Chapter 57

Chapter 57

***

Becoming a branch manager wasn't simple, it was complicated.

First, one had to sign a contract with the guild, which was similar to a vassal contract.

Since it was an era where transportation and communication were not developed, the branch manager had almost independent rights in the branch, but had the obligation to provide supplies and military force to jointly respond to guild-level problems if necessary.

Conversely, the guild had the obligation to support the branch manager with initial settlement funds and protect the branch. In other words, it was a two-way, bilateral contract.

Second, the branch manager had to localize in the relevant region. This was the difficult point.

First, they had to offer gifts and tribute to the local lord to win the so-called business rights, and then cooperate with existing local forces or fight if necessary to take root in the region.

Since the Beringen Guild had already signed a basic contract with the Duke of Siegfinger, the big framework was set, but it was a feudal society so the branch had to sign separate contracts with vassals under the Duke.

After winning business rights, defeating competing groups, and taking root safely, personnel management was needed.

The branch manager's clan that signed a branch contract with the Guild Master was commonly called a 'Core Clan', but a core clan alone wasn't enough to operate a branch.

They had to gather adventurers and manage them so they could perform requests well without causing trouble.

Gathering capable and trustworthy people itself wasn't easy, and managing them well was a very difficult task. Actually, all complex problems exploded here.

So if necessary, they kicked them out, soothed and coaxed them, shouted at them, and sometimes even had to remove them.

Responsibility for all these tasks was on Bolka's shoulders. Rickart and his friends had to help him so the branch could stabilize properly and run well.

"Simple, right? First go to Count Reinhold and offer gifts. Since a contract is already made with the Duke, he'll just accept it."

It wasn't simple at all, but Sally said it was simple. Didn't know but she was the Vice Master of the Beringen Guild.

Opposite her table was Rickart's party. But somehow, they were looking at her with slightly blank expressions. Because dishes were piled up like a mountain in front of Sally.

"Why? First time seeing a person eat?"

Sally said receiving another plate a server brought. There was a whole boiled chicken on the plate. The server's expression wasn't much different from Rickart's party either.

"......No. You are a big eater, but maintain your figure well."

Delphi said.

"Because I move that much. Dunkel that bastard Master doesn't move at all since becoming Master. Said his sense dropped completely."

She started tearing chicken meat with her hands while grumbling. Is this the third chicken with this? Is this possible?

Rickart looked at her with a somewhat stunned expression, then signaled Bolka to go.

"Uh, then, we'll get going."

"Yeah yeah, work is work but take care of your bodies since hostile guilds are still prowling there."

"Yes. You too, Sally."

Rickart and Bolka left the inn lifting a chest each. The size of the chests wasn't that big, but they were quite heavy as they were full of silver coins. It was the initial settlement fund supported by the guild.

The two went to the stable attached to the inn, put a cloth on the back of one donkey, loaded the chests on both sides, and fixed them firmly with ropes.

Bori-bori stroked the donkey's head and said while giving a carrot.

"Magnoli, let's go."

Magnoli was the donkey's name, a variation of magnolia.

Of course, it was a name Bori-bori attached arbitrarily. Since it was the clan's first property and property list number 1, it was special to other friends too.

Bori-bori held the reins and led gently. Then Magnoli started following, clop, clop.

The place the Viola Clan was heading to after leaving the small city was none other than 'Ehrenberg'.

Ehrenberg was the base of the Ehrenberg 5 and the place that was their main stage of activity.

It seemed somewhat symbolic. Since Rickart the one who executed them, it felt like a trophy.

But on the other hand, it was also the closest place to the hostile guild named Lucerat. That meant it was a kind of border region and currently the front line.

Establishing a base there was the Viola Clan's homework, and task. And also a dream that five people not even 20 yet had to cultivate.

"Ah, you indeed are the boy hero Red Cloak. Then is the Dismemberment Bori-bori you?"

A man with an impressive mustache curled up at both ends said after stamping a seal ring on red wax. This man was Reinhold, the Count of Nordrhein where Ehrenberg was included.

"No, Dismemberment Bori-bori is this kid."

The Count spoke looking at Bolka, but Bolka corrected pointing at Bori-bori.

