Chapter 51

The next day, thinking that Galdrat had probably calmed down by now, Rio and Shiraha showed their faces at the guild's training ground. The adventurers there, who had been shocked by the way Rio and the others had humbled the revered Galdrat, greeted them with indescribable expressions.

Galdrat was in his usual spot against the back wall.

"Meditation?"

Shiraha tilted her head. Galdrat was sitting against the back wall, quietly circulating his magic. Rio and the others often did this to imprint the sensation of their body enhancement limit activation into their bodies, but Galdrat's method was a gentler one. There was no excess magic being released, like heat haze. Noticing Rio and the others, Galdrat slowly opened his eyes and stood up.

"I have a request."

Galdrat bowed and said this straightforwardly, surprising Rio and the others.

"Please raise your head. What is this request?"

They hurriedly made Galdrat raise his head and breathed a sigh of relief. The adventurers who had been watching their interaction were making a fuss and giving them uncomfortable looks. Galdrat, raising his head, took out a silver coin from his pocket.

"I want you to place flowers on Nac Schwarka's grave."

It was a name they had never heard before. Since it was a grave, Nac Schwarka must have been deceased. To Rio and the others, who were not from the town, Nac Schwarka was an unknown person, but the name seemed to have a different meaning for the adventurers at the training ground. The commotion suddenly grew louder. Shiraha scanned the surroundings with a blank expression and whispered to Rio.

"He was a knight."

It seemed she had overheard the whispers of the adventurers. Rio looked at Galdrat.

"Why us?"

"I can't face him."

Rio furrowed his brow at Galdrat's response. Before even facing him, Galdrat, with his slave collar, shouldn't be able to leave the training ground. However, from Galdrat's tone, it sounded like he could go if he wanted to. But that wasn't the issue to pursue right now.

"That's a reason for you not to visit the grave, but not a reason to ask us."

Before Rio and the others came to the training ground, adventurers had already been visiting for training. It didn't seem like Galdrat had been waiting for them to make this request. Galdrat looked straight at Rio and offered the silver coin.

"I want to introduce you to him."

It made even less sense now. The only thing that came to mind was yesterday's incident, but how that connected to introducing them to the grave's inhabitant was unclear. Galdrat didn't seem likely to provide an explanation. As Rio was pondering what to do, Shiraha tugged at his sleeve.

"The forest."

"Oh, right."

Reminded of their errand by Shiraha, Rio turned back to Galdrat.

"After yesterday's match, I forgot to ask. Can we get permission to go deep into the forest?"

"Sure."

The permission was given in the shortest possible words, leaving Rio feeling somewhat anticlimactic.

"Then, we'll go to the grave. Any specific flowers?"

"Also, bring some Piznuts."

"Piznuts? Was it his favorite?"

"He used to eat them a lot."

Piznuts are often eaten as a snack by children, but it's hard to imagine a knight eating them. However, there are nobles like Rasmoa Rosiz, who can easily interact with children from border villages. People are different, and Rio accepted this.

With Galdrat's farewell, Rio and the others left the training ground. The adventurers' gazes, which had been directed at them, now had a slightly admiring air, unlike when they arrived.

"Maybe Galdrat was trying to make sure our position wasn't worsened by yesterday's incident."

"Probably, that's part of it."

"Do you think there's another reason, Shiraha?"

As they walked down the main street to the market to buy flowers, Rio asked for her opinion. Shiraha, as usual, nodded without changing her expression.

"Exactly as he said."

"So, the reason isn't just an excuse. But why does he want to introduce us?"

The only reason for Galdrat to want to introduce them to someone in the grave seemed to be his own feelings. What was concerning was why he wanted to introduce them, but that was something only Galdrat could answer.

"Knight Nac Schwarka. Galdrat came to the guild's training ground five years ago, and the nightmare of Rihelan also started five years ago. Could Nac Schwarka be one of the knights sent from the Ors earldom during the nightmare of Rihelan?"

It seemed like a plausible theory, but there wasn't enough information. Moreover, it was unclear whether this information would lead to their goal, the gemstone. Entering the Rihelan forest and relying on Shiraha's lost item search magic might be a more direct route. Nevertheless, since they had been asked, Rio and Shiraha bought some flowers and Piznuts at the market and headed to the cemetery.

The cemetery was a cluttered and small place, with no uniform style. The town had many drifters, and the differences in style reflected their various origins. However, it was curious that the cemetery was so small, given the nearby dangerous forest. As they wandered around the cemetery looking for Nac Schwarka's grave, a middle-aged man appeared from an adjacent building.

"Whose grave are you looking for?"

"Who are you?"

"I manage this cemetery. You could say I'm the caretaker."

The caretaker had a somewhat gloomy aura but smiled brightly. Rio lifted the basket of flowers and explained the situation.

"Galdrat from the adventurer guild's training ground asked us to visit Nac Schwarka's grave."

"…From Galdrat-sama?"

The caretaker, surprised, looked at Rio and Shiraha with a curious but somewhat relieved expression.

"I see. Galdrat-sama… Ah, I apologize. Let me show you. This way."

The caretaker turned and walked to the back of the cemetery. In the center of the cemetery was a large flat rock with many flowers placed on it. Noticing Shiraha's curious gaze at the flat rock, the caretaker explained.

"Since this town has many drifters, the land is limited and expensive. Those who couldn't afford it, whose names were unknown, or who couldn't be sent back to their hometowns are buried there."

"Everyone together?"

"Yes. Though, we just place a board with their names."

Hearing the caretaker's explanation, Rio inwardly tilted his head. Nac Schwarka was probably a knight sent from the Ors earldom. Even if not, a knight would serve somewhere. This frontier town didn't belong to any lord and couldn't produce knights. Nac Schwarka was unlikely to be from this town. Then, why was his grave here instead of in his hometown?

The caretaker stopped and pointed to a grave.

"This is the grave of the town's hero, Nac Schwarka."

"…Hero?"

Rio, taken aback, asked. The caretaker frowned, looking troubled.

"Seems you haven't heard. It's a story I hesitate to tell to outsiders."

The caretaker placed his hands together at Nac Schwarka's grave and pointed to his own house.

"Let me tell you. It seems Galdrat-sama thinks it's okay to tell you."

"Um, I don't quite understand. Can you tell us about Nac Schwarka?"

"It's the story of Nac Schwarka-sama and Galdrat-sama."