Chapter 750: The Riddle of Two Lords

Angie and Charlie couldn’t see the Core interface.

[Obtain Your First Citizen (Active)]: Offer a Citizenship Card to someone unaffiliated with any kingdom and make them your first citizen.

[Raise the Core’s Level (Active)]: Your Core is currently Level 0. Its efficiency and the effectiveness of your powers are severely reduced. Obtain 10 citizens and complete at least one quest to raise its level.

Getting citizens is going to be a problem.

If Luke were still in Maine, he could have signed up his family, maybe even a few neighbors, and solved half the problem before lunch. Out here, things were far less convenient.

“Let’s see if this works.”

He focused on [Citizenship Card]. A card appeared in his hand. Then another. Luke handed one to Angie and the other to Charlie.

[Do you truly wish to accept Charlotte Vespertilio as a citizen of your Kingdom?]

[Do you truly wish to accept Angie as a citizen of your Kingdom?]

“So it worked.”

Apparently, servants counted.

“Can I accept it?” Charlie asked.

Angie, meanwhile, studied hers with quiet curiosity, turning it between her fingers as though trying to understand the logic behind its existence.

“Yeah. Go ahead.”

Charlie said a screen had appeared with the details. One warning said that if she renounced her citizenship, she could be barred from joining another kingdom for up to a year. After reading everything, she accepted. A moment later, new information appeared on the card. The previously blank surface now displayed a picture of Charlie’s face along with basic personal details. Her age was listed as well, though instead of a number, there was only a dash.

“Interesting. It even shows the date you became a citizen.”

[Charlotte Vespertilio has become a citizen of your Kingdom.]

[Quest ‘Obtain Your First Citizen’ completed successfully.]

One down. Seven more citizens, and the Core could finally reach Level 1.

Angie’s process was nearly identical. She accepted, became a citizen, and immediately gained the Core’s benefits as well.

“What about me?” Franky asked.

Until then, he had been far more interested in setting old webs on fire around the hall.

“You...?”

Luke stared at the boy for a moment, then created another card and handed it over.

“There. Now you have one too.”

While the three of them dealt with their cards, Luke explained some of the rules surrounding the [Kingdom Core], especially how another Monarch could seize it.

“Could a citizen of the kingdom stage an insurrection, my lord?” Angie asked.

“Yes. As long as they possess a System Nobility title, not merely one granted by the Kingdom.”

Angie fell silent, considering that.

“I didn’t understand the nobility part, Master Luke,” Charlie said.

“I didn’t understand any of it,” Franky added.

“That tracks...” Artemis muttered.

“There’s System Nobility, and then there are titles granted by a kingdom,” he said. “A kingdom can make someone a baron, count, duke, or whatever else. That’s political. A System title is different. It can allow someone to conquer [Kingdom Cores].”

“That was my concern,” Angie said. “So, in a sense, elevating someone to high nobility within the kingdom is safe.”

“In a sense, yes.”

“I don’t get it,” Franky said.

“Okay, shorty. The System says I’m a Lord. This kingdom says I’m king. Different titles. Got it?”

Franky stared at Luke as though the explanation had somehow made things worse. Luke looked around. The place was filthy and reeked. The walls were cracked, the windows shattered, and every corner was buried under dust, webs, and years of neglect.

“I’m a king... with three citizens.”

They continued through the castle.

“We need to start cleaning, but I don’t even know where to begin,” Charlie said. “And I’m not sure we have the right... supplies.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll put the main culprit to work cleaning it up.”

Luke summoned the Spectral Beast in its Ivory Leaping Spider form.

“And Franky can burn the webs.”

“Burning things is good,” the boy said eagerly.

While they began cleaning the castle, Luke opened the interface for a quest tied to a problem in the [Kingdom Core]’s territory. The quest only strengthened his suspicion that the System hadn’t sent him there at random. The question was why.

The next morning, Luke took Franky into the forest. With the castle spiders gone, the surrounding woods had already begun to change. Smaller creatures had grown bolder. Foxes, frogs, and all kinds of beasts crept between the trees, moving into territory they had once avoided.

