Asa woke up.

This was the room in the hotel, the haystack on the wall, and the oil lamp on the table was still the same as when I left that night. She was lying on the bed she had slept on, with her head on the hay-woven pillow she had used, and although it had been a long time, she seemed to still feel the breath of nothingness on it. The sun and noise outside the window poured in, and it was the morning of Oufu. Asa felt light, felt very good, and it was never so good. The muscles and muscles of the hands are so strong, and the skin is full of healthy elasticity and complexion. His mind was so clear that he could distinguish the voice of every orc outside.

Walking out of the door of the hotel, the morning sun in the highlands carries the pleasure of penetrating the body. The orcs were busy shuttling and chatting and shouting in the streets, and the half-orc owner of the inn was sitting at the door, peeling the unpalatable tubers in his hands, and it seemed that another group of merchants had arrived in the hotel, and he was going to be busy again. The city is full of life and peace. Asa shook his head diligently, and when he finally woke up, the bloody fear he remembered seemed like a dream.

Fragments of memories floated out of my mind somewhere. During that half-dead time, although he couldn't move or speak, he could still vaguely know what was happening around him. Although I don't remember it completely, I also know in a trance that everything has started again. The people around me are gone, and the enemy who was once misunderstood is not an enemy anymore. Now I was just alone in a strange city, and a strange sense of loneliness came over me.

"The city lord of Sedlos told you to go to the city hall to find him when you wake up, he has something to say to you. The orc boss glanced up at him, then lowered his head to continue concentrating on the food in hand.

"Oh. Asa nodded.

Arriving at the city hall, the city lord of Sedlos was holding a meeting with the elders of the various tribes, and Asa was waiting in the city hall. It was still so busy, with orcs and human officials talking to each other, some holding official papers, and a few ogres, werewolves, and lizardmen in betwere. The voices of various languages come and go, and the characters with different appearances are mixed and interspersed, which makes it more and more vibrant.

General Gru walked in through the gate with a few werewolves and ogres. These orcs were all wearing weapons and armor, and they seemed to be the fighting troops he led. General Gru just looked at him twice, nodded at him, and walked into the other chamber with a few orc men.

Asa looked at Gru and nodded. This is the terrible enemy in his last memory? He suddenly remembered a story about someone who slept in the mountains and had a dream, and when he came down the mountain, he found that a hundred years had passed and the world had completely changed. And he now feels as if he has had such a century-long dream.

The world has changed. So, what about her?

The meeting finally ended. With a smile on his face, the Lord of Cedros walked out of the chamber and beckoned to Asa, who followed him out into the street.

"Has she already gone back....." After listening to the story of the city lord of Sedlos, Asa just said to himself.

Cedros nodded and said, "Yes, she went back on her own." Go home and get married. ”

The word 'self' sounds particularly harsh. Asa didn't know if Sedloster meant to say it that way or if he heard it that way. He felt as if something had hit him in the chest, stabbed it, it hurt, it was stuffy, it was sore, and he even felt himself shake a little.

"What are you going to do?" asked Cedros, looking at him.

Asa was silent, without any expression on his face. The streets still seem to be so lively, peaceful and full of energy. All sorts of orcs and humans walked by, ran by, shouted, and talked. But all this noise seems to be just a phantom, as if it is too far away to reach and completely out of business. He just walked step by step alone. Cedros watched him from the side, didn't speak, just walked with him.

Finally he sighed and muttered, "I want to travel everywhere and see and travel everywhere." This is a wish I have made for a long time. ”

"Oh, don't you want to go back to the royal capital to find her?" asked Cedros, a little surprised.

Of course, this is not encouraging, just a little curious. Young people's feelings are usually something that can be sent but not received.

Since she was leaving, she must have her own reasons. What am I going to do with her?"

"Oh... It's really commendable that young people know how to make trade-offs like this. Cedros nodded.

"I don't know what to give, but an old man once told me, 'The world doesn't revolve around your feelings,' and I think it makes sense. She has her options. Asa's mind was stiff, but he listened to himself say such a great truth that seemed to be well understood by human feelings.

