdcage and formality.

Anxiety and excitement were a paper-thin difference, and thanks to the two boys, Marie could be excited and fluttered rather than anxious.

However, when the sun set and darkness started to cover the world, the light enjoyment seemed to disappear with the bright sunshine.

Since Rickart and Bori-bori already came calculating the distance, they could arrive at a pub and inn on the roadside just in time.

The name was 'Anna's Loss'. It was the place where they first met Nameless after leaving the Academy in winter.

Then something seemed to surge up, and something heavy seemed to press on the chest. However, it wasn't to the extent of showing on the outside.

But Marie could clearly feel that subtle change, so she shut her mouth together.

When they opened the pub door, an unwelcome stench was felt. And the gazes of tough and dirty-looking people inside gathered on Rickart's party.

But Rickart just walked clack clack and approached the bartender he talked to briefly about a month and a half to two months ago.

Then the bartender didn't recognize him at first, but made an expression as if he remembered soon.

"Oh? You guys."

"Long time no see. We'd like to eat and get a room."

"Uh... By the way, you guys, where are you coming from?"

"North."

"North? Ah right, at that time you, didn't you say you're taking a request?"

"Dead."

"Uh?"

"Ehrenberg 5, they're all dead."

"......"

It was unbelievable words, even more unbelievable that these two boys accomplished it. So the bartender was just bewildered. It sounded like an unfunny joke to him.

But just then, someone looked at Rickart's side and said.

"Oi, look here. Some little knight is here."

Rickart had a physique that no one could see as a knight, so it was a bit ridiculous that he made armor fitting a not fully grown body.

Rickart ignored him and said to the bartender.

"Is there a room, or not?"

"Uh? Uh, there is, but this place is a bit different from before now? So."

The bartender couldn't finish his words. Because the person who called Rickart stood up from his seat and approached.

"I asked why you are here. Little knight."

Rickart looked back at him. It was a tall person with a broad face. If he was just teasing or playing a mischievous prank, it wouldn't matter, but it didn't seem like it would end at that level.

"Bori, your sword."

Rickart unslung the sword on his shoulder and gave it to Bori-bori, saying so.

"Yeah."

Now their intentions communicated fully without speaking long. Since the place was somewhat narrow, he was borrowing Bori-bori's sword.

Bori-bori received Rickart's sword and handed his Ghost Sword to Rickart. And he grabbed Marie's arm and pulled her behind him.

Marie, wearing a hood, looked around du-ri-beon not knowing the reason and scared for no reason. Stinking place and tough people. It was her first time coming to such a place.

Rickart held the Ghost Sword in one hand and said.

"Don't beat around the bush and say your real business."

"What?"

"If you covet the equipment, just attack. Don't pick a fight like not a man."

"......Ha!"

The man spat out a breath of vain air as if dumbfounded. And looking back, he sent a signal to someone with his eyes, and people sitting at two tables stood up in a flock.

At that, the bartender moved far away early. Unlike two months ago, this place wasn't something like a neutral zone anymore. The dark world tended to have its territory changed frequently by nature.

Arisen Brotherhood was no more, and there was only a new ruling power. Accordingly, the rules of the street also changed.

The man looked back at Rickart again and said.

"Good. I'll speak like a man. Hand over everything you have. Money, equipment, everything you have."

"Then try taking it with your ability."

Doing so, Rickart drew the Ghost Sword like lightning.

The colleagues standing behind the man thought Rickart did something, but couldn't see accurately.

However, a moment later, the man's thick neck tilted smoothly then fell to the side thud.

At the same time, as Rickart pushed his still standing body with his foot, the corpse fell backward and blood sprayed chwak sprinkling on his colleagues.

Whether the sword was good, or the skill was good, not a drop of blood was stained on the Ghost Sword.

Rickart said.

"Next."