The old man had quite the terrible reputation. That he is a killer on the run or that he's a madman that will eat you. Surprisingly the rumors were quite severe and caused everyone to stay away from him.
I can somewhat relate to him, after all the kids treated me the same way. There was also a time that adults called me crazy because I'm willing to talk to him, but that's long been fixed. As they can see, nothing has ever happened to me.
They used to see me as a weird kid looking for trouble on purpose but that was because of my desperation. Since he won't respond when I'm being nice, I was trying to provoke him by constantly bothering him. Sometimes I felt like I'm not so different from Yeona in that regard.
The problem is he's almost like a mute. I could count in one hand how many times he opens that mouth every week. There was even a period where he didn't talk for three weeks straight!
He's either foraging or hunting if I don't find him here. The most often thing he did was fish on a nearby river, and sometimes he would randomly gather wood and fell a tree to repair his house but never actually fix it properly.
"Hey, old man, shouldn't you be telling me you name by now?"
I've been calling him nicknames while pestering him for fucks sake. I think I already celebrated my birthday twice since then. Usually settled for Oldman but sometimes I'd use something different to mock him depending on my mood.
So far, I've had about as many as twelve nicknames for him…
Well, mocking also doesn't work on this guy. I've tried before and he just ignored me, not even sparing a look. But thanks to that I can tell he still has some feelings, he's just not someone to show it.
"Today, Yeona's trying to learn the common language by reading a storybook. She thought she could replace me to help her father by learning how to read. Sadly, she can't. Pitiful girl..."
Just like this he looked at me and listened. Occasionally he would answer, and most of the time I would be irritated. Now I just don't care.
"Today is boring as usual. I wish those kids would come at me more often. Beating them up is quite fun. "After years of living here my thought naturally wanted to screw around sometimes. I ended up provoking every kid in the neighborhood because of that while having good relationship with their parents.
Usually there's only silence after I tell him something. But occasionally.
"… Being at peace I far more valuable."
There will be a curt response.
"… I guess so."
Just like now, he would answer on some things I mutter. He seems to be a naturally principled and upright person based on my observations.
"Yeah. But sometimes peace can get suffocating…" During nights, the skies in the village would be clear of any clouds, therefore a starry scene would always appear above us. It was like a paradise here in this village if I only think of the surroundings.
Seeing that starry sky, I got up and went home. It was time for dinner.
"Brother!" "Lotte!" "Me! Carry me!"
Three cute blonde heads greeted me. There's Edna, a timid and caring girl. Alea who's always polite but talkative, and finally Guin who sticks to me and likes to be carried.
"You still want to be carried? If I don't grow taller, I'm blaming you, Guin!" I said carrying Guin into my arms anyway. She's already grown up but still liked to be carried by either me or father. She was the smallest of the three so there's no problem at all, but she's going to grow out of it eventually.
The three of them are turning seven soon, and they are all intelligent enough to have an interest of their own. Since I had a lot of time to myself, I was able to observe them as they grew up.
Edna liked to move her body despite being timid, so she runs with me whenever she has the chance and likes to help on the farm. She also runs the fastest among the three.
Alea loves going out and talking to other children. But when she plays with them there's almost always a fight among them that's going to happen, luckily, she's never involved. I think she's a magnet for trouble.
Guin on the other hand, either stays inside to read books. I'd like to think she resembles me the most but then I remember I only read books out of necessity. She's read more books than Yeona if I recall correctly. She must be one hell of a genius type character.
"Son, the food is ready, come have dinner."
As I lived here, I came to think of them as family. There was a distance between me and father at first since he didn't understand how I suddenly changed but found it in his heart to just accept me. After all in his eyes I was still his son. I resolved myself to get along with him sincerely and never let my secret out to anyone else.
After finishing dinner is my nightly training sessions. With a full stomach I got used to moving around and exerting my body.
Worn sacks of hay hung from a tree, wooden posts were embedded on the ground where several wooden swords lay, mostly broken in half. Those were the result of my trainings, either during the day or during the night. Since I didn't know how to train to be stronger, I just mindlessly swung my sword.
Next, I'm going to sprint around the village several times, until I run out of breath. Being full is also part of my training to endure and be capable of running regardless of my condition.
Going home after tiring out my body grants me a deep sleep every night. Despite the ridiculous training I had convinced my mind that I did my best to comfort myself. If it were truly enough still yet to be seen.
