Chapter 167: Spirit Legion

‘Finally, results are showing.’

Over the past few months, I began normalizing the lands that had become House Ofern’s from House Owen’s territory. After rewarding merits, I distributed some land, but most was incorporated into House Ofern. When deciding the name of the land, Father asked me.

“What name would be good?”

“A name, huh. Hmm…”

Father’s face, checking my expression, was filled with apology.

‘Ah, just say it.’

He was a father who didn’t favor the youngest nor give more benefits to the eldest. The same went for daughters. Father had a deep attachment to family. It was a familial love unfitting for the head of a noble family. But thanks to Father having such love, I thought I had a pretty good family.

“Let’s name this direct territory Eldin.”

“It’s your older brother’s name.”

Only after hearing my words did Father smile slightly in satisfaction.

‘He probably didn’t say it first because he felt sorry for me.’

I already had a castle named after me.

‘This isn’t that big.’

There were two fortresses under Rayrn Castle, and if expansion continued like this, I planned to have several satellite fortresses. If everything went according to plan. There were many things as remarkable as that. Castles of considerable scale would also be built. It just needed more time. In contrast, there were none named after my older brother or older sister. But he felt sorry to name them after them right away. Because I was the one who had clearly earned merits in this war. Interesting paternal affection. I could accommodate that much. Besides, what I dreamed of…

‘At most, a few castles are the problem.’

Since I had other priorities, I had no regrets. The complacent thought I had when I first regained my memories—of maybe working under Older Brother after some time—had disappeared long ago. There were too many enemies around to live complacently. So I steeled my resolve. I steered toward a bigger direction. The results so far were just a part of the accomplishments toward that big direction. Additionally.

‘There’s no need to obtain things through conflict.’

It was also a way not to harm the family I had been lucky to gain. Gaining power through fratricide and cutting down siblings was not my way. So I said with a smile.

“Yes. It’s not bad, is it? The name Eldin itself is quite good.”

“Then what about your older sister?”

“That’s for later.”

“Later… Hmm, well, it’s fine. Haha, thank you.”

Father left with a satisfied smile. That was already several months ago.

—

Thus, the direct territory named Eldin had developed considerably.

“I’m dying now!”

Birence, who had collapsed claiming he was dying, played a big role. Once entrusted, he went all out as if building a planned city. Not only commercial and agricultural districts—he divided the zones in ways necessary for each. At the same time, he gathered laborers to build a defensive castle in the center and built houses for residents simultaneously at an astonishing speed. Thanks to that.

“……I’m dying too.”

Even Reton, who had only been trembling, was mobilized. Working together, he pretended to die.

“You’re both not dead yet, are you? Want me to really kill you?”

“Damn lord.”

All.

“Kuh… Sp, spare me…”

They didn’t reach a truly life-threatening situation. They looked haggard from the hard work, but that was about it.

‘I did work them hard.’

If there’s a whip, there must be a carrot.

“Build it bigger.”

“Argh. I’m really dying!”

“Oh right. I was thinking of naming that district the Birence District. How about it?”

“Huh?”

“Birence. Named after you. And the one next to it, I’m thinking of naming it after your younger brother. How about it?”

“Damn. Just do it then. Just do it.”

At the appropriate carrot, Birence, who had been lying down, weakly got up.

‘As expected, carrots are good.’

Look at that. Isn’t that a gaze burning with will again? Birence asked slyly, with a hint of shyness.

“But is my younger brother doing well?”

“Of course!”

He must be curious about his brother. Birence hadn’t seen his ailing younger brother for quite a while. Even though I had treated him, he hadn’t seen him afterward. Was it that he still found it hard to show his pathetic side?

‘Even if it’s a bit cringey, it’s sincere.’

He seemed to plan to see him when he was satisfied with himself. In my view, it was a foolish act. If there’s a chance to see family, you should see them whenever possible, to avoid regret later. But it was Birence’s choice, so I could only respect it.

“I heard he’s learning swordsmanship under my older sister.”

“……Really?”

“Would I lie?”

“I’ll build it magnificently. Reton. Let’s go!”

“Eeek!?”

This. Birence, now filled with motivation, started moving, dragging Reton along. Reton, who had been dragged away involuntarily,

“W-Wait, what about me!”

He shouted loudly and shot me sparkling eyes, but

‘A man’s gaze. I simply ignored it lightly.’

Not long after, starting with the Birence District, the castle’s size began to swell even more.

“Kuh. I’ve brought them.”

It was around that time that the chief administrative officers brought additional refugees and slaves. During that time, I normalized the lands while simultaneously researching Servants. And the result…

Grrrrng- Grrng-

It was moving before my eyes. Its size was small. At most about two meters. Much larger than an average person, but insufficient to be called a weapon. It had no function to overwhelm opponents with size. It just looked like a knight wearing well-crafted armor. In fact, it was equipped with armor.

“I didn’t know we could use Mana Armor like this. It’s a precious item, after all.”

“Money is overflowing, so we have to make use of it.”

