"Temp~~~[ Kachak! ]..ohh~~..".
[ BANG!! ].
"Don't mess my~~..[ BANG! ]..~~.. okay, that's the last.....just how many of this Ferals up there? Why does looks like there's endless of them....should I just install claymore on the stairway?....forget it, using explosive in old ruins like this..just the same as commiting suicide....time to check on Beardy...".
It's already 2 full days since I save beardy@ Karl, he still unconscious though, but stable and he's recovering in amazing speed, I can say about 80% recoverd his skinny body already shown sign of gaining weight, although I've only injected IV fluids, how it's happened was shocking, even to me.
Also for the past 2 days I've been hunting Feral on 351-346 floor. The hunt shows relatively good results in terms of skill shards and exp, but on the other hand it's quite worrisome, the numbers seems to increase bit by bit, each batch comes they will be more than the last one. My killed count just on the 1st day alone was 168 Ferals Mountain Dwarves, this day up until 2145 pm my kill count is 245, and their levels was about 70++, compare to 1st day their numbers and levels was double. The Ferals usually came down in interval of 3-4 hours starting at 1300pm and at night time after 0000 am the waves will stop, why? I don't really know. But one thing for sure this kind of organize attacks worries me, I just hope that this wasn't planned, cause if it does, than I just can say that, I'm in for probably a bigger mess.
"245 Skill shards, 1 105 900 virtual coins..300 pure silver armours, 100 Gold armours and 100 mithril armour, 5 dwarves Musket, 200 short swords and 300 Dwarves Axe, 300 Dwarves Hammer....quite a haul... It's true what they said, dwarves really blessed with ironworks....it can even rival the machinery works, probably even better..huh?...this Sword...wait...the axe.....hah~~..shit...".
All this armours and weapon wasn't really enticing to me, but I do know the importance and how valuable such resource are, so I have to collect them, maybe I can give it away later or have them smelt back to ore or something.
Back in the camp, I was checking one of the sword, it was beautifully made,the name was [ Sword of Power] it belongs to the a Noble family with a Duke rank from The Old Moors Mountain kingdom. It was a Double edge short sword about 19.5 inches long (excluding the Hilt) made from pure Mithril, the along side the fuller there's an intrecate design of a wyvern breathing fire, the Pommel was made from a large rubby gemstone with gold fitting, it looks quite good.
Upon further inspection the thing that caught my eyes was the blade, it was freshly sharpen, I can see the whetstone marks visibly on the blade, I set it aside and the check another sword, then axe, then hammer, eventually all weapon was piled up beside me.
"They were hunting...organized and prepared... there's someone behind this.....huh?.....I won't do that if I were you...Beardy..".
Beardy finally regained his consciousness, but of course sensing that me on his left side busily piling a weapons, currently his body was wrapped in bandages and a needle stuck on his forearm. Slowly his right hand stretch trying to yank the IV needle on his left arm.
"!!..".( Karl)
"Stop faking it.....I know you're awake....also that thing that was stuck to your forearm, it's a medicine..so stop trying to yank it...".
"..a..umm...Forgive me sire, to shown such ungrateful..ahh..side..to your highness..I beg your apologies, your highness...". ( Karl)
Karl Benson who seemingly stutter and stumble upon each words, slowly bring up his body and sit down in a dogeza position.
"..stop it beardy, just sit normally...your body still recovering, I've already treat all of your wound..but since your condition was worse.. you'll need at least a few more day to rest...anyway, how you feel right now?..".
"Huh?..what?...ma body it's back..ma muscle..ahh?!..i forget the bite wound on ma ankle...huh? It's closed..why is there a thread on ma wound?..umm, your highness?..". (Karl)
The delight on Karl face shows how much he's appreciate the changes on his body, he run his hand all over his body, checking his new condition. When he tried to stand up, his ankle gave up, made him fall down on his back, the stitches up wound on his ankle made him changed his face, as to it no longer opened, but all sewn neatly leaving several stiches on the surface.
"I sew the flesh together so that the wound would close up...don't worry the thread will fall of by itself or we just can clear them later on... leaving an open wound without treating them, can lead to death.... just using a medicinal paste on wound wasn't really a good way to treat huge wound like the one on your ankle....by the way it can break open if you move to much....Stop scratching it!..".
