"We're just lucky your majesty." Eman wasn't a fan of acting humbly. But this time, he had to make an exception for himself.

"Fufu, you don't need to be so humble, you know. This success is truly outstanding performance. Raise your head, young man, and be proud of it."

Said the emperor.

Eman remained quiet with his mouth extended to both sides to form a smile. He already took off his mask after there were only two of them. Then he nodded from the emperor's words.

"Also, with this performance, it will be easy for me to grant you the title of a noble. Congrats, because of it, you are going to be promoted as a noble and be eligible to own land," continued the emperor.

This was the topic he was waiting for the emperor to mention.

The Sunville Mining Village will soon fall to his hand. But Eman must first receive the title of a noble before it.

There were several ranks to become a noble. The lowest among the rest was the title squire. In ascending order, it was followed by Knight, Baron, Viscount, Earl, Marquis, and Duke. Duke is the highest attainment that a noble could be promoted.

The emperor said he would be promoted as the Empire's Knight in the coming days. His performance in the latest mission was so outstanding that there's no need to start from the squire title.

Eman was pondering.

Being a noble truly had many benefits. No, in truth, it was truly better. Just that, it also meant that he would be tied to the empire and must oblige to follow the empire's laws.

Aside from their talk about his promotion and reward, the emperor also mentioned some topics. One of the most notable ones was the return of the summoned Heroes in the coming days. He was curious about them.

'Summoned heroes, huh.'

Such a word wasn't new to him who was fond of reading novels with the transmigration and reincarnation genre.

He wondered if they were humans from his world like in some novels and anime in which the earthling MC of the story was summoned or transmigrated into another world using an incredible spell or through a goddess or god. If they were, then he would be happy to see them.

Well, in Eman's case, no incredible spells and gods or goddesses. He transmigrated through dying. In which, he could not explain how it happened.

Nonetheless, wasn't it cool to meet someone who came from the same world like yours in this other world?

Though he was so looking forward to meeting them, he had no intention of allying with them. He was even skeptical to take the emperor's offer of granting him the Knight title.

The next notable one was the talk regarding land ownership. However, while he was listening to the emperor's words, he sensed a strange depressing aura from the emperor while he was talking about it. Eman wondered why the emperor seemed so dispirited.

After their talks, Eman left the throne room and went to find a castle library. The emperor mentioned that there was one. Though, he could perceive the emperor's suspicion of him when he mentioned it. Especially that he just came back from a mission. Eman explained to him that he was fond of reading while resting. Just then the emperor showed an expression that he understood him. 

The emperor asked him if he didn't want to celebrate with the others. Eman replied while making a valid excuse that he had some homework in the academy that needed more attention than celebrating. Especially because he was absent for several days.

The emperor seemed to understand his predicament as he laughed despondently at him while narrowing his eyes, seemingly stating the words 'I feel you.'

Regardless, he wanted to skim some information he could find in the library. He had no intention to become a genius by remembering all that's written in the book.

He just wanted to waste his time while he was at the castle. He didn't want to go back to the great hall where the other soldiers were currently celebrating.

He would rather waste his time in solitude while pondering his next move. 

Eman wanted to build an independent community with his people.

-Not tied with any factions. Not even the empire.-

However, after reading a specific book in the castle library, Eman sank dejectedly on his seat.

It looks like it was an impossible wish. It was stated in the book, about the empire's law regarding land ownership, that any land within the empire's border was under the royal family. Only nobles are eligible to own land.

But, even if a noble owned the land, he could only be considered as the secondary owner. The emperor still had the real power. The emperor could still rescind the lord of the land's rights when they found out they violated the empire's laws.

In the end, it still all depends on the emperor.

It was also accurate to say that the lord of the land was just a secondary owner, while the royal family still had full rights.

Wait, wasn't it the same as renting the land? Eman closed the book and sighed deeply as he thought.

With this information in the book, he could already comprehend that there was a loophole.

Although it is indeed true that the emperor still had the full power of the land owned by a noble, it didn't mean that he could rescind their rights right away whenever he called it.

If it was as easy as that, then the emperor would never show that kind of troubled expression on his face whenever they touched the topic of land ownership.

So there must be a loophole with it. He had a strong feeling that it was the case.

Eman left the castle without notifying anyone.

He needed to meet some people. No, he needed to go home first. Eina and Aunt Claire must be so worried about him by now.

In the castle, Kanna was looking everywhere for Eman. She wondered where the young commander went. 

But then, a guard who happened to see Eman departed from the castle told her that he already left.

"What?!" Kanna frowned.