Chapter 201 - Chapter 8
It had been hours since they fled the town, and dusk was fast approaching. The eastern sky had already turned dark, a deep indigo settling in. Franz sighed, feeling the melancholy of the hour and the situation weighing heavily on him.
He had a piece of paper from Ritz with the location of the carriage they had left with the innkeeper, but finding the shed where it was stashed proved more challenging than expected. Ritz’s map was based on the main road leading to the inn, with no other farm paths marked, making it difficult for them to navigate the back roads.
Fortunately, they had managed to find their way out of the town when it was still light. The houses had been densely packed, but once they reached the outskirts, the landscape opened up into vast agricultural and pastoral lands. The fields were spread out, and the view was clear, which was a pleasant surprise.
Outside, the tranquility was striking, completely disconnected from the chaos inside the town. Birds sang melodiously, and the walls that marked the border were visible through the gaps in the trees, stretching far into the distance even in the bright light of day.
It was the first time Franz had seen a town surrounded by farmland like this. In the dark, it had been hard to make out, but now he could appreciate the strangeness of it. Given the country’s circumstances, it made sense that this was the only way to protect the people. The harshness of the wilderness beyond the town became all too real.
He had worried that they would be easily spotted in the open, but the vast expanse and the numerous trees and forests made it unlikely.
The first thing they encountered outside the town was an orchard, followed by fields surrounded by patches of forest. The most common crops were tall corn-like plants and massive wheat-like fields. Strangely, everything here was several times larger than what they were used to in Jurisla. It might be a unique variety found only in this country.
His thoughts were interrupted when he noticed the various paths crisscrossing the agricultural land, occasionally used by the goblins. They moved silently, without shoes, and were faster than the Giants.
They had to hide and move cautiously, which only made them lose their way and repeatedly consult the map. Time slipped away as they tried to reorient themselves.
Now, they were searching for the main road leading to the town’s entrance, navigating through the fields. The crops were large enough to provide good cover, but they also obstructed their view. Irrigation ditches ran through the fields, and Franz had nearly fallen into one a few times—though Edward had managed to avoid such mishaps.
Fortunately, they had Sarah, a human lantern, so they weren’t in complete darkness. However, the light could also attract unwanted attention.
Finally, after much effort, they found what they believed to be the road leading from the main gate. But their journey was far from over; they still needed to locate the carriage in the shed.
Franz sighed, thinking about the time they had wasted. “Do you really think we’ll find it?”
Edward chuckled. “We will. It’ll just take some effort.”
“But it’s getting so late.”
“I know…”
Their hesitation had cost them valuable time. The carriage might already be in enemy hands. Ritz had entrusted it to a local farmer, but even the innkeeper had reported them to the Giants. It was possible the carriage was already gone.
But they had to try. Without the carriage, they would be sitting ducks out here.
“Let’s stay positive, shall we?”
Franz nodded, and they continued along the road, hiding in the tall cornfields. Sarah’s light helped them see the map without drawing too much attention.
Edward had a theory: if the carriage was taken, it would likely pass this way. He had noticed a large group of goblins heading into the town earlier, suggesting they lived outside the town. The gate they had entered through might be a military checkpoint, similar to one in Jurisla.
This made sense, and they decided to wait and see if the carriage appeared.
The sharp leaves of the corn occasionally cut their exposed skin, but Franz endured, knowing Anna would heal him later.
Edward sighed, looking at the map. “We can’t do much with a map that doesn’t even show the cardinal directions. We’ll have to wait until morning.”
“We’re going to camp out here?”
“Yes. Fortunately, there are no wild beasts around.”
“…Right.”
Their supplies were limited, and their winter gear was in the carriage. It was cool, but fortunately, it was still summer in Zeum. Franz covered his face with his hands, while Edward lay down on the ground without hesitation. Despite his royal background, Edward seemed unfazed by the rough conditions. Perhaps that was what made him a hero king.
Franz reluctantly lay down among the corn, looking up at the stars through the gaps in the leaves. Some were familiar, but many were new, a stark reminder that they were far from home.
After a while, Edward suddenly sat up, peering through the corn. Franz followed his gaze and saw Edward pushing aside the leaves to look at the road.
“What’s going on?”
Edward turned to him with a smile. “Our carriage is coming. It’s guarded by Giants and loaded with goblins. They’re even carrying a bright light.”
“…They found us…”
Franz whispered, feeling a wave of despair. Edward patted his shoulder reassuringly.
“At least we don’t have to search for it anymore.”
“What?”
“If they bring it to us, that’s even better.”
Franz couldn’t help but think of Ritz and Edward’s similar personalities. Ritz’s brashness might be a reflection of Edward’s influence. Ritz was still no match for Edward, and Edward treated Ritz like a younger brother.
“We need to figure out how to reclaim it… Any ideas?”
