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Outsiders always seemed to bring misfortune. At least, that’s how Ricardt felt.

Hadn’t his life gone awry from the moment the cavalry with red flags arrived in Heiden?

However, the person who came from the main family seemed far removed from concepts like misfortune or happiness. He just seemed… a bit strange.

He was quite on the portly side, so his gait was waddling, and above all, his clothes were as colorful as those of a clown. His beard grew down to his chest, making it hard to guess his age.

And he was wearing something like a sleeping cap. Do all people who study at universities have such unique tastes?

As he took off the hat and bowed his thick waist to greet Abelich, Ricardt saw that he was bald. The sparse patches of hair near his ears looked pitiful.

To Ricardt, exposing a bald scalp seemed akin to giving the middle finger.

Straightening his waist again, he spoke with a pleased expression.

“It’s been a while, my Lord. Congratulations on your newborn son. I feel remorseful for having been out of touch for so long, but I am overwhelmed by your hospitality. Sir Graut looks as imposing as ever. Oh, Lady Aileen, it’s been a while—ah, should I now call you Madam Stormhertz now? Haha, you’ve accomplished a great feat.”

The person from the main family also greeted Ricardt’s sister-in-law. This was because he was Aileen’s writing teacher.

“You must have had a difficult journey in this cold weather. Dr. Reno. Is the Count in good health?”

“He’s doing fairly well, but let’s discuss that later.”

“Hmm, I see. And this child is my second son, Vilter, and my youngest, Ricardt.”

The man called Dr. Reno continued to smile warmly as he looked at Vilter and Ricardt. He was not here for a casual visit but to discuss the future of the two boys.

“Young Master Vilter, and Young Master Ricardt. I am Reno. I’ve only seen you both from afar at the wedding, and this is our first proper meeting. I am very pleased to see you both growing up healthily. Haha.”

Dr. Reno was a dependent scholar of Caldebert Count’s family, handling various large and small matters.

He acted as a tutor, conveyed the Count’s words to other lords as an envoy, and provided necessary knowledge. In other words, he was an administrator, diplomat, and advisor.

If a retainer was like a full-time employee serving a noble family for generations, then a dependent scholar was more like a contract worker.

And if one’s abilities were acknowledged, they could stay with the noble family for an extended period. Dr. Reno had been with the Caldebert Count’s family for 20 years, proving his competence.

Though he was a commoner, he was treated with some respect because of his background.

“By the way… Is this the young hero who hunted the wild boar? The rumor has spread widely even to the Count’s family. Indeed, just looking at you, I can see your spirit. Remarkable. Haha.”

Whether the rumor was not conveyed accurately, or he couldn’t believe it upon seeing it, Dr. Reno spoke while looking at Vilter.

“No. It’s him. He hunted it.”

Vilter pointed to Ricardt next to him. Then Dr. Reno looked at Ricardt, initially showing a slightly disoriented expression.

The young boy, still with some baby fat, was looking up at him with eyes full of curiosity.

Dr. Reno blinked a few times, then assumed it was a joke.

“Haha, my head may not be the brightest, but I do have some discernment.”

“Ricky really did hunt it.”

Abelich confirmed with a serious expression. Then Dr. Reno alternated his gaze between the stuffed boar head mounted on the wall and Ricardt several times.

Judging from the size of the boar head, one could guess the entire body size when it was alive, making it hard to believe.

“… Huh? Did he just deliver the final blow after someone else already cornered it?”

When noble families went hunting, the lord took overall command, while the actual tracking, tiring out, and cornering of the prey was done by the subordinates. The lord’s role was to deliver the final blow.

Sometimes, the honor of delivering the final blow was given to someone else, and Dr. Reno assumed it was such a case.

“No, it was a kind of accident. He stood his ground against the charging boar and pierced its forehead precisely.”

“Uh…”

“Luck was on his side. But the courage was genuine. Anyway, given the season, we have nothing much prepared, but there’s wine and meat. First, warm yourselves up and fill your stomachs. You boys, don’t go far and wait in your room.”

“Yes, Father.”

“This way, please.”

Abelich led the still-dazed Reno to the dining room. As they walked, Reno kept glancing back at Ricardt.

Vilter and Ricardt waited in their room. The two brothers didn’t say much. While Reno seemed pleasant and agreeable, it wasn’t the atmosphere for playing around.

Although Vilter had been anxious all this time, he showed little reaction when someone from the main family arrived. He just calmly looked out at the frozen world beyond the window.

The winter sky, tinged with a cold hue, saw migratory birds flying in the distance. Occasionally, someone came out to fetch firewood and went back inside. White smoke rose leisurely from several chimneys. When the wind blew, the bare branches of the trees shivered as if trembling from the cold.

Despite the stillness of the scenery, why did it feel so interesting today? On the other hand, even the small stones by the roadside or the withered grass seem to evoke a sense of longing.

As the sun moved and the sky’s color gradually changed, someone opened the door and entered the room. It was Dr. Reno.

“Do you mind if we talk for a moment?”

Vilter finally turned his gaze from the window to Dr. Reno. Ricardt, unbeknownst to him, was already lying on the bed, snoring away.

