However, what seemed complex to Madden, Brand, who came as a latter part of history, viewed more simply. For Madden and his group in this situation, their decisions would not bear any weight, thus rather than deciding, it was better to wait for others to arrange everything for them. Although this seemed a bit helpless, it was the truth.
This is what he wanted to tell Madden—
But once Brand made it clear to the old soldier, the aged guard captain couldn’t help but be surprised. He looked at Brand with suspicion and asked: "Young man, who exactly are you? Ordinary people cannot see these matters this clearly. Not even I can."
His remark cemented Frey’s suspicion. Since even Captain Madden said this, Brand’s identity was confirmed. She approached and revealed Brand’s identity to the veteran of the November War— naturally, concerning the Highland Knight.
This suddenly enlightened Madden.
"So, you are a noble, and a Highland Knight," the aged guard captain said, looking at Brand with considerable surprise. "When I was young, I fought alongside Highland Knights. Though people commonly describe Highland Knights as unruly, it must be said that every single one of them is a hero."
He glanced at Brand again: "It seems the descendants are no less gallant. Brand, you have at least proven that."
"You flatter me, Captain Madden."
"No, when you said you would deliver a message via the Xavier Mountain Path, I merely thought you were a young man unafraid of death. Honestly, if it weren’t for that little girl Romantic insisting on accompanying you, I wouldn’t have supported you. And later, when I sent Frey after you, that was another matter altogether." Madden replied: "Regardless, your performance was heroic. True bravery is not recklessness, but understanding what you are doing. Your actions clearly demonstrate that."
The aging guard captain patted Brand and Frey on the shoulders: "You are both outstanding, benchmarks for Erune youth."
Frey remained silent, glancing at Brand. She thought, most of the credit here actually belonged to Brand, but no one knew.
Of course, Brand wasn’t foolish enough to announce it either—
Then, they met with other members of the Buqi Militia. Ike, Essen, and Markmi, who were close to him, came to congratulate him. Especially Markmi, who brought a small keg of barley wine, claiming they should toast to surviving the ordeal. Silent Nipetto and Vlad simply patted each other’s shoulders. Though they were not talkative, their emotions were naturally conveyed through their actions.
The only unexpected situation was encountering Breson along the way. This young man was with his father, uncharacteristically not engaging in their usual confrontation, merely nodding slightly as they passed each other.
Markmi then told him that Breson had been dispirited for the past month, only recently recovering slightly. Brand, upon learning this, fell silent for a moment. Someone who can feel guilt for a fallen comrade was not wholly bad, affirming his own belief.
Towards the end of the celebration, several young members of the Silver Winged Cavalry joined in. When Brand saw them, he couldn’t help exchanging a glance with Batom.
This indicated that his arrangement to disperse ’hatred’ was quite successful— jealousy is inherent and unavoidable, but being slightly modest can also earn friends.
After the celebration, the old guard captain Madden came to consult him again regarding matters of the nobles. This time, Brand specifically asked Frey to stay behind and answered: "Uncle Madden, in fact, the situation is clear now. The knights represented by the White Mane Legion will soon contact us. This shows they have already made a decision, but rest assured, this decision actually has little to do with us. We just need to accept the rewards with peace of mind."
"How so?" Madden asked.
"The general situation is such; they need heroes. People like you and Frey, who have performed excellently and originated from the guard team and militia system, can immediately make people think of the local military forces," Brand answered. "And Uncle Madden, you led the Buqi villagers to break through the encirclement and deliver timely information to Fanmir Fortress. This matter is easily explained because Uncle Madden, your achievements belong to the guard team."