Chapter 47

Chapter 47

***

When winter passed and spring ripened, it meant that the time to shrink back had passed and a good time to work had come. However, a good time to work was also a good time to fight.

It was unknown whether the Guild War had broken out in earnest. Whether skirmishes were taking place, or if they were just sizing each other up. As an Academy isolated from the world, they couldn't access news of the world well.

But perhaps because it was isolated from the world, it could provide a final resting place for abandoned children.

"Welcome to the Academy! Newbie!"

Karlich shouted loudly inside the male student dormitory of the Inner Castle. Anyone hearing that shout could tell he was excited.

He covered the newly arrived freshman with a blanket, then, along with other students, beat him up really excitedly.

After beating him moderately, they removed the blanket and grabbed the freshman's arm to force him to stand up. The freshman looked half out of his mind and had a painful expression from being beaten.

"With this, you are now a proud member of Beringen Academy! Now, everyone applaud!"

'Clap clap clap clap clap!'

Karlich lifted the freshman's arm high in front of many students as if he were the winner of a match. Doing so, he looked at Rickart with an expression asking, 'I did good, right?'

"......"

Rickart, watching what Karlich was doing from the bunk bed, was dumbfounded, or rather, had nothing to say.

Because unlike their first meeting, Karlich was more passionate about Academy life than anyone else.

In fact, there was only a difference in degree; the children of noble families who were far from succession were in a situation not much different from illegitimate children.

Which family would be crazy enough to send a successor to the Academy? Coming to the Adventurer Academy meant, to put it harshly, being cast out, and to put it kindly, being given final support to pioneer their own way to live.

In the past, people were reluctant to become adventurers because the perception was bad, but now that perception had faded somewhat.

This was because nobles had also commissioned requests to the Adventurer's Guild here and there and felt that they were useful.

They thought there wasn't a big difference between dying in a Knight Order or Mercenary Corps, or dying as an adventurer.

And it was the same that they could help their family by succeeding in their affiliated place. No, an adventurer could be of more practical help.

For Knight Orders, the Knight Commander's orders came first, and Mercenary Corps were too expensive, so becoming an adventurer had higher utility.

"You can use this spot. Stop exaggerating the pain. Are these all your clothes? Do you have food? If you're hungry, tell me anytime. First, ask him about chores, and tell me about jobs in the city. You need money for classes, you know? I can lend you some, but to do that, you first have to find a job in the city and..."

Karlich took the freshman to an empty spot and explained this and that.

There was nothing problematic, but if this was a problem, it was a problem. Karlich was overflowing with enthusiasm to a severe degree.

He hadn't come to his senses after being beaten soundly by Rickart on the first day; rather, after grasping that 'Ah, there are rules here too,' he acted according to them.

His adaptation was very fast, he was quick-witted, and overflowing with passion. To the point where it was burdensome why he was doing this much.

And although Karlich was a noble, he wasn't an Orthodox Noble. What this meant was that he was from a Merchant Noble background.

Orthodox Nobles referred to nobles who possessed their own land, even if small, along with a title, and fulfilled the duties of a knight.

Merchant Nobles had no title and only a family business. They might have private land, but it was a different concept from a territory attached to a title.

So Orthodox Nobles often didn't treat Merchant Nobles as the same kind of noble at all.

For example, there were often cases where a Merchant Noble came out to the battlefield equipped with arms, but an Orthodox Noble refused to fight, saying they couldn't fight alongside such a guy.

But even Orthodox Nobles could live poorly in the countryside, while Merchant Nobles sometimes lived in palatial mansions in the city with lots of money.

Although reality was like that, since it was an era where genealogy, bloodline, and honor were important, no matter how much money they had, City Nobles had to fold one step in front of Orthodox Nobles.

Because if they went to an official event of a monarch, even the seats they sat in were different.

Of course, so inwardly they ignored each other. Thinking 'A country bumpkin acting up trusting only his bloodline,' or 'How is a merchant a noble?'

"Ricky, Ricky."

Karlich approached Rickart holding a piece of paper in his hand.

"...Why?"

"I said I'd buy kids clothes. I looked into the kids' measurements, you know? I organized them here."