“Of course. Ricky, Ricky. Wake up. You really can sleep anywhere.”

“Huh? Uh… oh? It’s the clown uncle.”

“A clown, you say. This is the attire of the citizens of the heavenly city of Baricelli.”

“Really? It doesn’t seem very good for hiding.”

“Why would I need to hide… Anyway, take a look at this.”

Dr. Reno sat on a chair and spread a large parchment on the table. As the two boys approached, they saw a strange drawing.

“Do you know what this is?”

“Well, I’m not sure. What is it supposed to be?”

“Haha, this is what we call a map. It depicts the land of the whole world we live in.”

“This is a map?”

In an era where maps were rare, the two boys couldn’t immediately recognize what it was. Furthermore, world maps were even rarer.

In fact, the world map Dr. Reno brought had many parts drawn from imagination, making it inaccurate.

Nevertheless, the general shape was roughly correct, and more importantly, there was nothing better than a world map to break the confined consciousness of people living in a well.

Even the usually indifferent Ricardt’s eyes sparkled. Additionally, Reno’s map did not just show geography; it was filled with various fascinating drawings.

There were fire-breathing dragons, sea-swimming serpents, an emperor wearing a crown, various bizarre monsters and legends, and treasures. Majestic mountain ranges, deserts, plains, forests, and numerous cities.

In his past life, Ricardt had wandered around the Empire on a killing spree. However, he was only hunting down those who tried to kill him and their organizations, so he was not well-versed in geography.

Reno looked at the two boys, their eyes sparkling, and smiled contentedly. Then, he asked a question as if presenting a quiz.

“Would you like to try finding Stormhertz here?”

It was not a question to trouble them but one to pique their interest. Thus, Vilter and Ricardt’s eyes shone even brighter as they began to search for the land where they grew up and lived.

However, no matter how hard they searched, they couldn’t find the word ‘Stormhertz’ anywhere.

“Stormhertz is around here.”

“Here?”

Vilter asked, tilting his head.

“Yes.”

“Why doesn’t our territory have a name?”

“The Caldebert County also doesn’t have a separate name, does it? So, you have to infer the direction and location by finding the duchy. This is the land of His Grace Duke Brumbear. The Caldebert County is to the southeast, so it should be here. From here, if we we look for Stormhertz, it should be around this area.”

On the map, even the duchy was very small. The boy felt a sense of spatial distortion. However, it wasn’t an unpleasant feeling. It was a refreshing shock.

“It’s this small? This place? It’s smaller than an ant!”

“From a global perspective, yes. How do we usually describe the Empire’s territory? From the Polypus Coast in the east to the Black Forest in the west, and from the Cementa Peninsula in the south to the Roof of the World Mountains in the north. From here to here, and here to here, this is the Empire’s territory.”

Even the Empire only occupied a quarter of the world map. At this point, not only Vilter but also Ricardt found it unbelievable.

Their expressions revealed their thoughts, and Dr. Reno smiled, finding the two boys cute.

“Outside the Empire’s territory live the Salaman people. They believe in a different god from ours and thus do not hesitate to kill each other. On the other hand, they also trade things like silk, porcelain, spices, and meteoric iron. Though they are infidels, they are good with numbers and have excellent craftsmanship. According to legend, they learned their skills from dwarves. And this is where the Holy Emperor received the sacred sword from an angel. Here is where the hero Siegfried fell in battle, and here is where the hero Elijah, who killed a dragon, was active. And…”

Reno continued to point out legendary and historical places. Just as the map itself was a mix of imagination and reality, so were the beliefs of people, a blend of reality and fantasy.

What mattered was that whether true or not, it fueled dreams and propelled people forward.

“Not all knightly orders are the same. For instance, the headquarters of the Order of the Flame Knights is here. They serve to protect the southwestern borders of the Empire from infidels, living celibate lives of service. It’s a noble task but not easy. In contrast, the Order of the Lily Knights, headquartered here, is very wealthy from trade and money lending. They are criticized for being too worldly, but their lives as knights are easier.”

Indeed, as expected of a scholar, Dr. Reno knew a lot. Vilter and Ricardt, having had no opportunity to learn beyond basic literacy, found Dr. Reno almost omniscient.

Dr. Reno continued his story. It was a series of stories connecting history and legends that would interest children.

Pointing to another place, Dr. Reno said,

“This is Fernland, conquered a hundred years ago by the famous Martellus II, the Conqueror Emperor. It was once called the Eastern Expedition Territory. It is said that the infamous demon among demons, or the chosen of God, the unparalleled murderer and Sword Master, Ricky, was from here. Come to think of it, Young Master Ricardt’s nickname is Ricky, right? Haha, that must be why you’re so brave.”

“……”

Hearing something related to his past life from someone else’s mouth, Ricardt felt strange. It was as if his heart grew heavy and his head cold.

He didn’t deliberately ignore those memories, but they certainly weren’t pleasant.

“Where is the Heiden Field?”

Ricardt asked.

“The Heiden Field? Hmm, is there such a place? Ah, I think I’ve heard of it. Not certain, but somewhere in the north. Something about wool… If it’s a place suitable for sheep grazing, it’s probably one of these places.”

