"Fresh fruits and vegetables. I'm selling them cheaply."
"Hey, the one over there, the one who looks really strong. Our construction team is lacking people, and we're providing food and benefits. Do you want to come?"
"Hey, freshly baked bread, buy one get one free! Which Knight is it? Knight's are half price, do you want one? Alright, two copper coins. "
"Tam? Your family is back! That's great, it's great that you're back, it's great that you're back! Aren't you intending to leave this time? "
As I strolled through Donglan City, I saw the busy crowds, the caravans, and the various construction sites. I couldn't help but smile from the bottom of my heart.
Rome wasn't built in a day. Even if a large amount of money was poured into the city, the current reconstruction project was still at the stage of cleaning up the old city areas. The supply of resources only slightly improved the citizens' living standards. In reality, the increase in living standards wasn't that great, but what made me happy was that the citizens' mental state was gradually improving.
As the Donglan Principality traveled northward, it saw enough suffering and misfortune, and its mood became worse and worse.
After encountering misfortune, people would always have bitter expressions, and their eyes would be filled with a numbness and blankness that made one's heart ache. I knew that when a person had no hope for the future, when they believed that their days would only get worse, no matter how strong that person was, their mental state would only get worse and worse. If they didn't even have a future, they would naturally become colder and colder towards others.
The reason? It was probably because this country, which had suffered so many misfortunes, was about to face a new calamity.
That year, the Mist Kingdom was destroyed, but they didn't fall. In the nearly one hundred years since they lost their homeland, they didn't disperse. Two hundred years ago, when Donglan was gradually eaten away by the neighboring countries, they continued to persevere. Twenty years ago, when they lost their last mining area, they continued to fight. One year ago, when the old emperor died in battle, they risked their lives to follow the fourteen-year-old princess in a desperate charge, and they achieved a miraculous victory.
They were not supermen with iron wills. They were just mortals who missed their homeland. Perhaps in the eyes of outsiders, this wasteland of the North was just a useless wasteland, but in the eyes of the people who had lived here for generations, there was too much nostalgia and reluctance to part with this land.
Outsiders were unable to understand the nostalgia these Northerners had for their homeland. Perhaps, they were as firm as the glaciers of the North, but because their roots were here, the stubborn souls of the Northerners wished to protect the homeland that their ancestors had created.
"As long as we don't starve to death, and as long as that flag doesn't fall, we can grit and bear it."
But not long ago, they finally couldn't take it anymore. In the year between the old Emperor's death and Reyne's return with supplies, many people finally chose to leave.
I knew that they couldn't be blamed. They didn ', and they didn't go against their oath.
The people of the Mist never feared sacrifice or war. They only feared that they wouldn't be able to see the future.
When the shadow of war faded, the devastated farmlands and villages were reduced to a desolate state. Winter was approaching, and packs of wolves were loitering around. Yet, there wasn't even any rations for them to survive the winter. When familiar neighbors starved to death or froze to death on the streets, when the life-saving rations for this winter had yet to arrive, even the most optimistic of people would start considering their own path of retreat.
"I don't care about my worthless life, but my child, he didn't do anything wrong."
No one could bear to watch as their child starved to death in front of them. The people of the Mist who left couldn't be blamed at all. Even though they knew that it was impossible for them to return after leaving this time, and that they would most likely die on the dangerous journey, they could only choose to leave.
What was even crueler and more ironic was that the departure of these people made the already scarce rations even more effective. In recent years, the winter of last year had the fewest deaths.
This cruel reality couldn't be blamed on anyone. If one had to find a scapegoat, it could only be the Mist royalty who didn't fulfill their duty of protecting the Mist Empire. If there were to be more, it could probably be my generation, who had left behind a hidden danger back then.
Thus, even though she had already guessed that the Ottoman Empire was up to no good, as the last descendant of the Mist, Renée didn't even hold a ceremony to ascend to the throne. She gritted her teeth and continued on her journey. After all, if she didn't do anything, she would be doomed. As long as there was a sliver of hope, she could fight for it.
