"May I enter?" I inquired.In comparison to the guy collecting the entrance charge at the door, the man watching over the library was more competent."Enter," the guy said.I had just taken a step inside when the man grabbed my arm and shouted, "Wait."I looked back and fixed my gaze on him.The only thing the guy could do was frown. He scanned the area with his eyes, looking left and right. Finally, he stated, "Nothing. It could only be my imagination." He waved his hand and silently shut the door in my face.In that one split second when they entered the library, I was certain the guy sensed the presence of my pursuers. Laughable in a big way.I'm curious whether the wizard perched atop the tower discovered anything unusual. If he hadn't, I would have dramatically exaggerated his ability."Books." I exhaled a sigh."I used to despise books. Those concepts, computations, and formulae all required learning on my part. It made me feel ill. But now that my Intelligence level has explode
Richard got the news from his men. They followed Ethan for two days but saw nothing unusual during that time. The same might be said of his servants and bodyguards. On the other hand, the noble's routine was so lacklustre that they first had doubts about it, supposing that the young guy was bluffing.After all, it was uncommon to encounter a child who was so engrossed in reading that he remained stationary for more than a dozen hours inside the library.They discovered that the young man was only reading history after carefully examining the books he had been reading. The content wasn't very noteworthy, but it was definitely something the nobility could have used.Richard even recruited a specialist to look for any hidden messages in the books, but the specialist came up empty-handed."Although having certain interests is not unusual for nobility, isn't it over the top? He has been reading books in the library for the past three days, right?"Even the chubby merchant found it difficu
Ice Demon City.It had been a week since Baron Ethan and his merry band of misfits had set out towards Vermillion City. The duty of monitoring and watching over the city fell to Dray and Nero.Dray currently lived in his own home, which was connected to the dungeon below by a sizable hole.The villagers and kids would come to play with him every morning, and people would stop to chat with him.And he'd teach them how to use an axe.He was already too darn good-looking for anyone to dislike, and he could now blend in just fine as a regular person.It was late at night.Dray sat on his bed after the kids had departed and released his senses around the city. It was becoming increasingly difficult for him to level up even once now that his level had risen.Their previous advantage of quickly levelling has nearly evaporated.Suddenly.Dray's eyes lit up as he sat peacefully with a spark of illumination.His awareness was already broad enough to include the entire city because he was an A-r
One of the killers yelled in a hushed voice, "Answer me!"The assassin remarked in shame, "At your level, there should be no need for you to lie!He assumed Dray was mocking them out of boredom."Seriously?"Dray sighed, shaking his head.No one believes the truth nowadays, unfortunately. It was quite challenging. Monsters, on the other hand, do not lie, although humans are extremely deceiving and cunning.It was disgraceful for someone like him, who preferred to communicate with an axe and a fist, to use words to deceive or dupe adversaries.Humans lacked the most fundamental form of trust."I'm keeping watch over this city. You cannot storm in. I can act as if nothing happened tonight if you leave right now."Dray didn't elaborate more and talked in a lighter tone. He'd uttered this statement four or five times this week.Wise had advised them not to kill on the spur of the moment and to let the invaders leave if they posed no threat. And Dray could see that these two killers posed
Beast KingdomThe kingdom eschewed towns and was instead based on tribes. Several tribes would reign over their own territories.Maruk, the Cyclops tribe's leader and a cyclops beastmen, furrowed his eyebrow as he read the battlefield briefings. His huge eye, which spanned half of his head, was quivering with rage."Martin!" He cursed, causing the entire hall to shake. His subordinates trembled and averted their gaze.Martin, the Mercenary Guild Master, had probably stopped the beastman's progress on the First Fort for the fourth time.As the commander of the cyclops tribe tasked by the Beast Queen with taking over the First Fort, Maruk bore the brunt of the blame.He even got a warning from a Beast Guardian, who said he would lose his position as the Cyclops Tribe's leader if he didn't succeed in taking the First Fort.He barely had six months.On the outskirts of the Brightwing Empire, there sat a little castle called First Fort. Taking it over would not draw the Empire's notice and
Aldo and all of the villagers eventually reached their goal after navigating the woods. The trip should only take a week by cart in a regular situation. With so many malnourished people on their side, they had no alternative but to proceed slowly, carefully feeding the locals to help them regain their strength.Fortunately, the young lord had provided them with enough meat and provisions to get them through the trip."That's Ice Demon City." Aldo said. They could see the various residences that appeared to be recently constructed in all directions from where they were standing. There were no actual walls, and just two sides of the entire city were fortified.It appeared like there had never been a monster attack there because they could not even make out any watchtowers.The locals couldn't understand how the city could have such weak fortifications when it was surrounded by such a vast forest.Were they not afraid about monsters attacking?If the villagers discovered that monsters ma