"Ah!!.. ma bad sire, oh..my apologies your highness...". ( Karl)
"Don't mind it..just stop scratching.... Okay..now,... aren't you going to tell me about yourself?...or all Mountain Dwarves this ungrateful?....".
" ahh..I am Karl.. Karl Benson.. I'm Blacksmith in Moors Kingdom, but that's a long time ago...I was kicked by the remnants of Moors Kingdom community up on the 10th floors....".( Karl)
His expression turn sour as he started to share his story.
"Why..did they kicked you?...is it because you won't eat..'the meat'?...".
"H..h..how..?..".( Karl)
"I know...because just in 2 days I just killed 500 of them...".
"..oh.....I can't believe we have fall this far..".( Karl)
Karl was shocked by the fact I know about the mountain dwarves cannibalism act . Shame and sadness came to him, for other race to know about this abomination act and the fact that I just said I killed 500 of his kin, surely will hurt his pride as a dwarves and saddened him, after all, Dwarves were known to have prideful trait and strong bond amongst kinsmen.
"The remnants was lead by the late Moors king grand-grand-grandson,.. I remember my father says that after 'The Doomsday' that happened millions years ago, Mountain Dwarves who for 1 million years strive greatly in those hellish era..but after years passed, we experience a sudden sharp declined..from living in the great city were fall to the slowly to forest, then underground then 100 years ago we retreated once again to this place...the burial place for our ancestors..". (Karl)
"What actually made your kind to retreat repeatedly?..".
"It was mainly due to the constant attack of the fallen, Monsters also getting stronger and stronger, and their numbers were endless....they ravaged everything, poisoned the water and land...we can't grow anything..we can hunt the beast monster for it's meat, it's hard and dangerous but we can still do it....".
"It's logical that you can eat monster beast meat, because they were originally a monster even before the Doomsday...but that doesn't explain why cannibalism act appeared....".
".....around 5 years ago, for some unknown reason....the self proclaim King has been ristricting men to go out...then suddenly hundreds starts to mindlessly follow his biding..... when people starts to riot..he promised that, he will provide food..then after 3 years, food stockpile run out... many of our people have died, child, old, one by one perished to starvation....then, suddenly the 'meat' appeared....the king and his henchmen starts to distribute them as a beast meat..but, when I ask to join the hunting group..I was refused, at one point..the bolt ordered was replaced by meat cleaver.....".( Karl)
"... that's when you start snooping around..right..".
"Yeah...I can't believe what I found back on the royals floor...how could they eat their own kin!..those bastard make it looks like it was a normal thing to do!...the sight of young girl head on the table while they all laughing around it, the absurdity made me flip out...I rush in to kill the king..but..I failed...I was cought...and tortured for months...but, about a week ago they started to act like the fallen, they starts to hunts the remaining people that refuse to eat the meat...they starts to smells rotten, act franticly, as long as there's someone who doesn't has the red eyes like them, they will jump on them...I was able to escape when they tried to feast on me...I keep running and fighting....then.. you find me....".( Karl)
".....so, consuming a living people that hasn't turned will not have an immediate effect....only continuous consume will slowly change them....is that king of yours still have his sanity?..".
Cannibalism will turn them in to Ferals but it wasn't instantly but slowly, the main thing was this king, that Karl were talking about, do have some secrets, he actually know what will happen. The problem was is this planned by him or planned by someone else either way, looks like I can't get to the surface in peace.
"The last time I saw him....yes..he still able to talk normally...".(Karl)
".. he's the one huh.....looks like your king have some secrets...by the way, is there a people like you still alive?..".
"..I believe so...but it has been months since I lost contact with them....they should be hiding somewhere around 100-50th floor...".( Karl)
Dejected by his own helplessness, Karl cast his head down in despaired. Acting nonchalantly, I slowly arranging the piles of weapon and stuff them inside my Dimensional bag
".....so, what are you going to do now?...".
"I want to join my comrade....and kill that bastard king!..I can't believe that's we put our hope on that monster!...".( Karl)
"....and then?...".
"...... that's...I...".( Karl)
" You haven't figured that out?... suppose you kill the king, but that was IF you can,....then what?.. build the kingdom back together?.. with what?, handful of people?..one doesn't need to be wise to know that, the possibility of people who sane like you was probably none left, with the numbers of Ferals that come down for the last 2 days, probably there's no survivor at all.....so, once again I asked you..what now?..what will you do?...".
