C848
"...A will?"
Raon's eyes widened as he looked at the paper in Sheryl's hand.
'A will...'
Did the Master know he was going to die?
He thought Rimmer's last words were "Be happy," but he had no idea he left a will aside from that.
As the thought that he might have known about his own death crossed his mind, Raon's heart began to race.
"How can someone who has reached transcendence be so bad at controlling his expression?"
Sheryl smiled, slightly raising her chin.
"He didn’t give this before this mission; he prepared it a long time ago."
"Ah..."
Raon let out a sigh as he looked at the paper.
"It’s not my fault that this paper is yellowed. That damn guy wrote it carelessly."
Sheryl tapped the yellowed paper with her hand, asking if Raon didn’t know Rimmer’s personality.
"I know."
Raon nodded. Someone like Sheryl wouldn’t keep Rimmer’s will without thought. She must have treasured it, keeping it free of any dust, so the paper must have been that yellowed color from the start.
—Even his will is in a chaotic state. It's truly consistent, that Pointy Ears.
Wrath let out a hollow laugh, saying that Rimmer was truly disgusting.
"Shall we read it together?"
Raon asked as he received Rimmer's will from Sheryl.
"No."
Sheryl shook her head firmly, like the edge of a knife.
"If he left you the will, it probably has nothing to do with me. That’s just how he is."
She turned her back on him, saying she couldn’t ignore Rimmer’s thoughts.
"...I understand."
Raon nodded and unfolded the paper that Rimmer had left him. A square folded note fell from inside the letter. Raon picked it up, held it in his hand, and examined its contents. Seeing Rimmer's distinctive clear handwriting made his heart tighten.
[If this letter reaches you, it means I am dead, right? I don’t know how I died, but don’t grieve too much. For elves, death is not such a sad thing. We return to the embrace of nature and become part of the world's mana. We will meet again someday. Humans have a saying similar to that, right?]
Even in his previously written will, he had mentioned the cycle of life and death. It seemed he did not feel a significant attachment to his own death, unlike others.
[It’s a will, but I actually have nothing to leave as my last testament. I can think of a few things, but I won’t say them.]
Rimmer complained about not having left any last words in his will. Raon could imagine the playful expression he must have had while writing this letter.
[The reason I’m not leaving you my last words is simple: I don’t want to be a burden to you kids. I will take my wishes with me. Just live happily with a smile.]
He had drawn a picture that seemed to represent smiling eyes, as if telling them not to be too sad and to smile even after his death.
[You might wonder why I gave this will to Sheryl, but I actually have a small favor to ask of you.]
Raon let out a brief sigh upon reading the word "favor."
[Take some money from my personal safe at Bares Bank and buy some snacks and toys. Take them to the address below. You’ll know what to do when you get there.]
Rimmer left the safe number and the password along with his request.
"..."
Raon bit his lip as he memorized the safe's password.
[P.S. 1. If my body is intact, don’t bury it. Cremate me and scatter my ashes to the wind. I want to watch over the Light Wind division from everywhere.]
Glenn wanted to bury Rimmer in the Zieghart cemetery, but since that was his wish, it seemed they would have to cremate him.
"Haha..."
Raon let out a brief sigh and turned his gaze to the second postscript.
[P.S. 2. Give the note that came with the letter to Sheryl. And visit her from time to time to keep her company. She’s more fragile than she seems.]
Rimmer ended his will with a request to take care of Sheryl. It seemed more like a letter than a will.
—This is truly a will worthy of that man...
Wrath looked down at the ground, saying that while it was a cheerful look, it was full of deep consideration.
"Heavenly Sword Division Leader."
Raon handed Sheryl the note he had in his hand.
"It says this is a letter left for you, Lady Sheryl."
"For me..."
Sheryl bit her lip for a moment, then seemed to make a decision and took the letter with trembling hands.
"Ugh..."
As soon as she saw the first sentence of the note, she bit her lip. It seemed she was trying to hold back her emotions, but in the end, tears fell.
"What does it say?"
"...It’s a secret."
Sheryl said she didn’t want to say and carefully held the note against her chest.
"I see."
Raon nodded. As Sheryl said, she probably had memories and stories she wanted to keep to herself, so he understood why she didn’t want to share them.
-B-but I’m curious...
Wrath said he was curious and stretched his neck, trying to read Sheryl's note.
'Don't do that.'
Raon sighed and grabbed Wrath's tail, pulling him down.
"Raon, you’re following that guy’s will. Always..."
Sheryl bit her lip as she looked at him.
She would probably tell me not to lose hope.
He steeled himself, hoping she would say "Don’t give up" or "Don’t fall." But Sheryl's words were different.
"Keep a relaxed attitude and smile. If you take everything too seriously like now, you won’t be able to utilize all your strength."
She gave him a gentle smile, telling him to maintain composure and laughter, even if he wasn’t a fool like Rimmer.
"...Yes, I will."
Raon nodded calmly, understanding why Sheryl told him to smile.
"One more thing."
Sheryl turned around just as she was about to leave.
"You will take your revenge, right?"
