Chapter 54

Chapter 54

***

The biggest difficulty when defending any fight was not having the initiative.

Not knowing when the opponent would attack, nerves were bound to stand on edge, and this was mentally a very exhausting thing, more than thought.

No worry about food, but Rickart and his friends had no castle wall to trust and rely on.

Even around the defense tower, there was no trench, and they hadn't installed stakes, so there were no minimum defense facilities.

Adventurers died rather than holding a shovel. This was the biggest difference from a regular army. A real army holds a shovel and pickaxe much longer time than a weapon.

Moreover, Bolka and Delphi didn't show signs of returning although it was the 3rd day since they left. Worrying about friends was also one of the parts gnawing at his mental strength.

Everyone knew something like a full-scale attack was impending besides Rickart. But when?

Below the highland, there was a festival atmosphere day after day. A rare thing for people to gather much leaving the village community, so they seemed just excited and merry.

People lit fires big even at night and grilled meat singing or dancing. Bards played the lute, clowns acted funny.

Since below was visible clearly from above, men and women sharing physical love in a gloomy place was also all visible.

"Damn! Bitches and bastards! Eat this!"

Widowmaker Clan people threw excrement or stones toward such men and women as if it was disgusting sharing love.

If men and women surprised hurriedly arranged clothes and fled, they giggled as if it was fun.

Reinhardt well, enjoyed the festival atmosphere drinking alcohol or such, and Rickart and Bori-bori, and Marie guarding the swing bridge by turns one by one was the role.

A round full moon floated in the night sky. So compared to other days it was a bright night. When moonlight is really bright, exaggerating a bit, was like morning.

Under moderately cool temperature and weirdly bright moonlight, Rickart was warming at the bonfire with Marie.

But Marie kept sticking close so Rickart moved away subtly. Then she stuck again, separated again repeated a few times.

Rickart also had wits, so he now knew the girl's heart to some extent. But once or twice okay, realizing continuing this troubled him.

As Rickart consciously avoided her continuously, Marie opened her mouth, feeling slightly embarrassed.

"That, Ricky......"

"Huh?"

"That you know......"

"Can't relax guard, Marie. We didn't come to play."

Rickart spoke heartlessly intentionally. Then Marie trying to say something closed her mouth and lowered her head.

A day with moonlight this bright might feel special, but now was only heartless. Because closer to uncovering than soothing the heart.

If she knew it would be like this she shouldn't have stuck close. Shouldn't have brought up words uselessly. Marie felt deep regret crowding with a trivial thing.

But as Rickart said something unusual really happened.

Dozens of people each holding a torch coming up toward the defense tower side.

Rickart jumped up from his seat, and Marie lowering her head, startled, flinching. And she soon also felt something unusual sign.

"Hey!"

Rickart shouted looking at the Widowmaker Clan side. Meaning look below the cliff, stop playing, and guard properly.

Then they had an expression asking why at first, soon seeing dozens of torches snapped to reality. What is that?

People approaching the defense tower weren't civilians. Everyone wore a weapon on their waist. Adventurers.

They kept silence strangely not taking out weapons as if performing some religious ritual. Just, keeping some distance, standing still only. Why doing that? What doing?

Then suddenly the person guarding the narrow path reaching the defense tower screamed spraying blood.

"Ack!"

Rickart's head turned sharply. Don't know where they hid, ones holding weapons piercing the entrance ran up quickly. Real battle situation occurred.

Rickart drawing his sword said to Marie.

"Stick to Bori. If unlucky cross the bridge."

"Ri-Ricky you?"

Rickart didn't answer and ran toward the entrance. But one who killed the sentry at the entrance seeing Rickart, ran to another place abruptly.

And five or six people each holding a shield the size of a person with both hands, sticking to each other pushed close toward Rickart.

Rickart paused thinking. They are really determined coming.

Since they were pushing in with a shield wall, Rickart also had no method, and attempting to move place quickly, enemies intruding determinedly couldn't stay still.

The shield wall pushed toward Rickart quickly. Rickart realized momentarily these bastards were trying to push me to the cliff altogether.

Amidst that, dozens of people holding torches just watched not fighting.

Because instruction fell to them that they don't need to fight, join if worth winning.

Since anyway low-rank bastards not listening well nor helpful, make them attract gaze at least.

Succeeded in stealing gaze in own way, so don't know who gave instruction but seemed quite a bright person.

But enemies held too big shields so vision wasn't open, and being stuck to each other direction change wasn't easy.

So one person poked out his head over the shield, Rickart swung his sword ghost-like. Then with a sound of tack, including eyes, the upper part skull was cut off cleanly.

The rest of the shieldmen just pushed recklessly frantically, and an innocent Widowmaker Clan member got pushed wildly.

Then that person couldn't cope anyhow pushed wildly and fell below the cliff end up.

"Uaaaaaaah!"

He flailed arms in empty air, and fell to people playing lighting a big fire below the highland. One person unluckily collided with the falling person and both died instantly.

Crunch!

Bone pierced flesh and popped out not one or two places with severe fracture. A scene reminiscent of a festival became shambles in an instant.

