"A woman? Are you perhaps mistaken? We need the future ruler of the barony, not the future political relation key."

  ?"I thought the same at first, but the barony I went to is somewhat different. Its lord has only one child, and it's a daughter. The woman the baron loved died after the birth of the first child, thus ending the journey of the baron's love life. But the barony needed someone to inherit the land, and also someone powerful and strong enough to fend off the nearby lords' greed and hands; thus, he had trained his only child to be what he wanted. Ignoring that she is a girl, he had trained her in every way to be fit to be a ruler of the land," Astegon gave an explanation as both he and Sedric's gazes stayed on the female figure.

  ?The female figure showed no concern for their gazes; whether she noticed them or not, she didn't appear to care about any of that. From the moment the new group appeared in their vision, her gaze only landed upon one man in this group.

  ?Through her head armor, she could see the figure of the man, standing taller than an average male's height. Yet, despite appearing like an adult man, she confirmed the man to be the one she was certain him to be.

  ?The man her gaze landed on was Joshua, who stood while looking around the place he was in before locating a bench under a tree beside the tavern. He walked up to it; the sword in his hand rotated in a fashionable curve before being thrust into the ground by him before he himself sat down on the bench, taking a time to rest his exhausted body and mind.

  Beside the woman was another female figure, who is a middle-aged woman dressed in the attire of a typical servant of a noble house. Upon seeing her lady's gaze directly holding onto one individual, the female servant slightly got close to the lady and whispered.

  ?"Young lady, please don't do anything reckless. I agree it was their fault for most of what happened to you, but currently would not be the best time to deal with any of that. Please stay calm."

  ?The woman knew of the hatred in the heart of her young lady toward the young lords like Joshua. As it was the existence of figures like him that caused her young lady's father to be more strict and fearsome in his behavior toward her. Her young lady's land was surrounded by few other barons' lands, and in those lands were young lords who were hailed as their future rulers by each baron. Their skills and deeds even spread to the other barons' lands, which in turn caused the father of her young lady to be more bitter about the future and train his only offspring, the young lady, in a way more fearsome manner.

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  ?The man's training showed success as the young lady blossomed into a fearsome warrior of her own skill and rules; but the mental suffering she went through at that time period was never to be erased, even after years.

  ?"My own father talked about these other young lords when he trained me. And did you know who it is that he mostly talked about? It was him—the son of Baron Joshua, the little lion born to a hound. No matter what I did, it was never enough for him, as he wanted me to surpass him. And until I do that, I don't think I will ever be able to get rid of this mental image of him in my head; he made me feel inferior to him." Her young lady's cold tone reached the female servant's ears, and she stood in silence, gazing at the man her young lady hoped to surpass.

  ?The servant woman herself had seen the kid in action. Although right now she can't say he looks exactly like a kid, she ignored it as the things that happened until now changed the perspective of the world she had all this time.

  It was a few years ago, in a great festival where the nearby lords of the baronies gathered to celebrate a victory against one of the enemy Ottoman forces. There, she witnessed duels against each young lords of each baron land; at that time, none of them were named as the future successors to their land, thus it was viewed as a simple brawl between kids. And yet, in that session, one kid literally dominated the other kids simply with his pure speed, and that kid was none other than Joshua, who left a clear mark in the female servant's memory.

  ?It wasn't that she was doubting her young lady Felicia's ability, but just from what she had seen in those days years ago in the duel, the female servant couldn't help but have doubts about her young lady surpassing this young adult man who had now grown into something completely different.

  ?As Joshua rested, and the two group leaders and the members chatted and shared experience, the village chief once again raised his voice, inviting them to rest.

  ?Both Sedric and Astegon firstly showed hesitation to take the offer, but upon seeing their soldiers' condition and their status, which was clearly exhausted and worn out, the two leaders agreed to the old man's offer. And thus, the two groups became one and lodged in the nearby inn.

  ?While both Joshua and Felicia aren't members of their groups, they are considered as one by Sedric and Astegon and treated in the same manner as regular soldiers, but received slightly higher treatment such as better food, after a request from the village chief.

  ?To stay in the inn, no payment was required from them, as it was a generous offer from the old village chief. And Sedric and Astegon did not shy away from receiving his kindness.

  ?One of the treatments Joshua and Felicia got was having rooms of their own, unlike the other soldiers who had to share one room with few others.

  After entering his room, one of the things Joshua did was to take a well-deserved bath.

  ?Opening a window in his room, Joshua enjoyed the meal he got from the tavern owner, which was not delicious, but Joshua did not care for the taste anyway. While eating, he looked out through the window in his room where he could see past the light bubble surrounding the village. And looking at the outside world, all he could see was a mess.