"Markov, we've been expecting you." A man in leather armour approached the merchant caravan to greet it. The merchant's leader went by the name of Markov."Please express gratitude to the count for receiving our company." Markov gave the knight a cordial salute.And soon Zikk discovered the cause of Markov's confidence in the ability of their modest camp to defend them from the Endless Forest's creatures."So, this is the golem's core that ranks as a demi-Saint." Markov inquired, surprised. He could still feel a repulsive strain on him from where he was standing, keeping him from getting any closer. He was just a few meters away."Unfortunately, this is simply a fragment of the Iron Golem's core. The core had been shared by the duchess with every city that surrounded the Endless Forest. The largest shard should be at Ice Demon City," explained the knight captain."However, there's nothing to be concerned about." No monsters will even approach this location as long as this shard remain
The villagers wiped the perspiration from their foreheads.Since there were now thousands of hens on the farm, working there during the day was difficult. A difficult assignment, indeed.The chicks chirped and pecked at their food—insects and grains—making chirping noises that filled the air.Taking care of the farm was Ryan. A carriage pulled up next to the farm's entrance just as he was finishing up with the chickens. When the young baron emerged from it, he was astounded.He quickly wiped all the sweat from his face with his shirt and quickly washed his hands in a nearby bucket."Baron! I had no idea you'd show up.""Don't worry. I was only here to assign you some additional work. Will you have the capacity to handle it? I asked.Behind the carriage I was in, there was another one. There were five cows there: one male and four females."Yes, of course. I always feel rejuvenated after a long day of work, despite the fact that running the farm is challenging. In addition, I am gettin
"Mercantile Leonard, I heard you say that even a village is much richer than the city and that Ice Demon City doesn't even look like a city." One of the workmen was in awe of what he saw.Leonard had been portraying himself as an authority figure and narrating tales about how awful, impoverished, and crumbling Ice Demon City was for the entire two-week journey.In fact, he had said that the absence of anything noteworthy in the city made him forget what the prior name of the place had been.Leonard turned to face his feet. Actually, he was gazing down the road.He turned around and peered off into the horizon, but the stone-paved road continued as far as the eye could see."This used to be a dirt road...No, not even major cities build stone roads outside of their boundaries!"The path leading to the massive iron gate, which was taller than their large merchant vehicle, was cobbled, as opposed to the muddy, uneven track that had previously been present. Now that he thinks about it, the
"What in the world is that?" Leonard exclaimed loudly.He was witnessing a bizarre device that was autonomously moving. Although someone was using it, they appeared to be using it without much difficulty.The utility of this particular object was immediately apparent to Leonard; it was for ploughing the farm.Ploughing the ground was one of the most physically taxing tasks for a farmer. Ploughing land wasn't something that the average person could do easily. And in this particular circumstance, the soil was rough and non-arable.It would be simple if the person possessed warrior prowess or even a hint of aura. However, why would someone choose to become a farmer if they had access to aura?Therefore, regular people were left to take on jobs like farming.Leonard once more turned to face the farmer. The individual was only lightly stroking what appeared to be the item's handles, and the machine was ploughing terrain at a rapid pace."What is it with the prying eyes?" Leonard was interr
Sneeze!"Hmm, is someone talking crap behind my back?" I was startled when I unintentionally sneezed while asleep.I could see the sun reflected in my room window."It's time to board the train." I got up and washed my teeth before heading down to the main hall."Are you going to train, young Master?" In the main hall, Jacob was already waiting for me with a metal box that resembled the tiffins from back on Earth in his hands.I agreed by nodding."Please bring this with you. It consists of smoked hog and fruit salad." Jacob thrust the tiffin into my grasp, not taking nay for an answer."How am I supposed to explain that I have a ton of meat in my system storage?" I simply accepted it.Due to my intention to see the mines as well, I decided against taking a carriage. And the mines were located deep within the Endless Forest.The residents enthusiastically greeted me along the route."Good day, young master!""Young Master, the food tasted fantastic yesterday!" With a broad smile, a ch
"I should not have assumed you had acquired new skills, I admit it. To help you awaken your class skills, I will send someone to you later today. After that, I'll get you a few other abilities to learn.""You passed the test as well."Roland hadn't even mastered his class skills!He simply knew he was superior at battling with poles! That was the only information he had about his class!"You don't know you have an element, do you?"Roland gave a nod."What do you think it would be if you had an element?""Earth." His responses were quick. And his response was correct.Earth was Roland's element.I sometimes had the ability to control the earth to the point of forming a ball of earth. I always appear to have a connection with the Earth element. But in the end, I was unable to progress."The best thing would be if I took this guy under my wing and had Solan teach him magic.Remember, Roland was only at B-rank a few months ago! However, he is currently in the fourth circle of A-rank!Thi
"If you take another step, I cannot guarantee your safety."When they heard this, Gord and the two cyclops' eyes immediately widened. They exchanged glances while sweat started to gather on their bare heads. They did not anticipate that a human, let alone the simple commander of a little army, would be able to see through their disguise.Contrary to the Brightwing Empire, which was at peace, the Beast Empire had always been engaged in civil war.The Beast Empire had the highest quality warriors of any empire, and Gord himself was an A-rank. Additionally, he was only a deputy captain of one of the more than 500 tribes that made up the Beast Empire.The captain was immediately above the deputy captain, followed by the commander, the general, the prince, and lastly the beast kings.One could already picture how powerful the beast kings would be when an ordinary deputy was already an A-rank."Instructor?"Roland shouted something odd out of the blue, which startled the troops who had been
I walked out of Gordon's house. I had to provide the locals with an explanation of what was happening so they wouldn't become concerned.Fortunately for me, more than a hundred people are outside Gordon's house. Simply alerting them would be sufficient, as they would quickly disseminate the word throughout the city."The beast race has dispatched a few of their people to investigate my city," I talked while examining the residents' expressions.I could see all of the emotions: fear, shock, and worry.But there was one more feeling I could detect in them, and that was trust. My battle with Roland the day before turned out to be worthwhile. The locals weren't ignorant; they were fully aware of how powerful their baron had become.Furthermore, Roland was capable of effortlessly defeating the remaining nine Cyclops on his own. This was yet another source of relief for the inhabitants."However, there's nothing to be concerned about.""My sins are numerous, but failing to protect my people
"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