Edward stroked his chin, and Franz rubbed his forehead. In the past, they had a clear division of roles: Anna would distract the enemies with water magic, Ritz would charge in, and Edward and Franz would take over the carriage, securing it with swords and fire while waiting for Ritz.
But now, without Ritz to create chaos, they were at a loss. Franz couldn’t even drive the carriage well. Even if they could distract the enemies, they couldn’t take the carriage and rescue Edward.
He missed Ritz and Anna more than ever.
“This might be a bit too much…”
Edward muttered, and Franz asked, “Is it impossible?”
“Probably. The Giants are strong, and the goblins are unpredictable.”
It was a reasonable answer.
“For now, we should follow the carriage without being spotted and look for an opportunity to reclaim it. And…”
Edward’s gaze drifted toward the town, hidden behind the corn. “Ritz and Anna should join us by tomorrow. With four of us, we’ll have more options.”
“…Agreed.”
Franz nodded, dimming Sarah’s light and peering through the corn. The road was straight, so they could follow the carriage’s lights even if they fell behind.
They waited in silence, and suddenly, chaos erupted. High-pitched screams and deep roars echoed from the carriage, growing louder and more intense.
“Let’s go.”
Edward, who had been carrying their supplies, dropped them and sprinted out of the cornfield. Franz followed, but he tripped on a root and tumbled out of the field. He quickly apologized to Sarah, who had been knocked over, and got back up, running after Edward.
“Wait! It’s dangerous!”
Franz stumbled and picked up the lantern, chasing after Edward. “We don’t know what’s happening!”
“A battle is happening. It’s not a mere fight. Who’s attacking them?”
“…Us?”
“Yes. It’s probably Ritz and Anna. If so, they need our help.”
“What if it’s not them?”
“Then we’ll take advantage of the chaos to reclaim the carriage.”
Edward’s approach was as impulsive as Ritz’s, but Franz knew that in this situation, planning was futile. They were the only allies in this town.
The fields changed from corn to wheat, and Edward darted into the wheat without hesitation. Franz, already out of breath, followed without questioning.
He soon understood why. Goblins were fleeing along the road. Edward had noticed this and entered the wheat field to intercept them.
Franz quickly realized the goblins were in disarray. Many were severely injured, some had lost limbs, and others were unconscious, carried by their comrades.
This was not normal. If Ritz and Anna were here, this wouldn’t have happened. Anna, who was sometimes frustratingly merciful, would never allow such carnage.
So, who was fighting on the carriage? A faction fight?
As he approached, Franz saw the carriage, its lights still blazing. The horses had stopped, and the attackers were behind the carriage.
Edward hid in the wheat next to the carriage, and Franz joined him, watching the scene. The only voices were the roars of the Giants; the attackers were silent.
A Giant fell backward, spraying blood, and a man stood in front of the carriage.
The attacker.
Franz froze, his breath catching. The man was tall, his longsword dripping with blood, his black hair matted with gore. His dark brown eyes were calm yet filled with intense anger.
It was Ritz, but a Ritz Franz had never seen before.
Ritz wielded his massive sword with fluid, terrifying grace, slicing through a Giant with a single blow. The Giant’s scream echoed, and Ritz delivered the final strike.
The Giant fell to the ground, and Franz’s eyes met his. It was terrifying.
The Giant died without realizing it.
“…Where’s Anna?”
Edward’s voice was strained. Franz looked around, and indeed, Anna was nowhere to be found.
Something had happened to her.
Franz’s mind spun with confusion and fear. Something had happened to Anna, something that had changed Ritz so drastically. The thought was paralyzing.
Edward stood up, his gaze fixed on Ritz. The Giants were all dead, their bodies strewn on the road.
All killed by Ritz.
Edward’s gaze shifted to the carriage, and Franz followed his gaze. A few goblins, clearly non-combatants, were huddled together, trembling.
Ritz’s eyes also turned to them, and Franz realized with dread that Ritz intended to kill them all.
Even though they were clearly unable to fight.
“What a stubborn fool.”
Franz turned to Edward, who was drawing his sword.
“Your Majesty!?”
Before Franz could ask if Edward intended to kill Ritz, Edward smiled.
“He’s lost his senses. He’s killed too many.”
“Your Majesty…”
“But enough is enough. Even if they are goblins and our enemies, it’s better to show mercy.”
Edward slowly approached the carriage, and Franz, though hesitant, followed. “Your Majesty, it’s dangerous.”
“A bit, but I know his fighting style.”
“But…”
Franz was torn. He didn’t want to see the non-combatants killed, but he was afraid for Edward. Edward seemed to understand and smiled.
“Don’t worry. He won’t kill me.”
“…Alright.”
“Franz, help the goblins escape. If I stop him, yell at them to run.”
“I’ll try.”
“Thank you.”