It should be said that there is always a way out … If I had regained my physical body and returned to the Surface a year later, the East Mist Communal Country might not even exist anymore. If it wasn't for my anger towards the Auland Empire's overbearing attitude, I wouldn't have met Reyne.
At this moment, after the bustling Homecoming Ceremony two days ago, many things had changed. At the very least, the blankness in everyone's eyes had lessened, and their hopes for a beautiful future had increased.
"Do you see it? The old district in the west of the city has been converted into a military camp. That is Prince Roland's army. "
"Back then, I was the first to rush to the recruitment site. It was a pity that I was just a little bit away from passing."
"Stop bragging. Who doesn't know that even though there are quite a few armies and regiments that have started recruiting, in reality, the threshold is extremely high. The first test is a physical test. How many sandbags can you carry and how skinny you are like a monkey? You were eliminated in the first test, and you are still bragging that you were just a little bit away?"
"You know so much, could it be that you are also …"
"At the very least, I made it to the third round! I, Aiken, don't intend to give up. As long as there are more armies formed, I will give it another try. If it really doesn't work, I can even enter the city and become a soldier! Right, there is also the Church of Law. They are also recruiting. It is said that they will teach them combat techniques. "
Even though he was eliminated as well, that muscular man, Aiken, was showing off with a face full of pride. The surrounding crowd also exclaimed in surprise, as though they had seen some incredible expert.
When a country is weak, the people are in danger. In a weak country, the people are lowly. No other race understands this logic better than the people of the Mist who have been through many hardships. Even though the Church of Law was established as the national religion, from a certain standpoint, Donglan became a permanently neutral country, everyone could understand the harsh reality. The Beastmen in the north could invade the south at any moment, and the neighboring countries were getting restless. Even if you didn't attack them, they would still attack you.
In this world where the strong preyed on the weak, in order to achieve true neutrality, one had to possess a powerful strength that could remain neutral in the chaotic situation.
Now, the establishment of every new army would become a reason for the citizens to celebrate. After all, this meant that the warriors protecting the country were becoming stronger, and the country was also becoming stronger. At the same time, these new armies could also provide sufficient opportunities for the youngsters to develop.
Avalanche Defender, Eternal Wind Knight, one after another, legendary names and occupations jumped out from history. Those legendary heroic deeds attracted the attention of every youngster, and they looked forward to creating history with their own hands.
In the past, even though they were enthusiastic about joining the army, it could only be said that they were just trying to make a living. But now, under the premise of protecting the country, they were striving for a future. The enthusiasm of the two couldn't be compared.
When the citizens took pride in joining the army, it proved their confidence in the country. Of course, this confidence was in me, the legendary Saint Knight Prince Roland.
But this wasn't the happiest news. The one that left the deepest impression was that the people of the Mist had started to return to their homeland.
When the news of the legendary Prince Roland returning to the Mist Country with his army spread, when their homeland regained its vitality, even though the situation was still uncertain, the people of the Mist still chose to return. Every day, there would be caravans and individuals returning to their homes.
Outside the city gate, there were all kinds of carriages and travelers waiting to enter the city. The streets were filled with people who were returning with hard work but happy expressions. "How is everyone? I'm finally back." "You're back? It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back. " Responses rose one after another, and the returning travelers were filled with curiosity about every single change. Many of them pointed at the army's flag, and it wasn't uncommon for them to grab acquaintances and ask them about it.
This was only the beginning. Currently, those who were able to return were the immigrants from the neighboring countries who hadn't traveled too far. As the news spread, the people of the Mist who had left the country in the past twenty to thirty years would start to consider whether they should return or not. When the Mist War Flag was raised once more, the people of the Mist who had left the country would reunite once more.
Not too far away from me, there was a group of returning travelers. Some of them were wearing thick cotton hats, while others were wearing light feather hats. Judging from their different attire, it was clear that they had returned from different countries.
Originally, it was just a gathering of people who had just returned home to discuss their experiences in a foreign land. But in the end, it turned into a gathering of grievances.
