Chapter 136

Translator: Willia

It seemed that the place where one could admire the most beautiful stars was the desert. Even the stars of the Heiden Fields did not light up the sky as brilliantly as here.

Ricardt thought, as he looked up at the desert’s splendid night sky, that what is truly beautiful is something that blooms in the harshest and most difficult of places.

Ricardt and Hashim each held the reins of two horses as they walked. Following Auku, their gaze was constantly drawn to the majestic passage of time and space, the panorama of the universe.

Those who had come from foreign lands were moved by the mystery the wasteland presented, but Auku seemed quite used to it all. The boy walked, hopping along playfully.

To someone, a landscape as precious as a once-in-a-lifetime treasure might be nothing more than everyday scenery to another.

“Misters, this way. Hurry.”

Auku called out ahead.

After following the boy over a ridge, stars seemed to bloom on the ground as well. Ricardt was momentarily at a loss for words at the indescribably beautiful sight.

Amazingly, in the middle of the wasteland was a grassland, and cacti taller or shorter than a person stretched out like a forest.

Each cactus bore a single flower, glittering softly like moonlight. The mystery of nature and life was truly touching.

Ricardt and Hashim approached the cacti. They looked closely at what were called crystal flowers. Though the night was rather chilly, the air around the crystal flowers felt particularly cold.

“When a hero dies, they become a star in the sky, and ordinary people become crystal flowers. Each flower is the soul of someone who has died. So you shouldn’t handle them carelessly. And you shouldn’t pick too many. If you do, you’ll be punished.”

It seemed this was the belief of the Azure Tribe, that these flowers were the souls of the dead. Or perhaps, that might actually be the truth. The crystal flowers were that subtle, beautiful, and also haunting.

“Pick one for each person, thinking of the deceased. Then, while you pick the flower, that person will protect you.”

Ricardt glanced at Hashim, whose attention was captured by the crystal flower, then asked Auku,

“How can we recover lost memories?”

“Crush the flower and burn it, then inhale the smoke. If you want to meet the deceased, brew it and drink it. But there’s no guarantee you’ll meet the person you want.”

He didn’t know how much to believe, but even the very existence of the crystal flowers, seen with his own eyes, was hard to believe.

Ricardt bowed his head and quietly thought. He recalled his mother, smiling at him under the sunlight streaming through the window. Then, gently, he picked a flower.

He didn’t particularly need the flower, but since it was said one could pick one per person, he decided to take one.

The flower felt less like a real flower and more like touching a crystal, cold like ice, so he quickly put it in his backpack.

When he looked back at Hashim, he was still staring at the flower. Whether he was hesitating or simply remembering someone who had passed, Ricardt couldn’t tell.

Ricardt said nothing to him and did not urge him. He simply waited.

Then at last, as if he had made up his mind, Hashim picked a flower.

“It’s cold. Like a cold corpse.”

He said. When Ricardt opened his backpack pouch and held it out, Hashim placed the flower inside.

“Let’s go.”

Seeing the two of them each pick a flower, the young guide spoke. Ricardt and Hashim once again held their reins and walked through the wasteland night. Following the boy, along with the stars.

It wasn’t far from the oasis. A rocky mountain stood tall, made of red sandstone, but it was night, so its beauty couldn’t be appreciated.

However, whether carved by water in ancient times or eroded by wind, a winding path ran between the rocky mountains.

It wasn’t so narrow that people and horses couldn’t pass, but compared to the massive mountains, it felt like a narrow crevice.

After passing through the winding path, a grand structure revealed itself under the moonlight.

It had been carved and refined directly from the rock mountain, with subtly curved columns and carvings so delicate they were almost unbelievable. The accumulation of such detail gave rise to magnificence, proving that human craftsmanship was not inferior to nature’s marvels.

“This is it. The Emperor’s Tomb.”

Auku spoke. But in truth, even if Auku hadn’t said a word, it was clear just by looking. Only the most noble person in the world could be buried in a place like this.

