Chapter 59

Chapter 59

***

The North was largely a plain area, but there were terrains rising bulging here and there. 'Ehren Mountain', namely Ehrenberg, was one of them.

It was excessively low to be called a mountain, closer to just a low hill. Spreading centered on that place was the urban area, and a sturdy fortress wall surrounded the entire city.

The scale of the city wasn't that big, but a large river wound around the west side of the city and flowed south.

The name of the river was Main River, passing the Imperial Capital Nibelungen, Rheinfurt, and flowing beyond that. Merchant ships frequented the dock.

The hill was cut artificially making it like a terraced form, and buildings were in the middle. Perhaps because the Stonemasons' Guild was famous, the buildings looked sturdy one by one.

There was a peculiar building around the middle of the hill. It looked like two buildings combined horizontally and vertically.

The 1st floor was built with stones fitting perfectly though not square bricks, and the 2nd and 3rd floors were in a form where wood was revealed on the outside and plaster was applied neatly.

The tile roof was a sharp triangle in cross-section, and there were two chimneys. The 1st floor had a back door, side door, and a main door with an external porch.

There were a well and an apple tree in the backyard, and even a stable albeit small next to the building.

In the stable, currently one donkey was chewing fodder leisurely munching munching, staring blankly at the appearance of people carrying heavy loads and working hard.

It seemed same for people or animals to rest if worked, and work if rested.

What people chose to carry hard, or lift and carry joining forces were things like beds, tables, chairs, wooden barrels.

"Too tilted to the left. No, went up too much. A little bit. Uh. Done. Seems done?"

Rickart said looking up. Bolka was standing on a chair, reaching out his arm in an uncomfortable posture supporting something. It was a signboard.

The signboard had an eagle holding a violet carved on it. It was a crest symbolizing the Beringen Adventurer Guild Ehrenberg Branch. The violet naturally symbolized the Core Clan, Viola Clan.

"Fuuuuck...... Said let's just hang with iron chains......"

"You said you hated it because it squeaks if wind blows."

Bolka finished the work properly even whilst swearing. Banged flat iron nails, fixing the signboard to the building wall.

With a heart wishing all things go well in the future, filled with hope, he drove nails more than necessary fixing firmly.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Rickart entered the building after seeing the signboard fixed properly.

As soon as entering, what came into view were Marie and Bori-bori carrying that heavy bed on their backs alone going upstairs. Puttering porters watched blankly as if unbelievable.

Since both knew how to handle mana, if operating Mana Drive, strength was much stronger than normal people.

Delphi was wiping the floor tirelessly scrubbing with a hog bristle mop on the floor already wiped once.

"Ricky, beds are all in, wanna organize tables?"

"Uh."

Rickart moved heavy tables dragging dragging. Roughly matched positions of four tables in a wide place, and brought a low table next to the fireplace.

After placing chairs, poured kerosene a little in the fireplace and sparked flint fulfilling fire.

Since it was good to make internal air cozy, it was good to keep fire burning always. Smell of burning wood brushed nose tip presenting indescribable sense of stability.

As Rickart looked around inside, seemed dust removed roughly and organization ended. So just sat next to the fireplace.

Not long after, Ice with sleeves rolled up walked down clomp clomp first, followed by Marie and Bori-bori too.

"Delphi, rest a bit. Floor will wear out."

"Should do properly when doing, won't be able to do because busy if people start coming?"

Delphi said laughing. Now, since here was practically their home, she seemed not to know tiredness.

There wasn't a place where touch didn't reach every nook and cranny of the building, every single trivial thing. Seemed would become a memory someday.

Ice regained gloss of hair and gained "some" flesh, recovering health to some extent.

Tall and shoulders wide but originally not a bulky body type, so looked thin but okay.

Whether not tiring even if operating mana, Bori-bori and Marie bent stiff necks left and right. And massaged each other's shoulders too.

Lastly, Bolka came inside after paying the price to laborers. And sat down on the chair in front of the table with a thud, tilting head back and feigning illness.

"Aigo, hard. Let's fold business today and rest."

"We aren't doing business, Bolka."

It wasn't a place selling alcohol and food or providing sleeping places targeting general people. It was a place receiving requests, granting missions, and providing shelter and supplies to adventurers.

"Don't know don't know."

"By the way who cooks? Should make food if people come?"

"First roughly pouring water on existing things and boiling won't do?"

"Seem good to hire an employee too."

"Do we have money? How much left?"

Rickart, Bori-bori, and Marie poured out words randomly. So Bolka couldn't perceive who was saying what.

"Not a penny. Now we are beggars."

Bolka spoke with head still tilted back behind the chair backrest.

