Retirement

Early in the morning, Ange packed his belongings, ready to return to the Grand Duchy of Tan'anster with the convoy transporting the ashes of fallen warriors.

The day before, he had bid farewell to his familiar comrades one by one, and had even left a Black Magic Crystal for Rika as a parting gift.

Ange himself carried 5 Black Magic Crystals and over 800 gold varks, prepared for his future life. It cost 11 magic crystals to exchange for the battle axe. Ange had obtained a total of 31, and the remaining 14 were exchanged for gold varks.

Regiment Commander Richard had told Ange that there would be a convoy transporting ashes today. Without this opportunity, he would have had to walk alone from the canyon to Wolf City.

Wolf City was the closest human city to the canyon, funded and built by the Count of Wolf of the Duchy. It was an important city in the eastern part of the Maple Sugar Plane. Trade routes were extensive here, and many important supplies were transferred and stored.

Maple sugar was refined in Wolf City, then transported to Maple Sugar City, and finally sent to the Grand Duchy of Tan'anster via a planar teleportation gate.

Wolf City was guarded by over 100,000 heavily armed troops year-round, demonstrating its strategic importance in the eastern region.

Ange stood at the assembly point, watching the convoy prepare to depart, his heart filled with anticipation and emotion. He realized that this journey was not only his last leg of leaving the battlefield but also his new beginning. With aspirations for the future and memories of the past, Ange embarked on his return journey, embracing the new life that awaited him.

Ange sat in the carriage, his gaze sweeping over the neatly arranged urns of ashes inside. His heart couldn't help but stir. The carriage was filled with the ashes of warriors who had given their lives in battle. Now, they could only be squeezed into one carriage. Ange couldn't help but sigh at the impermanence of life and the brutality of war.

As the carriage slowly moved, Ange began to admire the scenery outside the window. The road they were on now was one he had personally cleared when he was in the Logistics Regiment. Back then, he was always in a state of tension, focused on ensuring the safety and smooth passage of the road, with almost no time to truly appreciate the scenery along the way.

The distant mountains were majestic and grand, the azure sky was like a beautiful painting, and the crisp chirping of birds pierced the air, bringing a sense of tranquility. Sunlight bathed the land, as if gilding everything with a golden radiance. Ange felt this beauty, and the turmoil in his heart gradually calmed down.

This road, once a place where he had shed sweat in battles and missions, now appeared before him in a different light.

Ange took a deep breath of the fresh air, feeling a long-lost sense of peace.

He knew that although the past battles had brought him much pain, the beautiful scenery of this journey also allowed him to feel another side of life.

Ange learned from the soldier driving the carriage that the infantry regiment sent to support the rotation was already on its way, and they might even meet them on the road.

The 36th Regiment would likely be withdrawn soon as well, and they would take the same route as him.

The soldier driving the carriage was named Joseph. He told Ange that he was born in the Maple Sugar Plane, and both his parents were from the Duchy.

His parents had responded to Tananst VII's call to come to the Maple Sugar Plane. Besides himself, they had two older brothers, one younger sister, and one younger brother.

Ange noticed that the human population in this world consumed a lot, but also increased significantly. Almost every family had several children. He himself had a younger brother and sister.

In his conversation with Joseph, Ange learned some interesting facts.

It turned out that not everyone had to serve five years in the military. As long as one male of the same generation in the family served the five-year term, other males only needed to serve for 2 years, primarily in the logistics units.

This 2-year service came with no pay. Only those who completed the 5-year term received a salary.

This information gave Ange a deeper understanding of the social structure and military system of this world.

He realized that although war and conscription had a huge impact on every family, family cohesion and a sense of responsibility played an important role.

Every family member worked hard for the honor and survival of the family. Although sacrifice and dedication were unavoidable, these sacrifices also brought them hope and a future.

Joseph complained to Ange that the Maple Sugar Plane used to be peaceful and tranquil, but the arrival of the foul spirits had disrupted many people's lives.

Hatred for foul spirits flickered in his eyes. Joseph told Ange that he had met many pitiable people in Wolf City. Their hard-earned land had been occupied by foul spirits, and many had lost their lives because of it.

Now, these people were refugees in Wolf City, having lost everything and living extremely difficult lives.

Ange hadn't expected Joseph to be such a compassionate person. He felt deeply sympathetic towards the plight of these refugees.

