Although I think Jacob has a flamboyant personality, likes to make fun of others, talks a lot and is cheeky, hangs off and is a gangster..... Well, it's just unpleasant, but based on the previous friendship of fighting side by side in the Great Wasteland, Chris still politely got up to greet him.

And Sien, who was more sophisticated than the world, asked without a trace of his guard when Jacob approached with his horse, "When you first entered the kingdom of the dwarves, you hurried on, why did you fall behind us?" ”

"I'm going to find a dwarven craftsman."

Jacob smiled and lowered his chin to Jessica beside her, "Her two long daggers are a little broken, so let those dwarves help forge them." Oh, the god of fire, those short men are so greedy! They made me pay forty gold coins for just two openings! ”

Hearing this, Chris and Theon both glanced at Jessica's waist.

Sure enough, it was found that her two daggers had not only changed their handles, but even their leather sheaths had been replaced with new ones.

"By the way, where are you going? I'm going home, Edin City, I don't know ....."

Jacob continued to chatter, but before he could finish his sentence, he was interrupted by Chris's surprise, "Your family lives in Edin City?!" ”

"What's wrong, why are you reacting so much?"

Jacob, who paused slightly, also looked strange, "Is my family strange in Edin City?" You must know that there are more than 400,000 people in Edin City...... Oh, Vulcan is on top! Are you going to Edin City too? ”

After receiving an affirmative reply, he let out a hearty laugh, "Haha, what a coincidence! Dear little Chris, we're really in good hands! ”

I don't want to be associated with you.

Chris, who was full of helplessness in his heart, muttered silently.

Well, because there was no good reason to refuse, at least not a suitable reason for Chris and Theon before leaving the dwarven realm, the four of them went together anyway.

Like the previous journey in the Great Wasteland, Jacob, who talks a lot, still likes to joke about Chris, and still spends money and enjoys life, and by the way, Chris and the others follow suit.

Sometimes, having a partner with an overly cheerful personality can make the rush feel less boring. Chris, who is slowly getting used to being teased, even came up with the thought: Perhaps, this guy Jacob is not so annoying.

Of course, the thought was fleeting.

Chris, who grew up in isolated Eaton territory, has a reserved personality.

He had long been accustomed to loneliness, and even more accustomed to replacing words with actions, so he didn't dare to imagine how much fright and trouble his life would usher in if he had someone like Jacob by his side all the time.

Luckily, it's not a long journey.

In a hurry, they finally left the dwarven kingdom after four days.

To the southeast of the empire was a large plain, gentle and fertile.

The winds blowing from the eastern seaboard are blocked by the Rocky Daran Mountains, which bring abundant rainfall to this great plain, and the climate is very warm, so it has always been praised as the "land of God's favor".

For example, people living in the eastern archipelago of the empire, where arable land is scarce, once lamented that the south is a land flowing with milk and honey, and even if a grain of wheat is accidentally dropped in the spring, it will grow a loaf of bread in the fall.

Chris had heard the saying.

And at this time, when he stopped and looked around, he felt that there was not much exaggeration in this statement.

A few white clouds floated high in the sky, dappled shadows fell on the woods, farmlands, and streams, and even the breeze that swept over people's faces carried a faint fragrance of flowers; On the flat fields, there are countless farmers carefully caring for the green wheat seedlings, and barefoot children are laughing and playing on the wheat long, and the joyful laughter infects the sun, making it also warm.

Just as Chris was quietly feeling the peace given by this land, Jacob, who could never be idle, opened his arms and hugged the sky, "The god of fire is above!" Dear South, I'm back again~~"

This guy is really ......

Chris was a little helpless, but soon his pupils shrank.

Because Jacob, who was finished with emotion, suddenly turned his head to stare into his eyes, and said slowly: "In the name of Edin City, I welcome your arrival!" Dear Chris Eaton, Seon Clark! ”

Brush!

The long knife on Chris's back landed on Jacob's shoulder with lightning speed, and he seemed to have liked it since he met Charlie Jr. in Gardinarath.

The hammer on Theon's back was also in his hand.

Only Jessica remained silent, her straight body motionless, as if the change in front of her did not exist.

"Who the hell are you?"

Chris looked at Jacob and asked in a cold voice.

"Aha, the god of fire is above!"

But Jacob didn't blink his eyes, he didn't notice the blade around his neck, and he still smiled, "Dear little Chris, I'm a friend who once stood side by side with you against the wolves!" ”

It's a pity that Chris didn't answer, just stared at him, silently waiting for his answer.

"Okay, okay. You really don't have any sense of humor, my dear cousin! ”

Jacob pursed his lips, slowly raised his hand, and gently pinched the blade with two fingers and pushed it out, "Little Chris, if your grandfather knew that you had a knife on the shoulder of an Einsk, he would be very sad. And I, your dear cousin James Einsk, am already grieving. ”

"You're James?"

Sien, who had been silent, suddenly interjected, and his gaze moved to James' forearm, "When I left the South, you were not yet ten years old, but I remember your forearm ......"

James didn't wait for him to finish, he rolled up his sleeves, revealing his forearms with faint scars.

Sien, who saw it clearly, immediately put away the hammer and nodded at Chris, "Chris, he is indeed your cousin, the eldest grandson of the Archbishop of Einsk. ”

"I'm sorry."

Not surprised, Chris put the knife back into the sheath and apologized in a faint voice.

Because he had already vaguely guessed it.

It's not just James who has bright red hair.

Moreover, because few people in Eton territory knew that he had come to the South, and Sien had been away from the South for many years, but James said the surnames of both of them in one mouth, and many coincidences were enough to prove that he was not lying.