Offering gifts to Count, buying building, beds, tables, groceries, spent all money buying this and that so really no money.

"Then if someone brings wanted criminal's head how give bounty?"

Bori-bori asked. Even if not Beringen Guild affiliation, had obligation to give money if bringing wanted criminal live or head.

"Ah, right."

Bolka stood up from the seat as if remembered now, went to his room on the 1st floor, searched the bag and came out with a bundle of documents. And pasted them on the wall thickly.

Faces of wanted criminals looking overflowing with incongruity in respective different ways hung on the wall. Varied from as much as 50 gold to as little as 5 silver.

After pasting all, spoke looking back at friends.

"Should earn money from now."

"Can't we catch those people?"

"Can't go far."

Bori-bori said and Rickart shook head saying no. Because tracking takes time though killing isn't difficult.

"I'll try alone."

Ice, who was just listening to kids talking, spoke. Seemed to think should help anything.

"No need. Must catch a big one. Now we graduated from catching these small fries."

Rickart shook head this time too. Might sound like swaggering in a way, but wasn't words intending really so. Time is scarce, and can't go far, so good to earn big money nearby.

"Big one?"

"Yeah. Requests rich people put in privately. After killing Ehrenberg 5, money remained a bit even after clothing Academy kids all."

It was clothes made with fabric colored with Lapis Lazuli even. Though not all produced yet, degree money remained even after making clothes of 200 kids.

"Ehrenberg 5 is a bit......"

However unexpectedly Bori-bori expressed disapproval as if appalled.

Bori-bori had accumulated experience about fighting to some extent now. Based on such experience thinking now, killing Ehrenberg 5 was almost a miracle-like thing.

Luckily situation was made where defeating individually killing two first when divided two, three, and Nameless stepped up first killing one remaining enemy and shaking remaining two, so obtained such result.

What if situation was opposite? We are guarding here, and if Ehrenberg 5 attacks with full power, could we survive?

Weakness was clear but they were monster-like ones with strengths too. Moreover, difficult to even guess how strong if all five gather and cooperate fighting properly.

Toad-like woman where blades don't work, giant-like guy, necromancer, moreover Sword Master. Though didn't see directly, clear Ghost Sword wasn't easy either.

Even if turning back time Bori-bori would fight, but in current situation they were terrible guys to recall to the point of shuddering.

"Even if not that degree, many rich people. First let's visit other guilds to make faces known. Is there a law to wait for work falling? We can visit first and see if there is work. And as I see, must take over the dock. Or at least should grasp how the dock runs."

Rickart pointed out key immediately. Because Ehrenberg was a city living by trade to anyone's eyes. Listening to Rickart's words felt like feeling blurry vision brightening.

Bolka thought would we starve to death, somehow will work out.

Rickart and friends talked freely about future this and that. Meanwhile, someone entered the building.

"Excuse me."

Viola Clan people stopped conversation and all looked back at him.

It was a young man wearing a hat with one hawk tail feather stuck. Wearing tunic with embroidery in its own way, hung something like loose shawl, and boots were clean without a speck of dust.

He cleared throat and spoke with resonant voice.

"Ahem, ahem. How are you, brave adventurers. I am Harrison staying as a guest in Ehrenberg Merchant Association. Loving literature and poetry, I work making songs finding various stories of the world. Sometimes wandering making sky as roof, bare ground as bed, isn't romance originating from hardship. While thinking of poetic ideas watching stars at night, clouds at day, heard story that boy hero of Red Cloak came here, so came to see risking rudeness. Perhaps, if giving glory to invite hero to our Association and host a banquet, it would be truly moving thing for me."

Rickart and friends just stared directly at him for a while. Somewhat awkward air flowed. Name is, what did he say? Ah, right, Harrison. Can say useless words this long? This is talent if talent too.

Took a little time to organize in head what his name and business were.

Anyway Rickart accepted immediately. Was about to visit here and there anyway.

"Good. Will go."

"Cool. Perhaps that person is?"

"Right. I am Ricky. Red Cloak. Beringen Adventurer Guild Viola Clan, Ricky."

As Rickart revealed himself, self-proclaimed bard Harrison looked at Rickart intently as if observing. Showed sign of caring about gaze not to be rude.

Whether observation ended, he approached with polite steps and took out something from bosom and held out. Even when holding out, bending waist and pulling one foot back, seemed to be excessive formality.

What Harrison held out was an envelope. Tearing red wax and looking at contents, just invitation. To whom, blah blah.

Banquet seemed not opened specially for Rickart, but invited wondering since quite a celebrity came while opened originally anyway everyday.

"Received well. Go. Harrison."