"Eh? This innocent-looking boy? Somehow gives me goosebumps. Saying he enjoys chopping people with that innocent face."

"Don't enjoy......"

"Anyway, received the gifts well. You may do business in Ehrenberg. However, I don't protect you guys. What that means is, I received money from other guilds too and issued permits, that's what I'm saying. Slashing each other is up to you, but don't cause harm to good people. I'll overlook to some extent, but no, you understand well so I won't add unnecessary words."

On the Count's desk, a chest full of silver coins was placed. Half of the initial settlement fund went into the purpose of offering gifts to him.

Currently, there was no concept of bribery in this era. Suffering gifts, or offering tribute when receiving business permission was a natural thing.

Only, the amount wasn't fixed, and if the lord didn't like it, even a thousand gold was useless. Fortunately, Count Reinhold was on the generous side.

Honestly, it was free money and having a trustworthy Adventurer Guild within the region was convenient in many ways.

They stabilized public order, and if there was annoying work, he could entrust requests. Mobilizing the army or hiring a mercenary corps was burdensome for a Count-level to handle.

It didn't make ends meet either. Can't mobilize fully armed riding warhorses to catch a fly, right?

Moreover, since there was no need to manage specifically, the Adventurer Guild and noble lords were similar to a crocodile and plover relationship.

"Still, executing the Ehrenberg 5 is no different than pulling out a rotten tooth. Seeing the Red Cloak, I will specially tell the mayor to look into a good building. Anything else to say separately?"

Bolka looked back at his friends once, then said to the Count.

"No, nothing."

"Good. Best of luck in war. Go now."

Rickart's party left Count Reinhold's castle holding the most important business permit.

The castle built a long time ago was expanded and repaired over a long time so it was quite magnificent. Rickart's hometown Stormherz's castle wasn't even comparable.

Even a lord living in such a castle didn't mobilise the army easily. So, it was an era where the lord had to arm and fight directly.

Donkey Magnoli walked to Ehrenberg carrying a much lighter load.

Since it was a day's distance from the Count's castle to Ehrenberg, the party had to camp in the middle. Here, the difference between having a donkey and not was huge.

Since they could carry more travel gear, they could pitch a tent quite plausibly and pack things like pots, ladles, and tableware so food was a bit more diverse.

Moreover, since spring was ending, the weather was suitable. It became chilly at night, but compared to winter it was warm beyond measure.

In the North, grass grew short while trees were thick, straight, and tall. Mostly fir tree types.

Though called a tent, it wasn't up to a marquee, but still enough to block wind and rain. If hanging tough tent cloth on branches and pulling strings tight to drive stakes, it was spacious enough for five people to enter.

They made a fire in front of the tent, and fed dried bean stalks and such to the donkey. Someone washed the pot at a nearby riverside and fetched water, someone cut fruits and vegetables preparing ingredients.

So the five people seemed truly like a family. Rickart and Marie prepared a feast in their own way sticking to each other, looking like a young couple.

"Did I cut too think?"

Rickart said cutting a turnip. Actually, usually ate roughly but trying to do something, he couldn't know if this was right.

"Give it here. I'll do it."

Marie said. She took the turnip Rickart was holding, then sliced it swish swish with a sharp dagger without even placing it on a cutting board or anywhere. And threw plop plop into the pot.

As Rickart watched from the side, she seemed not to know well either. Only, since her bangs kept coming down interfering with vision, he reached out and tucked them behind her ear.

Rickart didn't know that such actions done inadvertently without special meaning made Marie flutter.

Marie didn't mind tough work even though she was from a somewhat noble family. She seemed not to care at all about her appearance getting somewhat ruined either.

Messy hair, clothes disheveled with side fat sticking out, or something stained on face and clothes stained, her appearance didn't fade. Rather seemed to shine more.

But the dish the party was making was honestly no different from a dog's stew. It was close to boiling everything at once putting this and that indiscriminately. Should put significance on ingesting nutrients evenly?

Anyway, they made something strange neither soup nor porridge and ate each serving. The taste was passable.

"By the way, what do we do now?"

