Chapter 707

"The Empire, my lord—it sounds so dignified. How big is the Empire?"

"I can't answer that question, Kale. The Empire's territory is incalculable, but it is still far larger than you can imagine. The Empire holds countless planets as its domain. Ah, planets—that means worlds like this one you call the Lands Between. A world like this is a planet."

A look of yearning appeared on the wandering merchant's face. "That big...? If that's the case, then surely we wandering people could find a place that belongs to us there, couldn't we?"

Hearing that, Angron lowered his head and gazed at Kale, then said calmly, "You absolutely could, Kale. That is my guarantee. As humans, even if you know nothing of the Empire's existence, the Empire still has a duty to protect you and provide you with a place to live."

Kale pressed his lips together, as if he could not quite believe what he had just heard. A while passed before he spoke again, still with that cautious look.

"But, my lord, we wandering people don't have any special talents. We're just a bunch of—"

"—just a bunch of commoners."

Angron raised his head and looked ahead, walking at a steady pace. His deliberately slowed speed was just enough for Kale, riding his donkey, to keep up with him.

He said calmly, "Commoners need no special talents. They only need to live in peace. In other words, you can become whatever kind of people you wish. Things like gifts and talent may have innate factors, but you can also gain something similar through acquired effort. I'm getting off topic."

He stopped, ignoring Kale, who was still caught in complicated emotions. Angron gazed at the low-lying Land of Lakes before him and, without turning his head, asked Kale behind him,