"… Even if we were fortunate enough to not meet with any wild beasts or bandits and successfully complete the long journey, who would be willing to leave their homeland without being forced to their limits? Do you think it's good to live in a foreign land and speak an unfamiliar language? Do you think it's good to have the locals look at you as though you are a thief or a barbarian? The feeling of being isolated from the world when you open your eyes and see only foreigners and their language is so confusing that it makes you want to commit suicide. "
He was a young man, but judging from his dark eye bags and depressed face, his callused hands and rough skin, he seemed to be an old man in his forties or fifties. Due to the hard work and low spirits, he seemed to have aged beyond his actual age.
"When you are discriminated against and bullied because of your foreign accent, you don't even dare to argue. Who can understand that kind of indignation? In the midst of the arduous work of making a living, you spend the lonely nights in your homeland alone. You miss your homeland and your family and friends so much that you can't sleep at night. Who can understand that kind of feeling where your heart is torn apart? And as long as you show it, you will be an even more obvious anomaly. "
This middle-aged man who was in the prime of his life and should have been the most capable of fighting was just average. As he spoke, he recalled those past events and got so angry that he slammed his wine cup on the wooden table.
"It wasn't easy for me to make new friends, but when I was chatting, I accidentally said, 'Donglan? Oh, I know, it's the barbarian tribe that is about to be destroyed. Are you the legendary barbarian princess? ' The people around him all laughed. In order not to be isolated, even though he was so angry that he wanted to fight with the other party, he could only try his best to smile and pretend that he didn't care. It's too suffocating, too uncomfortable! "
The girl who was filled with righteous indignation also said so. From her angry appearance, it seemed that she had also suffered a lot of grievances.
After the complaints, there was an inexplicable silence. Everyone suffered a lot. After the silence, someone took the lead to raise his wine cup and face the west of the city, where the military camp was.
"Thank you, Princess, for supporting this flag for so many years … At least, we are back, and there is still a place for us to return to under this flag. So, everyone, be happy. For the beautiful life in the future, cheers! "
Even though the burden of life had broken his waist, the young man's heart hadn't died yet. He was still looking forward to a beautiful tomorrow.
"Thank you, the returning Prince Roland, for giving us a reason to return … No matter what happens in the future, at least I can die in the land of my ancestors. Perhaps, we just need a reason to return home. "
The middle-aged man was much more practical, but his resolve to sacrifice himself made one feel exceptionally heavy and sorrowful.
"Thank you …"
Even though it was words of gratitude, the more the toast went on, the sadder it became. Thus, someone couldn't bear to watch it any longer.
"Hey hey, don't speak as though you are about to be executed. You didn't see it during the Homecoming Ceremony that day. His Highness Roland's army is extremely powerful. Those Undead Knights are elites who have been through hundreds of battles over the past three hundred years. They are the heroic spirits of our Mist Country! With them as the core to build a new army, we will definitely be invincible. Our country will only grow stronger, and our days will only get better. "
The one who suddenly interrupted was Aiken, who was bragging about how he overcame all the obstacles but unfortunately failed to be selected. At this moment, he took the initiative to walk over.
"You guys are thinking too much. Hehe, you guys don't know how powerful our new Guardian is. That Dragon Knight's Bone Dragon is so huge, even bigger than the city walls. Do you know who he is? He is the last Dragon Knight of our Mist Country, and even Prince Roland's subordinate Knight is so powerful. He himself … "
Aiken was bragging about the Homecoming Ceremony and his appearance, and he was even more delighted than his own glory. All kinds of rumors were mixed in with the real information, and all kinds of legendary stories were made up. It didn't take long before I became a SemiGod monster with a nine feet waist, nine heads, and wings that could spit fire.
The returning travelers were curious about what had happened in the past few days. Even though Aiken's words were obviously boastful and nonsensical, they still got more and more excited.
Under the constant questioning from the audience, Aiken's words became more and more energetic. Whenever he went overboard, someone would interrupt him to correct him, and the atmosphere in the tavern became even more heated.
