The Warrior’s Ballad

Translator: Willia

There were various feelings when waking up from sleep. Sometimes there was relief after waking from a frightening dream, sometimes a foul mood from an unpleasant nightmare, and sometimes trying to force yourself back to sleep when you didn't want to wake up from a sweet dream.

But perhaps the best feeling of all was waking up naturally after a deep sleep, without any dreams and without any trace of exhaustion.

That was how Ricardt woke up. The chirping of birds tickled his ears. The spot he was lying on felt inexplicably comfortable. And then, there was the familiar scent, it felt just like home. Home? Wait a second.

The first thing he saw upon opening his eyes was a wall. As he turned his head, a familiar ceiling came into view.

There was no chandelier or anything of the sort, but the way the stones fit together, the shape of the ceiling supports, everything was unmistakably familiar.

It wasn’t an inn, nor the Ernburg branch building, nor even his residence in the Nibelungen Imperial Palace. It was his own room in Stormhertz. Huh?

Ricardt sat up. As he looked around, the room seemed a bit empty without his belongings, but there was no doubt, it was his room. Was he dreaming now?

But he quickly realized that this wasn’t a dream. Because right beside him, Marie was fast asleep.

She had her hands clasped together, lying on her side, pressed closely against him, breathing softly like a baby.

The problem was, her nightgown was slightly see-through. Ricardt quickly shut his eyes tight and turned his head away.

His mind felt as if it were being invaded by impure thoughts, but before he could dwell on them, the last memories before he lost consciousness came rushing back, drawing his focus elsewhere.

After winning the final match, Ricardt had been so dizzy that he didn’t quite remember what had happened. He vaguely recalled hearing a scream, but beyond that, his memory was blank.

Thinking it through, it seemed likely that Marie had brought his unconscious self to Stormhertz.

The Emperor had direct territories and satellite lands surrounding them, so the distance between Nibelungen and Stormhertz was both close and far, depending on how one looked at it.

The Caldebern Family had originated in the time of the 6th Emperor, Martellus II, when Caldebert was granted land in recognition of his military achievements. Naturally, the Emperor couldn’t give away land he didn’t have, so he had carved out a piece of his own direct territory.

In other words, the Caldebern County was one of the Imperial Family’s satellite territories, close to the capital, yet still somewhat distant. Thanks to Marie taking a carriage for quite a distance - on foot, it would have taken about three days.

Regardless, after the founding of the Caldebern County, Ricardt’s family had settled in Stormhertz, a corner of the land that was divided and passed down through inheritance.

The family name was Caldebern, but their hometown and official residence were in Stormhertz. They were of the same lineage as the Count’s household, and since the eldest son, Graut, had even married a daughter of the Count, they were essentially one family.

There was even an oath ensuring that if one branch’s line were to be cut off, the other would continue the family name.

While the Count’s family was the main house, there wasn’t a strict master-servant relationship. However, for the most part, decisions of the Count’s house were followed.

It was a bit complicated, but to put it simply, outsiders saw them as a Count’s house with a baron-like vassal branch. But on the inside, they were just one big family.

The important thing was that Marie, unaware of it herself, had fled into the lands of the Caldebern family and happened to run into Abelich, who had been patrolling the borders of the territory.

It was as if it had been a gift from the heavens, a miracle.

Marie hadn’t intentionally come here, but Ricardt thought she was truly clever. A fortunate misunderstanding.

Suppressing the stirring in his lower half, Ricardt got up and opened the wooden window, securing it with the latch. As he did, the refreshing morning sunlight poured in, revealing the familiar sight of his homeland.

White smoke that somehow looked appetizing was rising from the chimneys of every house. He could see the territory's residents busy with threshing from early morning, having just finished the harvest.

The cool autumn air brushed against his skin. Ricardt instinctively took a deep breath, only for it to catch in his throat. A sharp, needle-like pain pierced his chest.

“Ugh!”

