Chapter 2: Pioneer Nobles

"You should leave now, they've waited for you long enough." Noah looked up and gazed at the cavalrymen stationed outside the flower garden. Tidel, who had wanted to watch Noah eat, was momentarily stunned. He glanced back at the silent knights, realized something was amiss, and a look of regret appeared in his eyes. "I should have led them back to the city first before coming here." "You should also wash off that stench on you." Noah looked disdainful; the sense of smell of the dragon species was indeed keen. The young knight was covered in blood at the moment, remnants from clearing monsters during his patrol. At not yet fourteen, the responsibilities he bore were immense. However, as the son of a borderland noble, this was a responsibility he had to bear and could not evade. His father, Noah's adoptive father, was an earl stationed at the kingdom's border. As a borderland noble, Noah's adoptive father was almost unchecked. He had the right to freely expand his army and the right to expand his territory. In other words, the lands captured by the knight order under Noah's adoptive father's command could be recognized by the kingdom, and his governed territories could exceed the constraints of his title. But the reason for such freedom was that the Augustus family, as borderland nobles, faced numerous challenges. Located in the southern part of the Xilantia Continent, the Aristoria United Kingdom was a pioneering force of human civilization advancing into barbaric territories. The Augustus family, stationed southeast of the kingdom, was one of the kingdom's swords piercing the barbaric land. This was the battleground of human civilization against the primitive wilderness. The fertility of the land and the richness of resources meant that occupying a relatively flat piece of land could easily sustain thousands of people. However, such fertile lands could also nourish countless ferocious giant beasts and monster clans. The challenges in developing this land were unimaginable. Apart from the brief support that could be relied upon from behind, the pioneers had to face relentless waves of monsters emerging from the mountains, rivers, skies, and even underground. In such harsh living conditions, there were naturally no policy limitations, simply because there was no need. The so-called right to freely expand one's army and territory was irrelevant. The borderland nobles in the kingdom's southeast, maintaining the size of their armies and securing their territories, were already considered outstanding. Nobles who could expand outward on this basis were the elite of the human race. Noah's adoptive father was such an elite. Not only could he protect the territory passed down by his family, but he could also lead his knight order to further explore into the wilderness. Yet, despite all this, he faced an insoluble issue - population. Due to the harsh living conditions, ordinary villages had to face threats from the fierce species. Thus, the population growth rate was exceedingly slow. Under such circumstances, even nobles had to take up the sword and wear armor as long as they met the combat strength requirements, regardless of age, joining the relatively less pressured patrol knight order. The knight order had to patrol between cities, towns, and villages, slay invading fierce species beasts, and repel migrating monster clans, safeguarding the safety of the territory's populace. The noble title of the Augustus family was entirely built with the blood and bones of generations of pioneers. It was the kind of true nobility even the discerning Golden Dragons would recognize. Even Noah only had one thing to complain about: his adoptive father's title was too low. Besides that, there was nothing to criticize. "This was my oversight." Upon seeing Noah's expression, Tidel finally noticed the blood covering him. He didn't mind the stench. In the midst of battle, smells were easy to ignore, and after it ended, he was already used to it. "Then I'll head back first." Leaving behind the beast skin pouch, Tidel didn't waste any time delaying. Although he wanted to spend some carefree time in this garden, just like in his childhood, the circumstances in the territory didn't allow it. "Be careful on the way back to the city, don't get ambushed by goblins." Noah advised playfully, with a teasing tone. "Those cunning, vile creatures flee at the sound of my horse hooves, how could they dare to attack me?" "You never know. Once they gather in large enough numbers, these vile creatures can do all kinds of things you deem impossible, beyond your understanding." "You're right, they are indeed a big problem." Hearing Noah's reminder, Tidel furrowed his brow, recalling the frequent complaints from villagers during his patrols. The intelligent and incredibly reproductive low-level monster clans were the most common threat faced by the ordinary populace in the territory. In the same region, powerful monsters were numbered. After killing them, it would take some time before other monsters occupied the original ecological niche. But those monster communities at the bottom level were different. They were like moss on cliffs or wild grass in cracks, requiring just a bit of sunlight and water to grow uncontrollably. Impossible to kill off completely, eradicating them came with an immense cost, with little gain in return. Yet, they couldn't be ignored either. They feared knights in armor wielding guns and swords, but when facing farmers toiling in the fields, they showed their most brutal and vicious side. "He shouldn't be injured." Watching the young knight's departing figure, Noah muttered. Regarding this adoptive elder son, Noah was discontented with his attempts to assume the role of an elder brother over him. However, he couldn't remain indifferent to Tidel treating him like a beloved younger brother, offering protection in every way possible. He wasn't just a Golden Dragon but also possessed the memories of an entire human life. Truthfully speaking, if it weren't for his innate golden dragon bloodline supporting him, it would be difficult to reject a sincere and gallant noble who only wanted to be called "big brother." For, in terms of age, Tidel was indeed ten years older. By law, Noah should address Tidel as his elder brother. However, the pride of a Golden Dragon meant he could never lower himself to recognize a short-lived species as older. Unless this short-lived species could establish a magnificent feat that astounded even the Longevity Species, it might gain the recognition of the Golden Dragon, which stood at the pinnacle of the Metallic Dragon Race, and even surpassed the apex of the Dragon Clan. But that's only a possibility. Achieving such a feat wasn't something a young man under the age of fourteen could accomplish. Hence, for now, Noah couldn't acknowledge this elder brother. Crunch! Crunch! After a cleansing spell, Noah swallowed all the pearls from the beast skin pouch in one gulp. A crisp shattering sound was heard, and the young dragon squinted contentedly. Although not a single pearl was worthy of being collected, their shape didn't affect the taste and flavor.