Sir Berrin's face looked weathered and worn.
In the dim room, he sat at the wooden bedside, while Simon lay quietly on the bed.
A noble sitting at a commoner's bedside—this scene felt eerie, almost surreal.
"Hah, a commoner is still just a commoner… how foolish," Sir Berrin sneered after a while, as scenes from the recent past replayed in his mind.
Ever since he witnessed his magical beast abandon him, many nobles had fallen into a deep despair.
Add to that the betrayal of knights they once trusted, and being locked up in a pitch-black cellar—it all made them feel as though the world had cast them aside.
But what followed was something they hadn't expected.
About two weeks later, Avern had actually allowed the villagers to release them.
Although they weren't allowed to leave the village and were followed by a patrol guard at all times, they were otherwise free to move about within the village.
At first, the newly freed nobles felt a spark of hope rekindle in their hearts.
They thought surely someone among the nobles in the city had stepped in to rescue them.
As they recalled all they had suffered, the pent-up resentment in their hearts exploded.
But the patrolling guards merely observed them silently without saying a word.
Simon, who stood nearby, only grinned and explained this was just their "yard time."
At the mention of "yard time," the nobles instinctively recoiled.
They were reminded of their last humiliating public parade through the streets.
They now understood that "yard time" didn't mean they were being set free—it simply meant being let out for a bit of sunlight and fresh air.
Sir Berrin was deeply frustrated, but his knightly training had taught him discipline.
Now was the time to plan an escape from Fruitvale Village.
He saw this "yard time" as the perfect opportunity and began to observe the village closely, searching for an opening.
During these outings, the villagers didn't interfere with the nobles' actions, merely followed silently.
The villagers were surprised to see nobles strolling through their streets, but the initial fear they once felt was long gone.
After wandering the village, the nobles found the experience dull.
They had once ridden in carriages surrounded by knights, entering only the most luxurious establishments.
Now, they were aimlessly walking through a small village. The contrast was stark.
Once their initial tension wore off, the nobles soon grew tired—and hungry.
Berrin approached a fruit cart, wanting to taste some of the apples.
But the vendor slapped his hand away, stating that an apple cost five copper coins and he had to pay first.
Berrin's anger flared instantly. As a noble, when had he ever been treated like this?
Just as he was about to explode, he saw a villager calmly raise a machete in front of him.
At the same time, a Mightyena beside them let out a low growl—instantly dousing his rage like cold water.
Suppressing his fury, Berrin glared at the vendor, clutched his growling stomach, and began walking back toward the cellar. He was starving.
This time, when he returned to the wooden house that had held them, the villagers didn't force them back into the cellar.
They were told they could now live in the wooden house, albeit still under constant surveillance.
Compared to the dark, damp cellar, this wooden house was a major improvement.
Soon, the nobles gathered inside, waiting for lunch.
Although they had lost their freedom, their basic meals had been guaranteed—until now.
As time passed with no sign of food, the nobles frowned and looked toward the guards outside, confused.
Eventually, Sir Berrin couldn't take it anymore. Without food, how could he plan an escape?
To his shock, Simon raised a hand and stated plainly that they had to pay for their meals.
The knight was stunned—now they had to pay for food?
But all their belongings had already been confiscated. How were they supposed to have any money?
"If you don't have money, you can earn some," Simon replied with an ambiguous smile.
He pulled out a wooden board engraved with the words "Job Postings" in large, clear letters.
Jobs… Berrin's eyelid twitched as he took the board, his face instantly turning red.
Remove snow from the orchard: 2 copper coins per hour
Collect spit from the Glooms: 2 copper coins per bottle
Deliver food to the Mightyenas outside the village: 5 copper coins per trip (some danger involved)
Clear snow from grasslands outside the village: 5 copper coins per hour (some danger involved)
Help out at Uncle Texi's farm: 10 copper coins per hour
...and so on.
Just as Berrin expected, the board was filled with various job listings.
"You're telling us to earn copper coins ourselves, then trade them for food?" Berrin asked, staring hard at the villager.
Simon nodded with a grin. "Exactly. Avern calls it reeducation through labor—a way for you to reform yourselves through work."
After hearing that, the nobles felt their blood rushing to their heads.
But one glance at the Mightyena next to Simon made them force their anger back down.
By now, they all understood—Simon had no regard for their noble status whatsoever.
"What if we refuse to do this labor?" one noble asked through gritted teeth.
"Up to you. I'm not forcing anyone," Simon shrugged and stopped speaking. He closed the wooden house door behind him.
Inside, the nobles looked at one another, not knowing what to do.
"They wouldn't really let us starve… right?" one frail noble asked anxiously.
"I… I don't think so," another replied with a trembling voice. "We're nobles, after all…"
"But being hungry is no joke," someone muttered. "They may not starve us to death, but going without food for a few days? That's entirely possible…"
After that comment, silence fell over the wooden house once more.
None of them had ever truly experienced hunger.
But they had seen the desperate looks in the eyes of those starving in the slums—people who would do anything for a single meal.
(End of Chapter)