"The baron and Baron Ethan had departed for Vermillion City to conduct the sale of the diamonds, Madame. They'll be back soon." Wise responded politely. The only other person with whom he would converse in this manner was his master's mother.Lise grumbled. "After becoming a baron, he became quite busy. I may have been better off letting him remain in the capital." She hadn't seen her son in a long time.They only ever got together for lunch and supper.Lisa may realize how much effort her kid was putting in to spend time with her if she knew he had to change bodies every time he ate lunch and supper."My kid is already engaged to be married. Little Wise, did his fiancee send him any letters informing him of her expected arrival date?"Lisa was already dreaming about a swarm of toddlers, six boys and six girls—circling her and calling her grandmother. When she thought about it, her cheeks flushed and brightened.Wise, on the other hand, could discern that whatever the madam was thinki
"S-Sir Mason..." One of the workers made an attempt to beg but was met with a scary gaze instead."You people fighting about such trivial things, I find it incomprehensible.""But the houses were erected by us—""With the money of the young master!" growled Mason. Mason's wrath was unprecedented among the labourers. They shook under his ferocious look.They were unaware that Mason was staking his wager that the Young Master would raise Ice Demon City to new heights.Even though he was aware of how challenging it would be, he had already been persuaded by some of the young master's abilities. He expected several difficulties on the way, but he didn't anticipate the first to be the people who live within the city!That completely infuriated him."You all put a lot of effort into building it, but ultimately, the Young Master still rules over the entire city! It belongs to him! Despite your inexperience as a worker, he simply provided you with all the jobs because he wanted you to have a
"Hey! Why should we listen to a brat like you?" The interjection came from the back of the crowd, a young soldier, his face flushed with anger, his eyes blazing with defiance. The rest of the soldiers turned to stare, their expressions a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.A genuine smile spread across my face. Finally, someone had the audacity to speak up. A flicker of satisfaction ignited within me. This was exactly what I had been hoping for, wasn't it? Didn't this feel like the natural order of things?I had anticipated this moment from the very beginning. There was no way these esteemed scions of nobility and battle-hardened knights would meekly submit to the commands of a mere child. The moment I was elected commander of one of the three mighty armies, I knew this tension would inevitably arise. After all, who among these talented warriors would willingly follow a teenager with little to boast of in terms of accomplishments? And let's not forget the shadow of my less-than-st
Ladia couldn't help but castigate herself for her lapse in judgment. How had she not seen it before? If the involvement of the magic towers would significantly aid the Empire, then the impact of the very person who had defeated the magicians of the tower participating would be monumental.The princess's heart thrummed with the realization, chiding herself for taking so long to come to this epiphany. Was Ethan's proposal the correct course of action or not? She no longer dwelled on the question.With a steely gaze, Ladia announced, "I have reached a verdict."The room fell silent as all eyes turned to the princess. The final decision lay in her hands, and she was ready to reveal it. The anticipation hung heavy in the air, and Ladia took a deep breath before continuing. "I have decided to accept Ethan's proposal."A murmur of surprise rippled through the room, but Ladia held up her hand for silence. "I believe that Ethan's plan, with a few modifications, is the best course of action for
My suggestion ignited a firestorm of debate among the upper echelons of the capital. The princess convened her officials in the grand throne room, where the air was thick with tension and uncertainty as they deliberated their next course of action. Ultimately, the march toward the City of Aran was postponed by a full day, a delay that weighed heavily on everyone present. The officials found themselves divided, caught between two stark choices: should they attempt to reclaim the nearby City of Aran from the Beast Kingdom, or should they focus their efforts on retaking the more strategically significant City of Northfall?"But, Your Majesty," one of the officials interjected, his voice rising above the murmurs of the assembly, "as we stand now, we cannot afford to risk an attack on the Northfall Fortress! I have heard reports that the beastmen have fortified their walls and laid even more traps to ensnare us! If we allow this farce to continue, we will be nothing more than lambs led to
