Chapter 10: Picking the best territory
Translator: Leyy
Editor:
Choosing a land was like using a filter bed, filtering through again and again. The land that Kang Chul-In wanted was to:
Have a floating skill, be independent from a living organism, not be within Gullveig or Baldur, have a specialized ability like Fire from Temeraire or Venom Gale from the Stingray.
It was a picky list, but even if he could give up the fourth; the first, second, and third were not negotiable, and therefore Kang Chul-In had to carefully look at the remaining 600 lands.
'No, not this one either.'
Kang Chul-In, who was alone, looked endlessly. Desdemona, Cube, Angra Mainyu, Svarog, and more lands caught his eye. However, no land grabbed his attention and gave him the assurance that he was looking for. It was very difficult for him to find any land that fulfilled all his qualifications.
'There has to be at least one. There is still a hundred left.'
Kang Chul-In reminded himself to be patient over and over again, and continued to search. However, by chance, his eyes lingered on a plain fortress.
'Why does this seem so plain?'
It was a fortress with no outstanding characteristic. It was so plain that even in the 21st century, one could find similar fortresses all over Europe. It seemed as if it would have no other skill, or abilities, and be just the fortress itself.
'Pfft. Whoever God is, he isn't too bright. Does he think marketing is nothing? Who would choose a land that looks like this?'
Kang Chul-In cursed at the God who had brought him through the Great Summoning.
'So, he doesn't care whether this is sold or not? Seems stupider than the 'marketing is useless' idea. Well I guess since he is God, he doesn't care anyways.'
'Well, what is the use for a God to get so fired up over selling land.'
He snorted and thought the God as a 'marketing is useless' believer and passed through the model of the land. No, he was about to pass it.
'No, let's check it a bit more.'
Kang Chul-In stopped, just in case. There was a saying, 'under the lamp, it was dark' and 'look before you leap'. Who knows? This land might be a jewel that has immense skill and power. Kang Chul-In decided to look carefully at this plain fortress. Looking at it for 2, 3 seconds, the description window popped up. The land's name was: 'The Sky Fortress, Laputa'.
Kang Chul-In who had checked the description of Laputa was more surprised than he had ever been since he had reincarnated. It was said, 'True treasure will find its owner.' Like the Excalibur stuck in the rock waiting for King Arthur, or like the Qinggang Sword that was given to Ha Hu-Eun by Cao Cao, but was ultimately owned by Jo Ja-Ryong.
He was just going to pass by the land, but if he had, then he would have regretted it immensely. It was said to 'paddle when water came in'—looking carefully and not passing by a plain fortress was the once-in-a-lifetime chance given to him. It seemed as though the plain appearance was the God's test or trick.
-[Sky Fortress, Laputa]
Type: Airborne City
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Tendency: Multipurpose
Location: Southwest Pangaea, Pandemonium Province
Description: Ancient Empire Fortress applied with advanced magic
Skill: Cloaking, Self-Healing System
Additional Options: Cosmic Force, a multipurpose magic engineering satellite
Price: 9,800 gold
'Did a land like this exist?'
The aspect of the Fortress that surprised Kang Chul-In was the Cosmic Force, a multipurpose magic engineering satellite.
Artificial satellite.
He did not think an artificial satellite would exist in Pangaea. It was found on Earth, where science and engineering was extremely advanced due to their lack of supernatural powers like magic. It was a surprising fact for even Kang Chul-In, who had experienced all sorts of things in Pangaea. To be honest, Spell- Tech, a combination of Spell and Tech was commonly found. Regular dimension travelers, commonly called 'Hunters' who hunted for monsters may not have known, but Grand Sovereigns would have guessed that the past Pangaea was well known for their magic.
But artificial satellites!
What an amazing thing!
"It's this one. I have finally found my territory."
The Sky Fortress Laputa fulfilled almost all of Kang Chul-In's qualifications perfectly. First, it fulfilled the first qualification of being airborne, while not being dependent on a living organism. Secondly, it was far from the future Gullveig and Baldur lands. It was the Southwest Pandemonium province, it was the outermost edges of Pangaea.
'Pandemonium. It is perfect for a conquest Lord like me.'
The Devil's Land, a paradise for war-crazed people. Pandemonium, the start of Laputa did not have a quiet day even before Ragnarok due to war amongst the Sovereigns. It was to a point where other Sovereigns named it the paradise of the war-crazed. It was a perfectly isolated area. They fought amongst each other so much that from the Lords who had chosen land near Pandemonium, there was not one Grand Sovereign. Like this, Pandemonium was a province of great competition where not one triumphed over the other. Instead of building their land, they were busy going to war with each other, leaving themselves no time to fatten their assets.
'I will need to bring peace and calm to Pandemonium and make it my headquarters. Then, I will head to Valhalla as soon as I can, and realign the deviated future.'
In Kang Chul-In's head, future plans were already underway.
'The location is good. If something goes wrong, defense is also advantageous to us.'
Pandemonium was also extremely far from the mainland in addition to being a mountainous range with high, dangerous cliffs—giving him the ability to defend his headquarters effectively in case he was defeated in the mainland.
Everything was perfect.
The cloaking skill probably allowed for the land to be completely hidden or disguised, meaning the land's covert activities would be guaranteed. Concealment was a useful option for both defense and surprise attacks. It was right to call the tendency as multipurpose, seeing that it was advantageous in both offensive and defensive strategies. And the Self-Healing system meant exactly that: the land will heal itself in the destructed area, as if the land itself was alive!
'Why hadn't I chosen a land like this in the past?'
Kang Chul-In thought of the past when he had chosen his land rashly and smiled bitterly. Valhalla, which he had chosen with no other apparent reason but its cheap price had, until the end, brought about his downfall. If he had mobility, he would not have gone through the humiliation of losing his head at the hands of Rothschild.
"This is my land."
Kang Chul-In, who had finally found his land mumbled and pressed the buy button with no hesitation.
There was no need to contemplate, nor look further.
The fact that the land fulfilled all his qualifications was one thing, but he was also curious of what the 'Cosmic Force' skill would be. He wanted to see the land as soon as possible for himself. Could it be used for military force as well?
Would things like Orbital Bombardment, shooting lasers and firepower through satellite be possible? Even Earth in the year 2020, where technology was extremely advanced, Orbital Bombardment was only possible in books or movies. If not even that, it might be possible to lead the weapon made specially through the Cosmic Force directly to the enemy's land. It would be like working the ICBM.
There was no way to know as of right now, but if he was to methodically grow his land, he would be able to know how to use and make use of Cosmic Force.
[Will you purchase Laputa with 9,800 gold? Yes or No]
A notice requiring a final decision flashed.
[Yes]
Kang Chul-In pressed the purchase button.
[Congratulations! You have purchased the Sky Fortress, Laputa!]
The conventional message congratulating the land purchase appeared and disappeared, followed by a message notifying transfer into Pangaea.
[Lord Kang Chul-In, transferring to Pangaea. Dimension leap in 5…4…3..2..1…]
Kang Chul-In's body broke into particles and disappeared. He had been transported into Pangaea like the other Sovereigns who had bought their land!
[Dimension Leap Complete!] [Lord Exclusive Level-Up System On!] [Tutorial Quest Present!] [Welcome to Pangaea.]
Many different phrases formed in front of him, and the scenery changed.
"For a long time, truly for a long time, I have been waiting, my forever Sovereign."
There was someone who was greeting Kang Chul-In who had opened his eyes in the heart of the Sky Fortress in Pangaea.
She was kneeling in one knee and bowing down to Kang Chul-In, revealing her full breasts in an extremely short turtleneck dress and strict looking plastic rimmed glasses hanging on the tip of her nose.
"I am your secretary, who will serve and remain loyal to you until my last breath, Lucia Headmistress."
Chapter 11: Starting a new post at 'Laputa'
Translator: Leyy
Editor:
'Secretaries seem to vary from land to land.'
Kang Chul-In looked at Lucia and reminisced of his old advisor Alfred, the vampire butler.
'Caution, milord! Your Alfred is amazed by your strength and prowess! You are getting older, so isn't it time for you to start looking for a wife? It is this Alfred's wish to see your children! Please get married before this old vampire dies!'
Alfred had a 70-year-old man's face, but was extremely good at his job in assisting Kang Chul-In. Also, usually he was a professional like no other, but he also knew how to scold Kang Chul-In for his rashness or nag at him like a mother-in-law.
'Alfred.'
Kang Chul-In was a little bit saddened over the thought that he wouldn't be able to meet Alfred again, and thought of the last words that he had said to Alfred.
"Do not act rashly and do not tremble with fear. Maintain your dignity. We have not lost yet."
"We may lose today, but not next time."
It was true.
Before the end of Valhalla, Kang Chul-In had said those words and calmed down Alfred. That was not a lie. Although Valhalla had disappeared with the times into a history that never happened, Kang Chul-In remembered those times.
'Alfred, are you watching? If you can, then wait for it. I will make those cowards pay for messing with Valhalla.'
Kang Chul-In promised and pledged to Alfred who had remained faithful and loyal to him until the end. This time around, he would definitely crush Rothschild, unify Pangaea, and take over the glorious title of Emperor amongst the 10 Overlords!
"Milord! Can you hear me, my Lord?"
Lucia, not knowing Kang Chul-In's thoughts, carefully spoke. It was obvious she was very worried that she would displease him in any way.
"Ah, are you my new secretary?"
Kang Chul-In finally turned his eyes towards Lucia.
"Yes, my Lord. My name is Lucia."
Lucia bowed towards Kang Chul-In again.
"Lucia… you don't seem like a humanoid, are you a human?"
In Pangaea, there were other lifeforms that were cousins to humans. Primary examples would be the Elf, Dark Elf, Vampire, Lycanthrope, Dwarf, Orc, Mermaid, Devil, Angel and a couple more that were fewer in number. Combined, there were about 20 different lifeforms. Those who were secretaries to Lords, as well as NPC units that came along with the land purchased, were always other lifeforms. However, Lucia did not have any characteristics of a lifeform that Kang Chul-In was aware of.
"No."
Lucia answered.
