Cain woke up early. He wore a long sleeve shirt. After he cleared his tent, he was doing some stretching when Rinrai saw and approached him.

“Morning, Cain!” she greeted Cain.

“Ah, morning, Rinrai. What a night, huh? You guys usually do that?”

“Yeah, sometimes. Where did you go? You suddenly disappeared," she was still blushed, but she talked more casually now because last night she realized Cain was easy to talk to.

“Ah, hahah, I just felt tired, the bonfire was fun though.”

“Hmm… then, would you like some coffee?”

“Sure!”

“Alright! Wait here! I’ll be back in a jiffy!” Rinrai went to make some coffee. She’s quite cute with her short hair.

Usually, Cain would just flirt with her. But he just didn’t feel like doing it.

“‘Till when you will hide in there, Jared?” said Cain while doing some stretching.

“Oh? You noticed?” Jared appeared from behind the barrels.

“Why wouldn’t I? You reek of alcohol.”

Jared sniffed his clothes. “Oh, yeah.”

“You didn’t get a hangover, I see," said Cain.

“What we drank last night was just a cheap ass mead, we just got a little drunk, but not enough to get us a hangover in the morning. We’re in the middle of forest mind you, no high quality liquor around here. Though it’s better this way, no hangover means we can focus on today’s matter," said Jared.

“By the way, looks like my knights took a liking to you. Especially Rinrai," Jared continued, he sat on the barrel with arms crossed.

Cain just smiled.

“Why don't you go out with her? She’s quite popular among the knights," said Jared.

“Huh? Are you trying to hook me up?”

“Hah! Why not? Oh, I know, you probably already have someone you like, eh!?”

“Yeah, I had an affair with some noble’s wives and got caught. That’s why I’m here, running away," said Cain with a convincing look.

“Wha-… seriously!?” Jared was surprised.

“Hahahah! Look at you!” Cain laughed after he saw Jared’s face.

“You ass!” Jared stood up and ruffled Cain’s hair.

“Oh, Captain? You’re here too?” Rinrai came with two cups of coffee.

“Yeah, I just talked a bit with Cain. Oh, that coffee is for me?”

Jared would have the coffee if he were faster than Cain. Cain snatched it even before Jared could try.

“This is mine~, thank you, Rinrai," Cain sipped the coffee.

“Meh," Jared looked annoyed.

“Ah, then you can take mine, Captain," Rinrai held out her cup of coffee to Jared.

Jared took the coffee with a smile.

“See, Cain? This kind of woman Rinrai is," he looked to Cain then winked to Rinrai.

“Ca-captain!?” Rinrai's face turned red.

Jared laughed and left them while sipping coffee.

Cain sat down and awkwardly sipping his coffee. Rinrai was indeed cute when she was blushing.

Then, he thought about what Jared said that he already had someone he liked. An image of Ivela flashed on his mind.

“Cain? Caiiin?” Rinrai was waving her hand in front of his face.

“Ye-yeah?” Cain went back to his senses.

“Is the coffee good?”

“Yeah, this is good, perfect to start a day!” Cain smiled.

Rinrai also smiled.

“Ah! There you are, Rinrai! Eh! C-Cain?” Marna came by and she was startled to see Cain.

“Why you didn’t tell me you’re going to meet him!?” Marna whispered to Rinrai.

“I just accidentally met him!” whispered back by Rinrai.

“Morning, Marna," Cain waved his hand to Marna.

“Morning, Cain!” Marna replied. “Oh yeah, Cain, would you like to help us to prepare the breakfast with my uncle?” Marna smiled, revealing dimples on her cheek.

“Hmm? Your uncle?” asked Cain.

“Yes! You met him last night, my uncle is Norja. Rinrai and I usually help him with food here," said Marna.

“Ooh! I see! Sure! I know a thing or two about cooking," said Cain.

“Really? Let's go then!” Marna pulled Rinrai with her.

They went to where the knights cooked their meals.

“Uncle!” Marna greeted Norja who was preparing the ingredients.

“Oh, Marna and Rinrai? Hmm? Cain?”

“Yo!” Cain greeted Norja.

