Levianther Nelf… Of course Iyue recognized her.
Because she was her mother’s older sister. During the years Iyue stayed in Fenglin City trying to see her mother, it was this aunt who had provided her a place to stay.
To this day, Iyue still remembered how she met this aunt—
It had been a very failed intrusion into the upper area of the Giant Tree “Nelf”… Just like the dozen or so previous intrusions.
After being arrested by the guards of the Nereve Family, she was thrown before Levianther Nelf.
Her head was pressed against the cold floor, but as usual, she glared coldly at the people who had caught her.
Even when facing Levianther Nelf, who clearly was the commander of the guards and exuded an imposing demeanor, there was not a trace of cowardice or servility in her eyes.
Levianther seemed quite approving of her like this.
After learning that she had nowhere to stay, Levianther gave her a quiet mansion in the Lower District as her residence in Fenglin City…
After that, she was once again dragged by the guards before the Family Head for another intrusion.
Afterward, she set her resolve to prove herself with ability and merit… And the position of Archery Instructor in the Ranger Corps was also obtained only after she had achieved some small success, arranged by Levianther.
She provided Iyue with residence, identity, and duty… But the one thing she did not give her was the answer she sought.
As a member of the Ranger Corps, Iyue could now enter the Giant Tree “Nelf,” but she was still not allowed to meet her mother.
She had met this aunt many times… But no matter how Iyue pressed her about her mother’s whereabouts, the response she received was always the same—
“The family has its rules. I cannot break them. But if you achieve even more outstanding merits, perhaps the family will acknowledge you.”
At the time, she thought those words were a promise… But after losing almost everything she cherished, she realized it was merely a casual consolation.
“Isn’t that the Lord Patrol Commander? Since she says it’s her niece, then it must be Lord Iyue indeed…!”
Now, this aunt stood before the crowd, personally revealing the relationship between the two.
The gazes of the watching crowd moved back and forth between Iyue, who was wearing the Ranger Corps uniform, and the members around her, whispering among themselves—
“Look, Lord Iyue is wearing the Ranger Corps uniform… I thought she had already withdrawn from the Ranger Corps?”
“The style of that uniform is a Small Captain’s, isn’t it? The hero who saved the continent is just a Small Captain in the Ranger Corps?”
“Fool! She must be on some secret mission! Otherwise, why would she have disappeared for so many years?”
Even if she explained now, it couldn’t stop their wild imaginations. Only a fool couldn’t see that all of this was deliberately arranged.
She had put on the Ranger Corps uniform, and these citizens had gathered and waited here as if they knew she would appear.
Naturally, only the members of the Stillwind Forest Realm Ranger Corps knew their schedule.
“Captain General… What is the meaning of this?”
Iyue looked at Alexis beside her… She was glaring at Levianther Nelf on the slope above with furious eyes.
“You’ve worked hard. Leave the rest to me. You and your servants can go to the station and rest first.”
“Captain General, I need an explanation!”
“That is an order.”
Alexis’s question was cut off. She lowered her head, and behind her, Small Captain Reiya saw her shoulders trembling slightly.
“Captain…”
“Reiya, let’s go.”
Alexis turned around and ordered her own servants expressionlessly.
Her team members hesitated for a moment, but still followed her instructions, organized their formation, and advanced toward a passage cleared by the Captain General’s servants on the slope.
“My apologies, Iyue Nairfu.”
Alexis bowed deeply to Iyue. Then she followed her squad and disappeared into the crowd at the top of the slope.
“Waa… Instructor… Goodbye.”
Reiya, with a tearful face, glanced at Iyue, whose expression was complicated, and then hurriedly caught up with her colleagues.
The last to pass by Iyue was Small Captain Se La, who had been silent all along.
“Instructor, we take our leave here.”
“…Please tell Reiya that I will visit her again.”
“She will be very happy. As a farewell gift, please accept this.”
Se La took the hairpin with a green gem set in its middle from her own head and handed it to Iyue.
“…This is too valuable. I cannot accept it—”
“Please accept it. It’s not really that valuable. I bought it at an antique market for only half a month’s salary.”
“Even so, I cannot accept it…”
“According to that antique dealer, this gem set in it can guide the owner to recover what they once lost and treasured… Or the person they treasured.”
“What did you say…?”
Iyue’s hand, which was returning the hairpin, stopped mid-motion.
“But I have never lost such a thing or such a person. So I’ll give this to you, Instructor. I hope that antique dealer wasn’t lying.”
“…Wait!”
She was dazed for a moment before she reacted and wanted to chase after them to ask for an explanation.
But by then, Se La’s figure, along with the Stillwind Forest Realm Ranger Corps, had already disappeared…
In the center of the crowd, only she and Levianther Nelf, who was looking down at her from above, remained.
“…Did you arrange all of this?”
She stepped forward and stared at Levianther’s face as she questioned her. As Patrol Commander of the Ranger Corps, she was fully capable of creating this situation.
The crowd stirred because of this… Because Iyue deliberately lowered her voice, making it hard for them to hear what she was saying.
“Who arranged it… Does it matter that much?” Levianther did not avoid her gaze. “You are a hero. You deserve to enjoy this kind of treatment.”
“I don’t need this kind of treatment. Please tell your servants to move aside.”
Levianther’s gaze lingered on the surrounding crowd for a moment, then fell back on Iyue.
“Come back to the Nereve Family with me.” Her voice was very gentle, but it was loud enough for all the people present to hear clearly. “—You are a family member. Let us treat you well.”
All of this made Iyue understand her intentions… And her relationship with Alexis. Her expression twisted because of it:
“I refuse.” She did not hesitate at all. “I am going to find my companion now. As for the family, I will visit later.”
“I can help you.” Levianther made the suggestion calmly. “The members of the Ranger Corps will find her soon.”
Iyue’s eyes instantly turned cold.
“Stay away from her. I warn you only once. Now tell your servants to clear the way for me.”
“I have no ill intentions, dear niece.”
Her threats and resistance did not anger Levianther. She signaled her servants to clear the path and even helped disperse the dense crowd for her.
“Where is Lord Iyue going…? Doesn’t she plan to go home?”
The crowd was forced to scatter, but they still watched every move of the hero.