Read Novel Full Chapter 549- Returning Home
Chapter 549: Chapter 549- Returning Home
Reinhardt gestured toward Kevin, Gwen, and the others.
"Their role is simple, to protect you. They will act as your guards, neutralize any individual harboring ill intentions, and ensure you return safely no matter what happens. Don’t worry, they are the most gifted and future knights of the Temple of Light, their strength is something I can vouch for."
Eleanor agreed readily, she never considered the knights of the Temple of Light weak in any way.
Kevin, Gwen and the other knights were equally moved by his speech as well. To vouch for them meant that he acknowledged them.
To be recognized by one of the three heroes of Solaris, what a great honor that was. Immediately, they stepped forward, pressed their hand at their chest and saluted.
"Commander, we’ll protect her no matter what."
"I expect nothing less. But understand this, this is not just simple guard duty. This is an opportunity to temper yourself. You’ve all grasped the basics of everything I have taught, but home field training can only take you so far. To improve yourself further, you must throw yourself into the outside world"...
"There are many skills, knights, training methods and battle techniques that you are yet to witness. Pit yourself against it and witness your growth, learn everything that you can from this experience"...
As he said that, his eyes were inadvertently drawn towards Kevin. While his training method could help realize the dormant potential of his body, its benefit was only so far.
As for the immense power residing within his body and sword, it was something that Kevin had to rely on himself or rather his fate. He could only peer at the divergences of destiny and push the body towards it.
"I’ll be in your care." Eleanor looked at Kevin, Gwen and the others.
"Big sister, leave it to me. With me protecting you, any evildoers will not be able to touch even a single strand of your hair." Kevin proudly boasted.
"Oh my." Eleanor covered her mouth, delighted by his response.
After the last of the knights and Eleanor left, the office finally grew quiet.
Reinhardt remained standing for a moment, eyes dazed, lost in thought.
Minutes passed before he exhaled and placed his attention on his secretary.
"Melissa, now that the city has stabilized, the demons purged, the Knight Orders reorganized, and the urgent matters resolved, would my absence for a few days stagnate development?"
Melissa, who had been arranging the documents in a nearby shelf, stopped and lowered her hands.
With her action, the mini skirt she wore also dropped lower and the sight of the garter belt was hidden once again.
"Is my lord planning on going somewhere?"
Seeing his intention being seen so easily, Reinhardt could only offer a wry smile and nod.
"Yeah, I’m going home. To Lumiose City."
He walked toward the window, gazing at the skyline bathed in late afternoon gold. There was something he had delayed for too long. Now that he finally had some free time, he could not put it on the back burner any longer.
.
The next morning, as the dawn broke out, a long line of carriages rolled out through the city gates.
At their center sat Reinhardt’s carriage, hoisting the Snowpoint City’s flag and the flag of the Temple of Light.
Along with him traveled Zerina and Karina, seated across from one another, silently staring daggers.
On his right was Anastasia, exuding a composed aura.
When he made the decision to head for Lumiose city, Anastasia requested to accompany. Partly because to take care of him and partly because as the previous headmaid of the House of Arcknight, she was curious about the state of the palace after her absence.
Since that was the case, Reinhardt felt no need to reject her.
Bob, unable to reject his wife’s request, agreed readily. His attention focused on learning the [Divine Beast Summoning].
Other than these three, there were several other maids on the other carriages and a full squad of high ranking knights riding escort on both flanks.
Of course, it was not for protection but rather for representation.
As a knight who had stepped into the realm of heroes, Reinhardt was one of the three strongest humans in the kingdom. Hardly anyone was his match.
That said, he traveled not merely as the Commander of the Temple of Light but as the Governor of Snowpoint City. Even if Lumiose was his father’s domain, form, dignity, and precedent still mattered among nobles.
Appearances were power and protocol was authority.
As the carriage wheels began to turn, they left the city behind.
.
Sometime during the midst of the travel, sensing the silent sparks between the two girls, Anastasia spoke first to defuse the situation.
"It has been quite some time since we last returned to Lumiose," she said softly, gazing out the window.
Reinhardt nodded, and a look of reminiscing appeared on his face. "Indeed, it has been close to two years."
If he counted the days when he first reincarnated into this world, close to three years had passed.
During this time, not only had he adapted himself to this world, the people around him, but he had also become the Governor of Snowpoint city and raised the status and strength of his order to what it was during its peak.
What’s more, now he was also surrounded by people he cared about.
With Anastasia defusing the situation, the competitive spirit between the two girls was also disrupted.
Karina leaned back against the carriage seat, arms folded, she commented.
"One year nine months, if we’re being exact. Snowpoint wasn’t even one tenth of what it is now back then."
Zerina let out a low hum, agreeing with her rival on that point. "To think it has developed so much, I can’t relate it with the previous city under Baros Chetak anymore. Commander has truly changed the face of it."
"Well, it was possible because of you all and the efforts of the people."
Anastasia’s lips curved slightly. "Of course, the people and we believed in you. However, it was only possible because it was you, Lord Reinhardt. If it were anyone else, I don’t think they would be able to change the city as dramatically as it has now. You can ask all the servants of the palace."
Reinhardt smiled, neither agreeing nor denying.
Her words carried weight. When Reinhardt had first departed Lumiose for Snowpoint, Duke Raymond, the head of the Arcknight family, had assigned him trained servants from the House who had served the family for years.
The agreement stated that they would provide one year of service, during which they would assist the young governor and train new personnel for the city he was going to manage.
The agreement was over.
Naturally aware, Reinhardt gathered the servants before departing Snowpoint and asked them the question.
Do you wish to return to Lumiose?
Those with families waiting there accepted gratefully. But the majority had shaken their heads. They had seen Snowpoint rise from a struggling frontier city into something bordering on a metropolis.
They had witnessed Reinhardt’s governance, they had seen the changes he had brought and how he ruled his people. Fair wages, Order without oppression, and protection without bias.
He was everything a commoner could ask for in a ruler.
They had served Duke Raymond for nearly a decade. And in Reinhardt, they saw not just his son, but someone who might one day surpass him.
So they stayed.
Seeing their trust and faith in him, Reinhardt nodded his head, accepting their decision.
Back in the carriage, Zerina tilted her head, gazing through the window at the distant horizon.
"Home, huh? I have been away for so long. I wonder how the people of my tribe are doing?"
"I’m sure they are doing fine. Thanks to new rules passed by the Queen, all demi-humans have been recognized as official citizens of the kingdom. Plus, with the ruler of the city being Duke Raymond, he won’t treat your kin badly."
Zerina nodded. In fact, she didn’t need Anastasia’s comfort to know that her tribe members were living well. However, since she was the last surviving Elder of the village, some matters still made her worry.
After she had become one of the Holy Knights of the Temple of Light to provide status and recognition for her people, the village was left with no elder.
That said, there were still quite a few exceptional people back in the village suitable for that position, so she was not overly worried.
Sitting nearby, Reinhardt’s eyes sharpened when the topic was raised.
In truth, this return to Lumiose City was precisely to meet with Zerina’s tribe members. His real destination lay beyond the city walls, the New Toto Village.
.
.
Three days later, the carriages finally arrived at the radiant Lumiose City.
At the grand entrance of the Arcknight palace, a welcoming party had already assembled. Rows of maids and servants stood in perfect formation, heads bowed.
At the forefront stood the butler, aged and dignified, while beside him waited two figures impossible to ignore.
One of the figures was Verdia Arcknight, Reinhardt’s stepmother.