The Biography of Albrecht - Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Translator: Nezu

Editor: Daed

The sun went down and night fell. The stars shone one by one as a cross galaxy suddenly appeared across the night sky. Albrecht looked at this cross galaxy and felt once again that this was not ‘Earth’.

His eyes were fixed on this cross galaxy as the guilt he felt and the disappointment of his parents were set ablaze in his mind.

He had become different from who he was before. It was as if two different lines had met and merged into one, which eventually changed the future course of the other line. Although its course had changed, it remained connected to the first line. The former Albrecht was still him, and his past was something that he had to assume responsibility for.

He didn’t know why he suddenly had the memories of his other ‘self’ living on Earth. Yet even though he might not know the ‘reason’ for it, he could at least see the ‘meaning’ to it.

If he had left his past ‘self’ as it was, he probably would become a devil that only knew to spill blood on the world. At least now, he was sure that he wouldn’t become one.

Though he thought that it was already too late. Would he be beheaded by his father? If that were to happen, he vowed to accept it wholeheartedly.

As the stars slowly concealed their traces and the sky began to turn dark blue, the butler, Hans, came in. Unlike usual, he was neatly dressed and his hair was combed.

“Young master, please put on the gambeson.”

Hans beckoned Albrecht to follow him as he put on the gambeson. He followed Hans down to the first floor. He saw his father as soon as he entered the hall.

Burkhardt was wearing chain armor with a surcoat with their family crest over the armor. His sword, held by two hands, pointed to the ground.

He was flanked by Guntram, Peter, and Arnold who were dressed in their uniforms. Everyone’s expressions were serious.

Albrecht’s heart throbbed. Was he really going to die? While he was willing to accept his punishment, he couldn’t stop feeling nervous inside. He stood in front of his father, hiding behind a calm façade.

Burkhardt nodded his head at Arnold. The latter put the prepared chain armor on Albrecht.

Albrecht let Arnold put the armor on him as he didn’t know how. He was given a surcoat with their family crest. A sword belt was fastened on it holding a sword, which he received as a gift on his coming-of-age ceremony, and its scabbard.

Burkhardt spoke when they finished.

“Get down on your right knee.”

Albrecht knelt on his right knee without knowing what would happen next. Burkhardt placed his sword on his son’s right shoulder and said, “You should always be honest. To preserve your honesty, you must be prepared to risk your life. This is how the mindset of a knight should be.”

Then he raised the sword over Albrecht’s head and rested it on his left shoulder.

“You should not bully the weak. This is a principle that a knight should keep. Protect those who are innocent. That is the knight’s duty.”

Burkhardt pointed his sword once more towards the ground. Albrecht looked at his father with trembling eyes.

“By means of this, you are now officially knighted. Peter, Hans, Guntram and Arnold serve as your witnesses. Stand up.”

Albrecht stood up. Burkhardt continued.

“Albrecht, I banish you now from this territory. If you set foot in here recklessly, you will have to face me and fight with me to death. And…”

As if to rein in his overwhelming emotions, Burkhardt took a deep breath and then said, “When I die, you come back here and take over this territory. This, you must pledge.”

Albrecht looked at his father. His unique, eagle-like eyes looked like they were on the verge of tears.

His father was always strict and cold. Although he never told Albrecht that he loved him, he knew that he did.

When he was a child, he had the habit of tossing the blanket off himself while sleeping. His father would often go to his room, fix his blanket, and kiss him on his forehead. The warmth from that soft sensation was enough to melt anything cold. It was love.

Albrecht unsheathed his sword, grabbed it with both hands, and pointed it to the ground like his father did.

“I pledge, Father.”

Burkhardt looked at Guntram when Albrecht spoke. Guntram handed the sheathed Siegfried’s Thunder Axe.

Burkhardt slid his sword into his scabbard and said, “Our bloodline will end if you die outside anyway, so there’s no use keeping the Thunder Axe. Take it with you.”

Guntram walked out and said, “Come this way, please.”

Albrecht followed him. He looked back and saw his father looking at him silently. He wanted to say something but his mouth didn’t move. This was the last chance in his life to see his father. He couldn’t believe it. He could hardly take a step forward.

When he went outside, he saw his mother and some other people. His mother walked over to him and draped a black cloak that she had made herself over his shoulders.

