In the deep night, Losa lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.
Tomorrow, after replenishing supplies, water, and feed for three pack horses and one warhorse at the manor.
They should then head east along the Alps, passing through the Austrian Border Territory to Venice to take a ship.
Crossing the Alps to directly enter the Italian region by boat only seems closer.
In reality, the Alps are full of cliffs, and even in lower altitudes, it's easy to accidentally fall into deep valleys.
Otherwise, Hannibal and Caesar crossing the Alps would not be hailed as a miracle in military history.
"A good rest is crucial for a warrior."
Prajna's emotionless voice suddenly sounded.
She was sitting in the adjoining living room, on a felt bed covered with a thin blanket, meditating with her eyes closed.
The night breeze blew from her direction, turning into a gentle cool wind, making her like a small air conditioner.
"Prajna, I'm feeling a bit lost."
"I want to talk to you, after all, you're the most trustworthy person to me in this world."
Despite the cold attitude, Prajna, summoned through the system and designed by him, undoubtedly had the closest relationship with him.
This was something his brother Otto in this world could not compare to.
Initially, there was no response from the living room.
After waiting for a long time, a crisp female voice finally sounded: "Go ahead."
Truly indifferent...
Losa smiled and said, "In my previous life, I was just an ordinary person, the very ordinary kind. During school, my grades weren't the best, nor the worst. I followed rules but occasionally misbehaved, liked singing, dancing, playing basketball, and video games."
"But whether in studies or these hobbies, without exception, I was quite mediocre. Like most people, I was like a cog in the societal machine, without any special characteristics. The Emperor of Russia proposed a term—consumable, which I found very apt because without me, the world wouldn't change, and there'd always be a new cog to replace me."
"As for crossing over to this world, to be honest, I don't have much resistance to it, although a king's life in this world may not be much better than my previous life."
"Because I longed for a brand new life, one that's not so mundane, full of thrill and surprise."
"I need a piece of land, a title, to enhance my power, which requires me to use the lance and sword to seize achievements and wealth."
"But I'm also very clear about one thing, the Crusaders are not righteous. Traveling thousands of miles to the Holy Land for power and wealth to take others' lives, how is it different from a robber?"
"If I were a native of this world, perhaps I would think this was a normal thing, but I'm not... In this world, I'm very clear that I'm special."
"The system gave me the goal of expanding territories, but I don't have one myself, like a small boat drifting at sea, blindly following the lighthouse's guidance, not knowing what lies at the end of the light."
"I have no faith, no belief, no goal; I don't know the meaning of doing this, is it merely to follow the system's will?"
Losa's tone was very serious.
"If you don't have a belief, then find one for yourself."
Prajna paused slightly and said, "What do you think of this world, is it very beautiful?"
Losa shook his head: "Of course not, the level of productivity is too backward. Even for a Count, a Prince-Elector, an Archbishop of the Metropolitan Area, or even a King, Emperor, life isn't that great. If commoners encounter a miserly lord or priest, their lives are even more unbearable."
"Do you want to change it?"
Prajna asked back.
Losa nodded: "Of course."
"Then make that your goal, let those loyal subjects live in peace and contentment, have enough to eat, let war-torn lands be unified, and let people no longer fight each other over ridiculous beliefs."
Prajna's cool voice sounded, the tone was somewhat flat, not so impassioned, yet it was like a light, lighting up in the night before Losa's eyes.
Losa couldn't help but glance sideways.
Prajna frowned and said, "What is it?"
"What you said is wonderful, Prajna."
Losa said in an amazed tone: "Indeed, what's said, is what I am willing to do and feel is very meaningful."
"Then go do it."
"Okay."
The room fell into silence.
After a long time, Losa spoke: "Thank you, Prajna."
"Hmm."
"Good night."
Prajna didn't reply again.
In the mind, the system's pleasant notification sounded: Prajna's intimacy with you has increased, current intimacy: Indifferent.
Still indifferent?
A smile appeared on Losa's face, indifferent is indifferent then, after all, it's not the type that's completely unapproachable.
Even though Prajna's attitude towards him wasn't great, she was still trustworthy.
He turned over and fell into a deep sleep.
...
In the manor.
Laine and Model sat under the eaves, fiercely discussing Prajna's identity, Losa didn't explain to them.
In fact, he hadn't decided how to make up a story.
But at the same time, he wasn't obligated to explain.
The two were Losa's attendants.
Strictly speaking, attendants are outwardly not much different from servants, doing errands, the difference lies in their essence.
"That long, soft black hair, perhaps she's from the imperial family of the Eastern Empire?"
"No, no, no, didn't you feel the aura around her? It's really scary, clearly just a woman, but the sense of danger she gives me is even greater than a mountain lion."
Model said with a very certain tone: "She's a witch!"
"Are you sure?"
Model was silent for a moment, then shook his head and said: "Not sure, but definitely not a normal person, you know my intuition is always reliable."
Laine nodded in agreement: "I didn't expect the young master to actually know a witch... It's said that the entire Gaul Crusader forces have only employed two witch consultants."
"Does this mean our journey will be much safer?"
"Perhaps, but it could also be quite the opposite."
A trace of worry appeared on Model's face: "Witches are mysterious, powerful, beautiful... But at the same time, they are dangerous, terrifying, awe-inspiring."
"I can't imagine why she would follow the young master... To put it bluntly, the young master is really unworthy of a witch's submission."
"Hey, buddy, you're overthinking it, maybe it's because of love... A witch falling in love with a handsome knight, that's how novels describe it, and the young master is the most handsome knight I've ever seen."
"Anyway, it's not something we should consider, we're just attendants, and quite unofficial ones at that, the young master is our lord; we don't have the qualification to comment on this."
Model was silent for a long time, then nodded: "Right, Laine, you're very right, from today on, we should no longer call him 'young master', he is the 'Lord' we serve, even the Count can no longer command us, we only listen to him."
Laine patted Model on the shoulder: "Don't underestimate the young master, he may be younger than us, but he's smarter than us too; he'll lead us on the right path."
He paused, then added: "Even if he's wrong, we might not do any better either."
Model laughed: "Perhaps, hopefully, I'm just overthinking."
The hearts of the two attendants were also somewhat lost, they didn't know what kind of future awaited them by following Losa, whether they'd someday be knighted, or whether they would perish suddenly from a disease before reaching the Holy Land?
No one knows.
"May the Heavenly Father protect His devout followers, Amen."