A few days later, Godfrey stood beside his mother in a suit, along with hundreds upon hundreds of people, all bringing flowers to the monument set up to honour the Vagabonds who had lost their lives during the fight.

The sun was exceptionally bright today in Paradise, and Godfrey watched as the Elite Class, one by one, went up to lay flowers in honour of their squad members.

"Won't you go?" Valentina asked him softly.

Godfrey remained silent for a while. "Everyone will be watching, and it would feel like I'm being judged. They all died because I was tracked."

Valentina responded with a gentle smile. "Is that so? They didn't die because you were tracked, but because they chose to fight for a member of their cohort. If you can't go alone, then go with me."

As she spoke, Valentina entwined her fingers with his and slowly led him up the grand staircase. Godfrey's head remained tilted downward.

"You feel for their families, that's good. You're just like your father. Do you know he wouldn't eat if a member of his team died in a dungeon? Sometimes, he even lost a limb trying to save them," Valentina whispered as they climbed higher.

"I too was hailed as a doctor who had never lost a patient. Then the fateful day came, and there was nothing I could do, despite my efforts for hours. Like you, I couldn't raise my head."

Valentina smiled as though she could see her past self. "For days, it felt like I was a failure. But much later, I realized that my actions were a blatant disregard for the lives I had saved. They had meaning. It's just that sometimes we lift the bad over the good, and at times, it feels like there wasn't even any good at all."

Valentina released Godfrey's hand and gently caressed his back as they reached the top.

The Vagabond Cohort were among the few who could venture into the outside world to raid dungeons, scout for other humanoids, and protect Paradise from external threats. They were well respected in Paradise, which was why a great number of people had gathered for the burial of so many of them.

After paying his final respects, Godfrey began to descend with his mother. This time, she lifted his chin with one finger.

"Lift your chin."

Godfrey's eyes met the hundreds standing below. It was an intimidating sight, considering the circumstances, but he clenched his teeth and endured the pressure.

While descending, he saw Isshin appear out of thin air.

"It's the captain!"

"The captain is here!"

The crowd reacted to Arian's presence as he emerged from his Oni Ronin and climbed the staircase.

He patted Godfrey's chest. "You did good. We would have lost Thalia and Arden if not for you."

His words eased the tension slightly. As Arian descended, Isshin glanced at Godfrey and offered a soft nod.

If there was one thing Godfrey had discovered during his time in Paradise, it was that summons weren't just tools for survival. They were companions. They had emotions and personalities, but most of that was blurred because the school usually permitted their freedom only when they were meant to fight.

It was as if they were being bred to become nothing but warriors.

***

At home, Godfrey loosened his tie and fell onto the bed.

He recalled what Snow had said. Did he enjoy killing? Didn't his emotions plague him?

They did, but he had long learned to ignore certain emotions, such as fear. He refused to be looked down on and oppressed, so he left fear behind and learned boxing just to stand on his own two feet.

He chose to enter green gate dungeons, a place with no exit, because growing stronger at a faster pace was the only way to protect his mother. Back then, he believed strength would give him a voice in society. Who would have thought that people like him weren't loved when weak and were feared when strong?

As long as his mother breathed, she was in danger. Anyone could lose themselves and come after her, the temptation was too strong.

He understood them. Who didn't want their loved one back? Many times, he wished his father would suddenly appear and deal with his bullies from back then.

'Even though I know they're pushed by circumstances, I still won't allow it. Isolde's father was right in the end, our opinions drive us. To the authorities, they're right. The Fanatics also think they're right. But I see both as wrong.'

He sighed.

'Why should people allow those they gave power to oppress us? They create laws, ensure innocent humanoid summoners lose control over their summons, and become like Victoria, puppets, just because they're different. The death rate in the world would have dropped if all kinds of summoners joined hands and repelled the dungeons together instead. What am I? An idealist. People like me tend to die early.'

Godfrey chuckled inwardly as he appeared in his soul space. Before, he would directly appear in the chamber he desired, but for the past few days, he found himself standing at the staircase.

He had decided to always climb the staircase whenever he wanted to enter the castle. It felt like a small way of bonding with it.

With gentle steps, he ascended the broad staircase and stopped at the top before a great door, much larger than the other doors leading to different chambers.

'I am the lord of the castle, am I not?' The thought occurred to him.

"Open," Godfrey said firmly.

The two sides of the door moved inward, revealing a wide path that led to the first chamber.

As he strolled through, Godfrey paused before the images carved into the towering walls.

They were depictions of Golden Order Knights.

He saw a knight with a tank-like build, much like Mountain, wielding a longsword and an oval shield. Right beside it was another image of the same knight, now holding a huge round shield and a spear.

'This… Achilles Shield.'

Godfrey stepped closer, his gaze shifting to the next carving. It depicted the same knight, but much larger, wielding a polearm, one end a hammer, the other an axe.

The hammer, etched with the insignia of the sun, exuded raw might.

Godfrey had seen this two days ago, which was why he had met Orion, a man whose summon could enhance other summons through its creations.

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