"You guys! How rare is this opportunity? So many ace Knight are building their own army, and they have to teach them step by step. You don't even know that during the examination, all the nobles in the country came, but they were all rejected. I, Aiken, am actually just a little short every time. Who knows, as long as I can pass this test, I might be able to become a Knight under Prince Roland. That wouldn't just be my personal glory, it would also be the glory of the next few generations of my Eddis Family. If I were to hear this news, my dead father would probably crawl up in joy! "
"Go away, you have already failed so many times, and you still have the cheek to brag. I think there's no hope for you. You should join the City Defense Army as a soldier. "
"Hmph, just you wait. I swear that I won't rest until I become a Knight! After I finish this cup, I will try out the newly formed Silver Cross Squadron. Do you dare to follow me? "
"Why wouldn't I dare! Let's go together! "
Alright, these fellows' faces turned red as they spoke, and they became more and more agitated. They started dancing, and they were just short of rushing out to register for the examination.
"… The Silver Cross Squadron has to learn how to use the power of the elements. This fellow's intelligence doesn't even reach 9, it's impossible for him to pass. "
The Silver Cross Squadron was the Magic Sword and Magic Spear Squadron that Fanderk and Lannie were currently building. After my Silver Sword Squadron was mercilessly rejected by the crowd, the emblem of a cross between a sword and a staff, which represented magic and martial arts, became the origin of the squadron's name.
I already knew the selection criteria for that squadron. Looking at the muscular Aiken who was still bragging in the crowd, I shook my head. While I didn't think that he would be selected, I smiled and left 3 copper coins on the table, preparing to pay the bill and leave.
"Aiken, is it? Let's write it down first. At the very least, he has a sharp tongue. I can ask Kelly if they lack any advertising talents. "
At this moment, I was swaggering around casually, but I didn't have to worry about being recognized.
"Uncle, a cup of fruit wine is only 2 copper coins."
"Give me your tip, I'm happy today."
That's right, that teenage boy actually called me big brother because my current appearance really was that of a middle-aged uncle.
The Time Distortion Ring that could alter one's appearance and age was the best disguise. Just by changing one's age, putting on a wig and a fake beard, I didn't believe that anyone would associate a middle-aged Knight with Prince Roland.
Of course, I was happy. How could the adorable citizens of the Mist before me not make me happy?
Strolling along the streets, even though it wasn't my job to observe the emotions of the citizens, the energetic faces of the citizens before me gave me some confidence.
Even if the standard of living was still tough, even if there was a high possibility of war in the future, as long as the citizens believed that the future was beautiful and that the country would become better, they would be able to face it with a smile. As long as they trusted me, I was confident that I could bring them out of this quagmire.
"Un, then I'll just take the opportunity to visit incognito. It definitely isn't to avoid the endless paperwork and administrative work. Darn it, letting me look over the logistics of the army and the next year's agriculture, are you intending to tire me to death?"
Looking at the time, the royal palace should have noticed that I had slipped away by now. I recalled that Kelly, who often gave people 'surprises', was probably handling the endless administrative work on my behalf.
Considering that Kelly would probably take the initiative to look for some 'entertainment' after burying herself in the sea of bitterness, I was considering the possibility of not returning tonight.
"Un, I'm not trying to shirk my responsibilities. Rather, I'm trusting my subordinates and delegating them to me. I'll tell them this when I get back … For safety's sake, I should bring some desserts to coax them. I remember that there's a decent cake shop nearby."
Considering Kelly's personality of making others suffer without paying for it, I felt that it would be best to bribe her. Based on her past records, she seemed to be fond of sweets.
However, when I was looking for a cake shop, I saw a cake shop first. My good mood instantly vanished. Looking at the signboard in front of me, I was at a loss for words.
[His Highness Roland's direct subordinate, the Absolute Gentlemen Alliance, is currently recruiting members. Do you wish to serve His Highness Roland? Do you wish to obtain the opportunity to become a priority candidate for the Royal Knight squadron? Welcome to the Absolute Gentlemen Alliance! We are His Highness' most trusted subordinate squadron. We can speak directly to His Highness!]
