The dirt road stretched endlessly before them, lined with tall oak trees swaying gently in the breeze. The sun shone brightly overhead, casting soft shadows on the grass-covered hills. Birds chirped in the distance, and the scent of wildflowers carried through the air.

Ryo took a deep breath.

“Ahh… this is nice.”

Gone were the suffocating noble halls, the endless lectures, and the glaring eyes of judgmental aristocrats. In their place was the tranquil countryside, far removed from the world of power struggles and expectations.

He took a bite from the fresh loaf of bread he’d bought in the last town and sighed in satisfaction. Soft, warm, and just the right amount of fluffiness.

Anna, on the other hand, was not enjoying herself nearly as much.

“Young Master… are you sure this is a good idea?” she asked hesitantly, glancing at the empty road ahead.

Ryo didn’t even look at her as he chewed. “Hmm?”

“This! All of this! You, leaving your noble family behind! You, walking on a commoner’s road! You, eating… street food!”

Ryo glanced at the bread in his hand. “Tastes fine to me.”

“That’s not the point!” Anna cried. “I just—! Sigh… never mind.”

Ryo grinned. Anna had been panicking ever since he left the estate. Even now, she occasionally turned back, as if expecting the duke to send knights after them.

But that was nonsense.

His father had made it clear—Ryo was no longer a Valford. He had given up his title, status, and inheritance. And frankly, Ryo had no regrets.

No more endless responsibilities. No more noble duties. Just a slow, peaceful life.

He had already decided: he would buy a small tavern in some remote village, spend his days cooking and drinking, and let life pass him by at his own pace.

“What kind of village is this place, anyway?” Ryo asked, breaking the silence.

Anna perked up slightly, relieved to talk about something normal. “It’s called Windmere Village. It’s small, but it’s well known for its fertile land and friendly people. Farmers, merchants, and adventurers pass through often.”

Ryo nodded. “Sounds perfect.”

Anna hesitated. “You… You really plan to run a tavern?”

“Yep.”

“…Have you ever run a business before?”

“Nope.”

“…Do you even know how to cook?”

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“Not really.”

Anna grabbed her head in despair. “Why am I even following you!?”

They continued down the road for another hour.

The peaceful scenery remained unchanged, with rolling green hills and the occasional wooden fence marking farmland in the distance.

Then, Ryo heard the sound of rustling leaves.

Anna tensed beside him.

A moment later, a group of scruffy-looking men stepped out from behind the trees. Their clothes were ragged, their weapons rusty, and their expressions far too smug for people carrying such poor equipment.

“Well, well, what do we have here?” one of the bandits sneered, twirling a dagger. “A noble brat and his little maid, traveling all alone?”

Anna stiffened. “Bandits!”

Ryo lazily chewed his bread.

The supposed leader of the group—a bald man with a nasty scar over one eye—grinned. “Hand over your valuables, and we might just let you live.”

Anna grabbed Ryo’s sleeve. “Young Master, what should we do!?”

Ryo tilted his head. “I mean, we could just ignore them.”

Anna nearly choked. “What kind of response is that!?”

Before she could panic further, the scarred bandit raised his sword and charged. “Enough talking! Just give us everything you have, you little—”

Ryo took another bite of his bread.

He took a casual step to the side.

Whoosh!

The bandit’s sword slashed through empty air.

“W-What?” The bandit blinked in confusion.

Ryo, still chewing, took another step forward.

Whoosh!

Another swing. Another miss.

The bandit stumbled, unable to grasp how his attack had failed. The other bandits exchanged uncertain looks.

Anna’s mouth hung open.

Ryo took another step. The bandit slashed wildly—

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Every strike missed by a hair’s breadth. Ryo wasn’t even trying to dodge—he was just casually shifting his weight, adjusting his posture naturally as he continued walking forward.

It was as if the bandit’s sword simply refused to hit him.

“Damn you—!”

The scarred bandit lunged in frustration, swinging down with all his strength.

Ryo stepped forward at the last second. The bandit’s own momentum threw him off balance, and his foot caught on a small rock.

Thud!

He faceplanted into the dirt.

Silence.

The remaining bandits stared at their leader, now groaning on the ground, then looked up at Ryo, who was still holding half a loaf of bread.

“…Y-You… who are you?” one of them stammered.

Anna, still frozen in shock, whispered, “Young Master… are you actually… strong?”

Ryo swallowed the last bite of his bread and dusted off his hands.

“Nope.”

The bandits immediately ran for their lives.

Anna continued to stare at Ryo in disbelief.

“You’re lying…”

By the time they reached Windmere Village, the sun was beginning to set. The warm golden light bathed the simple wooden houses in a soft glow. Smoke curled from chimneys, and the scent of baked bread filled the air.

The village itself was modest—small fields stretched around its outskirts, while a stone well stood in the center of the square. Villagers bustled about, chatting and laughing as they finished their daily tasks.

Ryo stretched. “Alright. Time to find a tavern.”

Anna still hadn’t fully recovered from the earlier event. “Young Master…”

Before she could finish, a burly man with a thick beard approached.

“Travelers, eh? Welcome to Windmere! What brings you here?”

Ryo smiled. “I’m looking to buy a tavern.”

The man blinked. “A tavern? Here?”

Another villager overheard and gasped. “Wait, does that mean the old tavern will finally open again?”

A murmur spread through the villagers. Some looked surprised, others excited.

The burly man chuckled. “Well, you’re in luck. Old Man Geralt’s tavern has been abandoned for years. If you’re serious about running it, I’m sure the mayor will cut you a good deal.”

“Sounds good,” Ryo said.

Anna, on the other hand, looked horrified. “Wait! You’re actually doing this!?”

The burly man patted Ryo’s shoulder. “Hah! You’re an interesting fellow. Name’s Giles. If you need help settling in, just ask around. We could use a good tavern in this village.”

As Ryo followed Giles toward the abandoned tavern, whispers spread through the crowd.

“Who is that guy?”

“He looks kinda noble…”

“He dodged all those bandits earlier, didn’t he?”

“Maybe he’s some wandering swordsman in disguise?”

A few young adventurers in the crowd exchanged meaningful glances.

Anna sighed deeply.

It had only been one day, and somehow, the rumors had already begun.