"My dear son Rennes, how have you been?"
"In the blink of an eye, it's already been nearly ten years since you left home to serve in the Lionheart Legion..."
"Just a few days ago, your father and elder brother were killed by monsters while inspecting the fiefdom."
"Your mother hopes you can retire from military service and return home as soon as possible to inherit the family title and estate."
—From your mother, Evelyn
Staring at the letter in his hand, Rennes was at a loss for words.
He had never imagined that such a sudden and devastating change would occur in his family.
His father and brother—gone, killed by monsters.
And now, he, the second son who had never expected to inherit anything, had suddenly become the heir to the Habsburg family.
It felt surreal.
"This continent of Roland, where even gods show their presence, is far too dangerous..."
"You never know whether tomorrow or a disaster will come first."
After a long silence, Rennes couldn't help but reflect on the fleeting, unpredictable nature of life.
As for grief over the deaths of his father and brother—it was there, but faint.
After all…
He had only crossed into this world six months ago.
The memories from his current body's past life felt more like watching a film than personal experience.
Besides, after spending the last half-year in the military, completely detached from his "new" family, it was hard to feel genuine affection toward a father and brother who felt more like strangers.
Now came the real question:
Should he return home to inherit the family title or continue serving in the Legion?
It wasn't an easy decision.
Staying with the Lionheart Legion had clear advantages—especially for someone seeking to advance on the path of extraordinary power.
After all...
The Lionheart Legion was one of the top three elite knight orders in the Kingdom of Rennes. It offered unmatched training, exposure to powerful warriors, and access to precious magical resources.
With enough military merit, one could even earn their own noble title and land.
According to the body's memories, Rennes's father had even spent three years' worth of income from their estate just to bribe the right people and get his son into the Legion.
Yet even with that opportunity...
Rennes's talent was painfully average.
After nearly ten years of service, he remained a low-ranked knight—barely at the 3rd rank.
At his current pace, it would take years just to break through to the 4th rank, becoming a mid-level knight.
And as for reaching the elite 7th rank and achieving high-level knighthood?
That was a pipe dream.
In the Lionheart Legion—where strength was everything—his odds of survival in a real war were slim.
"In that case, returning to inherit the family title is probably my best option," Rennes thought grimly.
When he first found himself in this world, he'd fantasized about becoming some kind of legendary hero—like the protagonists in those stories of otherworldly reincarnation.
But after half a year of harsh reality, those dreams had withered.
He had no powerful background.
No incredible talent.
No magical "cheat" abilities.
In short, he was just a regular guy in a brutally unforgiving world.
So why keep gambling?
Why not accept what he did have—a family estate, a noble title, and a relatively peaceful life?
The Habsburgs weren't major aristocrats. Just barons, with a modest estate of less than 20 square kilometers.
But for a low-tier noble, that was more than enough to live comfortably and enjoy the good life.
With this in mind, Rennes made up his mind:
Retire. Go home. Take the reins of the family.
But retiring from the military wasn't that simple.
As an elite force directly backed by the Kingdom, the Lionheart Legion did not let people leave on a whim.
Typically, a soldier needed to serve at least fifteen years—or suffer a severe injury—to qualify for retirement.
Rennes had only served nine.
So, he did what many others would do.
He greased a few palms.
After a series of quiet bribes and backdoor dealings, more than half of his hard-earned savings vanished.
But in the end, the paperwork went through.
He was out.
Officially discharged from the Lionheart Legion and back to civilian life.
When the news of Rennes's departure spread, his fellow soldiers—those who had fought and bled beside him—came to bid him farewell.
After one last round of drinks with his comrades-in-arms, Rennes mounted his warhorse and began the journey home.
The next day.
After riding hard for a day and night, Rennes arrived at his family's estate—Eagle Village, nestled within the Habsburg fiefdom.
The atmosphere was tense.
Perhaps it was the lingering fear from the recent monster attack, but even in daylight, the streets were eerily quiet.
Few dared venture outside.
Rennes rode straight to the small manor house at the heart of the village.
The guards recognized him instantly and sent word inside.
Moments later, a mature, beautiful woman emerged.
It was his mother—Evelyn.
Seeing her son again, Evelyn couldn't hold back her emotions.
She rushed forward and threw her arms around him.
"My child... you're finally home..."
Having just lost her husband and eldest son, Evelyn had been forced to shoulder the burdens of the entire territory on her own.
If Rennes hadn't come back, she truly didn't know how she would have managed.
Rennes gently reassured his emotional mother, doing his best to offer comfort.
After a while, once she had calmed down, the family held a funeral for his father and brother, with Rennes presiding.
It was a solemn, somber occasion—but necessary for closure.
Then, before the entire village, Rennes officially inherited the family title and became Baron of Eagle Village, the new lord of this modest land.
All that remained was to file the paperwork with the noble registry in the county seat.
For lower-ranking nobility like barons, title succession was that straightforward.
Grand inheritance ceremonies attended by kings and dukes were reserved for those of much higher status.
With the territorial matters settled, Rennes looked forward to finally starting his carefree life as a minor noble.
He had earned it.
After all the danger, all the effort, he could finally enjoy some peace.
Or so he thought.
Just two days later, his mother Evelyn had yet another surprise waiting for him...
She had found him a fiancée.