A few weeks later, Rugner's caravan left, leaving Yeona who learned to read in such a short time. I put in another request to Rugner, and this time I requested a healing potion.
A health potion basically. In exchange for another food recipe. I don't know if some of my recipes exist somewhere, but it's been nothing but good for him, he said. Luckily the ingredients I knew of had some replacements and similar ones in this world.
Ah, I really should be getting more, I should have my own shares from the profit my dishes generate in that restaurant.
Just like that time went on once again, visiting the old man every other day, training at the day and night before sleep every day, my monotone life went on. It was a section of the story that were usually skipped.
It was winter in the blink of an eye, and everyone rarely went out of their houses. Except for me of course. Since there's no crops to take care of, I have extra free time to train and check out Oldman who still fished at the frozen river by boring a hole on it.
Just in case I also learned important survival skills in the wild like boiling barks and how to start a fire. Fishing was one of them and I often joined the old man.
Yeona meanwhile would sometimes call me to teach writing, and we studied in their house three times bigger than ours. She never stopped after Rugner left. I mean, it's good for her, I guess. Learning is always good anyways.
'Damn, there's only two of you, and five of us in our house, can we like, switch places?' Even though I've lived here for a long time, it was my first time inside their house.
Their house is way cozier than ours. As expected of the richest neighborhood and Rugner's mistress. Madam would eye me suspiciously often, but she doesn't really interfere apart from giving us warm soup.
I often reminisce on the days she chased me with a rolling pin.
Even in this winter Rugner did not forget to visit with my potion in hand. At this point he probably found a stable source for these things. He said it was a shame I found out but said it's alright. Regarding the share's he says he'll think about it if I give him ten more recipes to which I called bullshit.
In the end he acquiesced to my request, at least I'll have a share of money next time he comes. There's rarely any use for it in the village but, I can bring it outside in the future.
Then in this winter, I finally found a lead or rather, it found me. I had been living peacefully making me wonder if the novel's genre will ever be applied in this world.
For each time I swung the wooden sword in my hand, I would question myself. Everytime I ran out of breath running my determination would fade bit by bit. Each time I saw my sister and my father smiling, I couldn't even imagine a tragedy coming at us.
Do I really need to prepare? Is there any need to prepare at all? What tragedy will befall me if it ever does happen?
When will it happen? Will it ever happen?
Or did the story just have such a long time skip?
Too much time has passed that my memories from earth are somewhat fading away. Too much time has worn down the initial fear I had upon coming in this world.
But well, my obsession was still there. The obsession to be stronger that is, as if training myself will keep my fears away.
***
On a night where the snow stopped falling, I was walking towards Oldie's manor. It's a short walk to his manor from the village despite the knee-deep snow since I knew the general direction.
And there I found him sitting in a campfire wearing a pelt, watching a soup boil emitting a rather fishy smell.
Just like before he looked at me silently. Recently, he started responding to me more often. Maybe because winter was a season that made people feel solitude. But he never answers any of crucial questions.
Like where is this village and our lord, what are the kingdoms out there and what did he do in the past. He had some reaction when I asked about knights and mage's but still didn't talk about it. But I can tell he knew about them.
"Hey old man."
Today, I plan to show him the potion and observe his reaction hoping to figure something out of it.
"Look."
I took out a small and thin vial containing a red bright fluid. Unlike the mana potion, it felt warm to my hands.
"It's fascinating right? It's bright red and doesn't freeze."
He had an expression I hadn't seen him show before. Though very slight, it was a bit of surprise and bewilderment.
"Where… Did you get this?"
"From a friend. Someone that could go in and out of this village."
'Someone like you.' I had the urge to say that but refrained from doing so.
Apparently, he didn't know Rugner. No surprise there, since he didn't interact with the villagers that much.
"It's also slightly warm."
It was a shame that I couldn't show him the mana potion. Maybe he will be even more surprised then.
"Keep it well. That can heal a very severe wound when drunk or poured directly. The heat likely comes from the healing properties."
For a moment I was at loss for words.
"Whoa… That's the most you've talked ever since I knew you."
"If you don't mind. Can you tell me about the person that gave this to you?"
Ignoring that statement, he asked without hiding his curiosity.
As expected, it caught his interest. Possessing this potion can only mean that I've already made some connection from the outside. This also shows this potion is widely used from wherever that outside contact came from.
