Everyone kept talking along the way. Since only Roberto knew how to drive the cart, I tried to learn it. Even Hasami gave it a try. Roberto patiently taught us, giving small tips here and there.
It felt far better than the beggar alley.
We met a few travelers on the road, even another horse cart once. Slowly, the cart moved north, following the road until the sun dipped below the horizon.
After sunset, we stopped by the roadside. Green grass stretched all around us. We tied the horse to a tree, fed it grass, and left a container of water beside it. Then we lit a fire and sat down together.
After getting down from the cart, I quietly slipped inside it.
[SYSTEM OPENED]
Purchased: Bread ×12
Cost: 24 Points
Points Remaining: 3,233
We still had water, so there was no need to buy more. Sitting in front of the fire, we talked casually and ate—two pieces of bread for each of us.
While eating, I looked at Roberto and asked,
"Grandpa… why don't we have last names? Even some beggars in the alley had one."
Everyone turned quiet, their expressions thoughtful.
Roberto spoke calmly, his face unreadable.
"A last name represents lineage. A family. Since we have no family… we have no last name."
The mood grew heavy.
I hesitated, then asked again,
"Even you… didn't have a family?"
Roberto kept eating, his eyes distant, as if staring into the past.
"I was an orphan. As a child, I was taken in by a noble family as a servant. I worked my way up, and eventually, I was granted the family name."
Moneru leaned forward excitedly.
"Then what was your full name?"
"Roberto de Calian," he replied. "Of the Baron Calian family."
I frowned slightly.
"If you held such a high position… why were you living as a beggar?"
Roberto paused. His voice grew quieter.
"The Calian family ruled a western border territory of the Canvas Kingdom. It was poor, but the people were kind. We survived."
He continued slowly.
"Beyond that land lay the Dark Forest of Molien—a forest filled with monsters. For nearly two hundred years, none of them crossed the border."
His hands clenched slightly.
"But one night… they came. While everyone slept. The guards fell first. Then the rest. By morning, the territory was gone. The baron, his family… everyone."
Silence fell.
"Only a few officials and I survived."
I asked quietly,
"Didn't the king send help?"
Roberto shook his head.
"Help came the next morning. Too late."
Everyone looked down.
"The neighboring territory offered us shelter, food, work," Roberto continued. "But I couldn't accept it. My lord died… and I lived. The guilt was unbearable."
He exhaled softly.
"So I left. Wandered alone. Months later, I reached Abik… and became a beggar."
I clenched my bread.
"Then why did you accept my offer?"
Roberto looked at me.
"I don't know," he said simply. "It felt natural."
Moneru smiled brightly.
"Then it's fine. We're like a family , right?"
Mac and Arim nodded. Hasami smiled.
So did I.
After some time, Moneru turned to Hasami.
"You had a family too, right? What was your last name?"
Hasami smiled gently.
"Chiron. Hasami Chiron. I stopped using it after coming to Abik."
I looked around the fire.
"We're like a family … shouldn't we have a last name too?"
"Yeah!" Moneru and Mac agreed immediately.
"I agree as well," Hasami said.
Arim nodded silently.
Roberto rubbed his chin.
"We already have a name before us. How about Falcon? Our merchant group uses it too."
I smiled.
"It's good—but maybe we add something. How about 'van'?"
"Arim van Falcon…" Arim murmured, testing it.
"…It sounds right."
Hasami smiled warmly.
"Then it's decided. We are the Falcon family."
Everyone repeated it proudly.
"Van Falcon."
I stared into the fire.
We took a big step today.