"I must."
Raon nodded. Now he truly couldn’t live under the same sky as Derus. Even if he died, even if his soul were annihilated, he would stop Derus's plans and cut off his head.
"I’ll be with you then."
Sheryl said she would go with him no matter what and then left.
"..."
Raon carefully folded Rimmer's will and stored it while watching the sunrise.
* * *
As morning arrived, Raon took Dorian with him to Bares Bank, which Rimmer had mentioned.
"Why are we going to that bank?"
Dorian blinked, saying they had all the money they needed.
"The master left a request."
Raon explained what had happened yesterday while pointing at the bank in front of them.
"Is it okay for someone like me to go with you to something like this? I..."
Dorian stepped back, saying he wasn’t qualified.
"That’s why I brought you."
Raon shook his head while grabbing Dorian's wrist. While the entire Light Wind division struggled to overcome Rimmer's death, Dorian was the one who seemed to be having the hardest time. Even after hearing Raon and Glenn's advice, his depression hadn’t lifted.
"Let’s go inside."
Raon dragged Dorian into the bank.
"It’s Lord Raon!"
The guard at the entrance opened his eyes in surprise and asked about their business.
"We’ve come to check a personal safe."
"Could you tell me the safe number?"
"It’s number 4478-3."
Raon indicated the safe number written in Rimmer's will.
"That’s in section 4."
The guard said this couldn’t be handled there and led Raon and Dorian to a room at the innermost part of the bank.
"Bank director. These guests are here for safe 4478-3."
After saying this, he closed the director's office door and left.
"I’ve been informed."
A large middle-aged man, referred to as the bank director, stood up from his chair.
"I don’t know what to say in the face of this sad and unexpected news."
He bowed his head with eyes filled with sorrow, as if he too had formed a bond with Rimmer.
"What was your relationship with the Master..."
Raon bowed his head in response to the bank director.
"Let’s go for now."
The bank director suggested they talk while walking, extending his hand towards a gray safe behind him. When his hand touched the safe, the door opened, revealing a dimensional passage leading to another space.
Countless doors lined both sides of an endless hallway, each marked with a number starting with 4.
This seemed to be the dimension where all the numbered safes 4 were gathered.
"The safes that start with 4 are not associated with people but with numbers and passwords. Anyone can open them if they know the number and password, even if they are not the original owner."
The bank director smiled slightly and explained that the number 4 safes were used in various ways.
"Then, could you tell me the password for safe 4478-3?"
He nodded, standing in front of the door marked with the number 4478.
"Mmm..."
Raon’s lips moved, but he didn’t speak immediately.
"..."
The bank director, seemingly understanding Raon's emotions, waited in silence without saying a word.
"Young master?"
Dorian blinked at Raon, apparently unsure of what was happening.
"Haha..."
Raon let out a long sigh as if the ground were about to collapse, then raised his head.
"Fifth training camp."
With a firm look, he pronounced the password for the safe written in Rimmer's letter.
"Ah..."
Dorian’s lips trembled, as if he finally understood why Raon had hesitated to speak.
"I met Mr. Rimmer on my first day working at this bank. Fortunately, I was assigned the position of account manager."
The bank director shook his head as he entered the password into the safe.
"As an elf with no material desires, he initially only deposited money and showed no interest. He never changed his password; it was always the same. He was the ideal client for a bank."
He drew a slight smile as if recalling old memories.
"However, things changed after Mr. Rimmer's subordinates died in the war. He would disappear and then suddenly appear, staring at the money in his safe for a long time before leaving. A few days later, he withdrew 100 gold coins for the first time, and from then on, he frequently took out money."
The bank director let out a brief sigh and said it was a drastic change.
"At that time, he changed the safe's password so often it was dizzying. Sometimes it was the name of someone, sometimes a date, or sometimes words he couldn’t understand."
He bit his lip and said that even from the barrier, Rimmer's emotions and mental state seemed unstable.
"However, things changed when he became an instructor at the fifth training camp. The depressed look in his eyes disappeared and was replaced by serenity and vitality. The password 'fifth training camp' that he established then has remained unchanged until now."
The bank director said it was a smile that made spectators feel good as he grasped the handle of the safe.
"Passwords are usually made up of numbers and letters that cannot be forgotten and that are wanted to be remembered. For Mr. Rimmer, 'fifth training camp' must have held that significance."
The bank director murmured that it must have been a more precious object than anything else as he opened the door of the safe. Clang! The magically treated iron door opened, revealing a safe filled with gold coins, silver coins, and jewels. It was hard to believe that this was the safe of Rimmer, who generally complained about not having money.
"Is this the vice leader...?"
Dorian's mouth dropped open upon hearing the password "Fifth Training Camp," and tears ran down his face.
"..."
Raon looked inside the safe for a moment, then took 10 gold coins and stepped out.
"That’s similar to what I used to take."
The bank director smiled as if he had expected this and closed the safe door.
"Then I will be waiting for your next visit."
He bowed his head as he erased the dimensional passage to the safe.
"Thank you for everything."
