Chapter Twenty-Two Vast Sky and Earth

  "Mom, mom, aren't you stunned?" Having said what was on his mind in one breath, Raymond completely relaxed. Seeing Amada's unusual expression, he couldn't help but wave his hand in front of her.

  "Ah, I'm fine." Amada woke up with a start.

  "In short, as long as you accomplish these two things, I guarantee that you will definitely be able to defeat Verona." Raymond said confidently.

  Amada leaned on her chin, smiling at Raymond. Until she looked at him with goosebumps in her heart, she smiled and said: "You know, I suddenly think you look like someone."

  "Who?"

  "Our sworn enemy of the Horde. It was he who helped the humans establish their nation, creating a new threat to our very existence; it was he who thwarted our assault on the Deadmines 20 years ago, our one chance to claim the kingdom of Lordaeron for ourselves; and even the rebellion that so devastated our people had his fingerprints all over it."

  "Wow, you actually said that, I was completely helping you." Raymond couldn't help but scratch his head: "So, you must really hate him, huh?"

  "For these 20 years, there hasn't been a single day when I didn't hate him." Amada smiled somewhat wistfully.

  But Raymond noticed that in Amada's eyes, there seemed to be more than just hatred.

  Raymond wanted to ask who this person was, but he didn't come here tonight to listen to stories. He saw him take a deep breath, as if making some kind of decision: "Mom, actually there's one more thing, I came here tonight to..."

  "Do you want to leave?" Amada suddenly asked.

  "What? How...?" Raymond stood up in surprise.

  "Ah, silly child," Amada sighed. "How could I not know about the rumors and gossip behind your back these days? In fact, over the past 20 years, all the rumors and slanders surrounding you, I've known them all. How could I not see what you want to do?"

  "But you are a beastman prince after all, can't you endure it a bit longer? As long as the rebellion is quelled and your prestige is established, you will definitely be able to..."

  Amada's words were cut off by Raymond: "No, I've thought it through clearly these past few days. For the past 20 years, facing everyone's discrimination and misunderstanding, I could still face them optimistically without making a fuss. But after this incident, I suddenly realized that from the moment I was born, my body, my thoughts, none of them belong to this land."

  "What about the prince? All the beastmen don't think I'm one of them. In a sense, in their eyes, I'm not even as good as a dog-headed person! So, it's meaningless for me to stay here anymore."

  Quietly watching Raymond vent his heart's pain, Amada's eyes were first surprised, then puzzled, and finally gradually became clear.

  She beckoned to Remon to come closer, and Amada gently stroked her son's face, sighing softly: "Perhaps I've been neglecting your feelings all along. Suddenly, I remembered when I was a child, because I had to hide the fact that I could use 'Beast Spirit Return', I also suffered from discrimination due to this appearance."

  "So, I completely understand your feelings. Forcing you to stay by my side would be cruel torture for you. Moreover, the two suggestions just now are enough to prove your deep wisdom and far-sightedness. Such talent should not be wasted on this barren land. You deserve to stand on a much broader stage."

  "So you're agreeing?" Raymond said disbelievingly.

  He had made all sorts of plans for his departure, even to the point of being willing to break with his mother if necessary, but he never expected Amada to agree so readily.

  "Heh heh, even if I didn't agree, would you obediently stay behind?" Amada slapped him on the face with a scolding expression: "Actually, until just now, I only truly realized another side of my son. What a vicious plan, if those barbarians knew who had tricked them, they'd probably go crazy together, heh heh heh..."

  It seemed as if she had thought of something extremely amusing, for Amada suddenly burst out laughing.

  Raymond's face turned red: "That was all for you..."

  "Well then, son, if you really must go, you have to promise me one thing." Amada said suddenly with a serious tone.

  "What?"

  "After you leave, never come back and don't ask about us. You must thoroughly distance yourself from this land and completely cut off the past that you had here."

  "...... I understand." Raymond took a deep breath and nodded.

  Then Amada turned around and took out a sword from a trunk, handing it to Raymond: "This is the famous sword produced by Lovell, the lord of the kingdom of Dinar, personally forged by their master craftsman Mansen. I bought it with a lot of money originally to give to the chief of the Moro tribe, but he thought it was too small and returned it to me after coming here."