Fortunately, Ricardt had studied ancient writing and was able to read it.

<The one and only God, the one and only Empire, the one and only Emperor.

Master of August, King of Kings, owner of the vastest lands, he who has seen the ends of the East and West, North and South, master of war, ever-victorious one, leader of men, unparalleled and most dignified.

Do not disturb the eternal rest of Augustus Octobus Caesar.>

Reading those words stirred complex emotions in Ricardt. The realization that someone had once lived in the distant past who had achieved such incredible feats beyond his imagination, the solemnity of it, and the transience of time.

To think that once the entire Empire of Franken and the Empire of the Salaman people lay beneath the feet of one man, he was humbled by the enormity of it all and the overwhelming ability of the one who achieved it.

So Ricardt entered the mausoleum not out of any desire for treasure, but driven by a curiosity to simply see it for himself.

Inside, however, there was only a large square space, and in one corner, broken earthenware lay scattered.

The mausoleum was not a complex structure. On three sides were entrances to the next rooms, but looking to the left and right, there was nothing but piles of white bones.

Long ago, grave robbers calling themselves adventurers had likely taken everything of value; nothing was left to carry away.

Past the central entrance, atop twelve steps, stood a single stone sarcophagus. Ricardt held the torch and slowly climbed, one step at a time, until he reached it.

As expected, the lid of the sarcophagus was already opened, and even the remains inside were gone.

However, the sarcophagus itself was not just a simple lid, it seemed to be carved in the likeness of Emperor Caesar during his lifetime, and it held great value as a relic. It was the only thing in the mausoleum that seemed to hold any significance.

<The fate of a warrior is to have his fine sword broken and to lose his noble steed. Even so, if breath still remains, to fight to the end, that is the mark of a true warrior. Thus, a hero does not choose where to be buried. One who can be laid to rest anywhere in the world, that is a true hero.

Here, heroes are buried. To be buried alongside them is the greatest honor for me.>

Though there was no treasure, not even remains, the spirit remained proud. Ricardt was truly impressed.

So, in honor of that spirit, he offered the only flower he had, a crystal flower, as a funeral tribute. He gently laid it atop the empty sarcophagus and said:

“Forgive my rudeness, for I acted out of curiosity. Though treasure is lost and even the remains of your flesh are gone, your spirit lives on to be remembered. I will remember you, Emperor Caesar.”

Ricardt closed his eyes, bowed his head, and paid his respects in his own way. Then, the crystal flower he had placed on the sarcophagus gently dissolved like melting snow.

At that moment, from some distance behind Ricardt, footsteps echoed. The wide space caused them to reverberate loudly.

Tap... tap...

Ricardt turned around. Auku and Hashim were nowhere to be seen, and standing there was someone cloaked entirely like a monk, even his face hidden beneath a hood.

The figure stood silently, both hands tucked into his sleeves, staring at Ricardt, then slowly turned and walked out. Ricardt followed him.

The mysterious man exited the mausoleum and walked through the gorge. The path was so winding that Ricardt almost lost sight of him, but he moved quickly, at times running, and managed to follow him all the way.

Then the man stopped. Not far from the mausoleum, the rocky mountain was riddled with holes like a beehive.

They had clearly been carved by human hands, perhaps once homes to ancient people, or perhaps, they too were tombs.

He climbed up the rocky mountain and entered one of the caves. When Ricardt hurried in after him, the man was standing still inside, waiting.

“Where does this path lead, stranger?”

He spoke from beneath the deep shadow of a dark hood that completely hid his face. His voice was deep and solemn.

“To the headquarters of the Order of the Flame Knights.”

Ricardt answered.

“No, I mean the path that lies beyond that.”

The path beyond? Ricardt was slightly confused, but soon understood what he meant. He was asking about the life Ricardt intended to live.

“There is something I must do. I seek to save those devastated by war.”

“Why? Why must you do that?”

