Harvest City

Bennett Castle. Today was the last day of the year, and tomorrow would be the New Year.

During dinner, Knight Bennett took out a letter and a long package and handed them to Zack. "This is Abel's New Year's gift for you. He still treats you well. Your mother and I didn't get anything."

Perhaps finding his words a little sour, Nara rolled her eyes at him and said, "The child's been gone for less than a month, and he still remembered to write us a letter. That's already not easy. Are you really short of a gift?"

Zack accepted the letter and package. He opened the package first, revealing a greatsword.

"This is a Hundred Refinements Greatsword forged by a master." Zack drew the greatsword from its sheath and recognized it at a glance. Hundred Refinements Greatswords had always been in short supply on the market. Although their price of as much as a thousand gold coins left everyone speechless, countless wealthy tycoons still brought their money bags to fight over them.

A greatsword was a knight's standard weapon. When two knights fought, a knight wielding a Hundred Refinements Greatsword could easily chop through his opponent's greatsword, leaving him without a weapon. Everyone could imagine the consequences of a knight losing his weapon in battle.

Knight Bennett had just heard his wife Nara say that she wasn't short of gifts, but when he saw the Hundred Refinements Greatsword in Zack's hands while he was still using an eighty-refinement greatsword, he couldn't help wanting to shout, "I really am short of a gift."

"Let me see it." No knight could resist a good weapon. Knight Bennett snatched the Hundred Refinements Greatsword from Zack rather than taking it, then swung it around in the dining room as he said, "That Abel, honestly. He just arrived at Hari Castle and is already giving away the castle's things. I'll write him a proper letter about this later."

"That's not how it is." Zack, who was reading the opened letter, said, "Abel wrote that this was the first weapon he forged, and that he was giving it to me as a New Year's gift."

The greatsword in Knight Bennett's hand stopped in midair. He stared at the letter in Zack's hand and asked, "It says Abel forged this greatsword himself?"

"Yes, Father. Abel made that very clear in his letter." Zack answered firmly.

"How is that possible? Marshall studied blacksmithing for a year back then, and after that year, he produced a table knife that could only cut beef. Abel's been gone for just a month, and he can forge a Hundred Refinements greatsword?" Knight Bennett began to wonder whether sending Abel to his friend as an adopted son had been a mistake. Perhaps he would regret it in a few years. No—after seeing this Hundred Refinements greatsword, he had already begun regretting it.

The New Year at Bennett Castle passed in a strange atmosphere: Zack's surprise, Knight Bennett's regret, and Nara's longing. But Abel, who was at Hari Castle, knew nothing about any of it.

At Hari Castle, Knight Marshall took Abel by carriage to Harvest City to attend the New Year's banquet hosted by the city lord, Viscount Dickens. The banquet would begin in the evening, but Knight Marshall had set out with Abel early that morning.

The road from Knight Marshall's castle to Harvest City had been built exceptionally well. The entire road was paved smooth with small rocks, forming an arched surface that was higher in the middle and lower on both sides. The carriage experienced only slight jolts as it traveled over it, and it covered the hundred-mile journey in just over an hour.

From a distance, Harvest City looked like a crouching tiger. Only after drawing near could one appreciate its grandeur and magnificence. It was the largest city in the southern part of the Duchy of Camai. Its twenty-meter-high walls and the dozens of ballistae mounted atop them all displayed the city's imposing defenses.

"Uncle Marshall, why is Harvest City defended so heavily?" Abel asked in puzzlement as he looked at the twenty-meter-high walls and the large number of defensive weapons mounted on them.

This was the southernmost part of the Holy Continent, deep in human territory. It was separated from the Orc Empire by a duchy and was known as the safest duchy. Why had they turned the city into a War Fortress?

"Abel, every fief in our Duchy of Camai has at least one official knight stationed there. As for the Harvest City before us, its respected city lord, Viscount Dickens, is even a knight commander." Knight Marshall's gaze grew distant, as if he were recalling something from the past. He sighed and continued, "The reason for all this is the Orc Empire."

"But the Orc Empire is far to the north, guarded by Miracle City under the human alliance." Abel knew this. Only because Miracle City defended the north against the orcs could the human nations live in safety.

