NOVPUB
Chapter 74: 014: Going Home and Breaking Off
Three days later, Lynch concluded his visit to the Tulip Domain.
Where should he go next?
After some thought, Lynch reached a conclusion:
Go home.
Perhaps it was the words of Baron Claire that stirred him that day, or perhaps he simply wanted to bring closure to the lingering emotions tethered to the original owner of this body. Ultimately, Lynch decided to make a trip back to his hometown.
Before his departure, Baron Claire and Jamie came to see Lynch off. Besides providing essential horses, money, and supplies, the baron also gifted him a sword as gratitude for driving away the giant bear and saving the subjects on Victory Festival day.
This was a greatsword—a massive, enormous greatsword.
Its blade was more than 20 centimeters wide and over 1.5 meters long. Its surface glowed deep crimson, forged from an incredibly rare volcanic meteorite iron, crafted by a legendary blacksmith renowned across the Seven Kingdoms, Thomas the Flaming Iron Hand, who had since passed away.
The title of master blacksmith was reserved for fewer than ten contemporaries across the Human World, highlighting the rarity of this greatsword.
Its previous owner was the illustrious Great Knight Grant, for whom Thomas had painstakingly forged this masterpiece as a gift to a dear friend. After Grant’s demise, the sword passed through various hands before ultimately being purchased for a fortune by Baron Claire.
The name of the sword: Fearless.
In reciprocation, Lynch took out several bottles of magic potions as gifts for Baron Claire, including physical potions and recovery potions. In an era plagued by illnesses and rampant epidemics due to the absence of antibiotics, even knights weren’t immune.
Though these items might not hold the same material value as the greatsword for mortals, they were, in essence, priceless treasures capable of saving lives in critical moments.
Finally, Jamie and Lynch agreed to spar in swordsmanship together again someday.
...
Several days later, in the Putan Kingdom, Frost Snow Town.
The small Frost Snow Town recently witnessed an extraordinary event.
Not long ago, Gerald, the eldest son of the Valen family, encountered a snow monster while escorting the lord’s daughter, Miss Selena. In the critical moment, Gerald stood courageously against the monster, drove it away, and saved Miss Selena.
In gratitude for Gerald’s bravery and selfless contribution, the lord, Baron Acate Bayne, officially bestowed upon Gerald the surname of the Bayn family and began teaching him the Knight Breathing Method.
That said, the Valen family itself was quite remarkable in its own right.
Originally, the family were mere peasants on the estate, lacking even the most basic identity, destined for a lifetime of labor for the lord, their status equal to livestock.
Yet, a few years ago, their fortunes changed. Their youngest son, Lynch, was taken as a student by a mystic scholar visiting from the Royal Capital with promises of further education. Prior to departure, the scholar paid generously to purchase the family’s freedom from the lord, even granting them land, thereby elevating them from peasants to freemen.
At the same time, the family’s eldest son was recruited by the lord as a guard within the castle, while their youngest daughter was brought into the castle to work as a maid.
What was thought to be an already miraculous shift in fate took on an even more legendary turn now: being granted a surname, taught the Knight Breathing Method—this signified the lord’s intention to train Gerald into a knight.
Becoming a knight meant permanently escaping the status of a commoner and stepping into the privileged domain of nobility!
Mere years—from peasants to nobles!
It was like something out of the ballads sung by minstrels—a tale so fantastical it bordered on myth.
At this moment, within the lord’s castle.
"Knock knock knock!" A series of knocks sounded on the door.
Lord Acate, seated at his desk sorting through documents, set down the papers in his hand, looked up, and said, "Come in."
The door opened, and a young man in his early twenties stepped inside. He was none other than Frost Cold Town’s newfound celebrity, Gerald Valen Bayne.
Gerald said, "My lord, did you summon me?"
Acate stood and greeted him with a warm smile, "How’s the training with the Knight Breathing Method coming along?"
Gerald frowned slightly, "It’s not easy..."
Knight training typically began in childhood. For Gerald to start at his age meant he had already missed the optimal period, making the process daunting.
But Gerald quickly reassured him, "But please rest assured, my lord, Gerald will work twice as hard."
Acate nodded and replied gently, "I trust you."
After a brief pause, he added, "But there’s no need to push yourself too hard. Knight training takes time, requiring patient accumulation. It’s not something that yields results overnight."
"Hmm..."
He pondered for a moment before continuing, "How about this? I’ve recently built a new farmstead in the Fertile Land Domain. Why don’t you take your parents and move there for now?"
