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"Sirs, this is the boy's home.

"

n

"Hmm... Thank you, village chief Gringo.

"

n.

nCurrently, Beri, his men and Gringo were now within what was supposed to be the boy's front yard.

nBeri looked up at the thatched house that barely looked like it could've taken anyone through winter.

nIt was slightly slanted, old and looked very unsteady.

nAnd on closer inspection, one could see that it had been mended numerous times during this past winter.

nThis meant that on some days, the poor boy had probably almost frozen to death whenever the heavy snowfall would collapse parts of his home.

nSigh... His life must've been tough.

n'Knock! Knock! Knock! Knock! Knock!'

n

"Dartomi, this is the village chief..... Are you in?

"

nWithout wasting any more time, the village chief respectfully knocked on the thin door that was made from several backs of trees.

nHe knocked for a while without getting any response and thought that no one was around.

nBut Beri and his men knew that this wasn't the case.

nOn arriving, they had seen footsteps on the mushy grounds that can only belong to that of a kid.

nAnd the footsteps went straight into the building.

nAdditionally, when they had knocked on the door the first time... They could hear slight noises coming from within.

nOne might think that it was just the wind or something, but Beri and his men felt otherwise.

nIn short, there was so much evidence around the yard alone that showed that the boy was in.

n

"Erhmm... Sorry sirs, it looks like he's not in.

nYou know the boy lives alone, so he probably went out hunting or fishing in the nearby streams.

nBut if you'd like, we could wait for him here or back in the village... Whichever one you all want.

" Gringo said with concern.

n

"Hmm... No need, he's in.

"

n

"_

"

nGringo looked at Beri, and then looked at the rest of the nodding soldiers in confusion.

nHow were they so sure?

nGringo looked at the door again and thought long and hard on whether the boy had responded during one of his knocks.

nBut failed to recall hearing anything from within.

nBeri now stood in front of the door and knocked once more to get the boy's attention.

n'Knock! Knock! Knock! Knock!'

n

"Kid, we mean no harm.

nWe are from Baymard, and we're here to assist you.

nKid, I know that life has truly been unfair to you.

nThe world is a dark place that turned its back on you when you needed help the most.

nYou have lived, suffered, and even survived through it all.

nAnd you will continue to suffer if you don't take a chance to make a change.

nAll these words are the words that a wise, daring and brilliant man once told me.

nNever forget that amidst human cruelty lies ignorance.

nAnd just like everyone else, I too used to be ignorant as well.

nBut now my eyes have opened with the changing tides of time.

nI know you don't trust anyone.

nBut for yourself and your parents, give it one more chance.

nGive yourself a chance to prove humanity wrong about you and change your destiny.

" Beri said with a slight smile on his face.

n85% of these words came from Landon.

n.

nWhen he had first come here with his mother and sister, he felt like he was at his wit's end.

nEven though he trusted Santa, one never knew if the person Santa trusted was as good as he claimed.

nFor all he knew, he could've been sent into slavery behind Santa's back.

nThere was so much that weighed on his shoulder as a man who had 2 women to protect.

nHis father had disowned his family and their names had been removed from the list of royals and nobles throughout the empire.

nSo at this point, he was nothing more than an ordinary peasant man.

n

n

nThat was the lowest point in his life, where he felt that the wicked would always succeed.

nBut when Landon saw him, he immediately took him as a brother and said these exact same words to him too.

nIt was as if he had some sort of enlightenment, because immediately after... he felt his mind become calmer and clearer.

nIt was at this point that he knew what he wanted to be.

nGrowing up in the palace, he had never wanted the throne and had always wanted to be a simple knight.

nHe was someone who could take on too much responsibility and that he knew.

nSo if Santa could be a merchant, then why couldn't he be a simple knight?

nAnd so with so much motivation, he took his miserable situation and turned it into a dream all thanks to himself and his majesty Landon.

nHe would never forget those words no matter what!

nThey were his saving grace.

n.

n

"Kid, soon we will be leaving.

nSo if you're in there, this is your last chance to come out.

nRemember, your destiny is in your own hands.

"

n'Catchah!'

nGringo:

"...

"

nAs soon as Beri finished his speech, the door was forcefully opened by the young boy.

nGringo was shocked and embarrassed at the same time when he recalled how he told Beri how hardworking and honest the boy was.

n'Kid, so you were inside the whole time?

nDon't you know that they might take you as a troublemaker instead?

nAnd if you were in there, why didn't you open up when you heard my voice?

nKid...You really don't put I, the village chief in your heart, do you?

nHmph!'

nWhile the Gringo was still sulking, the young lad Dartomi..... Was currently facing Beri and his crew silently.

nThe young boy had a scarf over his nose and tried his best to stand in an imposing manner.

nBut of course, his trembling hands quickly gave him out.

nOn the other hand, Dartomi was also analyzing them as well.

nand without a doubt, he was utterly impressed by what he saw.

nThey looked like real warriors!

nDartomi steadied his chaotic heart and looked Beri straight in the eye.

n

"Smelly men, what do you want?

"

n

"_

"

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