Peace Hunter

Thirty minutes later, across the street from the courthouse gates.

"I think it's time for us to go home," said Uncle Bill.

"You're right, chief. Besides, we've chatted for quite some time, and Rid has to get back to the academy," said Uncle Dean.

"It's time for us to say goodbye. Thank you for coming to cheer me on during the trial," I said.

"I told you not to worry about it, Rid. After all, you're part of the Aston villags, and your late grandfather used to help me out. So, to repay his kindness, I have to help his grandson," said Uncle Bill.

"That's right," said Uncle Dean.

"I see. Anyway, thank you, everyone," I said.

"Maintain your achievements at the academy, Rid. You're now the strongest student in the academy, right? Keep up the good work," said Uncle Bill.

"That's right, don't let your achievements decline, Rid," said Uncle Isaac.

"And also maintain your relationship with the daughter of the Duke of San Lucia, Rid. When else will you have the opportunity to be the partner of a Duke's daughter? I envy you," said Eric.

"Me too," said Eric's friends.

"Ahahaha, we'll see what happens, Eric. Thank you all for your support, I'll do my best," I said.

"Then, we'll be going, Rid. We have to go to where we parked the horse-drawn carriage. We can't park the horse-drawn carriage in the courthouse parking lot because that parking lot is only for important people or nobles. But we don't mind that, and besides, the carriage isn't that far from the courthouse," said Uncle Isaac.

"I see. Be safe on your journey, Uncle and everyone," I said.

"Bye, Rid," said Uncle Bill and the others.

"Yes, see you too, everyone," I said.

Uncle Bill and the other Aston villagers left. Some of them continued to wave at me as they walked away. I waved back. Once I was a fair distance away, I decided to return to the front of the courthouse. As I arrived, I saw Miss Karina standing, leaning against the wall next to the front door. I decided to approach her. Miss Karina seemed to notice me approaching and immediately looked at me.

"How are you? Have you talked to the people from your hometown, Rid?" Miss Karina asked.

"Yes, Miss," I said.

"Then, would you like to return to the academy now?" Miss Karina asked.

"Can I return to the academy later, Miss? You see, Lord Duke Louis asked me to speak with him first after speaking with the people from my hometown. Lord Duke Louis said he was going to the Sancta Lux Church first, so I was told to wait until he returns because he wanted to speak with me," I said.

"I see. Okay, that's fine. Besides, the courthouse and the academy are quite close, so even if we return at night, it won't take long for us to get to the academy," said Miss Karina.

"Thank you, Miss Karina," I said.

"There's no need for thanks. Besides, my sister told me to take you whenever you're ready to return to the academy. So, whether you return now or later is fine with me," said Miss Karina.

"Miss Karina always refers to Her Majesty the Queen as 'older sister' when you're talking to me, huh? And you seem to speak to Her Majesty the Queen formally when there are other people," I said.

"How could I possibly call her 'older sister' when there are other people? I call her 'older sister' when I'm talking to you alone because you already know about my relationship with Her Majesty the Queen. Well, let's put this aside. Instead, you said you were still going to talk to Lord Louis, right?" asked Miss Karina.

"Yes, miss," I said.

"Then I'll take a walk outside the courthouse first. If you've spoken with Lord Louis but I'm still not here, just wait here," Miss Karina said.

"Ok, miss," I said.

"Then I'll be going," Miss Karina said.

"Be careful on the road, miss," I said.

Then Miss Karina left the courthouse.

-

Ten minutes later.

I saw Duke Louis and his knights returning to the courthouse. A female commander named Mina was also in the group. They were returning to the courthouse on foot, perhaps because the courthouse was close enough to the Sancta Lux Church that they didn't need a horse-drawn carriage. Duke Louis seemed to notice me waiting for him and immediately approached me.

"Have you been waiting long, Rid?" Duke Louis asked.

"No, Uncle. Have you finished checking on your knights?" I asked.

"Yes. Some of them were initially injured by ~Dark Magic~ attacks, but they have been healed by the Priests at the Sancta Lux Church," Duke Louis said.

"I see. Thank goodness they've been healed," I said.

"Yes," Duke Louis said.

After that, Duke Louis looked back. Commander Mina and her knights were behind Duke Louis.

"You all wait in the parking lot. I still have something to discuss with Rid," Duke Louis said.

"Yes, Lord Duke. Let's go, everyone," said Commander Mina.

"Yes, Commander," said the Duke of San Lucia knights.

Commander Mina and the San Lucia knights then headed towards the courthouse parking lot.

"Now, we can talk alone, Rid," said Duke Louis.

"What did you want to talk to me about alone?" I asked.

"I just wanted to thank you for saving my entire family," said Duke Louis, bowing slightly.

I was surprised to see Duke Louis doing that.

"Raise your head, Uncle. You don't need to thank me, after all, I didn't do anything," I said.

