Sophie ultimately did not leave that Lord’s Residence.
She was simply too curious.
Curious about what that strange lord was really thinking, curious about his persistence, and most importantly… about his ending.
As an immortal witch, Sophie had plenty of time to waste.
Witnessing the life of a mortal lord seemed like an interesting idea?
So, that night, Witch Sophie did not leave Fallen Leaf Town after all.
“Good morning, Lord.”
When the morning sunlight poured over the land, Sophie smiled at Green, who had been busy all night and hadn’t even had time to rest, dark circles forming under his eyes.
“Oh, Miss Sophie, have you had breakfast?”
Green pulled out a chair and sat down. “Your latest research—is it about the Irrigation System I mentioned before? Miss Sophie, do you have any ideas?”
Irrigation System…
Yet another invention not related to the improvement of a caster’s personal power, but closely tied to the lives of countless ordinary commoners.
As far as Sophie knew, many lords actually tried to prevent their subjects from living comfortably.
According to them, once the people had full stomachs, they’d start thinking all kinds of thoughts and cause trouble.
Though she’d never heard of powerless commoners truly overturning the heavens, trouble was still trouble, so most lords preferred their people not to be fully fed but not starving either.
“As for those, I’ve made a little progress in my research, but…” Sophie asked curiously, “As a proper caster, don’t you focus on meditation and increasing your Magic? Why are you always so busy managing your Fief’s affairs? Isn’t that… a bit unusual?”
At last, the witch voiced her secret doubt.
“You care that much about your subjects?”
Sophie looked around the Lord’s Residence.
To her surprise, the once grand Fief Hall—formerly glittering with gold and filled with countless treasures—had changed completely.
The hall that once displayed the lord’s noble status and symbolized authority and honor was now utterly transformed.
Honestly, if Sophie wasn’t so confident in her own strength, she’d have thought she’d fallen into some kind of illusion.
Bare walls, simple furnishings—even the Magical Crystal Lamp that once hung from the ceiling had been replaced with ordinary Candles.
Lord’s Residence?
Even a Noble Squire’s home was more impressive.
“Yes,” Green replied firmly. “Miss Sophie, have you forgotten? I once told you about my Dream.”
Dream.
Sophie savored this unfamiliar word.
She clearly remembered what Green once said: “At the Winter Solstice Festival, I want every family to be able to serve a bowl of Stewed Chicken.”
A humble Dream.
Yet Sophie felt a strange heaviness in her heart.
“So, you sold your Inherited Treasure to the neighboring Other Lords?” Sophie asked, her tone puzzled. “Wasn’t that your Family Glory?”
“I’ve heard many people say that Green, the Noble Scion of Fallen Leaf Town, is a wastrel. He’s only inherited the family business for a few years, and he’s already sold off every last Fief Treasure.”
Casters all took pride in their Bloodline, always eager to boast of their generations of glory.
“Glory?” Green laughed softly, the same scornful, unruly laugh as always—one that disregarded all rules, belonging to a frivolous young lord.
“No, Miss Sophie, that isn’t glory.”
Green replied mildly, “I know who I am. I don’t need those external things to gild myself.”
“Instead of spending piles of gold every year to polish those things, it’s better to raise funds for research. For meaningful research.”
Green’s answer did not satisfy Sophie.
In fact, she grew even more confused.
Meaningful?
“Letting your subjects eat Stewed Chicken—is that meaningful research?” Sophie couldn’t help but press on. “Normally, a caster’s research is about developing Spells and advancing their Magic, isn’t it?”
This time, Green did not answer Sophie’s question.
He only clapped his hands.
Clap, clap.
“All right, it’s getting late. Miss Sophie, please return to the Lab and continue your research.”
With a swish, Green stood up.
“Lord, where are you going?” Sophie asked, curious.
“Mm, do you remember that annoying Priest Lord from before?”
Of course Sophie remembered.
The moment her identity was exposed, he’d forced a little girl from the village—someone she knew—to fake an injury and come to her for treatment, all while setting up an array in secret…
Otherwise, how could a mere grassroots cleric have trapped her? Even if a bishop or archbishop acted personally, it would have been impossible!
“Miss Sophie, don’t you want Revenge?”
Perhaps seeing the anger in Sophie’s expression, Green’s smile grew even wider as he asked.
Revenge?
Sophie looked up, startled.
“You mean, for my sake…”
“Haha, I’m not that noble.”