Luke killed several along the way.

“Another dead rat,” Franky said, laughing.

The boy aimed his wand at a cluster of flying insects and fired several tiny balls of flame.

“Don’t start a forest fire. And stay close.”

Franky crouched beside a plant.

“And don’t touch the plants.”

“Human, we are powerful. No rat can defeat us.”

“Correction: no rat can defeat me. You were getting bullied by butterflies.”

“Those butterfly rats were huge. And I still beat all of them.”

Franky raised his wand. Two translucent hands appeared beside him, floating like extensions of his own arms. His former skill, [Helping Hand], had evolved after his class mutated.

[Ghostly Hands (Rare)]: Evolution of [Helping Hand]. The mage creates two ghostly hands that hover nearby as extensions of the caster’s will. When supplied with mana, they gain enough strength to grip, pull, push, or carry heavy objects, compensating for the caster’s lack of physical strength. Their effectiveness depends on the mage’s control and creativity. They can assist with tasks, move obstacles, manipulate mechanisms, or reach distant objects.

One of the hands floated toward a tree and plucked a fruit from a branch.

“I did it! I’m getting really good at this.”

“You’re adequate.”

Franky ignored the lack of enthusiasm and kept practicing. Farther ahead, more butterflies appeared between the trees and rushed toward him. Franky raised his wand. Both ghostly hands shot forward and seized one of the creatures in midair.

The tip of his wand glowed.

[Fireball]

The projectile struck the trapped butterfly and killed it instantly.

“I’m getting really good at this, human. I bet I could grab the Winged Rat like that too. Then I’d beat her.”

“No. That definitely wouldn’t work on Angie.” Luke glanced sideways at him. “You really don’t like her, do you?”

“She said I’m not amazing. And I know I am.”

“Yeah, you’re unbelievably amazing...”

“Thank you.”

“That was sarcasm.”

Franky kept gathering fruit, far too pleased with himself to care.

That’s not the same as my telekinesis.

Luke watched the ghostly hands carry the fruit. His telekinesis couldn’t hold a living target in place. Franky, on the other hand, could use the hands to grab, pin, and manipulate enemies with far greater precision. And if the skill had already evolved once, it might still have other development paths.

Useful skill. I wouldn’t mind having something similar.

Still, Franky already thought far too highly of himself. Luke had no intention of feeding that tiny ego any more than necessary.

Franky kept gathering fruit, far too pleased with himself to notice that the smaller creatures had disappeared. Then Luke’s Perception picked up movement between the trees.

He stepped closer to the boy.

“Something’s coming. Get behind me.”

“Relax, human. I’ll protect you.”

“You absolutely won’t.”

“Yes, I will.”

The bushes shook. A massive spider leaped out from behind the trees. Franky reacted first and launched a fireball, but the attack barely left a mark. The spider charged. Franky stumbled back and lost his balance. Luke moved. In one motion, he sidestepped the charge and drove his kukri into the creature’s underside.

[You have slain a Jumping Spider - Lvl 73]

[+29 Soul Energy absorbed.]

“Told you.”

Luke pulled the blade free and hauled Franky off the ground.

“Now we’re going back.”

“That rat had too many legs.”

“It was a spider. Why do you still call everything a rat?”

“If it isn’t a snake, it’s a rat.”

“That makes absolutely no sense.”

Franky started walking beside him. After a few steps, he took Luke’s hand.

Luke looked down. Why is he holding my hand while we walk?

Franky kept staring ahead as though nothing had happened. Before Luke could say anything, a notification appeared before his eyes.

[The Dark Lord’s Relic is fully charged with Soul Energy.]

Luke had finally accumulated one thousand Soul Energy.

[Wrath of the Usurper has been updated!]

After bringing Franky back to the castle, Luke put an end to the boy’s forest expeditions. Until Luke eliminated the more dangerous creatures, Franky wouldn’t be allowed outside alone. If he died too far away, he wouldn’t come back.

He’s still too fragile. And this place is far too dangerous.

That afternoon, Luke made one thing clear: he was going alone. He needed to test the ring, and the others already knew enough about the relic to understand the risk.

