Chapter 98: 99 Visitors

Chapter 98, 99. Visitor

Outside Ziguo Village, Horn and Jenny sat atop their horses, gazing after the departing procession.

Though they remained in Ziguo Village, their daughter Elin had journeyed with the party to Forest Town.

Though the distance between the two places was not great, and though they could visit frequently, this was still Elin’s first time traveling far from her parents alone.

No matter the world, parental love for children is universal—and they were no exception.

Jenny quietly wiped a tear from the corner of her eye, erasing the traces of parting. “I wonder if letting Elin go with the baron was truly wise.”

Horn sighed, brushing away the tears from his wife’s cheeks. “But we had no other choice, did we?”

Even though they had been treated with courtesy by Roning, unlike Wu Dun and Dan Di of Qingzhu Village who had to endure a probationary period, even though Jenny had devised strategies that successfully subdued the Gray Soil Tribe—still, at their core, they were surrendered generals.

And given their former identities as remnants and savages, they could not possibly earn the lord’s absolute trust in so short a time.

Thus, when Roning requested to take Elin, they had no grounds to refuse.

Horn reassured her: “Though the baron is young, only seventeen, it’s plain he adores Elin. In the days I’ve spent with him, he has always been kind, gentle. I believe he will treat her well.”

Jenny shook her head. “Even if they sleep together and form an emotional bond, Roning is still a scion of the Wushan family. His bride will be either the daughter of a great noble or the heiress of a wealthy consortium—without exception, all chosen to solidify his status. But what do we have?”

She sighed. “We are merely ordinary second-tier transcendents.”

In her mind, their daughter would surely be abandoned after being used, reduced eventually to Roning’s concubine, bearing illegitimate children.

After all, many nobles behaved this way.

“But our daughter is a thirteen-year-old mage! As long as she doesn’t abandon her training, she will one day become a magus!”

Horn spoke with unwavering confidence. “A magus is someone no one dares to underestimate. And besides, we too still have a chance to rise to high rank—or even further. Don’t be so pessimistic, Jenny!”

“The baron values sericulture deeply. If we fulfill the tasks he entrusts to us, our future will improve.”

Jenny hesitated, then slowly nodded.

Horn was right. Rather than sink into despair and gloom, it was better to simply do what needed doing.

In truth, they had misjudged Roning.

He took Elin not merely to keep Jenny and Horn from wandering off or overthinking—but also, given Elin’s extraordinary magical talent, he genuinely wished to take her out, broaden her horizons, and nurture her properly.

The notions of shared beds, betrayal, concubinage, and bastards? Those were entirely the product of Jenny and Horn’s own projections, imagining Roning as just another ordinary noble.

Was Roning an ordinary noble?

No. He was a noble of principle.

On the journey back, Elin clung tightly to Roning’s hand, for among all these strangers, he was the only one she truly knew.

With reddened eyes, she gazed up at him pitifully. “Brother Roning… you won’t hurt me, will you?”

“Of course not!” he declared solemnly.

“Will you sell me to someone else? Father said young female mages are popular with slave traders.”

Roning rolled his eyes. Why had Horn said such a thing? Did he think Roning was a human trafficker?

“Don’t worry—I won’t.”

“Will you sleep with me?” Elin asked.

The question instantly drew the attention of the surrounding guards and soldiers—but after one glance, they quickly lowered their eyes, feigning utter indifference.

Roning felt a flicker of embarrassment and cleared his throat. “No. I have no interest in little girls. Once we reach Forest Town, you’ll sleep alone.”

Elin’s eyes flickered. She suspected her mother had frightened her—just as she always had before, threatening her with mountain monsters to make her behave and study hard.

But the thought of sleeping alone made her hesitate. “But… I’m afraid to sleep alone. What should I do?”

“I’ll have Bella accompany you.”

“Bella? Is she your wife?”

“No. Bella is my maid.”

…

Roning understood the emotions of a little girl separated from her parents for the first time. He answered her questions patiently, simply to pass the time.

The journey back to Forest Town was slow, especially since they had not set out early. It was nearly three in the afternoon when they finally emerged from the woods, arriving at the northern boundary of the town.

“This is Forest Town,” Roning said, pointing to the areas ahead. “There, the orchards and vegetable fields. Over there, the pastures for grazing.”

He spoke to the girl nestled in his arms—but received no reply.

He looked down and found Elin had fallen asleep, her head tilted sideways.

The path from Ziguo Village to Forest Town was long, and many stretches were too rough for horses—they had to walk.

For a frail little mage like Elin, the journey had been exhausting. Fatigue was inevitable.

He glanced back at the retinue. Not everyone who had left had returned.

Of the twenty-seven soldiers, only seven had come back. The rest had been left behind with Ridal, to help train the new recruits gathered from the three villages.

All eighty of Forest Town’s militiamen had returned—after all, they had families and land here; staying elsewhere would have been inappropriate.

Upon their return, Roning had already instructed Macken and David to select thirty of the most promising militiamen and train them as new soldiers.

During the off-season, he ordered regular drills to strengthen their coordination and combat skills, preparing for future expansion.

“Come on, everyone! If we don’t hurry, Chahar won’t have time to prepare the banquet for us!”

The procession marched steadily toward Forest Keep, drawing the attention of many laboring peasants.

Through Wilson’s casual hints, the peasants now knew their lord had launched the campaign against the savages purely for their safety—and Roning’s image grew even more noble.

And after Wilson’s boastful tales of the past two days—that their lord had shattered three savage tribes in an unprecedented victory—their reverence for him deepened further.

Now, seeing Roning return in triumph, the peasants erupted in cheers, running to spread the news.

When Roning reached the castle, the butler Chahar stood with all the servants at the great gates.

“Master! Your faithful servants welcome your triumphant return!”

With Chahar leading, Garen and Bella all bowed deeply before Roning.

Elin, now awake, was stunned by the scene—her brother Roning seemed so grand, so dignified.

“Ha! It’s been a while, Chahar. How has the keep been?”

Roning laughed as he stepped inside, the others following behind him across the drawbridge and through the gates.

“Master, all is well. After this autumn harvest, the barley has been dried and mostly stored in the granaries.”

“Excellent!”

Roning smiled. “To celebrate our return, I shall host a banquet tonight in the castle. Go inform Madame Bandele and have her prepare everything.”

“Of course, Master!”

Chahar trailed closely behind. “But several people have been waiting in Forest Town for two days. They say they wish to meet you. When do you plan to receive them?”

“Oh?”

Luo Ning stopped in his tracks. “Who’s here?”

(End of Chapter)