I Want to Go Home

"Dick, to thank you for your assistance, why don't you pledge your loyalty to me."

Dick himself hadn't expected Romain's first words to him to be this, and spoken so casually.

He paused and said, "I am Dick the Betrayer, a master-killer. There is no place for me in this land."

Borg's actions had caused too much trouble. If Romain Armor-Splitting were to meet with misfortune this time, the entire Sigg Town would face utter destruction. Their escape into the mountains didn't mean they weren't afraid of worldly powers.

The Grand Duke Armor-Splitting was old, but the Armored Breaker family would not tolerate such a thing.

Romain spread his palms, the corners of his mouth upturned, a smile playing on his lips. "Then how about I provide you with such a place?"

Dick was stunned again. Not only was this new lord not shouting threats at him, but he was also repeatedly offering him a home?

Does he really know what I've done in the past? Isn't he afraid I'll chop off his head too?

Dick was greatly perplexed. After hesitating for a moment, he said, "I've never considered such a thing."

He always assumed the worst of others. This young lord, outwardly warm and gentle, was a ruthless character through and through. The wolf's blood on his clothes was still steaming, and there was quite a bit splashed on his neck and face, yet he still wore a smile that sent shivers down one's spine. Who knew, perhaps as soon as he agreed, during dinner, Romain would slam his wine glass down, and five hundred swordsmen would leap out from under the table, carrying his head to claim a reward.

This was quite normal. His past deeds were too wicked, and it had only been ten years. The Black Iron Kingdom's wanted poster for him should still be active.

But he had to admit, he was tempted.

The offer was too appealing for someone so displaced.

Seeing Dick hesitate, Romain knew there was a chance, and his bad mood brightened.

Just then, another figure approached from a distance, carrying a bloody wolf's head.

Romain realized then that the battle with the alpha wolf had also concluded.

And the one who ended the fight was also a stranger.

As the person drew closer, Romain saw that he was unremarkable in appearance, of average build, wearing ragged, dirty leather armor that looked like it hadn't been washed in years, and his expression was indifferent.

No introduction was needed; Romain guessed the man's identity.

"Deserter Jet..."

Jet, hearing Romain call his name, was taken aback and seemed a bit lost. He eventually chose to bow his head in greeting to Romain.

Romain continued, "Your martial arts are quite impressive. Would you like to work for me?"

To be able to kill the alpha wolf so quickly and without injury, he was at least a second-tier Transcendent, certainly stronger than Aaron. Aaron met the standards of a second-tier Transcendent in all aspects, but unfortunately, his attack power was a bit low.

Jet, just like Dick before him, was stunned.

Dick, on the other hand, gave Romain a strange look.

So you say this to everyone!

Dick's heart was filled with mixed emotions.

Jet's response was quite direct: "I refuse."

"You're so blunt, aren't you afraid I'll have you killed?"

Jet took a step back. "If you come to kill me... then I'll just have to flee elsewhere."

Shasta suddenly spoke up, "Romain Armor-Splitting, I killed all the wolves for you. Can you let Gevra go with me now?"

Romain glanced at her. "When did I agree to that?"

Shasta fell silent. She knew Romain hadn't agreed, but hadn't she also contributed?

If I hadn't held them off and dealt with two wolves, even if Dick and Jet had rushed to support, at least half of your guards would have been killed or wounded.

Is this guy really going back on his word?

Just then, another group of people arrived in the mountain forest.

Mol wiped the sweat from his forehead. The mountain path was difficult, and for someone of his build, traveling this far today meant losing at least half a pound.

But there was no other way. If Romain met with misfortune, he wouldn't need to worry about losing weight for the rest of his life.

He hurried as much as he could but was still a step too late. The battle had clearly ended, with wolf corpses scattered everywhere. It was evident that a fierce battle had taken place, and Romain was standing perfectly fine, covered in blood but seemingly unharmed.

Mol was overjoyed. "Master Romain, it's wonderful that you're alright."