Ricardt clutched his chest, his face contorting in pain. It seemed the poison was still affecting him.

Ricardt cautiously took another deep breath. Simply breathing was fine, but inhaling deeply triggered pain. It was a truly potent poison, one that matched the depth of the resentment behind it.

Still, he didn’t let it discourage him. The fact that he was even alive was something to be grateful for. Since there was nothing he could do about it at the moment, he decided to put it out of his mind.

Marie shivered slightly from the cold, so Ricardt closed the window again and tucked the blanket around her.

At that moment, the door opened, and someone walked in. It was his sister-in-law, Aileen.

“Oh my, I’m sorry.”

“Huh? Ah, no, it’s not like that-”

Thud.

Before he could even greet her or explain, his sister-in-law promptly shut the door.

Ricardt considered running after her to clear up the misunderstanding but ultimately decided against it. It didn’t matter anymore whether people misunderstood or not.

Still, the situation was a bit awkward. He had finally returned home after a long time, and this was how it started.

His father had probably gone out on patrol early in the morning, and his older brother seemed to be out inspecting the territory as well.

For a moment, he wondered about the well-being of his second brother, Vilter, but since he was practically at the ends of the world, getting any news about him wasn’t easy. All Ricardt could do was pray that he was doing well.

It had been three years since he left home. And now, he had returned.

Because of that, even this empty room felt different.

Memories from his childhood, those precious moments, seemed to resurface. This place really hadn’t changed at all. That sense of stability was reassuring.

Ricardt wasn’t reading a book or engaging in any particular pastime, yet just looking around the room and reminiscing about the past was enough to keep him entertained.

He found himself laughing to himself at times, then missing his mother, worrying about Vilter, and wondering how much his nephew had grown. He also thought about Butch and the other people of the estate.

“Thinking about the old days?”

At some point, Marie had woken up and was lying down with the blanket pulled up to her chin as she asked the question.

"Huh? Ah, yeah."

“Your father seems like a good person.”

“He’s not very talkative. Didn’t you see my brother? Or my sister-in-law?”

“I saw them briefly. We didn’t talk much, though.”

"Really? Um... want me to show you around the territory?"

“Yeah.”

Ricardt fetched a basin of water and washed up briefly before putting on the neatly folded clean clothes. They were probably his brother’s, as they fit him perfectly.

As for his weapons, his Meteoric Iron Sword had broken, leaving him with only his dagger, just like when he had first left home.

That said, even though the Meteoric Iron Sword had broken, its material was of such high quality that it could still fetch a hefty price if reforged at a blacksmith or even sold outright. It was a shame, but he didn’t dwell on it too much.

Marie wore a blue dress that seemed to prioritize ease of movement. It likely belonged to his sister-in-law, but since Marie was tall, it was a bit short on her. The hem, which should have reached her calves, stopped just above her knees.

But it didn’t really matter if the fit wasn’t perfect. This wasn’t the city, so fashion trends weren’t a concern here.

After twisting her long hair up into a simple bun and finishing her light grooming, Marie was ready. Just as Ricardt was about to step out with her, she called out.

“Wait a second.”

“Hm?”

As Ricardt turned around, Marie tugged at his clothes and kissed him.

At this point, there was nothing to be embarrassed about. This much felt completely natural.

The two exchanged smiles, gazing at each other with eyes that shimmered like starlight.

Then, they finally opened the door and stepped out of the room.

Since the house wasn’t particularly large, the hallway was short, and they quickly reached his sister-in-law’s room to greet her.

His sister-in-law was sewing, and beside her, his nephew was fidgeting, dressed in girls' clothing.

It was both a tradition and a superstition to dress young boys in girls’ clothing, people believed it helped them avoid illnesses and live long lives. Naturally, Ricardt himself had worn them as well. Until he was five years old.

Until the age of ten, children wore either boys’ or girls’ clothing without much distinction. But from ten onward, they exclusively wore boys’ clothing and were expected to act like men, taking on responsibilities.

