This must be the most awkward trip yet.

It was the first time I felt what it meant to be restless.

The carriage we were staying in was the soldiers' weapon, so they just led the carriage straight back. Hence, we had no carriage to stay in, after all, the remaining carriage was carrying food. To say that as a hero, Vilvy's convoy was really austere, a carriage plus two horses, Vilvy drove away all the guards, leaving only Vilvy, me, and Lia. Also, a coachman, who was an old man that made little difference from a corpse. I rode on another horse, glad that I had learned how to ride before for my superior liked it, and I had to cater to his preferences. Lia was sitting in front of me, her gaze sweeping back and forth from our rigid Vilvy striding forward to our left, if she was scared before, after last night, she had developed some dislike and disgust towards Vilvy.

I think it may be even more troublesome than before.

Last night, Vilvy asked me to get along with Lia, but I didn't know how to do that. The huge psychological shadow Vilvy cast on Lia was not something that could be solved by love and peace. Killing her parents in front of a child and then trying to kill her is something no one can accept. I think from a child's perspective, it might be hard to accept the concept of being partisan. As for how Vilvy could get Lia's forgiveness, I'm really clueless.

The contradiction between adults can be resolved, but it gets trickier with children. I am confident that I can negotiate to get adults to let go of their grudges, after all, as long as there are interests involved, even the worst enemies can make peace, the key is to find a benefit that both parties can accept.

But what exactly are the interests between Lia and Vilvy? Rather, there seem to be no interests at all, it seems more like an emotional issue if these two want to reconcile. Unfortunately, emotional issues have never been my strong suit, otherwise, I wouldn't be single all along...

I can provide an opportunity for them to come together, but I feel that there is a great risk of a bloodshed if the two of them are left alone... despite the fact that Vilvy expressed that she wanted to get along with Lia, but Vilvy, who is almost brainless, is not incapable of being angry, and when she is angry, I don't need to spell out what she might do...

So I have to keep both of them under control...

Despite Vilvy's current desire to get along with Lia, she hasn't said anything to Lia at the moment, and Lia is also wary of Vilvy in my arms, seemingly afraid that Vilvy might charge at me with a knife. Vilvy didn't restrict me in any way, we might be spoils of war, slaves to her, but she seemed oblivious and allowed me to ride by her side.

They said they wanted to improve their relationship, but neither of them knows how to handle a conversation... How could they possibly improve their relationship this way...

We moved forward and finally, as the temperature noticeably rose, we saw evidence of human construction by the wayside. This was no longer barren land, but cultivated land with little houses on either side apparently in charge of supervising the land. The road condition improved significantly as well, no longer merely two wheel tracks in barren land, but a simple road made up of stone. As we continued along this road, we soon saw a simple stone wall serving as a city wall. This stone wall was really simple, about square-shaped stones piled up, fixed with clay in the middle, and in the current winter, water was added to reinforce the freezing. But even so, the wall seemed wobbly and appeared to be knocked down with just a push. At the end of the road were two tightly closed wooden doors, but with the state of these tattered wooden doors, I could even see what the city looked like.

Okay, given the size, perhaps it can't be called a city. I would rather say it's a town, this town didn't even have a nameplate and I didn't know what it was called. Apparently, this town hadn't been under the kingdom's jurisdiction in the recent past, otherwise, it wouldn't be lacking a name.

But even if it wasn't before, the fact that Vilvy chose to come here now suggests that this town is on the kingdom's map. But why is there no welcome for Vilvy, despite her arrival here now? However rundown the village or town may be, there should be a welcome banquet when the newly appointed party secretary or mayor arrives.We stood at the entrance of the town, Vilvy frowned and shouted into the town, "I'm the new lord sent by Queen Sissi of the Kingdom of Traynor. Open the town gate and let us in now!" As soon as her words fell, two heads poked out from the city wall. The style of their helmets was military. I breathed a sigh of relief, supposing that the town was not dissatisfied with any kingdom's rule and was not planning to become independent. Perhaps, it was merely a case of poor communication, so the information hadn't been passed along…

Before I could finish sighing, the two men raised their crossbows and shot at us. I was pushed off my horse before I had even time to react, hitting the ground heavily so that everything went black and I almost vomited blood. Lia lay on my body, cushioning her fall, and seemed unhurt. I struggled to sit up, holding Lia, and saw Vilvy had unsheathed her sword and was icily staring at the soldiers above. The first arrow shot from the city wall had pierced the head of my horse, which had fell to the ground, bleeding profusely.

The two soldiers quickly tried to re-arm themselves, but Vilvy gave them no chance. She swiftly pulled out two small daggers from her belt and threw them. The cries of the dying and the sound of heavy bodies dropping came next, with a corpse even landing near us.

"Rebellion?"

Vilvy kicked aside the fallen body, looked at the wooden door, then at me, "You two hide. I'll go kill the ones inside."

"Even the civilians?"

Shaking off my shock, I picked up Lia and shot Vilvy a questioning look.

This town was no military camp. A battle here would unavoidably affect the townsfolk. According to Vilvy, a rebellion had broken out in the town, making all residents either supporters of the rebellion or hostages. When Vilvy entered, she was likely to kill more than just the rebellious soldiers.