Alright then, I had created this mercenary group out of a whim, but I didn't really manage it after I arrived in Diffindor. Now that I was no longer managing it, it was naturally Beifeng who took over as the vice-captain. Looking at the mercenary group's headquarters on the third floor and the number of people coming and going, it was obvious that this mysterious organization had been strengthened!
As for using my name to recruit people, I didn't have any objections. After all, no matter how I looked at it, this mercenary group was indeed still under my control. However, what I was worried about was still …
[As long as you can prove that you are also an Absolute Gentleman who understands true love, you can also directly become one of us without going through any tests.]
I didn't even know how to comment on this recruitment notice. Did they think that they didn't have enough freaks and gentlemen? But when I walked in, filled with righteous indignation, I heard an even more speechless tearful complaint.
"Why, why did you reject my offer to join? I am obviously a true big-breasted fanatic!! I am also not accepted by the people of the world. "
"Hmph, shallow. Just because of a characteristic, you love it? Doesn't that mean that anyone can join as long as they fit the characteristic? Do you think that a true gentleman is such a shallow thing? Your understanding of true love is too shallow! "
Momo's furious rebuke reverberated through the corridor, but I felt the urge to turn around and run.
"This is what I have heard: All appearances are fabricated. If all appearances are not true, then you will see the Tathagata. Young man, you are bewitched, bewitched. A true gentleman loves the beauty within the false outer shell. We have abandoned the illusory image to reach the truth. Yet, you have lost your original heart for that characteristic, thus falling into a disadvantageous position. "
Hearing these words that sounded like that of an enlightened monk, I was stunned. It took a long while before I could comprehend it, but Casio's explanation had already reached my ears.
"What Big Brother means is that you are just a fake gentleman who is obsessed with a certain characteristic. A true gentleman loves something because it is from the bottom of his heart, and not because of a temporary characteristic. True love comes from the heart, and not from the outside. "
Not to mention the audience in the room, even I was stunned by his words.
"In the midst of love and desire, man comes and goes alone, lives and dies alone, and has no one to replace him. Go, our paths are different! "
"What Big Brother means is that we live in this world, but our hearts are lonely. Our desires are too unique, because it is difficult for us to find a close friend who can confide in us. However, you are not a close friend of ours, so please leave."
Finally, I couldn't stand it anymore. What is this and what? This is almost becoming a gentleman's philosophy? If this goes on, wouldn't I start a cult that worships Beifeng?
"Speak human words!"
However, the moment I rushed in with a furious roar, I immediately regretted it. The moment the door opened, Momo, who had been waiting for a long time, hugged me.
"Hehe, little Rolo, I knew that you were outside! I have been waiting for you for a long time. "
While I was resisting the Dark Elf Knight, I could still hear the infuriating explanation from the other side.
"All that exists is like a dream, an illusion, a bubble, and a shadow. Like dew and lightning, this is how one should view it! Good, our path is not lonely! "
"What Big Brother means is that, look at that Momo, she doesn't even need to use her eyes. Just by relying on her intuition, she can see through all illusions and know that the middle-aged man is her favorite shota! This is what a gentleman should be. Wait a minute … Big Sister Momo's favorite shota, isn't that … Prince Roland! "
"Hurry up and run!"
"What Big Brother means is, hurry up and run!"
Alright, looking at these guilty gentlemen scattering like birds and beasts, there is no longer any possibility for me to kill them all. Other than the female Elf who is entangling me like an octopus, there is a familiar figure.
"Roland!! Long time no see! "
"Amelia!"
"All laws are born from fate, and all laws are destroyed by fate. Prince Roland, this female Elf has been following fate for a long time, and you have been guided here by fate. Great! "
"What Big Brother means is that you are in deep trouble …"
This time, Casio's explanation was finally interrupted.
"Shut up!" "Shut up!"
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