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Although they unintentionally earned the nickname ‘heroes’, the goal of the three people remained solely revenge, and to eliminate the Ernburg Five.

In any case, Ricardt, Boribori, and the Nameless roamed together as if they were one body, defeating villains along the way.

It was unclear whether he was a Nordic or from the Empire, and he couldn’t even speak, yet the combination of the beast-like man and the two boys was truly bizarre. Still, the three of them matched perfectly, as if they were family.

Day by day, the three grew closer, and especially, the bond between Boribori and the Nameless was remarkable. The Nameless, though indifferent, took care of Boribori, and Boribori acted playfully around him in a childlike manner.

Once, a rural lord, grateful for their deeds, treated the three to a warm meal, and for the first time in a long while, they were able to bathe in heated water.

The three of them scrubbed each other’s backs, laughed despite not understanding each other’s words, wore fresh clothes, and lay down in clean beds to sleep.

Ricardt, though not a fervent believer in God, prayed as he drifted off to sleep. May the weary and exhausted find rest, and may the grateful receive blessings.

Ricardt understood all too well how painful it was to punish oneself to the point of being unable to sleep properly until death.

He didn’t know whether the Nameless would have nightmares or dream sweet dreams, but he prayed earnestly nonetheless.

God, please grant this poor beast some rest.

Whether the prayer was answered or not, the Nameless slept deeply for the first time in a long time. It was impossible to say how long it had been. Normally, his nerves were always on edge, keeping him half-awake.

The journey continued, and the three of them tracked down and took revenge on the Nameless’s personal enemies, as well as other wrongdoers.

Then one day, while they were chasing the last enemy, excluding Steiner—

Inside a desolate building, a wooden wall suddenly shattered with a loud crash. A huge figure smashed through the broken wall and brutally slammed someone against it.

Thud!

“Ugh!”

The large man gripped the throat of the person he had pinned against the wall with one hand. His thick forearm was scarred, like a tree trunk covered in knife cuts.

In his other hand, he held a battle axe, and dark, sticky blood was dripping from the blade.

“Guh… Ugh… Cough…”

The person whose neck was being held groaned in agony, his face twisted in pain. In front of him was someone wearing a helmet that covered their entire face. The helmet was covered in deep gashes, as if from sword strikes, making it all the more intimidating.

But what was even more terrifying were the beast-like, gleaming blue eyes peering out from beneath the helmet. And the distinct, raspy breathing sound. It was the Nameless, X.

Yet, the Nameless didn’t end the life of his mortal enemy quickly. He hesitated, staring at him for a long time. It was because he was grappling with an unfamiliar emotion he had never felt before.

Emptiness? Futility? Why now? Why was he hesitating? Had he forgotten the brand he had seared into himself?

Had he forgotten the words he had carved into his mind, heart, bones, and soul? What was he doing? Rip him apart and kill him now.

The Nameless lashed out at himself mentally. His emotions surged, and his hand, which was gripping the enemy’s neck, began to tremble.

At that moment, a youthful voice called out from behind him.

“Uncle! You need to kill him quickly! The enemies are coming!”

The voice belonged to Ricardt.

They were currently ambushing a thieves’ guild disguised as a merchant caravan. On the surface, they pretended to trade legitimate goods, but behind the scenes, they were involved in human trafficking.

Although all thieves’ guilds operated in secrecy, this one was especially elusive and well-disguised, making it difficult to track them down.

“Uncle! Hurry up!”

Ricardt shouted urgently, urging him on. At that, the Nameless twisted his enemy’s neck with one hand, killing him. Despite his weakened body, his grip was terrifyingly strong. It was horrifying to imagine what he must have been like in his prime.

Crunch.

The enemy, his neck strangled and then snapped, fell to the ground with his mouth wide open. His entire face had turned a bluish-purple, and foam filled his mouth.

The Nameless slowly lifted his foot and stomped on the man’s head with full force. It shattered instantly, like a watermelon breaking open.

Squash!

“Did you kill him? Did you kill him?”

Boribori, who was holding a sword in one hand and scanning the outside, repeatedly glanced back and asked Ricardt. Ricardt, seeing the enemy’s head smashed beyond recognition, responded.

“Yeah, he’s dead. Let’s go. Uncle, let’s go.”

Ricardt slipped out through the back door he had scouted earlier. This time, the enemies were too tough, so instead of fighting them all, they had decided to eliminate only the target and make a quick escape.