Raon returned the greeting to the bank director and exited the bank.
"What are you going to do with that money?"
"He told me to buy toys and snacks."
"Eh? I have all those..."
"Let’s do what he said for now."
Raon took Dorian, who was eager to use his own bag, and bought toys, snacks, and ice cream. Then he headed to the address Rimmer had given him. It was on the outskirts of a medium-sized town outside the Zieghart castle walls, where an impressive building with a red roof rose behind low walls.
'An orphanage?'
Raon’s eyes widened as he saw the name "Slan Orphanage" on the plaque. He had wondered if Rimmer had children of his own, but the place he had sent them to was an orphanage for children who had lost their parents or had been abandoned.
"Eh?"
"Is the red-haired brother here?"
—No! It's an unknown blonde!
"Ahh!"
The five or six-year-old children who were peeking over the wall squealed and ran toward the building.
"W-what’s going on?"
"...I don’t know either."
As Raon blinked in confusion, a middle-aged man with a friendly face came out of the orphanage building.
"Children! I told you not to be rude to the guests!"
He gently patted the backs of the children hiding behind him.
"We didn't say anything!"
"We just said he was blonde..."
"We were waiting for the red-haired brother!"
The children shook their heads, insisting they hadn’t done anything wrong.
"Anyway."
The middle-aged man sighed and approached Raon.
—I knew you would come, Lord Raon.
He bowed deeply after looking into Raon’s eyes, his hair, and the toys and snacks in his hands.
"Maybe..."
—Yes. This is the Slan orphanage that Mr. Rimmer regularly supported.
The middle-aged man introduced himself as the director of the orphanage and bowed.
"D-Did the Vice Leader support an orphanage? Ah, now that I think about it! There was a story like that before!"
Dorian clapped as if he had just remembered.
"But it completely disappeared after that, so I thought it was just a rumor..."
"It wasn't a rumor. The Light Wind division... no, he had been supporting us long before all of you became swordsmen. And he did so through generations."
The orphanage director smiled and said Rimmer was an incredible person.
"What do you mean by 'through generations'?"
"When I was a child living in this orphanage, a swordsman from Zieghart named Slan would come every week to play with us and provide support. After Slan died in the war, Mr. Rimmer started coming in his place to play with the children and provide various forms of support."
He smiled sadly and said that the reason they could keep the orphanage so orderly was thanks to Rimmer.
"So the name 'Slan Orphanage' is..."
"Mr. Rimmer changed it."
The orphanage director nodded and said everyone agreed.
"I see."
Raon bit his lip and turned his gaze, meeting the eyes of the children looking in his direction.
"Don’t the children know?"
"Mr. Rimmer never told them his name, and they simply called him 'red-haired brother.' It seems he didn’t want to create a situation in which they would be saddened to hear his name."
The orphanage director chuckled and said it was the same when he was young.
"Of course, the older ones who know the situation hide in the corners crying, trying not to show it to the younger ones. And of course, I too..."
He shook his head and said he still couldn’t believe it.
"..."
Raon raised his hand to cover his eyes.
"I never knew he was doing something like this..."
He had no idea that Rimmer had so much money in his safe or that he was supporting an orphanage. It seemed people had many different facets.
"Can I give the children gifts?"
"Of course."
The orphanage director welcomed the idea and let them through. Raon carefully approached the children and opened the lid of the ice cream bucket he had brought.
"Would you like to eat together?"
"Oh..."
The children swallowed hard as they looked at the ice cream, wary of the stranger but tempted by the treat.
"All right."
When the orphanage director nodded with a slight smile, the children came out and each took an ice cream.
"Thank you for the food!"
"We’ll enjoy it!"
The children laughed as they took a bite of the ice cream.
"What flavor is this ice cream?"
"What’s your name, brother?"
The children, seemingly disarmed by the ice cream, began to speak softly.
"That’s mint chocolate. I’m Ra... No, just call me blonde brother."
Raon didn’t reveal his name but introduced himself as "blonde brother," just as Rimmer had done.
"Eh? Are you a friend of the red-haired brother?"
"When is the red-haired brother coming?"
The children approached him and asked when Rimmer would come, as if they were waiting for him.
"For a while..."
Raon smiled as he patted the heads of the children.
"He went on a trip."
Perhaps Rimmer’s trip would return to the hearts of these children when they became adults. As he learned more about Rimmer, the frozen pain in his heart seemed to melt a little.
"Mmm..."
Dorian also seemed calmer, pressing his lips together to hold back tears. Perhaps that was why Rimmer had left them his last will. Raon felt the clear wind flowing and imitated Rimmer’s characteristic relaxed smile.
* * *
The open space in front of the dungeon where Raon had taken down Sif with the Sword of Transcendence. A dull noise. Sharp footsteps resonated on the broken and shattered ground. A man in a black robe that seemed to wrap around darkness picked up a blood-soaked feather and bit his red lips.
"This is the place."
Derus Robert. Upon hearing his voice filled with deep rage, the Shadow assassins trembled as if spitting blood.
"Discover everything that happened here, even if you have to stir the souls."
-
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