The rule was simple: never touch the silver ring, especially if it ever left Luke’s finger. It seemed safe while he was wearing it, but Luke wasn’t taking any chances.

I still need to test what happens when a human enemy touches the relic. I want to know exactly what the Protection of Wrath does.

Alone in the forest, Luke opened the interface.

[Dark Lord’s Relic]

Sins Absorbed: 1/7

Soul Energy: 1000/1000

Relic Skills: [Soul Reservoir], [Living Relic], [Sinbound Will], [Relic-Borne Authority], [Dark Lord’s Bond], [Dark Lord’s Army]

Sin Manifestation: [Wrath of the Usurper]

Sin Curses: [Protection of Wrath]

Reaching one thousand Soul Energy had triggered a change after all.

[Wrath of the Usurper]: The necessary conditions must be fulfilled before this power can be used.

Luke stared at the message. Then the letters began to move. The words broke apart and rearranged themselves into a new sentence.

[Wrath of the Usurper]: The path lies open. However, certain powers reveal their true nature only when two Lords stand before the same throne.

Luke remained silent for several seconds.

“That explained nothing.”

He touched the interface, pressed the words, dragged the window around, and tried every activation command he could think of.

Nothing.

“There’s no way that’s all I get.”

Luke stopped. A suspicion began to form.

Wait... The Tree of Knowledge. He let out a slow breath. I have to figure this one out blind too?

Wrath had awakened only after he accidentally fulfilled a hidden condition.

“So the damned thing works the same way. I’ll have to figure it out on my own.”

Luke read the message again. When two Lords stand before the same throne... What does that even mean?

Without an answer, he closed the interface and resumed the hunt. Later, he returned to the castle and touched the Kingdom Core.

[Do you wish to supply the Core Soul Reservoir with your Soul Energy?]

Luke selected “Yes.”

Kingdom Core

Monarch: Luke Moon

Kingdom Name: -

Level: 0

Citizens: 3/10

Soul Energy: 1,000/10,000

Skills: [Dark Lord’s Army], [Citizenship Card], [Sovereign’s Gaze], [Domain Mana], [Kingdom’s Calling], [Safe Domain], [Kingdom Bond], [Core Soul Reservoir]

[Quests]: [Kings of the New Era (Optional)], [Teleportation Array (Optional)], [Raise the Core’s Level (Active)], [Eliminate the Root Spiders (Active)], [Hunt the Remaining Beasts (Active)], [Aid the Great Tree (Active)]

After transferring the energy, Luke checked [Wrath of the Usurper] again. The updated message remained.

“It didn’t revert. So the change is permanent.”

The relic was empty once more. His next test would be to see what happened when it reached one thousand Soul Energy again. Recharging the relic would be easy. Understanding it wouldn’t.

***

Two days had passed since they arrived at the castle.

“It’s a fine staff, sir. Don’t let its plain appearance fool you,” the merchant said.

Luke was in Nyvma buying equipment in disguise, his hair color altered with [Basic Appearance Shift].

“Do you have one with a sharp end? Like a fang?” Franky asked.

“A... sharp staff?” The merchant blinked in confusion.

“Ignore the boy. I’ll take it.”

[Apprentice Mage’s Staff (Uncommon)]: A sturdy wooden staff crafted from a tree with a strong connection to mana. Helps stabilize beginner spells, especially those cast from scrolls. Increases channeling speed by 5%.

Light, plain, and perfect for the disguise.

“Do you accept foreign currency?” Luke asked, holding up a small pouch that jingled between his fingers.

The old man smiled.

“For foreign currency? Ten percent extra.”

“Deal.”

They left the shop a short while later. Luke had purchased a robe and several other pieces of mage equipment, all plain enough not to attract attention but convincing enough to sell the act.

“There wasn’t anything cool for me,” Franky complained.

“I looked. You saw me.”

Apparently, no one made magical equipment for children. Franky would have to settle for being a mage with nothing but his wand.

“Outfitting you is going to be difficult. Even a basic bracelet slides right off your wrist.”

