Man on the ark, forced to become king

However, considering that the atmosphere seemed to be shifting in a subtle direction, he temporarily stopped this behavior and tried to steer the conversation back on track.

Otherwise, things might start to get strange if things continue like this.

“Then, should we take it back? That might require your personal intervention, as, as Gretia said, our strength is insufficient to handle it.”

Saria glanced at Christen, whose eyes were filled with fanaticism, then looked around and sighed almost imperceptibly.

What's with this feeling that she and Gretia are the only two normal people in the whole place?

To be honest, even if there were to be a sequel to this mission, she wouldn't really want to participate anymore. Teaming up with these people had certainly accomplished a lot, and the process was thrilling and exciting, but it was just too exhausting.

Many times, she felt out of place in the team and couldn't keep up with the pace of the others.

Even Lin Qingyan, who has always been suffering, has begun to develop in a dangerous direction, which is truly hard to describe.

If possible, she wants to rest now; physical fatigue is secondary, the main thing is to relieve mental stress.

"I know you can't do it."

Lin Lu thought for a moment, then snapped her fingers: "It's decided then. I'll try to delay things in Columbia, and send a message to Talulah to get her and her army moving. Kazdel's army should also prepare to head straight for the heart of Ursus."

"Since we're already here, and we've discovered this, let's adjust the order. It doesn't matter who we fight, let's take out Ursus first and see how many surprising secrets they're hiding."

"Yes, that's settled. Our plans need to be flexible and adaptable to the actual situation."

'You just did it without any plan!'

Theresa really wanted to complain about the so-called 'flexibility,' but she held back and didn't say it.

If we're going to attack Ursus, then let's attack Ursus.

For them, it really doesn't matter who they fight or who the enemy is; there's not much difference.

As for plans, just listen to them and don't take them seriously. She knew from the beginning that they were unreliable.

Conquering the world is such a huge undertaking, yet it's decided on a whim?

In comparison, changing plans at the last minute is relatively normal; at least nothing really went wrong.

Chapter Thirty-Seven: Return to Qazimir

"Two glasses of juice, please."

With her blonde hair tied in a ponytail and draped over her shoulders, Kuranta, a girl wearing old-fashioned black-rimmed glasses, sat down on a stool in front of the bar.

Her voice was soft, and her slender figure was concealed by a large, gray-white hooded sweatshirt. Her ears, a characteristic feature of Kuranta, peeked out from holes specially made in the hoodie and swayed slightly.

No one would have guessed that this girl with big black-rimmed glasses and a somewhat rustic appearance would actually be the Shining Knight who won the previous Knights Tournament.

This was exactly what Margaret wanted; she dressed like this because she didn't want to be recognized.

After all, she is no longer the knight who dominated the arena, but a 'wanted person' who is officially registered in Kazimierz. Exposing her identity would definitely cause a lot of trouble.

But... I guess nobody cares about that anymore, right?

The dazzling neon lights shone through the glass doors of the bar onto the floor, creating a kaleidoscope of colors and a constantly shifting spectacle.

The streets were bustling with pedestrians, some in a hurry, others dressed in flamboyant attire, and occasionally a few knights in armor could be seen walking by, eliciting gasps of surprise.

...if those things can still be considered knights.

Rather than that name, Margaret preferred to use words like 'actor' or 'clown' to describe those guys who were good for nothing but sensationalism. They were human billboards pushed out by the Business Federation, their flashy armor easily broken in the face of real blades, their only purpose being to swindle money from the public.

Disgusting.

It's unclear when exactly, but the city of Cavalleraki has changed, or rather, the entire country has changed.

The ancient chivalric code was cast aside, and the warriors who guarded the land became puppets on the stage. People began to pursue pleasure and those illusory and extravagant things, immersing themselves unknowingly in the false dream woven for them by the Business Federation.

How sad.

She once wanted to change all of this, but in the end she was too young and too naive, wishfully thinking that winning the Knights Tournament would accomplish something.

However, it turned out that she couldn't do anything.

An individual's strength is insignificant in the face of those bigwigs who weave the rules. After winning the championship, she realized for the first time how ridiculous she had been and how weak she was.

The price she paid was that she was labeled as infected and deported.

However, Margaret didn't think it was a bad thing.

It was because she was forced to leave Kazimierz that she was able to join the Golden Tree and set foot in the city again today.

This time, she was not alone.

"Your juice, it's quite unusual to order this in a bar."

Perhaps because there weren't many customers in the shop, the brown-haired middle-aged Kuranta owner didn't leave after handing over the juice. Instead, he sat down, looked at the street and the crowd outside, and pushed the glass of orange juice forward a little.

