Julian blushed and said,
"He is my foster father and also my master!"
"Haha," the soldier in charge of the cooking chuckled, glancing at the sword on the big guy's back, teasingly saying, "Well, you've got a lot to learn then."
That sword might weigh more than the young man himself.
Gunter didn't say anything, just nodded in thanks, and then led Julian to a spot nearby where they wouldn't be in the way.
Julian was already starving, devouring the food in his bowl.
Recently, he'd been eating wild fruits and beasts from the forest. Though he wasn't lacking in nutrition, porridge was more to his liking.
anwhile, Gunter slowly sipped his porridge, quietly observing the surroundings to see if the situation here was as Old Hank had described.
The peace radiating from the villagers' faces and the surprising discipline of the soldiers suggested nothing was amiss. Although he didn't know where their food ca from, the porridge lacked any taint of evil.
Though he didn't understand the nature of the "Holy Spirit," he could tell right from wrong.
No matter who the "Holy Daughter" was, or whether she was sent by Saint Sis, the actions she was taking were certainly not bad...
There was no need for him to administer justice on behalf of the Church Court.
That was the Judicial Court's concern.
As Gunter pondered, a Salvation Army soldier responsible for registration approached. Seeing that Gunter and Julian had finished their porridge, he smiled and spoke.
"Pardon for interrupting. The guy serving the porridge forgot the procedure."
"Do I need to pay?" Gunter wiped his mouth and reached for his purse, but the soldier hastily waved his hand to stop him.
"No, that's not what I ant, buddy. We're not taking money... I an registration! You know? We need your nas and hotowns."
"I don't quite understand, could you explain it to ?" Gunter retracted his purse, looking at the soldier inquisitively.
The soldier smiled and replied,
"It's mainly for managent purposes, given the number of people here, we have to be careful about rebels or the Lord's people mixing in and causing trouble. Also... registering isn't a bad thing for you either; many people have found their relatives or fellow townsfolk here."
Gunter looked at him, finding the reasoning sound, so he casually said, "I'm Gunter, and this is my foster son, Julian. We co from Grey Stone Town."
In the eastern regions of the Aus Continent, from the northern Rhode Kingdom to the Ryan Kingdom's Twilight Forest area, Gunter was a common na, just like Hank or Anthony.
He didn't ntion his surna, partly to keep his identity hidden, and partly because it would be too complicated to explain.
"Grey Stone Town?" The soldier expressed surprise, "Isn't that on the easternmost edge of the province? I heard it's near the dwarven territory! By the Holy Daughter above, you made it all the way from there! How are things on that side?"
The previous refugees mostly ca from near Sparrow Wood Territory; this gentleman might have co from the furthest ho.
Gunter answered calmly,
"It's been destroyed."
By the "Butcher" Malaki of the Green Forest Army—a devil who sold his soul to Chaos, gaining power from the blood of his kind.
Of course, he had already killed that guy.
Eventually, he would find these villains and kill them all!
The soldier's surprise turned to sympathy.
He stopped asking further questions, rely silently noting it down in the registry, then took out two small wooden tags and engraved their nas and numbers with a small knife before handing them over.
Looking at the wooden tag in his hand, Julian's face lit up with surprise, while Gunter's expression was sowhat intriguing.
He rembered when only the adventurer guild did such troubleso things, a mory from a very long ti ago.
"Please keep it safe; this is your identity tag. You can use it to get porridge tomorrow," the soldier paused and asked, "By the way, what skills do you have? I an, are there any crafts or trades you can do? It's fine if not; you look quite strong, so finding work shouldn't be a problem."
Gunter shook his head.
"Not sure, I haven't decided whether to stay."
"I suggest you decide soon," the soldier said sincerely, "It relates to the division of land, and more importantly, to starting a better life quickly! The Holy Daughter has said that anyone willing to contribute to the village can have a piece of their own land. You look like soone who's been a rcenary, having traveled a lot. How about... um, opening an inn? The village could use one right now."
He thought of it on the spot, as word had it that so dwarves would be inspecting the timber business soon, and the Chiliarch had been worried about where to find them a place to stay.
Gunter was slightly taken aback, not expecting to receive land himself as an outsider, let alone being advised to open an inn, a seemingly odd suggestion for a Sword Saint.
Of course, this young fellow evidently didn't know he was a Sword Saint, as Gunter Steinengrabe's fa didn't spread as widely as that of the "Rock Sword Saint."
He glanced at Julian, whose eyes were full of hope, and couldn't help but think of the elder who died in Grey Stone Town. It was because of a loaf of bread he left behind that Julian lost his only relative... Even though it wasn't his intention, the guilt had always weighed on him.
He wished to find a ho for this child.
If this place was indeed as good as the old farr said, staying wouldn't be a bad choice.
Moreover, an inn was a good place to gather intelligence, far better than wandering aimlessly through the forest.
Everyone he encountered professed to have seen the "Green Turban," assuring him of the way, but upon following their directions, he only found outdated information.
Thinking of this, Gunter nodded.
"...I can give it a try."
Upon hearing this, Julian's eyes lit up instantly, his face radiating anticipation.
After the soldier who registered them left, he excitedly clenched his fists, unable to contain his dreams for the future.
"Master, how about we open the inn at the village entrance? We can build a stable! And have a guard dog! I can handle cleaning and cooking, and you can be the proprietor!"
We finally don't have to wander anymore!
Though he didn't mind traveling everywhere with his master, he nonetheless longed for a ho, to return to that peaceful life.
Julian was, after all, just a fourteen or fifteen-year-old child from a remote border town, aware that a Sword Saint was strong but oblivious to what the title truly ant.
He carried not just the legends of a Sword Saint, but also the responsibilities and hopes that ca with a hero's na.
He was destined not to stay in one place.
Watching the endlessly talking Julian, Gunter's rock-hard face displayed a rare gentle smile.
"As long as you like it."
Julian's excitent suddenly paused. He looked at Gunter cautiously, softly asking, "Master... don't you like it?"
He sensed a hint of farewell in those words.
Gunter was silent for a mont, gazing afar at the endless Ten Thousand Ridges Mountain Range, and slowly said,
"It's not about liking or disliking; it's just that I haven't stayed in one place for very long. Whenever I get a mont of rest, there's always soone in need of my aid. Besides, the Brass Pass still needs , and I ca to the Twilight Province to resolve the Chaos Corrosion."
Julian instantly replied, "I can go with you! After things settle down here!"
"But I want you to stay in a safe place," Gunter looked back at his only disciple and nominal son, earnestly saying, "At least until you beco a swordsman who can stand alone."
He didn't speak of his dream to "prove the way with the sword," nor did he ntion he was doing it for all humankind's fate or for so noble reason like Saint Sis.
He just reached out a rough hand like a father and patted Julian's head, with a rare gentle smile on his rugged face.
"Don't make it sound like I'm about to abandon you; I plan to stay here for a while and figure out how to resolve the Chaos Corrosion."
"As for what cos after, we'll cross that bridge when we co to it."
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