Chapter 3: Chapter 3

As his thoughts spiraled in random directions, a sudden burst of urgent knocking came from outside the door. Ron’s heart clenched as he bolted upright from the straw bed beside the fireplace, his sharp gaze fixed on the door.

“Did I already give something away?”

But before he could dwell on it, a boy’s voice, still cracking through puberty, rang out from outside. “Ron, I know you’re home! You didn’t dare go outside, did you?”

Hearing that voice, Ron’s taut nerves instantly relaxed. So it was this guy. This was the very fellow named Dalian who had goaded “Ron” into spending the night outside town to prove his courage, only for “Ron” to drop dead from catching sight of an evil spirit before nightfall even arrived.

At this moment, Ron’s feelings toward the boy outside were deeply complicated. On one hand, this person had caused “Ron’s” death, and now that he had immersed himself in “Ron’s” identity, he could fully feel “Ron’s” disgust toward him.

But on the other hand, if “Ron” hadn’t died, where would he have found such a perfect vessel?

With that in mind, Ron opened the door and responded in the local “Ron’s” tone:

“Of course I dare go outside. See that firewood over there? I just brought it back from outside. Uncle Willy on patrol today can vouch for me!

“As for spending the night out there, I’m not stupid. With all those evil spirits outside, even the Knights who wield transcendent power wouldn’t guarantee they could survive a night out there. Are you trying to trick me into going outside so the evil spirits can eat me? Hmph!”

Hearing this, Dalian seemed somewhat taken aback. He glanced at the firewood in the corner of Ron’s cabin that still clearly bore traces of moisture, snorted, but stubbornly retorted:

“I don’t care, you still didn’t dare go outside. I’m going to tell Liya that you’re a gutless coward!”

At those words, even knowing the insult wasn’t directed at him, Ron couldn’t help but feel a surge of irrational fury. He closed the distance in three quick strides and delivered a slap.

Then, to avoid descending into a brawl, since territory law prohibited mutual combat, he hastily barked, “Get back to your own house already! Have you forgotten that territory law prohibits prowling around at night?”

“Nonsense! The law only recommends reducing nighttime outings, it says nothing like what you’re claiming!” Few boys in Sis Town were unfamiliar with the territory’s laws. Even if they hadn’t yet learned all the written characters, they would naturally absorb the rules through the constant admonitions of adults.

Dalian was naturally no stranger to the territory’s laws. Knowing them was itself a skill worth showing off. In his eagerness to point out Ron’s error, Dalian even forgot that he had just taken a slap.

However, Ron had only said that to redirect Dalian’s attention. He immediately followed up, “And is mutual combat not prohibited by law either? Brawling at night, you’d better watch your backside!”

Ron’s implication was unmistakable. Dalian involuntarily shuddered. The territory’s most common punishment was whipping: twelve lashes for both parties involved in a brawl, doubled at night.

And that was only the territory’s punishment. Dalian’s father also had a fiery temper. Even if Dalian endured the territory’s lashes, he would still face another beating from his father at home.

On this point, although “Ron” would have been delighted to see Dalian get beaten, deep down he also felt a twinge of envy, envious that the other boy’s father was still alive.

Of course, the current Ron had no such complicated feelings.

…

After scaring Dalian off, Ron returned inside, closed the door, and prepared to toast some flatbread to eat.

But that wretched knocking sounded again. He instinctively thought of one person: Liya, whom Dalian had just mentioned. “Did Dalian really go fetch Liya this quickly?”

At the thought of Liya, Ron immediately felt a headache coming on. In his eyes, Liya’s appearance was not particularly striking, barely qualifying as delicately pretty at best. But in the eyes of “Ron,” Dalian, and the other local boys, she was already an undisputed great beauty.

Including “Ron,” many boys openly or secretly harbored feelings for Liya.

Yet Liya alone favored “Ron.” It wasn’t because “Ron” had Eastern heritage and a softer, more delicate appearance, though in truth most boys their age weren’t particularly rugged anyway. The real reason was that Ron’s father had once saved Liya’s family.

If one traced the connections carefully, “Ron’s” father’s death was also related to his rescue of Liya’s family. It wasn’t the main cause, but there was absolutely a thread connecting them.

Driven by a sense of gratitude, combined with “Ron’s” own decent qualities, Liya’s affection manifested in a very proactive way.

And “Ron” liked Liya too, but because of people like Dalian, he hadn’t dared to express it. Yet that very cowardice only emboldened Dalian and his ilk further.

In Ron’s view, a significant part of why Dalian and the others picked on “Ron” was because of “Ron’s” timidity. If “Ron” had been brave enough to express himself openly, Dalian’s crowd might not have gone out of their way to make things difficult.

After all, young people’s emotions flared up fast and faded just as quickly. The two sides had no real grudge between them. If anything, because of Ron’s father’s sacrifice and dedication, Ron actually received quite a bit of goodwill from the locals.

Although the Sis Territory appeared peaceful on the surface and harmonious within, external threats loomed constantly. The evil spirits lurking everywhere went without saying; they threatened all territories and everyone equally.

But even limited to the Sis Territory itself, there was one very real threat: the annual Aberrant Beast invasion at the height of summer. “Ron’s” father had died five years ago during an Aberrant Beast invasion.

According to “Ron’s” memories, the Sis Territory could handle the annual Aberrant Beast invasions thanks to its territory guard unit that wielded transcendent power, but casualties still occurred.

Those casualties were acceptable for the territory as a whole, but for the families of the fallen, it was an unbearable grief.

…

As he mulled this over, Liya’s gentle voice indeed sounded from outside the door:

“I saw Dalian on my way over. Thank goodness you didn’t listen to him and go outside. Father told me that the territory guard encountered an evil spirit out there today and had quite a time driving it off. If you had run into it, how would you ever have escaped?”

Ron stayed silent, saying nothing. He wasn’t sure whether the lingering apparition from “Ron’s” memories was the same evil spirit that the territory guard had driven away, as Liya mentioned. If it was, that would be an extraordinary coincidence.

“Ron, open the door. I brought you food, it’s meat! Father brought it back, he asked me to bring you some.”

Hearing Liya mention her father, Ron had no choice but to open the door, however reluctant. He knew that if he kept it shut, Liya would absolutely go back and tell her father, and that iron tower of a man would rush over at top speed and kick his door right off its hinges.

Opening the door, Ron saw Liya, who stood half a head taller than him. She wore a dark cloak dusted with scattered snowflakes. Seeing Ron answer the door, Liya immediately reached out from under her cloak and handed him a tightly wrapped paper bundle.

“The territory guard accidentally injured a few cattle while driving off the evil spirit. Father single-handedly brought back an entire cow leg. I just finished roasting it for you, and there’s more tomorrow!”