Chapter 52: The Lord’s Awakening

After returning to the house, I brought up the Status Window for the first time in a while.

“It must have changed a lot.”

I’d been too caught up in the chaos of the monster appearing to check before, but now I was finally confirming what I’d missed.

“Status Window.”

• Name: Kim Solo
• Race: Human
• Achievements: 8
• Level: 521
• Stats: Strength 50(+8), Stamina 100(+8), Intelligence 50(+8), Mana 200(+8)
• Remaining Stat Points: 10
• Noble Title: Baron (Ajof Territory)
• Five Circle Mage
• Successor of Darkrai’s Swordsmanship.

“Whoa.”

I couldn’t help but be surprised. No, it felt a little unfamiliar.

“The Status Window has changed? A bit?”

I understood that I’d gained a Noble Title, and it made sense the territory name was listed now. It was also only natural that I was a Five Circle Mage, so I accepted that. But that last line—‘Successor of Darkrai’s Swordsmanship’—I found a little odd.

“Isn’t this too much of a change?”

As far as I remembered, my Strength had been in the low 40s, Stamina in the mid-70s, Intelligence about 40, and Mana had been just above 100.

But the stats I was looking at now were completely different from what I remembered.

All my stats in the Status Window had increased, and my Mana had jumped by 100.

“Is this the effect of the body reconstruction through the Aura Training Method?”

I had heard from the Notification Window that my stats would be adjusted, but I never thought they’d change this drastically.

No wonder the Orcs went down so easily.

The Status Window had changed so much, it was almost as if my abilities were something else entirely.

“But the bigger problem is the Skill Window.”

Already, the Skill Window had become so long it was hard to view at a glance.

“Dear Divine One, can’t you simplify the Skill Window? It’s just too inconvenient.”

That’s how I grumbled.

Then, a Notification Window popped up.

At the user’s request, the Skill Window will be changed.

The Skill Window is being simplified.

I jumped in surprise.

I really hadn’t expected a reaction like this. I’d only been venting my frustrations, but it actually happened.

I hurriedly brought up the Skill Window.

“Skill Window”

• Skill Window

1. Unique Traits
2. Weapon Arts
3. Magic
4. Resistance
5. Life
6. Crafting
7. Miscellaneous

No, this was too clean—a Skill Window so neat it almost sparkled.

All those skills had been sorted in an instant.

I started checking right away.

First, I activated the Unique Traits section.

Unique Traits

Language Mastery (MAX), Mental Strength (MAx), Transcendent Stamina Regeneration (Lv. 10), Transcendent Mana Recovery (Lv. 10), Genius Talent (Lv. 20)

“Oh, so that’s it?”

Next, I activated the Magic section.

A

1st Circle (14)

2nd Circle (4)

3rd Circle (13)

4th Circle (7)

5th Circle (6)

P: Mana (Lv. 33), Mana Control (Lv. 40), Multi-Casting (Lv. 30), Magic Circle (Lv. 1)

All the magic skills were now organized by Circle. The number next to each showed how many skills I’d learned in that Circle.

Sure enough, when I opened the 1st Circle, the skills I’d learned appeared in order.

1st Circle (14)

Search (Lv. 42), Magic Missile (Lv. 51), Fire Bolt (Lv. 53), Light (Lv. 30), Dig (Lv. 27), Fog (Lv. 10), Trap (Lv. 20), Alarm (Lv. 20), Grease (Lv. 34), Sleep (Lv. 10), Aqua (Lv. 90), Wind (Lv. 90), Fire (Lv. 90), Brand of Slavery (Lv. 1)

Compared to when everything was just listed out messily, the Skill Window was much easier to handle now.

With the skills sorted by Circle, it was easier to look through, and I didn’t have to check each skill one by one if I needed something. It was much better.

“But why all of a sudden?”

Making the Skill Window more convenient was important, but what puzzled me was that the gods had responded to my words.

I tried asking again, but this time there was no new Notification Window, nor did anything special happen.

“…Of course.”

I decided not to dwell on it. I figured there must have been some special condition this time that triggered the response.

I guessed, as a strong possibility, that it had something to do with Irene, but digging deeper didn’t seem like it would change anything.

Rather, the fastest way was probably to resolve Irene’s quest.

“First, I have to develop the territory.”

That’s right.

Right now, my task is to build up the territory.

And today, I realized something for sure.

The very first thing I need to develop is none other than the soldiers.

Today’s Orc attack—without the mercenaries, the damage could have been severe.

Over 50 Orcs had attacked, after all.

If there’s anything unique about this territory, it’s that the Orcs here form settlements in the mountains and spend winter hunting other monsters.

But, apparently, it’s extremely rare for the Orcs to come down from the mountains; it’s happened only a handful of times. For Orcs to come down like this, something must have happened up in the mountains. I’d have to investigate that as well.

“Ah, if my brother was coming, this would all be so much easier.”

But since I had no idea when he would actually arrive, I could only feel frustrated.

“First, the training of the Slaves.”

I’d hoped to wait and see if their skills would improve naturally, but now I had to force their growth.

I’d have to start immediately, from today.

***

In the afternoon, I gathered all the Slaves in one place.