This world was set in that kind of fantasy world after all. The potion was confirmed but the classic magic and knights were still left to be found out. However, there's a source of information right in front of me. If only I could get him to talk…
"If I answer your question, are you going to answer mine? I have a lot to ask, you see."
If he wanted to know something, then I gotta learn something too.
"In that case, forget it."
"What?"
I didn't expect him to give up just like that. Just what kind of trouble would happen if I knew a bit about the outside world?
"If you really want to know. That friend is a merchant. I request him to bring things from time to time, in exchange I help him in various ways. Oh, I don't help him with anything suspicious, and he neither seemed involved in anything like that." I wasn't entirely sure about the last one, but at the very least Rugner didn't show any signs of being involved in anything illegal. Of course, even if he is, would he let it show? If I were him, I'd hide it at all costs.
"… I see. Maybe sometime, could you introduce me to that friend of yours?"
He really doesn't know him. But he's also interested in Rugner now. That means in the long time he spent here; they never came across each other even once. What's more, the village chief clearly welcomed Rugner, but not the old man. Maybe he's just favoring Rugner who could bring wares from the outside?
"I'd ask that friend but don't get your hopes up. Anyways, since you know this potion, you must've seen people using it. What kind of people used them exactly? They must've used them during war to heal wounds, right?"
At that he closed his eyes as if reminiscing memories. But those memories were probably the unpleasant once with the topic of our conversation and all.
"War… Right, something like that is heavily used in war. Were you taught about war here in this village? Or maybe that friend taught you?"
All the books in the village chiefs' abode were what you would call mundane and harmless. While it's suspicious, maybe it's just to keep the younger generations thoughts innocent, still a few elders in the village knew about war. I've asked a few elders, but they would just tell me to forget it and never mention it again while shaking their head.
Because of that I developed a certain image for this village. A haven for those who want peace, where the flames of war will never reach. It was the most likely reason I had in mind why no one is allowed outside. Although Rugner, and the old man are still inexplicable exceptions.
"I've known it all along. I've even drank a mana potion, but I don't really feel any different, I'm kind of worried though."
At that he lightly chuckled. It was the first time I saw him do that too. Today must be special since he kept showing new reactions.
"You wasted it. It's only for a mage's consumption. There's no other effect at that level of potency."
My ears perked up at that. A mage means there's magic. And that means I'm in for a treat of visuals soon. I can only hope that I would have the time to enjoy it and not be amidst dangerous situations.
"So, mage's do exist? What about knights? Surely, they do?"
He sighed and stayed silent for a while, only to give me a slight nod. There it is finally, after all these years. That confirmation. The potion was simply not enough of proof for me, for all I know it could be a fabrication by Rugner. But if I confirmed it from another person from the outside, and from who seems to be of respectable stature then it's all but confirmed.
"Old man, won't you tell me your story? And about the world beyond this village?"
With all the sincerity I could muster in my tone and with my head bowed, I've lost count how many times I asked. This is even harder than any dating sim I've played and the one I'm dealing with is even an old man, not a capture target!
"Also tell me your name. You already know mine, right?"
"… My name. I've long abandoned my name, but if you insist."
But then we both turned our head towards the woods as a crisp sound of branches cracked. It was not the usual crackling sound that came from the burning campfire. What sounded along was a heavy rustle as if something is being dragged on the snow.
He gestured for me to be silent and took a nearby makeshift spear. Occasionally a bear or wolf would appear on the outskirts of the village. The bear's meat and organ would be preserved, and the wolf's fur would be processed into a coat after the hunt, but in this winter they're usually not active.
Before long a figure was slowly coming into our view lit by the campfire's light. The silhouette looks tall enough for a young bear but too thin to be one.
It was a person.
As if to confirm my thoughts, the figure talked in a hoarse and trembling voice.
"H-help… Us..."
He stumbled and fell as the snow was slowly tainted in crimson. His neck looked lacerated and ruined as if something rugged tore the skin apart. There could've been hope if I used my potion, but he probably died already due to blood loss on the way.
This is the first death that I encountered in this life. Even back then I hadn't personally seen anything like this, only in the media. If this is happening in front of me right now, then…
Is it finally starting? That long awaited development's I'd been preparing for.
A large enough beast must have wounded his neck like that looking at the size of the bite marks. At the very least, the size of a dog. He said 'us' so there's probably more people with him. But where did they come from? It's not an exaggeration to say that he's the first outsider that I saw.
