Chapter 17 Lake City

Sylvie came specifically to take me home because my mother's agreement with Croggs had ended, and I had thought I would embark on this long journey home alone.

With Sylvie by my side...

"This is a test from the gods..."

I first went to Lord Croggs and resigned from my post.

Having spent over a year here, I have great respect for this man. Moreover, he has indeed taken good care of me, and he was my savior during the kidnapping incident.

Mrs. Croggs was there too, but she still had that cold look on her face. I don't know if she didn't like me or didn't welcome me. Anyway, I was leaving, so I should at least say goodbye. I really don't know how Lord Croggs got along with her.

"Nobility is really complicated..."

After saying goodbye to Mr. and Mrs. Croggs, I planned to say goodbye to Faith Hill as well...

Upon arriving in the courtyard, she found herself locked in a fierce battle with Ilotti, the two evenly matched, though Fisshill was deliberately holding back...

"That rage-crazed guy's swordsmanship is really impressive!"

Whether it's strength, agility, or speed, she far surpasses me. In terms of swordsmanship, I have to admit she is indeed a genius.

"Will I be able to beat her next time we meet?... "

I have absolutely no concept of swordsmanship, not only because I have no interest in it, but mainly because swordsmanship depends on diligent study and practice; no one is born a genius…

"Looks like he just wants to slack off!"

I gave myself this reason.

In the end, I still couldn't say goodbye to Faith Hill. Although leaving quietly like this would be very impolite, I didn't know when their fight would end, and disturbing them would be the most impolite thing to do.

"Next time we meet... I'll apologize properly!"

I was quite reluctant to leave the Duke of Croggs' mansion!

A year isn't a very long time, but I've been through so much and grown quite a bit!

Actually, my mother and Lord Croggs didn't have any agreement. My mother just gave me an excuse to go out! At that time, I was determined to be a shut-in!

After all, to go to academy, you seem to need to be at least 10 years old...

My mother and Lord Krogh seem to be classmates. Lord Krogh didn't just save me at a critical moment; he's always been watching over my growth. That's how I'd put it!

When Sylvie told me all this, I wasn't surprised anymore. After all, back then, parents who looked like they were lying were too easy to suspect.

But! None of that matters anymore...

"To be able to snuggle in Sylvie's arms like this! Ah...it's truly blissful."

The carriage wasn't very big, but it was very comfortable, and Leon slept the whole way...

The journey from Teruneia to Klins takes two days, passing through the beautiful city of Buryen, known as the "city in the heart of the lake," which is just as bustling as Teruneia.

The city of Buryny is known as the "city in the heart of the lake" because of its unique geographical environment. It is surrounded by lakes, with Buryny situated in the middle of the lake.

In the center of the lake stands a striking building, the Lakeside Castle, which has a history of nearly a thousand years. This giant castle soars into the clouds, covering an area of ​​hundreds of square meters, and looks like a giant fountain.

Legend has it that a "lake spirit" lives there. Judging from the name, she seems to be a charming older sister. However, children who are not home by 2:30 in the morning should be careful, as the "lake spirit" might catch them and eat them without spitting out the bones. Of course, this kind of fairy tale that tricks children into staying at home won't fool me.

When the carriage stopped, we had arrived in the city of Buryny. Although Sylvie had brought a lot of dry food, I couldn't bring myself to make the horse run without giving it a rest. If it collapsed from exhaustion on the way, that would be a real problem.

Sylvie found a hotel in the city of Burjeni, and it was a single room!

"Oh... God!"

If anything indescribable happens at night, don't blame me. After all, I'm in my adolescence now, not the well-behaved, sensible boy next door.

After telling me not to wander off, Sylvie went out to buy supplies, as if she had promised her mother...

"When Sylvie passes through Lake City, be sure to bring back some local specialties!" or something like that.

"Ugh... I'm so bored. Why isn't Sylvie back yet!"

Looking at the wooden ceiling of the hotel, I felt a little annoyed. What was Sylvie going to buy that she didn't take me with her? I had promised not to cause her any trouble, and she left me alone in this empty room. It was really too much.

"How about... we go for a walk? It's just around the hotel, we shouldn't get lost, right?"

That's what I was thinking. Actually, I had already run out of the room. Who told Sylvie to leave me here alone? Even if I made her angry, I had a legitimate reason!

The city of Burjeni truly lives up to its nickname "City in the Heart of the Lake," with streets lined with vendors displaying a dazzling array of goods and strange decorations.

As Leon walked down the street, looking at the passersby and the various goods in the shops, he couldn't help but swallow hard, wondering if he should also bring a gift for his parents.

Lord Krogs gives me 100 magic crystals every month, which is 1200 magic crystals a year, equivalent to 12 copper coins. That should be enough to buy a pretty good gift!

"But what else should we buy?"

Although he has been in this world for almost eight years, this is the first time he has ever gone shopping. He really hasn't researched what's good or bad.

It seems that my mother has no hobbies other than singing, and my half-baked father's only merit is swordsmanship, yet he's always thinking about lewd things? I can't possibly give him a pair of women's panties, can I? My mother would think I'm a pervert!

"Huh...that's it!"

Leon pointed in surprise at a fruit shop. The shop was small, with only a few rows of shelves, but only one type of fruit was displayed on them: apples.

"Young man! Would you like to buy some?"

Seeing Leon's demeanor, the owner quickly greeted him warmly. Their small shop rarely had customers, and selling fruit didn't earn them much money. In short, everyone who came was a customer.

"I never imagined apples existed in this world. Come to think of it, I didn't see any at the Duke of Croggs's mansion. Is it a unique regional specialty?"

"How much per pound, boss?"

Apples are my absolute favorite. They're so crisp and delicious, it's amazing that apples exist in this world.

"100 magic crystals per pound, how much do you want, young man?"

"Hmm? Ha... 100 magic crystals per pound?"

Leon stared at his boss in astonishment. He hadn't expected apples in this world to be so ridiculously expensive. His entire year's salary was only enough to buy a dozen kilograms of apples? How outrageous was that?

"Tch! Buy it if you want, otherwise get out of the way and don't disturb my business." Hearing Leon's surprised expression, the shopkeeper's face changed instantly. He glanced at Leon with disdain, told him to hurry up and stop being so ridiculous, and then lowered his head to organize the apples on the shelf.

"Hey! Your expression changed way too quickly! I haven't even said I'm not buying it yet!"

Leon gave his boss a disdainful look, feeling it was necessary to correct the guy's values. How could apples be so expensive in this world?

Before Leon could speak, a commotion suddenly broke out on the street, and a large crowd quickly gathered, naturally attracting his attention.

"Hmph! You're lucky..."

With a "the more the merrier" mentality, Leon didn't want to argue with the boss anymore, so he quickly joined the crowd!

Struggling to squeeze through the bustling crowd, Leon was stunned by what he saw before him—it was…