It was the same Mana Armor I had given to Father. The armor, made by grinding mana stones and inserting them, emitted mana on its own.

Woooong- Woong-

Even now, it was emitting and absorbing mana, supplying it to the newly created Servant.

‘Now, it would be correct to call it a Dominant rather than a Servant.’

The newly created Dominant was different from existing Servants. Unlike Golems, it was a Servant without a core. Servants moved using the Pulsating Mana of the Duke’s Household of Jiseoteu.

‘It was sharing the link. I connected it using a sacrifice.’

As long as there is Pulsating Mana, it’s a weapon that can exert great power. But conversely,

‘It has limitations in movement.’

It was a valuable item that could only be used within the territory of the Duke’s Household of Jiseoteu. I wanted to eliminate this Servant’s limitations. Additionally, I wanted to utilize its advantage of moving with just a proper link, even without a heart. I poured in everything I had.

1000

I embedded a formation that gathers mana on its own and clad it in armor. The link to replace the heart was connected to only one place.

‘Only to me.’

Instead of the Pulsating Mana, I established myself as the center.

Grrrr-

The foundation of a Dominant that follows only my words—no, that can only exist because I exist—was created. But.

“At first, it could only move, though.”

“There were limits.”

The hastily made methods had limits. It could only move, and even I didn’t have the power to coordinate and send all that force. If my level were higher, it would be an easier problem.

‘Raising my level immediately isn’t easy.’

Practically, solving it by raising my level was out of the question. Because there were too many moving parts around to be absorbed in training right away. I agonized over it. That was a month ago. That was it.

‘There wasn’t a distant method.’

I found the method.

‘I didn’t know Homunculi would be used like this.’

The artificial life forms that moved by implanting spirits into them. I had separately collected the corpses of the Homunculi, which were like Golems yet each had unique characteristics. Their core was spirits. Using spirits as the base and granting them bodies, they were infused with near-eternal life and power. They were weapons powerful enough that even I had difficulty dealing with them. I used that concept.

– “This is interesting, isn’t it?”

The first one I created was the Fire Spirit who first contracted with me. The spirit, now powerful enough to be believed as top-grade, willingly inhabited the Dominant’s body.

Kwaaang!

– “This is fun!”

For only one reason: for experience and fun! He moved using his newly granted body as a toy, not through materialization.

‘Powerful.’

It unleashed power comparable to the previous artificial life forms.

Gooo-

It generated more power the more mana I sent.

Hwaaaak-

One could say I created a Golem that uses fire. But even so.

‘One.’

What I wanted wasn’t just one powerful entity. What I lacked was time. Without time, raising a powerful army was immediately impossible. In that situation, I had to obtain something to replace an army. Thus, I needed many, not one.

‘Even if one is weak, the power of numbers cannot be ignored.’

So I immediately employed numbers. If one won’t work, then multiple will. Time passed, and just yesterday.

Swoosh-swoosh-

“Will this work? The mages will hate it.”

“I think it will.”

With the help of the Enchant Magic Tower mages, I drew dozens of spirit summoning magic circles.

Woooooom-

Massive mana pulsated.

Swoooosh-

They began summoning spirits of each attribute.

…….

– “Did you call?”

Most of the spirits appeared at a low-grade level.

‘Because I adjusted the mana of the magic circles.’

But from some magic circles, mid-grade or higher spirits appeared. They were Water, Earth, and Wind respectively. The four major elements except Fire had appeared. They looked at me with expectant eyes, as if they had made a pact.

– “Ah, damn. It was an exclusive contract.”

– “Did news spread in the Spirit World?”

– “I gained considerable power, so how could rumors not spread?”

The culprit was not elsewhere. It was the first contracted Fire Spirit who was the culprit.

– “Still, I tried to hide it… Couldn’t be helped.”

– “Oh dear.”

I intended to use them, not to want entities that could use me. But.

– “I came to gain power.”

– “Same here.”

– “I heard it’s fun?”

Perhaps because they had something to gain, they were quite friendly.

‘Interesting. There’s nothing bad about it.’

After a moment’s hesitation, I

“……Proceed with the contract.”

I completed contracts with dozens of low-grade spirits and three mid-grade spirits.

Gooooooo-

The massive mana wave caused by that created a mana storm around the territory! And today.

Suaaaaak!

The contracts, completed in an instant, inhabited the Dominants I had created.

Clank clank.

Though smaller than the first one, an entity stronger than the existing ones was created. One spirit coordinated multiple entities.

Wooooom-

Thanks to the spirits inhabiting them, the Dominants, now with a bit of will, looked only at me. The massive Golem unit moving around me…

“An army that follows one person. Young Master, you’ve become practically a one-man legion.”

I possessed a great power worthy of being called a legion. And that great power…

“Will soon be wielded.”

Already knew the direction they had to go. Look.

“Young Master, you finally moved.”

“……I have come because I have something to tell you.”

As I expected, there are those who have come to me.

One spoke of the expected timing, and the other was an entirely unexpected move.