After walking through several streets in Nyvma, Luke counted the money he had left. He had deliberately exchanged small amounts of his foreign currency at several different shops. It all came from the enormous treasure hoard he’d found in Sunken Realms. He didn’t want to unload a suspicious fortune in one place and become the talk of the city before he even understood how it worked.

“This coin is from Rosemark, but this one is from Solvar.”

The Solvar silver coin bore the face of a lion. Fortunately, Nyvma sat near the borders of several kingdoms, so foreign currency was common enough not to immediately raise suspicion.

“I’m hungry,” Franky said.

“What happened to the proud little boy who was too embarrassed to ask me for food?”

“Um...”

Luke sighed and pulled a fruit from his storage item.

“I don’t want fruit. I’m a snake. I eat meat.”

“Then you’ll wait until I finish one last thing before we get lunch.”

They stopped in front of a building.

The Adventurers Guild. Never thought I’d actually walk into one of these.

“Wait here, Franky. I’ll be right back.”

Luke entered. The place felt more like a tavern than a guild hall. The common area was packed, with people eating, drinking, and talking loudly at every table. Several heads turned the moment he stepped through the door.

"Why are we here again...?" Artemis asked.

Every Monarch knows about the Teleportation Array, and all of them have a head start. Established kingdoms. Better resources. More information. There’s probably already a race to find it. I need information of my own, and access to the adventurer-exclusive market. Joining the guild is the simplest way to get both.

He walked toward the service counter.

“Come on! Five silver and two bronze? What I brought in was worth more than that!” an irritated man shouted.

“We’re sorry, sir, but that’s all the guild can offer for your materials right now. It’s still a fair payment. That’s the agreed rate.”

“You used to give bonuses for fast deliveries!”

“Mr. Richard, we apologize, but the—”

The man slammed his mug down and sent it skidding across the room.

“Fuck this. I bet the rich bastards in Rosehall are still fat and happy. But you know what? I’ll just bring in more next time. I’m not some beggar desperate for scraps.”

He stormed off and returned to the table where his companions were sitting.

What a charming atmosphere...

“Next,” the receptionist called.

Luke stepped forward.

“Nice to meet you. I’m here to register with the guild.”

“Register...?” The woman looked up at him. “Are you from the area?”

“I’m a foreigner. From another kingdom.”

“I see. Were you registered with the guild there?”

“No. This is actually my first time registering.”

The receptionist pointed toward a board.

“Then you’ll start at Copper Rank. Everyone starts at the bottom, even if they show up well-equipped. It’s for your own protection.”

The board displayed images of different ores beside the ranks: Copper, Bronze, Iron, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Mithril, Orichalcum, and Adamantite.

Why use this instead of Race Rank or level?

Luke decided not to ask.

“What was your name again?”

“James Baumann.”

She pulled out a form. “Can you read, James Baumann?”

“Why wouldn’t I be able to...?”

His voice trailed off as realization struck.

Oh, wait... Is illiteracy common here?

He corrected his tone.

“Yes, I can.”

“Good. That already puts you ahead of some people.”

She smiled and handed him a quill to sign the form.

This world is bizarre. If people can’t read, how the hell do they use the System interface?

The receptionist made him sign twice. She rejected the first signature, deliberately, Luke suspected. Maybe she really had been testing whether he could read. There were probably people who lied about it. Maybe that was why every rank had an ore beside it. Even someone who couldn’t read could recognize the symbols. That made more sense than Luke wanted it to.

“Hunt boars...?”

The first quest was simple: kill five boars and bring them back.

“They attack farms in the villages around the city,” the receptionist explained. “They’re a plague.”

Some things never change.

Luke tucked the quest sheet into the bag he had purchased. It was an easy way to avoid revealing his storage item and preserve the disguise.

Walking around with a staff feels weird. I feel like an old man.

Suddenly, the door burst open.

“Hey, human! Something smells good in here!” Franky shouted loudly enough for half the guild to hear.

Luke turned around slowly. “I told you to wait outside.”

“But it smells like meat in here. I like meat.”

“Forget it. Let’s just go.”

“Hey, hey, hey.”

Someone rose from one of the tables. It was Richard.