And Ricardt had not only met that expectation, he had far surpassed it.

“Sister-in-law, I’m going to show Marie around for a bit.”

“Oh? You’re already done?”

“Done? Done with what? No.”

His sister-in-law smiled knowingly, as if she understood everything. Seriously, it wasn’t like that!

“Say hello. This is your second uncle.”

His three-year-old nephew peeked out from behind his mother, only half of his face visible, and gave a quick nod. He didn’t seem scared, just shy.

“You should greet him properly.”

“He-Hello. I’m Fwittwit.”

His nephew’s name was Fritzlit. Since he had only recently started speaking, his pronunciation wasn’t perfect.

“Hello. You can call me Uncle Ricky.”

“I’m Marie. I’ll be your aunt in the future.”

Marie boldly introduced herself. It wasn't wrong. She was supposed to be engaged to the winner of the sword tournament, and Ricardt had won.

Besides, the family had already been given a brief explanation of the situation the day before, so everyone knew about Marie.

Ricardt was the only one feeling a bit awkward.

“How is your body holding up?”

His sister-in-law asked him. Not wanting to worry her, Ricardt chose not to mention that his lungs weren’t in great condition.

“I’m fine. You don’t need to worry.”

"What about meals? I should at least serve something to my sister-in-law."

“Haha…”

“I’m fine. Ricky will feed me, won’t you?”

“Oh my, how indecent.”

“Huh? I-In…decent?”

“I’m just joking. But it’s true that little Ricky was always good at finding food for himself, no matter where he was.”

It seemed his sister-in-law was enjoying teasing him. They hadn’t been this close before, but now that Ricardt had grown up so much, she seemed more at ease speaking freely. She had a mischievous side.

Perhaps she had hoped that once Vilter and Ricardt were older, they could be like friends. But back then, they were still just kids.

“Father and my husband will be back by evening. You know that, right?”

No matter what, family dinner was sacred. Everyone had to be present.

“Of course. I’ll be back in time for dinner.”

With that, Ricardt took Marie’s hand and left his brother and sister-in-law’s room.

There wasn’t much to see in the attached watchtower, so he headed straight to the inner courtyard.

There, he saw village women bustling about, carrying various items.

Since this was a rural estate, there were no formal servants or hired workers. Instead, the village women helped out with household chores.

If extra hands were needed, even the lord’s wife would step in to clean out the livestock pens or carry supplies. That was just how things were in Stormhertz.

“Young master!”

“Hello.”

“My goodness, you’ve grown so much! And your lady is beautiful, too.”

There weren’t many people who disliked being called beautiful. Marie’s face lit up with a smile.

“You’re beautiful too, ma’am.”

"Hohoho, what a sweet talker.”

“By the way, is there anything to eat?”

Ricardt asked.

“You’re not sitting down for a meal? Still picking up food from here and there, I see. We have fresh butter, and the bread was just baked, so it won’t be too hard.”

"I don't just eat anything from anywhere. I’ll go check it out.”

Ricardt grinned and made his way to the food storage. Inside, he found freshly churned butter and warm bread.

Slicing a large loaf with his dagger, he handed a piece to Marie before slathering butter generously onto his own. Then, they each grabbed an apple and left the courtyard.

Munching as they walked, they strolled through the estate. The houses were scattered sparsely across the land, and the fields, just harvested, looked like a patch of shorn heads.

Autumn was a season filled with work. Everyone seemed busy, but their moods were bright. After all, food was plentiful.

“I’m jealous.”

Marie said as they walked.

“Hm? Of what?”

“Everyone here likes you.”

"When I was young, they all called me the 'gentle' Young Master Ricky. I must have been well-behaved. I didn't throw tantrums, didn't cry, and didn't cause trouble."

“Really? That’s different from now.”

"Why? How am I now?"

“You’re ridiculously stubborn.”

