On a sunny afternoon, the young boy, feeling drowsy, listened to the family tutor explaining the principles of magic. His head nodded uncontrollably, and saliva dribbled from the corner of his mouth.
With a loud bang, the door was kicked open, and an older girl stormed in, grabbing the boy by his ear and shouting loudly, "Ray! Wake up, Ray! If you keep sleeping, our family's reputation will be ruined!"
"Ouch! It hurts, sis! It hurts!" The young boy cried, tears streaming down his face.
"You've brought shame upon us! No more crying! Ray, you're a boy!"
"It hurts! Waa~ Waa~ I'll tell mom! You're bullying me! Waa~ Waa~"
"If you cry again, I'll really hit you!" The girl raised her hand threateningly, but the boy cried even harder.
"Waa~ Sis hit me! Ah~ Sis hit me!"
"You! You!" The girl's hand remained suspended in the air for a while before gently falling down. She then hugged the sobbing boy, soothing him while saying, "Alright, Ray, it's enough. Ray, you have to be a brave man from now on. A man shouldn't cry, or else the entire continent will laugh at you!"
"Do you hear me?" Although the sobbing had subsided, the boy in her arms remained silent, which irked the girl.
"Listen, did you hear?" The boy wiped his tears, and hesitantly lifted his eyelids, whispering, "Yes! How could I have such a cowardly little brother like you? Are you even our parents' biological child?" The girl was somewhat annoyed, but shook her head helplessly.
"Remember, you are the heir of Sarell and carry the blood of the Azazel family!" Suddenly, a hoarse voice rang out.
"Sarell, Azazel, such familiar names, who are they?" Ray asked anxiously, but his sister had disappeared, leaving him to be engulfed in a dark whirlpool, desperately trying to grab onto the glimmer of light above.
"Sis! Sis!" He suddenly opened his eyes, the sunlight shining through the broken window, illuminating his tear-stained face. His hand was still raised, and he continued murmuring, "Sis... Sis..."
Gradually straightening up, he observed the dilapidated house he was in, glanced outside, and muttered to himself, "I've actually returned to this..."
~
"He still hasn't returned?" In the late night Marshal Hall, Marshal Londershted looked at the blood moon outside with some worry. Two weeks had passed since the battle that shocked the continent. For all of humanity, it was the most exciting battle. Three SS-ranked orc warriors were killed, and one SSS-ranked demon was severely injured. The morale was greatly affected. Three clans had lost their guardians, and it was inevitable that the orcs would fall into internal conflicts of consolidation and annexation. The demons had already withdrawn from Panini. Although both sides still faced each other on the Blue River line, it was clear that the combat deployment across the river had stagnated.
The SSS-ranked warrior, "Black Flag", who had suddenly appeared and then disappeared after being critically injured, was still missing. All nations sought confirmation from the Holy See, hoping to release information about him. However, as usual, the Holy See remained silent, neither acknowledging the ownership of "Black Flag" nor admitting the existence of the "Judicial Bureau".
"We also care deeply about the condition of that hero and, if possible, provide him with the greatest assistance. However, I need to reiterate that the Holy See does not have an organization called the 'Judicial Bureau'," the Holy See spokesperson responded in public.
Only a small consolation could be found in the letter from Prince Chris to Marshal Londershted: "A wounded lion instinctively seeks the safest and most hidden place to lick its wounds. Even the lowest of jackals can find him by following the scent. Then, they boast to the world, 'I've defeated the king of beasts!'"
Stark had also left Fort Tears of the Setting Sun and went to the nearby Lien Resort, Lake Wabesh. Gavin and Derek were awarded the First-Class Human Freedom Medal posthumously, and the funeral would be held at Fort Tears of the Setting Sun in a week. Many influential figures would attend. The internal affairs office of the fort was busy preparing for it, which made Marshal Londershted feel deeply moved.
"Even sacrifice must be utilized. Heroes, are they not actors?""Ray, kid! You're badly hurt, and it's cold outside. Don't run around anymore!" The sunny yard was filled with a chill, and Ray's body was wrapped in bandages. His right hand hung around his neck as he limped outside, looking at the familiar mountains in the distance. A burly man smoking a cigarette opened the door and poured out a basin of smoking bloody water, followed by a pitiful pig's scream from inside the house.
"After all these years, nothing has changed," Ray said, but before he could finish, he was hit on the head.
"Don't act all old and wise like others. It's only been two years since you left and now you dare to say 'after all these years'!" The burly man wrapped his strong arm around Ray and carried him into the house. Ray caught a familiar scent of tobacco and glanced at the cigarette in the man's mouth.
"Huh? Oh, I see. There were a few packs in the package you brought. It's been so many years since I smoked such flavorful cigarettes!" he continued.
"Old Sairun next door also thinks this cigarette is pretty good, so I gave him a few packs."
"Oh, it's alright. You can have them all, Uncle Roy."
"That's what I'm saying! You're so young and already smoking such strong cigarettes. When you get old, you'll have to tone it down for everything!" After putting Ray down, he took out several pieces of pig offal from a large basin on the side.
"It just so happens that we slaughtered a pig today, and I specifically saved the offal for you to replenish yourself. Later I'll help you clean the wound again, and then you'll be fine. I was scared to death when I found you at the doorstep a few days ago. You were covered in blood and even had pig blood on you. We'll cook it together later."
"Alright, I need to open up shop now. You go lie down in the house!"
After Roy finished speaking, he placed the chopped pork on the cutting board, took the sign from the wall, and hung it up. On the sign were boldly written words:
Heavenly Clinic
Roy's Pork Shop
"Heaven's Gate" was a lawless land in the northern mountains of Breenia, isolated and lacking magical communication. The only connection to the outside world was occasional smugglers and mercenaries returning from expeditions in the frozen forests of the north. Although it was considered a territory of Breenia in name, it was such a barren and remote place, and almost all of its residents were fugitives and bandits who had escaped from Breenia or other countries. Therefore, no one would come here to become a lord. There was a famous mockery in Breenia's noble circles:
"Pay 200,000 Lira, and you will be appointed as the lord of Heaven's Gate!"
