Chapter 66: Rank 11 (6)
The next day.
Kain, Huck, and the other three kids were unusually quiet at the orphanage.
Normally, they would have dashed outside to roam the alleys immediately after breakfast, but after what happened yesterday, they couldn't do that.
‘From now on, don’t pickpocket passersby or threaten them! You’ll be in big trouble if you’re caught!’
The words of the fearsome Director Hagio, like a tiger, kept echoing in their minds.
What was shocking was that the Director, whom they thought was only scary on the outside, was actually hiding incredible swordsmanship skills.
They still vividly remembered yesterday's events.
The sight of him protecting them, emitting a brilliant Aura Sword from his blade and swinging his greatsword at an invisible speed!
It was even more thrilling than the heroic tales of knights the orphanage teachers had told them.
Of course.
“Even so, it’s impossible to defeat all the thugs.”
“That…… can’t be helped.”
“It’s a matter of numbers.”
“That’s right. Besides…… the Jeten Guild is behind the Bilte Gang, isn’t it.”
No matter how strong Director Hagio was, he wouldn't be able to resolve the current situation.
It wasn't just the two thugs who had visited the orphanage that were the problem.
The Bilte Gang behind them, and even they trembled in fear of the Jeten Guild, the largest Swordsmanship Guild in the Nadan Kingdom.
The problem was that an individual was too powerless to fight and win against them.
“What should we do? That, the Director’s friend? That person…… Can we trust him?”
“Can we trust him?! I don't even know if he's on our side in the first place! That bastard, he fought with the Director at first, didn't he!”
“That’s true, but Director Hagio told us to trust him. He said we don’t have to worry about it anymore. As long as we don’t harm others, we can go out and play freely today too.”
“He did say it’s fine as long as we come back early…… But, but…… I still can’t go out. I’m scared.”
Everyone nodded at Huck’s words.
It couldn't be helped.
The children, who had wandered the streets and been exposed to the terror of thugs for a long time, were extremely vulnerable to the names ‘Bilte’ and ‘Jeten’.
Even the mythical scene Hagio and Harang had shown yesterday was insufficient to dispel that fear.
Therefore.
Kkiiiiiik-
Flinch!
“Wh-what, what is it!”
“It’s the thug bastards!”
“That person, it’s Bernel! Bilte’s right-hand man!”
“The people behind him seem to be gang executives too…… Crazy! That person, what on earth did he do!”
At the sudden appearance of the thugs at the orphanage, the four boys couldn't help but have a fit.
“Ugh, uh……”
“Ugh, uwaaaa……”
Sounds mixed with groans and screams flowed from the children’s mouths.
Huck, who had a weak constitution, couldn't even do that.
Overwhelmed by immense fear, he started hyperventilating, and one of the teachers rushed over to calm him.
Watching him, Kain, the leader of the group, ground his teeth.
‘Damn it, the teacher is right. I can’t live my whole life just harming others!’
Before, he felt no guilt about taking other people's money, but now it was different.
He had learned from the teachers that it was wrong, and he was now guaranteed meals and a place to sleep without having to do such things.
For the boy who had wandered the streets, the orphanage was like heaven.
‘Let’s say it can’t be helped even if I get beaten. Even if I die from it…… Let’s say it’s not okay. So let’s tell them never to come back, to leave the orphanage alone!’
At this moment when Director Hagio was away.
A hot courage surpassing fear welled up in Kain’s heart, and it spurred the boy to step forward boldly in front of the thugs.
The other three kids were surprised, and the teachers looked flustered, but Kain didn't stop.
He didn't back down.
And then, just as the boy, who had puffed out his chest greatly in front of the thugs, was about to shout.
Thud.
“I’m sorry!”
Bernel, Bilte’s fearsome right-hand man, knelt down with a thud in front of Kain.
“……?”
“……?”
“……?”
Kain, the children behind Kain who didn't know what to do, and the teachers who were calming them—everyone had a blank expression.
Who was Bernel?
Wasn't he the madman of Ruibil's back alleys, so fearsome that even crying children would stop crying just by hearing his name?
He was an individual of such great valor that even most Silver Plate Mercenaries were reluctant to get involved with him, and even more feared because he had connections with the Guards, making it impossible to throw him in jail.
But, such a person knelt?
And to a child who was barely ten years old?
However, that wasn't the end.
Thud.
Thud.
Thud.
“I’m sorry! I’ll never make you guys do such things again!”
“I’m sorry! I’ll never appear before you guys again!”
“I’m sorry! I’ll never bully you again! No, I won’t do anything!”
“……?”
Even the thugs behind Bernel all knelt down and, as if children begging forgiveness from their teacher, confessed their wrongdoings in a clear tone and begged for forgiveness.
At that bizarre sight, the people of the orphanage, including Kain, wore dumbfounded expressions, but the thugs, regardless, continued to beg for forgiveness.
They even showed the heavily swollen faces of the two thugs who had come yesterday and said, ‘If anyone bullies you from now on, tell us, we’ll make them all look like this!’