Green chuckled, “Mainly, that guy’s just blind. He dared to incite my subjects against my Law? He thinks just because he’s a priest, I won’t dare touch him?”
“I’ll prove how wrong he is.”
At this moment, all of Green’s playfulness vanished, leaving only a chilling killing intent.
“I’ll prove it to everyone else.”
Green spoke solemnly.
“In Fallen Leaf Town, there is only one person who can command wind and rain, and that’s me—Green, Lord of Fallen Leaf Town!”
Bang.
“Sir Browns, we depart at once.”
Green gave the order.
Fallen Leaf Town, Temple of Light.
Priest Lord was listening proudly to his Attendant’s report.
“So, what’s our lord up to?”
Sitting comfortably in a spacious chair, Third Tier Clergyman Brian savored the delicacy in his hand.
That Magic Beast meat—worth dozens of gold coins and brimming with magic—was devoured mouthful by mouthful.
“Burp—”
He let out a satisfied belch.
“Reporting, sir, all Estates, even Old Howard, have agreed to refuse Lord Green’s men in promoting the planting of that demon fruit.”
The Steward, dressed for the part, waved his hands as he spoke: “Also, after your warnings, all the big merchant guilds have pledged to boycott this demon fruit. They refuse to purchase it, so it won’t be long before Green realizes that without your approval, he’s nothing as a lord!”
“As it should be.” Priest Lord stroked his round belly. “Isn’t he just a young wastrel lording it over everyone with his family inheritance? Over twenty years old and not even a Second Circle mage—he’s got no future.”
“Exactly, sir! Unlike you—already a Third Tier Clergyman. That Young Lord is nothing but a Heirloom pillow from his family’s trunk.”
The Steward continued to flatter the Priest Lord.
Wa wa wa!
Suddenly, a commotion erupted outside.
“Hmm?” The Priest Lord frowned slightly. “Who dares to make noise while I’m eating? Steward, go give those peasants a lesson.”
“Yes, sir!”
The Steward accepted the order and strode toward the bright Banquet Hall doors.
Bang!
But before the Steward could even open the doors, a tremendous crash accompanied by flying wood chips burst in—a figure stormed straight into their midst.
It—it’s him?
Green?
The Priest Lord could hardly believe his eyes.
“You, you… just a First Circle mage, do you think that just because you’re a lord, I won’t dare touch you?”
“Oh?”
Green looked at the startled, angry Priest Lord and smiled faintly.
“That’s right, I nearly forgot—aren’t you a dignified Third Tier Clergyman? While I’m just a First Circle mage. How could I possibly oppose you?”
He stroked his chin.
“Heh, glad you know. Green, apologize right now and hand over that witch… eh?”
The Priest Lord’s pupils contracted.
A Sword had appeared from nowhere in Green’s hand, pressed directly to his throat.
What’s going on?
“But what if I’m not just a mage—what if I’m, say… a paladin?”
Green’s smile remained as bright as ever.
“Paladin? What the—what is that…”
He had never even heard of such a thing!
Slash.
Before the Priest Lord could react, Green swung the sword again—straight through his heart.
“You… you’re… mad…”
Thud.
The Priest Lord collapsed, huge and lifeless.
“You killed him?”
Beside him, Sophie looked shocked.
“Why not?” Green casually wiped the blood from the sword with a rag. “If I let him live, he’ll only stand in the way of my Dream.”
Dream?
All for that?
Sophie gazed blankly at the lord before her, even forgetting to ask how he had suddenly turned from a caster into a so-called ‘paladin’—and just what was a paladin, anyway.
Raven Town, Adventurer’s Guild Branch.
“You’re the Assessment Expert sent from headquarters, Miss Sophie?”
Branch president Betty looked at her visitor in surprise.
So young, so radiant…
And remembering that astonishing résumé.
“Incredible,” Betty couldn’t help but ask, “May I ask how you managed such achievements at such a young age?”
“It’s nothing.” The expert smiled calmly. “As a member of the Adventurer’s Guild, have you forgotten the Guild’s motto?”
Of course Betty hadn’t forgotten.
“The Power of Dreams is infinite.”
She softly repeated that phrase she’d heard countless times, the one that had somehow become the Guild’s motto.
“Yes, Miss Betty.”
The woman replied evenly. “It’s Dream that keeps me moving forward.”
To create a world where even a witch could walk openly in the streets, where all races lived in peace.
“Green.” Sophie resisted the urge to whisper, “I miss you a little.”