"Hm… Not human?"
"Yes, my Lord. My roots are human, but my body was engineered as a mechanical design and therefore am not a humanoid, nor human."
"Hmm? I see."
It was somewhat complicated, but it seemed that she would be more powerful than a human, and so he nodded his head.
"Milord."
"Speak."
"With my limited intelligence, I believe that you are not from Pangaea, but from a foreign land, far far away."
"You are right."
It was mostly true, so Kang Chul-In nodded.
"Although you are my most esteemed Lord, I think there are some things you have not been able to completely understand because you are from a different land. Therefore, this Lucia…"
"No."
Kang Chul-In cut Lucia
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off.
"I know your role is to help the Lord adjust to the new surroundings, but I do not need it."
"But…"
"You don't need to worry. First, can you wait while I take care of some things?"
"Yes, my Lord."
Lucia followed the wishes of Kang Chul-In, but had a worried expression on her face.
'It is my job to help the Lord adjust to life in Pangaea, but he has turned it down. Maybe…. He doesn't like me?'
Lucia was restless, worried that Kang Chul-In did not take a liking to her.
'First, it would be good for me to check my information and the land's current status.'
Kang Chul-In didn't care about Lucia's restlessness, and moved to the tasks that he had to complete.
"Open status information."
As soon as the order left his lips, an information screen showed his current descriptions.
-[My Status]
Name: Kang Chul-In /Rank: Lord/ Class: Warrior
Score: 0 Points/ Complete Ranking: ______
Level: Level 1 / Specialty: Conquest (B Grade) / Tendency: Conquest Sovereign
Race: Human / Skill: Locked (Unlocked when Overlord status is obtained)
Spouse: (Maximum of 7)
Charisma: 67 (B+)
HP: 200/200
Mana: 100/100
Physical Attack: 67
Magic Attack: 10
Physical Strength: 120 / Intelligence: 141
Agility: 110/ Spell Management: 20
Accuracy Rate: B+
Evasion Rate: B-
Critical Hit: B-
Defensive Power: 9%/ Endurance: 3%
Finance: D- / Internal Affairs: E-
Resource: B- / Politics: C+
Diplomacy: C- /Command: A+
Attack: A+ / Defense: C-
Military Force: A+ / Charm: A+
Obtained Points: 0 (+5 Per level)
Remaining Points: 0
'Not bad. Actually, much better than when I first started.' The past Kang Chul-In and the current level 1 Kang Chul-In had a big difference in ability. It probably was due to the experiences of the past that had influenced him and allowed him to obtain a good score. Kang Chul-In's abilities were definitely great. It was probably enough to place him in the top 1% of the 300 Sovereigns.
'Okay. My weaker points will be filled naturally as my level rises, so there will be no need to worry greatly.'
Kang Chul-In smiled, pleased after checking his status menu. Next, it was his turn to check the state of the Sky Fortress, Laputa. Kang Chul-In, which he had high expectations about. As he ordered for the status for Laputa, a brief overview of Laputa appeared.
-[Sky Fortress, Laputa]
Type: Airborne City
Tendency: Multipurpose
Location: Southwest Pangaea, Pandemonium Province
Description: Ancient Empire Fortress applied with advanced magic
Skill: Cloaking, Self-Healing System
Additional Options: Cosmic Force, a multipurpose magic engineering satellite
Lord: Conquest Sovereign Kang Chul-In
Level: Level 1 (Maximum Growth to Level 30)
Status: Calm
Maneuver: Landed state (Gold, Mana, Fuel used for Take-Off)
Lowest speed: 5km/h
Fastest speed: 100km/h (Fastest speed limit depending on level)
Basic Expense: 100 Gold/ 30 days (fluctuates depending on land condition)
Public Order: Very Good/ Economic Affairs: Weak / Food: A small shortage
Population: 500/500
Military Force: 100/100
Facilities: 11 / Durability: 1,000/1,000 / Loyalty: 90/90
'Everything seems to be okay, other than the economy and food. I need to take care of those as soon as possible.'
The economy and food were in short supply, because he had used 9,800 gold out of the 10,000 given to him in the beginning to purchase the land.
'I will need to fix these one by one. Next, Cosmic Force.'
Kang Chul-In briefly checked the status of the land and then ordered the information on the additional option of Cosmic Force.
-[Cosmic Force]
Type: Magic Engineered Artificial Satellite
Tendency: Multipurpose
Description: An artificial satellite with advanced magical engineering
Level: Level 1 (Maximum growth Level 5)
Level 1: Exploration (Able to be Used) Level 2: Location System (Unable to be used) Level 3: Pulse Wave (Unable to be used) Level 4: (Unable to be used, Unlocked when Level 4 Obtained) Level 5: (Unable to be used, Unlocked when Level 5 Obtained)
'This is crazy!'
Kang Chul-In was startled once again after seeing the brief information on Cosmic Force.
'Exploration is scouting, and the location system is GPS. Pulse wave is for confusing the enemy's communication lines!'
These first three skills were enough to toy with the other Lords, but he could not even begin to imagine what the 4th and 5th levels would unlock. He thought that maybe even Orbital Bombardment might be possible.
'Kang Chul-In! Remain calm!'
He worked hard to calm his heart that was pounding with excitement.
'You must be cautious. Don't waver and find ways that you can use what you have to the fullest. Even with a treasure in your hand, it is useless if you cannot use it at the right place at the right time. What comes first is to gain back your power. You cannot lose again this time.'
Kang Chul-In steadied himself, thinking about his failed past due to his arrogance and rashness. One failure was acceptable, but if he failed in his second try, then he truly would have no face left in the afterlife.
'Sigh…'
Kang Chul-In exhaled loudly, and organizing his thoughts decided to focus on slowly growing.
'First, let's complete the tutorial.'
When one was first given their land, there were various quests to level up in the starting stages.
"Lucia."
Kang Chul-In called Lucia.
"Yes, milord."
Lucia answered.
"I am going to inspect my troops after looking over the land. Prepare accordingly."
Kang Chul-In's eyes twinkled as he gave his order.
Chapter 12. Secretary Lucia
Translator: Leyy
Editor:
Kang Chul-In ordered Lucia, but she did not move, as if she had a malfunction. Something was bothering her.
'Uh… how does he know all the commands?'
Lucia did not show it on the outside, but on the inside, she was very taken aback. Kang Chul-In, who had ordered to see the [My Status] and [Land Status] without any help from her was a shocking sight.
'Will he not need me, by any chance?
Lucia stiffened.
It was understandable.
The reason for her existence was for her to advise her Lord and grow Laputa, but if Kang Chul-In considered her useless, then her existence was also useless. For Lucia, it was understandable for her to be worried and upset.
"Excuse me, milord."
Lucia mustered up the courage to ask Kang Chul-In, because her very own existence was threatened.
"May I ask you something?"
Lucia, who had a cold and stern feel about her that contrasted her full body, asked Kang Chul-In timidly. Kang Chul-In wondered why she was acting strange but he nodded, allowing her to speak further.
"Of course."
"You, milord, was able to command without my help. You also were not surprised nor taken aback. Despite your greatness, you are too calm and composed in a strange, new place."
Kang Chul-In did not agree or disagree with Lucia's words, and silently listened.
"So that's why I am asking you. Are you by any chance the 'All-Knowing'?"
It was a far-off guess.
'What the heck.'
Kang Chul-In was taken aback by Lucia's guess.
All-Knowing?
What was he, a God?
It was an absurd statement.
"No, I am not the All-Knowing."
Kang Chul-In shook his head.
'I acted too deftly. It makes sense that they are puzzled.'
Kang Chul-In realized why Lucia had thought that and was briefly stumped on what to do next, but decided to give an evasive answer.
"This place is a foreign place to me, but also not so foreign."
Lucia tilted her head at the confusing statement.
"What do you mean, sire?"
Lucia spoke first before Kang Chul-In could explain further.
"Is the place in which you were born and here is similar?"
The corners of Kang Chul-In's lips twitched upwards. It was annoying to try to explain, but since she had misunderstood first, it made it easier for him to make up something.
"Yes."
Kang Chul-In answered quickly.
"So, in your hometown, did you reign over a land and was in the position of a Lord?"
"You are right."
It was a lie, but in some sense, it was also true. It was fact that he did reign over a land and rose to the position of Overlord.
"Oh, I understand now, my Lord."
Lucia nodded her head like she understood.
"May I know what kind of Lord you were, my Lord?"
For this question, Kang Chul-In could give an answer to, so he revealed his previous status as an Overlord.
"I was a Overlord, one of, if not the strongest Overlord amongst Overlords."
"Overlord!"
Lucia shivered. It was as if she felt a shudder in Kang
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Chul-In's words.
"Here, here in Pangaea, there is also a status of Overlord! They reign over large lands and command entire regions! My God! I am truly honored to serve you, milord!"
Lucia's response was dramatic to a point where it left Kang Chul-In surprised. However, it was not surprising. Like the Lords, secretaries also had their own worlds. They were more revered and respected the more powerful the Sovereigns they served.
"Then, did you also have a secretary?"
Lucia asked.
"I had a vampire butler, named Alfred."
"How was the secretary called Alfred? Was he competent? Were you satisfied with Alfred?"
Lucia who was questioning Kang Chul-In was all worked up, and eyes burned with jealousy.
'Competition.'
Kang Chul-In saw right through Lucia's emotional state.
"Hmm."
Kang Chul-In looked at Lucia who wanted, like a puppy, to hear that Alfred was an incompetent advisor and started to speak.
"Alfred was…"
Lucia's eyes glimmered as she concentrated on Kang Chul-In.
"Incredibly competent."
It seemed that Lucia was shocked at his answer, but Kang Chul-In could not talk badly about Alfred, who was faithful to him until the end.
"He was that good?"
"I was able to rise to the position of Overlord because of him."
"Really?"
Lucia's face darkened.
'He was an Overlord in his hometown and had a good secretary. If by chance, what if he casts me out? Will I be thrown away?'
Lucia, whose existence was threatened and was overcome with jealousy was about to burst in tears at any moment.
'Is she afraid that she will be cast out? I will need to reassure her a little.'