"Your apology is insincere! But for your sake, with bright red hair, I accept it. ”

James shrugged his shoulders, flicked his hair in the wind, and asked with a little curiosity, "But, little Chris, I'm curious, we've been walking together for a month, and you never thought I'm an Einsk?" ”

"I doubted, but I didn't dare to confirm it."

Chris nodded, hesitated for a moment before continuing, "You don't smell of Einsk, I mean style. My father once told me that every Einsk has a graceful demeanor and demeanor. But I'm sorry, I didn't find any of that in you. ”

"Haha..."

James laughed again, "You don't have to be so tactful, this is not the straightforward style of you northerners!" You can simply say that I am like a ruffian, with no aristocratic upbringing. Oh, Vulcan above, my dear little Chris, are you just stepping into the southern lands, are you going to start learning the hypocrisy of the southern aristocracy? ”

Yes, you're a very obnoxious ruffian!

Chris gave him a blank look and changed the subject, "James, since you already knew who I was, why didn't you tell me when I was in the Great Wilderness?" ”

"That's what my father told me."

Saying this, James's face flushed with a few wisps of bitterness, "At that time, my old man, oh, it was your grandfather who received the letter that you were about to come to the south, and told my father to arrange a caravan to meet you in the small mountain town. But my father put this drudgery on my head, saying that he was worried that the caravan would not be able to guarantee your safety, and that he had asked me to observe how you behaved along the way. Alas, your safety is very important in my father's eyes, but the safety and hardship of his only son are worthless! The god of fire is above, and I am so pitiful! But ......"

Speaking of this, James held back his words and raised an eyebrow at Chris.

Well, what's wrong?

Chris, who was listening quietly, was a little surprised, and couldn't help but ask, "But what?" ”

"But now I think it's a pretty good chore, and it's a lot of fun, because you've been so cute along the way! Hahaha......"

Belch~

Chris was speechless, and his face was full of helplessness.

This cousin of his is really unlikable.

So he also decided not to bother anymore, turned his head and continued to look at the scenery, so that he was in a better mood.

But when he let his guard down, something happened suddenly!

James also pulled out the long dagger tied to the outside of his thigh and crossed his neck, and let out an insolent laugh from his mouth.

Beads of sweat were running down Thorn's face, his linen shirt was soaking wet, and his hands holding the hammer were pale from overexertion.

The back of his heart was pointed at Jessica's arrow, and the slightest movement would lead to an arrow piercing his chest.

But that's not the reason he broke out in a cold sweat.

He had promised Henry and Kafka Sr. that he would bring Chris to Archbishop Raphael unscathed, rather than a corpse. Moreover, he had no chance to protect Avril back then, and he could no longer accept Chris's death in front of him.

"No surprise, little Chris, my dear cousin?"

James asked softly in Chris's ear, his voice as gentle as a lover's whisper, "Now your life is in my hands!" The god of fire is above, and if I pull lightly, or if I accidentally sneeze, you should lie on the woodstand and receive prayers, like those poor children in the great wilderness. For the sake of your lovely performance making it less boring for me along the way, I will sing a song for you and let your soul rest in peace. ”

"Did your father ask you to come out to meet me for my life?"

Chris, who is controlled by others, still has a very flat voice.

When there was an extra long dagger around his neck, he thought a lot.

For example, his father Kafka said that Einsk is a family that has been passed down for a long time.

In addition to the direct members, there are many branches and collaterals. Not everyone in these large branches felt that it was a good thing to accept the Eaton family, who were far away in the Alpine hills.

Also, his grandfather, Henry Sr., taught that in the eyes of many lords and nobles, interests were more important than blood ties.

"Vulcan is above! How could I have taken your life? My dear cousin, the old man will kill me if he finds out! I still have a lot of things to do, how can I be buried for you. ”

James was grinning again.

It's just that the long dagger in his hand didn't move half a minute.

"And what do you mean?"

Chris tilted his head and stared at him as he was close at hand.

"To give you a greeting gift, little Chris. As your cousin, I want you to remember that no matter who you are facing at any time, never let your guard down, or you will be in the hands of someone else, just like now. ”

James' voice was cold.

With that, he put away his long dagger and stepped on his horse, exposing his back defenselessly.

The horse's hooves slowly moved forward, he kept staring in the direction of Edin City and didn't look back, just beckoned back, "Let's go, the caravan has sent someone back to Edin City to report the news, and the old man should be waiting for you at this moment." ”

Jessica was the first to put away her bow and arrows, and drove her horse to follow.

Theon was still holding the hammer, his face full of horror.

And Chris was also silent, stretching out his cold fingers to caress the place where the long dagger had just been attached, and at this time James and Jessica had already ridden out thirty meters away.

Fifty paces away, Sien put away his mace.

A hundred meters away, the sound of horses' hooves became faint.

"Let's go, Theon."

Chris put on his cape, stepped on the stirrup, and gently clamped the horse's belly, and the good horse from the north opened his hooves to catch up with James.

After the episode passed, the four of them walked together in silence.

Only the occasional cheer from the wild geese flying overhead was about to go back to the north.

Chris looked up at the wild geese and felt that they were amazing as they migrated from south to north, and they were able to adapt to the difficulties of the world and find their own sky.

Therefore, he also frequently tilted his head to the side.

He opened his mouth at James and tried hard for a while before he squeezed out his voice with a very sincere expression, "Thank you, James, my dear cousin. ”

After finishing speaking, he felt that his mood was instantly relaxed.

What he didn't notice was that his beautiful face quietly faded away from the youthfulness of a big boy under the caress of the sun.

James was caught off guard by this.

After a slight pause, he showed a very bright smile, then nodded and said, "You're welcome, my dear cousin." Your mother, my little aunt, taught me in a similar way. ”

"My mother?"

The face that had just faded was full of excitement again, and Chris cried out in surprise.