As they exited through the back door, they found themselves by a large river, where smugglers seemed busy moving cargo. Ricardt weaved through the alleys and made his way to the square, blending into the crowd.

It was shaping up to be a perfect assassination operation if they could just slip away smoothly, but when Ricardt looked back, the Nameless was nowhere to be seen.

“Where’s Uncle?”

“Huh? Didn’t he come?”

“I’m sure I saw him kill the guy…”

“What should we do? Should we go back?”

Ricardt thought for a moment and quickly made a decision.

“Let’s go back to the dock for now.”

“Uh, okay…”

Ricardt and Boribori headed toward the dock, taking a different route than the one they came from. They hid in the reed fields by the riverside and observed the place where they had carried out their mission from a distance.

The thieves’ guild members were looking around cautiously, but there were no signs that the Nameless had been captured or that a fight had broken out.

This meant the Nameless had successfully escaped. So, where had he gone?

“…Looks like he left on his own.”

Ricardt spoke. His quick thinking led to a swift realization.

“Where would he go?”

“To kill the rest of the Five.”

“Why?”

“It’s one of two things. Either we’re a nuisance to him, or…”

“No, that can’t be.”

Boribori, who agreed with almost everything Ricardt said, shook his head in denial.

Ricardt had spoken that way, but in truth, he had an inkling. There was something he could understand because he was Ricardt.

The Nameless might have felt that being with them was making him weak. Or perhaps, he had decided to kill Steiner on his own, no matter what, because he was afraid they would get hurt.

“Let’s go to the emergency rendezvous point and wait.”

“…Okay…”

Boribori replied sullenly. His voice sounded choked, as if he was feeling hurt and disappointed.

Ricardt and Boribori emerged from the reed field and left the city. They found an isolated clearing off the road and waited for the Nameless. The cold felt especially biting.

Not knowing how long they would have to wait, they started a fire to ward off the cold. Time passed slowly. Ricardt and Boribori sat in silence.

Night fell, and cold winter stars filled the sky. During their exhausting journey, the moon and stars had often provided some comfort, but now they couldn’t fill the emptiness they felt.

Despite being so close to the city, Ricardt and Boribori spent the night outside in the freezing winter. They waited for one person. But that person never came. He had truly left.

At dawn, Ricardt rose, his body tired and sore. He hesitated to wake Boribori, who was still sleeping, because he knew that even if Boribori woke, the Nameless wouldn’t be there.

But they couldn’t just wait around forever. As much as it was sad and disappointing, they had their own duties, and places they needed to return to.

Every journey leaves a special impression, and this one seemed particularly so. In retrospect, it was truly a strange bond they had formed.

The man who could not speak, the Nameless, a beast punishing himself for the sake of avenging his family. They had wandered the northern regions together, defeating villains.

How much time had passed? A month? A month and a half? What month was it now? Were the academy students doing well?

Although Ricardt had sent money to the academy through the Imperial Guild Bureau whenever he had the chance, he was worried because the price of grain had skyrocketed to gold.

Ricardt, too, felt his mood sinking, burdened by various worries and regrets. He thought that maybe it would be better if the damn snow fell heavily and covered everything.

Ricardt tightened his cloak around himself and shook the sleeping Boribori to wake him up.

“Bori. Bori. Wake up.”

“Hmm… Is Uncle back?”

“No.”

“I see…”

“What should we do?”

“About what?”

“If we track down the Five, we might meet Uncle. It seems he went off alone.”

“Then let’s go.”

“We might die.”

“We accepted that risk when we left the academy, didn’t we?”

“…That’s true.”

Boribori sluggishly got up. He roughly smoothed down his messy bowl-cut hair with his hand, tied up his bag, and slung it over his back. Then, standing up, he looked around.

“Where should we go?”

“This place is dangerous. Siegfringer is safer, but the Adventurers’ Guild likely has more information… Maybe we should visit the thieves’ guild…”

If they were going to track someone, they needed information. But Ricardt had stirred up trouble with the thieves’ guilds in the area, so they would be lucky if they didn’t get attacked, let alone receive any information.

“Let’s just get moving.”

“Okay.”

They had been like one body when it was the three of them, but now they were back to two. Their steps weren’t light as they felt quite heavy.

Ricardt and Boribori followed the road heading east. After about an hour of walking, they saw someone coming from the opposite direction, wearing a hood pulled down low and leaning on a staff.