“You hungry? Sorry, but breakfast isn't ready yet," said Norja while chopping the vegetables.

“Actually, Cain’s gonna help us with this camp last breakfast, uncle," said Marna.

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After this breakfast, the knights would march to Haneama and wouldn't be coming back here.

“Are you?” Norja chopped the veggies without looking at Cain. He cut them perfectly and so fast. He’s really skilled with the knife. Precise.

“Yeah, I used to work at an inn. Even though I wasn't cooking but I often helped the cook there," said Cain.

“Great. Now help me peel the potatoes," Norja pointed at a basket full of unpeeled potatoes with his chin.

“Alright," Cain rolled up his sleeves.

Rinrai and Marna also joined to prepare breakfast.

Cain, with Lexa’s book on his hand, he wrote the recipes he acquired from Norja. He was trying to continue Lexa’s dream to become a skilled cook.

After they were done, and had breakfast with the knights, they left the camp for good.

...

The Sun Knight Order marched with its 250 knights to the capital city of Farferis, Haneama.

Calbot and Meira sat comfortably on their horses, only both of them were riding horse. Because it was hard to supply horses on a large scale without being noticed by Farferis Knights.

Meira insisted that she had to go with Calbot. Because if their plan failed, Calbot would likely gonna be executed. If that were to happen, She wanted at least to be at his side.

The Sun Knights were fully armed, eager to dethrone King Termura. Calbot held close the Staff of Mgre. Cain wore a simple gear, a set of leather armor and a longsword given by the Order.

They marched with confidence. Because the forest was close to the capital, not many wild beasts were seen. Unlike the deeper forest where Cain went to try the bracelet.

It took a few hours to reach the gate of Haneama.

When they finally out of the forest, a tall gate with sturdy stone wall stood not far from them. Some of Farferis Knights were guarding the gate and patrolling on the wall.

The Sun Knight Order marched slower with Jared’s signal.

Jared nodded to his bannerman. The bannerman raised the flag of Sun Knight Order.

Seeing the Sun Knight Order marching out of the forest with their flag raised. The Farferis Knights that guarding the gate sounded the alarm.

“Shit! They're here! It’s Sun Knight Order! And Prince Calbot!” Farferis Knights panicked after they saw the finest knights of their Kingdom marched into their own Kingdom with a different intention. Not to protect them, but to take back the throne for the rightful ruler of Farferis.

Many of Farferis Knights harbored their loyalty to the current King. Of course, King Termura paid them to.

“It’s weird, I didn't see any Farferis Knight’s scout in the forest," Cain said.

“I noticed that too. Those knights seem too relaxed," said Jared.

“Hmph! Maybe my uncle don’t think I’m such a threat after all!” Calbot looked annoyed.

Meira quickly held Calbot’s hand and she just smiled. Calbot smiled wryly.

“Are you sure this frontal assault is gonna work? Maybe they already have prepared a trap?” asked Cain.

“Oh, I’m sure they have. I know how my uncle think,” responded Calbot.

“Then…?”

“Don’t worry, Cain. We have Sun Knight Order and you,” said Calbot. “Besides, our goal is just to reunite the staff and throne. We’ll just have to reach the Palace and it’s done," he continued.

Farferis’s military power was among the lowest in Valfikr. Its spear tip, the Sun Knight Order, now rebelling against their false King, leaving Farferis with no real power to pose a threat.

“Hopefully it’ll be as easy as it sounds,” said Cain.

Calbot smiled with confidence.

“We're close enough," said Calbot.

Jared signaled the Order to stop marching.

“Let's go, Jared. Let's see if they will open the gate for us. You should come too, Cain," said Calbot while getting off from the horse.

“Okay," responded Cain.

“Be careful!” said Meira.

Calbot nodded.

Calbot, Jared and Cain went to the gate. Meira was under heavy guard by the Sun Knights, Calbot made sure so that if something were to happen, Meira could escape easily. Even if Meira wanted to be at his side forever, Calbot couldn't let her die with him.

When they arrived at the gate, the Farferis Knights on the gate were arrogantly looking down at Calbot. But it’s clear they were tense. After all, Sun Knight Order was on their doorstep.