"Kyaaaaaaaak!"

It was the same mess on the cliff too. Reinhardt, realizing the enemy attack while drinking, hit the shield with that giant club.

"These dog bastards! Well turned out while feeling itchy!"

Bang!

Since so heavy attack broke the shield just, and grabbed face as caught for nearby enemy tearing off.

Rickart grasped the battle situation, looking around quickly as the annoying shieldmen were neutralized.

Ones holding torches hesitating doing 'should we enter this, or not', and enemies above middle-rank took out weapons earnestly starting the fight.

Rickart first shouted to the low-rank adventurers holding torches.

"Come close die!"

Not another person but as Rickart shouted they flinched, and simultaneously enemies above middle-rank hearing Rickart's shout aimed at Rickart all at once.

Clang! Thud! Chi-ing!

Finally as Rickart swung his sword moonlight flashed brilliantly. And, without fail broke the enemy's sword cutting the neck and cutting the arm.

As Rickart's unique concise and deadly swordmanship unfolded, two people fell one person per one cut.

Witnessing familiar terrifying sword someone shouted.

"Back off! Bring net! Drive to cliff side!"

Rickart realized that bastard is exactly the leader. Certainly, annoying having a person knowing how to lead many.

Hagen Guild's Clan Master Wolfgen commanded the fight keeping distance from Rickart early on.

As adventurers above middle-rank moved following his instruction, although not as much as a trained army drove Rickart to corner in their own way.

Flying throwing weapons swish swish from afar, throwing nets whenever showing a gap and not engaging directly, Rickart could only dodge moving place continuously like a hunted tiger.

Fundamentally outnumbered from start and becoming a situation like this geographically disadvantaged too.

But at that moment, Rickart realized instinctively. These people came to kill me rather than occupy the defense tower.

As soon as realizing that Rickart judged instantaneously the chance of winning exists if I lure the opponent here.

Almost simultaneously as judgment stood Rickart jumped off the mound. And ran toward low-rank adventurers holding torches.

"Uh uh uh!"

Surprised low-rank adventurers moved aside in a swarm.

"What doing! You bastards! Block!"

Wolfgen shouted anger rising to the top of his head as dumbfounded. But low-rank adventurers harbored a complaint inwardly asking 'didn't you say don't need to fight necessarily?'

Rickart ran down the highland quickly, and high-rank adventurers waiting to finish Rickart, at last, chased urgently.

Then Rickart's tactical judgment hit right, a hole punched in enemy power around the defense tower and Widowmaker Clan started counterattacking.

Personnel divided into two suddenly, moreover key power high-rank adventurers all chasing Rickart, Wolfgen also fell into panic momentarily. Why becoming like this? Almost done wasn't it?

In this midst, low-rank adventurers holding torches just stared blankly. What, losing seems? If fought uselessly we only dangerous. Phew, fortunate.

High-rank adventurers as high-rank adventurers, purpose was killing Rickart to repay own personal grudge or recover clan's tarnished honor. So didn't care occupying defense tower from start.

Innocent middle-rank adventurers only stuck in middle placed in situation neither going nor coming.

Unfortunately at this time Bori-bori guarding swing bridge side also sorting situation there joining earnestly, so no talent to endure with middle-rank adventurers degree.

"Fuuuck......"

Wolfgen spat a curse standing blankly. And, as Bori-bori's sword swung toward him, consciousness cut off soon.

Meanwhile Rickart luring high-rank adventurers running down the highland, turned direction to side without civilians running continuously.

Breath filled up to chin vision spinning, 10-odd swordsmen tracking persistently surrounded Rickart widely.

While doing so as someone approached close Rickart stopped running and counterattacked.

But becoming a high-rank adventurer meant reflexes or athletic ability reached almost the end of human, didn't give gap easily.

Seemed decided really today, they focused only on surrounding maintaining distance touching or not quitting fair duel.

Revealed all on face trying to kill Rickart by all means.

Rickart or enemies sweat formed beads on face, shone eyes completely immersed as if not releasing the string of concentration.

Rickart knew looking exactly. Enemies are trying to take me even if receiving a fatal wound themselves. But such people were not one or two but ten.

Finally time to die came? Up to here? Thoughts brushed his head. But didn't get scared. Just that only, what.

But now extremely sensitive like a tight pulled thread, suddenly someone spoke to Rickart with a calm voice. Gramschwitz.

"Do you also have a sibling? Losing a sibling is like losing a limb. That pain and sadness I mean."

Don't know who, but Rickart also understood words having siblings. So could guess the size of the grudge he harbored against self too.

But now, wasn't time to sympathize. String tied with grudge had no choice but to cut with a sword.

"Hiyap!"

Someone burst a spirit shout from behind Rickart. But Rickart didn't look back him, rushed toward the enemy in front. Attacking from behind, to match breath you have no choice but to attack too.

Indeed this time the enemy in front didn't measure distance faced Rickart with resolve to die thrust sword. And, attacked from both sides with little time difference too.

Rickart twisted upper body half bent knees closely, lifted arm up attaching blade face to body.