Kang Chul-In, who could see right through Lucia, smiled widely and decided to prescribe a fitting medication. Even with his horrible personality, Kang Chul-In used to hold the position of Overlord. He knew how to handle his subordinates.
"Lucia."
Kang Chul-In called Lucia in a gentle voice.
"Yes, milord."
Lucia's voice was down.
"You do not need to worry. I will not abandon you."
Lucia was surprised. It was understandable, seeing as that Kang Chul-In had seen right through her.
"From where I am from, the relationship between Overlord and secretary is to the point where you can share your deepest, and most private thoughts, and things that you could not even tell your family."
"Yes, yes! It is the same here as well!"
"Then you will understand quickly. Listen. You are my secretary, and you are family whom I would spend eternity with. Why would I abandon you?"
"Is that true?"
"Yes. Although I might know a lot more than others, there will be much that I do not yet know. Also, instead of being jealous of Alfred, you just need to be better than him. Do not look so down and let's work together in growing this land."
"Ah!"
Lucia exclaimed.
'Yes, what the Lord says is right! I will prove that I am more capable than Alfred!'
Lucia who had been encouraged by Kang Chul-In clenched her fists and vowed that she would prove to be more useful than Alfred.
'Simpleton.'
Kang Chul-In looked at Lucia and smirked, but he did not get caught. A Sovereign must not look easyand he needed to maintain his dignity.
"My Lord."
Lucia spoke with a determined face.
"Speak."
"I, Lucia, will serve you with all my soul and heart, and will prove to you my competence!"
"Good."
Kang Chul-In looked pleased.
"First, I will complete the tutorial quest. Get my troops ready for inspection like I had ordered."
"Yes, my Lord!"
Lucia answered lively.
"I will order the troops to ready!"
While Lucia left to prepare for inspection, Kang Chul-In took time to look at the Tutorial Quest description.
-[Tutorial 1] Level 10 Obtained
Description: Reach Level 10
Reward: Experience +500/ 20 gold/ Use of Warp Gate (Unlimited)
Reference: Unable to return to Earth without completing Quest
Reference: Conquer other Sovereign +5 Levels
Reference: Related to Tutorial 2 Quest
The warp gate was the passage that connected Earth and Pangaea, and was a must for dimension travelers. Therefore, in order to return to earth, Tutorial 1 Quest needed to be cleared.
-[Tutorial 2] Monster Subjugation
Description: Conquer the monsters living in the land
Reward: Experience +250 / 20 Gold
Current Status: 0/500
'It's the same as the past.'
Kang Chul-In who had checked that the quests were the same as the ones he experienced before, he decided that he would clear the tutorial quests as soon as possible. It would be difficult because he was in a low level, if he put all his energy into it, 3 or 4 days would be enough. As he was thinking, Lucia appeared and notified him that the inspection preparations were complete.
"Let us go quickly my Lord. The troops are longing to meet you."
"Really?"
"Yes, my Lord."
"I will go right away."
Kang Chul-In headed out.
Chapter 13. Monster Subjugation (1)
Translator: Leyy
Editor:
"The Lord is coming! Attention all troops! Salute!"
When Kang Chul-In appeared, the commanding officer ordered.
"Sir!"
About 70 troops saluted Kang Chul-In.
'They are pretty well trained.'
Kang Chul-In's face filled with satisfaction as he saw the troops.
"Milord, this is the main military of Laputa, the Royal Guard. If you count those who are standing guard on the outer edges of the land, there are a hundred troops."
Lucia explained alongside him.
'A hundred it's a lot.'
It was a large army, considering Valhalla had 50 soldiers.
"Troop, at ease."
With Kang Chul-In's orders, the troop fell to the 'at ease' position. The faces of the soldiers who were staring at Kang Chul-In showed loyalty and fiery passion.
'He is our Lord!'
'How long have we waited for him!'
'I will make him proud with my distinguished service!'
It was understandable.
All NPCs in Laputa, including Lucia, were asleep for an unimaginable number of years waiting for a master. Without Kang Chul-In's, they would have never been able to wake up, and therefore, their loyalty was not an overstatement.
"Nice to meet you all. In three hours, we will patrol the lands and go on a monster subjugation. Prepare accordingly. That is all."
His speech was short.
Kang Chul-In, instead of going on and on, spoke concisely, delivering only the limited amount of information.
"And you."
Kang Chul-In pointed his chin towards the one standing at the head of the troops.
"Name?"
"Commander James, milord!"
"I have things that I need to discuss, so you will come with me."
"Yes, milord!"
James' voice resonated.
"Uh… milord."
Lucia carefully began to speak.
"May I also accompany you"
"Of course."
Kang Chul-In nodded.
"If you are my advisor, naturally you will always be with me when I am in Laputa."
"Yes, milord!"
Lucia proudly answered, overjoyed.
Like that, Kang Chul-In, Lucia, and Commander James slowly walked together around Laputa.
"Commander."
"Yes."
"What are the characteristics of the land that Laputa is on right now?"
It was an important question.
Laputa was an airborne city but it was not flying at the moment, which meant that it was important to know the land that it was currently dependent on.
"Yes, milord. It is a wise question."
James smiled, and started his debriefing.
"Currently, Laputa has the Dragonia mountains that act as the border of Pandemonium and the mainland on her back. It is in the Southern most area of the mainland."
It meant that it was the most isolated of the isolated, the countryside.
"Those large mountains are the Dragonia mountains, milord."
James pointed at the large and vast mountains that had no end.
"And if you look at the western side, there is a river that reaches all the way to the mainland called Khartoum river. It is a long river that cuts through all of Pandemonium to the mainland's northern side."
Kang Chul-In was well aware of the Khartoum river as well. It was a canal that went through all of Pangaea. In order to gain control of Pangaea in the future, it was necessary to gain control of the Khartoum river.
"In the south, there is a magical forest, but it is an ancient one that has existed even before history was recorded. It is filled with monsters, and it won't be an overstatement to call it the devil's forest."
"Hm…"
Kang Chul-In, after hearing James' briefing, began to speak.
"To the east, the mountains, the west, the river, and the south, the devil's forest. It is a land where three sides are steep."
"Yes, milord."
"So the north is the key."
"You are right."
"The North will be our entry point and where we would need to guard for enemies. Farms and ranches will also be at the northern side around the castle. It will be key to gain control of the north
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as soon as possible."
At Kang Chul-In's words, James' eyes opened wide. Lucia's widened as well.
"M-milord."
James spoke, his voice quivering.
"May I ask how you came to such a conclusion?"
"Isn't it obvious?"
Kang Chul-In answered.
"The eastern mountains would be useful for defense, but it isn't a great option for us to go through, if we are not going to use the flight skill and just fly over the entire thing. Also, if we wanted to go through the western canal, we would need to train naval forces, but it won't be an easy task. It won't be done overnight. In order to build ships, you would need to gain control of the southern forest, but it is not plausible considering the time and finances of right now. So, the only thing left, is the north."
Kang Chul-In said everything casually, but for James and Lucia who were listening, it was a shocking thing to hear.
"How!"
James exclaimed.
"You are so intelligent, milord! How are you so wise? I, James, am so honored to serve a wise leader as yourself!"
He was almost going to get down on the ground and bow to him.
'Wow! He is different because he had been a Overlord before! Ah, I am such a blessed advisor!'
Lucia did not show it openly, but was equally impressed.
'What is this?'
Oppositely, Kang Chul-In was taken aback by the responses of the two. He had said something so simple, but they were so amazed. He was even doubting whether they were able to think or not.
"Ehem."
Kang Chul-In cleared his throat, calming the atmosphere and asked James,
"Are there any farms and ranches of ours in the north?"
"Yes, milord! Every morning, your people go to the plains in the north and farm."
"Are there monsters?"
James froze.
"Y-you mean…"
"Of course, I will guarantee the safety of the north first. I cannot leave my people to be eaten by monsters."
It was a definite choice for a ruler.
It was important for the economy to be stable for the land to prosper, and the people who were producers of the land were the first priority. Also, if the public sentiment was negative, loyalty will decrease and there will be problems in the fighting power. Kang Chul-In's specialty was charisma and internal affairs, and that would decrease as well.
"Milord."
James, unaware of Kang Chul-In's thoughts, was awed by him, shaking.
"I, James, am so honored to meet a benevolent ruler like yourself how are you so wise and caring of the people!"
Seemed like his intentions were understood like that.
'Crap, I can't say anything anymore.'
For every word he spoke, they were in awe, so even for Kang Chul-In, who had no conscience, was a little embarrassed.
"Anyways, I will take care of the monsters from the north plains first, so prepare accordingly. I will give you three hours."
"Yes, milord!"
James answered excitedly.
"Lucia."
Kang Chul-In called Lucia this time.
"Yes, milord."
"Feed the troops who will go to the monster subjugation ahead of time with bread and milk."
"I will also disburse, ahead of time, two days worth of rations."
"Good thinking."
Kang Chul-In nodded his head. Monster hunting could sometimes take a long time, so it was wise to bring two days worth of rations.
"Then I also will get ready, so you guys prepare as well."
Kang Chul-In said, and James and Lucia nodded vigorously and answered.
"Yes, milord! I will do so!"
"As you command, milord."
And with that, Kang Chul-In left, and Lucia called to James.
"Commander James."
"Yes, advisor."
"It is the Lord's first quest, so pay heed so the troops will not make any mistakes."
Lucia as she said this looked cold and stern. It was the complete opposite of how she treated Kang Chul-In.
"Yes."
"If the troops do anything out of line or seem like they are not in high-spirits, I will not just watch. Do you understand?"
"Of course."
James bowed his head.
Lucia was second-in-command in the land. She was an advisor to Kang Chul-In, and for James who was the Commander, Lucia was an extremely authoritative figure.
"Then, do your best. I will be watching."
Lucia stared at James behind her plastic rimmed glasses. A penetrating glare shone in her usually beautiful eyes.
Three hours later.
Kang Chul-In on top of a white horse, left for Laputa along with James and 50 troops.
'I can't believe I'm armored with these low-level items.'
