"It’s because you people settle for so little that the Baron could exploit you." Isaac glared at Nathaniel.
"We are farmers, sire. Some years the crops fail, and sometimes monsters take our cattle. We endure because we help one another. One farmer lends a hand to his neighbor, who does the same for the next. That’s how we’ve always lived. Looking after our people is simply in our blood," replied Nathaniel.
"Do all of you think the same?" Isaac turned to the farmers outside the door.
Some were still sobbing, but the others were looking at him. Their gazes carried gratitude.
"Do all of you think the same?" Isaac asked again, his tone rising. It was rare for him to openly show his anger like that, but he couldn’t help it.
"Yes," came the voice. It was Ella, the wife of Tress, who was imprisoned and killed under the Draconic Domain Act.
Isaac’s gaze became sharper. He almost shouted at them, but he caught himself at the last second.
Sweeping his gaze across the farmers, who refused to kill the Baron for him, he stomped out of the hut and left.
It took him a long time to calm his anger.
In the end, he stared at the morning sky and sighed, closing his eyes.
In the darkness, he was reminded of the smile of Nathaniel and the gazes of the farmers filled with gratitude.
They had found their peace. He could tell that much.
But Isaac couldn’t understand these people.
Nathaniel and the farmers who did not kill the Baron for him, despite the Baron taking away their beloved family members.
Merlin, who died protecting children he had barely known for a few months.
How could these people be so kind?
’Fools. All of them.’
Isaac hated kind people.
He entered the nearby forest to train and vent his anger. It was around noon that he finally calmed down somewhat.
"Come out. How long are you going to hide?" Isaac asked.
There was no response.
"Strider, I don’t know why you didn’t come back during the night, why you never brought the soldiers, or why you’ve been hiding while watching me. Whatever your reasons are, stop. I’ve had enough of this nonsense," Isaac said.
Strider slowly stepped out from behind a thick tree.
Isaac didn’t spare her a glance and kept staring at the tree.
"You too. Come out."
A man stepped out. He had curly blond hair that came down to his shoulder blades. The hair was tied in a loose side ponytail. He had green eyes. He held a gentle smile and was quite handsome.
He wore a vibrant green-and-gold bard’s outfit consisting of a fitted embroidered tunic beneath a short, weather-worn cloak, with a wide leather belt cinched at his waist.
Soft leather boots, a sash adorned with small trinkets, and a polished lute slung across his back completed the charming traveler-musician look.
Isaac had never met the man, but he recognized him at a glance.
Bard.
Fourth-ranked among the Ten Stars, one rank above Strider.
"What are you doing here?" Isaac asked.
"I came to visit the king of the underworld," Bard said.
Seeing Isaac’s confused expression, the Bard chuckled and said, "Do you not know? Throughout the kingdom, rumors have spread. They say you are the one who created the Mana Breathing Technique and the Communication Technology. They say you control the black market, and with a single word of yours, all of the leaders of crime syndicates will move."
Isaac wasn’t surprised by the rumors of him creating the Mana Breathing Technique and the Communication Technology.
He had openly used the Mana Breathing Technique in the Sacred Duel and openly given the foundation of the Communication Technology to Merlin in front of Duke Falcon’s estate gates.
Rumors were bound to come.
"How is everything related to what happened last night?" Isaac asked.
"My profession requires me to travel and collect stories. I came here to hear yours. Just last night, I was in the neighboring town, speaking with the soldiers stationed there. I met Strider as well. She was about to move the soldiers when I heard that there might be a singularly powerful enemy here. So I stopped them and hurried over. After all, isn’t it better for me to come instead of the soldiers?" the Bard replied with a smile.
Isaac could find no flaw in that reasoning.
The Bard possessed enough strength and achievements to become a Duke, yet he had refused the title. Instead, he traveled the kingdom, collecting stories, singing about heroes, and helping those in need.
If the Knight of Famine had arrived last night, there would have been countless casualties. Too many soldiers would have died.
Against an army, the soldiers would have been the better choice. But against a single powerful opponent, the Bard was worth far more than an entire company of troops.
"So, you were observing me the whole night to see my story?" Isaac asked.
"Yes," the Bard nodded cheerfully.
Isaac turned his gaze to Strider. She looked away.
"Please, don’t blame Strider. She was only listening to my request. Besides, we would’ve intervened if there were signs of danger," said the Bard.
Isaac didn’t say much to that.
He moved on with the day. There was a lot to do. Dealing with the mansion, the servants, and submitting the evidence against the Baron to the royal court were the most important tasks.
The servants were rounded up and sent to the court in the nearest town. Hans was temporarily appointed as the Baron. Though, he would be called to the court after the servants’ case was dealt with.
The Baron would be going to the royal court with Isaac and Strider.
The Bard had decided to tag along.
Isaac looked at the barony for one last time. He had dealt with the poisons in the farms, and it didn’t look like the Knight of Famine, or someone else from the Human King’s side, would be coming here. He could leave the barony after he completed one last task.
He walked towards the tree near Nathaniel’s house. The farmers on the way kept thanking him. They gave him fruits, crops, eggs, everything they could gather. Some apologized to him after seeing how he had left with a bad expression in the morning. The others smiled and told him to return when he had free time.
They understood that he was leaving without him saying anything.
Some farmers broke into tears. He had arrived suddenly, helped them with the yield, avenged them, only to leave without asking for anything in return. His presence had been the greatest gift the heavens had given them.
Isaac finally reached the tree.
The old man sat there, looking at the lowest branch.
He no longer had a hollow gaze. He smiled gently, as if he had found peace.
"What are you going to do now?" Isaac asked.
The old man turned to him.
Isaac had confirmed Nathaniel was Unawakened. That meant, in just a few years, he would reach the level of the Ten Stars.
He was perhaps the greatest talent in human history.
With the war on the horizon, recruiting someone like Nathaniel was an obvious choice.
Yet, Isaac had decided to respect the wishes of the old farmer.
Despite Isaac not being able to sympathize with Nathaniel’s choice of not killing the Baron, Isaac understood one thing.
The old farmer had achieved his revenge for his daughter.
Now, if he wanted to "leave" peacefully or spend his twilight years at the farms, Isaac would respect that choice.