Although A. Lange and Söhne offered two options in the name of the Einske family, Chris knew he had no choice.

To be precise, the Eaton family didn't have a choice.

The population of Eton's territory is only more than 10,000 people, and although these people who have been rooted in the north for generations are very supportive and loving to the benevolent Eton family, if they want them to migrate to the south, thousands of miles away, at least half of them will no longer be willing to be the subjects of the Eton family.

The inability to leave one's homeland is a factor.

Deaths and injuries along the way, fear of an uncertain future, fear of exclusion from the conflict between the North and the South, and fear of enslavement when they arrive in the South can all discourage people from supporting the Eton family.

Especially since they have other options.

After the Eton family was isolated, both the Ice Goddess Cult and the Earl of Mykonoki have been sending people to infiltrate the Eton territory and promise rich conditions to trick them into leaving the Eton family and entering the Northwest Plains to start a new life and re-bathe in the glory of the Ice Goddess Cult.

Moreover, since the South is about to eliminate the system of knighthood and aristocracy, will the Eton family still have people in the past?

Without the people, how can there be a resurgence? With just a few dozen men with the surname Eton, when they spell out the power as if they were in the north, they are probably all killed and wounded!

Migrating to the south, starting from scratch, was no less than self-destruction for the Eaton family.

At least, Chris won't use the entire family and the entire territory as a price to fulfill his own future!

So when Lange Einske first gave his choice, he didn't think about it and asked out loud, "Lord Duke, how much time do I have?" ”

It also made Lange and Söhne look approving.

Because he knew that Chris had made his choice, he was asking how much time he had to chase the road to the strong.

It's even more because the young man in front of him has just turned nineteen.

Nineteen years old, still a big boy.

At this age, many people are still causing trouble everywhere under the protection of their fathers, but he has to shoulder the responsibility for the rise and fall of the family. And he did not complain and retreated, and chose to face the difficulties without hesitation.

Therefore, for a moment, Lange even felt that the choice he had given was too harsh and unfair to the young man in front of him.

After all, he was Avril's child, and he also had Einske's blood in his veins.

And according to James's observations in the Great Wilderness, it is enough to conclude that he has good qualities and is worthy of Einsk's continued support as the heir of Eton.

"Dear little Chris, you don't have much time."

After a moment of silence, Lange said softly, "You should know that more than twenty years ago, the demigods brought back the heads of two centaur khans from the northern steppes, right?" In fact, the other Khan, who was not killed, was also severely injured by the demigods back then, and died ten years ago. But before it died, it also prepared all the centaurs to invade the north. Because it said that the demigods were not lightly injured back then, and they would inevitably fall within twenty years! Not many people in the world know about this secret, not your grandfather and father, but it's not a secret to the Einske family. So, you only have ten years, and even less. ”

With that, Lange got up and walked over to Chris and put his hand on his shoulder.

"Dear little Chris, your choice has comforted me and awakened my guilt as an uncle. So, I'm going to give you another chance to choose, and if the Eaton family is willing to come south, I'll pick an Einsk wife for you, and let your family have a parish as a place of self-sufficiency, how about it? ”

"Thank you, dear uncle."

Chris, who felt the affection of his family for the first time when he entered the study, showed a very bright smile, "But my aunt once told me that 'fate is as cold as winter, and only by bravely facing the injustice of fate can we usher in the tenderness of God', she told me not to lack courage no matter what I face." So I'm sorry, uncle, my choice remains the same, because I can't live up to my grandma's expectations. ”

"Avril Lavigne~~"

Lange, who got the reply, sighed softly.

After a slight silence, he continued, "That's it, so be it." But, little Chris, if you change your mind in the future, my promise today will last until the demigods fall. With that, he turned to the tall counter, took out a parchment letter from the bottom drawer, handed it to Chris, and waved his hand, "I'm tired, you guys go out." James, tomorrow you will take little Chris directly to the trial, and you don't have to ask for instructions again. ”

"Yes, father."

James, who had been treating himself as a bystander after entering the house, quickly responded, got up and pulled Chris away. The haste of his footsteps, as if there was a snake man chasing after him, made Chris not even have a chance to thank him and politely leave.

Could it be that the Duke will go back on his word?

Chris, who came out of the yard, had some doubts in his heart.

And James didn't wait for him to ask, and said casually, "You don't think much, my father has been used to being alone over the years, and he doesn't like people in his study very much, and he usually asks the guards to deliver notes directly." If it weren't for your first time in the South, he would have asked me to talk to you today. ”

"Oh~"

Chris replied, "Well, James, what does the Duke mean by putting me to trial?" ”

"A test that only a direct descendant of the Einske family or a person with exceptional talent can accept. For a month, if you pass, you can chase the road of the strong, but if you don't pass, then stay at home and serve the family. It can be regarded as a kind of screening, in order to reduce the needless death of family members to break through the shackles of the strong. You'll find out tomorrow. Well, it's late at night, you go back and rest first, and I'll look for you tomorrow at noon. ”

"Okay."

Nothing to say all the way.

Chris, who returned to his room, took out the parchment letter given by Lange by the dim candlelight.

The rolled up parchment letter was tied with a string, the original color of the rope was no longer visible, and the corners of the letter were slightly yellowed, so it could be seen that it had been some years old.

Is this a credential to join the Knights of the Cathar?

Chris, who still remembered Lange's promise, gently opened the parchment letter with curiosity, and then couldn't help but exclaim.

This letter was written by his mother, Avril!

Although Avril didn't have much ink left, Chris recognized his mother's handwriting at a glance.

"Grandma~"

He called softly, stroking his fingers over the handwriting, and his heart was flooded with the good old days of his childhood.

I don't know how long it took.

Finally recovering from his recollections, he moved the candle flame closer and read the letter word by word.

"Dear Chris, by the time you read this letter, you should already be a man. I'm sorry, but I can't grow up with you and witness your coming-of-age ceremony. But Chris, you have to believe that my love for you has always been there. On your fifteenth birthday, your father should have given you a long knife, right? That long knife was originally my weapon, but I entrusted your grandfather to have it sealed by the Dwarven Forge. Yes, the blade you see today is really just a scabbard, and it has no characteristics other than being strong enough. To see the light of day again, you'll need to gather the gold-devouring fangs, the manticore's poison needle, and a dark red icebone lizard's horn and give them to the Dwarven Blacksmith. This is my rite of passage test for you, and it is also the final requirement: if you can't get these three materials together, then give up chasing the strong! Please promise me, my little Chris, I don't want to see you again in heaven anytime soon – Grandma who will always love you, Avril. ”

Chris, who had read it several times, blew out the candle and lay on the bed holding the parchment letter tightly.

Grandma, I will always remember your face.......

Grandma, I will never live up to your expectations.......

Grandma, I miss you so much......

The night is getting deeper, the insects outside the house are singing with the vitality of early summer, and the enchanting red moon will spread the blood through the window and fall to the ground, wantonly mocking the joys and sorrows of the world.