The person didn’t seem to be carrying any weapons and had a lute strapped to their back. A bard, perhaps?

They were about to pass by when a familiar voice called out.

“Young master?”

Ricardt turned around. Where there is parting, there is also meeting. It was a welcome face—the deliveryman from the Imperial Guild Bureau who had escorted Ricardt from his hometown to Reinfurt.

“Huh? Arno?”

“It really is you, young master. What are you doing here? Weren’t you supposed to be at the academy?”

“I’m still a student. I’m just out for a while on business.”

“Really? How’s life at the academy treating you?”

“It’s fine. I’ve made some good friends. Let me introduce you. This is Boribori, my friend.”

Ricardt introduced Boribori, who stood beside him, looking bewildered.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Arno.”

“Uh… hello? But who’s the ‘young master’?”

“The young master is the young master. I’m talking about this gentleman here, the Boar Slayer of Stormhertz, young master Ricardt.”

“…What?”

Boribori looked at Ricardt with a bewildered expression. Ricardt just gave a sheepish smile and spoke.

“Well, I didn’t want to make things awkward for everyone. My real name is Ricardt. Ricky is just a nickname my family used.”

“…What are you talking about?”

“That’s all there is to it. It’s not that important.”

“You’re a noble?!”

“Yeah, well, something like that…”

“Ehhh!?”

Boribori’s eyes widened in shock, as if they were going to tear apart. Arno, not understanding the situation, blinked in confusion.

Ricardt quickly tried to change the subject.

“So, how have you been, Arno? You were going to become a monk in the west, right?”

“Ah, haha. My goals have changed. I’m aiming to become a bard now. So I’ve been traveling around, gathering stories.”

“So you quit the delivery job?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Hmm… I don’t really get it, but good luck anyway.”

“Thank you. You’re still as kind as ever. You haven’t changed a bit.”

Ricardt gave a slight smile.

“Who knows. Oh, by the way, have you ever heard of the Ernburg Five?”

At Ricardt’s question, Arno’s expression suddenly stiffened.

“…Why are you asking about them?”

“Just for work. Have you heard anything about them recently? Maybe seen them or heard any rumors?”

“You shouldn’t get involved with those guys, young master. They’re terrifying. There was a time when they massacred an entire village. Just killed everyone. There’s even a gruesome rumor that they skinned the smooth-skinned children.”

“I know they’re bad guys. I’m asking if you know anything about what they’ve been up to recently.”

“…”

Arno looked at Ricardt for a moment. People say kids change by the day, but Ricardt didn’t seem to have changed at all, aside from being a bit taller.

No matter what, he was always calm, with an eerie sort of atmosphere that was hard to place.

“I don’t know about all five of them, but I’ve heard that there’s a laboratory of a man named Reto the Experimenter in the Sidria Swamp.”

“Really? Where’s that?”

“Sidria is further north from here. It’s a sparsely populated area. There’s a legend that necromancers have appeared there from time to time, but if you go there, it’s just endless mushy land covered in moss.”

“So we take this road and then head north?”

“…Young master. I don’t know what your reasons are, but you shouldn’t do this. They’re insane. Do you know the creepiest thing about them?”

“What? That they eat people?”

“No. They’ve committed all these horrific acts, but they’re not even wanted criminals. Isn’t that strange?”

“…Huh? That’s true.”

Ricardt had traveled with the Nameless, dealing with scum who were the lowest of the low. But it was odd that the Ernburg Five, even more vile than the ones they’d faced, weren’t wanted criminals.

Ricardt wasn’t chasing them because they were wanted criminals; he was carrying out a ‘request’ to kill Reto and Erze.

“There’s a rumor that the Emperor secretly gives them orders to punish vassals he’s displeased with. Of course, it’s an irreverent rumor, so people don’t talk about it openly.”

Even the Emperor’s direct control only extended to his personal domain.

In other words, there was always tension and conflict between him and his vassals, so he would use any means necessary to check and coerce them.

In this context, the Emperor’s Champion was more of a political asset than a direct military tool. Therefore, it was almost unheard of for the Emperor’s Champion to be dispatched to some far-flung region just to maintain order.

It was the limitation of feudalism. Not just the Emperor, but all the lords of this time had a similar mindset. The Emperor was simply at the pinnacle.

