King of Ostia

“Bang!”

The room’s door was shoved open, and a red-haired girl burst in excitedly, calling the youth currently seated at his desk, reviewing documents.

“Lord Odyssey! Captain Walter and the others have returned! They’ll get to the city gates by evening, at sunset.”

　　The youth seated at the desk was Eunhee Odyssey.

He filled in for the legend of the Ostia Continent. At just twenty-eight years old, he had already conquered nearly one-third of the northern lands. Though nominally still a Pioneer Knight, everyone understood he was bound to become king. (Don't ask why he's called a youth—the average lifespan in this world is around two hundred years, so the protagonist is equivalent to a thirteen- or fourteen-year-old.)

　　Listening to the red-haired girl's words, the youth lifted his head, his voice tinged with excitement. “Oh? Judging from your look, you must have won again, right?”

“Mm. Captain Walter even said he got you a special gift! How about meeting me for training this afternoon?”

　　The red-haired girl ran to the boy's side, wrapping her arms around his and shaking him playfully, clearly harboring a fondness for him.

“Getting another beating, cute little Maya?”

Odyssey gazed at the redhead before him with a hint of indulgence. Maya, a former battle-hardened mercenary, used to be a girl.

　　She had once been a mercenary who wandered from place to place, not bound to any specific organization or lord. Having survived the harsh life of a mercenary, she knew how to live together without relying on anyone.

Until she met Odyssey. Shocked by his strength, she voluntarily joined his ranks.

“I was thinking about a new move! Maybe, just maybe, I could feel your clothes!”

　　Maya's cheeks flushed at Odyssey's words. Suddenly wrinkling her little nose, she glanced at the desk before the youth and said in a slightly sour tone, “Lord Odyssey, even with your dragon bloodline, there are sure things that require restraint!”

　　“Hahaha, do not be mad at me! You know my power! Without you all putting out my fires, I'd find it difficult to handle official business so calmly.” Odyssey chuckled, then looked to Maya. “Go open the banquet preparations. This time, I'll personally get out of the city to welcome Brother Walter!”

“Um, um, actually... I could help Lord Odyssey turn off fires, too!”

　　The red-haired girl, Maya, blurted out before bolting away.

Half an hour later, the youth finished his duties and stepped out of the room, attended by a brown-skinned elf girl with short black hair and a faint blush on her cheeks.

“Luka, you've been working hard. If it's too much, you can switch with Sylvie tomorrow.”

　　Noticing the girl's fatigue, Odyssey inquired.

“N-no, it's fine! It's my honor to put out fires for Lord Odyssey! I-I can endure it!!”

The brown-skinned elf girl was called Luca. Odyssey had purchased her as a slave in her childhood and taught her the skills to overcome. Over the past decade, this half-human, half-dark elf girl had not only mastered combat skills but also honed other abilities to perfection.

“Where's Sylvie? Go find her letter and tell her I've arranged it with Miss Astrid Flamel. She's a tiny one, magic apprentice—ask if she'd be willing to take you.”

　　“Be sure, my lady! I'll go immediately!”

Luka's voice was a little hoarse as she spoke—whether it was due to a throat injury or a cold was unclear. With that, the dark elf girl vanished from her spot. As a shadow assassin, she possessed the innate ability of Shadow Shift.

“I wonder what gift Brother Walter brought me back...”

　　Odyssey was really curious about this gift from her brother. After all, if he called it a “unique gift,” it was bound to be something extraordinary. With three hours left until sunset, Odyssey had other matters to care for besides arranging the banquet.

　　Stepping to the window, Odyssey stared down at the city still expanding relentlessly below. To others, this was Odyssey surveying the empire he had conquered. To Odyssey, however, it presented an entirely different view.

Before him, a virtual screen flickered with lines of text.

It bore a resemblance to Age of Empires, yet also echoed Mount & Blade.

　　“Name: Eunhee Odyssey!”

“Current Template: Silver-Gray—Eunhee Odyssey·Sivash.”

“Age: Twenty-eight.”

“Profession: Dragonblood Warrior Lv. 22 / Dragon Vein Mage Lv. 14 / Lord Lv. 16 (You are a living legend).”

“War Points: 102,396.”

“Territory: Sivayesh Domain.”

“Area: 960,000 square kilometers.”

“Current Cities: Liyue, Mondstadt, Inazuma, and Fengdanting.”

“Current Towns: 24.”

“Current Location: Liyue.”

“Territory Population: 1,732,857.”

“Territory Security: 76.”

Territory Fortifications: 85.

Achievements: Liberator of Slaves, Conqueror of the North, Knight King.

Liberator of Slaves: You have freed the human slaves within your territory. Your reputation for benevolence spreads far and wide across these lands. Commoners and slaves regard you as a savior, while nobles deem you a fool! Your domain's appeal to commoners and slaves has increased, as has its attraction to Lawful Good heroes."

“Conqueror of the North: Your armies have trampled the arctic lands. This snow-covered region now lies conquered beneath your rule! Troops based in the domain of Sivayesh gain +10 Morale and +10 Prestige.”

　　Knight King: You have achieved supreme dominance among the Pioneer Knights. Your fame remains permanently the highest among them. You are the idol of all Pioneer Knights, having achieved the pinnacle of their ranks! Your domain gains increased appeal to the Knight class and to neutral-aligned heroes.

　　“Titles: Beloved of the Gods, Alfalfa Constitution, Celestial Dust, Warlord of Chaos.”

“Wei Wu's Charm: You more easily attract heroes with the ‘Married Woman’ trait to see your cause.”

“Warlord of Chaos: You more easily persuade heroes who admire your ambition to see your cause.”

　　“Favor of the Goddess: Your appeal to female deities increases. You have the opportunity to recruit female divine followers from taverns.”

“Celestial Scrap: Some of your unreasonable actions will be automatically interpreted.”

“Alfalfa Constitution: Your appeal to cat girls increases. Your tavern can recruit heroes with cat girl traits.”

　　Recent Events: Migrant Wave, Caravan Return, Kanduras Raid.

Migrant Wave: Due to your exceptional governance, impoverished citizens and slaves from southern human kingdoms are migrating toward your domain to stay. You gain 5 Legend Points.

　　“Caravan Return: Your caravan has come back from the Orcish Kingdom. Through this trade mission, your reputation in the Orcish Kingdom has grown to respected. Your caravans will now be protected from the Orcish Kingdom, and an Orcish envoy will visit your domain within the next month. You gain 40 International Reputation Points.”

"Candalus Raid: Congratulations! Your subordinate, Wolf the Cavalry Captain, started a raid on Candalus. This was a glorious victory! Your forces crushed the enemy, giving you honor and riches! You gain 43,960 additional War Points."

Odyssey glanced at the simulated screen before him and nodded slightly. It seemed Wolf had indeed won the battle.

Chapter 2: No Way! I refused to lose to that busty fox spirit!

　　Sivaism Commercial District.

　　Odyssey's dragon carriage halted before the villa of the Commercial City Federation's Tiu'erl. This time, he had now come to seek out Meru, the young halfling girl serving as the Federation's proxy commander here.

　　This young woman was part of Odyssey's partners, responsible for selling the northern specialties plundered by Odyssey's armies to the southern nations.

With Walter returning victorious this time, he'd likely remember a great deal of spoils. He needed to in order to discuss this with Miss Melu beforehand—after all, he still had to reward his troops. If they could come to an agreement, he was confident he could get Meru to contribute funds for soldier pensions and rewards.

Upon spotting Odyssey's dragon carriage, a chamberlain from the guild hurried over. He respectfully opened the door, then bowed deeply to Odyssey and inquired,

“Lord Odysse