"What are you being silence for? Are you that scared?" her father asked frankly, not knowing the situation, as she kept silent and refused to speak.

"Shut up! You think I'm terrified? Of course I'm not scared of that b**ch, that b**tard of a b**ch," she said as she snarled at her father.

Her mother was taken aback and slapped her in the face, causing her to snort. "What are you cursing for?" her mother said. "You're supposed to be her father. Can't you detect the mood? GET OUT!" she yelled.

She and her father were scared that they would shrink out of their wits. Her father responded, "Y-yes, then, goodluck…. I'll be going now." Her father then ran away, leaving her with only her mother beside her.

Her mother calmed down and asked again, "Tell me what happened…."

She was hesitant at first and told her mother the whole story without her cursing. She was careful of her words, but still, there were still parts that she would curse out, and her mother would glare at her every time she blurted it out, and then she would cough and continue.

"That's all...."

"I see. Isn't the family Monic from the capital? Oh, they must be here for some errand then if it's just his daughter."

"Mom, do you know them?"

"No, not exactly, but the village chief does….. *sigh* You shouldn't get affiliated with them, they bring trouble, and it's not your fault. You just didn't know that, alright sweetie?"

"Yes, mom…"

"But still, this eighteen-year-old girl of mine is fighting? Hmmm, you're just like me back then, hahahhaha"

"Uhm, what do you mean?"

"Well, off we go... You should get out of your room and eat. Your father and I baked some sweets. Also bring some upstairs to apologize. It will get it off your chest."

"You're avoiding the question, mom."

"Hoho, it's just the old days. Come along now." Her mother said, waving at her.

She was still hesitant about going upstairs and meeting Della and Roswald. She was afraid that they would detest her, but she braced herself and headed up. She knocked at the door and Roswald opened it, "What is it?"

"I brought some sweets."

"Give it to me... She still hasn't woken up yet. Come back tomorrow."

"I-I yes, I will."

Roswald then closed the door, and Ramy was taken aback by him. She thought that he would be angry at her, but he wasn't. She headed down the stairs, spacing out, bumping into her father. "What happened now?"

"Dad... sorry, it's just.... I'm shocked that he didn't say anything about it."

"Oh, isn't that great then? It means that he didn't blame you."

"Yeah... *smiles* thank you, mom."

*Night at the Inn*

"Are you awake?"

"Yes, is it morning?" Della asks, rubbing her eyes and yawning.

"It's night.... Let's go down and eat," Roswald said as he rose out of his chair and approached her.

She awoke from her slumber and went down with him. Because it was beyond midnight, the inn was closed. Downstairs, the owner of the inn was preparing all of the necessary ingredients for tomorrow.

"Inn owner, is there some food left?"

"Oh, the young lad woke up already? There's no food, but I can cook for you….. What do you want?"

"Cook us some porridge since her body is still unwell."

"Hmm, porridge.... Huh, how about some light meals? It looks like the young lad doesn't like porridge."

Roswald looked at her and was so flummoxed that she stumbled a bit, "N-no, porridge will d-do…."

"What do you want to eat?"

"Uh-um, I-I want some eggs, the fluffy ones..... Can I?" she timidly said.

Roswald and the inn owner found her actions cute. The inn owner was over the clouds and compared it to the time Ramy was still a kid, while, Roswald remained calm and unwavered.

"*cough* inn owner, egg and porridge will do, *looks at her* is that all?"

"Y-yes,"

"Hey, Roswald, you keep calling me the inn owner... will I am, but can you call me by my name or just don't know? You've been here for almost two years now... will let you know that my name is Balder. You can call me Bal. That's what they all call me…"

"Sorry for that, Bal….. I just forgot to ask, that's all. "

"Well, now that you know, you have to call me that from now on. Let's get cooking."

Following their conversation, Bal began to prepare food. As she strolled around, she came across a seascape artwork. She was captivated and felt nostalgic. Her gaze was fixed on the painting. She stared at it for a long time, till her eyes shone and a part of her consciousness drifted away from Danbell's village inn. The oddity of her behavior was seen by Roswald. He walked over to her and touched her shoulder. The abrupt touch that drew her back to reality shocked her.

"Are you alright?" Roswald questioned because she'd been out for a while.

"Y-yes, I'm fine..."

Roswald was staring at her in a way that made her uneasy. "u-um, Mr. Roswald?"

He came back to his senses and noticed that he had been holding her shoulder for a long time. He then walks back to his chair like nothing happened, "Come sit down, Bal is almost finished...."

"Y-yes,"

She sat down on the chair and was spacing out, thinking of the scenery she saw. It was like a short dream to her. She looked at the painting's location and was out of it. Bal was calling her, but she wouldn't respond as she was thinking deeply. It was only after a while that she responded, and as she regained herself, she noticed that there was food in front of her.

"I-I'm sorry..."

"What's wrong with you, lad?"

"U-um...." she stammered, while glancing back and forth at the painting on the wall.

"Hm? Do you like that painting, young lad? You see, that painting is from the west continent. My grandparents brought it to me as a gift. It's been a long year since then. Do you like that painting, lad?"