"Hahahaha. Cedros burst out laughing. It seems to be satisfied with this answer. He nodded and said, "By the way, only those who are not bound by their children's private affairs are qualified to achieve great things." He pointed to the street like an artist introducing his proud work and said, "First of all, let me ask you, what do you think of this city?"

"Good. Asa nodded.

"But you know, two years ago it was just a barren land. And the army of the Alffast Empire is about to drive out the orcs on this highland. These races, which are similar to our human race, will soon disappear from this continent forever. You know, their history is actually the same as our human race, but the cultural form is completely different. They all cling to their primitive way of life and ancient beliefs, refusing to communicate and progress. As humanity grows, they become a weak barbarian group. But then look at the present. "His expression is no longer showing his work, but like a father showing his son. "Look at this vibrant scene. Every orc is working hard to build this home of his. Have you seen such a vibrant city, where their beliefs and ways of life have completely disappeared with the destruction of the tribes of the past. Those who survived the slaughter of humans were young, who grew up in active self-struggle and hard work, and their relationship with humans also made them free from hatred, and their belief in gods and ancestors was no longer unwarranted, but freedom, the legal system, and hard work and struggle. In just two years, they have built such a city, and it will grow even bigger in the future, and it is even possible, nay, that it will become the most powerful country on the continent. I lead them, but I am not the ruler here. There is no need for a ruler here. In the early days of this start, I guided them, and in the future, I will further improve the laws and systems, so that the residents here can govern themselves. Such a belief system, freedom, equality, hard work and vitality of the country is the greatest country. Is there anything more interesting and meaningful than creating such a city and building such a country from scratch?" he waved his hand freely, and his gray hair and wrinkles did not diminish his vitality and pride in the slightest. "What kind of children's private feelings, you love me. Those short-lived things are nothing compared to these great undertakings that can change history and change the history of civilization. ”

Cedros looked at Assa, the eyes of a young man full of fighting spirit and hope. "I can see that you are a very capable man, how about you, would you be interested in helping me to build such a country with General Gru? Believe me, the joy of pioneering and progress is incomparable, and you are still young, and you may be able to take over the leadership of this country in the future. The words that come out of his mouth can make every young person's heart flutter. "At that time, the development of the entire continent will be changed by your hands. ”

"Forget it. Asa shook his head weakly. "I'm not really interested in any of these big things. Now I just want to be free to travel and adventure everywhere. ”

"I misread you. Cedros stared at him and smiled suddenly.

"What?"

"It's not that you're not bound by your children's private affairs, you don't even know how to be bound by it. You don't know how you're going to deal with your feelings. You're scared. The old man smiled a little slyly. "You're too simple, you're too kind. But those old guys know a little too much. Hehe, this kind of thing, even if it is indeed true, sometimes it is better to know a little less. ”

Asa didn't speak. He was so annoyed in his mind right now that he wasn't even interested in delving into the meaning of the sentence.

"But I advise you to go back to the royal capital. Cedros took out a scroll and handed it to Asa. "This is the teleportation scroll that Bishop Ronis left for you to wake up and go back. ”

The royal capital, the ducal palace, the wedding. Asa immediately thought of it, and he shook his head and said, "I really don't want to go to that place again." It's not bad to start traveling like that. ”

"You'd better not run around. The elves are looking for you everywhere. As if he had suddenly remembered something, he said, "By the way, if you go back to the royal capital, you'd better be careful with Duke Mrak." ”

"Aren't you with him?" Asa's surprise was at the reminder. "He's been helping you block the news of Oufu's establishment, right?"

Cedros gave him a meaningful look and said. "Anyway, just be careful. I've heard the story of the two of you in the swamp, and it looks like you're probably the soldier who ran away from General Gru, right?"

Asa nodded.

