As we were in the middle of the banket, the Duke decided to speak about everything that had happened, apparently. He seemed to be rather pleased by the various accomplishments of this village, alongside the expansion that has been happening since the humble beginnings of this place, many years ago.
"As many of you can guess, I've come here personally to congratulate all of you for what you've accomplished.
From the successful hunt of Wild Boars every year, to the constant supply of your bountiful harvest, alongside the successful extermination of the demon settlement, this village had gone through a lot, but had perseverated through everything rather amazingly." The Duke said with a rather pleased voice.
"Thank you very much sir." Said the chief. Everybody else seemed to nod and lower their heads to the Lord's gratefulness.
Meanwhile, I couldn't help but think this wasn't enough. Sure, thanking us was good, but is that it? I've heard that commoner status can be granted if one does great feats and is rewarded by a Lord, but was this all he was going to give us? A mere "thank you very much for your service"? Ridiculous. If it wasn't for my position, I would surely scream at him and ask for something more.
However, my father, once more, surprised me.
"My lord, with all due respect…" My father asked, suddenly raising his head.
"Hm? Who might you be?" Asked the Duke.
The chief quickly told the Duke about my father's identity.
"Oh! Wild Boar Hunter Joan! And his talented son as well, that child at your side, isn't it?" Asked the Duke.
"Y-Yes, that's me. I am glad you know about my Title and my son. He's an incredibly promising young man." My father said.
"Of course I know him, he was the one that sent the head of an Oni to me!" The Duke said while crossing his arms.
"Eh?!" My father asked, looking at me with shock.
"If you excuse my rudeness, that was only done to make it apparent to our wise Lord that demons were attacking the forest and invading it.
showing the head of an Oni was necessary to showcase the level of danger, as Oni are stronger demons than mere Imps." I said with a graceful and calm tone of voice, everybody was suddenly surprised I was able to speak as eloquently as a Noble, if not even better.
"T-That's true. I had already forgiven you of such an insolent act due to the circumstances, and from what I've heard, at eight years of age no less, you've joined the battle against the demons and their settlement, did you not? Every now and then I also head about a young healer wandering around the village, which resulted to be you as well, young Blake." Said the Duke.
"You're an interesting child, and as promising as your father."
"Thank you very much for your compliments, sir. I don't deserve such words." I said as gently as I could, even though it was making me sick.
"Now, speak, Joan, what it is that you needed to speak with me?" Asked the Duke to my father.
"Well, I was thinking that, if possible, we could receive the Commoner Status due to our feats. Many people has risked their lives, many serfs died fighting and protecting your territory, my lord.
For all those that survived such a tragedy, and for the families of the heroic men that had fallen, don't you think it is only fair to reward them with the status of a Commoner, which could make our life easier?"
The Duke suddenly fell silent, looking at my father's eyes. His wife, quickly whispered something to his ears, as he looked back at her eyes, she seemed gentle-hearted and good natured, unlike him.
"Hmm. Although such a request is filled with insolence, I can't help but feel like I have to agree with it." Sighed the Duke. "All of you have indeed done a lot for my fiefdom. I've gone through many things myself. I do remember that once, I was someone more selfish than now, I oftentimes could not see the big picture either, and was delving on my own ego.
I now know that you're all competent people that have hearts of gold. And su-"
Suddenly, the speech of the Duke was interrupted by the sound of wood cracking and shattering. The ceiling above us was suddenly beginning to crack slowly, stopping right above the Duke.
"My Lord, watch out!"
The tall knight ran towards the Duke and his family, as the other knights were too slow to react.
Suddenly, half of the ceiling broke apart and fell down.
The amount of dust suddenly spread everywhere alongside an enormous quantity of debris. The people all around was panicking as I looked back at the ceiling, suddenly, flames began to emerge from outside, beginning to quickly spread through the old wooden house of the chief.
"W-What is happening outside?!" The Duke cried, having been barely protected by the tall knight, and suddenly finding his two daughters in the floor, hit by a large piece of wood. His wife had protected them but seemed unconscious, with blood covering her entire face.
"AGATHA!!!" The Duke cried in shock.
A second after, we heard a thunderous and monstrous groan.
It was so loud and terrifying that it sent shivers down the spine of everybody here. Me included. I knew who this beast was because I had seen it firsthand before. Eleanora's voice quickly reached my mind as she also had recognized the monster.
"That's the Wyvern!" She cried.
There was no time to waste. First of hand, I had to secure the safety of my family and my friends. I looked around as I saw the house quickly catching more fire, the door was closed right behind us, so I ran there without hesitation and imbued Blood Ki into my leg.