episode_0030

According to Master’s wishes, I went inside the hut first. And then I sat down for a while and waited for Master to come…

Master came in with the red-haired woman.

A red-haired, muscular woman.

Did you say it was Esther?

First, I tried to apologize for swinging the spear carelessly.

however-.

“Aren, please bring some food. One more serving than usual.”

“Yes.”

When Master told me to prepare food, I immediately took action. First, I made a simple meal using the stored ingredients.

At the table, Master and a person named Esther were talking.

I quickly made a meal and served it on the table.

“The meal is ready.”

“Okay, good job. You too, hurry up and come in.”

That’s how the meal started…

That person named Esther.

That person kept looking at me. It was a kind of sticky gaze.

In the end, I couldn’t bear it.

“Why do you keep looking at me?”

I soon remembered that I had forgotten to apologize.

“Ah, I apologize for swinging the spear carelessly. I don’t even know if he’s an acquaintance of Master… .”

But it looks like this wasn’t the problem.

“No, that’s not it, it’s just… . But you know, are you half… ?”

Master cut off Esther’s words.

And with a slightly angry expression.

“Esther.”

“Ah, I understand. anyway… Well, I guess we can just talk.”

So I focused on eating again.

A very dreary meal with no conversation taking place. I ate in a hurry, but the two people finished their meal first.

Master was patting my swollen belly, and Esther was still watching me closely.

Esther said to me.

“Anyway, you’re amazing. You look young. No, is it because it was taught by General Erickson?”

“Yes? Who is General Erickson?”

Was Master Erikson once a general?

Now that I think about it, I saw Master outside and called him General.

Then why is there a bounty on Master?

“Hmm? I guess you didn’t hear. that is… ”

Master Erickson interrupted Esther.

“… Esther, don’t say useless things.”

“Yes.”

Judging from the relationship between the two, it seemed like the teacher was really a general. And it seems that Esther was Master’s former subordinate.

A clear hierarchical relationship was visible.

To some extent, I understood it.

Even though I had only been learning radishes for two years, I was aware of how amazing my teacher was. Even though he was just a mountain resident, his appearance was too nice.

“Anyway. That’s too bad. The general is not coming to our side.”

Our side?

Was Esther’s purpose here to recruit Master?

But you’re recruiting someone with a bounty? no way… ?

“Teacher, is this person working illegally? Could it be that the teacher is now trying to do something illegal… ?”

It seemed plausible.

Judging from his appearance, it’s hard to believe that Master is the mainstay of evil.

At my words, Master gave me a pitiful look.

“… Eren, are you that hungry to spar with me?”

“… no. So what on earth does this person do?”

Esther smiled.

“General, he asked me to tell you.”

“What… That would be fine. But don’t even think about trying to drag Eren into it.”

“Don’t worry. With such a scary general warning me, would I really do that? You said you were curious about my identity, right? I am a rebel.”

I couldn’t help but be a little surprised.

Rebel?

Obviously, if it’s a rebel-.

Actually, I don’t know what kind of organization it is. I was just reacting because Master had previously asked me if I was a ‘rebel’.

“There’s no way you wouldn’t know about the rebels. No need for explanation, right?”

“No. I don’t know about those rebels.”

“What… ? General? Is this really true?”

“… There is a story.”

Esther shook her head several times as if she couldn’t believe it.

“Ugh… . Perhaps because he was raised by a general, he lacks common sense. After all, having a woman in the family is good for education, right?”

It was Esther giving a meaningful look to Master Erikson.

I noticed it right away.

That this person, Esther, has a crush on Master Erikson.

‘Ah, this person. Master… ?’

In my heart, I thought you lived alone because of your appearance. A shape chosen arbitrarily. It was very unexpected.

It didn’t seem like he was popular with women.

Esther looked at me and explained about the rebels.

“Rebels are a group of people fighting against the empire. what… You could think of it as a demonstration of force. So maybe it would be okay to say that I am working illegally.”

“A demonstration of force… ?”

That means -.

Does this mean they are planning to start a war?

Esther continued speaking with a deep sigh, as if she was confused.

“Well, actually, that was a few years ago. Now, the rebels have no choice but to quiet down because the devil has appeared.”

“Why?”

“Well, the common enemy of the continent called the Demon King has appeared, so we can’t cause an uproar. Because it’s clear that I’ll only get animosity for no reason.”

“That’s definitely true.”

“Honestly, I thought the church was playing a trick, but they also selected warriors and saints. It’s probably not a lie.”

A hero and a saint.

I heard it for the first time.

‘… I also need to know some information about the church.’

In my current state, I was so ignorant.

“Ha, I’m annoyed. really. The Empire has risen up against the evil deeds of the Church… ”

“Stop!”

Master interrupted Esther, but I heard clearly.

Obviously a denomination.

Esther gave off a nuance that the rebels’ main enemy was the church.

“Esther, you can go now.”

“Yes? hmm… Well, because I ate. Stay healthy. I’ll come visit you sometime!”

Esther left without a word.

but-.

I quickly followed Esther. I heard Master yelling from behind me, but I deliberately ignored it.

I grabbed Esther and asked:

“Hey, can anyone become a rebel?”

The rebels’ enemy denomination.

then…

‘Honestly, it’s impossible for me to deal with the church alone. Because it’s no different from dealing with an empire. but… ‘

If I join the rebels.

