Time Travel? Rebirth? I Win This Time!

"Become a knight, huh?" Mike Bai stroked his chin, his mind racing with calculations. While he himself was a knight and could confer the title to someone, the current setting was far from what one would call a knight's domain. Moreover, Mike Bai didn't even have a proper sword for a knighthood ceremony—he would just be a laughingstock.

"My family does have some influence in Genoa. I could introduce you to a few nobles," Mike Bai mused, considering several possibilities. "But..." he trailed off, pondering which path this young man might fit.

"Ginn, do you have any noble ancestors?" he asked, though he suspected the answer would be no. As expected, Ginn shook his head.

No surprise there. Mike Bai didn't feel frustrated, though, and continued, "Then do you have any—"

He paused, recalling that the small hut they were in was sparsely furnished, almost destitute. "Let's just say... buying a knighthood is probably out of the question," Mike Bai said, dismissing the most obvious route.

Ginn's eager expression faded immediately.

Mike Bai's eyes gleamed curiously as he sized Ginn up. The strange glint in his gaze made Ginn uneasy, as if he were a butcher eyeing a pig ready for slaughter.

"I won't sell myself," Ginn muttered, crossing his arms defensively, stepping back a little.

Mike Bai sneered. "What are you thinking? You'd need a noblewoman to even consider that! And with your looks?" He scoffed. "Good luck."

Mike Bai had spent enough time in this world to know that the prevailing aesthetic was very much oriented towards masculine, rugged men. Even someone like Patrick, who was considered handsome, had a chiseled face, defined muscles, and a warrior's build. In a world ravaged by war, noble women were much more inclined to prefer strong, protective men to defend both their families and fortunes.

Of course, someone with vast wealth or deep knowledge might be an exception, but clearly, this country boy didn't fit that bill.

"I'll ask you this instead—do you know how to fight?" Mike Bai pondered. If the young man had martial skills, there might still be hope for him.

"Uh, I'm really strong!" Ginn replied cautiously.

Mike Bai took in his build. While he wasn't exactly weak, he certainly wasn't the muscle-bound warrior that a knight needed to be. He shook his head.

"The six skills of a knight: swordsmanship, horsemanship, swimming, marksmanship, chess, and poetry. Do you excel in any of those?" Mike Bai pressed, hoping that perhaps the young man had some useful skills.

Seeing the lost expression on Ginn's face, Mike Bai could already tell the answer. He sighed.

"What about schooling? Can you read, write, or do simple arithmetic? If you can manage any of those, you might be able to work for a local lord as a clerk or administrator. Time and experience might get you a knight's title eventually."

But when Mike Bai snapped back to reality, he realized that the idealistic young man who had once been full of dreams was now gone, leaving behind only a dejected soul.

Mike Bai felt a pang of guilt. He had crushed the dreams of a young man with aspirations.

"Well, if you still want to become a knight, there's only one option left," Mike Bai said, drawing out his words.

The flicker of hope returned to Ginn's eyes, and Mike Bai could see the eagerness in his gaze. Though Ginn didn't speak, Mike Bai could easily read his thoughts.

"The only option is to become a squire. You'll need to serve a noble knight, learn from him for a few years, and then—most likely—you'll be knighted yourself," Mike Bai said, smiling as he laid out his plan.

Ginn's shoulders slumped again as he clutched his head. "But... where will I find a noble knight willing to take me on as a squire?"

Ginn considered whether his meager savings might allow him to pay a noble to take him on, but before he could dwell on it, Mike Bai gave a light cough.

Ginn looked at Mike Bai, whose expression was calm and nonchalant. It didn't take long for Ginn to understand.

"You have a way, don't you, Enno?" Ginn exclaimed, jumping to his feet, his voice full of hope.

"Nope," Mike Bai replied with an evil glint in his eye, watching as Ginn's face went from hopeful to thunderstruck, then to one of despair.

After a moment, Mike Bai couldn't resist anymore. "Just kidding. It's possible."

The light of hope once again glimmered in Ginn's eyes, though he had been through enough ups and downs today to be cautious. He gripped Mike Bai's hand tightly. "Really? Can you introduce me to a knight who'll take me on as a squire?"

"Ow, ow, ow!" Mike Bai winced as Ginn's grip tightened.

"Oh! Sorry!" Ginn quickly released his hand, his face flushing red. But his eyes remained steadfast, filled with hope and anxiety that Mike Bai might change his mind.

"Don't worry," Mike Bai said with a reassuring smile. "My family is well-connected with a knight named Patrick. With my family's influence, I'm sure he'll take you on as a squire."

Mike Bai thought to himself that when they got to Genoa and contacted Uncle Otto and the others, he could easily have Ginn assigned to Patrick as a squire. A few years later, once Ginn had honed his skills, Mike Bai could have him knighted—repaying the debt of saving his and Anna's lives.

"Thank you so much, Enno," Ginn said, his voice filled with gratitude as he realized the path to becoming a knight was now within reach.

"It's nothing," Mike Bai replied casually, patting his chest. He felt a little relieved. If Ginn had been a criminal, Mike Bai, in his weakened state, would have been unable to handle him. But now, with the young man's noble ideals, Mike Bai was happy to help.

"Grrr," Mike Bai's stomach rumbled, interrupting their conversation.

"You must be hungry. I'll go make some porridge for you both!" Ginn said cheerfully, bouncing back toward the hut, ready to get busy cooking.

As Mike Bai watched Ginn's happy form, he couldn't help but think of the golden retriever his colleague had kept in his previous life. The dog always wagged its tail like crazy whenever Mike Bai showed up, its eyes full of eager affection.

Oddly enough, the image of the dog and this golden-haired youth seemed strangely similar.

Mike Bai picked up the porridge that Ginn had carefully prepared, which contained salted fish and dried salted meat, both treasured by Ginn.

Testing the temperature, Mike Bai gently propped Anna up, holding the wooden bowl and bringing it to her lips. "Anna, my dear sister, time for dinner."

Anna shot Mike Bai a mischievous look, but she remained quiet, simply taking small sips of the porridge.

But Mike Bai couldn't help but sigh as he watched Anna's furrowed brows.

The porridge, which Ginn found so delicious, was hard for Mike Bai to swallow. The coarse wheat, the overpowering saltiness of the fish, and the tough dried meat made the meal barely edible, not to mention a bit burnt.

But given the circumstances, neither he nor Anna could afford to be picky.

Staring at the dark, grainy porridge in his hands, Mike Bai could only tell himself that, until they found Otto and the others, they'd have to endure.