Chapter 24: The Worldline Returns to Its Starting Point

Xue La never imagined things would turn out this badly.

The interrogation was held at the training grounds outside the manor.

“Roderick… is not… not a good man.”

The steward lowered his head like a docile sheep, recounting the events in a hushed tone.

That day, under the escort of Roderick and other knights, the steward had arrived in Baldwood Town to cash a promissory note at the money exchange.

Five hundred gold coins! Enough to rebuild the plaza and several streets destroyed by the Manticore, plus compensation for the casualties…

Count Brian was a reasonable and decent count.

So this money couldn’t run into trouble along the way.

But it did.

According to the steward, Roderick seemed decent on the surface, but after a few drinks, he couldn’t control himself. He started spouting nonsense about how miserable his life was, how he was the one who killed the Manticore, and that the five hundred gold should belong to him.

So in a tavern in Baldwood Town where they stopped to rest, a brawl broke out that embarrassed the lord…

“Shameless thief!”

Lady Catalina opened her folding fan to cover half her furious face.

As a noblewoman, she had to maintain elegance at all times…

“This kind of rotten apple doesn’t deserve to stay in the manor. Let him get out as soon as possible!”

She declared, glaring at Xue La’s father, her husband, Count Brian.

“That’s not true!”

Xue La looked at her father.

But she couldn’t say it—she couldn’t admit she was a transmigrator and knew that Roderick was an innocent retired soldier, and that his grandson Luo Yi really was the future Brave.

She then turned her gaze to the steward.

“Is that really the truth?”

she demanded, staring at the steward, who refused to meet her eyes.

“It is, it is…”

The steward covered his face, unable to look Xue La in the eye.

Damn it. It was obviously a setup.

But Xue La couldn’t do anything about it.

Luo Yi, the poor boy, was already being held firmly by the knights of House Linde.

“Don’t move, you little brat. A commoner’s spawn is a commoner’s spawn!”

Kairos, the knight who had previously clashed with Luo Yi over taking credit for the kill, finally found a chance to vent his spite. He ordered the other knights to pin Luo Yi down, then lifted his foot.

And stomped Roy’s face into the ground!

That was the eternal truth! Nobles and knights stood above; the son of a tenant farmer never had a chance to rise!

“Let him go!”

Xue La forgot about interrogating the steward. She strode forward, waving her lace-trimmed bell sleeves, and shouted, “Sir Kairos, please don’t kick a man when he’s down!”

“This is what the grandson of a criminal deserves!”

Kairos craned his neck, his face wearing the petty smirk of someone who had just gotten revenge.

The argument went back and forth until Count Brian finally spoke.

“Take your foot off,” he said. “So where is Roderick now?”

“In the prison in Baldwood Town.”

The lady chuckled.

“My dear, it must be a harsh punishment… preferably the extermination of three generations, not a single one left.”

Even Luo Yi had to die?

After all, the lady looked at him the way a lion looked at a mouse.

“We need evidence for everything…”

Count Brian shook his head.

“And sentencing requires…”

An overbearing mother and a good-natured father…

Xue La understood a lot now.

Her mother had always been in control, because she wanted her daughter to be a pawn who served as a maid in the Royal Capital for the family’s benefit—not a country girl left to enjoy herself in the countryside.

To eliminate anything that might distract her daughter, what was wrong with that?

“Enough, Mother!”

Xue La spoke, but her voice was clearly choked with tears.

“I’ll listen to you…”

Luo Yi watched everything happen before his eyes.

The girl he wanted to protect.

The girl who had healed him.

The girl who had picked herbs and black truffles with him, and adventured in the mountains and forests.

Now, to ensure his safety, she was actively bargaining with her mother—

“Please don’t kill Luo Yi, or poor Roderick… They’re both innocent—I know that.”

Xue La sobbed.

“I… I’ll do as you say. I’ll obediently go to the convent… preserve my chastity. Only then will I have a chance… a chance to become a maid in the Royal Capital in the future.”

“Please spare Luo Yi and his grandfather!”

Xue La didn’t know why she felt so sad and sorrowful.

Was it because, in her previous life on Earth, she couldn’t stand the bullying behavior of Lady Linde?

Or because, in this life, she was a girl who easily felt melancholy and wept over every injustice?

She didn’t know.

And she didn’t need to.

She could never strike a balance between emotion and reason.