Kang Chul-In, through the [Warrior Shop] system, purchased and wore rare level armor and a rare level Blood Sword.
Blood Sword.
It was an Arming Sword the foot soldiers of the Ancient world had used. It was a sword enchanted with blood magic and increased endurance of the user.
This item had 40 Striking Power, and absorbed 10% of the damage that it inflicted for its own powers, making it effective in increasing endurance. However, for Kang Chul-In who had used only epic items in the past, it was not satisfactory.
"Milord, do you see that?"
As Kang Chul-In was thinking of the past, James pointed at a faraway place. It was about 30 minutes since they had left.
"That is your land, milord."
Where James had pointed, there was a vast area of fields and a farm where there were cows and horses.
'It's small. Since the land is small if I would take the entirety of these plains, it will be a sturdy foundation for me.'
Although the farm and fields were small, it was not even 0.1% of the northern plains. In the future, if he could completely make these plains his, he would not fall behind with even the producing power of the previous Gullveig Union.
And as Kang Chul-In was thinking such thoughts, one of the units that was standing in front of the troops with binoculars, yelled loudly.
"M-m-monsters!"
With the soldier's notice, all the other soldiers pulled out their swords.
"What? Monsters, out of the blue? What do you mean!"
James yelled.
"There are about 20 orcs are running towards our farms in the front!"
Chapter 14. Monster Subjugation (2)
Translator: Leyy
Editor:
The troops started talking amongst each other, immediately upon hearing the report.
"20 Orcs!"
"We are short in number!"
"20 of them."
It was a natural response.
It would have been a different story if Orcs were weak monsters, like they were in games or fantasy novels, but in Pangaea, Orcs were strong enough to take on at least four or five adult males.
And there were 20 of them. 50 soldiers were not enough to fight them.
"Quiet, quiet!"
Commander James also seemed to be taken aback, but he tried to maintain his composure as a commander and worked to calm his troops.
And he carefully addressed Kang Chul-In.
"Milord, there are too many Orcs. I think we should retreat and bring more troops"
"No."
Kang Chul-In cut James off firmly.
"Are you telling me to turn my back because of a group of Orcs?"
"But but, milord… with our numbers."
"I know."
Kang Chul-In said.
"It would be a stretch. No, it is a stretch. Logically, to take those Orcs, you would need at least a hundred soldiers."
"Yes, milord. For your safety, as well"
"But that is something an incompetent leader does."
"As a commander, your judgement is right. In order to fight those Orcs, you would need to prepare for complete annihilation. A competent commander knows also when to retreat. However!"
Never, Kang Chul-In had no intention of backing down.
"We can win. There is plenty of prospect for success. If you can follow my lead, then we can take all those Orcs without one casualty.:
"H-how!"
"I will show you."
In that moment, with Kang Chul-In at the center, an intangible aura covered James and the troops.
'This is enough to take the Orcs.'
The aura that Kang Chul-In created was the skill that all Conquest Lords had: the 'Morale Stimulator'. Although he was only Level 1 so the skill only lasted for 10 minutes, but against the Orcs, this was enough.
"Everyone listen!"
Kang Chul-In roared.
"Those monsters over there are trying to take our people and our assets!"
The troops shivered at his charismatic, loud voice.
"I know you are afraid. However, if we retreat here, now, all those people will die. We will also lose all of our farmland and animals. And therefore, I, Kang Chul-In will not back down. I will kill those Orcs and I will protect our people as well as our assets!"
In the mind of the troops, the thoughts of retreat disappeared completely in the soldiers' minds. The saying 'Lead by Example' was there for a reason.
"Let's go! We willdefeat those Orcs together!"
Kang Chul-In decided to add an incentive around this point.
"I will reward the soldier who shows exceptionality in killing these Orcs!"
And the soldiers upon hearing this became restless.
"If you follow my orders, I promise that no lives will be sacrificed! Trust me! Trust in me, and do not doubt our victory!"
And with these words, the faces of the soldiers began to fill with decisiveness.
It was as expected.
They were originally extremely disciplined and eager, but with
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Kang Chul-In's 'morale stimulator', promise of a reward, and assurance of a victory all were extremely effective. He had exaggerated, but human history was written on exaggeration.
"I will lead the way!"
Kang Chul-In drew his Blood Sword and roared.
"All troops! Attack!"
And with those words, the white horse that Kang Chul-In was on started running full speed. Laputa's Royal Guards, high in morale, followed behind fiercely.
"Oh, my back is going to break like this. Oh, my back."
Rustler, a farmer who was taking a break from the farming to soothe his aching back furrowed his brow when he saw a dust storm forming from far away.
"What is that?"
Rustler squinted.
With all the dust, it probably was the dust storm that would start around this time. When the storm came, he would cough for a while with the dust covering him, so he was going to leave the work for later and rest in his hut.
"Huh? T-that…!"
Rustler, who had been looking at the dust storm for a while, stuttered in surprise.
No, he wasn't surprised, but horrified.
"Orcs!"
Despair filled Rustler's face.
It was understandable.
If it was a goblin or other small monster, he would try to protect himself with his farming machines, but Orcs were a different story. One Orc meant destruction amongst the farmers, but they were coming in a group.
"Run!"
The farmers hard at work, raised their heads with Rustler's scream.
"Orcs! A group of Orcs are coming! Everyone run!"
And with those words, chaos and fear spread throughout the farmers of Laputa.
"Hurry!"
"Run!"
"You need to run! Fast!"
"Orcs are coming!"
For the farmers who had no power, Orcs were destruction itself.
The moment they were cornered, they would be hit with blunt weapons or axes, and be eaten alive. They would die either way. They must run if they wanted to live.
"Run, Lana!"
Rustler, who was going to run for his life remembered his only daughter and began to look around frantically.
"Lana! Lana!"
Lana was Rustler's only child, and she had brought afternoon lunch with a couple of other women from the village.
"D-dad!"
Upon hearing his daughters voice from far away, Rustler's fear of the Orc disappeared and began running back towards where he had heard her voice.
"Lana!"
When Rustler found Lana, she was on the ground with a sprained ankle.
"Quickly, get on my back!"
Rustler quickly carried Lana on his back. Lana, who had sprained her ankle could not run from the Orcs.
Squelch!
While, the group of Orcs had almost reached the farmland.
Rustler ran.
He ran with every ounce of strength he had.
Or he was going to die.
And not only him, but his lovely daughter would also be eaten by the vile Orcs. And if not that, she would be a sex slave for the Orcs, birth a cursed Half-Orc, and be eaten.
"Huff… huff"
Labored breathing left Rustler's mouth.
However.
A common farmer could not surpass the speed of a monster. Orcs, who had much better muscle build and stamina than humans, had unimaginable speed. Rustler had no other option than to be caught by the Orcs.
Squelch!
The Orcs, with prey in front of their eyes, cried with excitement.
"NO, NO, you animals!"
Rustler ran and ran, trying to save at least his daughter, but finally fell on the ground along with his daughter.
"Ah!"
Rustler yelled as he rolled on the farmland.
"Ahhhhhh!"
Lana also had fell hard.
"Lana!"
Rustler yelled his daughter's name from the ground.
"Dad!"
Lana, in front of her father, was about to have her head smashed in with the Orc's metal bat. It was the same for Rustler as well, but he looked only towards his daughter without worrying about himself.
Squelch squelch!
The excited orc breathed roughly as he brought the metal bat above his head.
'Oh, Lana, my daughter!'
Rustler foresaw the event that was to happen, and closed his eyes tightly.
No, he tried to close his eyes.
He did not want to see his daughter's bloody end, and so he was going to close his eyes, curse these monsters, and end his life but the unfortunate end that he had predicted did not occur.
Swish!
Rustler opened his eyes wide at the change of fate that had happened suddenly.
"Ahh!"
A knight on a white horse suddenly appeared and was taking off the head of the Orc.
The Orc's neck was gushing with red blood that soaked the ground underneath. It was a beautiful performance.
Hnnnggg-!!
The white horse whined loudly and kicked its front legs.
"Arise, dear child."
The knight who had rescued Lana told him.
"Your daughter will not die, and you also shall live, for your Lord has come."
And that day, Rustler realized that his sun had risen high above the sky.
Chapter 15. Monster Subjugation (3).
Translator: Leyy
Editor:
Kang Chul-In, in the eyes of Rustler and Lana, was like a beam of light.
The impending doom, and the invasion of the Orcs.
And the Lord that appeared at the moment of death.
The strength and prowess of slitting the Orc's throat in one stroke while on the back of a white horse. For this father and daughter, Kang Chul-In was their life savior; a rope sent by the heavens.
'Oh, milord has come!'
Rustler was overcome with awe.
It was the same for Lana.
She thought she was going to die.
The Orc's fierce cries when she and her father had fallen to the ground was enough to bring chills down to her bones. And when she had given up all hope and accepted her fate, a miracle happened.
'Oh, milord!'
Lana, as her life hung from a thread, felt her heart pounding as she saw Kang Chul-In on top of the white horse.
'He is Laputa's Lord!'
Amidst the bloody situation, a spring wind formed in the heart of the young girl. It was an unforeseen thing, but it was understandable. A knight on top of a white horse was every girl's dream!
However, Kang Chul-In had no interest in the feelings of Lana.
And he never even looked at her in the first place. He solely focused on the Orcs that were to harm his people.
"You four!"
He called to the soldiers who were armed with shields and spears.
"Move that father and daughter to somewhere safe."
"Yes, milord!"
The four soldiers who were commanded quickly moved to Rustler and Lana, escorting them out of the danger.
"James!"
"Yes, milord!"
"Take ten soldiers and protect the people escaping. I will take here."
"B-but how will you!"
"Now!"
"Yes!"
And like that, James and ten soldiers left the group.
'Fifteen gone. 35 left. This is enough. I will end this in 10 minutes.'
Kang Chul-In, who had divided the little he had, remained calm.
"Those with shields, come forward and maintain a close formation!"
Kang Chul-In roared and began to lead the troops.
"Those with muskets, head to the back!"
The troops moved quickly with Kang Chul-In's orders. They were quite good in following orders.
