Fifteen minutes later, under Claire Kagenou's guidance, Yuki and Akane Nishino arrived at the territory of the Kagenou Baron family.
Baron Kagenou was a noble located in a remote region of the Midgard Kingdom in this world, possessing his own territory and subjects.
As the only child in the family (in this timeline), Claire was destined to inherit the family business in the future.
Therefore, Claire trained so hard to better protect her family's legacy someday.
After Claire briefly explained the situation, Akane couldn't help but feel some sympathy for her.
"Doesn't Claire-chan ever think about what she herself wants to do?"
After entering the town, Akane looked at Claire with empathetic eyes.
However, being looked at with that kind of gaze made Claire feel somewhat uncomfortable.
From a young age, she had held herself to high standards and was fiercely independent. She wouldn't allow herself to be pitied or looked down upon with such "weak" eyes.
So Claire immediately retorted:
"Inheriting everything of the Kagenou family and becoming the strongest Dark Knight for that purpose is my greatest goal."
The little girl's determined eyes and attitude left Akane both somewhat impressed and a bit speechless.
"That's not what I meant."
Akane shook her head, indicating the other had misunderstood.
"What Akane means is, aside from that, haven't you considered anything else?"
Yuki explained Akane's meaning from the side. Hearing this, Akane nodded gently.
"This..."
"I haven't thought about it."
Hearing this, Claire was momentarily at a loss for words.
Apart from becoming the strongest Dark Knight and inheriting the family business, she truly hadn't considered anything else.
Since she could understand things, her only focus had been sword training.
She didn't play with children her age either, so even though she was the young lady of this territory, she had very few friends her own age.
"Mmm... Imagining your life a little, it does seem a bit hard."
Akane's gaze towards Claire grew even more pitying.
She could imagine how limited the life experience of someone at this age might be.
Even Akane, with the shadows in her past, hadn't lived a life quite like Claire's at this age.
"Wh... what is this, how strange."
Being looked at with Akane's eyes, Claire felt an inexplicable discomfort and immediately turned her head away, refusing to look at her.
Yet, even if she didn't look or think about it, a seed had already been quietly planted in Claire's heart at this moment and had begun to take root.
Soon, guided by the soldiers and Claire, Yuki and the others arrived at the most luxurious estate in the town.
This was the residence of Baron Kagenou.
The servants at the entrance, seeing their young mistress returning with the accompanying guards, immediately notified the head of the household, Baron Kagenou and his wife.
Who emerged to greet them was a bald middle-aged man and a middle-aged woman.
From their splendid attire, one could tell at a glance that they were the high-ranking figures here, the Kagenou couple.
"Claire, you've finally returned!"
"Your mother and I were so worried when we heard you went to eliminate the bandits!"
The bald Baron Kagenou showed a relieved smile upon seeing his daughter's return.
"Thank goodness nothing happened! That's wonderful!"
Baron Kagenou wiped the moist corner of his eye, his expression slightly exaggerated as he recounted his worries to his daughter.
Meanwhile, Lady Kagenou was relatively calmer.
She simply greeted her daughter with a smile.
"You're back. Did everything go smoothly?"
"And these two are...?"
They also noticed Yuki and Akane beside Claire and asked with curious looks.
"Mother, Father, let me introduce you. This... big brother is named Yuki."
"And this woman is called Akane Nishino."
"I met them while I was eliminating the bandits."
Claire then introduced Yuki and Akane to her parents.
When it came to Yuki, she hesitated for a moment before settling on calling him "big brother."
As for Akane, for some reason, she simply referred to her as "this woman."
Hearing Claire's choice of address, Akane was both angry and annoyed.
She immediately complained in the group chat.
[Akane Nishino]: This is infuriating! Why am I just 'this woman'?! At least call me 'big sister'!
[Seitenshi]: Calm down, Akane-chan. She's just a child, she doesn't know better.
[Raiden Ei]: She's not that small, is she? She can face enemies alone.
[Marika]: Pfft! Akane-chan is really having her patience tested today.
[Akane Nishino]: Because I've received a good modern education, I choose to... endure!
Upon hearing Claire's introductions, Baron Kagenou and his wife then greeted Yuki and the other.
They quickly invited them inside to offer hospitality.
Once inside the house, Akane's attention was immediately captured by everything around her.
Now she truly believed she had arrived in another world.
Because everything here—the décor, the style—had a distinctly medieval feel.
Walking down the hallway gave her a peculiar sensation.
After entering the living room, Yuki and Akane sat down. After taking a sip of the tea offered, they began chatting with Claire and the others.
Upon hearing from Yuki how their daughter had been lured by the bandits and nearly surrounded, the faces of Baron Kagenou and his wife instantly turned pale.
However, upon learning that Yuki had saved their daughter, the couple breathed a sigh of relief.
They then profusely thanked Yuki, expressing their deep gratitude.
Upon learning that Yuki and Akane had come from elsewhere and had no place to stay for now, they immediately invited the two to stay at their home.
Yuki asked for Akane's opinion. Seeing no problem with it, Akane accepted the Kagenou couple's kind offer to stay.
"Hahaha! That's wonderful!"
"Mr. Yuki and Miss Nishino, rest assured, I will make sure you are well taken care of. Tonight, you must try some of our local specialties!"
"Let me tell you! Don't think this is just a rural area! We actually have quite a few distinctive delicacies here!"
"Hahahaha!!!"
Baron Kagenou laughed heartily, without a trace of aristocratic airs.
Seeing this, Lady Kagenou beside him gently nudged her husband's arm, signaling him to tone it down a bit.
"Apologies, you two. My husband is like this; he gets very excited when we have guests."
"And since you two are our daughter's saviors, he's even more eager to host you properly. Please don't mind him."
Lady Kagenou quickly smoothed things over, and the Baron also reined in his laughter, scratching his bald head awkwardly.
Meanwhile, hearing that Yuki and the others would be staying, a strange glint flashed in Claire's crimson eyes, seeming to hold both anticipation and joy.
After chatting with Yuki and the others for a while longer, Lady Kagenou suddenly remembered something.
"Oh! I almost forgot, I need to have the servants prepare rooms for you."
"How many rooms should we prepare?"
"One room?"
"Or two?"
Lady Kagenou asked Yuki and Akane with a meaningful smile.