Chapter 66
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 66
The walk from Beringen to the Academy usually took six hours, so Rickert, Boribori, and Marie decided to rest for the day at the guild building. It was their usual routine after an outdoor mission: a leisurely bath in warm water followed by a sound sleep in clean bedding.
However, as they neared the guild, they noticed it was crowded with students, instantly recognizable by their uniforms.
Yet, not a single one wore their uniform properly. Some draped their jackets over their shoulders without putting their arms through the sleeves. Others, apparently too hot, had shed their jackets entirely and unbuttoned their shirts, revealing an unsightly amount of chest hair. The only things that identified them as students were their dark blue trousers and matching boots.
Aside from that, the guild building was unusually packed with students. Perhaps because the war wasn't completely over, active adventurers were nowhere to be seen. Normally, students weren't allowed to enter the guild without a good reason. There were exceptions, like Rickert and Volka, but that was only possible with Dunkel’s permission. As Rickert later found out, Dunkel was the Guild Master, so his word was law.
Combined with what had happened in front of the tavern earlier, Rickert approached the guild feeling utterly bewildered.
At his approach, the students all turned to stare. Since his attire was completely different, they seemed to instantly sense an outsider. Their gazes practically screamed: This is our turf. What are you doing here?
One of them sized up Rickert and his friends, looking them up and down before blurting out, "Are you adventurers?"
Rickert frowned, annoyed by the student's tone. "...Adventurers? What's that supposed to mean?"
"I asked if you're adventurers."
"I'm a student, just like you," Rickert replied. "But you shouldn't speak to adventurers like that. Show some respect. They're all your seniors."
"A student? You a freshman? You must not know, but those 'seniors' are nothing but relics of an old era who left behind toxic traditions. We're different. We've been reborn."
"......?"
Rickert had no idea what nonsense the boy was spouting. He just blinked, unsure whether to get angry or argue. What is he even talking about?
Besides, it wasn't entirely wrong that the older generation had passed down toxic traditions, which left him momentarily speechless. The Academy of the past had indeed been a place of rampant, brutal violence. But those who hadn't lived through it couldn't truly understand. Hearing about it secondhand never felt real.
"You're pretty well-armed," the Academy student babbled on self-importantly. "Did you guys join up on the way here? Strange. If you'd contacted us in advance, we would've sent an escort for your safety."
At that, Boribori, who usually stayed quiet when Rickert was talking, stepped forward.
"Hey, buddy."
"Huh?"
"If you don't want to die, I suggest you talk less. We're tired. We're going to pass through now. That cool with you?"
Boribori spoke with the most innocent face imaginable. Rickert glanced back at him in surprise, wondering what had gotten into him. It was great that Boribori had grown more assertive after surviving so many hardships by his side, but this was a bit much. Did he pick that up from Volka?
Though Boribori hadn't released any actual killing intent, the student flinched. They were too well-armed to be dismissed as mere freshmen, so he didn't dare say another word.
Ignoring him, Rickert headed inside. It was absurd, but they had come here to rest. Continuing the conversation would just be a waste of breath.
Once inside, however, he noticed the layout had changed. A small, stage-like platform had been erected against one wall—something that definitely hadn't been there before. The interior was practically overrun by students drinking and rolling dice all over the place.
"Huh? Ricky?"
Fortunately, someone finally recognized him. As soon as the first student called out his name, heads turned all over the room.
"Huh?"
"It's Ricky."
"It's Ricky!"
A crowd immediately swarmed him. Seeing their familiar faces, Rickert finally felt like he was home.
"How have you all been?"
"Is the war over?"
"Is it true you killed a hundred men in the Kaits Highlands?"
"That's our Ricky! Those Rubens bastards must be crying now."
"Are you hurt anywhere?"
In response to his single greeting, the students bombarded him with a barrage of questions. It was always overwhelming when they did this. What was this about killing a hundred men? And who on earth were "those Rubens bastards"?
"A hundred? Don't be ridiculous. Anyway, this place looks different. And do you guys actually like those clothes?"
"Of course! This uniform is our honor and pride. It shows we're students of the Grand Beringen Academy. No other academy has anything like this."
"What in the world is the 'Grand Beringen Academy'?"
"The Great Beringen Academy! We broke the chains of submission and were reborn. We are all brothers and sisters, united as one. No nobles, no bastards. Under Karlich's leadership, we're building the very academy you always wanted, Ricky."
Ever since setting foot in Beringen, everyone had been spouting absolute nonsense. Rickert looked close to tears, utterly bewildered. It was like they had all lost their minds.
"What are you talking about? I never wanted anything like this."
"But Ricky, you're the one who said we're all just students at the Academy..."
"No! I meant you shouldn't bully or discriminate against each other, and just get along!"
"That's exactly what we're doing now."
"Sigh... Fine, but what is this 'leadership of Karlich' business?"