When a rural lord found himself in trouble, there was no guarantee that his higher lord would come to his aid, especially when it involved mobilizing troops.

That’s because, sometimes, helping others at the cost of one’s own resources could lead to catastrophic consequences.

Thus, even criminal organizations acted smartly, staying within certain boundaries.

What that means is, if they murdered a noble or went too far, the truly enraged high-ranking nobles might mobilize their armies.

After all, why were counts, dukes, and lords there, if not to take care of their own territories? “Why should I clean up your mess? Why should I spend my hard-earned money and sacrifice my people for it?” This was the basic mindset of the time.

It wasn’t that the concept of a nation didn’t exist, but it was a weak one. People might die for their own honor or for their family’s name, but to die for a country they didn’t really understand? That was hard to imagine.

Only when an external threat or a great disaster struck did the feudal lords band together—that was the hallmark of feudalism.

Society wasn’t governed by a strict legal system but by the leadership, ability, and charisma of the lords themselves.

Thus, depending on who the emperor, king, or lord was, everything in society—economics, military matters, diplomacy, and even the arts—fluctuated wildly.

Of course, that didn’t mean that rulers just left their vassals to do whatever they wanted.

Politics was complicated, with many factors to consider. If politics were simple, the world wouldn’t be as tragic as it is. In the end, the ones who suffered the most were always the powerless.

That’s why it was an era in need of heroes.

“The emperor is behind those guys?”

“It’s just a rumor, of course.”

“……”

“Anyway, it’s been great seeing you again after so long. Times are harsh this winter, and people are growing more ruthless, but I’ve heard Siegfringer is doing better because heroes suddenly appeared one day and took out the villains. Since the bad guys who were sucking the people dry are gone, I suppose even the Emperor will get through this inevitable winter safely.”

“That’s good to hear.”

Though it had been Ricardt, Boribori, and the Nameless who had accomplished all of that, Ricardt didn’t show it. They hadn’t done it for praise or recognition. It was simple. If people were living better, that was enough.

“Yes, it’s really fortunate. That’s why even someone as weak and scrawny as me can walk the roads alone. Hahaha.”

Ricardt watched Arno, who seemed to have changed a bit, with a subtle smile. It wasn’t a bad change.

“I was happy to see you too, Arno. Next time we meet, sing me a song.”

“Of course. I’ll compose a masterpiece just for you.”

“I wish you good fortune. We’ll be going now.”

“May fortune smile upon you as well, young master.”

The last time they parted, they hadn’t had a proper farewell, but now, after time had passed and they met again, they could finally exchange a proper goodbye.

Saying farewell with smiles made the parting less bittersweet.

As Ricardt turned to walk away, he suddenly glanced at Boribori, who was blinking in disbelief.

“What?”

“You know……”

“Yeah?”

“I feel… betrayed.”

“By what?”

“That you’re a noble.”

“You feel betrayed because I’m a noble, or because I hid it?”

“Both.”

Ricardt couldn’t help but let out a small, incredulous laugh.

“So, does that mean all the hard times we went through together and all the moments we laughed were fake?”

“No, it’s not that, but…”

“Let’s go. We have to find Uncle.”

Ricardt began to move, and Boribori followed behind him.

After walking in silence for a while, Boribori spoke up from behind.

“Why did you come to the academy?”

“No real reason. Just because I’m a noble doesn’t make me any more special than you.”

“There’s no way that’s true.”

“Think what you want.”

“So, where are you from in the north?”

“I’m not from the north. I’m from the mid-south. Stormhertz. I’m Ricardt, third son of the Caldebert family.”

“Ew, it sounds like you’re speaking a foreign language.”

“Hahaha.”

“Anyway, Ricky is still Ricky, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Come to think of it, what Volka said was right.”

“About what?”

“That he’s never seen a weirdo like you before. A noble going to the academy? It makes no sense.”

Ricardt turned his head and gave Boribori a sideways glance.

“Hey.”

“It’s okay. Even if you’re a weirdo.”

“That’s not the point!”

Boribori seemed to find it amusing that he’d finally managed to tease Ricardt, and grinned widely. Ricardt, too, just chuckled.

There may be partings whenever there are meetings, but still, there are always those who stay by your side. The two boys still felt the emptiness left by the absence of the Nameless, but at least they were able to distract themselves for a moment.

Tiny buds had started to sprout on the trees lining the roadside. Slowly, the harshness of that relentless winter was beginning to fade.

*****