When Rickart received the paper and looked, the names of the students belonging to the Academy were written down, and things like height, arm length, leg length, and waist measurements were organized.

"......"

In the Academy that ran by rule of thumb, this kind of, what should I say, orderly organization was something he was seeing for the first time.

"I think dark blue is better for the color. Other colors are often extracted from plants, so supply can be difficult depending on the season, and although Lapis Lazuli is expensive, there's a production area nearby so we can get it cheaper than other places. When I calculated it, the budget roughly fits. Since we're making them, shouldn't we make them cool to raise the pride of our Beringen Academy? Maybe, you know, if you leave it to me, I'll try handling it. I absolutely won't disappoint you."

Karlich looked at Rickart with an expression full of expectation, his eyes showing the whites on all four sides (sanpaku eyes). Rickart saw madness in those clear eyes and felt a certain fear he had never felt before.

"Uh, uh..."

"Great!"

Karlich clenched his fist and rejoiced.

"No, but, why are you doing this so hard? Are you doing this because you're afraid I'll say something?"

At Rickart's question, Karlich grinned, still showing his sanpaku eyes. He's scarier when he smiles.

"No one interferes here. There's no scolding from father, and no contempt from brothers. So I feel like I've finally become a useful human being. It's better not to have a status. I'm sick of Orthodox Nobles and Merchant Nobles and all that, everyone is a brother here. And I looked up Imperial Law, and there was such a clause. 'In the name of Emperor Martellus, under the protection of the Empire, the Academy follows the Academy's laws, rules, and traditions.' That means we can make laws, rules, and traditions ourselves, right? Isn't it exciting?"

It was a story he was hearing for the first time. That there was such an Imperial Law. Because in reality, most regions followed their own customary laws, and the written Imperial Law was often nominal.

If the Emperor forced Imperial Law, it could buy backlash from local nobles, so strict law enforcement was difficult. So the Emperor also didn't carelessly put forward Imperial Law.

Honestly, the Emperor himself didn't know well. He just asked the legal officer whenever needed.

Still, everyone followed a few important clauses: titles and territories are inherited by males first; local lords possess inherent judicial, executive, and military authority but cannot negotiate with countries outside the Empire; and in judging and punishing sinners, one must be fair before God, etc.

Rickart had only learned very basic things like how to read and write and simple arithmetic at home, and hadn't learned higher knowledge, so he was just amazed.

Karlich shone his eyes like stars with his own goal. Of course, a little madness was mixed in too.

Watching that appearance, Rickart felt that a noble who received proper education was definitely different.

Still, being with Karlich was somewhat burdensome and uncomfortable, so Rickart quietly avoided the spot.

Leaving the room, he went up to the second floor to study Ancient Characters in an empty lecture room, but Bori-bori was already there. He was reading something.

"Oh? Ricky."

"What are you watching?"

"Ancient People's Sexual Life."

"......Why watch such a thing?"

"Ancient books aren't many, and among them, manuscripts are even fewer, so I'm not in a position to be picky. And unexpectedly, it's fun."

He had nothing to say. So Rickart sat next to Bori-bori, rested his chin on his hand, and just looked out the window. The blue sky and the refreshingly spread field were captured in Rickart's hazel eyes. A breeze blew and his golden hair fluttered.

"Are you bored?"

Bori-bori asked.

"Mm? No."

"You seem bored. Want to make a bet with me?"

"What bet?"

"Since I'm no match for Ricky, we each teach someone and make them compete. The side whose disciple wins wins."

"I won't. Anyway, there's no kid who understands."

Rickart used to teach students often, but there were many cases where he was frustrated alone because they couldn't understand.

So except for sparring with friends before they graduated, who were commonly called the 9-member group, he didn't teach anyone well.

"Then write a book or something. Someone who understands might appear someday."

"A book?"

"Yeah. But it's boring if you just write it, so how about writing in Ancient Characters? Studying at the same time."

Rickart was tempted. He thought it wouldn't be bad as a pastime.

In fact, Rickart felt like the Academy was gradually leaving his hands these days. He hadn't particularly managed it or anything, but the students made efforts and developed on their own.

It was true that watching that appearance was rewarding and felt good, but it seemed there was nothing more for him to do.

