After the queen was done speaking with Robin, she took her leave. "Miss Ann, His Lordship the Duke requests your presence. And, Your Highness, you're needed in the throne room—please prepare yourself," the old head servant announced.
"Robin, see you later! …I'll grow stronger soon, too!" Ann called as she hurried toward the door. Robin could only smile at her enthusiasm.
A few minutes later, Robin finished preparing to go to the throne room. He donned his recently tailored royal robes, pure white with a red belt adorned with the Ashton family crest at the waist. Walking briskly, he noticed the glances from those around him. He strode with confidence—a young man with Ashton's unmistakable red hair and a strikingly unique face.
Soon, he arrived in the throne room, where King Lion, the Duke, his two brothers, and Mary, the Duke's wife, awaited him.
"Robin! We're all very curious about your abilities, but no one will press you to reveal any secrets," King Lion said, his tone serious. "Just be cautious from now on."
Mary interjected with a sharp gaze. "Your child is so gifted, and that's all you have to say? Do you even understand what he accomplished?"
Luke chimed in, "Seriously, that kid went head-on with a dragon. At his age, I'd still be trembling. And where did he learn that martial technique?"
Suddenly, Mary turned to Robin. "Well then, how about a sparring match, boy?"
"Honey, you just woke up! You can't be jumping into a fight already," the Duke protested.
Robin glanced around, a bit lost in the whirlwind of reactions swirling around him.
"Dad, everyone, please trust me for now. I still can't quite understand how I did it," Robin said with a hint of hesitation, "but I've decided to start training… on my own, if that's all right with you."
The king could only nod. He understood that, despite Robin's young age, he was determined. As long as Robin wasn't harmed, he'd allow it.
"And… I want to try farming, too. Please let me," Robin added.
Mary laughed. "Ha! Your son's a comedian, Liam!" she exclaimed.
The king smiled, dismissing it as youthful playfulness. "Go ahead, son," he said. "Do as you please."
With a bow, Robin left the throne room and made his way out of the castle on foot. Inside, Lion turned to his trusted aide, Luke. "Keep an eye on him from the shadows," he instructed. "Let him work things out on his own, but report everything he does."
Luke gave a nod and set off after Robin.
Meanwhile, Robin had changed out of his royal robes and into simple, common clothing. Covering his distinct red hair with a hood, he blended into the crowd as he wandered through the capital. As he walked, he couldn't help noticing the hardships faced by the people—the worn streets, the crowded alleyways, the tired looks on faces. Despite the king's care, the quality of life was poor.
The kingdom's isolation was a constant challenge. Nestled deep within the valley of the Great Mountains, surrounded by over twenty towering peaks and dense forests, it was cut off from the outside world. Moving would seem logical, but doing so was nearly impossible. The kingdom's architecture was simple and functional; with limited access to raw materials and scarce labor for mining or construction, they made do with what they had.
Lost in thought, Robin realized the weight of his father's burden—and perhaps, the path his own journey might take.
As Robin ventured farther from the mountain, he heard a young girl crying. "Please, don't sell me! I'll be good, Father—I'll work even harder," she pleaded. She couldn't have been older than ten. Watching for a moment, Robin quickly grasped the situation: a slave trade was taking place.
He stepped forward to confront the two men. One, dressed in torn, filthy clothes, reeked of alcohol, while the other wore fine purple robes, his fingers heavy with rings.
"Hello, I'd like to buy that child," Robin said directly.
The man in tattered clothes sneered. "And who the hell are you?"
Robin stayed calm, raising a single gold coin—part of his allowance from his father. "It doesn't matter who I am. I'll pay you this gold coin for her."
The man in purple's eyes gleamed as he stepped forward. "Ah, my dear customer, this is a special child. I can let her go… for two gold coins only."
Robin's expression darkened. "Two gold coins for a mere child? Are you trying to scam me?"
The drunkard started to say something, but the man in purple silenced him with a dark glare. "Please, my dear customer," he said, his tone suddenly polite. "Life has been hard in the kingdom. I'm only trying to make a fair deal."