A chill snaked down Ryle's spine. Ethan's suggestion hung in the air, heavy and suffocating, like a shroud woven from despair. To attack City of Aran, a fortress city now bristling with tens of thousands of Beast Kingdom soldiers, felt like a declaration of utter annihilation. Even Lance, their most valiant commander, had fallen captive within its walls.Ryle's brow creased into a deep furrow. He, too, was a commander of the Initiation Army, a man who had tasted the bitterness of defeat and the sting of loss. He couldn't fathom how Ethan, this newly appointed leader, could so blithely propose a course of action that reeked of self-destruction."I cannot, in good conscience, agree with your plan," Ryle stated, his voice laced with a mixture of disbelief and frustration. "As we stand now, attacking Northfall City is a fool's errand, a suicide mission. We are scattered, depleted, and outmatched. We must first rally our remaining forces, regroup along the borders, and then, and only then,
"Ryle Green, step forward!" the Royal advisor said, seeing Ryle was in a daze.Ryle coughed and stepped forward, his heart pounding with excitement as he knelt before the Princess."Ryle Green, you are hereby granted authority over fifty thousand soldiers," the Princess said, her voice like a melody that soothed the soul. "You shall be the commander of the Vanguard Army!"With a snap of her fingers, the Princess bestowed an insignia upon Ryle's shoulder, its glow of light like a beacon of hope in the face of the looming threat of the Beast Kingdom."I will crush those beastmen for you, Your Highness!" Ryle said, his voice filled with determination and resolve.The Princess smiled, her eyes filled with pride and hope. "We have faith in you, Ryle," she said. "Together, we will defeat the Beast Kingdom and restore peace to our lands."Princess Ladia nodded, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. "I expect a lot from the younger generation, Ryle," she said, her voice laced with both encou
The Dwarven Kingdom, a land renowned for its glittering wealth, held its breath. The Brightwing Empire’s meager offer, a desperate plea for aid, was all they had to entice the notoriously hard-drinking mercenaries. Even if their weapons were outdated, their reputation for unmatched effectiveness in battle preceded them. Surely, that would be enough.“Your Majesty,” a guard murmured, his voice barely a tremor in the air. “They have arrived.”Princess Ladia, lost in a labyrinth of thought, startled slightly. She had wrestled with the decision for what felt like an eternity, but finally, a solution had emerged. All that remained was to face them, to meet their gaze and offer her hand in this desperate alliance.Viscount Lamiel, a man whose arrogance was only surpassed by his thirst for gold, strode into the royal garden, flanked by a legion of equally boisterous mercenaries. Princess Ladia recognized most of them – the nobles summoned by the crown, their faces etched with a mixture of g
The scene unfolded with brutal efficiency. Several soldiers, their faces grim and resolute, descended upon Drew and the other soldier, their movements swift and decisive. There was no struggle, no desperate pleas for mercy. They walked away with heads bowed, accepting their fate with a stoic silence that spoke volumes of their resignation.Ryle, his expression a mixture of weariness and amusement, ran a hand through his hair, a sigh escaping his lips. "What a waste of a perfectly good sleep," he muttered, his voice laced with a hint of exasperation. "Young men like myself need our rest, yet everyone seems determined to disrupt my slumber over such trivial matters."His gaze shifted to me, and a playful smile curved his lips. "Allow me to introduce myself," he said, extending a hand towards me. "Ryle Green, third son of Count Green, and as you might be able to tell, the future commander of this very army." He spoke with an air of unwavering confidence, his words carrying the weight of
Two soldiers from a rival camp, their boots crunching on the gravel path, happened upon the conversation. One soldier, his face contorting with barely suppressed mirth, clamped a hand over his mouth, desperately trying to stifle a chuckle. His companion, sensing the impending eruption, jabbed him in the ribs with an elbow, a silent plea for decorum. But the laughter, like a trapped spring, was too powerful to contain. Tears welled in the soldier's eyes, threatening to spill over as his shoulders shook with silent mirth. Finally, with a strangled cry, he burst into a full-blown guffaw. "Hahahaha! If it's the Young Master leading us! Hahaha! We'll be able to… Pft! Hahaha!"The sound of his uncontrolled laughter echoed through the camp, drawing curious glances from nearby soldiers. Gaston, his face a mask of confusion and irritation, turned to the source of the amusement. "Excuse me, but what's so funny?" he demanded, his voice laced with displeasure.The soldier, still gasping for br
The unyielding army of the Ice Demon City had been journeying for a considerable number of weeks, traversing a multitude of cities and towns along the way. During our sojourns, we would occasionally restock our supplies, find respite in taverns, and often in the great outdoors, before resuming our arduous trek.Given the unfortunate circumstances, we were informed that the Ice Demon City was the most distant of all cities from the capital. This reality meant that we were among the last to receive the urgent message, compelling us to join the ranks of the other nobles and their armies in the capital.It was in the fourth week of our relentless march that we finally arrived in the grand and magnificent Capital city. The journey had been long and arduous, but our determination never wavered, as we knew our presence was required in these critical times. I had already surmised that the majority of the other nobles and their forces would have already amassed in the capital, readying themse