Tedric Nagumo

"He was a good knight, maybe even the best," said Hekal, his voice tinged with nostalgia.

"He is," the Vice-Captain agreed. "I still remember his promise when he first joined the Rangers. I still remember his excited face back then."

"Hmm, me too."

The scene shifted to a flashback of a bustling town. People were busy trading and going about their business.

"Get the hell out of here, and don't come back until you've paid for your drink!" A tavern owner yelled as he kicked Tedric out. Tedric, in old, ripped clothes, stumbled into the street. It was true—he had once been a beggar.

Tedric sat against the tavern's backside, lost in thought. His stomach growled painfully; he hadn't eaten for days, surviving only on rainwater and scraps others had thrown away. As it started to rain, he sighed, feeling even more dejected.

"What do I expect from them? I'm tired," he muttered to himself. Being treated as nothing, as no one, was common for him. A fallen noble, he had lost everything—money, land, and dignity—to gambling.

He closed his eyes, ready to call it a day, when he suddenly felt the raindrops stop. He opened his eyes and saw an older man standing over him, holding an umbrella.

"What are you doing here, son?" the man asked.

"Huh? I'm sorry. I'll leave," Tedric mumbled, getting up to go.

"Where do you want to go, my son?"

"Just... somewhere else."

"Where?"

"I don't know. I'll just go wherever fate takes me, like I always do," Tedric sighed, feeling like a wanderer with no destination or hope.

"Then come with me," the man said.

"Where?"

"To where your fate has set for you."

Tedric, unable to complain, followed the man. They reached the backdoor of another tavern. The man served him food and a drink.

"I'm telling you, I don't have money to pay you," Tedric said, eyeing the food hungrily.

"I'm giving you a choice: eat this and go back to bum around, or eat this, take a shower, and wear this uniform tomorrow," the man offered.

The choices made Tedric's heart skip a beat. He felt thrilled at the prospect of a second chance. He muttered to himself, "And I thought God had abandoned me."

"Pardon?" the man asked.

"Yes, sir. I accept your offer. Thank you for everything," Tedric said, standing up and hugging the man.

"I see. Now, release me."

"Please, let me enjoy this moment," Tedric pleaded.

"AT LEAST GO TAKE A SHOWER, YOU STINKING ASS!" the man shouted, bonking Tedric on the head.

"Sorry, I'll go now!" Tedric dashed off to clean himself up.

Several weeks passed, and Tedric was now a bartender at the man's tavern. He was happy, finally doing something meaningful with his life.

"Sir! One more round!" a patron called.

"Double quick, sir!" another added.

Tedric's happiness was evident until one day, a young woman entered the tavern. She had a beautiful figure and was in her thirties.

"Good morning, Uncle Ted," she greeted the owner.

"If you're looking for the owner, I can call him for you," Tedric stammered, struggling to speak.

"Don't worry, I won't stay long. Just wanted to bring him this bread," she said, chuckling at Tedric's clumsiness.

"Your face looks familiar. Are you sure we haven't met before?"

Before Tedric could respond, the owner, Uncle Ted, intervened. "I'm afraid not. He's new here. You've been away to another town, haven't you?"

"Hey! I left to sell more bread there. At least I'm not wasting money like that previous wicked Baron—what was his name? Baron Nagumo, I guess."

Tedric flinched at the mention of his former title.

"Yeah, you're right. Thanks for the bread, my lady," Uncle Ted said.

"Not a problem. Bye, Uncle Ted," she said, turning to leave. Before exiting, she turned back. "And next time, we should introduce ourselves properly, Mr. Bartender."

Tedric blushed as she smiled and left the tavern.

"All right, I'm going to enjoy this bread inside," Uncle Ted said.

"All right, sir," Tedric replied, continuing to clean glasses and pouring himself a glass of water. He murmured to himself as memories flooded back.

He remembered himself at the mansion, losing money gambling against other barons, using his people's tax money. "NO! NO! NO! YOU'RE CHEATING, RIGHT?!"

"Oh ho ho ho, how could I do such a thing, Lord Tedric Nagumo?" a baron had taunted. "Well, can't help it. A deal is a deal. Your land is mine now. Hahaha."

"NO!" Tedric screamed, taking a deep breath, haunted by his past. He reminded himself that he was now a fallen noble, working as a bartender. He looked at his drink.

"Huh, wicked Baron she says. Well, my old self deserved it," he muttered, drinking the water. He had moved on. He was no longer Tedric Nagumo, the Baron. Now, he was Tedric, the Bartender.