Jack and the others had grown up in Lute Village since they were young, making them very familiar with the surrounding terrain.
Not long after, they bypassed the soldiers standing guard at the entrance of the village and entered Lute Village.
"Come on in, those soldiers are as stupid as pigs. They didn't notice us at all."
"Now, everyone, go back to your homes and check the situation. If what the soldiers said is true, and they're charging high tolls for going in and out, then things at home might not be good.
By the way, let me know what's going on in the village."
"We'll meet back here in an hour."
"Okay, let's go!"
Jack and the others quickly finished their discussion and immediately headed to their respective homes.
Since Jack's house was closest, he arrived first.
Taking a deep breath to calm himself, he opened the door and stepped inside.
Even so, when Jack saw his mother drying clothes, his excitement got the best of him. Without hesitation, he hurried over and embraced her.
"I'm back!"
"Jack? Is that really you? My jack!"
His mother froze for a moment, staring at the familiar yet changed boy in front of her. Tears welled up in her eyes, and a look of relief softened her expression: "It's been over a month, and you've changed so much. Not only have you gotten stronger, but you finally look like a man."
"Yeah, Lord Shield Hero has taught me a lot in this time. I've gotten stronger. I'm no longer the coward who trembled at the sight of monsters. Even if the Wave of Calamity comes again, I'll protect you."
"That's good, that's good. No matter what happens, as long as you come back safely, that's all that matters."
To a mother, perhaps nothing was more important than her son's safety and well-being.
"By the way, why are the clothes drying in the living room? It's so sunny outside."
Only then did Jack notice the wet clothes drying all around the living room, making the house feel damp and uncomfortable.
"Why..."
His mother sighed deeply, her face full of sorrow: "You don't know. Ever since the Spear Hero became the lord of Lute Village, he introduced something called a sunlight tax. You have to pay to dry clothes outside, so we've been forced to hang them indoors."
"A sunlight tax? What a ridiculous idea! How did the Spear Hero even come up with that?"
Jack felt dizzy, as if he couldn't comprehend the absurdity of it.
"There are many more outrageous taxes, but let's talk about it later. You probably haven't eaten lunch yet. We'll talk while we eat."
"Alright."
Jack nodded and sat down at the dining table, where his pants were hanging to dry.
On the other side, Irene didn't find her parents at home. After searching the house, she discovered a note left under a pillow in the bedroom.
The note explained that her parents couldn't bear the heavy taxes anymore, so they went to the capital to find work.
Though Irene was disappointed, she didn't dwell on it. She laid on her bed, which she hadn't slept in for days, closed her eyes, and enjoyed a moment of peace.
Meanwhile, Lilith's parents were still at home, and since their family had some savings, their situation wasn't as dire.
When they found out Lilith had become a magician under Jason's guidance, they were overjoyed. Her father even pulled out a bottle of wine he had been saving for years to celebrate.
As the saying goes, some are happy, and some are sad.
Wordsworth, despite being only 16 years old, was the strongest of the group. Standing at 198 centimeters tall with muscles that looked like a bodybuilder's, he carried a giant sword as his weapon, exuding an overwhelming presence.
But his honest, goofy face often earned him the nickname "big fool" from Jack and the others.
Though he was physically strong, Wordsworth ranked last in combat skills among the group, making him the "Tenth Blade."
His family had been farmers for generations, with no notable talents among his ancestors. The only thing that stood out was his massive size.
Excited, he pushed open the door to his home.
As he stepped inside, the smell of medicine and mildew filled his nostrils, and the furniture looked worn and tattered.
Although Wordsworth had a simple face, he wasn't stupid. He immediately realized something had gone wrong at home.
"Father! Mother!"
Wadsworth shouted anxiously, his footsteps heavy on the creaking floor as he rushed directly to his parents' room.
At first glance, he saw his father lying on the bed, bandaged on his right hand, left foot, and head.
Beside the bed sat his mother, looking utterly exhausted, as though she hadn't had a decent night's sleep in who knows how long, slowly feeding medicine to his father.
"W-Wadsworth, are you back?"
In his mother's tired, ashen eyes, a faint glimmer of hope sparked as she saw her son standing in the doorway.
She placed the medicine on the worn bedside table and tried to stand up to greet him, but the moment she moved, her body weakened. Dizzy, she began to fall.
Wadsworth immediately rushed forward to catch her.
"Mother, what's wrong?" Wadsworth asked in a panic.
"N-Nothing... I haven't eaten in a while, so I'm just a little weak. It's fine," she shook her head, trying to assure him that she was okay.
"Foolish child, Wadsworth is back! Go next door and borrow some rice. See if you can bring back some meat, too. Let's clean him up and give him a good meal!" his father shouted from the bed, clearly excited despite the pain he was in. Seeing his son had made any physical suffering seem trivial.
"Borrow rice? Our family isn't doing well, but we don't need to borrow food. And how did father get hurt? Who did this to him?"
Wadsworth held his mother steady, his face puzzled, but at the same time full of anger.
"Don't ask too much about this. We're fine as we are," his mother said, reluctant to tell him the truth. She didn't want to burden her son, knowing his temperament. If he learned the truth, he would certainly seek revenge, and no one would be able to stop him.
"It does matter! Father is injured like this, and you want me to stand by and do nothing? I'm your son! If you don't tell me, I'll ask someone else," Wadsworth cried out, his voice filled with emotion.
Seeing their son's determination, his parents exchanged a look, realizing they couldn't keep the truth hidden any longer. Reluctantly, they told Wadsworth what had happened.
After the last Wave of Calamity, most of the surrounding farmland was destroyed. Wadsworth's father had returned to farming, bought seeds, and planned to plant crops again. But then Motoyasu came and declared that even if the crops were grown, they would be taxed.
Wadsworth's father, having used all his money to buy seeds, couldn't afford the taxes. As a result, they were stripped of their right to plant.
On top of that, the family was burdened with various other taxes they couldn't keep up with.
When the soldiers came to collect taxes and received nothing, they vandalized Wadsworth's house in retaliation.
His father tried to stop them but was beaten badly, leaving him bedridden. Even the medicine had been kindly provided by their next-door neighbor.
"Did the soldiers at the village entrance do this?"
Wadsworth's voice trembled with fury as the truth sank in, his eyes burning red with rage. He clenched his teeth so hard they nearly cracked.
"It was them, Wadsworth... But don't be impulsive. Those soldiers are part of Motoyasu's group and serve Her Highness Myne. They're not people we can afford to provoke," his mother quickly warned, seeing the dangerous look on her son's face.
"This has nothing to do with whether we can provoke them or not! Lord Shield Hero taught me that there are things people must do, even if it costs them their life!"
With that declaration, Wadsworth turned and stormed out.
In his fury, he didn't bother to duck beneath the door beam, slamming his head into it and knocking a hole straight through. His parents watched in stunned silence as he marched out, their hearts heavy with worry.