"I...don't like drinking."

Margaret picked up the fruit, took a sip, frowned slightly, and a hint of nostalgia flashed in her eyes behind her glasses.

"You don't drink? Ha, it's rare to see a young person like you these days. What, you don't like it?"

Noticing the girl's slightly furrowed brow, the shop owner instinctively felt there was something wrong with his juice. A hint of apology appeared on his weathered face: "Sorry, I haven't made this kind of drink in a long time..."

"No, it's not the juice that's the problem, it's delicious. I was just thinking about things from the past."

"That's fine, that's fine."

Upon hearing that the problem wasn't with his juice, the owner breathed a sigh of relief and laughed, "Young man, don't overthink it. Don't end up like us old folks... Sigh, this damn world."

"..."

Yes, damn the world, this country has become unrecognizable.

Sighing inwardly, Margaret suddenly noticed some people walking by on the street carrying banners and glow sticks. Puzzled, she looked at her boss: "Is there any event in town lately? This year shouldn't be the time for the Knights' Tournament?"

"Hey, what kind of events are there? The Knights' Tournament is once every three years, that's true, but those vampires won't pass up the opportunity to make money. There won't be any major tournaments, but there will still be smaller ones."

The boss shook his head, a flash of resentment crossing his face.

"This happened after the last Knights' Tournament. That tournament... maybe some people felt they didn't get enough benefits. Anyway, since then, there have been more and more of these smaller competitions. They're not as exciting as the major tournaments, but the viewership is still pretty good."

"Shining Knight, you're still too young. You can't beat those guys. I went to watch the end of that competition, what a pity. Speaking of which, that guy looks a bit like you..."

Looking at the street outside the door, the shop owner muttered to himself. As if he had noticed something, he suddenly stopped and his gaze fell on the silent girl holding the juice. His slightly cloudy eyes narrowed slightly.

"Golden hair, and this feeling... the Nearl family?"

"Ah."

Margaret nodded, not denying it. She hadn't expected her simple disguise to fool everyone, and she didn't care if she was recognized.

Not wanting to cause unnecessary trouble doesn't mean she's actually afraid of trouble.

Moreover, she still cares a lot about family honor and would never deny her own identity.

"Shining Knight?"

"Not anymore."

Being expelled from Kazimierz was tantamount to being stripped of his knighthood. Margaret's expression was complicated, and she finally shook her head.

"Hey! You're the Radiant Knight! Who do those bastards think they are? What right do they have to deny your name?"

Upon hearing the girl's admission, the shopkeeper grinned, seemingly agitated, and scoffed, "A bunch of parasites! Vampires! They've defiled the knight! And those fools, they have no idea what they're doing!"

"The fact that they won't let you stay in Kazimierz means they're afraid!"

"However, your return now is not a good thing. In such a short time, will the business alliance let you off the hook?"

“The name of Nearl terrifies them. If they cannot control it, they will destroy it at all costs. They are absolutely capable of doing that.”

After his initial excitement subsided, the boss quickly calmed down and lowered his voice: "Leave now, before they find you. You're still young, there's no rush."

crunch...

The old glass door opened with a screeching sound, and the blond Kuranta man walked into the bar, sat down next to Margaret, picked up another glass of juice, and raised it to the bar owner.

“He’s right, it’s been a long time, Mr. Vaughn.”

"...Long time no see, Ma Enna."

Boss Vaughn stared at the man in front of him for a while, then sighed deeply.

"The power of time, even the wandering knight has become like this."

His exclamation came from the bottom of his heart; just look at the man before him…

He wore a meticulously groomed shirt and tie, topped with a brown trench coat. His eyes were slightly sunken, and his pale face showed signs of fatigue.

The once spirited and dashing knight-errant now looks more like a middle-aged man overwhelmed by the complexities of life.

Perhaps that is indeed the case.

Time has passed, and Kazimierz is no longer the Kazimierz of the past. The glory of the Lightbringer family has gradually faded, leaving only one person struggling to maintain it. The heavy pressure is enough to crush a person.

"Seeing you like this, I really..."

“No one is immune to change, Mr. Vaughn, and so am I. I don’t feel tired, because it is what I should bear.”

Marner interrupted Vaughn's exclamation, downing his glass of juice in one gulp. His tense expression relaxed slightly, a rare moment of relaxation for him at this moment.

The man, bearing the name of Lin Guang, casually placed his glass on the bar and turned to look at Lin Guang, who had taken off his glasses, his tone as hard as stone.