"Head back to the village first."
The old man had a resolute gaze as he walked towards where the man came from after checking the corpse, as if he's ready to take it all alone whatever's out there.
"Wait! I have some cold weapons we can use!"
Upon hearing that he halted his steps and nodded at me.
***
The village militia was alerted about the situation, however the old man insisted on going alone to scout. The others wanted to move in the morning but he said that there could still be others besides that man, so it was best to go as soon as possible. Even if he had to do it alone.
To them, he's just an unfamiliar person with a terrifying rumor around him. So, they let him be. But as for me, they told me to go home and stay still in the house to which I briefly agreed.
In our house, I took two of my most priced collection, a short sword and a two-handed sword. In terms of caliber, they were weapons better than the ones forged in the village, good enough to cut wood despite my amateur strikes and not be chipped.
Seeing that I am also carrying a sword the old man stared at me.
"Don't even think of following."
"Uh, no it's for self defense just in case you know?"
I blatantly lied.
With that he left and didn't argue with me, meanwhile the militia guarded the village and patrolled in the surroundings. He might have thought that I would stay still but… I needed to see what's going to happen. In order to know what extent, the threats I might face will be.
***
Lotte ran towards where the old man disappeared, the deep snow unable to hinder him at all. He found the corpse from before covered with cloth and headed towards the direction where it came from.
To hide his presence among potential enemies he didn't bring any torch. But he underestimated the darkness as it crept over the surroundings making him see almost nothing. In this forest with tall trees and withered branches he had difficulty with the moonlight as his only guide.
Only now that he regretted his actions. He thought that even if he was curious, he should've been rational with his decisions. Now he might die to some beast even without finding the old man.
Even so, since he's already outside he had to see it to the end.
Lotte wandered straight into the forest at a slow pace, holding the hilt of his sword. After a short while he felt both relief and fear. He had heard where what seems to be a battle is taking place.
Low nasally growls and steps in the snow could be heard just ahead of him, the wet sound of flesh being sliced accompanying it.
'That's him!'
He found the old man in a clearing. Holding the two-handed sword low, already coated with blood that Lotte couldn't whether it was black or red. It seemed that he made use of it well.
But he did not see any enemy whatsoever. Only corpses of creatures he didn't understand.
"Old man?"
The old man turned upon hearing Lotte, and in the distance a row of several carriages was toppled missing the horses that pulled it. The scene looked as if a fight had just occurred with all the bloodstain and bodies on the ground.
And at the center of it all is the old man, surrounded by corpses of slain monsters.
"So, you still came."
There was a faint sigh and annoyance in his tone, he wondered how a childlike Lotte was born in this village.
"Of course, I can't let you die alone, can I?"
Knowing that he couldn't really help due to his lack of experience, he just uttered nonsense. But he trusted his judgement, thinking that the old man must not be an easily killed character. Living for years waiting for something to happen, how could he miss this situation that's like a rope handed to him?
"Fool."
He planned to be foolish from the start, so he didn't deny it, but Lotte was hurt. In his defense he couldn't miss this opportunity to see this fight even if his life was in danger. It was an experience he would have to go through if once the story finally makes a progress.
"Duck!"
Lotte instantly ducked, trusting the insight of the old man and he felt something wet and slimy pass behind his head back. It was however without a sound at all making him shiver.
Before he knew it the old man was already in his front and swung the sword. There was a sound of flesh being cut along with a growl.
Lotte leaned on a tree to protect his back and to spot any blind spot. But looking ahead, there was nothing in front of him, only the darkness and what few places the moonlight could shine on making him dumbfounded. He could hear rustling but couldn't see where they are.
'Is it invisibility?'
He realized what kind of opponent were present. The type that hid in the darkness of the night exceedingly well. Lotte was now convinced that whatever attacked these people were monsters, not just some wolf pack or bears. With the dreadful stealth and all.
He caught a sight of the shadow that passed by him earlier and it was a creature he'd never seen before. But one thing he remembers is its massive head like a fish. He didn't know what made them appear at that moment, but he currently had no time to figure it out. All his attention were focused on the empty space in front of him.
For a while there was only stillness and no signs of any attacks.
The old man suddenly slashed to front as a monster was split in half, astonishing Lotte. Unfortunately, it's blood spattered all over him and Lotte especially as it squirmed in the ground.