"...I..I..I don't know..sire....I don't know...".( Karl)
It was actually heart breaking to see a man break down to tears, Karl was biting down on his lips till it bleed, while looking at me as if I was able to solve his predicament. I do feel sorry, but actually this is what has been my mind ever since I save him, I need people to help me build my safe haven. After he said something about there's people like him, that's it I got it I said to myself, that's why I have to break his resolution. I have to break his mindset, it's dirty, but I don't work for free, if I helping, I want something in exchange.
"... Sire....can you help me?...help my people?..I know it's shameless....but, I saw it myself how strong you are sire!...if..".( Karl)
"Stop!...help?...I just save your life...and you asking me to save your people lives too?..do you think I'm running some charity down here??..".
My salty words feels like a slap on Karl face, I know medieval nature's of social codes, at this era most people would seriously uphold their words and deeds. Obviously what Karl just did was shameless, to ask more from someone who save his life was actually a disgrace act. he was silent for a few minutes, before he look at me in the eye once more, but this time it was intense.
"Sire...I know I was ungrateful...but, please..help me...even if there's none left..I need to see them.....whatever the cost..... Sire, if you do this..I swear on my ancestors..I will give my life for you...I swear to serve you for my whole life..".( Karl)
"........hah~~..okay,.... there's no need to swore your entire life for me...20 years...I want you to follow me for 20 years...in that 20 years..no matter what I ordered you will do it, if I told to jump I want to hear you said how high, If I said kneel you kneel, if I said wait you wait..you have no right to rebuked me, or go against me....in return, in that 20 years, I won't abandon you, I won't purposely harm you or kill you, also I will guaranteed all your basic needs, food, water, weapons, shelter..how was it?..this is my term...still want me to help you?..".
"Yes sire!.. I'm willing!...".(Karl)
Unmoving, Karl kneel like a Knight before me and look even more firm hearted than before. I hand over a thick book, on the first page was a contract terms and on the other pages was empty columns for name and thumb print.
" Then write your name here..and drop a single droplet of your blood and stamp it here, with your thumbs ...".
"Done!..sire..".(Karl)
Karl handed back the book of contract to me with both hands. I stand up and open the book then read the contract terms.
"As of this moment, you Karl Benson will officially become a member (Temporary) of Newly establish kingdom, for 20 years started from this date..you will follow any order from the King, never to betray, never to run, never to step against the king...This contract was real and approved by God of Time 'Orbot', breaking the contract will be punished by death and be cursed in after life...I James Joon, King Of High Human and Kingdom of Dawnlight, hereby ask thee once more, Karl Benson what say you?..".
"I Karl Benson agreed and willing, to serve Your Highness King James Joon and become the loyal subjects of Kingdom Dawnlight....". ( Karl)
"..Good, repeat after me...even the night feels for so long, the dawn will always come with the first light...".
"Even the night rules for so long, the dawn will always come with the first light....huh?...'sob'..hissk....".( Karl)
Tears come down his face as Karl finished pledging himself to me, probably due to the effects of being finding a sense of comfort and peace perhaps. I thought about this book of contract and my kingdom, in about yesterday. It's just a formal event that I thought, would be good to have such thing be done in an official form, make it classy I guess. But still this idea, and the book of contract was actually a real thing, if someone disobey the term the contract itself will instantly held up the punishment, I wanted to buy a slave collar at first, but it was unsightly as it was view as a force submission, so I buy the contract book, but compare to slave collar this book was even scarier as it was a certified contract approved by God's.
" Don't worry Karl, your just overwhelmed...now that you have become my subject..I will definitely help you save your friends..".
"Thank you your highness..thank you..".( Karl)
".. Don't worry about it...also just called me sire, or boss or sir...no need for those stuffy long words... that's only for formal events...".
"Yes Sire...thank you once again..".( Karl)
"...hmmm...also, stop scratching....".
"..hahaha, sorry bout dat Boss!..".( Karl)
Well I guess, I have a subject and a kingdom now. It happen faster than I thought but, it's all good, now I even have new objective. It's time to go full power. I hope his friends will still there when I got there, I definitely welcome more people to be my subject.