What Rickart did at the Academy was just laying a kind of board. Just not bullying anyone, not exploiting, and at least making sure they didn't starve to death. And maintaining order and observing rules.

So if the Academy ran well on its own, he had nothing to do. In the midst of this, he didn't need to learn swordsmanship or fighting techniques, so he was just killing time in vain.

"Seems okay?"

"Hehe, right?"

Rickart immediately spread paper and brought ink and a pen. But, there was something blocking him from the start.

"What should I name the title?"

"Ricky Style Swordsmanship! Originally, you name it after yourself."

"But that's a bit too uncool."

"What, you called it Bori Swordsmanship for me."

"Anyway, that's that. Putting a name in is too cliché, I should just call it 'Basics of Swordsmanship'."

"Eh? Too boring?"

"This is better. It's fine if I can't write well. Those who will understand will understand."

"Ricky is surprisingly shy too, huh?"

Rickart didn't deny it and just laughed. And first, he wrote the title largely. Basics of Swordsmanship.

The handwriting contained his mother's love and was truly flowing like a willow tree. Rather, Bori-bori's handwriting was on the side of overflowing with power.

Rickart organized his thoughts alone and wrote the text, at least roughly. If there was something he didn't know about Ancient Characters, he asked Bori-bori, and referred to sentences in the book to write down.

By the way, that book was 'Ancient People's Sexual Life', so he saw things he shouldn't see and closed his eyes tight once in a while.

Looking back on his swordsmanship, it was fun in its own way, but recalling the frustration he felt when teaching kids, he felt at a loss about what to write.

Is it better to remove content? Is that difficult? Why is it difficult? What does it mean to be difficult? Hmm, I don't know.

Anyway, since the motive for writing was to let only those who understand understand, Rickart wrote the text without thinking deeply.

Bori-bori, who was watching from the side, said a word.

"It feels like writing prose rather than explaining."

"Is that so? But anyway, language isn't perfect. It can't be helped. I just express it as it is. This is the accurate thing."

"Well, wouldn't it be better to explain as much as possible though?"

"Then Bori, you write too."

"I should. I'll call it Bori Swordsmanship. Hehehe."

Bori-bori also put down the book he was reading, brought empty paper, and started writing this and that. It was a clear, powerful handwriting.

The writings the two boys were writing were texts not yet organized, but the difference was stark already.

Rickart seemed to be writing an epic poem without head or tail, and Bori-bori truly distinguished chapters and piled up step by step.

While writing for a while, they also looked at each other's work. And, their thoughts were different too.

"Hey, why are you wasting paper writing this kind of thing? This is just all doable."

Looking at Bori-bori's writing, Rickart frowned and spoke as if he didn't like it.

Price of paper was never cheap. Depending on quality, paper for books was one of the truly expensive items.

"Because the reader might be a beginner. They have to accept and understand from simple things and go to more difficult things gradually. If you go recklessly like Ricky, 'If you think and strike, it's late.', 'Focus on accuracy rather than speed.', 'If you don't understand the action of force, a strong attack is meaningless.', who understands?"

Rickart thought quietly and felt Bori-bori's words were right.

But if he wrote all the detailed explanations one by one, the volume would become too vast, so he didn't want to write. Moreover, if there were many long-winded words, wouldn't it rather deviate further from the essence? Rickart felt a useless rebelliousness rising.

"......So I'm writing so only people who understand will understand."

"Hmm... Then let's do this. I'll make a commentary separately, and Ricky, you look and supervise it. How about it?"

"If there's something like a commentary, it's uncool."

"No, it's fine. It's still cool. You are shy."

Rickart was dumbfounded so he burst into laughter. And he reached out and stroked Bori-bori's yellowish-brown bowl cut hair, messing it up wildly. Then Bori-bori also laughed, hehehe.

He seemed to have really grown a lot. In a good sense. He felt he was admirable.

Bori-bori seemed to be Rickart's most precious friend, disciple, and now teacher as well.

When teaching and leading someone, and watching that growth, in fact, the person teaching might also be led and growing.

Spring ripened. It was good weather to work, and to fight. And deep en friendship too.