"In two years, we have killed nearly a thousand people, and you are the only one who has been able to escape from General Gru. General Gru was very busy during this time to prevent war, but he asked me to tell you that although it was a misunderstanding last time, it was a really interesting battle, and I hope to have the opportunity to fight you again. ”

Asa smiled bitterly, "But I don't find it interesting at all, and I can't wait for another chance like that." ”

Cedros patted Asa on the shoulder and said, "Okay, you can go back." I'm going to get busy too. ”

"I said I wouldn't go back......" Asa muttered.

I won't go back. He tried to make up his mind, but found that his heart was empty and he didn't have the slightest strength.

A few days later, in the teleportation magic array of the Imperial Capital Magic Academy, a blue light flashed.

The blue-white magical light around him faded, and Asa found that in the blink of an eye, he had come from the wilderness to the magic circle of the Academy of Magic.

Finally back.

Walking out of the Academy of Magic, Asa looked at the streets of the royal capital, which he hadn't seen for a long time, in a daze. He's been feeling like this for a while, dazed. The body seemed to be partially empty, uncomfortably empty, and it seemed like something was clogged up. I decided to go on a trip, but I didn't know where I was going. After walking alone in the wilderness for a few days, I woke up from a lonely afternoon in the bushes and suddenly inexplicably pulled out the teleportation scroll and used it.

"I'm back again. Asa walked back to Sandru's house and pushed open the door. This is his home in the royal capital.

Old Man Sandru was still messing with corpses, as if he would ever do such things. Seeing Asa come back, he was still so unsurprised, looked at him a few times and said, "Why do you feel weak this time?"

Asa approached Sandru's bearded and indistinguishable face, shook his head, and said, "I don't have much energy because I think I have to work for you." ”

My heart is still very empty, maybe it will be better to live here for a while. Asa remembers the dull life he had with Sandru in the past.

"Oh?" Sandru was a little surprised. "It's rare to see such a credible young person nowadays, and I've almost forgotten about it. I heard that you were beaten half to death in the west for stealing that book, right? Fortunately, I have already got the book back, and for the sake of your work ethic and credibility, I will be relieved of the work you owe. Now that you're free, do whatever you want. ”

What do I want to do? Asa was stunned.

"By the way, give me back that overalls. Sandru waved his hand and glanced at him. "Now I see that this thing looks a little dangerous to wear on you. ”

Asa took off his robe and handed it to him. Sandru spread out this legendary top-of-the-line defensive equipment on the table, and placed a few hands and feet on it.

In the shop on Wangdu Street, Asa spent money to buy a dress for the first time in his life. He didn't know how to choose, and he didn't need to say anything, he just needed to take out a shiny gold coin, and naturally the boss would come to give him some points. After putting on his clothes, he combed his hair and shaved his face clean at the strong request of his boss. I was a little surprised when I looked in front of the mirror, and I didn't know that I was like this. It seems that it is no worse than those young knights of the nobility.

Asa suddenly remembered that the bishop and the duke's appointing clerk had been returned to him, as if it was time to return it to them, and slowly and unconsciously walked to the duke's palace.

After the servant reported it, Duke Mlak himself came to the door to greet him, and his face was still so kind and kind. He didn't see his deputy, Knight Clovis, and with the duke's sophistication, he naturally knew what kind of people not to let meet on what occasions.

"I've been waiting for you, and I must thank you for saving the little girl from the clutches of those kidnappers. "The Duke led Asa into the Duke's Palace. Although he was still smiling so brightly, he was secretly in turmoil.

His daughter came back obediently before the wedding, which made him feel very relieved. Although the daughter didn't mention much about what happened outside, the duke still roughly estimated from the words that the young man had arrived in Oufu City, so it was very likely that he had already realized that he had been blocking the news for Oufu City. What if this is said? I have already deceived him before, but now it will be very difficult to deceive him. Why don't you just kill him? No, the consequences of angering the bishop are even more disastrous. Where do you start..... It's just that this is another opponent who doesn't make oil and salt. Power is not interested, money is not attractive to him, and he used to misunderstand that this young man is obsessed with his young daughter, but it seems that it is obviously not. As for the eldest daughter who was chasing him, it seemed that something had happened when she came back, but she was about to get married, and of course one chip could not be placed in two places......