"If you're our pioneer, Ricky, then Karlich is our leader. He's an incredible student representative who puts your teachings into practice, embodies them, and unites all the students."
Pioneer? Leader? Rickert squeezed his eyes shut. Ah, seriously, what in the world are they talking about...
"Karlich is giving a speech tonight. You should listen, Ricky. I'm sure you'll love it."
"Never mind that. Just get some bathwater ready. Where's the kid who works here?"
The kid Rickert was referring to was the young clerk left to watch over the guild when they departed for the guild war.
"The clerk kid? Chet?"
The student looked over his shoulder. Following his gaze, Rickert spotted the young boy sitting at a table with several Academy students, drinking and rolling dice. He was already thoroughly tipsy and in high spirits.
"Hehehe... I hit the jackpot. Hit the jackpot."
Rickert's eyes widened. He rushed over and flipped the table with a loud crash.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?!"
The startled students looked utterly bewildered.
"How could you give alcohol to a kid?!"
"......"
An awkward silence fell as everyone reeled from Rickert's sudden outburst. Finally, someone spoke up.
"......Because drinking makes you feel good? And if we all feel good together, isn't that better...?"
Even Dunkel had never offered Rickert alcohol, but these students seemed to think that if something felt good, it must be fine. Since most of them were illiterate and uneducated, they genuinely didn't seem to understand what was wrong with it.
For the first time in his life, Rickert felt his blood pressure spike so hard his breath caught. The older adventurers may have been indifferent, but their absence had left these kids in an absolute state of neglect. With adventurers dying on the battlefield and massive sums of money changing hands daily to fund the war, there was simply no one left to look after them.
Rickert barely managed to compose himself and spoke as calmly as he could.
"From now on, alcohol is banned until you're of age. Gambling is banned too. If anyone has a problem with that, speak up now. If I catch you doing either, you're dead. Got it?"
The students just blinked. Ignorant as they were, they were accustomed to obeying authority, so they tended to do as they were told. The only problem was that their obedience had a habit of warping into something strange over time.
"Take the kid and put him to bed. The rest of you, stop drinking. Go find some work, or if you have nothing to do, go run around outside. If you're just going to drink and gamble, get out. All of you, get out!"
At Rickert's furious shout, the startled students scrambled out of the building.
Standing amidst the overturned tables and scattered mess, Rickert breathed heavily. The exhaustion he had accumulated over the past weeks seemed to crash down on him all at once.
Marie approached and gently rubbed his back. "This is getting a little scary. It feels like everyone's lost their minds."
"There's nothing to worry about," Boribori said, surprisingly relaxed. "Once the adventurers return, they'll go right back to being quiet as mice." He figured the students' behavior was just a temporary mess.
In the end, Rickert had to settle for a cold bath. Marie bathed in a separate tub, and soon they all retreated to their rooms and fell fast asleep.
It felt like he had only closed his eyes for a second before a loud commotion woke him. The sound of boisterous shouting and chattering echoed from downstairs.
Stepping out of his room, Rickert looked over the railing and saw that the first floor was packed with students. They weren't just at the tables; they were sitting on the floor, standing, and crowding into every single corner. The only empty space was the narrow platform.
"Ricky, over here!"
Boribori, who had woken up earlier and was sitting in a corner with Marie, spotted him and waved. The atmosphere was so chaotic that no one else noticed Rickert. He squeezed through the crowd, made his way down the stairs, and joined Boribori in the shadows.
"What is all this?!" he had to shout directly into Boribori's ear to be heard.
"They're giving a speech!"
"Who?!"
"Karlich! He's not here yet!"
"Ah, right." Rickert recalled being told about a speech that evening. Honestly, he was a bit curious to hear what kind of nonsense Karlich would spout. Having slept, his mind felt a bit clearer.
Meanwhile, the students' raucous chatter grew louder by the second, to the point where Rickert wondered if the sheer volume might bring the building down. The hall was dimly lit by lanterns and candles, but the students' youthful fervor seemed to banish the darkness. Whether that was a good thing, he wasn't sure. It was nice that they were energetic, but...
The din was practically splitting his ears. Just as the noise reached its absolute peak, the doors of the guild building swung open.
Instantly, silence rippled through the crowd. Karlich walked through the doors, flanked by a few students who looked like his personal entourage.
With his hands clasped behind his back, Karlich slowly climbed onto the platform. He scanned the gathered students before speaking.
"Welcome, student comrades, brothers and sisters. I am overjoyed to see so many of you here today."
Karlich spoke with a solemn gravity, not even raising his voice. Moments ago, they had to scream to be heard, but now, every student hung on his every word. He seemed to savor the silence for a moment before continuing.
"My fellow student comrades. Do you ever find yourselves lost in solitary contemplation? Moments of silence come to us all. I, too, have them. But when I am lost in quiet contemplation, I hear a certain sound. Do you know what that sound is?"
Karlich posed the question to the crowd.
"Birds chirping?"
"The sound of people screwing?"