Only then his sense of smell returned and had to hold back the fluid welling up from his stomach making him retch.
"Ugh!..."
Meanwhile the old man remained unfazed and steady in his breaths slashing onto another vermin, with an effortless swing, thus ending its life.
Soon after more appeared and surrounded him. Eyes glinting in the dark lingered around the old man as if floating in the darkness, at that moment Lotte was enthralled by the scene in front of him. A man wielding a sword surrounded by eerie glints, as all of it surged towards him paying Lotte no mind at all. At that moment there was only the sword in Lotte's eyes.
The old man with each swung of his sword tore apart several monsters at once, gradually his blade left afterimages, and the vermin slashed by his swords weight were flung away in half or more. There wasn't any special effects or aura Lotte expected.
It was just a sword wielded at utmost efficiency and the old man performing a dance of death.
That scene was forever engraved in Lotte's mind, having never seen any bloodier slaughter in front of him. The scene before his eyes seemed to last longer that it should ended as the last of the vermin were slain.
Unfortunately, Lotte waking up from a daze breathed in the stinky smell of blood and found himself splashed with some of it. Finally, he couldn't hold back anymore.
"Ah… Uueegh.."
After vomiting to his stomachs content, Lotte saw the old man checking the corpses one by one. The bodies always have a torn throat, a prime target for predators to strike and some were even partially eaten on their face and parts uncovered by clothes.
Thanks to that, the old man found it easy to predict the monsters' movements despite their stealth. They only focused on one place again and again which is his throat.
The monsters had a fish head and fangs reminiscent of an angler's maw. They grew fins on their frog like limbs and had two pitch black eyes, with a rather small body compared to the size of their head.
The old man walked towards the other carriages while observing indifferent to all the vermin he had slain.
As for Lotte, he felt that he had to get away from the smell of the pooling blood so he stood up and walked towards a random tree he could lean on.
But on the tree, he saw a corpse wearing rags as clothes, with dirt all over the body and a gaping wound on the neck. It seemed to be a kid just a few years older than him, shackled on their purple neck and wrists.
"A slave?"
It wasn't an unknown concept to him. As an avid reader, there was a time that he read a lot of fantasy that involved slavery, but often, they were portrayed rather half-heartedly for the audience's sake, or perhaps just due to laziness.
And further away is the scattered remains of other children just about his age. They were all the same, with half eaten heads or limbs making a grotesque scene. The old man had a frown as he shook his head at the scene before him.
The old man slowly went towards the remaining carriage that had not fallen. The others were either overturned or was already breached by monsters and it was the only one left with the least damage.
With a pull, the carriage's door burst open, for a moment his sharp expression lingered only to turn into astonishment.
"What did you see?"
Lotte asked, afraid that there's more corpses inside. He didn't want to vomit at the sight of partially eaten body again. Without receiving any response, he walked closer and was startled when the old man dropped his sword. He was looking inside as if he'd seen something that shouldn't be there.
"…"
Inside Lotte only saw a motionless kid, with blood trickling from his neck. The wrists and ankles were still shackled tightly but the chains connected to it were already broken. It was a tame sight compared to all the others he saw outside.
"Hey, old man, what's the matter?"
The old man, as if struck with a realization, turned towards Lotte with widened eyes.
"That's right you're here…"
He hurriedly went inside the carriage and held the dead kid's hand to check if there is still some pulse. After a sigh of relief, he took the kid into his arms and faced Lotte.
"Kid... No, Lotte. I would like to ask you a favor."
Lotte was somewhat shocked with the old man's behavior, he had been referring to him as 'kid' all this time. Whatever prompted his behavior to change was a curious thing to him.
Through the series of weird actions of the old man, Lotte's mind instantly surmised what's going on.
The old man standing in front of the carriage, a kid inside the carriage wounded, and lastly, the old man asking for a favor.
It didn't take long for Lotte to get that the old man wanted his potion. He wanted to use it on the remaining life in this mess. Assuming that life can still be saved.
But he can't easily give it. The desperation he felt ever since he came to this world may have faded, but it was still there. It didn't disappear and he kept it in the back of his mind, almost becoming a hidden obsession.
"What kind of favor? And why?"
The old man looked at him with a gaze, as calm as ever, but with resoluteness behind it, appearing to be prepared to face any consequences for his goal.
"The potion you have. This child needs it."