If that’s the case, wouldn’t I also have a force that can fight back?

“Okay. The rebels are an open door to everyone. Of course, your identity must be clear, but… If you’re the general’s disciple, there’s no need to identify yourself. And actually, the general also hates the religious order.”

“You don’t like it?”

I turned my back and looked at Master.

Master Erickson frowned. And he shouted.

“Eren, you come in front of me now, and Esther, you hurry and get out!”

“Yes… .”

The moment Esther was about to leave…

He suddenly turned his head and said.

“But you… No.”

Esther looked like she was about to say something, but then she left. As Master said, I went in front of him.

Actually, I was a little angry right now.

No, rather than being angry, I was more annoyed by a question that suddenly occurred to me.

“Master, why are you holding me back from taking revenge? Master also hates the religious order… .”

Why do you hate denominations just like I do?

Why are you trying to dissuade me from seeking revenge?

“… Give up thinking that I will take that revenge with you.”

“Then you can think of me as taking revenge on your behalf! Master, you blow your nose without using your hands-”

match-!

A sharp pain went down my cheek.

Master had slapped me in the face. With a serious expression that has never been seen before.

“Have I ever told you that I want something like that?”

When I got slapped, I didn’t feel angry or annoyed.

Master’s serious expression.

Because it seemed like there was some sadness in it. It was the same expression he had when he was drunk before and told me his true feelings.

“Okay. Now it would be right to talk about it slowly. Once I accepted him as a disciple, I can’t keep hiding it.”

Master spoke quietly.

“I am Ericsson Armenia. The Kingdom of Parthnia was a general.”

Starting with these words, Master began to tell his story.

***

Erikson of the family of the Marquis of Armenia.

He was the general of the Parthnian Kingdom army.

The Kingdom of Parthnia, a vassal state of the empire. It was a dog-like being that faithfully followed the orders of this kingdom and empire.

When vassal states raise armies and try to rebel against the empire. The Kingdom of Parthnia stood at the forefront and prevented this.

He made me pay a heavy price for recklessly rebelling.

At the forefront was the kingdom’s general, Erikson Armenia. He showed the kingdoms that had rebelled against him with his outstanding talents.

For a long time.

Before he knew it, Erickson had become infamous as a battlefield demon or a sword demon by his enemies.

The vassal states were afraid of Ericson, to the point where they revolted. Ericsson’s reputation grew to that extent.

So ten years later.

Erickson, who nipped in the bud the rebellion of numerous kingdoms.

Before he knew it, he was being called something of a hero.

but-.

The royal family was not pleased with this.

It would be more correct to call it jealousy.

In this way, the royal family overturned the stigma of treason against Erikson and exterminated his family. Erikson’s wife and children. So everyone connected to the Armenian family died.

There was only one person who survived.

Ericsson was the only one.

Erickson was furious and vowed revenge.

In the end, he created royal blood relatives just like himself and even successfully escaped. Revenge was successful.

He took revenge on his enemy, the royal family, but…

Erickson fell into severe disappointment.

He was filled with rage until he cut off the royal family’s head. But I didn’t feel anything after cutting it.

Of course, right after Ben-.

Immediately after that, I felt sick to my stomach. But it didn’t last long.

Terrible futility and loneliness.

When I looked around, my family was no longer there. It was impossible to bring back the family that had already left.

Rather then-.

If he died with his family. Maybe I think it would have been better that way.

And later-.

I realized the truth.

The whole thing was a trick of the church. A trick by the church that caused a rift between the royal family and the general. I immediately realized why.

This was because Ericsson was becoming something of a hero.

A hero must only be born in an empire.

That is why the church kept Ericson in check.

Ericsson also heard about this.

but-.

I gave up revenge.

I lost my wife and my son. There was nothing left and the feeling of revenge had cooled down. Just be quiet-.

I wanted to end my life in a remote place.

That’s how Ericson Armenia’s words ended.

“… This is the story that happened.”

Eren just remains silent about his teacher’s sad story. I couldn’t offer any words of comfort.

Because comforting someone already lost will not come back. Erickson said to Aaron.

“This will probably be the last time I ask you this. Well, you heard my story. And yet, Eren, are you planning on taking revenge?”

“Master… ”

plural.

That is a path that leads to one’s own destruction. It was Ericson who wanted to say that.

There had to be something left to protect, otherwise there was nothing left to take revenge on.

Erickson looked into space and made a wistful expression.

“When I first met you, for some reason… You looked like me. Just like me when I swore revenge. Maybe that’s why I hoped you wouldn’t walk down the same path as me.”

“Is that so?”

“That’s why I named you Eren. The name is taken from my son’s name, Evan.”

Ericsson was silent for a moment.

He continued speaking again.

“And maybe… I may have wanted to raise you as a substitute for my son. So, without realizing it, I named him Eren.”

“Evan… . Origin of my name: I was the teacher’s son.”

“Anyway, there is one thing I want to say. Even if you take revenge, there will be nothing left for you. Just like the kingdom put a bounty on me. You too will only become an object of revenge from other beings.”

At those words, Eren was silent for a while.

yet-.

I opened my mouth cautiously.

“If… If there is someone protecting me… So, if you are trying to get revenge… Is revenge even a wrong choice?”

Eren remembered.

Even though he couldn’t remember, there was still something left in him.