A few days before Ren invited Emi to his territory to demonstrate the new weapon in development, a young man in his early twenties was sprinting through the streets of the small yet thriving town near the Solaris kingdom. Although it was once referred to as a village due to its small population, the locality now boasted remarkable wealth.
The buildings that were previously in a state of decay had been completely replaced with new constructions, while several roads were laid out to connect different areas of the town. Furthermore, numerous shops showcasing a wide range of products now dotted the streets.
Under the guidance of the new lord, the village transformed into a prosperous town. The heavy taxation, a practice of the former lords, was completely abolished, drawing an influx of people from neighboring villages. The atmosphere was notably different—wherever one looked, smiles brightened children's faces, and adults radiated palpable enthusiasm.
Under the leadership of the new lord, the residents of this town no longer experience the hardships of winter, such as food scarcity and the intense cold they once faced. Now, warm clothing is widely available at affordable prices, and the food supply is abundant in every corner without burdening anyone's wallet.
As he ran, a broad smile adorned the face of the twenty-year-old youth, and in his thoughts, he recalled the person who made all this progress possible. A sixteen-year-old youth, Ren Orchid Solaris. Whenever this name was mentioned among the citizens, smiles and expressions of joy radiated. Ren often visited the town, attentive to opportunities for implementing improvements or making changes, further strengthening his connection with the community.
Moreover, letters containing requests for changes were periodically sent to the lord's mansion. However, only requests that were genuinely essential for the well-being of the people were implemented. This judicious approach further solidified the deep respect Ren had earned among the citizens. His tireless devotion to meeting the needs of the community was deeply appreciated, and the citizens welcomed him with open arms and sincere affection.
With all these thoughts reverberating in his mind, the young man finally reached his destination, a two-story building with the same characteristic white color of the town. Glass windows adorned both the first and second floors, providing a panoramic view of the town. Without hesitation, he entered the building, heading straight to the second floor with an unwavering sense of purpose.
Upon entering the residence, he made his way to the dining table, which connected to the kitchen. It was where his parents would usually be. And, as he had anticipated, he found a woman in her fifties, busy with pots on the stove. Meanwhile, a man of the same age range was attentively reading a newspaper, completing the family scene.
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"Mother, Father, please take a look at this"
The young man spoke directly as he approached the table, placing a piece of paper on it. His father, who had been absorbed in the newspaper moments earlier, set it aside, casting a curious glance at his son. Then, his eyes turned to the paper, which he picked up between his hands. His wife approached, curious to know the content of the document.
Just a few seconds after holding the paper, the man delicately placed it back on the table and turned his gaze to his son. By the way, the reason why his parents could now read was simple – the lord had established some academies in the town. As these facilities were free, many people began attending classes to acquire basic knowledge, and the young man's parents were no exception.
While they contemplated their son's enthusiastic face, the man and woman exchanged looks for a few moments before turning to him again and saying.
"No"
The simultaneous response echoed from both of them. Upon hearing their parents' denial, the young man quickly faded the smile that had brightened his face.
"But why? This is my opportunity. Lord Ren is recruiting people to join his military force. Father, Mother, you know I've always wanted to be useful. Now that we finally have a lord who cares about his citizens, we need to defend him"
The young man spoke with conviction, but even after hearing his words, both of their expressions remained unchanged.
"Look, Aizen, your mother and I understand what you're trying to say, but the battlefield is a dangerous place, son. If possible, we'd prefer you not to get involved in that kind of situation on your own"
Aizen, upon hearing his father's words, made his expression visibly more serious. After releasing a prolonged sigh, Aizen spoke.
"So, what? Should we wait until we're attacked by bandits? Father, Mother, I know you love me and have already proven that enough, but I'm twenty years old now. I need to make my own decisions. Please, just this once, support me, at least in this"
Hearing Aizen's words, the man and the woman had slight changes in their expressions. They looked at each other for a few seconds before turning back to Aizen, who waited with hopeful eyes. After a brief sigh, Aizen's father spoke up.
"Well... I think you're right. You're not that little kid who used to run crying into Mommy's arms after getting punched by Penelope anymore"
After hearing his father's words, Aizen became visibly embarrassed and looked down at the floor before saying.
"Was that last part really necessary?"
Upon hearing his son's words, the man put a smile on his face and said.
"Of course it was, wasn't it? Penelope"
Upon hearing the name favored by his father, Aizen's back instantly froze. Slowly turning around, Aizen found himself facing a woman of his age, with red hair reaching her shoulders, and gray eyes that stared intensely at him. Aizen was frozen, not knowing what to say.
"Penelope? What are you doing here?"