episode_0147

Duels, which are initiated whenever differences of opinion arise, also have their own limitations.

Challenging one’s parents to a ground fight because the breakfast is not tasty is certainly something that deserves widespread criticism, regardless of the era.

However, there is a way to escape these restrictions.

“Now that I think about it, I was curious about this too.”

“What do you mean?”

“Are there any personal grudges?”

Revenge was considered a right.

Enemies of the family, merchants who stole money, and thieves encountered on mountain paths were not socially criticized even when they practiced the time-honored custom of private sanctions.

Being abandoned by parents at a young age also falls into this category. In other words, one of my right to pass the game has been cut off.

So, fortunately, the nickname created in connection with this battle will not stick.

To be honest, I didn’t hold a grudge, but this match had to have the theme of revenge if I wanted to avoid being nicknamed ‘Alpine’s ruffian.’

First of all, it had the effect of making me feel like I shouldn’t just rush into it even if I didn’t know how good it was, but the Confucian blood flowing through my soul was refusing to accept that title.

Therefore, I instead answered vaguely.

“It depends on what you think.”

“Well, I guess everyone else thinks that way anyway.”

It seemed like he understood the hidden meaning behind it, but the count just shrugged his shoulders and brushed it off as if it was okay.

The first collision, followed by several sword strikes.

Unlike Rudolph, the Count clearly mastered swordsmanship. This was something I could tell after crossing swords a few times.

Although he is old and lacks strength, he is not afraid of attack, and his improvisation and skill at the moment are bound to be reflected in his actions.

But what is most notable about him is that he had a will that resembled a kind of obsession.

This is the kind of tenacity to do your best here, to not run away even when you have the opportunity, and to give it your all.

-Kaang!

The sword and spear clash once. The inferiority in range that it would have originally had could be resolved by drawing the medieval sword technique.

Both I and the Count were momentarily stumbled by the repulsive force, but were quickly able to get back on their feet.

And after one collision, there is a gap to catch your breath while turning your horse’s head around for the next attack.

The Count slowed his speech slightly and opened his mouth.

“Do you remember when I said there was nothing left for me just now?”

“Yes. I said there was no successor.”

“Similar, but different. I have no one to pass on the legacy I have built all my life, and no family to follow my wishes.”

In short, there was no going back. However, I still had one question about his un-noble appearance.

I asked, slightly adjusting my grip on the sword.

“Why did you exclude money, fame, and titles of nobility?”

“The age at which it was important has long since passed.”

The Count of Ravenna stood at the opposite end of the spectrum from Rudolph, who wanted to hold on to power until the end.

It was truly subtle that even though their mindsets were completely opposite, it led to the conclusion that both of them fought without backing down.

The Count, who was thinking deeply about something for a moment, immediately spoke to me.

“I heard that you are planning to get married, is that correct?”

“I didn’t know you were so interested in my personal history.”

“I also never thought that would happen. But there are rumors coming from all over, so what can I do?”

The speed of the horse, which had been pacing in place, increased. I followed suit and hurried Sancho’s steps.

Approaching at a slightly faster pace than walking, the Count grabbed the spear that had already lost half of its function in the previous collision.

“The person who was talking so much about getting married. Is she the corner you return to?”

“Strictly speaking, I wasn’t the one making a fuss… That’s the way it is.”

“I see! Then, did you really mean it? ”

-Quaaang!

The last words were almost murmured, perhaps because of gritted teeth.

The clash that followed soon after was much stronger than before, perhaps because they had planned to attack each other. And with a groan of pain, the Count fell from his horse.

But it wasn’t completely over. Perhaps because he turned his body at the last moment, the cut was shallow, and he seemed to have managed to disperse the shock of falling from the horse well.

The battle on horseback was exciting, but the range was limited. I stopped Sancho and got off his back. And I watched for a moment as the Count hurriedly stood up.

A faint white light flowed from the Count’s fingertips, and at the same time, the slightly flowing blood stopped.

Only then did he seem to regain his strength. Instead of the spear that had already turned into powder, he picked up a sword rolling on the ground, pointed it at me, and shouted again.

“I asked him if he meant what he said!”

*****

It’s a bit of a long time ago, now in the realm of memories.

To be exact, it is a story about the time when Raven was a beginner who had just entered the cold medieval world.

A time when your identity lies somewhere between a mercenary and a knight, that is, a time when you act as an inexperienced fighter who has just been ordained.

This was the time when knights gave up fighting and found other jobs, such as village guards or hard-working daily workers.

And if I remember correctly, that day was the day I went to a bandit raid party.

It was a night where, after a fruitful day, I settled down in a corner of the inn with my exhausted body, sipped beer, and soothed my mind.