As if that wasn't enough, they left the orphanage only after delivering various foodstuffs, including bread and meat, as a token of apology.
It was truly a situation as if a storm had swept through.
In such a situation where everyone could only stand dumbly, rooted to the spot…… Kain was the first to come to his senses.
He muttered quietly.
“Director Hagio is…… the strongest.”
It didn't matter that the one called Harang or whatever had caused the incident.
The fact that Director Hagio was a being who could command even such a Monster was strongly imprinted in the young boy’s heart.
“From tomorrow, no, from today! I’m going to ask the Director to teach me swordsmanship!”
“M-me too!”
“Let’s learn together too!”
“I-if I learn swordsmanship from the Director, I can become strong too, right!”
The worries and anxieties that had piled up like a mountain until yesterday melted away like snow, and the children’s hearts were filled with pride for the orphanage.
* * *
“See. It was resolved well, right?”
“Hmm, I see.”
“Killing isn’t the only way, you know. That’s the village’s way. We, who have left the village, don’t need to keep living like that, do we?”
“Certainly…… you’re right. Especially me, I think. To be a role model for the orphanage children, I need to become more accustomed to the ways of the outside world.”
Observing the thugs from a tree a little away from the orphanage, the two chatted about this and that.
Neither of them had a bad expression.
Hagio, because the children’s problem was resolved well, and Harang, because he could minimize unnecessary sacrifices.
That also meant that the time to part ways again had come.
Harang, with a faint smile, bid farewell for the second time.
“Well then, I’ll be going now.”
“Alright. Drop by often. I’d like to visit Marzen too, but considering the children, it’s a bit difficult to be away for long.”
“I understand. Ah, and……”
Harang, who was about to speak of the ‘Black Hydra’, frowned and closed his mouth.
He felt like he was giving unnecessary worry to a friend who was trying to settle down completely and forget the village.
Of course, since they seemed to be related to the village, it might be right to give information, but in truth, what he knew was also missing the core, so he wondered if it had any meaning.
“What is it? Why did you stop what you were about to say?”
“Um, ah, no. My thoughts got tangled for a moment. That…… have you met any other Peers besides me?”
Therefore, different words from his initial thought flowed from Harang’s mouth.
This was somewhat better.
Because it was something he was genuinely curious about.
Like Hagio, he thought he would be happy if he met the other guys on better terms than before, than in the village.
However, Hagio merely shook his head at Harang’s question.
“No. You’re the first.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Honestly, I was very flustered. I didn’t think I wouldn’t run into anyone, but to think it would be the most fearsome one…… Of course, now I think it’s fortunate. I’d have no more wishes if the other guys adapted to the world as well as you have.”
“Is that so? Am I adapting well?”
“I think so. So, you’ll be able to get along fine even if you go back to Marzen.”
“……”
“Why, what’s the problem?”
Hagio threw the question back.
He hadn't heard in detail, but he had realized that Harang was hesitating between his connections in the outside world and freedom.
Fortunately, the two were not mutually exclusive concepts.
‘A place with good connections, a place where one wants to stay…… Harang now knows that even if that place is a very narrow world, one can be free.’
Then what was the problem now?
Shouldn't there be no worries at all?
Hagio thought so and looked at Harang.
However, a very faint layer of anxiety and worry covered his friend’s face.
‘This guy is starting to show expressions too, the outside world is certainly good.’
However, Hagio did not worry about that.
Rather, seeing him show emotions, unlike his previous doll-like movements, he even thought that Harang was growing in a better direction.
He lightly patted the back of his friend, who hadn't answered for a long time, with his palm.
At this, Harang was startled.
It was natural.
For assassins who were sensitive even to others entering their personal space, this level of touch was akin to a provocation.
However, seeing Hagio’s clear expression, he soon smiled.
He had to get used to this too.
If he didn't intend to live as an assassin forever.
Harang, who had thought this far, nodded and said.
“Well then, I’m off.”
“Farewell.”
Shushuk.
That short farewell was the last.
Harang left Ruibil in an instant, and Hagio prepared to return to being the orphanage director and take care of the children.
However, both of them knew.
That this was not the end of their encounters.
* * *
‘Why, why is my heart so heavy.’
A week later.
Passing through the eastern gate of the Commercial City Marzen, Harang, who had returned to his home once again, wore a worried expression.
Was it because he was embarrassed to have written a letter as if he were leaving completely, only to return shortly after?
It wasn't that.
Hadn't he written in the letter that he was going on a ‘brief’ trip?
Perhaps people were thinking he had gone off to do some Mercenary work.
Then what was it?
What on earth, what was it that was weighing down his chest so heavily?
Harang didn't go straight to the Eddy Mercenary Corps but wandered aimlessly, choosing deserted places.
He didn't want to face his connections yet.
To be precise, he wasn't ready for it.
It was then.
“Harang, my friend, it’s been a while.”
“……”
The beggar old man.
Whether intentionally or unintentionally, the being who had given him numerous enlightenments had appeared before him again, and Harang’s expression hardened.