Ange asked Joseph about his family's situation. Joseph told him that his home was near Wolf City and had not been harmed by foul spirits. Their family mainly grew Fire Sweet Potatoes, which was also their main source of income.

Ange didn't know what Fire Sweet Potatoes were, so he asked Joseph to explain further.

Joseph told Ange that Fire Sweet Potatoes were a plant containing a slight fire element. Regular consumption could enhance one's physique, but it required eating a very large amount to be effective.

Generally, the Fire Sweet Potatoes grown by his family were mainly sold to the Duchy's troops, especially the Black Mane Horse Unit, because these horses particularly liked to eat Fire Sweet Potatoes.

After hearing this, Ange recalled the Black Mane Horses he had seen in the army but didn't notice any obvious differences in them from eating Fire Sweet Potatoes.

Joseph explained that although Fire Sweet Potatoes could enhance physique, the effect was not immediate and required long-term accumulation.

The Black Mane Horses, due to their frequent consumption of Fire Sweet Potatoes, did indeed have improved physiques, but this improvement was not easily noticeable in daily life.

Listening to Joseph's account, Ange gained more understanding of the agriculture and economy of this world. He felt that even under the shadow of war, people were still striving to live and find hope. The story of Joseph's family growing Fire Sweet Potatoes showed Ange another kind of resilience and perseverance, and it made him cherish the current peaceful times even more.

Joseph also told Ange that Wolf City had many fun places. He mentioned the maple sugar factory in Wolf City, which always had a sweet aroma lingering around it. Many people liked to wander around the maple sugar factory, enjoying the sweet scent. Joseph also said that he heard that often smelling this scent could make one more sensitive to magical elements.

"You must go and try it," Joseph said to Ange, "This is a major feature of Wolf City."

In addition, Joseph mentioned Wolf City's First Avenue, where there was a beautiful fountain square, a great place for people to gather and relax. The Count's castle was also a magnificent building worth seeing. Joseph also specifically recommended the various snacks in Wolf City, especially the Fire Sweet Potato Cakes, and advised Ange to try these delicacies after arriving in Wolf City.

"Fire Sweet Potato Cakes are very delicious," Joseph said, "Not only do they taste good, but because Fire Sweet Potatoes contain a slight fire element, eating them is also beneficial for the body."

Joseph also advised Ange not to stay in the fancy hotels, but to choose inns closer to taverns, as they were both economical and convenient. Joseph explained, "If you get drunk at the tavern, you can quickly return to your inn to rest without worrying about wandering around the streets."

Ange smiled and asked, "Joseph, have you ever gotten drunk?"

Joseph chuckled awkwardly and brushed it off, saying, "Ah, well, who hasn't been young? But you still need to be careful when you get to Wolf City, it's not always safe there at night."

Ange nodded, feeling very grateful for Joseph's advice. Joseph not only told him about the fun things in Wolf City but also thoughtfully gave him some practical living tips.

Ange asked Joseph, "After we get to Wolf City, can you show me around?"

Joseph shook his head and said, "I'm afraid I can't, I still have my mission to continue. However, I can have my sister take you around. She's very familiar with Wolf City, and she also has some magical talent." He said this with a face full of pride.

The other soldiers driving the carriage heard this and laughed, "Joseph, you're showing off your sister again, the future noble." Everyone burst into laughter.

However, Joseph didn't feel embarrassed by everyone's laughter. Instead, he introduced his sister with even more pride, "My sister's name is Mary. She studies at the Magic Academy in Wolf City. She's very talented in magic and has already been recognized by many teachers. When you meet her, you can ask her about any magic-related questions."

Upon hearing this, Ange became very interested in Mary. He thought that since Mary was knowledgeable about magic, she might be able to help him resolve some of his confusion.

Ange had always been curious about magic but hadn't met the right person. He had even sought guidance from the Shamat Mage before, who told Ange he had no talent for magic, otherwise, he wouldn't be serving as a regular soldier in the Logistics Regiment.

Now, he had an opportunity to meet a talented magic apprentice, which was a great chance.

"Thank you very much, Joseph," Ange said. "I'm looking forward to meeting your sister."

Joseph nodded and smiled, "You're welcome. I believe you two will become good friends."

As the carriage continued to move forward, Ange found himself deep in thought. He gazed at the passing scenery, feeling Joseph's story and his own memories intertwine, and his heart gradually grew calm.