“I cannot say for certain. But I was raised in a good family. I grew up with love and care. That is a treasure more precious to me than anything else. And yet, there are far too many people in the world who have never known such things. Is that their fault? On top of that, their homes are destroyed by war, their families killed, and pain and sorrow consume them. I wish to fight against that pain and sorrow. That is all.”

“I see... Then you have been free from the fate of a ruler from the very beginning.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“To lose soldiers, to lose cities, to lose people, to lose power, that is the fate of a ruler. A ruler must walk the path where fathers and sons try to kill one another, where he wears a crown stained with his brothers’ blood. But you, from the start, have had no interest in such things. You already possess the most precious treasure.”

“A person who is raised with love is someone who already has everything. Power is nothing compared to that. That is what I believe, and what I am certain of.”

“Still, remember this, O one who wields lightning as a weapon. Since the beginning, the history of mankind has repeated. Do not let sorrow and pain break you. Do not forget that your true weapon is not lightning, but love and hope.”

As he said that, he pulled his hand from his sleeve and pointed to the side. His hand was nothing but a thin, bare skeleton.

“May this protect your pure heart.”

Ricardt turned his head in the direction the man pointed. It was just a wall of sandstone. Puzzled, he turned back to look at the stranger, only to find that he had vanished without a trace.

Startled, but still uncertain, Ricardt cautiously approached the wall he had pointed to. He felt around with his hand, but nothing seemed unusual.

But when he made a fist and lightly knocked on it, a hollow sound echoed, thump thump. The space beyond the wall was empty.

Ricardt struck the wall with force. It crumbled like clay. Sensing there was something, he began tearing at it with his hands. And beyond the wall, there sat a single suit of armor, having waited for countless years for its master.

Ricardt reached in and pulled it out. It was armor in the style of the ancient empire, with sculpted chest and abdominal muscles, and on the chest, a dragon breathing fire was engraved. The armor shimmered in a reddish golden hue under the torchlight.

Though many years had passed, only a little dust had settled on it, there were no signs of rust. It felt like metal to the touch, yet was light. Weapons needed a certain weight, but armor was best when light.

“Ricky! Ricky! Hey! Riiiicky!”

“Ricky ajusshi! Where are you?! Riiiicky ajusshiiii!”

Just then, frantic cries from Hashim and Auku echoed from outside the cave. Ricardt quickly ran out.

Hashim and Auku were scanning the surroundings, searching, and as soon as they spotted Ricardt, Auku’s eyes widened and he shouted with a bright smile.

“You defeated the demon and found the treasure!”

He practically flew toward him with excitement. Ricardt was still puzzled.

Hashim quickly approached and said,

“I thought the Emperor’s ghost had dragged you to the afterlife.”

“I believed you could do it, Ricky ajusshi!”

Both Hashim and Auku welcomed Ricardt with relief and joy. Ricardt, still confused, simply turned his head to glance back at the cave. There was truly no one there.

“I think... I met the Emperor.”

“Then you must be the rightful heir to the ancient empire. Augustus Ricardt, is it? Ricky, you’ve won.”

Ricardt and Hashim would often bicker about which of them had inherited the legitimacy of the ancient empire, and now they were joking about it once again.

In truth, it had never been a serious fight from the start. What did it matter who the successor was? Even if neither of them were, it didn’t really matter.

“That’s not really it.”

“Either way, it’s a relief. This reckless fellow nearly dragged us into the underworld.”

“No, I told you, I was sure Ricky ajusshi could do it!”

“The Azure Tribe are half honest and completely reckless people.”

“We’re just brave, that’s all. Anyway, I kept my promise, right? We found the treasure.”

“That’s true.”

“By the way, what is this? It looks like a relic of the ancient empire. Is it made of gold?”

“I don’t think so. It’s far too light to be gold.”

“Then it’s not brass either. If we’re going to sell it, we should figure out what it’s made of. And if you plan to wear it, don’t you think it’s a bit too flashy?”

“I can cover it with something like a surcoat.”

“Try it on.”