“Laven.”

“Ugh.”

“I’ve thought about it carefully, and now I’m thinking of quitting this job. I think today will be my last day as a knight.”

“Huh? No, why?”

It was a time when I was very distraught because I had already heard things like, ‘Isn’t it a family meeting for you to worry alone?’ from the bandits I had just encountered.

And the rookie driver who was my companion at the time, whose name I can’t even remember anymore, said this.

“Why, if you want to stop, just stop. Do I really need a special reason?”

“Did you say that you ate your ordination raw? Still, no matter how small it is, I would have trained for five years. Isn’t the time I’ve spent so far a waste?”

“It’s such a waste.”

“Then?”

“But I have to find another way.”

“Did you meet someone else again?”

“Ah, the daughter of the innkeeper in this village is so true. It melted my frozen heart on the battlefield. Although it is a little lacking, it is quite suitable for the feat I achieved in this battle-”

“Yeom disease.”

In my memory, I had no hesitation in speaking, so we must have been quite close to each other back then. Even though I can’t even remember his face right now.

However, the reason I remember this conversation is not because I was criticized by the thief Naburangi, but because it touched a kind of complex I had.

“You’re not that much older than me, so isn’t it time you started thinking about that too? How long are you going to live under the delusion of serving nobles and receiving land?”

“Excuse me for being delusional. It is a definite wish.”

“Yes, yes. But isn’t this world full of infinite joy to dedicate one’s life to such things? Just like me, you too can pursue love or romance just once.”

“… Later, now that it’s done, I’ll think about it later.”

At the time, I just said that and brushed it off, but in reality, it was a worry that was almost over.

Of course, I never said it out loud in my life because I knew that no one would sympathize with it.

“What about your family?”

“Nothing.”

“Oh, there was one?”

“No, I just said there isn’t one.”

I am now accustomed to encountering a mixture of questioning looks as I pass through inspection.

However, it was inevitable that my stomach would twist every time I answered.

If I reveal that I am an illegitimate child who was abandoned by my father, I will leave. However, since all records are left in the church, it is impossible to make it up.

In the end, every time I was interrogated, all I could say was that I was an orphan.

Now that I look back, perhaps that’s why I tended to be more obsessed with success compared to other people.

Unlike those who had a home or family to return to, I had nothing left if I didn’t even aim for success.

That may be why he was able to readily extend his hand when picking up Lisia from the ruins.

I probably saw myself reflected in the girl’s face. The emotion was compassion and empathy.

Even if you tried to meet a good person, it was difficult to find someone who could completely understand each other.

From the moment of his birth, it was his fate for the second time in his life that could not help but be anachronistic.

So I wandered around aimlessly, searching for whether good will and hope existed in this world.

In a life that seemed to go on forever, I finally found someone.

“What is the answer?”

The count seemed to have forgotten the pain, and rather than taking care of himself, he was glaring at me sharply.

It was impossible to read his thoughts from his facial expression, which was covered by his helmet except for the corners of his eyes. But I guessed that he was expecting this answer.

“A place to return to?”

“… … .”

“Yes. Unlike you.”

The Count was silent for a moment, then laughed loudly.

As I listened quietly without understanding what was going on, he opened his mouth with a small smile.

“I see.”

And even though it is clear that he is cornered and facing death.

He finished his speech with a satisfied expression and rushed towards me.

*****

Oh God.

Have you truly arranged a future like this?

-visor!

“What are you talking about?”

“There is no need for you to know anyway!”

The late illegitimate son asked that question, but the count dismissed it and made up his mind not to say anything more.

From the beginning, it wasn’t an attempt to persuade anyone, it was a question that only needed to be convinced on one’s own.

The Count looked around the audience.

Our troops were being repelled one by one, and the tight siege had long since been lifted in vain. As a result, not only the battle but also the war was lost.

What’s more, the last person he dealt with was an illegitimate child whom he met again as fate would have it.

“It would be natural for Rudolph to be like that.”

Although he was an emperor who was once treated as a lord, the title of emperor was no longer included after his name.

There was no need for such extravagant epithets for a monarch who had already lost the war and passed away. And he himself will soon meet a similar ending.

“Yes, look beyond me! Go beyond me and prove what is right!”

My legs were shaking from the shock of falling from the horse, and my arms were already swinging too hard so many times that they didn’t have much strength.

Even though there were only adverse conditions, the Count of Ravenna fought tirelessly. We fought so endlessly, and finally at the end-

-Phew!

“Kuhhak… … .”

Not to anyone else, but to the person who has what he doesn’t have.

It was because I knew that leaving that legacy was the last thing left to do.