Squelch!
Squelch!
The Orcs, that until a couple seconds ago was looking forward to their killing and stealing, showed their fangs and screeched at the unexpected visitors. They were menacing.
'How dare you?'
Kang Chul-In's eyes, that were looking at the Orcs, were filled with disgust and anger.
Dirty living things that would have not even been able to look at him before, were threatening him and his people. This was disrespect unforgivable by the Overlord Kang Chul-In.
"Sigh."
Kang Chul-In dismounted from his horse with a loud sigh.
He did not fit well with horseback riding.
The speed and weight that a running horse brought was definitely powerful. He had just killed an Orc with one swing. They did not call Calvary troops powerful for nothing.
However, with battles like these, it was better to just fight on foot. Kang Chul-In himself also preferred to fight with his two feet on the ground compared to on a horse.
"Musket soldiers, shoot!"
Kang Chul-In ordered immediately after he had gotten off his horse, and joined the Royal Guard's ranks.
Boom! Boom!
The Breech Loading muskets that loaded every two shots, fired at the Orcs, leaving a thick smoke.
"Shields, hold! If you crumble, we all die!"
Kang Chul-In worried most about those who faced the Orcs in the front of the line. In order for the musket soldiers to safely fire, the role of the shield holding soldiers were important.
"Use your spears when you can! Aim for the neck!"
The soldiers' spears penetrated the Orcs' necks.
'Orcs are nothing.'
In the face of Kang Chul-In who was staring at them, was a smug smile.
Orcs were quite dangerous monsters.
Even for Kang Chul-In, in his current state, it was difficult to take on even two Orcs. If he had overextended himself, three. And if four, then he too would have to put his life on the line. However, that was in case of a 1:1 battle. He had an army.
Orcs were strong, but their only tactic was to use their large physique and group together to break and hit everything in their way. It was primitive and one sided. This might be effective in a scuffle or hand-to-hand combat, but if it was a battle with ranks, it was a different
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story. Humans knew how to group, and knew how to use that to their advantage. Especially Kang Chul-In, the master of war strategy!
Boom! Boom!
The ten musket soldiers fired their weapons again.
'Reload!'
The basic musket had two fires. A bit of time was needed after two blows in order to reload.
"Shields! Push harder! Hold!"
Kang Chul-In yelled.
If there was a threat, it would be this moment.
The moment where firepower had seized for a quick moment during reloadit was a bit of time for the Orcs to attack.
Kang Chul-In's prediction was right.
Squelch!
The Orcs who had realized the flying bullets stopped for a short while began to advance fiercely. They were monsters with a bit of intelligence.
"Prepare well and brace yourselves! It won't be easy!"
Kang Chul-In warned the soldiers holding the shields in the front of the lines.
Boom!
An explosive sound was released as the soldiers' shields and Orcs' body met. The soldiers swayed. An Orc's average weight was about 120kg, much larger than a human. It also had great muscular strength. It was expected.
'Danger.'
Kang Chul-In, when he saw this, realized that it was his turn. He could not just sit back.
If the front formation was destroyed, then the soldiers will be hit by the Orcs in an instant. In order to win this battle, the formation must be maintained.
"Sigh."
Kang Chul-In released a loud breath.
His heart pounded.
From the top of his head to his feet, he felt all his muscles tighten.
And a lone shiver went down his spine.
Because he was afraid?
No way.
Kang Chul-In's body that had been away from battle was filled with excitement.
It was a thrill of sorts.
Like people who enjoyed extreme sports, Kang Chul-In enjoyed going to battle with his life on the line. It was something that the ruler of a land should never do, but what could he do. He was a natural warrior and had a heart of steel. He could not control his blood boiling when he went to battle.
'Let's have some fun.'
Kang Chul-In left his spot from behind the shield and went towards the Orcs.
"Ah!"
"Milord!"
A couple of the soldiers called to him when they saw his unexpected action.
"Do not worry!"
Kang Chul-In yelled.
"Do not concern yourselves and maintain the ranks!"
Kang Chul-In, after giving his order, began to swing his Blood Sword as if he was possessed.
Swish swish!
Thick weapons flew towards him from all directions. It was expected, seeing that he had made his way right in the center of the Orcs.
'I just need to create enough chaos.'
Kang Chul-In, who had made his way into the Orcs as a Level 1 Lord, was extremely level-headed.
He knew something.
Orcs were much larger than humans, which meant there was not enough space for more than three Orcs to attack one person at once. Even if there were a lot of Orcs, no more than three attacks will come at once. Although, this was the typical 'theoretical' battle. It was easier said than done and therefore, this was almost suicide.
But Kang Chul-In could.
Countless, numerous battles and the swordsmanship of his past life was clear in his head. Although his physical state would not completely support him, it was enough to buy a little time.
Swish,
Swish!
The Blood Sword drew deathly tracks as it bore through the Orcs. Kang Chul-In did not show brute courage and foolishness.
He faced the weapons that came to him, but he did not wrestle strength. If he did, he would break bones, or be in a disadvantageous position that would get him lynched by the Orcs. If he was to fight with strength, he would cross the valley of death. And therefore, the method he chose was to pretend to respond to the Orcs' attacks while actually letting it flow through. It was a skill that was only performed by extremely well trained and experienced swordsmen.
"Huh?"
The soldiers were surprised when they saw Kang Chul-In.
There could have been no other feeling.
A Lord had used himself as a distraction amongst the Orcs he had put his life on the line. A person of his status?
"Y-you wretched Orc bastards!"
A soldier enchanted by Kang Chul-In's example yelled with rage.
And that was the start.
"How dare!"
"I will kill you!"
"You dogs! Die! Die I said!"
As the musket soldiers were reloading, the other soldiers started to put forth immense fighting power and began pushing back the Orcs. They had skyrocketing morale, but it was possible because Kang Chul-In had disheveled the Orcs.
"Reload complete!"
The reload was finally done.
"Fire!"
Kang Chul-In roared.
He was still in the center of the Orcs. He could, by chance, be shot by friendly fire.
"B-but!"
"Just shoot!"
Kang Chul-In yelled and the musket soldiers slightly hesitated, but went into firing position, aimed at the Orcs, and pulled the trigger.
Boom! Boom!
Ten gunmen, and ten bullets were fired, aimed for the Orcs.
'Down!'
Right before the soldiers pulled the trigger, he threw his body quickly on to the ground.
Squeal!
Three or four Orcs were shot and fell to the ground. The soldiers' spears found its home in the fallen bodies.
The sharp spear penetrated their necks.
"Push further! Do not give them a chance to think!"
Kang Chul-In, who had moved to safety in a moment shouted, encouraging his troops.
And it was then.
The soldiers who had gotten the hang of the battle began to push further into the Orcs' ranks. They adapted fast, as if to prove that nothing was better than practice.
'It's done.'
Kang Chul-In, who realized his troops had gained momentum, smiled.
From this moment, everything will fall in place. All they needed to do was to move like a machine, taking the Orcs one by one. Almost ten Orcs had fallen, so it was already a battle won.
"H-how can this!"
Commander James who had returned to join Kang Chul-In and his forces, after evacuating the people of Laputa, could not believe what was happening in front of him.
It was a grand victory.
There was not one Orc alive. 20 Orcs were littered on the plains, cold and dead.
Compared to that, how were the friendly troops?
There were some with minor abrasions, but there were none with serious injuries.
"If you follow my lead and orders with loyalty, I promise no lives will be lost. Trust. Trust me, and do not doubt victory."
Commander James remembered what his Lord had said right before the battle occurred.
'Really, not one has died!'
It was hard for James to believe what was happening, because something that he was on the fence about had become reality. To completely wipe out 20 Orcs with 35 soldiers! With no casualties!
"Did you evacuate the people to a safe location?"
James heard Kang Chul-In's voice as he was marveling and admiring his Lord.
"Yes, milord!"
James quickly turned towards the direction of the voice and answered.
And there was Kang Chul-In.
Kang Chul-In, sitting atop a straw bed, sipping beer like any other foot soldier.
Chapter 16. Someone has their eyes on our land (1)
Translator: Leyy
The day's battle came as a shock to all the people of Laputa.
Their ruler, who had just come from a different land, had defeated 20 Orcs with 30 soldiers. It was not only a win, but a grand victory.
And that was not all.
A rather exaggerated rumor had spread across the lands, where Kang Chul-In had supposedly courageously ran into the center of the Orcs alone, and was unmatched by any. With this, Kang Chul-In's popularity soared.
It was understandable because for the common folk, it was a surprising thing for Lords, Sovereigns, Kings, emperors, and other people of high ranking, to lead by example. This went beyond Pangaea to Earth as well, and was relatable to all those who were under authority.
It was the same thing as a politician, who was visiting and inspecting military troops, to grab a gun and engage in combat against a North Korean guerilla team. Furthermore, it was like the politician then contributed and played a key part in winning the battle. Of course something like this would not happen.
And after the battle, him sitting casually on a pile of straw drinking beer with the other soldiers added to his image as an approachable, familiar leader.
Of course, these effects were not at all intentional.
All Kang Chul-In did was battle because a group of Orcs appeared, and drank a cold beer after a victory. No prior calculations were made.
'What are these people?'
Kang Chul-In, who had returned to Laputa as a triumphant general, no, a triumphant Lord, tilted his head in confusion at the loud cheers from the people. In his head, he wondered if this was something to praise about to this extent.
It was quite an understandable question coming from Kang Chul-In.
Valhalla, the land he ruled in his previous life, had very few humans. Most of its inhabitants were vampires, death knights, and other non-human species, so Kang Chul-In could not understand human emotion too well. Why were they making such a big deal, and why were they even singing about him?
[Favorability due to leading by example +20] [Free-Spirited Leader image gained, so Charisma -3] [Free-Spirited Leader image gained, so Approachability +30] [Positive response by people of the land, Lord Point +20]
When he had removed all his gear and returned to the Lord's hall, an information screen appeared in front of him.
'Hmm… I don't like charisma decreasing.'
Charisma was an extremely important skill needed for a Lord.