"Was honor to manage to see. If letting to see hero's appearance to other various precious people too, would be greater honor."

Moving last greeting, Harrison turned back and went out.

"Original that formalities, is it?"

Bolka asked looking at Rickart sneakily. Knowing being noble, asking how you are.

"I also heard in words only, see first time like that. How about Marie?"

"Me? Me, why me?"

"Asking if saw formalities like that."

"I don't know......"

Marie pretended not to know hard, but everyone noticed to some extent except Delphi and Ice.

"Wanna go together with me in the evening?"

"Where?"

"To banquet."

"I don't have dress."

"So what, you are pretty."

"I, is, is that so?"

"Yeah, let's go. Bolka and Delphi guard here, Ice and Bori look around dock a bit. Personnel fits perfectly."

Bori-bori opened eyes roundly and looked at Ice next to him. Ice also looked back at Bori-bori.

Two had quite severe height difference, and sitting height also differed so shape of Bori-bori looking up.

As Bori-bori grinned, Ice also smirked. Marie thought wanting to stick a round watching such Ice.

Because was Academy 1st rank before Rickart, and Rickart compared herself and Ice.

But couldn't fight now. Thought to say once if chance comes later.

Anyway Bori-bori and Ice left building first, and Delphi took Marie out and prepared a one-piece dress splitting money absent.

Just modest blue one-piece dress likely worn by country maidens, but mended to fit body instantly so fairly neat and stylish.

Rickart just wore neatest spare clothes, and wearing only one dagger on waist for self-defense left the building.

"Going."

"Uh, come back well. No need to cringe too much. Know right?"

"I can't do that."

Rickart said laughing. And walked night street with Marie.

Only faint light leaked from windows of buildings, city around evening was just dark. Rickart walked a little ahead alone, Marie approached and held hand.

Rickart surprised slightly, but soon felt that frail courage from Marie's hand trembling faintly.

Feeling sorry brushed chest, and Rickart squeezed hand once strongly and released. Conveyed heart like that instead of words. No need to be shy, don't tremble.

Like that holding hands walking, swung back and forth too. Then laughter came out automatically as if childhood innocence revived. Seemed like just joyful boy, girl drunk on night street.

Rickart and Marie went down downhill, to riverside. There was a mansion far from dock, brightly lit leaking from windows seen even from far away.

Going there carriages were parked several in inner courtyard lit by bonfires here and there. Not carriages carrying luggage but for people riding.

Very expensive item. Because making wheel axle required advanced specialized technology more than thought.

"Know how to drink alcohol?"

Rickart asked Marie.

"No."

"Me too. But if talking only work too much isn't it a bit?"

"Well, who is the host?"

"Don't know. Merchant Association so probably merchant noble? Wouldn't know if entering?"

Marie said laughing to Rickart helpless who would know knowing if taking out invitation, whether doing on purpose.

"Fool."

Rickart also just laughed.

Actually no need to care particularly, because two were real authentic nobles. Bloodline itself different from merchant nobles.

One rooted in Royal Family if tracing genealogy, and descendant of hero. And one was current Emperor's bloodline. Even if illegitimate child entered in register, daughter is daughter.

Reaching mansion, there was a person checking invitation. As Rickart showed invitation, he tilted head and looked at Rickart and invitation alternately.

"Younger than thought right?"

"Yes?"

"Can I pass?"

"Ah...... Yes."

Don't know why but gatekeeper answered somewhat reluctantly.

Rickart entered mansion with Marie. From central hall to corridor, hundreds of candles were lit brightly.

Candles made of beeswax weren't cheap, felt great financial power from here.

Attracted by lute and flute sound, and sound of people laughing and chatting, walked corridor and huge interior like another hall revealed.

Some people sitting and some standing, atmosphere enjoying banquet freely. But surprisingly no grown-up adults seen and all kids of Rickart age peer.

Rickart grew rapidly day by day so height late 160s, tall and sturdy compared to peers.

But since Marie was also similar to Rickart, attention focused as such boy and girl entered banquet hall.

Personnel was about 30 people, didn't bustle like market, but atmosphere crowded in its own way.

But seeing two people newly entering banquet hall, people became quiet as if planned. And gaze didn't leave easily from Rickart and Marie.

Reason people staring could be realized instinctively not long after. Because attire was too different.

Gold thread and silver thread, clothes embroidered splendidly by artisan exerting all kinds of techniques and accessories flashing with jewels.

On the other hand, Rickart and Marie were shabby rather than modest compared to people's splendid clothes. And absolutely plain with no accessories on neck, ear, finger.

Soon along with gaze looking down blatantly, sound of whispering heard from here and there. Among them could understand a few.

"Whatever lowly beggars......"