Compared to the marquee's thoughts and troubles in the duke's heart, Asa was like a piece of wood. He walked apathetically with the Duke in the Duke's Palace. It's still so luxurious and beautiful, and you can see people everywhere shuttling around and busy arranging, with colorful lights, full of joy.

"Father, my sister's wedding dress has been tried on, please go and see it. Chrissy came running from the front, and looked a little surprised to see Asa, and her surprised eyes kept looking at him.

"Let's take a look, it's all up to you for the little girl to have today. ”

Hearing this invitation from Duke Mrak, Asa suddenly had a strange feeling in his heart. It's a feeling of finally finding it. He now finally understood why he had come back from a ghostly mission, and why he had unwittingly come to the Duke's Palace, all to see her.

He followed the Duke through a short corridor. He felt that he had never walked such a difficult and thrilling road, and with every step he could hear his heartbeat squeezing the blood on his head and rushing upwards.

Finally, after turning a door, she appeared in front of her.

She was no longer dressed in the dirty adventurer's outfit, but in a snow-white wedding dress, like a fairy in mythology, and her dark and thick hair was also beautifully coiled, no longer casually pulled up. With a thin rouge face and slightly makeup-on eyebrows, she had never been so pretty.

Rumble. Asa felt that his empty chest was filled in an instant. It turned out that the vacant place was her.

She saw Asa. There was a look of disbelief at first, then a flush welled up on his cheeks, dwarfing the rouge on it. She tried to restrain herself, but there was a glint in her eyes. Her body trembled slightly.

As if to compensate for the emptiness that has been empty for so long, the feeling in the chest is not just full, but the waves are turbulent and the river and the sea are overturned. Countless huge impulses collided and intertwined with each other, and they were about to burst out of their chests at once. Looking at the little glint in her eyes, his heart ached. It hurts like a knife.

As long as she called, a footstep, a movement, a look, he could immediately rush over, and the anger in his chest would immediately explode. Regardless of whether this is the Duke's Mansion or not, even if it is the Imperial Palace, there are thousands of troops, swords, mountains and fires, and he will draw his sword and take her out with him. What is the life of each individual, what is the world like, to ****** eggs.

However, in the end, she finally restrained herself, blinked, the glint in her eyes disappeared, and all traces of excitement gradually returned to calm. And he saluted him like an ordinary guest, and smiled slightly.

Asa could hear the sound of his own internal organs shattering, crushed alive by the tsunami in his chest.

The Duke's slender eyes flickered over the two of them, and with his subtle insight into human affairs, he naturally saw everything clearly.

"My good daughter is the most beautiful bride in the world. "No one could see what the Duke was thinking, and he was a perfect example of a good father figure of a daughter before she was married, and he lovingly embraced his daughter and kissed her face. "Prepare slowly, I still have business to deal with with Mr. Asa. ”

"You come with me. The Duke patted Asa on the shoulder.

Asa followed the Duke into a room like a walking corpse. The Duke took matters into his own hands and closed the doors and windows. Asa then realized that it looked like the Duke's bedroom.

The bedroom is the place to sleep. A person usually only relaxes completely when he is sleeping, so the bedroom is the home of the home, a real 'nest', a place that truly belongs to oneself. This most private place is never used to entertain guests at will. And if it is really used for reception, there are only two possibilities, one is that there is no other place available, and the Duke's Palace will definitely not find a place to talk about things. The second is that the things used to talk to people must be the most personal and private.

The Duke looked at Asa and said, "Xiao Yi will get married the day after tomorrow." Married to the son of a marquis of the Ernie family, Knight Clauvis. Strangely, his signature gentle smile was gone, replaced by a cold indifference.

Asa let out an expressionless voice and no emotion, indicating that he understood.

"But Xiao Yi doesn't like him, and she simply hates him. He doesn't like Xiaoyi either. But they're still going to get married, do you know why?"

"I don't know. Asa replied almost reactively, still in his mind.