Delphi, who drank a mouthful of dog's stew blowing on it, opened the door of speech.

"After meeting the mayor, we should establish a branch first, right?"

Bolka spoke as if asking why ask the obvious.

"No, I don't mean that, that will proceed according to procedure anyway, but would enemies just leave us alone?"

"......True. That's quite a headache."

In the Kaitz Highlands, enemies were clear. The large number was the problem, but since clearly visible, the enemy to fight was also clear.

But here was not. Didn't know when, where, how many would storm in.

"There is a way in times like this."

Bori-bori said confidently when not expected. As everyone looked at him, Bori-bori shouted laughing.

"Ricky Ricky, help meee!"

Rickart laughed because it was absurd. By the way, what is Ricky Ricky.

"I don't have a particular way either. The certain way is making the enemy's base into a wasteland. Whether Brabant or Lucerat, if invading the headquarters and killing all, it would be solved cleanly. But that's difficult, so shouldn't we gather information first to figure out who the enemy is and how they move?"

"Have to go to the thief guild?"

"That will probably be hard."

Bori-bori said.

"Why?"

"We smashed them all last winter."

"Umm......"

Actually, sweeping away all kinds of criminal organizations wandering here and there was a ridiculous achievement, but Nameless's help was big in that.

Since he was an excellent assault captain, just by guarding his back solidly, they could sweep away most organizations randomly. Bolka was also an assault captain style, but not comparable to Nameless.

"First we have to build power. With the help of locals. Heard the Stonemasons' Guild is famous in Ehrenberg, how about visiting those people first?"

There were all kinds of guilds in the world. A guild was a kind of union where people in the same industry gathered to protect each other's interests.

Naturally, it formed and moved based on the region, and exercised powerful influence within that region.

In this era, whether doing business or whatever, one had to possess martial power enough to protect oneself, so couldn't ignore just because it's a commerce and industry guild.

Especially in the case of a Blacksmith Guild or Stonemasons' Guild, since the work was very arduous and tough, each of them often was as scary as professional fighters.

"But doesn't a thief guild grow again eventually like a poisonous mushroom no matter how much you remove?"

Delphi said.

"That is true. But, will they view us favorably?"

Rickart was skeptical because of what they did last winter. If necessary, holding hands with a thief guild wasn't particularly repulsive, but they were guys where nothing good came from being entangled.

"I'll take care of that. Roughly know what to do."

Bolka said. He wasn't able to produce a good move like Rickart, but dealing with people was better than Rickart. Things like soothing, coaxing, conciliating, and blackmailing.

Showing power to an opponent needing power shown, soothing an opponent needing soothing, feeding money to an opponent liking money. Using appropriate means well depending on the opponent was also ability.

If this goes wrong, problems arise, but Bolka was good at this since Academy days. Introducing jobs to students and if there was troublesome work, he stepped up to handle it, so he was quite experienced.

"When getting a branch building, let's move in two teams. If one team guards the branch, another team goes outside. Bolka and Delphi, and me and Bori, Marie. Let's divide like this."

"Good. But certainly, five people is a bit tight."

Bolka, who finished the meal before anyone knew, said sucking his fingers.

Although Viola Clan members possessed great martial power one by one, hands were needed to do anything.

One of the branch's important roles was gathering and leading capable and trustworthy adventurers.

If leading various clans centered on the Core Clan, one becomes the ruler of the region and sometimes surpasses the guild headquarters.

But starting with just five people was tight as Bolka said.

The fortunate point at least was that thanks to Rickart and Bori-bori's reputation, there was a part where they so-called got a head start. As felt when meeting Count Reinhold earlier.

If tried to establish a branch by heading onto bare ground, cases driving people crazy were common. Because nothing worked from one to ten.

Perhaps Ehrenberg might become a second hometown. Born place is separate, but bad to approach with determination to be buried here after dying.

Because when establishing a branch, the most important thing was mixing with locals and sharing joys and sorrows with them.

If failing to mix with local society, one was just an outsider, and there was a limit to working as an outsider.

Seemed nothing special but local society was something that always grabbed the ankle or became strength at decisive moments.

Rickart thought choosing the land to be buried leaving the born land might be human destiny.

