Despite the tension at the table, Byron pulled Peony with him, pulled a chair for her and then sat beside her.
"She's a hunter who saved me from the Infected Monsters," Byron introduced her the way it came into his mind. "Her name is Peony. I wanted to take a few of her rabbits but they could not accept me. That's why she's decided to escort me. I'll need..."
The more he said, the more lies came into his mind. Peony was looking at him in a way that showed she was surprised, but Byron ignored her and continued.
Soon, the meal was over.
Before standing up, Byron studied the expressions on everyone's face. The woman with eyes filled with motherly admiration was smiling, the Patriarch rubbing his silver long beard with a prideful expression, Gillian happy and the red-dressed woman, together with her two sons, unhappy but trying to fake smiles.
***
Water was no longer a problem.
After Byron took a bath, he stepped closer to the mirror and recalled the image he had saw there the day he went for his expedition.
Nothing looked the same.
Not only he had become muscular, but also a bit bright. Everything about him had upgraded. That is to mean the hue of his skin, the luster of his sliver hair and the flames in his amber eyes.
'Kyron, I told you it wasn't going to take long!'
Now, he was about to go talk to the Patriarch who had requested a private talk.
***
They have provided blue robes to him, but Byron chose to wear white. The important thing was that this time, everyone would acknowledge and respect him regardless of what colour he was wearing. That's all he wanted.
Nevertheless, the one-eyed man looked a bit surprised when Byron pushed open the door into his study.
"Oh, you're here!"
This time, he was not acting like a movie character. His back was facing the window, his face Byron.
"Yeah! I'm here!"
Byron replied, pushing his way toward the chair opposite to where the Patriarch sat.
Lightening blue lines were glistening on his face from time to time, reminding Byron of the portal drawn on the table. The one they used to communicate with the Nexus People.
Byron did not know which was their relationship with those, but he was sure they were good friends of the Drumline castle considering how often he heard them.
"That was a great job! I was really really surprised," said the Patriarch as Byron sat. "I could have known better and gave you a team to accompany you."
Though even when Gillian pleaded to go with him the man denied it, Byron didn't hold a grudge on him for that. It would have even disrupted his virgin taming if he was with other people.
Also, he knew why the Patriarch had acted that way, and the reason was reasonable. It was obvious that Byron was committing suicide. No one would have accepted to give him people to perish with him, let alone a conservative leader like the Patriarch.
"Oh... don't say that! I could have achieved nothing if I had company."
The Patriarch gave him a questioning look.
Byron thought about it for a little before saying, "If I were with people, I shouldn't have ran away from the Infected Monster that was about to kill me. We would have killed it and continued our journey. That way, I would not have met Peony."
This was true. Maybe if he had company he would have reached the Dungeon of Desires, but he would never have went down the canyon to meet Peony. He would not have put the portal in that waterfall to create a river.
The Patriarch nodded his head, seemingly having understood what Byron meant.
"How many are left at the dungeon then?"
'How many?'
Maybe the Patriarch was asking about apples, saplings or rabbits.
'Well, should I tell him everything?'
Byron pondered a little on whether to tell him he had never reached the dungeon or not, but found no need to hide it.
"There are over 200 rabbits left in the cave and a limitless supply of saplings."
This was true.
Peony had made a big chamber inside her cave, planted vines so the rabbits would not suffer from hunger and placed them there. She had told him they were four at the beginning, then hundreds a few years that followed.
They later became thousands, but recently died out of a plague, only a few hundreds of them surviving.
"However, they're not at the dungeon," Byron continued. "It's the cave where Peony lives. The reason I have decided to return at the castle and report the incident before resuming my journey to the dungeon."
The information seemed a lot for the Patriarch to take in.
"What do you mean by a hundred? And... and not at the dungeon? That's... that's unbelievable."
The man was overjoyed and Byron felt proud of himself.
"Yeah, it's unbelievable!"
The Patriarch gave him a respectful look once again, and grabbed his hand like he did the day he gave him the Transport Portal.
"I have realized you're good at using these Legacies. You should also take these ones and get familiar with them while you prepare a team to take with you."
The man was still talking, but Byron missed some of his words as the tickling sensation flowed into his body, the Almighty Interpreter whispering to him,
[You have received a Legacy, Obsidian Veil.]
[You have received...]
"...not growing well. Maybe Peony can help us if she was the owner of that cave."
With only these words, Byron could guess what the Patriarch wanted to mean. The saplings were not growing well.
"Don't worry! Peony is an expert at that. With her help, the castle is going to become green soon. I assure you."
The patriarch nodded his head and pulled his arm away, touching his beard with a smile.
"Thank you son! And... forgive your old man for his... "
Byron didn't want this conversation to become awkward. First, he was not the real Byron, not to mention that they were right to stripe him off his name if it would save the castle. Second, the past was past. He was looking forward to what the the future had in store for him.
"Don't worry! What you did made me who I am. I should thank you instead!"
"I'm glad that you don't hold any grudge. You really are a man. The ruler this world needs. I would like to see you becoming a king.'
This reminded Byron of the Flaming Princess. If he were to win round 2, he would marry her and rule the most powerful kingdom in the world. Something he didn't know if he wanted. Also, what was the reason for that. Wouldn't the Flaming Realms just look for someone already strong or give birth to son instead of that contest thing?
'Well, this is not your typical modern world. Just know and accept!'
With this, Byron decided to play along and assure the Patriarch that he also wanted to become a king.
"That's the plan!" he said.
The Patriarch offered him a smile.
"Just don't hesitate to approach me when in need. I'll support you as far as my age will permit."
"Thank you!"
"Don't thank me! Just go and get strong! I have already given you a sword. Learn to wield it and make yourself familiar with the armor I just gave you. The future will smile at you."
Who would want to become strong? He was sure that this taming of his would soon or later require him to engage in some battles.
"I'll!"
That settled, the Patriarch moved onto another topic.
"The dungeon expedition feels like something that will need a concrete preparation and a big number of people. I'll inform the Nexus People to send a hand because our castle has a few hunters. You can prepare and meet them once you set out."
Byron was OK with the idea. From what he knew, the dungeon was engulfed by thousands of Infected Monsters. Having several arms will easen the expedition.
This made him wonder how on earth he would have entered if he had continued his journey. It was just a naive decision.
'Was I stupid?'
'Well, at least my naivety gave me the first shard and a healthy body.'
Byron nodded his head to show the Patriarch that he had agreed with his idea. That's when he heard the man saying, "Now, go show Peony the way to the cave and have some rest. You really deserve it."
'Uh... well, I was also looking forward to that!'
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