Just as the first rays of dawn crept over the horizon, the castle gates came into view. My body ached from the night's work, every muscle protesting the long trek back, but the satisfaction burning in my chest dulled the pain.
Gravefang Wolves were stronger, faster, and deadlier than everything I had met until this moment. I had, however managed to stay alive—and to grow because of that.
The status window sprang forth in my vision as I crossed the courtyard, its glowing text a confirmation of the hunt's results.
STATUS WINDOW
Name: Alaric Varelius
Level: 24
Health: 280/280
Mana: 200/200
Strength: 45
Agility: 43
Endurance: 40
Intelligence: 15
Charisma: 18
Skills: Gluttony (Active), Shadowstep (Tier 1), Lacerate (Tier 1), Howl of Terror
The numbers were mind-boggling. Half the wolves' levels and stats had been added to mine through Gluttony, making my strength and agility reach places I hadn't thought was possible. I felt it in every movement—my strikes were faster, my body lighter, my endurance more reliable.
But with that power came a cost.
The hunger that accompanied Gluttony was growing harder to ignore. It wasn't just physical—it clawed at the edges of my mind, whispering promises of strength, of dominance, if only I fed it more.
I dismissed the window, shaking off the lingering unease as I approached the castle's main doors.
The guards stiffened as I approached, their expressions shifting from surprise to alarm.
"Your Majesty," one of them said, bowing quickly. "We didn't—"
"See me leave?" I finished, raising an eyebrow.
The man's face paled. "W-We apologize—"
"Relax," I said, waving a hand. "I needed the air."
They didn't look convinced, but they nodded, stepping aside as I entered the castle.
Inside, I ran straight to my rooms, not wanting to look at the curious glances from the servants. The heat inside the castle was in stark contrast to the biting cold forest outside, but nothing could lift the burden that lay upon my shoulders.
It had been a vicious fight with the wolves, and yet the numbers in the status window weren't enough to erase the far more grave issues still going through my head.
I settled into the chair by the window and took a long breath as I brought up the system interface once again. The status window shifted, revealing a new tab that hadn't been there before.
Kingdom Interface Unlocked.
My heart skipped a beat as I tapped the tab. The glowing text shifted, lines of information scrolling across the screen.
KINGDOM MANAGEMENT
Population: 243,000
Treasury Funds: 47,300 Gold
Current Morale: Moderate
Key Resources:
Grain: Adequate
Iron: Low
Lumber: Moderate
Current Issues:
Poor Housing Conditions in Western District.
Declining Trade Revenues.
Dwindling Guard Recruitment.
I frowned, scanning the list of problems. Moderate morale wasn't good enough. Declining trade revenues couldn't continue. Poor housing conditions? That was a powder keg waiting to explode.
I leaned back, closing my eyes and memories from my past life burst into my mind unasked for.
The scent of coffee and printer ink filled the office, the hum of computers blending with the chatter of colleagues. My name—Harley—was etched neatly on a nameplate by the door to my private office, a reminder of the position I'd worked so hard to earn.
"Harley, you've got a minute?"
I looked up to see Matt standing in the doorway, his usual easy grin plastered across his face. Matt—my best friend, my business partner, the person I trusted most in the world.
"Sure," I said, gesturing for him to come in.
He stepped inside, closing the door behind him. "Big pitch tomorrow. I'm thinking we go all in on the housing model. It's innovative, it's scalable, and it's going to make us a fortune."
I smiled, nodding as he laid out the details. Back then, I'd believed in every word he said.
I never knew the truth until the company was about to go bankrupt months down the line. All that Matt had done in the deals, all the cuts he had made, and all the shares he had stolen came out in the wash too late to halt him.
He took everything with him and left me with nothing.
I opened my eyes and the memory faded, a bitter aftertaste.
"Not this time," I muttered, pulling up the Kingdom Interface again.
I wouldn't let my kingdom fall apart because of greed or incompetence. If the nobles wouldn't fix these problems, I would.
The first issue was clear: housing. The western district had been a problem even before I'd taken the throne. Crowded streets, crumbling buildings, families packed into tiny spaces—it was a breeding ground for disease and discontent.
I grabbed a piece of parchment, sketching out a design as the details formed in my mind.
Objective: Improve Housing in the Western District.
Reward: Increased Kingdom Morale, +1 Charisma
"Let's see what this kingdom is capable of"