Chapter 2: New Century (Epilogue)
Chapter 372: Mia’s True Identity (1)
Three Days Later.
The soldiers of Winter City began their return to Eagle Territory. King of Winter (Xi Wei) had departed earlier on his giant dragon. Most players had chosen to teleport back by taking their own lives. However, a small number of players did not do so because they had followers, and they wanted to bring their followers back with them. They couldn’t just abandon them, as the monsters they would encounter on the way would be enough to kill their followers a hundred times over.
The returning team was led by Nobody Does Human Things (M). They were to depart from Karari Empire, traverse the Medon Empire with its numerous basin hills, and then reach the Nelson Inner Sea. Wintery Empire ships would be waiting to pick them up in the Nelson Inner Sea. This route was the shortest, and they would be traveling by carriage pulled by four horses the entire way. Otherwise, if they had to cross mountains, they wouldn’t arrive until the year after next.
Early in the morning, the player team assembled on the plain outside the Karari Royal Capital’s gate. They were scheduled to depart at 9 AM, after the clock inside the Karari Royal Capital struck three times. However, Nobody Does Human Things (M) waited and waited, but his follower Mia did not appear.
“Where did this guy go?” Seeing that the vast majority of players and their followers were already present, Nobody Does Human Things (M) couldn’t help but feel anxious.
The war was over, and most soldiers had taken their military pay and returned to civilian life. As a veteran of both the Karari defense battle and the Emerald Fortress campaign, Mia was entitled to such an honor. His home was in Kurban Town, near the Karari Royal Capital. When he left two days prior, he had told Nobody Does Human Things (M) that he would leave with him, but he needed to go back and bring his father. He also needed to pack up their belongings. Nobody Does Human Things (M) naturally had no objections to this. Filial piety came first. Thus, he had let Mia leave. Today was the third day, and there was still no news from Mia.
Leisurely Moment (M), seeing Nobody Does Human Things (M) gazing intently into the distant wilderness with a somber expression, approached him and good-naturedly teased, “What’s wrong? The battlefield missions are over, and you’re still not satisfied?”
“No,” Nobody Does Human Things (M) shook his head. “My follower is missing. He left three days ago and still hasn’t returned. However, his status information shows he’s fine and his life is not in danger.”
“Three days? That shouldn’t be right,” Leisurely Moment (M) said in surprise. “Our followers are all from the Karari Royal Capital’s garrison. These guards are mostly from Karari City and nearby towns. I heard that some from the five great cities were all killed during the Undead Calamity, so they didn’t even return home. For those living nearby, it’s only a day’s journey. He’s probably encountered some trouble…”
Nobody Does Human Things (M) felt the same. He glanced at the sky; there was still some time before 9 AM. It would take about fifteen minutes to ride a fast horse to Kurban Town. So, he borrowed two warhorses from the Karari Royal Capital’s garrison and, accompanied by Leisurely Moment (M), headed towards Kurban Town.
…
In Kurban Town.
Mia was locked in the woodshed, weeping. Her hands and feet were bound with rope. Although she had learned many combat skills from Nobody Does Human Things (M), she was, after all, just an ordinary, weak woman. She had no room to resist against three or five burly men attacking her. Two militiamen, clad in leather armor and armed with oak shields and ordinary iron swords, stood guard outside the woodshed.
At this moment, a sinister-looking old man approached. The two militiamen immediately bowed respectfully to him. “Mayor!”
“Hmm,” the old man grunted indifferently, then walked past the two militiamen and into the woodshed. Kurban Town’s Mayor, Morik, coldly gazed at the girl, who was now dressed in normal women’s clothing, and slowly spoke, “Mia, today is the day you marry my son. I hope you behave yourself. Otherwise, I don’t mind telling your uncle, and whether your uncle will take care of your father afterward is not something I can control.”
Mia cowered in the corner of the woodshed, silent and pitiful. She didn’t want to marry Morik’s son. He was a well-known idiot in town. At over forty years old, he couldn’t even feed himself. Yet, every day, he would whine with a crooked mouth about wanting to marry a beautiful girl. Furthermore, Morik’s true intention was to embezzle the monthly subsidy she received as a veteran. Of course, after the marriage, it was unknown whether she would be Morik’s foolish son’s wife or Morik’s plaything.
The incident began with the unexpected visit of her uncle, Boros. Three days ago, she had just arrived home and hadn’t even had a meal before going into town to buy the best medicine for her father. After returning home, she took off her armor and no longer dressed as a man. She changed back into her girl’s clothes, appearing graceful and dignified. She didn’t know how her uncle, Boros, found out she was back and that she received money from the King every month. Coincidentally, the Mayor was in a hurry to find a wife for his stupid son. Her uncle’s eyes gleamed, and he took the initiative to go to the Town Mayor’s Residence and collude with Mayor Morik.
Although her father was bedridden, he still had the right to guardianship and could decide Mia’s major life events. However, her uncle ruthlessly knocked her father unconscious and forcibly arranged this marriage with Mayor Morik. In the days that followed, her uncle Boros, this idle drunkard, would receive 20% of the monthly subsidy as his reward. As the “matchmaker” for this marriage, Mayor Morik would also give Boros an additional 10 Gold Coins as a bonus. She, who was a remarkable woman disguised as a man to join the army to treat her father, had experienced life-and-death situations on the battlefield. After the war, she had even received the honor of a veteran. Little did she know that on her first day back in town, she would be sold out by her own uncle, all for him to claim 20% of her subsidy as drinking money. Family affection became insignificant and pathetic in the face of profit.
Mayor Morik didn’t seem too bothered by Mia’s silence. After all, the wedding procession had already arrived. When his foolish son married such a beautiful wife, no one in town would dare to mock him anymore. As for the fact that his son was impotent, it didn’t matter. He could handle the continuation of the family line. Although he was old, as a Great Knight, his body was still very strong. The more Morik thought about it, the more satisfied he became, and a proud smile appeared on his sinister old face. Mia’s uncle, Boros, deserved credit for this matter. He decided to let the old drunkard live a little longer, until his grandson was born. After all, with a grandson, there would be new expenses. Giving away 20% of the subsidy then would seem too wasteful.
“Dong dong qiang—” The sound of gongs and drums came from outside the courtyard. Morik knew the wedding procession had arrived. He ordered the two militiamen to support Mia and then, with a cheerful face, walked out of the small courtyard.
