Chapter 74: 014: Going Home and Breaking Off
Three days later, Lynch concluded his visit to the Tulip Domain.
Where should he go next?
After some thought, Lynch reached a conclusion:
Go home.
Perhaps it was the words of Baron Claire that stirred him that day, or perhaps he simply wanted to bring closure to the lingering emotions tethered to the original owner of this body. Ultimately, Lynch decided to make a trip back to his hometown.
Before his departure, Baron Claire and Jamie came to see Lynch off. Besides providing essential horses, money, and supplies, the baron also gifted him a sword as gratitude for driving away the giant bear and saving the subjects on Victory Festival day.
This was a greatswordâa massive, enormous greatsword.
Its blade was more than 20 centimeters wide and over 1.5 meters long. Its surface glowed deep crimson, forged from an incredibly rare volcanic meteorite iron, crafted by a legendary blacksmith renowned across the Seven Kingdoms, Thomas the Flaming Iron Hand, who had since passed away.
The title of master blacksmith was reserved for fewer than ten contemporaries across the Human World, highlighting the rarity of this greatsword.
Its previous owner was the illustrious Great Knight Grant, for whom Thomas had painstakingly forged this masterpiece as a gift to a dear friend. After Grantâs demise, the sword passed through various hands before ultimately being purchased for a fortune by Baron Claire.
The name of the sword: Fearless.
In reciprocation, Lynch took out several bottles of magic potions as gifts for Baron Claire, including physical potions and recovery potions. In an era plagued by illnesses and rampant epidemics due to the absence of antibiotics, even knights werenât immune.
Though these items might not hold the same material value as the greatsword for mortals, they were, in essence, priceless treasures capable of saving lives in critical moments.
Finally, Jamie and Lynch agreed to spar in swordsmanship together again someday.
âŠ
Several days later, in the Putan Kingdom, Frost Snow Town.
The small Frost Snow Town recently witnessed an extraordinary event.
Not long ago, Gerald, the eldest son of the Valen family, encountered a snow monster while escorting the lordâs daughter, Miss Selena. In the critical moment, Gerald stood courageously against the monster, drove it away, and saved Miss Selena.
In gratitude for Geraldâs bravery and selfless contribution, the lord, Baron Acate Bayne, officially bestowed upon Gerald the surname of the Bayn family and began teaching him the Knight Breathing Method.
That said, the Valen family itself was quite remarkable in its own right.
Originally, the family were mere peasants on the estate, lacking even the most basic identity, destined for a lifetime of labor for the lord, their status equal to livestock.
Yet, a few years ago, their fortunes changed. Their youngest son, Lynch, was taken as a student by a mystic scholar visiting from the Royal Capital with promises of further education. Prior to departure, the scholar paid generously to purchase the familyâs freedom from the lord, even granting them land, thereby elevating them from peasants to freemen.
At the same time, the familyâs eldest son was recruited by the lord as a guard within the castle, while their youngest daughter was brought into the castle to work as a maid.
What was thought to be an already miraculous shift in fate took on an even more legendary turn now: being granted a surname, taught the Knight Breathing Methodâthis signified the lordâs intention to train Gerald into a knight.
Becoming a knight meant permanently escaping the status of a commoner and stepping into the privileged domain of nobility!
Mere yearsâfrom peasants to nobles!
It was like something out of the ballads sung by minstrelsâa tale so fantastical it bordered on myth.
At this moment, within the lordâs castle.
âKnock knock knock!â A series of knocks sounded on the door.
Lord Acate, seated at his desk sorting through documents, set down the papers in his hand, looked up, and said, âCome in.â
The door opened, and a young man in his early twenties stepped inside. He was none other than Frost Cold Townâs newfound celebrity, Gerald Valen Bayne.
Gerald said, âMy lord, did you summon me?â
Acate stood and greeted him with a warm smile, âHowâs the training with the Knight Breathing Method coming along?â
Gerald frowned slightly, âItâs not easyâŠâ
Knight training typically began in childhood. For Gerald to start at his age meant he had already missed the optimal period, making the process daunting.