In this world, the orcs were the most warlike race. Their frenzied reproduction often left them short of food. To ease their food crisis, the orcs would launch wars—both to seize food and to reduce their population.

The humans closest to the Orc Empire thus became the orcs' targets. To survive, humanity had united its strength and built a military fortress at the only passage through the Budapest Mountains between human society and the Orc Empire. That city was Miracle City.

Every human knew that as long as Miracle City stood, there was no need to fear an orc invasion.

"In recent decades, the Orc Empire has developed some new methods of attack. They use flying beasts capable of carrying people to fly over the Budapest Mountains and wreak havoc in the human rear." Knight Marshall spoke with a hint of doubt. "Though they call it destruction, I think of it more as a trial."

As they spoke, the carriage reached Harvest City's gates. A long line waited before the ten-meter-high gate to enter the city. At the front, soldiers inspected everyone, collected the fees, and let them pass. The soldiers were not moving quickly. If they joined the queue now, it would probably take an hour before they could enter.

But the carriage did not stop. Under the envious gazes of those waiting in line, it entered the city directly through another gate.

This was the first time Abel had experienced aristocratic privilege. Before this, whether at Bennett Castle or Hari Castle, he had felt that he was merely the child of a wealthy family compared with those around him.

Even though Abel had gradually integrated into this world, he was still somewhat unaccustomed to it. In his former world, if others were waiting in line and you cut in, they would stare at you contemptuously. Here, Abel did not even need to get off the carriage before entering the city directly.

The carriage arrived at a courtyard. This was Knight Marshall's temporary residence in Harvest City. As soon as they reached the courtyard gate, the steward, Robin, who had been left in charge, came out to greet them.

"Robin, Abel will be staying here for the next few days. Prepare that separate courtyard. From now on, it belongs to Abel." As soon as Knight Marshall got off the carriage, he instructed the steward.

"Yes, master."

Steward Robin had long heard that Knight Marshall had an adopted son who had directly become the heir to the castle. From Knight Marshall's instructions, it was clear how much importance he placed on young master Abel. That separate courtyard was the best residence apart from the master's quarters, and with a single word from the knight, it had become young master Abel's private residence.

"Abel, will you come with me to visit a friend, or would you rather explore Harvest City?"

Seeing Abel's hesitant expression, Knight Marshall couldn't help laughing. "Of course, there's no need to ask. I'll have Robin accompany you around Harvest City."

Knight Marshall clearly placed great importance on his adopted son, Abel. He did not force Abel to come along. He could tell from Abel's expression what he had chosen, and the knight respected his opinion.

Abel declined steward Robin's offer to accompany him and rode out alone. As he traveled, he looked at the shops on both sides of the street. The streets of Harvest City were very wide, and perhaps because it was the New Year, there were many pedestrians.

As he rode along, a commotion came from ahead. The voices sounded familiar. He urged his horse toward the noise and saw Zack arguing with three young men dressed in leather armor. A young blond girl stood beside them. She was around seventeen or eighteen, lively and mischievous, with a sly glint in her eyes when she smiled. She was watching Zack and the three young men argue with great interest.

"Big Brother!" Abel's voice grew excited. Seeing his family here was an unexpected surprise. He jumped off his horse, led it by the reins, and walked toward Zack.

"Abel!" When Zack saw him, he immediately came forward and gave him a tight hug.

After letting go of Abel, Zack turned and introduced him to the three young men. "This is my younger brother, Abel."

Then he said to Abel, "This is Martin, Joshua, and Bob."

The young girl gave Abel a lady's curtsy and introduced herself with a light laugh. "Hello, my name is Emily." After speaking, Emily looked Abel up and down curiously.

Abel returned the greeting. Seeing the way Big Brother Zack secretly glanced at Emily, he laughed inwardly. Big Brother is old enough to fall in love now. He already has a girl he likes. Should I write a letter and tell Mother?

Martin seemed not to have expected Abel to be so young. After staring blankly for a moment, he asked uncertainly, "Are you the Abel who forged Zack's Hundred Refinements Greatsword?"

Abel smiled and nodded. "Yes."

"It really is you!" Martin immediately gave him an enthusiastic bow and said, "A pleasure to meet you! I didn't expect you to be so young."

It was clear that Martin was very talkative and straightforward, making him seem easy to get along with. Abel had a very good impression of him.