Or perhaps, she simply cared about Luo Yi?

The person who, in the original game timeline, would become the Brave and cruelly exact revenge on House Linde?

First, that spy maid…

But now that she thought about it, there was probably also an arrogant lady…

As you sow, so shall you reap.

“Granted.”

The lady closed her fan.

“Then I’ll have someone prepare your luggage now. You leave within three days…”

That was the deal. A cruel deal.

“Please let Luo Yi go. He’s innocent.”

The lady shot a glare at Kairos, who wisely lowered his boot.

Xue La rushed toward Luo Yi.

“Does it hurt?”

She carefully touched Roy’s face.

“Do you need bandages…”

“Stay away… from me!”

Her heart turned ice cold.

“I’m already the grandson of a criminal. I’m not worthy of being with you, miss.”

Luo Yi said dejectedly.

He meant it. There was no hint of sarcasm.

It made sense, because Luo Yi was essentially a traditional hot-blooded, simple-minded fool—the game planner of Epic Fantasy Legend had created a very upright, stereotypical Brave character.

He repaid grievances and favors alike.

But… could the wrongs committed by her mother be repaid by her?

Xue La didn’t know.

She could only comfort Luo Yi and tell someone to apply medicine on him…

***

“The lady… only cares about her daughter.”

Kargon eventually brought Luo Yi around to the prison in Baldwood Town.

As a former friend of Roderick, Kargon had chosen loyalty to his friend over loyalty to his master.

And Miss Xue La had entrusted him with many things.

Not just the scratch on Roy’s face—it had already been bandaged, leaving only a white patch of gauze stuck to his cheek.

There was also a small bundle.

The outermost layer was Miss Xue La’s handkerchief, carrying a faint scent of a girl.

Inside, there wasn’t much.

A Manticore sausage wrapped in oiled paper—a memento of their fierce battle together, an eternal keepsake.

And Roy’s rations for the road during his wanderings with Roderick.

After all, with such a big incident, the grandfather and grandson had been expelled. Not only could they no longer stay in the manor as instructors, they didn’t even have the chance to go back to farming wheat and herding sheep!

Then there were coins of various sizes—gold coins, which were Miss Xue La’s private savings.

The maid Oweilia had personally seen her break her piggy bank.

There were silver coins—Kargon’s own small contribution.

He couldn’t let his old comrade suffer; this money was a precious travel fund.

And copper coins… the steward’s contribution.

He knew he had succumbed to the lady’s tyranny and lied.

That fierce lioness!

He could only secretly donate some money to ease his conscience.

But was that really enough?

The warden of Baldwood Town said it outright—

“The old man who was sent here came in covered in wounds. He’s been in a moldy cell for days, lacking food and clothing, and no doctor has come to treat him.”

Things looked grim.

Roy’s heart leaped into his throat. Kargon had no choice but to take it one step at a time.

Sure enough, when they finally reached a dark cell, they found only a withered old man, threatened and injured.

“Luo Yi… Luo Yi…”

Roderick mumbled indistinctly.

The moment the cell door opened, Luo Yi rushed to him.

“Grandpa!”

His voice echoed through the entire prison corridor, lingering long like a lone wolf separated from its pack.

An aged, large hand reached out and touched Roy’s face again.

The old man forced a smile.

“You’re here? Good…”

Kargon caught up to Luo Yi.

“Old friend… you…”

Roderick coughed heavily.

“Kargon… I’ve wronged you too. In the days ahead, I’m leaving things to you.”

“Leaving things to me?”

Kargon refused to accept this ending. Did he mean…?

“You won’t have to trouble yourself taking care of Roy—he has his own future!”

Roderick said, like a final rally before the end.

“Take him to General Bali Saihe.”

Roderick smiled, looking at Luo Yi.

“Haven’t you always looked up to General Bali Saihe? Now you have a chance to meet him. He will… train you into the best Brave…”

“I don’t want any Bali Saihe! I want my grandpa!”

Luo Yi sobbed uncontrollably…

“He will treat you well, because your father… cough… died on the battlefield back then—giving his life to protect the Imperial Marshal.”

Roderick said.

“He remembers that debt…”

“But Bali Saihe is no longer…”

Kargon reminded.

“I can take responsibility too.”

“You are a knight, of House Leoncote. You don’t have to choose between personal loyalty and friendship.”

Roderick said.

“This is my family’s matter, and Roy’s fate.”