Chapter 175 174. Parting with friends and reuniting with family
“I’m kidding! I’m really kidding!”
Sitting by the fire in the camp, Lan En showed his heartfelt expression on his face He said to Ed with a very sincere expression.
Ed also sat by the fire, and Jory on the other side was re-bandaging his wounds.
A group of people saw the Duke and his party who were patrolling the road ahead, all covered with blood and returning with reduced numbers. For a moment, they all felt like they were facing a formidable enemy.
It wasn't until Ed gave them a brief explanation of the situation that the men relaxed.
"I know you don't mean it, Lan En. But it's a promise."
Ed's face was full of confusion.
For a knight who can be called an old-fashioned knight, he even mentioned the name [Stark] when he made the promise, which means he swore on his family.
If you want him to break this agreement, you might as well kill him directly!
But on the other hand, isn't this equivalent to selling your daughter! ?
"Ed, forget this agreement."
Lan En's expression was serious, his hands spread out in front of his chest, as if he were playing an accordion.
"To be honest, I am a person who has no fixed abode and likes wandering and adventure. If Alia is forced to live with me because of your promise, then you will probably never see each other again in this life. And I also I don’t want to go out with a little kid, so let’s just stop it and treat it as a joke.”
Alia sat next to Lan En with a very calm expression.
She was the one who knew that Lan En was about to return to his original world, and when she was in another world, she also wanted to go home according to her own will.
So, although I really like the feeling of taking risks with Lan En, I can still rationally accept Lan En's excuse.
But when Lan En said she was a 'little devil', the little girl secretly stepped on the tip of Lan En's boot and then crushed it twice.
“If you feel that it is really detrimental to the honor of the family, then I, the person making the agreement, will declare: I will give up my ownership of Miss Alia, and the reward will be converted into silver equal to her weight.”
"Is this okay?"
Ed looked at his little daughter, then at Lan En who had a sincere expression, pursed his lips and nodded.
He does value family honor, but he is also a father who loves his daughter.
It would be best if this matter could be settled like this.
——
After Gregor Clegane's body was carelessly placed on the King's Road, the road back to the north was indeed as Eddard expected. It became a lot easier.
It seems that Tywin Lannister already knows that among the returning team of the Duke of the North, there is a wizard who can suppress the [Magic Mountain] and burn him alive.
Although I don’t know if they believe it or not, at least since that day, Lan En and the others have never encountered an interception force that wanted to attack head-on.
Only sporadic measures of road damage impeded their progress on the King's Road.
However, the infiltration of this small amount of manpower is unlikely to cause any decent damage to the King's Avenue. It is like a three-pole attack.
During the several days of rapid march, Arya and the cavalryman who lost half of his hand rode on the same horse. The little girl was responsible for holding the reins, and Nymeria ran behind.
Eddard was very surprised when his little daughter learned how to ride. He didn't teach Arya how to ride in Winterfell, and he didn't have time in King's Landing.
The little girl answered like this.
"I have learned it a long time ago. It is not difficult, and the emotions of horses are easy to sense. I have also ridden on horses taller than this!"
Lan En You know, she's talking about Poppa.
But he was able to ride on Poppy in just a few days, and even mastered the basic riding skills. Aria's talent in training, or communicating with animals, quite caught Lan En's attention.
After leaving the edge of the royal territory, Ed and the escorts became much more relaxed again.
They understand the local situation better than Lan En, a person from another world, and a little girl like Aria.
Although the Riverland is small, it is also an area with many nobles, and many castles have been built in it.
These castles are loyal to Eddard's father-in-law, the Tully family. So when the team came to the Riverlands, they didn't even have to sleep in the open air, but were well entertained by the castles along the way.
Even when passing by the Tully family's city, the owner arranged a dinner for him.
Although Tywin Lannister used his family's gold to exert influence on many families in Westeros, the situation of this war cannot be simply measured by money.
King Robert has issued an order to summon all the vassals from the Baratheon territory - the Stormlands, the territory directly under the king, and the fiefdom of the king's second brother - Dragonstone.
The North and the Riverlands must be on the side of the king because of their kinship.
Former Prime Minister Jon Arryn's family ruled the valley. At this time, many vassals were also clamoring for justice for the lord's unnatural death and to carry out righteous revenge.
Following the general trend, the families who had received Tywin's benefits now wanted to bury all their gold in the ground to avoid causing trouble.
Lan En has been walking among the team in a tourist mood. As the days go by, the entire team is getting closer and closer to the Neck, which is the entrance to the North.
Ed and the guards were mostly feeling more and more comfortable, but Lan En could feel that Aria was becoming a little depressed.
The Neck is where they came into this world, and it is also where Lan En will leave.
“I thought you were mentally prepared, Alia.”
Riding beside Arya, the guard with half of his hand broken off was left by the Tully family in the river to recuperate.
"I said it, right? We are friends, but friends will always separate."
"Yes, you said it. But I just can't bear to leave your world over there. Magic , monsters, sorceresses, they are all so interesting!”
The little girl lowered her head and said listlessly.
“Your world is also very interesting. There are dragons, several continents that communicate with each other, and ancient civilizations. I stayed here for a few months, and these things got into my ears.”
Lan En waved his hand.
“You are still young, but when you grow up and have practiced what I have taught you, you can experience these interesting things by yourself.”
“Of course I will go. ! Not only will I go, I will also become a knight like you! A female knight who can help the weak and wield a sword against the powerful evil! "
"Me? I'm not a knight. I'm just a witcher." After laughing, Lan En looked at the little girl gently.
“But if you can really become that kind of person, I will also feel that our time together will be of some slight help to you.”
"Now, it's time to say goodbye to my friends and reunite with my family. Alia."
Lan En solemnly stretched out his hand. Alia looked down and pursed her lips with difficulty. Finally, he held it tightly.
"Goodbye, friend."
On the night the team entered the Neck, Lann said goodbye to Ed.
He said that the amount of silver 'as heavy as Alia' would be collected later.
After saying that, he removed Balerion's mandible from the cart, mounted it on his horse, and turned around to enter the dense swamp forest.
The roaring bear head necklace around his neck clattered.
Others only thought it was a jolt, but Arya knew very well that it was the demon hunter's badge sensing the magic of chaos.
The silver-haired young man riding the horse smiled and waved, slowly walking away in the misty mist of the swamp, and the sound of the necklace gradually became deeper.
Until the end, there was silence.
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(End of this chapter)