The Warrior’s Ballad
Chapter 87.2

Translator: Willia

Marie was impulsive, determined, and courageous, but perhaps due to her lineage and upbringing, she also had a ruthless side.

Dr. Reno had not expected her to speak so harshly, and he began sweating nervously.

"Hah… hahaha… well, I suppose that is possible. In any case, securing legitimacy will be the most important issue now. And legitimacy will likely fall to the one who avenges the late emperor."

"What do you mean, avenges?"

"The Order of Judgement. The one who uproots them is likely to become the next emperor. I hear that in the capital, hundreds of people are being hanged every day. They are suppressing the chaos while simultaneously hunting down the followers of the order."

"……"

The emperor had been assassinated. Naturally, there was no way this would simply be overlooked. But when the imperial family was enraged, it was not only the order that suffered, their associates and countless innocent people were also sacrificed.

There were probably some minimal legal procedures in place, but realistically, it was difficult to distinguish who was who. So, the approach being taken was to capture and punish anyone even remotely suspicious. A storm was raging.

Ricardt and Marie looked at each other. Just by glancing at their eyes, they could tell who the other was thinking of. Ice...

Ice was no longer a member of the order, but he had not completely severed ties with them either. He had distanced himself, but his situation remained ambiguous.

"Why do you ask?"

"Ah, no reason. It's just that… there must be a huge number of people associated with the order. Are they planning to kill them all?"

"Even when the next emperor takes the throne, the empire will likely continue its suppression for the time being. One thing that concerns me is that such purges, when dragged out without clear objectives, often escalate into even greater atrocities, driven by desperation."

"Ah..."

Had it been a mistake to accept Ice? Would it be better if he voluntarily turned himself in, stating that he was once part of the order but no longer was? But betraying a friend was not an option. It was a difficult dilemma.

"Do you remember the question you asked me before you left for the academy?"

"Which one?"

"Heiden Fields."

Heiden Fields was where Ricardt had tended sheep in his past life. It was where the purest soul in the world had sung to the stars, and where a life full of sorrow had come to an end.

And it was also the place where endless hatred and fury toward the world had been born.

"Uh... I don’t remember too well, but I think I did ask about it."

"There are rumors that the order has a sacred site there. I only heard about it, so I cannot say for certain. But if they locate their stronghold and eradicate it, the suppression might ease somewhat, as it would be seen as a significant victory."

"I see..."

Hearing the name Heiden Fields, which he had forgotten, left Ricardt with an indescribable feeling.

It felt as if echoes from his past were calling to him. Where are you going alone? Why are you happy by yourself?

Perhaps this was what Armand had meant when he said Ricardt needed to confront his past self.

Seeing Ricardt’s somber expression, Marie assumed he was worried about Ice. She placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"Let’s not give up. We haven’t done anything wrong. That’s what matters most."

"Yeah… thanks."

Ricardt forced a smile.

After exchanging a few more words with Dr. Reno, they expressed their gratitude once again, wished each other luck, and bid farewell.

Ricardt and Marie then left the count’s castle and set off for Reinfurt. From there, they planned to take a ship directly to Ernburg.

Even though the autumn wind blew cool and fresh, it could not ease the restlessness in Ricardt’s heart. Even when Marie playfully tried to cheer him up, all he could do was force a smile, he was in no mood to respond properly.

The shadows of the past seemed deeper than he had expected, making it difficult to simply turn away.

The God of Judgement… What is it that he judges? When did I ever judge anyone? What did people see in my past self?

The Demon King, the devil among devils, the murderer among murderers. And yet, at the same time, a god who saved the powerless. There was no other figure in history who embodied such extreme duality. That had been Ricky in his past life.

Burdened with these troubling thoughts, Ricardt boarded a boat with Marie in Reinfurt. As they traveled upstream toward Ernburg, they passed by a city that was engulfed in flames. Was there a war?

Thick, black smoke rose in columns from various places, illuminated from within by a fiery glow. The passengers on the boat crowded onto the deck, staring at the scene in anxious silence.

But to their shock, the ones setting the city ablaze were neither an army nor a band of thieves. It was furious peasants and townsfolk.

They stormed the estates of nobles and wealthy merchants, dragging out the owners and their households by the hair. Then, they mercilessly beat and kicked them to death.

They shouted something, but from this distance, Ricardt could not hear. However, it was clear that they were venting long-held grievances. Meanwhile, they looted the riches of the wealthy like starving rats feasting on a hoard.

The terrorist acts of the order had merely been a spark, an excuse for the exploited and oppressed to rise up.

The situation was far worse than he had imagined. This was no longer just about hunting down and suppressing the order.

The real issue was that not all territories were as peaceful and pastoral as Stormhertz.

Most people lived in miserable suffering. Perhaps the Order of Judgement itself was nothing more than a byproduct of that accumulated agony.

The fires consuming the city burned so intensely that the heat could be felt even from the boat passing by on the river. The thick stench of burning filled the air, like the rotting heart of a decayed monster.

And that smell seemed to reach out and seize Ricardt, pulling him ever deeper into the past.

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