Before the nation of Kuwol was founded, the area around the Mejire River was ruled by Valkaan. Even if humans managed to create small nations of their own, Valkaan would immediately subjugate them. After this, the nations would quickly collapse under their despotic rule. Though Valkaan looked like humans, they were walking natural disasters. No one could live safely under the thumb of someone who could obliterate entire cities on a whim. It was in these turbulent times that a certain man was born.
I died in yet another war and was once again granted life. It seems I’ve yet to fully atone for the carnage I wrought in my past. But how many more lives will I have to live before the Buddha forgives me? the man thought, gently stroking his cheek as a fierce wind blew past him.
It was refreshing to have a scaleless human body again, but at the same time, it reminded him of the fragility of humans.
The man had been born a Valkaan and had been a peerless martial artist since his youth. At the tender age of eight, he had defeated grown adults in fencing tournaments. But eventually, rumors started circulating that he might be a Valkaan, so he was forced to leave his home village. No one wanted a Valkaan in their vicinity, after all.
Later, the man heard that his hometown had been destroyed by another Valkaan. Those without power struggle to survive, but those who have nothing but power lead a solitary existence. My past life was far better than this one. These days, the man lived alone and survived by hunting in the forest. It wasn’t too different from his past life as a dragonkin, but he had no family or friends here. People feared him because he was a Valkaan, and no one dared approach him.
This must be karma for indulging my strength so irresponsibly in my last life. The Buddha is trying to tell me I need to mature further before I’m free from the cycle. As the man was musing on his many lives, he spotted something out of the corner of his eye.
“Hmph!” Instead of drawing the sword at his waist, the man picked up a pebble and threw it where he’d seen movement. However, a pebble thrown by a Valkaan was more powerful than a bullet fired from a rifle.
The pebble shot through the undergrowth and hit the man’s target a few dozen meters away. The target happened to be a deer, which dropped to the ground with a pained bleat. The man walked over to the deer and pressed his hands together to say a silent prayer for the creature.
“Forgive me, but I must eat.” He unsheathed his dagger and cut the deer’s throat to drain it of blood. Then, without turning around, he said, “I know you’re there. If you’re simply hungry and want food, I will gladly share this deer with you.”
A young man slowly walked out of the bushes.
“N-No thank you, sir. But, um, are you the Valkaan everyone’s been talking about?”
“Hahaha. I’ve been living like a hermit in these woods, so I’m afraid I don’t know the current gossip. But yes, I have been called a Valkaan before.”
“Thank goodness you’re not as bloodthirsty as the rumors say.” The young man gave the Valkaan a relieved smile. “I’m Shumar.”
“Well met, Shumar. I’m...” The man trailed off. Who am I, really?
Shumar gave the man a worried look and asked, “Is something wrong?”
“Ah, no I’m fine. You can call me...Richter.”
“Lord Richter?”
“Just Richter will do. I’m just an ordinary old man after all,” Richter replied with a sad smile.
For a man like me who has made so many mistakes in the past...this is the only name I can give.
Richter shook his head, then brightened up and asked Shumar, “I don’t know what business you have with me, but how about we eat first? You appear to be quite hungry, Shumar.”
“Wha?!” Shumar looked at Richter with surprise, but then his stomach growled, and he looked away bashfully. “I’m sorry, I ate all the food I brought with me.”
“Hahaha! Fear not, the deer will be grilled soon,” Richter said, starting a small campfire.
Between bites of salted deer meat that Richter had grilled, Shumar explained his situation. “I’m a farmer who lives in a village near Mount Kayankaka.”
“I didn’t know people lived there.”
“My tribe arrived there around a decade ago and built a village at the foothills of the mountain. The village we used to live in was destroyed in a battle between two Valkaan,” Shumar said sadly. He then explained that things had finally settled down in their village enough for people to live stable lives.
Richter nodded and said, “The soil here is fertile, but it still takes a lot of effort to grow meji in places like this. It must have taken many years to get the soil conditions right.”
“I’m impressed you know that. I’m sorry if this is rude, but I thought Valkaan didn’t bother with peasant work like farming.”
Richter offered Shumar another skewer of deer meat, then said with a smile, “Back when I was a child, I helped my parents on their rice farm.”
“What’s rice?”
“You haven’t heard of it? It’s a white grain you grow in flooded paddies.”
“I’m afraid I’ve never heard of such a crop.” Shumar gave Richter an apologetic look.
“No need to apologize,” he replied, shaking his head. “I just thought I might be able to eat it again, but...”
No rice here, huh? What a shame. It’s the perfect climate for growing rice too. Unlike Meraldia, where he’d been in his past life, this region was hot and humid—ideal conditions for rice cultivation. The meji favored here instead was not to Richter’s tastes at all. It reminded him of the rations he’d eaten during the war in his first life.
“I imagine you didn’t come to a Valkaan for farming advice though. Is there some problem your village is facing that requires my might?” Shumar nodded.
“It’s as you say, Richter. A Valkaan named Agar has come to our village. He said if we didn’t obey him, he’d kill us and raze the village, so we had no choice but to become his slaves. But the way he treats us is awful. I ran when he wasn’t looking and came to find you.”
“That was rather reckless, don’t you think? He would have killed you if he’d spotted you.”
Shumar puffed his chest out proudly. “I’m not going to be anyone’s slave! I decide what to do with my life, not anyone else! And I’d heard there was another Valkaan living nearby, so I thought maybe I’d ask them for help.”
“What you did was foolhardy yet courageous. A world where courage isn’t rewarded is not one worth living in,” Richter said with a smile. “I don’t know for sure if I can defeat this Agar. If I lose, both you and I will be killed, Shumar. In fact, your entire village may be massacred. Do you still wish to be freed from tyranny after learning what defeat will mean for you and your family?”
“Yes,” Shumar said without hesitation. “My tribe came here to escape oppression from Valkaan. We’re tired of being subjugated by those barbarians.”
“Very well. Then your lives are in my hands, I suppose.” Richter finished eating and got to his feet. There was nothing in this for him. Helping Shumar put him at risk with no return.
Even if I defeat that other Valkaan, I’m still a Valkaan myself. Shumar’s tribe will still drive me away out of fear. But even so, Richter didn’t regret agreeing to help. The fact that evil was running rampant was reason enough for him to step in. If there was no justice in this world, then he would be that justice. Besides, he’d come to like young Shumar in the brief time they’d spent together.
“Thank you, Shumar.”
“Huh? What for? Just so you know, the only thing we can give you in return is a bit of meji, okay?!” Shumar said hurriedly, and Richter burst into laughter.
“Don’t worry, I need no reward. If anything, you’ve already given me all the reward I could ask for.”
“Um, what do you mean by that?”
“I’m just reflecting on my past regrets, that’s all. When the strong abuse their power, they can only be stopped by someone just as strong. This time, I’ll be the one to stop them.” Richter patted the sword at his waist and smiled. “All right, Shumar, let’s go enact some justice.”
“Okay!” Shumar said with a nod.