“It’ll be winter soon. Be sure to go to a city and stay at an inn before winter comes.”

Albrecht hugged her mother tightly as she shed tears in silence. He hugged her for a long time before he let go and walked away without looking back. He knew that if he looked back at his mother, he wouldn’t be able to go.

Guntram was waiting at the city gate with a horse. A helmet and a shield hung on its saddle. The shield was a heater shield with a flat top, curved sides and pointed tip. Its front was divided equally into four parts and painted as white, black, white and black, starting from the top left side then going in a clockwise direction. This was their family crest.

He climbed onto the horse and went down the road slowly as he surveyed his surroundings.

If he had woken up a little earlier, he would have been able to help his parents take care of their people. But he could only blame himself for this outcome. It was all his fault.

He was neither honest nor was he honorable. He even failed to do his duty. He failed to adhere to all the principles of a knight that his father told him and then pledged again to take the oath of keeping it. He hated himself.

Albrecht took out the pendant that Eric had entrusted him. It was round with a beautifully carved flower surrounded by stems. The flower had six leaves with a yellow topaz inlaid in the middle.

Determined to never forget the crime he committed against Eric, he placed the pendant around his neck and hid it under his clothes. For now, he decided to make Penbacht his final destination.

He slowly descended the mountain while looking around the territory and the land below.

When will I be able to see this again? If only I had woken up earlier.

He continued with these musings. Before he knew it, he had reached the foot of the mountain. People who had been out since early morning to prepare for work watched Albrecht with uneasiness because he was fully armed and riding a horse.

Albrecht went a little further and turned left. The Kaltern Estate laid between two rivers that originated in the north. One river was used to deliver logs to the lumberyard. Burkhardt often patrolled the road beside that river, so the area beyond that should be safe to a certain extent.

As he followed the road, a bunch of kids began to gather around him. Jurgen was among them.

“Captain looks so cool. But where are you going?”

The innocent child looked cute. Albrecht smiled at him and said, “I’ve been banished. I need to leave here now.”

The children were surprised at first before they began to talk about what he said.

“Really? You’re really banished? Will you come back?”

“Maybe. I’ll be able to come back and inherit the estate when my father dies. But I also might actually die outside and never be able to.”

When Albrecht said this, some of the children who didn’t believe him at first seemed to have accepted what he said, their faces serious. The younger ones in the group got choked up and burst into tears.

“Go home now, you guys. Listen to your elders and don’t cause trouble for them from now on.”

The children followed him for a long time. Along the way, some turned back. By the time they reached the lumberyard, there were less than ten people left.

At the lumberyard, the men who had been preparing for work in the morning took off the caps on their heads and bowed down when they saw Albrecht.

Everyone was frightened by Albrecht, who was fully armed and riding a horse. They stepped aside, hoping that he would not harm them. They didn’t expect him to stop in front of them though.

“I would like to apologize for all the things that I did so far. I know that saying this won’t easily erase your doubts about my sincerity, but I apologize once again. I’m very sorry.”

Albrecht bowed his head to them. Everyone stared at each other with wide eyes.

He left them dazed and continued riding the horse along the side of the river.

He slowly made his way south the whole morning. Morning ended, the sun had already reached the middle of the sky, and half a day had passed. They had now reached the end of the forest. This was the boundary of the Kaltern Estate.

Jurgen was the only one left who followed him. He was young; walking that far made him lose his breath.

“Guess that’s it. Bye.”

“Um, C-captain! I… I have something to say!”

“What is it? Tell me.”

Jurgen opened his mouth but didn’t speak. Then he began to cry. Albrecht waited for him to speak without prodding.

“That… About the cow that you killed. I’m the one who told the Lord about it.”

Albrecht didn’t expect that and was surprised. If Jurgen hadn’t told his father, he wouldn’t have been severely scolded and Eric wouldn’t have died.

However, Albrecht merely wondered at what had happened as a result. He didn’t actually harbor much resentment.

“I’m just asking because I’m curious but…Why did you do that?”

“Because what you did was wrong. You won’t be able to become a knight…Like that. Hic.”

Albrecht was momentarily stunned, and then he laughed.

“Haha. It seems like you’re even better than me.”

Albrecht laughed louder as he quickly rode the horse away from the estate. His blonde hair shimmered in the sunlight as it fluttered in the wind.