"Can you tell me about your parents? You haven't mentioned much to me about them."
"I haven't met them. Since I can remember, my aunt has been by my side. Aunt said, 'Little Roman, when you grow up, you must repay your aunt well!'"
Miss Merchant giggled. Under the moonlight, her eyes were bright and clear.
Brand was taken aback and fell silent after listening.
"Is that why you want to be a merchant?"
"Yes."
"That's quite a peculiar idea."
"It's okay—"
The two chatted a while longer before Brand saw Frey detach from the crowd and walk over. The girl appeared simple, rustic, and approachable in front of everyone, but as soon as she returned to her role as the captain of Buqi's third militia squad, she exuded a sense of future Valkyrie responsibility.
She had promised to take Brand to see Captain Madden of the Buqi Guard Team, although she didn't know what this young man intended to do. Yet, like Essen, she had a blind trust in him, believing that as long as it was this young man, somehow he could lead everyone out of this predicament.
Frey didn't intend to rely on anything, but rather she was genuinely curious.
Brand's plan was as follows: currently, due to a coincidence, he had joined forces with the Buqi Guard Team and the refugees. He knew what failure Captain Madden would face next, so standing at this historical divergence, he felt it necessary to do something.
Indeed, Brand first thought of protecting himself, but a person cannot live alone in this world. If he did so, how could he face Roman, how could he face Markmi and Little Phenix, how could he face Frey?
Moreover, the future Valkyrie's previous helpless weeping had deeply moved him. A person lives once, and there are not so many concerns—especially considering he had lived two lives and only sought to live without regret.
Understanding this, Brand felt that the path before him had become clear.
Roman naturally did not leave his side. The three of them passed through the valleys, by scattered campfires and people, and finally found the old man by a campfire at the end of the creek valley. Coincidentally, or perhaps expectedly, Breson was also there. However, Brand did not care about this guy. Instead, his eyes immediately fell on the veteran of the November War.
Madden. According to the game timeline, Brand suddenly recalled that it had been almost thirty years (time ratio 8 to 1) since he last saw this old man.
In the game, Madden's later years were extremely unfortunate, but he still died of old age. His only blessing was that he did not live to see the fall of Erune and had earned the friendship of many players. This NPC held high prestige among players—for teaching multiple skills such as Stealth, Investigation, and Swordsmanship, and most importantly, he imparted the warrior's first advanced skill: Courage Battle Cry.
The old man did not differ much from Brand's memory and even appeared less aged, although the resolve on his face had only deepened. Having spent time with this veteran, Brand knew his temper well, understanding that he was an extremely steadfast and fearless soldier with a fiery disposition. Thus, any subtlety would not work in front of him. It was better to be direct and state his intentions, possibly gaining some favor.
Still, when he opened his mouth, he was somewhat apprehensive. Who knew if the personalities of people in this world would be exactly like those in the game? He believed they should be, but thinking about it seemed a bit bewildering.
After hearing his statement, Madden's eyebrows did indeed move—as expected, they furrowed. However, the first to object was the young deputy captain of the guard.
Breson.
"You mean we will fail? What's your reason?"
Brand's gaze fixed on Madden, listening as the old man said, "Young man, I am grateful that you want to join us and serve the kingdom. But it seems you don't hold much hope for the upcoming battle. I'd like to hear your thoughts—"
Brand remained calm. He was most worried that the fiery-tempered old man would not give him a chance to speak. As long as he could get a word in, knowing the course of history, he was confident he could persuade the other: "Actually, I have just one question. Do you know how many Madara Undead troops are blocking your way ahead?"
The young guards fell silent.
Madden also said nothing, but with a look from him, Breson responded, "From the afternoon's battle, it seemed that the same undead army was initially pursuing us. Later, another joined in. I noticed some of their banners and concluded there were at least two distinct command units. Unfortunately, I don't know Madara's exact structure."
Our protagonist looked at this guy in surprise, realizing Breson had some genuine skill. His conclusion was not based on past life experience like Brand's but on battlefield observations, which was impressive.
However, this did not elevate Breson in Brand's eyes, as he knew far more than Breson did.
"It's not surprising you don't understand Madara and reached the wrong conclusion," Brand elaborated confidently, "Madara has never been unified in the true sense. Before the Rune and Sword era, a group of exiled Dark Wizards came here and became the first lords of the area, which for a long time was a haven for bandits and wandering undead..."
"Why are you saying this?"
"Listen to him, Breson. Don't be impatient."
"Hmph."
Brand smiled slightly, knowing he had caught Madden's attention. A veteran like Madden, no matter how bad his temper, was always able to grasp key information sharply.
"It's also an extremely aggressive country. The lords living in the dark constantly vie with each other and frequently raid north, south, or in any direction. Erune, Kruz, Osor, and even the Banlin region have all suffered due to them."
"Years of war have given these lords well-experienced troops, though their organization is quite chaotic. Still, their combat power shouldn't be underestimated. You've seen two differently numbered units; their sizes could vary greatly."
"So, can you describe some details of your encounter? Maybe I can offer some helpful information."
"Brand!" Unable to stand it any longer, Breson stood up and berated, "You're lying. How could you know about Madara? As far as I know, you—"
He was going to say more but was stopped by a stern look from Brand. Breson was stunned, almost unable to believe he could be silenced by just a look from the young man.
The Brand of old was not this assertive, just a somewhat talented greenhorn.
"Listen, Breson, I'm not here to argue with you," Brand said, stressing each word. "I don't expect you to understand the urgency of the situation, but I want you to know—be responsible for your actions!"
Speechless, Breson soon became enraged.
"Tell him what we encountered, Breson." Madden spoke, his brows furrowing deeply.
...
————————————————————————————————
[Note]
The eighteenth scene, S'taz is in Elf Language.
(PS. The recent chapters feel particularly good. Do you all feel the same? Another thanks to all the readers for your collection, clicks, recommendations, and rewards. Much appreciated!)