“You’re just as bad, Marie. But we suit each other.”

“That’s true.”

It was fascinating. That two stubborn people like them could be so compatible.

But then again, they weren’t just blindly stubborn. Most of the time, they were gentle, but once they made an important decision, they wouldn’t back down, that was the difference.

“There’s a spot I used to play in when I was a kid, over in that hunting ground. Let’s go check it out.”

“Okay.”

Ricardt and Marie passed through the autumn flower fields and entered the forest. Before long, they reached a small stream.

It was the place where he had built a hideout as a child and played with the older boys in the village.

And surprisingly, the hideout was still there.

Because it was harvest season, the village kids were busy helping with farm work, so no one was around.

Between two large trees stood a crude but charming little hut. Now, it was so small that he would have to crouch tightly just to squeeze inside.

“The kids must still play here.”

Even as he said this, a fond smile spread across Ricardt's face.

“When we used to play here, my eldest brother would carry me on his shoulders and take me home at sunset. We’d watch the sun go down over the fields.”

The memory was so vivid in his mind.

He recalled how his second brother, Vilter, would beg for a turn, only for their eldest brother to refuse, saying he was too heavy. Vilter would sulk every time.

Later, Vilter had insisted that he would carry Ricardt instead, only to collapse under the weight, unable to lift him.

It was a warm memory, yet at the same time, it made Ricardt feel a little sad.

It was nostalgia. Longing.

Even though he had returned home, that time in his life would never come back.

“Let’s go over there.”

“Okay.”

Marie followed Ricardt as he walked, retracing the steps of his childhood. Since Ricardt rarely talked about his hometown or his family, even the smallest things felt special to her.

Having grown up in a household that was not just harsh but merciless and cold, this place seemed even more extraordinary in her eyes.

How much must she have longed for freedom, for this to feel like a dream?

And so, she found herself both envious of Ricardt and drawn to him all over again.

Experiencing even a glimpse of his happy childhood made her feel certain, they could live happily together.

They could have children, raise them, grow old, and even death itself seemed like it would be peaceful if it was with him.

Thus, Ricardt and Marie spent the day wandering through Stormhertz.

Whenever they were tired, they sat down to rest.

Whenever they were hungry, they got soup or stew.

Whenever they met someone Ricardt knew, warm greetings were exchanged.

Everyone smiled brightly when they saw Ricardt.

There was no fear or hesitation in their eyes, none of the reverence or distance one might expect toward a noble.

Instead, they treated him as if he were their own child or younger brother.

To Marie, it was surreal, like a dream.

Rural villages were typically closed off and had a strong sense of community.

If taken too far, that could lead to stagnation, like water left to fester in a stagnant pool.

But in Stormhertz, that sense of unity and camaraderie was a strength.

At the same time, because of their insular nature, even though Ricardt had achieved great fame in the outside world, people here simply heard about it in passing and thought, Oh, I guess he’s doing well out there.

Because to these people, what mattered most was holding onto their way of life.

And Ricardt preferred it that way.

He liked that they treated him no differently than before.

The people of Stormhertz only wished for enough food to get by, helped each other like it was second nature, and when war came, they answered the call and fulfilled their duties.

They were simple but strong people.

And perhaps, without realizing it, they had shaped Ricardt’s inner self more than anything else.

In his past life, he had drifted from place to place, chasing death, only ever focused on his survival.

Before they knew it, the sun had begun to set.

On the way back, Ricardt suddenly crouched down and patted his shoulders.

“Hop on.”

Marie let out a small laugh, amused by the idea.

She didn’t refuse. Instead, she climbed onto Ricardt’s shoulders.

Ricardt rose effortlessly, as if he felt no weight at all.

“Ahh! Warn me before you get up!”

Marie nearly lost her balance but managed to steady herself by grabbing onto Ricardt’s head.

Laughing, Ricardt carried her back toward the castle.

The sun set over the autumn fields.

It had been a perfect day.