“I am Prince Calbot Hanea! Open the gate at once!” shouted Calbot.

“Huh? Sorry Prince, you are no longer have the right to order us. King Termura said so," the Farferis Knights sneered at them.

“How dare you!” Jared almost unsheathed his sword when Calbot stopped him.

“You all know very well, there will be bloodshed today, and this gate will be the first to have it if you don't open it," said Calbot. He was still trying to avoid a meaningless bloodshed.

The Farfetris Knights looked at each other, they knew it was true. But they also knew King Termura had plan for Sun Knight Order.

“You won't win over us, Prince! Go back to the hole you came out of!” said the Farferis Knights.

No longer could suppress his anger, Jared split the gate in two with a sword technique called Bold Slash.

The iron gate split and fell in just a sec.

Calbot sighed. He hoped he could minimize the blood that would spill over his way to the throne. It no longer an option it seemed.

“At-atta- we’ve been attacked!!!” the Farferis Knights on the wall were startled. In their hearts, they blamed the knight that provoked the Captain of Sun Knight Order.

Jared indeed no ordinary knight. He easily split the iron gate in two.

Seeing their captain opened the path, the Sun Knight Order started marching again.

“Damn! Attack!” unorganized Farferis Knights began to attack, starting from the closest to them, Calbot, Jared and Cain.

“I’ll open the path for you! Stay close to Calbot!”

Cain dashed towards the opened gate. With the longsword, he cut down the Farferis Knights that waiting for him inside the gate.

Cain swiftly cut them down one by one. He’s not using any techniques, only his refined swordplay. Cain didn't kill them, he just rendered them unable to fight. Whatever their fate later was for Calbot to judge.

“Who the hell is he!? He cut our knights like nothing!” said the Farferis Knight who were watching Cain in action.

With the Farferis Knights on the gate were being pushed back, the Sun Knight Order easily got inside along with Jared, Calbot and Meira. The Sun Knight Order joined Cain to fight the Farferis Knights.

Calbot and Meira rode their horses again with some of the Sun Knights glued to them.

Seeing the ruckus on the gate, the civilians started to run. But some of them cheered the Sun Knight Order’s arrival. They were the people that shared the idea of erasing the slavery system was a better future for Farferis.

More Farferis Knights arrived at the scene, but their number was nothing because Cain was leading the charge.

They made their way to the market area while pushing back the Farferis Knights.

The civilians already fled from there. Leaving their wares behind.

The Sun Knight Order was really skilled, they mostly avoided the collateral damage on the environment. No houses or public facilities were destroyed. But some stalls of the traders became the silent witnesses of how stormy Cain and Sun Knight Order neutralizing the Farferis Knights were.

Seeing they were losing with blazing pace, many Farferis Knights dropped their weapons to surrender.

“They really have no true loyalty to my uncle, huh?” Calbot observed from his horse, with Meira on his side.

They advanced past the market.

They finally made their way to a huge building in a wide area. It was Haneama Palace, where the nobles and the King resided.

“Home sweet home," Calbot gazed the Palace with a smile.

Most of the Farferis Knights had already surrendered or ran away.

Then, a group of people came out from the Palace. Their bodies were wounded, some even struggling to just walk. Weapons on their hands and tired eyes, they walked towards Cain and the others.

“That’s…” Cain squinted his eyes.

“That’s another reason why I must erase the slavery system in Farferis, Cain," Calbot looked at the approaching group with a sympathizing expression.

“Those are combat slaves,” Jared tapped Cain’s shoulder. “They’re noble’s plaything, forced to fight each other as entertainment or as dispensable forces.”

On Cain’s mind, he was right to help Calbot. He learned about combat slaves from Igo, but it was really different from seeing them with his own eyes. Humans treated inhumanely.

“!”

“Above!” Cain shouted. He felt a surge of power was coming from above.

A figure landed in front of them. The ground where he landed became a crater.

An old man stood in front of them. With a robust body, he only wore trousers. A greatsword rested on his shoulder.

“You still look like shit, Jared," said the old man while grinning.