However, these memories also brought many useful things to Laine.
Just when Laine thought he was the chosen one who could defy fate with these memories,
he was adopted by a count's butler.
That butler, who became Laine's foster father, was named Lamb, and he had spent almost his entire life in the position of the count's butler.
When Lamb first adopted Laine, he treated him well, but after some time...
Swordsmanship, martial arts, horsemanship... Those were truly disastrous days, during which Laine was trained until he was barely breathing every day.
Besides arranging training and food for Laine, Lamb never spared him another glance.
When Laine was fourteen, Lamb sent him to the Knights Order. Laine could never understand why a mere butler would insist on sending him to the Knights Order.
At twenty, Laine joined the Dark Erosion Knights. At twenty-two, he became their commander. At twenty-four, which is now, Laine led the Knights Order to repel the demon race.
Then Laine received news that Lamb was critically ill.
Laine's feelings toward his foster father were very complicated.
In terms of attitude, Laine had never called him father, and he practically hated this foster father to death.
But emotionally, he always remembered the kindness of being raised by him.
Otherwise, Laine wouldn't have rushed back immediately upon receiving the news.
Before he knew it, Laine arrived at a mansion.
The Count whom Lamb served naturally had his own fief, but it wasn't here. The purpose for the Count's family building a mansion here was very clear.
It was because of the Olcott Academy, the Hedley Empire's premier noble girls' school, directly managed by the Duke of Atte City.
This academy was special. Although it was a noble school, common girls also had the opportunity to enroll. Moreover, beast folk, elves, and even demons could attend as long as they were female.
The Count had a young daughter, though she was born during the period when Laine had become a knight, so he had never met her.
The mansion was presumably built here to allow his daughter to enter this prestigious noble academy.
As Laine dismounted in front of the mansion, a guard stepped forward: "Are you Mr. Laine?"
"You know me?"
"The master said that if a man with black eyes and black hair wishes to enter, that would be Mr. Laine."
Laine: "..."
Indeed, his black hair was too distinctive.
Laine didn't know who his biological parents were, nor did he understand where his hair color came from.
Going west in the Hedley Empire, Laine had heard there was an empire where everyone had black eyes and black hair.
And in the memories of that deceased transmigrator, Laine discovered that the people in that person's country all had black eyes and black hair as well.
Laine wondered if the reason that transmigrator chose him of all people was because of his hair color.
Following the guard, Laine entered a room in the mansion, where two knights stood guard outside.
Inside, a sickly old man lay on the bed, his face full of wrinkles.
A blonde couple stood at the bedside, their faces filled with worry.
The male of the couple was the mansion's owner, one of the Hedley Empire's counts, Count Hollace Ashe.
Hearing movement, the Ashe couple turned around, their eyes meeting Laine's as he approached.
Laine nodded in greeting: "Count, it's been a long time."
Hollace looked Laine up and down, finally managing a smile on his worried face: "You've grown taller, grown up..."
Though he wanted to exchange more pleasantries with Laine, thinking of the old man behind him, Hollace stepped aside to let Laine see Lamb.
Laine silently stepped forward, looking at the old man who was already half in the grave, and gripped his hand firmly, saying with deep emotion:
"Old man, I'm back for the feast."
"Cough! Cough! Cough!!"
Lamb suddenly coughed several times, then took two deep breaths: "You brat..."
Seeing this, the count and his wife finally breathed sighs of relief.
After all, just moments ago, Lamb had been struggling even to breathe.
But Laine's expression wasn't looking good.
According to the transmigrator's memories, this kind of situation was usually a final burst of energy before death - after the old person had said everything they needed to say, they would pass away.
Raising his clouded eyes, Lamb first looked at Laine with satisfaction for a moment, then turned to Count Hollace:
"My lord, regarding Laine..."
"Old Lamb, rest assured."
Hollace nodded solemnly: "I will certainly treat Laine as my own and take good care of him."
Obviously, at this point, Hollace still didn't know Laine's identity and merely regarded him as an ordinary noble knight.
Hollace was thinking of letting Laine join his knights and giving him the position of knight captain.
The position of knight captain under a count was already quite prestigious.
"No..."
Lamb shook his head: "I hope... to let Laine take my position, to take care of the young lady in my stead. Otherwise, I won't be at peace..."
Hearing this, Laine raised an eyebrow slightly, while Hollace looked at Laine in astonishment.
"My lord, is that possible?"
"It's possible, and I would feel at ease leaving Nanaly in Laine's care, but Laine..."
"I accept."
Laine calmly interrupted Hollace's words, looking at Lamb:
"After adopting me, you made me become a knight, and now you want me to become a butler. I really can't understand what you're thinking."
Lamb grinned and looked up at the ceiling: "I want to hear you make this oath as a knight."
"You troublesome old man..."
Laine sighed, stepped back two paces, then took the sword from his waist wrapped in a pure black scabbard, knelt on one knee, and placed the sword across his knee.
"I, Laine, as the former commander of the Dark Erosion Knights, hereby swear an oath that until Count Ashe finds a new candidate, I will temporarily take your place in caring for Count Ashe's only daughter, becoming both shield and sword to protect her completely."
After making the oath, Laine stood up and saw that Lamb had already closed his eyes, his life force gone.
"Rest in peace."
After bowing slightly to Lamb, Laine turned around.
He saw that the count and his wife, as well as the knights at the door, had all knelt on one knee.
Clearly, the position of Dark Erosion Knights Commander carried considerable prestige.
Laine shrugged: "Please stand up. As I said, I'm the former commander, and I don't even have a noble title. I'm not worth such treatment."
Hearing Laine say this, everyone stood up.
Hollace gave a bitter smile: "Laine... I never imagined that in ten years, you would..."
The ten-year period has arrived, welcoming the Dragon King's return?
That old meme from the transmigrator's memories surfaced in Laine's mind, making the corner of his mouth twitch.
"It was mostly just a coincidence."
After composing his expression, Laine sighed: "Before anything else, Count, please take me to see Lady Nanaly."
"Very well."