"Y-yes,"

"I think Roswald has been there. You should ask him about it."

"Mister Roswald?"

"Yeah, he was travelling before he decided to settle here in this village."

With a curious expression in her eyes, she gazed at Roswald. Despite the dazzling eyes staring at him, he stayed calm and composed. He remained unaffected for a moment, but then he couldn't take it any further. He began to talk about his journey to the west continent, where the capital is surrounded by water.

The west continent is divided into three categories: the country of Selene, which is home to moon goddess worshippers; their country is strict and adheres to their religion; the Forest of Tartarus, as the word means abyss, is where strong monsters and beasts reside, and the demons have their offspring. The country of Pontus is rich in seafood resources because it is surrounded by sea water and was blessed by the goddess of water. And at the center of the western continent is the empire of Astraea.

Astraea was a peaceful empire that remained neutral for several decades since the day it existed. The empire was perfect and all, but it was only if you didn't look at it blindly. The empire may be peaceful, but still, poverty could not be prevented and corruption of other factions could be seen clearly, but the people inside are living their lives to the fullest. Even if some were happy and some were met with misfortune, the empire stayed the same.

As Roswald continues to talk about his journey, Della becomes more curious and fascinated by the world outside. Then he asked, as soon as he finished the story, "Did you go to all of them?"

"No, the place I've gone is the country of Pontus, and after that, I traveled again to another."

"I see... Can you tell me more about your travels?"

"Next time, finish up your food, then go back to sleep." He said coldly.

"Y-yes,"

*Morning at the village guild*

"Is Roswald not here yet?" Geld asked while walking back and forth.

"No, guild master, he hasn't arrived yet."

"Inform me if he arrives."

"Yes, guild master."

Geld then goes back to his office to review some matters of his guild. Roswald woke up and got ready to head out, while Della was sleeping comfortably on the bed. He headed down the stairs and talked to the inn owner on his way, "Bal, I'll be heading out. Can I ask you to look after her?"

"Heading out already? Don't worry, we will take care of her for you. Here, bring this." The inn owner's wife said, carrying a basket full of vegetables.

"Yeah, we will take care of her..."

"Thank you."

"Take care on the way home now."

Roswald nodded and walked down the road, heading to the guild. He enters and asks, "Is the guild master present?"

"Sir Roswald, you're finally here, and yes, the guild master is in his office now waiting for you to come. Should I guide you there?"

"No need..."

He knocks on the office door, "Come in... I thought you were never going to come."

"Something came up..."

"Hoh~ the receptionist said you took a quest outside and something came up?"

"I apologized."

"Well, more than that, Mario and I revised the plan and renewed some of it. When you were not present, the two of us already asked and executed the plans. ... You should go and take a look at the training ground outside." After a short conversation, the two of them headed to the training ground.

*training ground*

"Faster! Faster! Get it moving, you lazy fools.... Move! Move! Move!"

"Mario, how's it going?"

"Still a work in progress, the chieftain is doing his best. Can't you hear the sound they make? Isn't it pleasant to the ear?" Mario said, smiling pleasantly.

"I see.... By the way, he's here. "

"I can see that... What were you doing all this time?"

"He was on the quest the day we finished talking..." Geld he said, suppressing his anger and holding Roswald's shoulder.

"Haha, that's so you, hahahaha," Mario said, laughing so loudly that he could be heard from afar.

Roswald didn't mind, and keeping his calm demeanor, he then asked, "What's the situation?"

"I will just wait and see if there is any progress tomorrow. Roswald, are you going to patrol the village at night today?"

"I don't have anything to do so...."

"I thought you were going to take off again..."  Geld proclaimed.

"Haha, I see. Don't overwork yourself too much..... What about you, Geld?"

"I'm going to accompany him, of course."

"I see. Well, good luck to you two. I'm going to head home now. I have more work to do."

Roswald and Geld got back inside the guild and waited for the night to come. "Hey.... Roswald, do you think our plan will be effected?"

"Why are you asking?"

"Just asking you….. *sigh* nevermind.... Is someone outside?"

"... Guild master, it's me."

"Sheena? Come on in..... What is it?"

"That, guild master... I brought some snacks and tea."

"Put it here on the table. Is that all?"

"No, guild master, some of our people that were dispatched into the forest not long ago haven't come back yet."

"Isn't it only two days? Maybe they were held up?"

"That's what we thought too, guild master. Until one of our dispatch people came back injured and died on the way to the hospital."

"What?!" Geld jumped off the couch, and Roswald remained calm, drinking tea.

"Guild master….. I came here because the mage doctor was asking for the two of you."

Geld sat down scratching his head and groaning, then Roswald said, "We should go."

"Hayss…. What a headache. Sheena, I'll leave the guild with you while I'm away."

"You can count on me, guild master...."

After that, Roswald and Geld went to the hospital, where the mage doctor urged them to go. On the way, the two of them see Mario entering the boutique shop. Geld tries to approach him, but Roswald declines because they have an urgent task to complete and notice that Mario is also working on something.

To be continued...