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A new buzz had filled my kingdom. Adventurers, bold and reckless, had begun wandering through my territory.
According to the official forums, their appearance was a sign—my kingdom now generated enough mana for dungeons to emerge.
Dungeons... The thought sent a ripple of excitement through me. If they were anything like the light novels I devoured in my previous life, they would be teeming with monsters and treasures.
But for now, I left the dungeons to their mysteries and continued my journey.
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Reaching the fourth wall, I spotted my guards collecting toll fees from the passing adventurers. Lucia's handiwork, no doubt. The thought of her resourcefulness made me smile.
The lands within the third wall were a sight to behold. A massive expanse of paddy fields stretched endlessly.
The rhythmic movement of farmers tending their crops reminded me of an organized army.
As I moved closer to the second wall, the scenery shifted. Vegetables of all kinds replaced the rice fields, forming a vivid tapestry of greens, reds, and yellows.
Finally, entering the area surrounded by the first wall, a jungle came into view. In its heart lay the alchemists' laboratory. Word had it that their experiments to accelerate crop growth had accidentally turned the area into a miniature forest. A misstep, but at least they're productive.
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After a 12-hour walk, I reached Lucia's office. My stamina never ceases to amaze me.
I knocked lightly and entered.
There she was, slumped over her desk, fast asleep. Piles of paperwork surrounded her like walls of her own making.
The faint rise and fall of her breath betrayed the exhaustion that came with managing an entire kingdom.
Rather than disturb her, I quietly left the room and headed to the market.
The heat of the day led me to a familiar indulgence—ice cream. Whoever had invented this wonder deserved a medal. I bought two cones, one for myself and another for Lucia.
Returning to her office, I placed the ice cream on her desk and left as silently as I had entered.
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Back at my home, I checked the official forum to see the results of my postings. As expected, every single elven potion had been sold. Even the Chamber of Commerce was empty.
They're probably flipping my potions for a profit, I mused, but it didn't matter. As long as the coins flowed into my coffers, they could do as they pleased.
Opening my ledger, I saw the result of my efforts: 1.33 million gold coins.
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With such abundance, it was time to share. I don't really have anything to spend on, no casino, no pay to win games to even play except war which actually was costly.
I sent the promised 300k gold coins to Barn to ensure the laboratory's operations continued without a hitch.
Then, thinking of Benny, I transferred 500k gold coins to him with a note:
"Make me proud. Spend this money well."
For Lucia, who bore the weight of my kingdom, I sent another 500k gold coins with a cheeky note:
"Your lord is filthy rich. If there's a problem money can't solve, that's where you step in. Otherwise, it's all solvable."
With my treasury reduced to 32.5k gold coins, I felt an odd sense of freedom. Despite the dwindling balance, I had confidence in Lucia and Benny to handle the kingdom's development.
---
My smile faded away soon after.
Lying in bed, I stared at the ceiling, tears pooling in the corners of my eyes.
How did it come to this? I had never imagined complaining about having too much money.
My thoughts drifted to my previous life—a cycle of gambling, drinking, and drowning in problems I couldn't fix. There had been no joy, no hope, only an endless grind.
But now...
Now, I lived in a land where wealth poured freely, where people like Lucia and Barn worked tirelessly to build something great. This world felt like a dream, a second chance to live differently.
As I closed my eyes, I whispered to myself,
"Let's make this one count."
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