There were no shoulder guards, arm protectors, or shin guards, just a single-piece torso armor, so it wasn’t difficult to wear. Hashim helped him put it on, having Ricardt stretch his arms up and lean forward as he fitted it over him.

Amazingly, it fit perfectly, as if tailored for him. The other parts could be crafted separately, and the chest and back alone seemed more than capable of providing protection.

As Ricardt put on the Emperor’s armor, Auku giggled and playfully tapped it with his small fist.

“Wow! Super sturdy! Is this the Emperor’s armor? Then does that mean Ricky ajusshi is the Emperor now?”

Ricardt patted the boy’s stiff, curly hair and replied,

“No.”

“Then what are you?”

“I’m just Ricky. That’s all.”

“Ehh... that’s no fun.”

“Well, nothing to be done about that. But life will bring fun moments eventually.”

“That’s true. Should we rest a bit before we head out?”

“Let’s do that.”

Ricardt, Hashim, and Auku went to where their horses were tied and lit a fire beneath a rock ledge.

The three of them spent the night surrounded by the mysteries of nature, in a place where the proud spirits of ancient heroes still lived. Ricardt finally understood why there were so many stars in the night sky. They had all become stars.

As morning broke, they awoke from sleep and began walking west again. Once they passed through the rocky mountain, the sun began to rise sharply, glaring down at the world as if in fury, and the heat began to build.

But as long as they followed the young guide, it was manageable. Along the way, they found shaded places to rest, drank sap from sliced-open cacti, and cooled boiled water to drink.

After two full days of walking, on the tenth day since the shipwreck, they arrived at a sultanate called Tyujis.

From here, grass began to grow. Short grasses and olive trees spread across the field, where goats grazed leisurely.

Turning to the right, far off in the distance, they could see the blue sea. White seagulls fluttered across the sky, and the sea breeze seemed to carry news from distant lands.

Across that sea to the northeast lay the southern edge of the Empire, just ahead. In other words, the continent where Ricardt had been born and raised wasn’t far now.

He didn’t know how his ship had wrecked and brought him so far east, but he had passed through the Holy Land, crossed the Mayub Sultanate, and traversed the wasteland to finally reach a place not far from the headquarters of the Order of the Flame Knights.

“Well then, I’ll be going now. You’d better not get lost in the wasteland again, okay? Got it?”

Standing on the green field, with the cool breeze in his face, Auku said cheerfully. The boy’s smile was truly the most refreshing thing in the world.

They had only known each other for three days, but Ricardt felt a twinge of sadness. And a bit of worry as well.

“Don’t trust the Steel People and Gold People too easily. Not all of them are like us.”

“I know that much. But someone who carries a burden instead of an animal... they can’t be all bad, right?”

Auku, in his own way, had been observing Ricardt and Hashim from a distance before deciding it was safe to approach. It wasn’t as if he had come to them without any caution at all.

“Well, I suppose the wasteland will protect you.”

“And Ricky ajusshi will be protected by that armor. The red horse will take you anywhere in the world. That steel sword will cut through anything. Hashim ajusshi is wise, so he’ll be able to teach you anything.”

“There’s still a lot I don’t know, Auku.”

“In any case, from here on, you have to find your own path. I’m off!”

Auku turned around and ran off into the desert. Ricardt and Hashim stood silently, watching the boy grow smaller in the distance. The boy looked back several times, waving his hand.

Then, beyond the shimmering heat haze, he disappeared.

“Perhaps that child’s innocence is the real treasure. Maybe it’s because he’s had to live in the harshest of places that such purity has been preserved. The world we live in can’t protect that kind of purity. Let’s go.”

Hashim said as he mounted his horse. From here on, they could ride a little more.

Ricardt also mounted his red horse. Reflecting on the words once spoken by the greatest emperor, thinking of the boy they had just parted with, he rode toward the place where Salamans, Frankens, and their mixed-blood descendants lived together.

Toward the place where two civilizations crossed, or perhaps collided.

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