Theo’s expression changed subtly.

I am finally returning home after five years, and now I get asked to prove my identity...

Theo was feeling rather weird about the whole thing.

Randolph scratched his head as he interpreted Theo’s expression in his own way. He understood that it could sound quite rude to verify a person’s identity after they had helped him. “I don't want to be fussy, but given the situation, it’s hard for me to let you pass without checking. It will just be a brief verification.”

Theo assented, “Yes, it is understandable.”

Theo didn’t know why a mercenary company was fighting a group of undead in a little place like the Miller Barony, but this wasn’t the time to start asking questions. He needed to pass Randolph’s check and enter the village, so he pulled out the investigator’s badge and the certificate that he had received from the awards ceremony.

“Oh, an investigator’s badge. It has been a long time since I’ve seen one. And this is… the owner of this certificate is an honorary baron, Theodore Miller. Oh, that’s a royal seal, so this should be fine… Huh?” Randolph looked at the certificate carefully with a puzzled...