Pulling sword strongly in that state, actually sword rotated horizontally striking away several swords simultaneously.

Chae-ae-ae-aeng-!

With this created gap like gold, and Rickart gritted teeth swinging sword again.

Whish! Thud!

Flop.

Finally as cutting the waist of one person half deflecting various attacks, they trembled even though strongest in their own neighborhood.

"Mo-monster like bastard......!"

Even swordsmen resolved to death were horrified.

But Rickart knew how not to let go once grabbing chance and continue spirit continuously.

Very momentarily, approached quickly to ones whose steps tangled, unfolded perfect offense and defense swinging sword left and right and striking down.

Clang! Kang! Thud!

Realm of art not simple sword playing. If only one swordsmanship exists in the world seemed this only swordsmanship to be.

Two people fell spraying blood. Blood flowed from Rickart's upper arm too.

Rickart felt elation crowding more rather as the shadow of death cast on self. While doing so drove enemies fiercely like Nameless.

Like a strong water stream, also like rough fire. Simultaneously precise and delicate.

Swordsmen dealing with Rickart also lived on the sword died on the sword life, so fascinated by that. How beautiful this is!

But happening ending only if Rickart dies, or selves all die. As three out of ten fell in an instant enemies widened distance again arranging stance. While doing so huff, huff, exceling breath refining breath.

But siege not perfect Rickart aimed gap and ran highland again. Enemies naturally tracked.

But it was then.

"Ricky!"

Rickart looked up highland surprised. Marie was running urgently. Seeing that appearance Rickart's eyes widened. What, why?

Remaining seven swordsmen also flustered as a new figure appeared. Only, they weren't vicious like Ehrenberg 5 perhaps, couldn't think of taking Marie hostage right away. Even if taking hostage not a kid to be caught obediently though.

Rickart ran continuously, eventually met in the middle with Marie running down. Two had no words. Just ran side by side watching the same place. Situation not funny in a way.

Running so when turning mountain waist, early buckwheat field unfolded before eyes. As if powdered snow fell, moonlight of round full moon in sky sat down loosely taking breath away, a spectacle.

Rickart and Marie ran across that flower field. Momentarily didn't know why became such situation, ran not knowing why have to run. Sound of swish swish swish grazing waist-high grass tickled ears.

But couldn't run long. Because the front was a cliff.

But why? Perhaps because of peculiar strange madness mixed in moonlight feeling brushed heart slightly that okay even jumping down holding hands like this.

Rickart stopped running looking back, seven swordsmen also stood in buckwheat field. Rickart's Meteoric Iron Sword and Marie's True Silver Sword, and seven swords reflected moonlight.

All gasped rough breath huff, huff. Rickart said.

"I fall to the right. Then Marie you widen distance with me. Enemies will stick to me. Then join and fight."

Rickart made a tactical judgment even in this midst.

"No, that......"

"Why?"

"Sorry, but think I can't say if not now."

Rickart looked back at Marie. Marie also looked at Rickart. Both had sweat-wet blonde hair attached to their faces.

Mysterious eyes going back and forth green and hazel, and jewel-like blue eyes were incomparably beautiful. A distance close enough to kiss if one person put their head forward.

Marie feared that would be last after the conversation earlier. But could say if now. Heart pounded.

"I think I like you......"

"......"

Truly, time not appropriate to confess. But the buckwheat field where moonlight sat was too beautiful, so wondered when to reveal pure heart harbored first in life if not this time.

Rickart had no words for a while. Then smiled bitterly speaking affectionately.

"Sorry. I don't believe in love or such. But can die for you."

The boy understood the grudge the enemy harbored against him, but couldn't understand the girl's pure love. No, speaking accurately couldn't accept it.

Because believed still, love is another name of most terrible curse and seed of misfortune. Grudge and love resembled each other.

Marie went blank momentarily, no thought occurred. Wait, what saying? Rejected, right? Me.

Rickart didn't speak more and threw his body to the right. As expected enemies stuck to Rickart's side while guarding Marie.

Rustle, sound of grazing grass occurred. Soon seven swordsmen and Rickart mingled together.

Moon bright night metallic sound rang continuously, red blood sprayed on white buckwheat flower.

One or two people fell, making the buckwheat field a grave. Gramschwitz also fell. Like that grudges fell one, two, like a falling flower.

In Marie's eyes Rickart swinging his sword looked beautiful, desperate, and cool more than ever. Bad guy......

But as wounds increased on Rickart's body one by one, Marie ran in a half-blank state and unconsciously fought for Rickart.

What case is this on earth, boy and girl just broken up trusted life to each other and fought. Trusting life is something doable only to most trusted person.

Swordsmen didn't flee till the last one person, eventually all fell in buckwheat field.

But not only corpses fell there. Unachieved revenge, and broken first love also fell together.

Round full moon seemed watching two people holding breath. Two people also, had no words.

Silent moonlight and simple buckwheat flower, blood and sweat flowing down boy's body, one tear drop flowing on girl's cheek. Those replaced words.

Chapter 10 - Unachieved Heart. End.