"Because of power. My marriage to the Ernnies has been very beneficial to both powers, especially me. My position and real power in the court will take this as an opportunity to rise. You've been to Orf, you've seen the orc city, and do you know why I risked so much to help them find a way to block the news of the city's founding?"

Even Asa was in a trance, and he was a little surprised by the duke's straightforward confession, and he shook his head: "I don't know." ”

"Or because of power. The establishment of Ofu City will have a great impact on the empire, and if I marry the Ernie family, I will take advantage of this political storm to rise. It is not even possible to be under one person but above ten thousand. "Duke Mrak's subtle eyes shone like a vulture, something that no one had probably ever seen. "But you know why I'm so attached to power. Are you so thirsty?"

"I don't know. Asa was a little shocked, and he could sense the unusualness in the Duke's words.

The Duke looked Asa in the eye and said in a knife-like voice that was completely different from his usual gentle tone, "Because I used to be like you, watching the woman I like be snatched away by someone else. And that person may not even be as good as one of my little fingers. ”

"At that time, I was younger than you, as chic and free as you, wandering the abyss alone, crisscrossing the battlefield, drinking and singing. I like a woman and she likes me too. I thought that a sword in my hand would be enough to protect the women around me, and I wouldn't worry about the rest of the world. But unfortunately, this world is not a world of only two people. In order to keep the status and interests of her family, she had to go to work as a noble concubine, and finally was implicated in the war and died. It was then that I learned that in this society of countless people, the power of the individual is insignificant, and only power is the power in this society. So I've been trying to climb up, faster than anybody and taller than anybody. ”

Asa looked in amazement at the man who had always been so deep and unfazed, and his passion and fanaticism now rivaled that of the wildest infidels.

The Duke's expression was full of real emotions and living vitality, something that no amount of clever acting skills could imitate. A stupid person with a clumsy tongue, once he says his true emotions and excitement, even if he cannot convince people in reason, he can emotionally convince the listener. Moreover, the Duke is by no means stupid.

"I can see that Xiaoyi likes you very much, she is my daughter, I know her. I can see that you like her a lot. I see in you a shadow of my former self. But this marriage cannot be changed, it involves political struggles, and perhaps the lives of tens of millions of people. At this point, there is no room for personal feelings. ”

The Duke's eyes locked Asa's eyes, and the sorrow, sorrow, pity, majesty, and salvation were all in his countenance, like a martyr. "Do you feel miserable? Sad, feel powerless, do you want me to tell you how to overcome this pain?"

Asa looked at the Duke blankly and listened.

The Duke held out his hand. "Come with me. You are a very capable and promising person, and I have told you all my secrets, and you can ride the coming storm with me. Only by gaining the greatest power to stand at the top of this society can we no longer be controlled by this social force and control it. That's when you can let your feelings transcend this society. You can get all the things you think of, and you don't have to have this kind of pain anymore. You're luckier than I am, and you can even get back what you've lost. ”

Real emotions are the most precious thing in everyone's heart, and the more profound and sophisticated people are, the less they will easily show them. But only those who use this truly most precious thing as a means of communication are the ultimate masters of the real means of scheming.

There is no one who will not be moved by the true feelings of others, especially when this passion is also the words that lurk in the heart.

The Duke saw that something was already burning in the eyes of the young man in front of him.

No young person is immune to love, and no young person can be insulated from the ambition to trample the world under his feet. And when the two are combined, it is enough to boil, burn, and even ** those youthful elements that are flourishing in their blood.

But with a long sigh, the flame in the young man's eyes was extinguished again.

Asa pressed the duke's inviting hand back and said, "Forget it." I think it's better to live a more relaxed life. And she'..... Wouldn't want me to do that. I'm touched to hear what you have to say. Rest assured, I'll never tell anyone anything. ”

He had escaped, not even daring to look at the room she was in. He was afraid that if he took another look at her, he would be desperate to agree to the duke.

He hurried around the corner and bumped into a man. He was about to get out of the way, but the man screamed happily and hugged him with a warm hug.