CHAPTER 19: CHAPTER 19: DEPARTURE

"Captain Emil!" Guard Jimmy rushed over with eight others.

The group was covered in blood, and some were injured, appearing to have just been through a fierce battle.

Herag asked, "You didn’t leave?"

Jimmy laughed, "We’re not like those heartless folks, just took out some of Behard’s men. We have nowhere else to go, might as well continue following Captain Emil."

Emil didn’t speak; he hugged each of the guards one by one.

"Let’s first bury the Lord and the others," Emil said after a moment of silence.

Jimmy asked, "What about those who stole the stuff?"

"We need to leave here quickly. With the Lord gone, the ownership of Dur Valley is uncertain, but it certainly won’t fall to Miss Melissa. If Miss Melissa stays here, she will be in danger as she obstructs the interest distribution," Emil explained.

Everything of Baron Buck’s family was dead, and the barony title was non-transferable, but the existing wealth could be inherited by Melissa.

Judging from the Bloodline Curse spell, Melissa is likely not the biological daughter of Baron Buck, while Emil might be.

But none of that matters anymore.

Melissa is a nominal heir; who actually inherits depends on the power struggles among the parties involved.

Melissa now has neither strength nor influence, and just surviving would be challenging enough. She can’t hope to compete for the land, mines, and other wealth of the territory.

Jimmy and these few knights choosing to follow is actually quite a risky decision.

If someone decides to get rid of Melissa, they would all die with her.

Herag returned to the rear garden, glanced at the well-tended flowers and plants, and sighed, "Old Henry, I don’t have time to help you with these plants. In a short time, there probably won’t be a new owner for the castle; let these plants grow wild."

Old Henry had long prepared a coffin for himself, and Herag carefully carried it out from a shed, gently placing Old Henry inside.

Herag glanced at the longbow on the wall, thought for a moment, then took it down and placed it into the coffin as well.

While sorting through Old Henry’s belongings, Herag discovered that the silver coins he had given him before were all kept in a pouch, none spent.

The back hill of the castle.

Herag’s group dug a series of pits here, burying Baron Buck’s family and Old Henry.

"The Tomb of Henry Brand"

Herag erected a gravestone for Old Henry, fulfilling a promise he made when he first borrowed a bow.

At the foot of the hill, three carriages were already parked.

Melissa was directing the guards to categorize and load the items onto the carriages.

She appeared composed, only her eyes remained red.

A lot of the castle’s valuables were plundered, but some hidden caches remained known only to direct descendants like Melissa.

These assets would afford her a wealthy life for the rest of her days, but she clearly didn’t just want to be a wealthy woman.

Once everything was prepared, the convoy set out.

Herag and Emil rode at the front, while Melissa lay asleep in the carriage.

She hadn’t slept since the previous day, utterly exhausted in body and mind.

"How long to reach Nosentan Academy from here?" Herag asked.

Emil replied, "If things go smoothly, about three months."

"Three months—a long journey indeed." Herag looked forward, the path ahead uncertain.

Their journey was to Nosentan Academy in Pearl Province, seeking the protection of Melissa’s mentor, Master Claude.

Melissa and Claude truly shared a mentor-student relationship, not a superficial one maintained by money.

Across the entire Norton Kingdom, Claude was a revered figure, taking Melissa as a student due to her exceptional talent.

In the end, Baron Buck was merely a baron, but the stature difference with Claude was vast.

In the current situation, only Claude could protect Melissa.

Herag, watching the sunset on the horizon, said, "After I help you reach Nosentan, I’ll be leaving."

Emil was surprised, "Leaving? Where are you going?"

"I don’t know, but I want to become a wizard, so I’ll search for clues when the time comes," Herag said with determined eyes.

After recent events, Herag yearned more than ever to grow stronger and become a wizard.

He didn’t want his fate controlled by others; even the Great Knight of Baron Buck was powerless against a wizard.

Herag would never forget Malcolm’s gaze on everyone that day; it was as if looking at insects.

"Then you could ask Master Claude when the time comes; he’s the most learned person in the Norton Kingdom," Emil suggested.

Visiting Master Claude was indeed one of Herag’s goals; more importantly, he wanted to explore the Nosentan Academy library.

Having been in this world so long, Shenlan still hadn’t had much substantial knowledge input.

Shenlan’s database was currently empty, lacking information about the world’s history, culture, and geography.

Herag specifically asked Melissa, and Nosentan Academy was the only place in the country with a library, storing a vast collection of books.

As the convoy traveled, the local people stopped to watch by the roadside.

Some put their fists over their hearts, soon followed by everyone doing the same, seeing off Melissa’s convoy.

The events at the castle were no secret; Melissa had become the sole survivor.

When Baron Buck was alive, he wasn’t harsh to the people in the territory, at least ensuring none would starve to death.

With the lord now dead, the future leadership was uncertain; whether it would be better than Baron Buck was also unknown.

Initially, Jimmy and his companions had composed themselves, but witnessing this scene brought inevitable sadness to their hearts.

This was the place where they grew up; leaving this time most likely meant not returning.

Melissa grew increasingly calm these days, but anyone could see she was holding back a fire, likely wanting to restore the family’s glory.

She didn’t care whether she was Baron Buck’s biological child; it didn’t matter. She would always be part of the Sara Family.

...

Half a month later, deep in the night.

The convoy camped overnight in an open area, Herag lay on a haystack gazing at the sky.

As long as the sky was clear, the stars could be seen at night; the countless stars never ceased to amaze him.

He lay there for a while, unable to sleep, so he took out a pocket watch to play with.

When he opened the watch, the hands inside were still ticking.

"This tower feels a bit strange..." Herag stared at the hexagonal tower in the background, inexplicably attracted to it.