"They should be coming in an hour."
Logan wandered around the pier. Repeatedly reconfirming his new appearance. The mission to find someone who would become a Soul Contract partner was like looking for someone to become a life partner.
Logan was suddenly nervous. He hadn't thought that far up to this point. One condition for the strong bond of a Soul Contract is how much one trusts each other. Things like this couldn't be done by force, like when he asked the Poisonous Snake to be his subordinate. He did not want to directly or indirectly enslave anyone.
'This is a contract to be stronger! Both parties would benefit.'
Logan tried to throw away any thought about how this contract would be performed.
'Ah, why did I make such annoying rules for this class?'
The main idea of a soul emperor class was someone who could later rule many souls, using it to its full potential. At the highest level, it could prevent death and bring someone back to life. A class that has unlimited potential.
The journey that Logan would have to take will be very long. But he was confident that he would be able to reach it easily. He was a calculating person. Everything he planned never went wrong, like in Ka Hyun-Su's story in the previous world. Yes, the books he wrote caused a lot of criticism. Too much fuss, yes, even though Ka Hyun-Su actually enjoyed it.
"Today will be a good day."
Five hours passed with Logan sitting on the edge of the dock, no longer being able to bear it. The ship brought by the elves had not yet arrived. If only he had known they would be this late, it would have been better if he had spent his time sleeping. He hasn't had enough sleep since he first came into this world.
"What is going on? Will they really come?"
Another hour passed. There was not the slightest sign of the elves' arrival.
"It was a waste! I could have done something useful!"
Logan yawned, feeling unbearable sleepiness. If he waited a few more minutes, he would be found asleep on the pier's edge.
"I need to sleep! I can't hold on anymore!"
An annoyed and disappointed Logan walked back home. He didn't want to miss the slightest bit of their arrival, but he also needed rest. He also needed to make the most of every minute of his life. His 10 precious hours passed in vain.
Logan entered the house. Walked around for a while and realized again that no one was there.
"Where is everyone? Even Alice is not present now."
Logan could no longer hold back his heavy eyelids. He immediately walked into his room and laid down his body.
"How many more do you need to rank up?"
'Pssshhh a little more, Master.'
Logan gave the last soul stone he had to the soul in his dagger.
'Do you like it?'
'Yes, Master, Yes... Pssshhh'
The soft surface of the bed absorbed Logan's body, releasing the tired feeling he had been holding back since morning.
"What kind of snake are you? How come you are so interested in cannibalism?"
'I'm some kind of King, Master. Pssshhh'
"I don't want to hear your bullshit. You better tier up soon, or you will be the food for my next weapon."
'No, Master! I won't disappoint you, pssshhh.'
Logan was still thinking about the Elves, who didn't arrive until the last minute he was on the dock. Even though they can live for hundreds of years, they are not a race that usually neglects time. Except, if-
'Something happened?'
What could make them late? Logan couldn't think of anything that could possibly happen.
He closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep. Tiredness made him ignore the surroundings.
"Brother…"
Someone suddenly came into the room and shouted. Logan immediately opened his eyes and found Alice looking breathless with a pale face standing beside his bed.
"Brother, are you awake?"
"Déjà vu?"
Logan immediately woke up and checked his condition. He was still wearing the same clothes as the last time he slept. His status was also still the same. It didn't return to the initial state.
Logan almost thought he would go back in time when something happened. Being reminded of an Anime that he watched in Ka Hyun-Su's lifetime. About starting life in isekai... from zero?
"What's wrong?"
Logan wiped the sweat from his forehead. There was no air conditioner in this place. It was already nighttime. He had slept for quite a while, though it felt very short because of his fatigue earlier.
"Dad and Mom asked me to invite you to the town hall."
"Town hall? What's going on there?"
Alice's face turned pale, piled on with a sad look. It was apparent that a drop of water was flowing from her eye.
"Dad? Is he getting a promotion? Or a new dungeon appeared?"
"Dad will go to the Capital. They said there will be a war soon."
"What? Nonsense!"
There will be no war in the near future. Logan was sure of that.
Deadbay will be in a pretty safe situation for the next dozen years. There will be no wars, small or large.
"A joke!"
"We should go. Brother?"
Logan was sure this was a joke. But he also couldn't underestimate this small thing.
Logan will go after whoever had spread this bullshit issue. If needed, he would also teach that person a lesson.
"Okay."
Logan carried Alice in his arms. Immediately bolted out of the house and dashed towards the Town Hall. Under the moonlight, a Stalker can be more intense than anyone. He would get energy regeneration faster. He could also fight faster and longer at night.
In the distance, Logan could see many people lined up along the road. A horse-drawn carriage was at the front, guarded by several cavalries. In the back was another cavalry that Logan recognized as a resident of Deadbay. And his father, Sam, was also one of them.
Logan halted, dropped Alice, and ran to the front row. He jumped up and stood in the way of where the convoy was going. Staring with piercing eyes at whoever was behind all this, behind all these silly jokes.
"Who are you?"
Someone in armor sitting on a black horse huffed at Logan's behavior.
"I'm sorry. I want to confirm something important. My name is Logan Evans."
The convoy was forced to stop. The horses pulling the tubular carriage raised their front paws and shouted right at Logan.
Someone from inside the horse carriage peeked out, a girl with snow-white hair and red eyes.
Sam, Logan's father, realized what was going on. His son stood in the way of their convoy with a severe expression. Not knowing why he was doing it, Sam smiled instead, staying in line and waiting for the next scene.
Sara, standing on the side of the road, also realized what had happened. She immediately stepped out of the crowd. Her face was pale and worried. She was about to go to her son.
Sara stopped when someone grabbed her hand, withholding her. When she turned, she found Alice, her daughter, standing to hold her off.
"No..."
Alice shook her head. After that, they both understood what was happening. They had to put their trust in Logan. And that they had no power to prevent it from happening.
"I need an explanation of what war you guys are talking about."
Logan gritted his teeth and stared at someone in the carriage.
"Who are you to dare to speak like this to the kingdom envoy?"
Someone on a black horse in armor pointed his sword at Logan.