Edward stepped between Ritz and the goblins, and the two swords clashed with a loud clang. Franz, trusting Edward’s smile, turned to the goblins and shouted.
“Run! If you stay, you’ll be killed!”
The goblins, startled by the sudden appearance of a human, hesitated but soon understood the danger. They shouted their thanks and fled, disappearing from the carriage.
Once the goblins were gone, Franz cautiously approached Edward and Ritz. The fight between the two continued, but Edward was on the defensive.
Edward’s movements were agile and precise, reading Ritz’s attacks and barely evading them. He seemed to know Ritz’s fighting style intimately.
Franz admired Edward’s skill but felt helpless. He considered using a fire bead but feared it would severely injure Ritz, and without Anna, it could be fatal.
Finally, Edward’s sword was knocked away with a high-pitched clang.
“Your Majesty!”
Edward, now unarmed, took a deep breath and crossed his arms, facing Ritz. Ritz, his eyes dark, looked at Edward and then at the fallen sword.
“Your Majesty! Run!”
Edward didn’t look back. Ritz, sword raised, slowly approached. Franz closed his eyes, expecting the worst, but then Edward’s voice rang out, louder than Franz had ever heard.
“Are you such a complete moron that you can’t even recognize my face?!”
Ritz’s sword stopped inches from Edward’s forehead.
Franz, eyes wide, saw Edward’s calm, serious gaze, completely unflinching.
“Ed…”
Ritz whispered, and his sword fell to the ground.
“Took you long enough, you idiot.”
Edward sighed and took a deep breath. “I’m old. Don’t waste my energy.”
Edward’s tone was casual, but there was a hint of something darker, closer to Ritz’s own. He punched Ritz lightly, and Ritz swayed slightly.
Ritz took a deep breath and sighed. “I’m sorry.”
He wiped the blood from his sword and sheathed it.
“Where’s Anna?”
Edward’s voice was quiet, and Ritz looked down. Edward waited, and Ritz finally raised his head, his eyes dark.
“She was taken by Kuchiba.”
“While you were with her?”
“Surrounded by darkness spirits, I couldn’t do anything.”
Edward studied Ritz’s face, noticing the deep gash covered in blood. The situation must have been unimaginably dire.
“I was there…”
Ritz’s voice was a mix of regret and pain. Franz felt Ritz’s anguish. They had just reconciled and deepened their bond, and now this.
“Why Anna?”
Edward’s question broke the silence, and Franz turned to Ritz. Ritz, still looking down, answered.
“We were given permission to be eliminated. They took her before she could be involved.”
“…I see.”
“I just wanted to get the carriage back. I can’t go after her without it.”
Ritz’s voice was a pained whisper, and he covered his face with his hand.
“I’m useless. I can’t think of anything else but getting the carriage. I just went berserk. Anna would never forgive me…”
Ritz laughed bitterly, a sound that masked his pain. Franz, seeing Ritz’s blood-soaked form, felt a deep sense of confusion. This was a nightmare, a reality he couldn’t fully grasp.
Edward’s tone changed, and he gave Ritz a series of commands.
“I brought a change of clothes from the inn. They’re in the cornfield. The pursuers won’t be here for a while, so wash up at the irrigation ditch and clear your head.”
“…Ah, right.”
Ritz’s gaze wandered, finally settling on Franz. Franz tried to keep a neutral expression, but Ritz must have seen his concern and smiled weakly.
“Thanks.”
Ritz took a deep breath and headed toward the cornfield, as Edward had instructed. Franz and Edward moved the Giant corpses to the side of the road to clear the way for the carriage.
Franz, thinking of Anna, bowed his head in prayer. “May you find peace and rest in the presence of your god.”
It was a dark land, and prayers to the goddess might not be appropriate. Franz’s hands still together, he silently honored the fallen Giants. Edward, checking the horses, called out to him.
“Franz, let’s move.”
“Yes.”
Edward slowly guided the carriage to the cornfield, and Franz checked the interior. The carriage was mostly undisturbed, and the food supplies were mostly intact, a relief.
“Are the horses alright?”
“They’re fine. They’re well-cared for and not hungry. We can leave the town immediately.”
“Good.”
That was a relief.
They stopped the carriage in the cornfield for a moment, and neither spoke. Franz needed time to regain his composure, and Edward seemed deep in thought. The darkness around the carriage was peaceful, a stark contrast to the recent carnage.
Finally, Ritz returned, and the carriage moved again. Edward, driving slowly, listened as Ritz recounted the events in detail. The story was calm but harrowing.
Ritz had broken free from a spirit magic spell by cutting himself, fought countless Giants and goblins, and carved a path to freedom. It was a feat that even Edward and Franz would find impossible.
Ritz’s survival was a testament to his strength.