Lotte wanted to make use of his potion well. He was certain of it now, that through this old man some progress in the story will finally take place.
"That's easy. But…"
He took it out and played with the vial, tossing it into the air and catching it. The old man warily followed the vial on his hand, and Lotte despite fearing that it might be snatched kept his calm facade.
"A favor in exchange for a favor. What do you think, old man?"
Lotte smiled leisurely as he felt that something is finally happening in his uninteresting life so far.
"Just three things. I'm sure you'll be able to do them."
"First, I need answers to my questions. You know I'm deathly curious about the outside world. Of course, I'll be reasonable and won't go overboard with my questions."
At that, the old man nodded. At this point he had no reason to refuse.
"Second, you will teach me how to fight using a sword or any other weapon. The world out there must be a cold place to those that can't protect themselves. And lastly…"
***
"And lastly… If you ever found it in yourself to go 'out', I want you to spread some stories for me."
The old man blinked, bewildered.
Lotte's first two conditions made sense, a desire to know about the outside world, and the second which is the desire to be powerful.
In this strange village he came to that only knew of peace, Lotte was the one and only anomaly that sought thrill in his life, rather than living peacefully.
He was the total opposite of all the villagers' way of living. While he only met them briefly, they were not as daring like Lotte. It's not as simple as the courage of a fearless kid.
"But of course, it doesn't end with that. When people who know these stories come to you, help them within your means. Of course, it's up to your judge of character if they're worth helping."
"I can do that. However, where exactly should I spread these stories of yours?"
It was a simple request. But it was as simple as it was strange.
In what way does it affect him? Are those people who knew of his stories somehow connected to this village? Is it some form of message for the people outside he is in contact with?
Does he… know what this place is?
"Wherever you go, apart from this village! I assumed that you're not gonna stay here forever the moment you saw that kid, right? Is he your liege? Or maybe your grandchild? Who knows, your gray hair might not be its natural color, and it used to be dark blue."
I had considered it but haven't made up my mind. Yet this kid seemed to think that it's going to happen. Whatever's going on inside this kid's head was hard to understand for an old man like him.
"Well, whatever."
Right now, I can clearly tell his difference compared to all the villagers. They all lived peacefully with no desire to venture out of this place, even forbidding their own child.
Even Lotte wasn't an exception. I had come here ostracized and was avoided by the villagers. The village chief also requested me to keep my distance.
And to not tell anyone about anything from the 'outside'.
But this kid, he never stopped asking. He had knowledge a remote village would be unable to teach. And an intense curiosity of the outside world.
"Oh also, if the people you meet are rotten enough… You can kill them. That depends on you though. Hmm, you should also be the author…"
Is that his true motive? To kill those kinds of people? I had lived for sixty years and the strange things I encounter kept piling up ever since coming to this village. A rumored haven for those who seeks solace, where peace is everlasting, and life is abundant. The rumors couldn't be trusted after all, the only thing that proved to be true was its rather far distance from the rest of the world.
With that our conversation ended. He gave me the vial of healing as promised and I fed it to this kid I do not know of.
Lotte was wrong about one thing. This kid was someone I had never seen yet seen too many similar people. This kid Is not my liege of grandchild, yet he resembled someone I used to serve.
If this kid were truly one of the heirs, I would have already raised my blade against him and fled this village.
But I don't recognize him.
Even with his hair like the night sky just like my lord, and the pendant of a four-pointed star in a crescent moon.
There was no young boy his age among all the heirs.
He does remember the young master who became the most hideous of them all. And the precious young miss who didn't even come of age and died.
Had she lived, she would've been the same age as this kid and Lotte.
We went back to the dilapidated manor, and I covered the kid with a blanket. I didn't need it as I have my ways to keep my body warm. I slept as all sorts of thoughts swirled inside my head.
It was unbefitting for an old man like me.
Those crawling vermin. They were creatures that usually lived on the shores of archipelagoes. It was unsettling to see them here on land, as they only lingered on shores. Will this village finally lose its peace?
The slave caravan and all those innocent children who died. I could only pray that they will find peace in their deaths and burial. Where were they headed to the point of reaching this village? I had traveled for almost half a year struggling to reach this place.
And the only survivor resembling my liege's kin.
Was he a bastard son? A hidden lovechild? If so…
Depending on his temperament, I might have to raise my sword once again.
Towards the people I used to serve.
In the end, I didn't get to sleep at all.