Nathan – POV

  Our time in the city of Nara proved to be far more productive than I had anticipated. We managed to recruit new people into our ranks, equip them with the necessary gear and acquire several useful items that would aid us on our journey. On top of that, our wealth had grown considerably, giving me confidence that our odds of success were steadily improving. I could almost see the momentum building, like a snowball rolling downhill, gathering size and strength until it became unstoppable. My hope was that our growing power would continue to compound until we finally reached our destination across the western continent.

  Thanks to Anda, I now had a clearer sense of the world of Hovdenia. He had purchased a detailed map back in Nara, and as I studied it, the vastness of our journey became apparent. The reality was sobering. We had not even covered a quarter of the distance to Shaxaian. My father’s earlier estimates had been far too optimistic. It would not take us a year or less to reach our ancestral lands; instead, the journey would stretch into years, slowed by the lumbering pace of our wagons. Damn this medieval world! The absence of modern transportation gnawed at me, souring my otherwise good mood.

  To ease my frustration, I retreated inward. Sitting cross-legged in a lotus position, I began to meditate despite the constant rocking of the wagon. It took several minutes to quiet my mind and reach a state of calm, but eventually I slipped into a zen-like focus. As usual, I drew mana from the environment around me, channeling it into my core. Yet something felt different this time. My fel shadow core had shifted in appearance; it now glowed with a darker purple hue, thicker and denser than before. What could this signify? Greater potency? Improved efficiency? The possibilities intrigued me, but I lacked the means to test them. Technically, I had not yet reached the age of ten, and without a formal class, my abilities remained unrefined.

  I considered experimenting immediately, but caution held me back. Our people were still relatively new, and I did not trust them fully. Revealing too much of my power could be dangerous. Perhaps it would be wiser to consult my parents about this development.

  We had departed from Nara after lunch, and by late afternoon the sun was already sinking toward the horizon. Anda scouted ahead and found a suitable campsite, signaling the caravan to halt and encamp. Dinner preparations began almost immediately. My mother made the generous decision to ensure that all of our people, including Lyle’s family and the families of his former employees, would be fed by us. Naturally, the women and children joined our servants in preparing the meal, their cooperation smoothing the process.

  I was genuinely impressed by the efficiency of our group. Within an hour, our pavilion and several tents had been erected, and dinner was ready. When the time came to eat, everyone gathered around a large campfire. Women and maids served food to the assembled families, and the atmosphere felt warm and communal. For the first time, our camp resembled a true community, and the sight brought a smile to my face.

  My siblings blended seamlessly into this new environment. Jack, Serena, and Christine quickly befriended the other children, laughing and playing together. Shive, however, remained aloof. She dismissed the other children as beneath her, which was hardly surprising for a succubus. Still, I was relieved that she was not openly hostile.

  Meanwhile, my minions moved freely about the camp. Leshner and Krizek patrolled the perimeter as scouts, while Xander stayed close to our family, ever vigilant. Everything seemed to be proceeding smoothly until I received a telepathic message from Leshner.

  “Master, I see three humans observing the campsite,” he reported.

  “Bandits?” I asked.

  “Most likely, judging by their attire,” came his reply.

  I gave my command without hesitation. “Capture them, but do not kill them yet.”

  Leaning close, I whispered the situation to my father. He listened carefully before responding. “If they are bandits, your minions can eliminate them. But first, have them locate the lair. That will be more valuable.”

  “Understood, Father,” I said.

  I relayed new orders to my minions: extract whatever information they could from the captives, with priority placed on discovering the bandits’ hideout. Once found, they were to relieve the criminals of any ill-gotten wealth.

  Dinner concluded peacefully, but just as I was settling into the evening, a familiar sound rang in my ears; the clear, unmistakable ding of leveling up. My heart leapt with excitement. At last! Without delay, I summoned my status page, eager to see the fruits of my progress.

  Status:

  Name: Nathan Mayweather- Abensberg

  Noble House: Mayweather – Abensberg (member)

  Class: Shadow Mage, Warlock Demonologist, Affliction, Destruction

  Title: Otherworldly Knowledge

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  Name: Nathan

  Class: Shadow Mage, Warlock Demonologist, Affliction, Destruction

  Title: Otherworldly Knowledge

  Level: 51

  HP: 520

  MP: 6600

  Strength: 51 + 1 = 52

  Stamina: 51 + 1 = 52

  Agility: 51 + 1 = 52

  Dexterity: 51 + 1 = 52

  Intelligence: 655 + 5 = 660

  Constitution: 51 + 1 = 52

  Affinity: Shadow SSS+, Fel Energy SSS+

  Active Skills: Shadow Bolt 7, Immolate 6, Summon Imp, Shadow Tendrils 10, Corruption 5, Curse of Weakness 5, Life Tap 5, Curse of Agony 5, Fear 2, Summon Voidwalker, Drain Soul 3, Create Healthstone , Health Funnel 6, Drain Life 5, Curse of Recklessness 3, Unending Breath, Searing Pain 5, Create Soulstone (Greater) , Ritual of Summoning, Summon Succubus, Summon Incubus, Rain of Fire 3, Demon Armored Skin 4, Eye of Kilrogg, Shadowmeld 1, Drain Mana 3, Sense Demons, Banish 2, Summon Fellhunter, Subjugate Demon 2, Hellfire 2, Curse of the Elements 2, Shadow Ward 3, Detect Invisibility , Summon Felsteed, Howl of Terror 1, Death Coil 2, Curse of Shadow 1, Soul Fire 1, Detect Greater Invisibility, Summon Infernal