Living and dying in the born land forever is also not bad, but thought it meaningful to bestow family affection eaten and grown like nourishment in hometown land or locals' interest to someone else newly.

Everyone was an abandoned child like this or that. Existed in the past, and existed steadily now as well. Is there anything as meaningful as such people gathering becoming strength and supporting each other?

Human ties approach like terrible pain sometimes, but as learned from Nameless, eventually only the same person saved a person.

Rickart saw stars shining in the night sky beyond dizzy forest branches. Stars are same as old days or now but the heart looking at it was different.

Suddenly it seemed like seeing himself plowing a field with friends after aging as time passes. And by the side, Marie was laughing.

Can I really have such happiness? An anxious heart covered it like a shadow. Eventually Marie is brave, and I am a coward.

Felt sorry but decided not to say sorry, so Rickart spared words and just looked up at stars sitting close with Marie.

Rickart who habitually says no need to get sentimental always, but perhaps the person getting sentimental most often might be Rickart himself.

Kaldebert, the first friend, said I had the quality of a poet. Ironically, the person who knew Rickart's sentimental part was only a friend a hundred years ago.

A person born with a poet's quality walking the path of the sword. Might be keeping happiness away fearing being unhappy.

I am a coward, Marie. Sorry. Forgive me. Feeling the weight placed gently on his shoulder, Rickart said inside.

Night deepened. Stars shone brighter as much as it got darker.

But at the time when silent night put everything to sleep, Rickart sleeping close with friends woke up suddenly at a sound mixed with incongruity coming from far away.

Bolka standing sentry was turning his head sitting next to the bonfire looking at the direction sound came from.

"Did you hear too?"

Rickart asked. Realizing Rickart woke up late, Bolka said.

"Was sound of swords clashing."

Clang......

As soon as Bolka's words ended, metallic sound was heard from far away once again.

"Wake the kids. I'll go."

Rickart stood up packing his sword.

"Okay. Be careful."

Bolka didn't stop him saying it's dangerous. Because it was difficult to imagine even in a dream that there would be an opponent for Rickart, and experienced many times.

Rickart walked in the direction sound came from holding only one sword in one hand without wearing a cloak or buckling a belt on waist. Since it was a fir forest, there were few bushes or thickets so nothing hindered, but vision was dark.

As walking in the dark forest more and more, human presence became more distinct. Sound of several people running and shouting was heard. And dying agony too.

Rickart tried to figure out just what situation it was keeping distance, but suddenly someone ran to him quickly.

The moment trying to draw sword like lightning, hesitated seeing the opponent's face under faint moonlight. Surprisingly it was Ice.

Rickart and Ice bumped bodies as if brushing past. With a sound of thud, fell on the ground rolling one or two times, and Rickart jumped up and grabbed him.

In Rickart's arms, Ice's eyes looking up at Rickart trembled wildly. Face distorted severely as if about to burst into tears without saying anything pretending to know.

Rickart was also speechless from shock and couldn't say anything. Because Ice's appearance was unspeakable wondering what hardship he went through in the meantime.

He was emaciated to the extreme, and that beautiful silver hair was crumbly as if lost vitality. Just like a wounded roe deer chased by a hunter.

Rickart only heard news that Ice was performing great activity no less than himself, hadn't dreamed the kid's condition would be like this.

Is this feeling what mixed emotions mean. Rickart felt many emotions in a short moment.

Ice's condition becoming like this was actually because the guild rolled him to the point of being harsh.

As Dunkel who already made judgment on Ice, drove him entrusting only dangerous missions whether he falls off by himself or dies. Ice was no different from a discarded card in the guild despite outstanding skill.

Dunkel's words brushed past Rickart's head.

'Better not stay close with him. Since the path will diverge from the guild, and from you guys too, someday. That guy is crazy about becoming a Sword Master for the Order.'

So what? If swayed by such words, wouldn't have made friends in the first place. And Rickart didn't forget the promise he made either.

"Even if you abandon me, I don't abandon you, Ice."

Rickart spoke as if swearing an oath. And drew his sword standing up from the spot.

At the boy's unwavering action like before, Ice finally shed sorrowful tears.