"Hahaha! Yes, those sounds can be heard too. But I am talking about the sound that echoes in absolute silence. I hear the clanking of chains. Do you not hear it?"
Everyone looked bewildered. Rickert had suspected it before, but now he was convinced: This guy is completely out of his mind.
Suddenly, Karlich clenched his fist and roared, the abrupt shift in tone making everyone flinch.
"That is the very sound that shackles us! The sound of oppression! Persecution! And submission! It tortures me! Does it not torture you as well?!"
After his fiery outburst, Karlich scanned the crowd and lowered his voice once more. The students, who had already been listening intently, now looked completely spellbound.
"Whether you are of noble birth or a bastard, it is all the same. We have all lived under the pressure and contempt of our families. I am no exception. But even now, having left our homes, do those chains of bondage not still bind you? Does an inexplicable rage not rise up and oppress you from time to time? We must break these chains! We have been charged with this duty!"
Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!
He roared the final sentence with all his might. Thunderous applause erupted. Karlich basked in the adulation for a moment before raising his hand to quiet them.
"To break those chains, we must fight! What are we fighting against? We are fighting against the very ideas embedded in your minds and the minds of others! Bastard? Second son? What comes to mind when you hear those words? A useless wretch, someone who should never have been born, a spare part, a piece of trash! Are you going to leave it at that? We must show the world! United as one, let us fight against everything that crushes and oppresses us!"
Drunk on his own rhetoric, Karlich threw his head back and spread his arms wide. The students leaped to their feet, unleashing a torrent of thunderous applause.
Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!
The applause was deafening, threatening to shake the building to its foundations. Some students slammed their wooden mugs violently against the tables, sending alcohol sloshing everywhere.
To Rickert's dismay, Boribori also stood up and began clapping enthusiastically. Marie, too, seemed deeply moved, clapping right beside him. Rickert quickly grabbed them both and yanked them back down.
"What are you doing? Get a grip."
"But it was a pretty good speech," Boribori protested.
"Good? It's dangerous."
"What is?"
"Fight the world? With what? If you're going to pick a fight, you need the strength to back it up. If they keep this up, they're all going to get themselves killed."
The words sounded nice, but they were completely detached from reality. That was what made them so dangerous.
Then, the unexpected happened. Karlich pointed directly at Rickert and shouted.
"I will cut tonight's speech short. Because today, we have a very special guest! Our savior! Our pioneer! Our hero! The great warrior of the Grand Beringen Academy—Ricky! Let's welcome him with a round of applause!"
Rickert froze. Looking around, he saw every eye fixed on him, everyone clapping so hard their palms must have been burning.
Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!
Never in his life had he experienced anything so absurd. Even Rickert, who usually maintained perfect composure, was too flustered to react. The relentless applause pressed in on him like a physical weight.
"Ricky! Ricky! Ricky! Ricky!"
Soon, the students began chanting his name in unison.
Unable to remain seated, Rickert had no choice but to stand. He walked in a daze through the path the students parted for him and stepped onto the platform. Karlich stepped aside, clapping with a deeply satisfied expression. So this is what they meant when they said a crazy demagogue had become the leader. The dim lighting only seemed to make the students more susceptible to the intoxicating atmosphere.
The prolonged applause finally died down, and every student's gaze locked onto Rickert, their eyes shining with intense expectation. Those who knew him smiled warmly, while those who didn't stared with pure, unadulterated admiration.
Now that he was actually on the platform, Rickert had no idea what to say. He had remained resolute when facing the murderous glares of enemies in life-or-death battles, but this was a completely different kind of pressure, and it overwhelmed him. The students' expectations were not something he could fight off with a sword.
Yet, he couldn't bring himself to fabricate lies or say things he didn't believe. And honestly, the students' behavior since his arrival had been far from ideal. They were united, yes, but they were heading in the wrong direction.
But how could he betray those expectant gazes? Each and every one of them looked up at him as if he were a god. Even Boribori and Marie had been moved by Karlich's speech. Perhaps the only reason Rickert remained clear-headed was because he was the only one among them who had grown up in a loving, harmonious family. Still, possessing memories of his past life, he could understand where they were coming from.
As Rickert hesitated, the silence stretched on. Sensing something was amiss, the students began to murmur.
Then, Rickert spoke. Feeling the need to match the solemnity of the occasion, an uncharacteristically formal tone slipped from his lips.
"I, Ricky, am disappointed in you all."
A simple wave would have sent them into a frenzy, but his single sentence plunged the room into a silence so profound that not even a breath could be heard. The expectation in the students' eyes instantly warped into confusion. Like lost sheep, they seemed utterly unsure of how to react. Is he joking? Are we supposed to laugh?
In contrast, having spoken his first words, Rickert finally felt the suffocating pressure lift. He slowly scanned the crowd packing the guild hall. Their anxiety, confusion, and deep-seated resentment seemed almost tangible before his eyes.