It was key for commanding and ordering subordinates as a Lord. For example, the first thing to think about when purchasing a strong unit through the automated store, was charisma. If charisma was low, one could not control a strong unit even if they purchased one. If a Lord with a E Grade charisma purchased an Ogre through the automated store, it was likely that the Ogre would not blink an eye at the orders of the Lord and do whatever it pleased. Also, if charisma was low, disobedience of orders or revolt of subordinates might occur.
'I will be more careful from now on.'
Kang Chul-In swore that he would not let his charisma fall again. There will be nothing worse than not being able to control his troops at a critical moment.
However, not all was bad.
It was actually very good.
The people's favor meant that the loyalty levels would also rise, and approachability and friendliness also helped in internal affairs. Also, Lord Points, which have the biggest role in determining the Overlord status had risen 20 points, so it was definitely an achievement.
Lord points were the key to becoming a Overlord.
Lord points rose when one gained the respect of the people, hunted monsters, or won a battle against another Lord. It was rewarded when the system recognized that one had achieved something.
All Lords were required to participate once a year at the assembly. It was called the 'Lord's Meeting'. And in this 'Lord's Meeting', 10 of the Lords who had gained the most points would be elected as a Overlord. Although his charisma had decreased a little, if he had gained 20 sovereign points, it was fine.
'Hold on, how many points was the cutline for the first Overlord election?'
He could not remember clearly.
The first election would take place about a year after the current time, which was December 25th, 2021, and the past Kang Chul-In would remain in 13th place, not being able to become Overlord by a close margin. At that time, he was immersed in dungeon exploration and solely concentrated on increasing his personal strength. However, he had ranked 13th, so he was going to become something in the future.
'Well, there is no rush.'
The position of Overlord was risky, so there was no reason to obsess over it from the beginning.
Why?
Because they are watched by all the other Lords!
It was especially worse in the first and second years, where the skill set of the Lords were very
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similar. If they showed a bit of prominence, they would be ripped and bitten apart from many different Lords. For example, during the first Lord Meeting, five of the Overlords elected including Baroque al Yousef and Scotty Andbury, had not been at the second Lord meeting (they had died, or escaped to Earth).
"My Lord."
As Kang Chul-In ws thinking about Lord points and Overlord appointments, Lucia called to him.
"Rustler and his daughter Lana has sent you tribute."
"Rustler? Lana?"
Kang Chul-In's brows furrowed in confusion.
"Are they my people?"
"They are the father and daughter that you rescued from the Orcs. I believe they have sent tribute in thanks for saving their life."
"Really?"
"Here."
Lucia handed Kang Chul-In a basket with a clean cloth covering it. Lucia's expression as she handed over the basket seemed a bit disapproving.
'A tribute.'
Kang Chul-In had mixed feelings, receiving his first tribute. In the past, he had never received such things. There weren't many humans in Valhalla, after all. There weren't many to send him tribute.
"Bread and ham."
Kang Chul-In mumbled, after opening the basket.
In the inside, there were four rye breads and a large chunk of ham, along with a bit of honey and beer made from pure malt. It was a plain tribute, but filled with thanks from the poor.
"T-this…!"
Just when Kang Chul-In was going to be pleased, Lucia shivered.
'What is wrong with her again?'
Kang Chul-In was confused. He could not understand why Lucia started shivering suddenly.
"Is something wrong?"
"How dare…"
Lucia seemed like she was extremely angry.
"Dare?"
Kang Chul-In asked in return.
"My Lord!"
Lucia shouted.
"Speak."
"You must bring this father and daughter here right away and punish them!"
"What?"
"This rude father and daughter are harassing you, milord! How could they send such a plain thing as tribute! Even a hundred whippings would not even be enough! My Lord, if you order me now, I will go to their home right away and cut their necks."
Kang Chul-In then understood why Lucia was so enraged.
"Lucia."
"Yes, my Lord. I will go right away."
"I am satisfied."
"Huh? What do you mean, sire?"
Lucia seemed confused and her eyes opened wide.
"Is it right to be angry because what they have sent is not much?"
"Yes, milord. How can they send to you bread and ham, something eaten by commoners? And rye bread! Of all the bread in the world, how is it they send rye bread! It is a bad tasting bread, my Lord! Not sweet at all!"
Lucia seemed really angry. It seemed personal to a certain extent, but Kang Chul-In, instead of pointing that out, gently scolded her.
"Lucia."
"Yes, Lord."
"I will say again, I am satisfied."
"But."
"Of course, if premium quality wine, gold, or jewels were given as tribute, I would have been happier. It is not that I do not like materialistic effects. In fact, I love money."
That was Kang Chul-In's honest thoughts.
Money?
The more the better.
In order to have a strong, powerful army, it was common sense that a strong, powerful economy was needed. To gain control of Pangea, money was a critical element. Also, to maintain his dignity and status in Earth, he needed more money.
"However."
Kang Chul-In spoke.
"They also have their position. How would a farmer who tends to the land send me gold? They might have starved a meal or two so they could send me these."
"If a poor man sent tribute with the little he had, it is right to see the heart behind the gift and not the gift itself. Isn't the man quite loyal?"
"Ah!"
Lucia exclaimed.
"Sure, if there were to be tribute, it would be good to have a bunch of gold and jewels but this kind of gift is not bad either."
"You are a fair ruler! How you love your people so, my Lord!"
"Perhaps."
Kang Chul-In did not agree with what Lucia had called him.
His goal, primarily, was unification! It was to be the emperor.
For that goal, war was tied together, and that tie could not be severed. For him to fulfill his desire, a throne of bones had to be built, and countless dead bodies would stack on each other.
'It isn't even true.'
What common farmer would like war? How many things would match the horrors of war. Kang Chul-In ultimately, was just a war crazed animal, and could never be a benevolent king.
"Milord?"
"What are you thinking so intently about?"
Kang Chul-In shook his head slightly at Lucia's question and spoke.
"I will punish them."
"Milord?"
Lucia seemed confused at Kang Chul-In, who had praised the father and daughter and now was saying that he would punish them.
"What you said is also true. I am pleased, but they would need to be punished at least a little, for gifting a Lord such plain things. Appoint the farmer called Rustler to oversee the farming and give him heavy responsibility. There is no heavier punishment than being responsible for something."
Lucia was in awe of Kang Chul-In's consideration.
What Kang Chul-In had ordered wasn't just a punishment, but also a reward. In the background of this order, there was Kang Chul-In's intention to listen to Lucia's advice in punishing the father and daughter but also in acknowledging their heart in sending him gifts. He had caught two birds with one stone.
'Ah the Lord is not just anyone!'
Lucia once again was in awe of Kang Chul-In, thinking how extraordinary and competent he was as a leader. That moment, Lucia's loyalty and respect for Kang Chul-In grew deeper. However, Kang Chul-In did not understand why Lucia made such a big deal and shivered so often.
And even after this, Kang Chul-In spent many days on the quest for monsters.
The monster subjugation, which was originally supposed to last 3, 4 days grew longer and longer, until ten days had passed.
It was not because Kang Chul-In was incompetent.
Actually, Kang Chul-In and the Royal Guard under his leadership had outstanding victories in every battle they had, defeating all the monsters. They were straight victories, with no losses all.
However, despite Kang Chul-In's efforts, the reason why the monster subjugation took a long time was because of a monster called the 'mole looter'.
The 'mole looter' was a mole about the size of a midsize dog, and it would attack humans, eating chunks of ankles or the back of the foot making people handicapped.
The problem was that these annoying moles were all over the northern plains.
-[Tutorial 2] Monster Subjugation
Description: Conquer the monsters within the land
Reward: Experience +250 / 20 Gold
Status: 421/500
His level was already at level 8.
If he was to destroy 79 monsters, he would naturally be at level 9, and then simultaneously clear Tutorial 1 Quest as well, which was linked, putting him at level 10.
But these moles were ambushing Kang Chul-In and his Royal Guard, and the troops dug tunnels every single day, trying to destroy them at their source. Ironically, a low-level monster was hindering Kang Chul-In.
"Sigh."
Kang Chul-In, who was hunting the moles with his Royal Guard in the northern plains, looked up at the blue sky on a quick break.
'It's already been ten days. I need to return to earth in two days at the latest.'
It was postponed over and over again because there were many things to take care of, but returning to Earth was unavoidable. He needed to pay back the money that he had borrowed, and also needed to hear reports about Kwak Jung from Park Doo-Sik. Also…
'Mother.'
He needed to visit his mother, who was alone.
Undutifully, Kang Chul-In had never gone to see his mother after being rebirthed.
It was not intentional, but for Kang Chul-In who had been indifferent about his family for 10 years, he had not even thought about visiting. However, now that he had remembered, he felt a lot of guilt.
'I should visit her more often.'
For various reasons, Kang Chul-In swore he would take care of his mother.
And it was then.
"Milord!"
A soldier who was on the lookout during the break shouted while pointing up to the sky. In the air, something that had been created with magic, radiating blue light, was circulating on top of the troops.
Kang Chul-In's face hardened.
'What the heck?'
It was a scouting unit sent by another Lord, called a 'scout hawk'.
Chapter 17. Someone has their eyes on our land (2)
Translator: Leyy
The 'scout hawk' was a one-time use scout that was sold in the 'Lord's Store' for 10 gold. The Lord that sent the hawk would be looking at Kang Chul-In's land by using the scout.
10 gold.
Converting one 10g of gold (97.8% purity) into Korean currency would be about 4,000 dollars, which meant the Lord who had sent the scout hawk invested 4,000 dollars for this.
'Stupid idiot, doesn't know how to use his gold.'
Kang Chul-In snorted, looking at the impudent scout hawk that was circling above his head. The scout hawk was only operable for an hour, and the distance that it could travel was about 20km, making it not worth its price. It was not an advised option, unless there were emergencies.
"Bow, does anyone have a bow and arrow? If not, a gun will work as well."
"Here, milord."
At his words, the one soldier who had a bow and arrow amongst the Royal Guard, handed them over.
'4000 dollars, I'll dismember it in the air.'
Kang Chul-In was going to shoot the hawk and bring it down.