Gerald’s eyes widened in shock, "What!"
Acate raised an eyebrow, "What, you don’t want to?"
Gerald quickly waved his hand, "No, no, no, I just... just feel... this is too generous, my lord."
Acate laughed, "Since I’ve already begun teaching you the Knight Breathing Method, it’s only a matter of time before you become a knight of the Bayn family. The farmstead will be yours eventually, so moving in a bit early won’t be an issue. Don’t dwell too much on it."
"Ah..."
Gerald still felt overwhelmed, or perhaps he had been feeling this way for quite some time. Ever since his younger brother, Lynch, was taken away, he had been in a state of disbelief.
The rapid changes of fate left him with a dreamlike sense of unreality.
Acate said, "Stop hesitating and go prepare to move. Your subjects are already waiting for you. Also, before you leave, take Selena with you. She should start learning some management anyway, and this is a good opportunity."
"As for your sister Nala... she should stay in the castle for now to continue her studies. There aren’t suitable teachers for etiquette in the farmstead. Got it?"
Gerald replied, "Oh... alright... understood."
He stumbled out of the room, but midway, he suddenly remembered something and hurriedly turned back.
Acate asked, "Anything else?"
Gerald said, "My lord, I still wish to ask about my younger brother, Lynch..."
Acate said impatiently, "Didn’t I answer this already? How many times do you need to hear it? Lynch is in the Royal Capital, studying under that esteemed scholar—a man even kings must treat with respect."
"He’s traveling far and wide across the continent with Lynch, learning various forms of knowledge. This isn’t something that will finish in a day or two; it’s possible he’ll never return, even in a lifetime. You’d best give up on hoping to see him again."
Gerald frowned, "This..."
Blood ties—siblings grown up together—how could they be so easily forgotten or severed?
Especially now, with their family so drastically transformed, the one person everyone missed and wished to share this with the most was their youngest brother, lost to them somewhere out there.
"Alright..."
After a long pause, Gerald sighed softly, turned, and left.
Not long after Gerald departed.
From a side room nearby, a figure slowly stepped out—it was none other than the little brother Gerald had been longing for, Lynch.
The high-and-mighty lord Acate now bore a look of servile humility, "Mr. Lynch, are you satisfied?"
Lynch nodded and handed over two bottles of magic potion, "Thank you very much."
Upon returning, Lynch had quietly approached Acate and purchased both the farmstead and the necessary entry into the world of nobility, gifts for ’his’ former family.
For this, he even orchestrated a charade, using several alchemical trinkets to stage a snow monster attack on Gerald’s deliberately summoned escort team.
The world of nobles adhered to its own rigid protocols—even a lord couldn’t arbitrarily elevate a family from peasant status to noble rank. Creating a reasonable pretext was required to earn the trust of those within the domain.
"Ah-hah! Magic potions, wondrous potions!"
Acate’s eyes lit up as he received the potions from Lynch. Being middle-aged, it had been a long time since he felt the vigor of youth, but just one drop of the potion was enough to restore him to his younger self.
Lynch walked to the window, silently watching Gerald’s retreating figure.
Perhaps it was the lingering influence of fused memories. Despite Gerald being a stranger to him, watching his brother fade into the distance filled Lynch with an inexplicable sense of loss and muted melancholy.
Acate seemed to sense Lynch’s mood and approached, "You’re really not going to say goodbye?"
"No."
Lynch shook his head and pulled his gaze back, "Let it be."
From the moment he entered the Wizard World, it was inevitable that he would part ways with his family—whether now or decades from now. He was merely advancing that timeline slightly.
Quiet departure.
For him, for ’him,’ and for them, it was better this way.
...
After spending a day in the Frost Cold Territory, Lynch set off on his journey once again. This time, the destination returned to its origin—Wind Extinguishing City.
The badge Avery had given him lit up.
Lynch took out a silk cloth and wiped the fingerprints and dust from his glasses before placing them back on his nose. The oversized black frames completely concealed his brilliant gray gemstone eyes.
He also tidied up his bangs, combing them downward to cover his forehead. The previously flamboyant look now appeared subdued, adding an air of docility.
He methodically draped his cloak over his shoulders, letting its flowing bulk hide his streamlined figure underneath.
Finally, he pulled out a hefty tome and hugged it to his chest. Lynch adjusted his glasses again, and the image of an earnest, harmless bookworm vividly came to life.
After tugging his hood into place, Lynch embarked on his way back...