  Passive Skills: Mana Sense 4

  One-handed Sword Mastery 1

  Two-handed Sword Mastery 15

  Spear Mastery 2

  Dagger 2

  Mounted Combat 1

  I noticed that my stats had increased, but no new spells appeared on my status page. At first, I was perplexed, even a little disappointed, but then I remembered that certain spells were only unlocked at even-numbered levels, especially as one approached the higher thresholds near level 60. Progress had been slow lately, and though I had no clear indication of how much experience was required to level up, since my status page lacked an experience bar, I knew instinctively that the amount must be staggering. Hundreds of thousands of points, perhaps even millions, would be needed to push me forward.

  I had already accepted that leveling would slow down as I advanced, but even so, I was proud of my achievements. After all, I was only seven years old and already at level 51. That was no small feat. Many adults would envy such progress, and I reminded myself that patience was part of the journey.

  There was little I could do to hasten the process. I could not simply order my minions to hunt endlessly or delve into dungeons on my behalf. Doing so would leave me and my family vulnerable, and that was a risk I could not afford. My advantages, however, were undeniable. They would serve me well in the future. I was growing quickly, nearing puberty, and when I judged my body ready for rigorous training, I would dedicate myself to raising my physical stats to match my magical ones.

  For now, I resolved to continue my two-handed sword training. Yet I knew I should not limit myself. Spears, one-handed swords, and daggers all had their place, and versatility was the mark of a true warrior. Beyond weapons, I intended to practice hand-to-hand combat, martial arts, and horsemanship. Ah yes, horse-riding, an essential skill for any noble. I had not yet summoned my Felsteed, but the thought of riding into battle atop such a steed filled me with anticipation.

  Later that evening, Krizek reported that he and the others had discovered the bandits’ lair. Not only had they neutralized the threat, but they had also seized a considerable amount of wealth. The news delighted me. We were now, by all appearances, filthy rich. Yet I had no true measure of our fortune. Were we as wealthy as dukes? As kings? I would need to ask my father to gauge the scale of our riches. Regardless, I knew this campaign would bleed gold until we secured a territory of our own. Only then could we build something lasting. For now, the best course was to continue ordering my minions to raid criminals and bandits, stripping them of their ill-gotten gains.

  That night, I lay in bed with my head full of plans... visions of training regimens, strategies for wealth, and dreams of the legacy I would build. Sleep came slowly, but when it did, it was filled with determination.

  The next morning, I approached my parents with a question that had been weighing on me. Should I trust our people enough to reveal what Serena, Christine, and I were truly capable of?

  “Honestly, I do not know,” my mother, Dianne, replied after a pause. “Although the sacred oath they swore is more than enough to ensure loyalty and silence, there is another issue that may pose a problem.”

  “Problem?” I asked, confused.

  “Their children,” she said simply. “Are you ready to share your mana sense techniques with others?”

  Her words struck me. I had never considered that angle. My focus had always been on ensuring our family’s safety, not on teaching outsiders. Should I share my techniques with others, and by extension their children? What if they leaked the information? What if someone discovered that these children had developed classes without undergoing the advancement ceremony, such as Serena, Christine, and I had?

  Before I could spiral further into doubt, my mother offered a solution. “I know what you are thinking, and I may have an answer. We can ask those families to sign a magical contract.”

  “A magical contract? What for? I thought the sacred oath was enough,” I said.

  “The oath is indeed binding,” my father, Jakob, explained, “and everyone, including their children, swore fealty to us. However, a magical contract adds another safeguard. It can stipulate that they are forbidden to pass on your techniques, whether by choice or coercion, without our permission.”

  “Oh… so even if someone forces them to reveal our secrets, the contract will prevent it?” I asked.

  “Correct,” Jakob confirmed. “For example, say you teach Lyle’s children your technique for acquiring mana sense and core creation before the advancement ceremony. They must sign a magical contract that forbids them from divulging it. Combined with their oath of fealty, no one can force the knowledge out of them.”

  “What happens if they try to break the contract or the oath?” I pressed.

  “They simply cannot,” Dianne said firmly. “The world’s system itself will prevent it. It will not kill them, if that is your concern, but it will make betrayal impossible. They will not even be able to form the thought or speak the words.”

  My father leaned forward, his eyes gleaming. “And beyond security, this is a great opportunity. We can begin training future knights and mages for our house.”

  The idea resonated with me. Since these families were already bound to our house, why not use them to strengthen it? The icing on the cake was that Serena, Christine, Shive, and I would be able to practice magic openly among our retainers, free from fear or prejudice.

  I felt a surge of excitement. “Let’s do it!” I declared.