“…It’s really far…”

Ricardt was referring to the distance from Heiden Fields to the Eastern Expedition Territory, but Reno understood it differently.

“Yes, it would take at least a month to travel from here to Heiden. But where did you hear about Heiden?”

“Just… I think I overheard it somewhere. But why did the Conqueror Emperor go so far to wage war?”

“The exact reason is not known. According to one theory, it was because of a document called the Codex Orient.”

“The Codex Orient?”

“Yes. It’s a document discovered by an adventurer named Grunvald. It supposedly contains the forgotten ancient empire’s secret techniques. It’s said that by cultivating a certain power within the human body, one can walk in the air or strengthen blades to cut through iron like cheese, granting superhuman abilities. It is speculated that Sword Master Ricky might have wielded that power.”

Huh? That’s not true, Ricardt thought to himself. In his previous life, he had never read any documents. He was illiterate.

“Recently, that theory is becoming almost certain. Since there are spellcasters in the world, why wouldn’t that be possible? Several Codex Orient have actually been found, and among them, there are people who have indeed gained superhuman abilities. Most of the ones circulating in the market are fake, but according to some information from adventurer guilds suggests, some are genuine. Why do you think the royal family sponsors adventurer guilds and nurtures adventurers? In the past, adventurers were just thugs.”

Originally, adventurers were people who wandered from region to region, collecting unpaid debts or acting as problem solvers. Since their profession was unclear, they labeled themselves with the grandiose title of adventurers.

They might have thought it romantic, but to others, they were just troublemakers.

However, after the Codex Orient was discovered, emperors and kings personally began to train professional adventurers.

The Eastern Expedition Territory, now called Fernland, was a sort of bridgehead, from which they explored nearby dungeons and ruins to acquire ancient technologies and knowledge.

“In addition to the Codex, there are also magical relics. Most are useless trinkets, but some are quite useful. Like this.”

Dr. Reno pulled a short stick from his pocket. At the end of the stick was a embedded fist-sized orb, which glowed faintly when he tapped it on the table.

“Oh?”

Vilter’s eyes widened. Meanwhile, Ricardt seemed startled at first but quickly lost interest.

“Haha, with this, there’s no need for torches at night. It’s my treasure.”

“But what happened to the people who originally lived there?”

Ricardt asked.

“Huh?”

“The people who originally lived in the Eastern Expedition Territory, I mean Fernland.”

“They all died. Or they surrendered and assimilated into the Empire. Perhaps a few small tribes remain? By the way, it was your family’s ancestor, the heroic knight Caldebert, who ended that war. The Empire’s greatest military commander, Caldebert the Breaker. There’s a famous story that one day he killed so many barbarians that the blood in the fortress rose to ankle height. According to records, even the people of the Empire were quite shocked and thought it was too extreme, but he received land from His Majesty the Emperor and the right to establish a new family, so it didn’t matter. If you count the number of people killed, it’s probably more than Ricky.”

“I see…”

Ricardt thought of Caldebert. He seemed more like a scholar than a knight.

And he was the only person Ricky could call a friend, and apart from being a capable commander, he was a person with a very warm heart.

It was hard to imagine someone like him doing such a horrific thing. It was hard to imagine how he must have felt. If they had stayed together on the battlefield without leaving, would their fates have been different?

He still vividly remembered that complex expression when he applied for discharge. What was he trying to say? It seemed like he was about to say something.

It didn’t seem like a simple regret. He remember his eyes looking very sad.

At that time, he was so sick of the war that he didn’t even have the strength to take care of himself.

But when he returned home, the thing waiting for him was…

“It’s getting dark. We should stop here for today. There’s always tomorrow. There are many interesting stories, so you can look forward to them.”

Dr. Reno said with a smile. As he said, night had fallen, and without lighting a lamp, it was hard to see the map. They had been so engrossed in his stories that we lost track of time.

“I’ll leave the map here. I’ll take it with us on the day we leave.”

Dr. Reno got up, leaving the map on the table. He walked to the fireplace, threw a few logs on the dying embers, and poked it with an iron rod to revive the fire.

“Have pleasant dreams.”

Dr. Reno said as he left the room. The gentle way he closed the door revealed his considerate nature.

Vilter seemed completely absorbed in the map. He took it to bed, laying down and examining each drawing and place name carefully in the dim room.

Ricardt watched the map with his brother and then fell asleep. The moonlight streaming through the window was so bright that Vilter continued studying the map late into the night.

From the next day, the two brothers ate meals and went on walks with Dr. Reno, having many conversations.

He was truly an excellent person. He didn’t just tell them about various career paths, but he inspired them to dream and hope.

However, unexpectedly, Vilter wanted to join the Order of the Flame. This was a knightly order that vowed lifelong celibacy and defended the southwestern borders of the Empire. It was known to be the most dangerous and arduous of all knightly orders.

When asked why he made such a decision, Vilter replied, ‘Because I think it will help me cultivate patience and perseverance.’ It seemed that he had taken his father’s words to heart.

And Ricardt wanted to become an adventurer, which puzzled everyone when he explained his reason.

“I want to know if the war was worth fighting……”