But Gerald quickly reassured him, âBut please rest assured, my lord, Gerald will work twice as hard.â
Acate nodded and replied gently, âI trust you.â
After a brief pause, he added, âBut thereâs no need to push yourself too hard. Knight training takes time, requiring patient accumulation. Itâs not something that yields results overnight.â
âHmmâŠâ
He pondered for a moment before continuing, âHow about this? Iâve recently built a new farmstead in the Fertile Land Domain. Why donât you take your parents and move there for now?â
Geraldâs eyes widened in shock, âWhat!â
Acate raised an eyebrow, âWhat, you donât want to?â
Gerald quickly waved his hand, âNo, no, no, I just⊠just feel⊠this is too generous, my lord.â
Acate laughed, âSince Iâve already begun teaching you the Knight Breathing Method, itâs only a matter of time before you become a knight of the Bayn family. The farmstead will be yours eventually, so moving in a bit early wonât be an issue. Donât dwell too much on it.â
âAhâŠâ
Gerald still felt overwhelmed, or perhaps he had been feeling this way for quite some time. Ever since his younger brother, Lynch, was taken away, he had been in a state of disbelief.
The rapid changes of fate left him with a dreamlike sense of unreality.
Acate said, âStop hesitating and go prepare to move. Your subjects are already waiting for you. Also, before you leave, take Selena with you. She should start learning some management anyway, and this is a good opportunity.â
âAs for your sister Nala⊠she should stay in the castle for now to continue her studies. There arenât suitable teachers for etiquette in the farmstead. Got it?â
Gerald replied, âOh⊠alright⊠understood.â
He stumbled out of the room, but midway, he suddenly remembered something and hurriedly turned back.
Acate asked, âAnything else?â
Gerald said, âMy lord, I still wish to ask about my younger brother, LynchâŠâ
Acate said impatiently, âDidnât I answer this already? How many times do you need to hear it? Lynch is in the Royal Capital, studying under that esteemed scholarâa man even kings must treat with respect.â
âHeâs traveling far and wide across the continent with Lynch, learning various forms of knowledge. This isnât something that will finish in a day or two; itâs possible heâll never return, even in a lifetime. Youâd best give up on hoping to see him again.â
Gerald frowned, âThisâŠâ
Blood tiesâsiblings grown up togetherâhow could they be so easily forgotten or severed?
Especially now, with their family so drastically transformed, the one person everyone missed and wished to share this with the most was their youngest brother, lost to them somewhere out there.
âAlrightâŠâ
After a long pause, Gerald sighed softly, turned, and left.
Not long after Gerald departed.
From a side room nearby, a figure slowly stepped outâit was none other than the little brother Gerald had been longing for, Lynch.
The high-and-mighty lord Acate now bore a look of servile humility, âMr. Lynch, are you satisfied?â
Lynch nodded and handed over two bottles of magic potion, âThank you very much.â
Upon returning, Lynch had quietly approached Acate and purchased both the farmstead and the necessary entry into the world of nobility, gifts for âhisâ former family.
For this, he even orchestrated a charade, using several alchemical trinkets to stage a snow monster attack on Geraldâs deliberately summoned escort team.
The world of nobles adhered to its own rigid protocolsâeven a lord couldnât arbitrarily elevate a family from peasant status to noble rank. Creating a reasonable pretext was required to earn the trust of those within the domain.
âAh-hah! Magic potions, wondrous potions!â
Acateâs eyes lit up as he received the potions from Lynch. Being middle-aged, it had been a long time since he felt the vigor of youth, but just one drop of the potion was enough to restore him to his younger self.
Lynch walked to the window, silently watching Geraldâs retreating figure.
Perhaps it was the lingering influence of fused memories. Despite Gerald being a stranger to him, watching his brother fade into the distance filled Lynch with an inexplicable sense of loss and muted melancholy.
Acate seemed to sense Lynchâs mood and approached, âYouâre really not going to say goodbye?â
âNo.â
Lynch shook his head and pulled his gaze back, âLet it be.â
From the moment he entered the Wizard World, it was inevitable that he would part ways with his familyâwhether now or decades from now. He was merely advancing that timeline slightly.
Quiet departure.
For him, for âhim,â and for them, it was better this way.
âŠ
After spending a day in the Frost Cold Territory, Lynch set off on his journey once again. This time, the destination returned to its originâWind Extinguishing City.
The badge Avery had given him lit up.
Lynch took out a silk cloth and wiped the fingerprints and dust from his glasses before placing them back on his nose. The oversized black frames completely concealed his brilliant gray gemstone eyes.
He also tidied up his bangs, combing them downward to cover his forehead. The previously flamboyant look now appeared subdued, adding an air of docility.
He methodically draped his cloak over his shoulders, letting its flowing bulk hide his streamlined figure underneath.
Finally, he pulled out a hefty tome and hugged it to his chest. Lynch adjusted his glasses again, and the image of an earnest, harmless bookworm vividly came to life.
After tugging his hood into place, Lynch embarked on his way backâŠ
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