"No, of course, this is all because of you. Because you managed to kill the people who tried to kill you in the Hevea Forest, I learned that the two Dukes were plotting to assassinate my entire family and Her Majesty the Queen. If you hadn't killed them all and had killed yourself instead, I would never have known about the plot. My entire family and Her Majesty the Queen would have continued to live peaceful lives without knowing that we were all about to be killed. So I thank you for indirectly saving my entire family," said Duke Louis.

"What you said is exactly what Her Majesty the Queen said, uncle. Her Majesty also said the same thing when thanking me," I said.

"I see. Anyway, I thank you and also, I'm grateful because you are the one who became Irene's boyfriend, Rid. If Irene's boyfriend was someone else, maybe she wouldn't have survived if she was caught in a murder plot like what happened in the Hevea forest. I didn't expect that they intended to kill you who is Irene's current boyfriend so that Irene can return to participate in the ~Matchmaking Battle~ and after that they intended to kill all of us at the event," said Duke Louis.

"Yes, I didn't expect them to plan something like that either, planning to kill the entire San Lucia family and Her Majesty the Queen. But at least you can rest easy now, Uncle. Because Her Majesty the Queen intends to cancel the event, and Duke James, Duke Darwin, and Marquess Marcelo are also dead. Well, although the situation isn't safe yet, because there might still be a mastermind behind the plan," I said.

"Yes, you're right. Even if the ~Matchmaking Battle~ event goes ahead, Irene won't be participating. Because Irene is currently dating you," said Duke Louis.

I just smiled at Duke Louis's words.

"Since you saved my entire family, I intend to give you a reward, Rid. Is there anything you want?" asked Duke Louis.

"A reward? I don't think it's necessary, Uncle. Her Majesty the Queen also intended to give me a reward earlier, and now you're the one who wants to give me one. I've received too many rewards. The monetary reward I received from Her Majesty the Queen for my contributions in fighting the academy's attackers is still quite a lot left. If I get another monetary reward, I'm at a loss as to what to do with it. I don't have anything I want, either," I said.

"Even so, I'm uneasy if I don't give you a reward. Rid. You saved my entire family, yet I haven't given you one. I'll give you a reward anyway, so you have to accept it," Duke Louis said.

"Uh, but..." I said.

"No buts, I'll give you a reward anyway," Duke Louis said, a little insistent.

"O-Ok, Uncle. Then may I think about the reward first?" I asked.

"Go ahead, think about what reward you want," Duke Louis said.

Then I thought about what reward I wanted. Before long, I knew what reward I wanted.

"I already know what reward I want, Uncle," I said.

"What reward is it?" Duke Louis asked.

"But I have one thing to ask first. Even though I want this reward, is it okay if it's not given to me but to someone else?" I asked.

"The reward isn't for you, but for someone else? Who do you want to give this reward to?" Duke Louis asked.

"I want to give this reward to the people of Aston Village, my hometown. I want you to give a reward of basic necessities to the people there," I said.

"To the people of Aston Village, that village is in the San Minerva region, isn't it?" Duke Louis asked.

"Yes. Is that possible, Uncle? Since you are the Duke of San Lucia, so you can't give basic necessities to areas outside your territory, like San Minerva," I said.

"No, that can be done, Rid. Besides, the basic necessities were only a one-time reward, not a regular reward, so it's fine even if I, as Duke of San Lucia, give the basic necessities to Aston Village in the Minerva region. But the problem is, are you sure about that, Rid? This reward was supposed to be given to you, but you asked for it to be given to someone else," said Duke Louis.

"Yes, I'm sure, Uncle. This is to repay them for all their kindness to me, even after my late grandfather passed away. So I decided to give them the reward originally intended for me. Even though the people of Aston Village are quite well off, they would certainly be happy to receive this reward," I said.

"I see. Well, as long as you agree and are happy with the reward I'm giving, that's enough. I don't care who you give this reward to. In that case, I will give the reward of basic necessities to the people of your hometown, Rid. I will deliver them no later than a week from today," said Duke Louis.

"Thank you, Uncle," I said.

"No need to thank me. This is a reward for saving my entire family," said Duke Louis.

I smiled at that. After that, Duke Louis and I resumed our conversation.

Meanwhile, not far from where Rid and Duke Louis were, Duke Remy had just returned with his knights. Duke Remy then began to speak with his knights. Occasionally, Duke Remy glanced at Rid and Duke Louis.

"What are they talking about? Since I'm quite far from them, I can't hear what they're saying," thought Duke Remy.

Duke Remy tried to listen in on Rid and Duke Louis's conversation, but he still couldn't hear it.

"Well, it's ok if I can't hear their conversation. Rather, when Her Majesty the Queen approached Rid Archie, who was chatting with several people earlier, I learned some interesting information. So Rid Archie comes from a village in the San Minerva region called Aston, huh?" Duke Remy thought with a smile.

-To be continued

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