Surprisingly, the Slaves looked at me with eyes full of respect—almost to the point it felt burdensome.

I tried to clear the air with a cough, but it was no use. If anything, their expectant gazes only grew brighter.

I glanced at Jenny, and she quietly approached me and spoke.

“It’s because everyone heard about the battle earlier today.”

“Earlier—”

To my question, Irene spoke up beside me.

“They’re looking at the great Magic Swordsman Lord who defeated fifty Orcs all alone.”

Her cheeks were a little flushed, and her eyes sparkled with the same admiration as the others.

Snap!

I flicked her forehead with my finger and said,

“Hey, don’t just stand there gawking—go practice your swordsmanship. Don’t you realize I just bested you?”

Pout.

Irene puffed out her cheeks and stormed off. Really, such a cheeky Slave.

‘Well, a pretty girl acting like that is kind of cute. I can always fix her attitude tonight.’

Enjoying that idle fantasy for a moment, I turned my gaze back to the Slaves.

Twinkle, twinkle.

Their eyes practically shone with light.

The pressure was overwhelming.

It was almost creepy.

That’s honestly how I felt.

I was getting seriously embarrassed just standing there.

‘It’s like I’m being sucked into another dimension…’

For a moment, I let my mind wander, but then I looked at them with a serious expression.

And then, I used my Skill.

“Education”

-The Education Skill has been activated.

-You can select targets for education.

-Please choose the field to teach.

1. Magic Understanding.
2. Swordsmanship Understanding.
3. Cooking Understanding.

The list was similar to Jenny’s—at least for the first three. Jenny had a fourth field, but these Slaves did not.

First, I selected the targets for education.

“Slave 1 to Slave 80.”

From the first to the last, I selected all of them as targets.

There are many targets for education.

Knowledge transmission efficiency will decrease.

The amount that can be learned by each target will be significantly reduced.

There is a chance that all knowledge may be perfectly acquired.

“Thank goodness it’s not impossible.”

Honestly, this was my first time teaching so many at once. I’d worried it might not work, but it executed fine.

It was just a pity that the effectiveness was lower than if I taught them one by one.

‘But if there’s a chance they can fully understand everything, it should be fine.’

I didn’t know what the chances were, but I hoped for the best.

I glanced over at the Slaves.

“Alright. You should have learned the basics of posture and basic movements from Jenny.”

Nod.

The Slaves responded with composure.

Their eyes had definitely changed. When I first brought them here, their eyes were as dull as dead fish; now they sparkled.

I addressed them, gesturing animatedly with my hands as I spoke.

-Swordsmanship Understanding.

• Swordsmanship Basics.

I selected the areas for them to study.

“You might find the basic movements boring. But nothing is more important than the basics. Only with a solid foundation can you build true growth. Considering your ages, you’re starting later than most, and that’s only natural.”

My eyes, which had just left the Notification Window, met those of the Slaves, one by one.

“But I’m different. If you give me your loyalty and trust, you’ll become stronger, faster than anyone else. So believe in me and follow!”

That’s how I declared it.

The Slaves responded.

“Yes, Sir!”

It was just a single syllable, but more than enough.

And to prove it, a Notification Window appeared.

-You have gained the loyalty of the Slaves.

-Current loyalty is 100.

-The Slaves’ Status Window is now active.

The rate of skill acquisition increases when teaching Slaves.

Seeing the Notification Window, I activated the Education Skill.

And then, from my hand, a white light poured out.

Whoa—

The Slaves all gasped in awe.

As the light seeped into their heads, knowledge of swordsmanship was forcibly implanted.

The question was how much of that knowledge they’d actually absorb.

I didn’t expect them to understand everything at once.

Still, how much they’d understand was the important part. Waiting for the Slaves to acquire the skill was almost unbearably nerve-wracking.

Tap, tap, tap.

My fingers, crossed over my arms, tapped my arm impatiently.

Without realizing, I thought, ‘Such a bad habit,’ and stopped myself, focusing again on the Slaves.

About thirty minutes later, a Notification Window appeared before my eyes, and I knew it was over.

-Education is complete.

-The targets have mastered everything perfectly.

-Achievement ‘Sage’s Grace’ acquired.

-All stats increase by 1.

“What? That’s possible?”

Against all odds, I’d managed a miraculous, full success in one go.

And even gained an achievement on top of it—truly, this was a massive windfall.

One by one, the Slaves opened their eyes, and their expressions turned completely serious, unlike before.

I had them demonstrate the basics, and I could see that they performed the movements flawlessly, almost as if they’d been training for two or three years.

Watching them, I realized something.

“Light monster subjugation should be no problem now.”

It was time to put real swords, not wooden ones, in their hands.

“Good, remember what you learned today! That’s it for today’s training.”

Turning my back, I headed toward the house, deep in thought.

‘It’s about time to pick a few and give them some intensive training.’

There were a few among them who showed real talent for swordsmanship.

I’d confirmed it when I bought them, so I remembered roughly who they were. Even if I forgot, I could check again with a Skill.

“I’ll teach two first and then decide about the rest.”

At that time, I had no idea.

I didn’t know just how great the two I’d teach would become.