Robin smirked. "Fine, I'll just find another child."
"Wait—customer, we agree! We agree!" The man in purple quickly relented, unwilling to lose the sale.
Robin lifted the girl into his arms. As he did, the man in purple turned on his partner with a furious glare. "You could at least have cleaned her up! You'll get only thirty copper coins for this—and next time, I might just sell you," he hissed.
Robin glanced at the girl, noticing more details now. Her ears had been cut at the tips, perhaps to erase any sign of her origins. Her hair was a striking shade of pure white, and her golden eyes seemed to flicker with a glimmer of strength despite her tears.
The child looked up at Robin, murmuring to herself, "Father sold me… Father…"
Robin softened his tone. "Don't worry, child. That man was never your father. I mean you no harm," he assured her, speaking with a depth that came from memories of his own descendants from his past life.
After carrying the girl through the kingdom, she eventually fell asleep in his arms. He had shielded her with a gentle layer of healing magic to protect her from the midday sun. Suddenly, Luke appeared, slightly out of breath from trailing Robin around the capital.
"Robin, what are you doing in this part of town?" Luke asked, clearly exasperated.
"Uncle, perfect timing! Could you take this child home, please?" Robin replied.
Luke shook his head. "Robin, I'm on duty right now… I could send her with some soldiers, though."
Robin immediately refused. Instead, he carried the child himself, detouring past the duke's mansion, where he entrusted her to one of the servants. He then continued on his path, with Luke deciding to follow him openly this time.
As they walked, Luke asked, "Why did you save that elf, Robin?"
Robin paused, surprised. "Elf? What elf?"
It dawned on him that the girl must be an elf. Her pointed ears, though trimmed, and her golden eyes made it clear. "I just felt bad for her," he said simply.
Luke nodded, though it was evident he found the decision odd. Elves were rarely treated with kindness in this world.
As Robin and Luke entered the forest, it was clear that something had changed. Since Robin's surge of life energy, the plants seemed to radiate a new vitality. The forest spanned about fifty acres—not vast, but dense with greenery that stretched up toward the mountain peaks.
While exploring, Robin noticed a tall, wild-looking patch of yellowish grass. Curious, he moved closer and recognized the stalks as wheat. Without hesitation, he took a few seeds and tasted them.
"Robin, stop! That could be poisonous," Luke warned, but it was too late.
Robin chewed thoughtfully. "Uncle, it's fine—they're edible," he said with a grin.
Skeptical, Luke tried a few grains himself and found Robin was right. This accidental discovery of wild wheat could be a promising resource for the kingdom.
After a full day of surveying the forest, Robin and Luke emerged with new knowledge. They had found a fair amount of wild wheat—too little for widespread consumption, but enough to plant more and potentially yield a useful crop over time. Over the next three months, Robin planned to focus on farming and research to alleviate the kingdom's burden, avoiding any risky adventures.
As they returned to the palace by chariot, Robin glanced at the young elf girl, who had been cleaned up and dressed in fresh clothes, thanks to the duke's servants. Noticing her trimmed ears, he began to heal them. Slowly, the damaged flesh grew back to its natural form.
Luke watched in amazement. "Robin… are you a priest of some god or something?" he asked, eyes wide with astonishment. Flesh-healing magic was virtually unheard of.
Robin chuckled, realizing his magic was more powerful than he'd expected. "No, Uncle. I'm more of a 'constellation,'" he joked.
Luke's jaw dropped, almost making him faint from shock. In this world, "constellations" were revered as protectors, distinct from gods and worshipped for their guidance. Robin, unaware of this, had only said it because he'd once built satellites named after constellations on Earth.
Once back at the palace, Robin requested that the young elf become his personal maid. He ensured she was assigned her own room and would have the sole duty of assisting him with his daily life—a gesture meant not only to protect her but also to shield her from judgment and criticism.
As Robin guided the young child, he learned her name was Aria. Exhausted, she quickly fell asleep, her face peaceful for the first time in a while. It was clear she'd endured a great deal of mental strain, but with time, he hoped those burdens would begin to lift.