"Of course. Anyone who supports the rebellion must be killed. All those inside this town must die."

Vilvy's tone was cold and unemotional.

"But they had no other choice! They aren't related to the rebellion in any way."

"Everyone has a choice. They chose not to resist," Vilvy responded seriously, looking at me. "They could have chosen to fight back. They could have chosen to sacrifice everything for their queen. But due to their cowardice, they did not. They did not believe that her Highness would protect or rescue them. Therefore, as her knight, I don't need to protect them either. If they can't demonstrate the loyalty expected of the subjects of a queen, they deserve to die."

I admit, something in Vilvy's words seemed reasonable to me… But no! If these civilians were capable of such high-minded bravery, the situation would not have escalated to the point of soldiers rebelling. Without the power to protect themselves, civilians naturally need the protection of the military. What is the point of having a military if they can't protect civilians? It is the duty of the military to handle chaos. Civilians may merely seek to protect themselves in times of upheaval.

That is to say, if civilians could handle such problems themselves, what was the need for knights like Vilvy?!

However, now wasn't the time to argue with Vilvy who was walking towards the door. With one strong kick, she flung the wooden door wide open. I didn't know where Vilvy found such strength, or maybe the town's gate was already in a dilapidated state. Following the loud noise and rising dust, a dozen soldiers appeared, their weapons wielded at the ready. But to my surprise, they didn't show a strong determination to fight. In fact, they seemed afraid of Vilvy, the slayer of the demon king.

Their armor and clothes were worn and full of holes. The badges identifying their army were missing. Their expressions did not reveal any eagerness for battle but were filled with fear. Looking at Vilvy, they seemed desperate and saw certain death.

For Vilvy, killing them wouldn't pose a challenge. She was the knight who had penetrated the Demon King's palace and killed him. Moreover, her determination to fight seemed far stronger than theirs. I wouldn't be surprised if, after Vilvy killed one of them, the rest dispersed in fear. Instead of calling these men rebels, I’d say they were closer to being deserters.

"Don't come over!! We've caged all the villagers in a building. If anything happens to us, they'll all die. Don't you dare come over!!"

"How kind of you, since I was planning to kill everyone here anyway."

Vilvy's pace doesn't slow a beat; instead, she strides even more resolutely toward them. Vilvy means it--she couldn't care less about the villagers' fate. She would rather see them buried along with these deserters.

So what's the point? Are we three to starve to death here?

"Vilvy!!"

I yelled, halting Vilvy's determined advance. She looked back at me, shocked, her face etching some anger for the first time, and shouted pointing outside the city, "Didn't I tell you to hide well outside!! Who do you, a mere slave, think you are to talk!!"

So now the problem is how to coax Vilvy into backing off.

Vilvy wouldn’t chat with me, and our enemies wouldn't wait indefinite. I only have one chance, one sentence, to make her change her mind.

So, let the analysis start.

Vilvy's 【stance】: Kill both the rebels and civilians here.

My 【stance】: Spare the civilians.

Our 【Conflict】: whether to kill the civilians or not.

What 【condition】 or 【threat】 can I use to make Vilvy change her firm 【standing】? I have no 【condition】 to offer whatsoever since I certainly have nothing that interests Vilvy. Thus, all I’m left with to make Vilvy backdown is a 【threat】.

What could possibly make Vilvy fearful?

It struck me.

Vilvy has always been a fiercely loyal individual. For her, Queen Sissi's order is everything. Did Queen Sissi send her here to kill? No, she was sent here to rule as a lord. And who is she going to lord over if everybody is gone?

It's worth a try!

"Do you remember the order Queen Sissi gave you?”

"She instructed me to manage this region well, and that’s why I intend to exterminate these traitors!"

"Well, how are you expected to govern over this place with everyone dead!!"

Vilvy's body jolted suddenly—the sign that I've won. Negotiating with Vilvy is, indeed, the easiest. She looked astonished staring first at me, then at the rogue soldiers in front of us—clueless. I gently put Lia down and bent to plant a light kiss on her forehead while smiling knowingly at Vilvy. I then stepped forward and said, "Leave them to me. Just trust me."

Rebelling forces are a tough nut to crack.

But running soldiers? They’re no problem.

Deserters are just afraid of death; they simply didn’t want to get caught and executed. No need to prepare for negotiating with them - just promising them a way to live would do.

And who could grant them that chance?

Their lord, of course.

And who's their lord?

The woman standing right behind me.

"What...what are you planning to do?"

Looking visibly shaken, the deserter in front of me said. This time, even though they have their swords ready, I fear them not. If they are trembling holding their swords, then it means they can’t do much. Having experienced the feel of Vilvy's blade at my throat, I believe I can overcome anything in the future, unflinchingly facing any blade pointed at my neck.

"Let’s have a talk."

I smiled at the retreating soldiers, raising my empty hands.

Though these deserters have their weapons ready, at this time, I know that I have the upper hand in these negotiations. This is not only about protecting the villagers but, more importantly, I don’t want Vilvy to wipe out everyone, leaving us three starving here.