Romain glanced at Mol. Earlier, at Garin's cabin, they had been attacked by a brown bear. Although there were no casualties, seven soldiers were injured, most with fractured bones from being crushed. He had temporarily settled them in Garin's cabin.

Garin had medicinal herbs for healing.

Mol had likely heard the wolf howls, so he had called three lightly wounded guards and hunters to support him. This was a significant challenge for him, being so timid and cowardly.

This guy passed the test.

Mol's initial reaction upon seeing Romain unharmed was joy, but when he saw Jet and Dick, his expression became somewhat strained. Especially when he saw the ragged girl hiding behind Dick, his face grew even more strained.

He knew this girl. The Agricultural Officer remembered the residents of Sigg Town.

Gevra also saw Mol. She was certainly familiar with the Agricultural Officer of Sigg Town. A local official often held more sway than a distant lord, and even if Romain were truly the lord of Sigg Town, Mol's deterrence over her was greater.

Therefore, she hid even deeper, trembling behind Dick.

Dick sighed and patted her small head.

Romain also realized the current situation, so he stated frankly, "Let's now discuss the matter of Gevra's custody."

Shasta said firmly, "I must take her with me!"

"See, this isn't going anywhere," Romain mused for a moment. "Since we're both determined to have her, why don't we let Gevra decide for herself?"

Romain had to compromise. This black-haired witch before him possessed too much combat power, and he couldn't afford any losses right now.

Jet and Dick might not even help him.

Shasta frowned, realizing this was the best option.

"Alright!" Shasta nodded, then looked at the little witch. "So, Gevra, do you want to come with me?"

Suddenly becoming the center of everyone's attention placed a considerable psychological burden on Gevra.

"I don't know..." Gevra was terrified beyond measure.

She didn't understand why both Shasta and Romain valued her so much. She was merely a bringer of misfortune, yet such intense conflict had erupted over her, nearly leading to a fight.

She looked pleadingly at Dick, but the man who had once taken such good care of her turned his head away.

She then looked at Jet, but the deserter from the battlefield also didn't respond.

They were leaving the choice to Gevra herself.

In that moment, Gevra thought of many things.

She recalled her mother's expression of pain and despair after her witch identity was exposed, and her father's hysteria in bed.

On that cold night, she was as helpless as a newborn. The door was pushed open, and her mother, with grief, held her for the last time, hanging a cloth bag filled with peas around her neck. These were their provisions for the next three days. After her father broke his leg, this food had become crucial, and they would have to borrow grain from Agricultural Officer Mol, repaying double the amount after the autumn harvest.

Immediately after, her mother painfully pushed her away, telling her to flee into the mountains and never come down, never to be known by anyone. She stumbled into the deep mountains, but the power of her curse still lingered around her, affecting everything in her vicinity.

She didn't know how she had survived these past two years, finding rabbits that had died from hitting trees, picking edible wild fruits, and gathering non-poisonous mushrooms. But this barely covered the most basic survival needs; she spent every day in hunger and cold.

If not for Uncle Dick giving her a huge bearskin, Brother Jet giving her a lot of meat, Grandpa Garin treating her illnesses and strengthening her body, Uncle Borg sharing his wilderness survival knowledge, and the hunters bringing her various daily necessities, not to mention her mother finding ways to spare some food from home and regularly bringing it to her in the mountains, she feared she would have died during the very first winter.

No matter how many difficulties she faced, how much pain, or the torment of loneliness, or the daily struggle for survival, she never considered leaving. She always remembered her mother's teaching—never come down the mountain.

So, was it okay now?

Was it okay?

Was it really okay?

Uncle Dick was here.

Uncle Jet was here.

Agricultural Officer Mol was here.

The lord she had never heard of was here.

Lady Shasta, who was willing to take her away, was also here.

Was all of this finally over?

Gevra lifted her small face. Her eyes shimmered with crystal tears. As the tears traced paths down her cheeks, her dirty little face seemed to shine a little.

She said, "I want to go home..."