Despite the questions about why Ritz had fallen behind, Franz kept them to himself. Ritz was probably asking the same questions, and Franz, who would never have survived in such a situation, felt it was better not to voice them.
Ritz’s opponent was the highest priest of the Clan of Darkness, a formidable adversary. A spirit mage had a significant advantage over Ritz, and a high priest was even more formidable.
But the thought that Ritz couldn’t be killed brought some comfort.
“I’m going to find Kuchiba and get Anna back. That’s all I can do.”
Ritz’s declaration was calm, and he seemed to have regained his composure. If there was no risk of death, then Anna might be in the safest place. Ritz might have convinced himself of that.
Franz felt a bit of relief. Their goal hadn’t changed. They were still heading to the holy land of the Clan of Darkness.
“Still, a god’s child…”
Ritz sighed.
“From what Kuchiba says, she’s far beyond my level.”
“Not that. Why is the Darkness Spirit King a god and not just a spirit king?”
“…What do you mean?”
Ritz asked, and Franz pulled out a stack of notes from his bag. He flipped through them and found the relevant page.
“In human mythology, the Darkness Spirit King is just a spirit king. But in the beastmen’s mythology in Red Valley, the continent was created by a goddess and a male god, who were a married couple. The male god became the Darkness Spirit King out of jealousy. So, the only true god should be the goddess Eneonea.”
“So, it’s unnatural for her to be a god’s child?”
“Exactly. In other races’ creation myths. But for the Clan of Darkness, the Darkness Spirit King is still the male god. So, if she’s his child, then…”
“She’s the child of the goddess Eneonea and the male god, the Darkness Spirit King.”
Ritz whispered, stunned.
“Yes. That makes Anna the child of the gods, with the right to rule this world.”
Ritz was silent for a moment, then sighed. “What a ridiculous story.”
“It is.”
“I see. That’s why Kuchiba kept emphasizing that she’s far above me.”
“But why was she in an orphanage? If she’s the son of the male god, she should have been raised in Zeum, not near Siedena, the home of the Clan of Light.”
“True. And Kuchiba only learned of her existence recently, as if the Clan of Darkness was hiding her.”
“Right.”
Ritz’s eyes lit up with a realization. “If even Kuchiba didn’t know, maybe your master knew.”
“Ah…”
Franz’s mind raced, and he pulled out the letter Orphe had left in the treasure vault of Sia. Ritz read it over his shoulder.
“Your master wrote that your journey with us began your destiny.”
“Yes.”
“So, if you hadn’t joined us, you could have lived a peaceful life.”
Franz felt a blow to the head. It was true. If he had stayed in Saradio, he would have become a lord, albeit a troubled one. His fate would have been different.
But Ritz and Anna’s journey would have eventually led them to the gods, even without Franz. It might have taken longer, but it would have happened.
“Orphe, or rather, Artis Ozmand, knew about our destinies. He knew I was the son of a high priest candidate and that Anna was the child of the gods.”
“So…?”
“He’s above Kuchiba. Maybe he’s the god they worship.”
“A god… our master…?”
The idea was absurd. Orphe, the laid-back, clumsy, and endearing spirit mage, a god?
Franz couldn’t imagine it. But then he realized something.
“So… he issued the order to eliminate us…”
“It seems so.”
“But why…?”
Orphe had been the only one to take Franz in when he was lost and alone in Saradio, treating him as a person, not just a lord’s son. At the time, Franz had seen their relationship as an equal exchange of teaching and chores. But now, he understood the depth of Orphe’s kindness. Orphe had saved him from a life of self-loathing and given him a new path.
It was only after leaving that Franz realized how much Orphe meant to him.
The thought of Orphe issuing a death order was incomprehensible.
Franz fell silent, and Ritz gently nudged his head.
“It’s just a theory. We don’t know the truth.”
“Right.”
“But I’m going to find the truth and Anna, no matter what.”
Franz nodded, understanding that dwelling on negative thoughts wouldn’t help. “You’re right. We just need to survive and reach our destination.”
“Exactly. That’s all I can do now.”
Ritz’s voice was resolute, and he added softly, “In the end, the truth doesn’t matter. I just need her to be with me.”
Franz had no words to offer, only a nod. He put away Orphe’s letter and sat across from Ritz, lost in thought as the carriage swayed.
After a while, Edward called from the driver’s seat. They looked out to see the checkpoint they had entered through, surrounded by Giants and goblins.
“What do we do?” Edward asked, his tone light.
Ritz, his usual playful smile back, looked up. “What else, Ed? We go through the middle.”
“That’s our only option.”
“Franz, I need a big fireworks display.”
The plan was clear: Franz would create a distraction with fire orb, Ritz would charge in, and Edward would drive the carriage through. It was a familiar strategy, and they knew it would work, even without one of them.
“Alright, let’s go!”
Ritz drew his sword, and they prepared to face the challenge ahead.