“What’s this? Bring Your Kid to Work Day?”

You have that holiday here too?

“Come on, Franky,” Luke said, gently pushing the boy toward the exit.

“I’m not a kid, rat!” Franky snapped.

“What did you call me, runt?”

“He calls everyone a rat,” Luke tried to explain.

Richard stepped forward.

“Tell your son to take it back and apologize.”

“And why would I do that...?” Luke tilted his head slightly. “You do have the face of a rat.”

Richard burst out laughing and pointed toward his companions.

“Look at this guy. He thinks he’s funny.”

A moment later, he threw a punch at Luke. To everyone else, the punch probably looked fast. To Luke’s Perception, it was almost laughable.

Slow.

Luke snapped the staff up and struck the side of Richard’s fist with the tip, knocking him off balance. Then he punched the man in the face with his free hand. Richard flew backward, crashed into a table, and went limp.

Two of his companions jumped up and rushed Luke. He dodged only for the sake of appearances. Even if the blows landed, they wouldn’t hurt. If anything, the men would probably break their wrists. With a sharp turn, Luke swept both men off their feet. One crashed into a chair. The other hit the floor hard enough to lose his breath. Before either could recover, Luke put them out with two quick strikes.

The guild went dead silent.

“Have a good afternoon, everyone.”

Luke walked to the door and picked Franky up with one hand as though carrying an especially troublesome package. A woman in a green cloak stood near one of the pillars, one hand resting on the hilt of her sword. Luke paused and looked at her.

She held his gaze.

He kept walking.

“Nice moves,” the woman said before turning away.

Maybe she had considered helping him. It didn’t matter. Outside, Luke set Franky down and shook out his hand.

Damn, that hurts. I’ve never put that much strain on my wrist before.

Holding back that much had been ridiculous. One careless hit could have taken Richard’s head off or popped his skull like overripe fruit.

"You did it, Luke. You started a fight on your first day as an adventurer. That’s pure isekai, man", Artemis cheered.

Luke ignored the mental cheering and looked down at Franky.

“Didn’t I tell you to stay outside?”

“That was amazing, human!” The boy was practically vibrating with excitement. “You showed the weaklings who’s in charge.”

Luke gave up on the lecture before it started.

“Is that how mages fight? Looks like I picked the best class,” Franky said.

“No. That is not how mages fight.”

“What about Gandalf?” Artemis asked.

“He’s also an exception.”

***

Maeve Thorne watched the strange man leave the guild. He shouldn’t have been able to see her.

“Another fight. We’ve had a lot of those this week,” Thea, the receptionist, said.

Several adventurers were trying to help Richard, who sat on the floor with blood pouring from his nose.

“Get off me!”

He got to his feet, furious, and wiped the blood away with the back of his hand.

“He’s going to pay for that.”

Then he stormed outside.

“Are you all right, Thea?” Maeve asked.

“I’m fine. And I’m sorry about the disturbance.”

Maeve and her party were in Nyvma on a direct contract with the guild.

“I’m an adventurer. If things like that bothered me, I should’ve retired years ago.”

“Having the Emerald Cloaks in the city makes us feel a little safer,” Thea said.

Maeve and her companions were Gold Rank. They had stayed in Nyvma since the orc attack on the nearby villages, keeping watch over the region. Things had been growing stranger by the week. With Rosemark in crisis, the crown had no soldiers to spare for distant cities, especially gray territories like Nyvma.

As soon as Maeve sat down, Gregor placed a full mug of beer in front of her.

“Amateurs. They’ll start a fight over anything,” he said with a laugh.

“I suppose.”

Maeve took a small sip.

“What’s wrong, Maeve?” Verena asked. “Weren’t you the one saying you were dying for a drink?”

“Not anymore.”

For a moment, Maeve looked back at the door the stranger had walked through.

I was in stealth mode. My presence should have been completely suppressed. To everyone else, I should have been practically invisible. And yet he’d looked straight at me.

No one had ever seen through my stealth before.

***

Luke glanced at Franky as they walked through the forest.

“All right, Franky. Let’s unlock your first Crypt Mage skill.”