A few weeks have passed since my presentation of the new weaponry. During this period, I kept receiving regular reports about the weapon's performance, as well as information about the soldiers who were adapting to it the best. I was surprised to see that the adaptation list included over twenty soldiers.
Furthermore, I was quite pleased to note that among these soldiers were Ryan and Aizen, two individuals I met during my last visit to the military base. By the way, the original name of the place was 'Knights Brigade,' but I decided to change it when I began considering the construction of a similar unit in my own territory.
Another event during these weeks was the fact that Emi spent this period residing at my house. Although I was initially surprised by her request, Emi explained to me that she had already informed her parents about her stay at my residence during the week. Additionally, she mentioned that both of us needed to get used to sharing the same space, so this decision aimed to facilitate that mutual adaptation.
Of course, despite Emi spending nights at my house, it doesn't mean we slept in the same room. During these weeks, she stayed in my sister's room. Fortunately, the beds are spacious enough, which put my mind at ease knowing there wouldn't be any space issues.
With all these events underway, the day to visit the village that had been taken over by bandits finally arrived. This situation was also communicated to the king, so I'm not acting in secrecy. The evidence of this is that the king himself sent fifty of his soldiers to my territory. Additionally, Jhon's presence among them reassured me about security, as he is confident and experienced in such matters.
Moreover, Jhon wasn't sent solely for my protection. Another reason for his presence is to show him the new weaponry I developed and allow him to see it with his own eyes. According to the king, Jhon is considered a genius who can perfectly reproduce something someone else has done, as long as it was done using the body.
In addition to the soldiers sent by the king, I'm also accompanied by two veterans from the military base in my territory. They will be the ones demonstrating the use of the new weapons firsthand. Furthermore, I distributed the weapons among the soldiers sent by the king. Of course, I provided them with basic training on how to use the weapons, but honestly, I didn't expect excellent performance right from the start. So, I kept my expectations moderate.
At the moment, as these thoughts wandered through my mind, I found myself mounted on a white horse, bidding farewell to Emi. Considering we're headed to a place where combat is inevitable, I didn't see the point in opting for a carriage, so I decided to go on horseback. Additionally, I have the ability to defend myself to some extent, which frankly leaves me unconcerned about it.
"Please, take care"
Emi expressed with a touch of concern in her voice, gazing at me. Besides Emi, my parents were also present, along with my sister. They all came to bid me farewell, although I must admit we don't plan to be away for long. Our goal is to retake the city by the following day, so our action will be swift and decisive.
From what Jhon informed me during the preparations, the bandits we'll face have an extremely negative reputation, to say the least. Apart from committing robberies, they're also known for committing murders and rapes against women. Honestly, I don't even want to consider what they might have done to the people of the village they recently took over.
With these thoughts hovering in my mind, I turned my gaze back to Emi and noticed she still watched me with a worried expression. With a gentle smile, I directed my words to her, keeping my eyes fixed on hers.
"I appreciate your concern, but I promise we won't get involved in anything dangerous. In fact, I have no intention of fighting, I'll be there just to monitor the situation's progress"
I reassured Emi, trying to calm her. However, I noticed that my words didn't seem to have eased her worried expression. As I pondered over the reason, my parents' voices echoed around me.
"Son, it's not that Emi doesn't trust you... but sometimes you get too involved. We're just afraid it might end up hurting you in some way"
My mother explained in a gentle tone as she looked at me. I couldn't deny her words, as she was somewhat right. While a faint smile escaped my lips upon hearing that, my father's voice echoed.
"Well, your mother and wife are right, you sometimes tend to push yourself too hard thinking you're the only one who can solve the situation"
Hearing my father's words, I was momentarily surprised, as this was the first time I heard this. Although I hadn't realized, perhaps the fact that I have memories of my past life from a world much more technologically advanced than this one makes me occasionally think that I have a duty to protect the people I love because I have more knowledge than others. While I reflected on this, John's voice pulled me from my thoughts.
"Please, don't worry. I swear on my honor as a knight that I'll keep him safe"
As soon as she heard these words, Emi let out a small sigh, her gaze shifting towards John.
"Yes, I appreciate that, John. Ren can be quite stubborn at times, so please, take care of him"
Saying these words, John let out a contagious laugh and walked away, heading towards his group. Looking at Emi one last time, her golden eyes locked onto mine. Suddenly, a smile lit up Emi's lips, and she walked slowly in my direction, gesturing for me to come closer.
Anticipating that Emi had something to say, I tilted my face towards her lips. As this happened, I felt Emi's soft lips touch my cheek, which made me look at her in surprise. She gazed at me with a warm and passionate smile, conveying a silent message through her eyes.
"Take care"
Even without needing words, I understood exactly what Emi wanted to convey to me.