Of course, he was not just going to shoot it without thought. It was built with magic, so it was impossible to intercept it with plain physics.
'It's been a while I wonder if I will hit it.'
Kang Chul-In thought as he tugged at the bow.
He could not remember clearly the last time he had shot a bow and arrow.
He was a man of the military arts, but he was a swordsman. He was not too familiar with the use of bows.
'Well, this should be doable.'
But he was not completely diffident in himself either.
Although he could not be an expert archer, he had excellent foundation for all martial arts. One scout hawk was nothing. Kang Chul-In was confident in his ability.
'Aim, and… fire.'
Whoosh!
The arrow that had left its bow became a glint of light as it shot towards the scout hawk.
Eeeeeeeek Eeeeek!
The scout hawk that had felt the impending danger let out a distinguished sound, but did not attempt to dodge the arrow. It was as if it was mocking Kang Chul-In, saying 'What can you do to me with an arrow?'
'Stupid.'
Seeing this, Kan Chu-In smirked.
Kang Chul-In had not shot "just an arrow". He put a bit of magic on the tip of the arrow and shot. It was not strong magic, but the scout hawk was extremely weak in taking attacks.
It was a secured win if the arrow hit its target.
Crack!
In the stomach of the scout hawk, the arrow hit its target and lodged.
Squeak?
In the beak of the hawk, a confused cry came.
As the magic from another interceded with the body that was made of magic, sparks began to form, and with a bang, the hawk disappeared without a trace. It had blown up. A 4000-dollar scout.
"Woah!"
"Amazing!"
"The Lord is also good with a bow!"
The soldiers who had seen this, applauded and praised his skills.
'It will hurt a little.'
Kang Chul-In smiled, satisfied, not caring about his troops' praises.
A scout hawk has a mechanism where it was connected to its Lord mentally, so the moment it is destroyed, the Lord would also receive the same damage.
It was a penalty of sorts, and the reason why one must be cautious when using the scout hawk.
Although he couldn't see for himself, the Lord who had sent the scout hawk would be holding his stomach and groaning painfully as if he, himself was shot with an arrow.
"All troops, return to base."
Kang Chul-In ordered.
"Already, milord?"
James asked.
"That is a scout that another Lord has sent. Therefore, it means that there is another occupied land within 20km."
"Ah!"
"I don't know what this Lord's intentions are, but they might attack suddenly, so it is right to go back to headquarters and prepare. It might just be a routine patrol"
And Kang Chul-In tapered off. He stopped himself from saying, 'In Pandemonium, only the war-crazed are everywhere.'
It was true.
It was paradise for conquest Lords, the war-crazed, and the devils. It would not be out of the ordinary or strange for them to start fighting and ripping each other apart.
"Tell the workers and farmers to retreat as well. It doesn't hurt to be careful."
"Yes, milord."
It bothered him that the farming would cease for a couple days, but something told him to do so. If the enemy invaded, innocent lives would be lost.
"Ugh!"
Deep within a tunnel in the northern plains, the Lord of the Burrow lands clenched his abdomen and groaned.
"Lord! Are are you alright, milord?"
The advisor of the Burrow, Timothy helped his Lord. Timothy was a Goblin with a large white beard.
"Ugh.!"
"Oh, Lord! Did your scout hawk get ambushed?"
The Lord of the Burrows despite the questioning of his advisor was unable to answer for a while. It was difficult to
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be in the right mind as pain of an arrow penetrating his abdomen consumed him.
His pain lasted for 30 minutes. As the pain subsided, the Lord of the Burrows grinded his teeth in anger.
"Wretched bastard!"
"Are you okay, Lord? Here is some cold water. Please drink this."
"Shut up!"
Timothy brought cold water and served it to his Lord, but the Lord hit Timothy's hand that was holding the cup. The cup dropped to the ground, soaking it.
"You ugly Goblin! I told you to not call me Lord! Call me Shogun, I said!"
"Ah, yes! Yes, Shogun!"
"Stupid idiot! Are you stupid because you are a Goblin? You old disgusting thing! Sigh, why is my advisor a Goblin of all things"
The Lord of the Burrows, Kimura Hideki, criticized his advisor Timothy and poured out his rage on him.
"Useless idiot! Why did I get a stupid Goblin? Sigh, it would have been better if it was a girl!"
"What, is that expression? You, you have a problem with what I said?"
"Ah, no! No, not at all, milor… no, Shogun!"
"What do you mean no?"
Kimura yelled.
Slap!
With a loud noise, Timothy, the Goblin advisor's head turned.
"Dirty Goblin bastard!"
"I am sorry I am a Goblin…"
Timothy thought it was unfair he got hit for no apparent reason, but he said nothing.
There was nothing he could do.
He needed to endure it even if it was unfair, and even if it hurt his pride.
The destiny of the advisor was to endure, again and again, regardless of what kind of human his/her Lord was. Who would have wanted to be an advisor to this savage? The only thing that Timothy could do was to accept that he just had a bad draw, that the roll of the dice was unfortunate. Compared to this, it could be said that Lucia, who met a wise and competent Kang Chul-In as her leader, was an extremely lucky case.
"The Lord in the farmland shot my scout hawk."
"H-he did, milord?"
"That bastard… I thought if I sent the moles he would give up the land, that stubborn bastard!"
Yes.
The one who had sent the moles to Kang Chul-In and hindered him on his quest was Kimura. More accurately, Kimura, who wanted to escape his underground headquarters and have an above ground land to rule was advised by Timothy to target Kang Chul-In.
"Shogun, what are you going to do?"
Timothy asked.
"What do you mean what am I going to do! I will attack right now!"
"But…"
"What?"
"If the scout hawk got ambushed, that means they are able to use magic. There is a possibility that he won't be an easy opponent"
"I got played. Me!"
"I, sir, completely understand how you feel. It is definite that you were surprised and hurt. But Shogun! War is not play."
"Shut up, shut up I said!"
Kimura had no intentions of listening to Timothy's advice, advice that would become flesh and blood. The thing that was most important to him was revenge against the man who had killed his scout hawk. For him, other facts such as Kang Chul-In's ability to control and use magic, was not important.
"Hey, Goblin."
"Yes, Shogun."
"Prepare my troops. I will invade his headquarters right now."
"Shogun, could you listen to my dearest wish just once, please?"
"Your wish? I need to fulfill your wish?"
Timothy accepted Kimura's scoffing and spiteful glare. That was the role of the advisor. No matter how badly they were to be treated, they were to serve their Lord with everything they had.
"Yes, Shogun. This Timothy, like you said, is nothing but a Goblin, but I am still quite useful. If you leave it to me…"
"What will you do then?"
"It isn't an overstatement to say that a war's victory depends on the intel. If you give me just two days, then I will give a full detailed report on the enemy's current military status and facilities. If I do that, don't you think the chances of a victory will increase?"
"Hm… so are you thinking that I am going to lose?"
"N-no, Shogun! It's just that it is said, 'if you know your enemy and if you know yourself, you will win a hundred battles'. I am just following the basic rules of war"
"I know that too!"
Kimura yelled.
"You think I don't know at least that much? I was going to do that too!"
Kimura shamelessly spoke as if Timothy's idea was his, and made a thoughtful expression.
"I will take all scouts available and analyze his strength."
"Oh, Shogun! You are so wise!"
"You dare shoot me? I will repay this debt, bastard."
He was obviously way too into it.
Kimura Hideki who had been in Tokyo Tower and then fell to Pangaea by coincidence was a high schooler who at first could not believe this situation that he fell into.
Anyone would have had a hard time.
One day, without warning, if you had been transported to a different world and then made to fulfill quests that you don't know who had created, and to rule over your land, you would have denied reality. However, Pangaea was reality, and Kimura accepted his status as Lord. As expected of a Japanese though (I don't know why the author put this here), he quickly adapted to reality and adjusted. Kimura decided to follow the quest and defeat the monsters within his land, and then following the tendency of the conquest Lord, and grow his land.
It was good until then.
However, a problem was that although he had accepted reality, he wasn't conscious of the 'realness' and severity of the situation.
Death in Pangaea was equal to death on Earth. This was the way of nature, and the laws of life that if one was a living organism, one could not undo death. Only the man called Kang Chul-In who had used the power of the Soul Backup had returned to the past once.
Kimura wasn't conscious of this important fact.
Attacking another Lord with only the excitement of being a Lord, like a high-school gamer, was a prideful, and stupid decision.
If one was to take the life of another, one should be prepared to also lose their own. But in the mind of Kimura, there was only the image of his grand self, after he had conquered Kang Chul-In's land.
It was a foolish act that did not consider the aftermath of a war.
However, it would be too late when he did consider it. After all, he had chosen Kang Chul-In as an opponent of all people.
After that day, Kang Chul-In felt war clouds forming.
It became more frequent to see the scout hawks circling Laputa, slightly beyond the reach of an arrow, and within two days, there were about five or six scout hawks around Laputa. He had openly started to patrol and spy on Laputa. And it was visible to anyone that he was announcing an invasion.
'Although I'll need to push back my return to Earth for a couple days, it's good something like this happened.'
Kang Chul-In smiled.
His land's economy was all over the place anyways.
The cost of most territories were about 3-4 thousand gold. However, Laputa cost 9,800 gold. Due to the price that was almost three times that of another land, they were on the borderline of chaos. And in such a critical time, another Lord wanted to invade on his own two feet. He had to be thankful.
The Lord who won in a battle gained a lot.
He would take the enemy Lord's gold, land, people, and military. And in addition, they would be rewarded Lord points, along with leveling up, which meant it was a shortcut to being an Overlord. In Kang Chul-In's perspective, it was a gift from the heavens.
"Lucia."
"Yes, Lord."
"Soon, another Lord will invade."
"The one that sent the scout hawks, my Lord?"
"Yes."
"He is a stupid and foolish one."
"I agree."
"He is someone who will bring wealth to our land. We will welcome him well."
"Of course."
Kang Chul-In said, smiling.
A welcoming party?
He was going to go all out.
And destroy them.
Chapter 18. A declaration of war.
Translator: Leyy
'The enemy's military is doesn't seem like much, but I don't know why I feel so uneasy.'