  Gently stroking the scabbard, Amada's eyes revealed a complex expression: "Since you're leaving, I'll give you this sword. This sword may be of use to you someday."

  Raymond took the sword and examined it carefully. This standard-type sword was indeed small for a Minotaur, but just right for a human. Compared to the overall volume of the sword, it felt surprisingly heavy in his hand, obviously made from the finest steel through repeated forging, giving it a dense feel that was quite rare.

  The scabbard is a dull grey, unassuming and humble, with the same introverted simplicity as the heavy sword body. The entire sword has only one emblem, on the hilt, which is a white dove holding a four-petaled three-leafed clover badge.

  Taking the sword, Raymond hung it at his waist. The mother and son gazed quietly at each other for a moment, then Raymond respectfully bowed to Amada and turned to stride out of the tent.

  "Never come back again." This was Amada's last request.

  As she watched her son's figure disappear behind the door curtain, Amada, who had been strong all along, suddenly burst into tears.

  He, in the end, was just like him, and eventually left...

  In the empty tent, Amada sat quietly for a long time before suddenly calling out in a low voice: "Someone's coming."

  A cat-like humanoid appeared silently before Amada and knelt down respectfully.

  "Immediately convey my orders, saying that Prince Raymond has died suddenly from a wound infection. From today on, no one is allowed to mention anything about him again, and all things related to Raymond must be destroyed. From now on, I want everyone to act as if he never existed."

  It was unexpected that Amada would issue such an order, and the cat person was taken aback. But his nature of obeying orders made him not say another word, he just nodded quietly and then disappeared.

  "Good grief, what a troublesome thing this son of mine is." After all that, Amada lay exhausted in her chair.

  "Next time, find a decent-looking Bamana person and have a pure-blooded daughter..."

  Leaving the tent, Raymond took a deep breath of the fresh night air, feeling more relaxed than ever before. From now on, he would no longer have to endure the discriminatory gaze of others. What could be more exhilarating than this?

  "Master, are you really going to leave?" Bast suddenly appeared silently behind him, her face full of resentment.

  Raymond smiled and patted her head: "Foolish girl, just because I'm leaving doesn't mean you have to stay."

  "Meow, how can this be." Bastet shook her head: "I have already sworn to follow you forever, wherever you go, I will follow."

  Knowing that this silly guy was actually a stubborn one, and he also needed her very much, Raymond didn't say anything more. He nodded and said: "Alright, you just follow me then."

  "Great!" The cat girl happily did a backflip on the ground.

  At this time, another figure emerged from the shadows beside him: "Your Highness, let me follow you too."

  Raymond took a look and it was indeed Rutz. How did he know he had to leave? Thinking about it, Raymond glared at Bastar.

  The cat girl instinctively covered her ears: "Meow, it's not my fault, it's Lutz who thinks you've been acting strange lately, so he came to ask me, and I couldn't help but say... sorry, actually, I let the cat out of the bag. Young master, he's very strong, just let him come with us."

  "Shut up." Raymond tapped her impatiently, then turned to Rudes and said, "Rudes, you've already won my mom's favor, your future is boundless, why bother following me?"

  Rud said calmly: "I suddenly miss the days when I used to be an adventurer so much that I couldn't wait any longer."

  For a moment, as their eyes met, a smile spread across Raymond's face: "Since that's the case, you have to agree to one condition."

  "Please go on."

  "From now on, don't call me 'Your Highness' anymore. Prince Ramon no longer exists. Just like Basute, you can just call me Young Master."

  "Yes, milord...young master."

  "Bast, hand over your luggage to Rutz. Let's set off." Raymon stretched his back and walked out of the camp with big strides.

  "Meow, now?" the cat girl exclaimed in surprise.

  Luz closed her mouth and silently followed with her luggage on her back.

  "Yes, right now." Raymond's bright laughter came: "Because I'm in a good mood now, so I couldn't wait any longer."

  The cat girl pouted, made a face at Lelouch's back, and then skipped away. The three figures gradually disappeared into the night.

  In that direction lies the south. There, at the end of the northern wilderness, beyond the rolling Gettysburg Mountains, is a beautiful and fertile land.

  A vast stage belonging to Raymond!