Timothy was in a dilemma.
As a result of sending seven scout hawks over the last two days, Laputa's military force was mediocre at best, if not a joke.
If military power was the only factor, the victory of the Burrow would be given.
The basic specs of the Burrows were overwhelmingly better than Laputa.
Kang Chul-In's land Laputa was composed primarily by humans, but the Burrow land was comprised of ants, moles, centipedes, mole crickets, and others that lived primarily in the soil. If a war broke out, an overwhelming victory was to be expected.
But he felt uneasy.
In Kang Chul-In's land, it was hard to find any big threats, but this was commonly called 'having a bad feeling'. Timothy did not feel too good about this impulsive and reckless battle.
"It is difficult. Very difficult."
Timothy let out a long sigh.
It was understandable, because Timothy's specialty was [Administration], and so he was an advisor best suited for paperwork. And so, he was not too competent on war tactics.
But also, he could not leave things to the Lord, Kimura either.
Kimura knew nothing.
He was immersed in role-play and wanted to be king, labeling himself as 'Shogun' and 'Great Warrior' and other things Timothy could not understand. He was a typical tyrant, a young tyrant at that.
"Sigh… my fate!"
A long sigh came from the old Goblin's mouth.
They definitely had the upper hand in military force, but he could not deal with the uneasiness that overcame him. It was as if he was to poke a beehive.
But there wasn't any solid excuse for him to convince Kimura to give up on war either. If he had a good enough excuse, it would be worth it to manipulate and convince him but their superiority in numbers was so clear that there wasn't any foundation in telling Kimura to give up on battle.
It was then.
A pretty good idea crossed the old Goblin's mind.
"That's it!"
It was quite a good idea.
'This will do! I could make a suitable argument!"
Timothy smiled widely and went to seek his Lord, Kimura.
"Bastard! How dare you shoot an arrow at me!"
Kimura was drinking honey water in the Lord hall located deep underground and was grinding his teeth thinking about Kang Chul-In.
"Shogun!"
"What, Goblin."
"Could you send me as a diplomat?"
"What?"
Kimura tilted his head, as if asking him what kind of a dumb question that was.
"Why would we send something like that? We can just invade!"
"There are rules in battle as well."
"Rules?"
Kimura squinted and furrowed his brow at Timothy.
"Although he is the enemy, there are basic rules that one needs to keep."
"Stop saying things that are difficult to understand, you stupid Goblin!"
"I'm sorry."
"So, what's your point?"
"As the old saying goes, the best victory is won without a fight."
"Hmm… yes that it true."
Kimura nodded.
What Timothy said, anyone heard at least once, and it was a line from the 'Art of War'. Although the world was different, it seemed that a victory acquired without a fight was valuable in both worlds.
"If you send me as a diplomat, I will offer the Lord who had wronged you to surrender."
"Surrender?"
"Yes, Shogun. If you offer surrender and they accept, wouldn't we be able to win without shedding any blood? It won't be easy, but since our military strength is much greater, there is a chance."
"Hm…"
Kimura seemed half-convinced, and so Timothy took the opportunity to continue.
"Even if the opponent did not accept the offer to surrender, wouldn't it be an advantage for me to go as a diplomat anyways?"
"Advantage? What advantage?"
In that moment, Lord or not aside, Timothy was about to scream 'Why do you live with a head if you have no brain!'
This was not just an issue of age.
The human himself was just stupid and did not think much.
In the advisor's position, his patience was tested again and again.
'I must endure it this is my Lord… I must…'
Timothy persevered with all that he had, and held in his anger. And with a gentle and polite tone, he spoke towards Kimura.
"First, sending a diplomat shows that our Burrow lands is civilized and will not just use force. It is a show of sorts."
"Is that it?"
"Of course not my Lord! A diplomat is a legal
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spy. While I offer surrender, I will also bring intel on the enemy. Wouldn't it be more accurate to see it with my own two eyes instead of using expensive scout hawks?"
"Hmm… I guess you are right as well."
When Kimura seemed to agree, Timothy made a reliable face.
"And also, a war is not just invading whenever you want, but making a declaration first. It is a savage thing to do to just wage war without any warning. Aren't you a good and wise leader, Shogun?"
"Hmm… yes, that is also true."
"If you trust and leave it to me, although I cannot guarantee surrender, I will bring good intel."
Kimura who had been manipulated by Timothy's words, allowed for him to leave.
"Ha. You make sure to tell that Lord. If he does not surrender, he will face hell."
"Yes, of course. Hehe~ Then I will be back, Shogun."
Timothy cheered on the inside, after finally getting approval.
'It is done!'
Honestly, Timothy did not want this rash, unprepared war. Therefore, saying that he would offer surrender was just to convince Kimura.
Timothy's intention was this.
He would go, but he would come up with an excuse to make Kimura give up on war such as they have a secret army or a weapon that they were concealing.
Timothy knew that a war was not child's play.
Also, he wanted to visit Kang Chul-In's land and relieve the unknown uneasiness that was consuming him. However, Timothy's delight was short-lived.
'Sorry, Shogun but Timothy is prepared to sin if for the safety of the Shogun and the land!'
Timothy apologized to his Lord Kimura inwardly.
Intention aside, Timothy's actions were undermining the Lord Kimura, so he felt guilty.
"Sigh… I hope the Shogun would soon become a wise and quick leader."
Timothy mumbled, and went towards Kang Chul-In's land.
That afternoon.
Timothy went to Laputa as the diplomat for the Burrow lands. And he was able to meet the Lord of Laputa, Kang Chul-In.
"So, it was just a patrol of the surroundings, and you had no other intention?"
Kang Chul-In, sitting on his throne, made an interested expression.
"Yes, sir."
"Oh ho, that's funny."
"Sir?"
"I wonder who would use seven of those expensive scout hawks to just patrol. And just my land… are you overflowing with gold?"
Timothy was speechless at Kang Chul-In's sharp response, and started to make an excuse.
"It's not that! The Lord of the Burrows want peace! It's just that our lands are so close together, so we are just preparing for unforeseen events. Yes, it's just that."
"Unforeseen events?"
"I would be very grateful if you would think of it as like a patrol only on defensive terms. "Kimura Shogun promised that there will be no more of these situations in the future. Please, this time…"
"Stop."
Kang Chul-In stopped Timothy mid-sentence.
"What did you just say? Say it again."
"Sir?"
"Kimura? Shogun?"
"Ah, yes. The Lord of the Burrows wishes to be called Shogun instead of Lord."
"HAHAHAHAHA!!"
Kang Chul-In exploded in laughter.
Timothy could not understand Kang Chul-In's sudden laughter.
The Kang Chul-In that he saw, was not someone who would laugh in a formal situation like now. Even with a glance, Kang Chul-In was filled with authority and dignity as he just sat on his throne, but he had laughed. Timothy could not understand.
"Lord, may I ask why you are laughing?"
"I laughed because it was funny. Do I need another reason?"
Kang Chul-In answered.
"Which part is funny?"
Discomfort filled Timothy's face. Although Kimura was incompetent and showed signs of being a tyrant, he was Timothy's Lord. In Timothy's position as a loyal advisor, it was right to feel offended. However, Kang Chul-In asked again with a smirk, not caring of Timothy's feelings.
"Your Lord, asked to be called Shogun?"
"Yes, Lord. Shogun Kimura."
"Ha, he's a crazy bastard."
"Sir?"
"Your Lord is the craziest of the crazy, a little rascal."
Timothy's face hardened at the words of Kang Chul-In.
"Lord, your words are insulting the Lord of the Burrow lands."
"I call a crazy bastard crazy, what else am I supposed to call him?"
"Lord!"
"Maybe if I were to call him something different, idiot? Mentally retarded? They said Pandemonium was filled with crazy retards, and it was true."
Kang Chul-In snorted, as if this situation was absurd.
It was an expected response.
Maybe if Kang Chul-In was a different race, but as a Korean, Kimura who called himself Shogun was crazy in his eyes.
Shogun.
It was the most important position of the bakufu, and was descriptive of japan's supreme ruler in the medieval ages. Despite being japanese, Kang Chul-In didn't imagine there would be anyone shameless enough to call himself Shogun. However, Timothy who did not know this, had no choice but to be upset.
"Lord! Although Kimura Shogun is young, he is the ruler of a land! If you insult my land's ruler in a formal setting like this…"
"What, are you going to go to war or something?"
"Lord! How can you say such violent things! As I said previously, Kimura Shogun wishes for peace."
"Stop."
Kang Chul-In stopped Timothy and said in a calm voice with authority.
"Timothy, you said? Do not insult me with such lies."
In that moment, Timothy froze at the stare of the man sitting on the throne.
'Huk!'
The stare looking down was not that of a criminal. It was like a predator with its prey in front of it.
'T-this man is different from the Shogun.'
Timothy did not want to admit it, but he needed to accept that the man in front of him had a much larger plate than Kimura.
The aura itself was different.
It was as if he was born to be king. The throne suited him. And this kind of man spoke with authority, so it was expected that Timothy was suppressed and speechless.
'Timothy, remain calm! Wake up! Your Shogun was insulted! If you lower your tail here, it is the same as the Shogun losing!'
Timothy tried to be strong. He was trying to be a competent advisor.
"Lord, although you are upset, your words are too harsh. I would like you to apologize to Kimura Shogun, my Lord. If you don't, the Burrow lands will declare war."
It was then.
Before Timothy finished his sentence, Commander James hurried into the Lord Hall and bowed to Kang Chul-In.
"My Lord, I need to report immediately."
"What is it?"
"The enemy has moved from the underground and begun to advance into our land!"
And in that moment, Timothy felt his world turn upside down, and wished to bite his tongue.
'He could not wait that much! That wretched…'
As Timothy was thinking this, Kang Chul-In smirked and turned towards Timothy.
"What were you saying? Continue with what you were saying."
What was happening. Timothy could not raise his head in embarrassment.
"From this point forward our Burrow lands are declaring war on you Lord."
Timothy announced war with his head still bowed. It was a play to be written in history: where the declaration and release of troops happened simultaneously.