33 - Proxy Gremori

Creak.

Arthur could see the massive castle gate at the end of the red carpet swinging open.

Seated in his chair, he immediately recognized the newcomer as his Lord's Proxy.

The proxy handled various duties in his stead when he was absent.

But that wasn't all.

In the early stages, they offered advice to novice lords fresh from apprenticeship to keep them from straying off course. And once wars began, they provided substantial aid.

A proxy's abilities were more important than one might think.

After ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠all, they were the one representing the territory in the lord's absence.

Seeing who had appeared, Arthur's expression showed a hint of surprise.

A demon...?

Her white hair was cropped as short as a man's, her skin dark, yet her beauty was striking, her figure boasting soft, alluring curves.

Thoughts raced through Arthur's mind at the realization that his proxy was a demon.

Who were the lords that ever had a demon as their proxy?

He racked his brain.

No one. Not a single one.

A proxy unique to Valkas Territory?

Proxies usually offered absolute obedience to their lords.

This demon would be no different.

Fanatical Obedience, huh.

Arthur nodded.

A beauty—and a demon, no less.

Demons were naturally gifted in combat.

And she'd served demon lords before?

Arthur opened Gremori's status window.

A bit higher than Fenrus.

Definitely strong.

Especially considering she was a proxy.

But more importantly, her potential.

104... As expected of a demon.

It was higher than it had any right to be.

She approached Arthur slowly, clasping her hands over her abdomen.

Arriving before him, she gracefully knelt on one knee.

"Proxy Gremori greets the new lord of Valkas Territory, Arthur de Press."

Arthur nodded.

Gremori rose slowly.

"I will support you both materially and morally from here on. First, you've likely received the tutorial quest. If you follow my guidance, you'll complete the tutorial smoothly..."

Arthur raised his hand mid-sentence, cutting her off.

Gremori shut her mouth, a puzzled look on her face.

That alone confirmed her obedience.

"I don't need help with the tutorial."

Gremori's expression turned even more baffled.

No help needed?

Even lords who learned the basics at the training camp usually took some guidance before starting.

Arthur stood.

Still growing, he was even shorter than the feminine demon Gremori.

He strode down the red carpet toward the door, Gremori following.

Stepping out, Arthur surveyed the territory at a glance.

"Are you sure you don't want the tutorial guidance?"

Arthur just nodded.

What he needed was something else.

"Give me the Valkas Territory scenario."

Scenario.

Lords could receive a scenario from their proxy upon arriving at their territory.

It detailed the territory's history and background.

All fictional, of course—but scenarios were quite important.

How does he know about the scenario...?

Gremori was startled.

They didn't teach that at the training camp.

But she quickly drew the scenario from her belt and offered it politely.

Arthur unfolded the document titled Valkas Territory.

He skimmed the summary at the front and nodded.

The previous lord was incompetent. The territory's people starved, their loyalty at rock bottom. With the old lord dead and Arthur as the new one, the residents hold great interest and expectations.

Arthur nodded again.

This kind of scenario gave apprentice lords a real headache early on.

After building all required structures, you'd have ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠about 3,000 gold left.

Nowhere near enough to feed everyone.

You had to venture out, claim land, build farms.

Monster hunting came with the package.

Arthur recalled.

Territory Satisfaction 200%.

The tutorial quest wasn't that hard, really.

Not compared to solo-smashing a territory or fighting post-protection-period lords.

Arthur opened his inventory.

He pulled out a VIP Level 1 Pass.

What's that...?

Gremori looked puzzled.

She'd never seen anything like it.

"First, we'll build the castle."

As soon as he spoke, Gremori jumped in eagerly.

"A wise choice. To build the castle, you'll need the support of 50 residents..."

Arthur cut her off.

"No, that's fine."

"Pardon?"

Support's fine?

Then how would he build the castle?

Gremori couldn't comprehend.

Without hesitation, Arthur tore the pass in his hand.

Arthur hid his surprise, a satisfied smile creeping in.

Couldn't show that in front of Gremori.

Dignity and all.

Now he could see it.

Over the skeletal barracks, clinic, academy—everything—the words Instant Construction floated.

Makes it visible to the naked eye, too. Nice.

This VIP perk was good.

Arthur checked his total gold.

99,600 gold.

Compared to other lords starting with 20,000, it was overflowing.

About 36,000 came from surviving apprentice lords gifting him via the gift function after ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the annihilation squad wipe.

You could gift gold to any lord whose name you knew—but only during protection period.

I remember who didn't send any.

The ungrateful ones who wiped their mouths after eating. They'd pay later.

Lewis sent some too.

Unexpected.

Even more so: 3% of his gold.

With a note.

Arthur smirked.

He'd put the money to good use.

But he had no interest in the guy's fake, calculating bullshit.

Arthur turned back to the castle.

And declared.

"Construct the castle."

What the...?

Gremori looked baffled.

Understandably.

If it had been a normal lord instead of loyal Gremori, they'd have said:

Crazy bastard. You think saying it makes it build?

Even with the game system, construction normally required resident support and took time.

But then, the impossible happened.

Rumble!

Rumble!

The castle began shifting and transforming on its own everywhere.

Gremori's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Gasp...!"

Ignoring her, Arthur turned to survey the territory again.

"Construct the walls."

Gremori's gaze snapped to the walls.

Stones filled the crumbling barriers, restoring them to perfection.

"Construct the embassy."

The embassy rose.

"Barracks, forge, clinic, academy, archive tower, war plaza. Construct them all."

With that short command from Arthur, every skeletal structure began changing.

Gremori stared wide-eyed at the rapidly transforming territory, glancing back and forth between Arthur and the changes.

"M-May I ask...?"

"Go ahead."

"How...?"

"I'm a special case. I picked up a Lord Nurturing Device in reality, and after I achieved great feats with it, it granted me this privilege."

No need to hide it.

She obeyed him.

As Arthur mimed zipping his lips, she nodded hurriedly.

"This is top secret."

"Yes..."

Picked up a Lord Nurturing Device in reality...?

Incredible. And the casual way he said it made it even more so.

His every word carried weight far beyond his years.

Even his gait screamed perfect lord.

Arthur whirled his silver cloak and turned.

"We'll tour the territory."

"Y-Yes...!"

Gremori's short hair fluttered as she hurried to his side.

He stepped out of the territory with Gremori.

At Arthur's appearance, the residents bowed as one.

Arthur scanned them and nodded.

As per the scenario...

A barren wasteland of a territory.

And the residents were all skin and bones from starvation.

Arthur nodded.

At the tutorial's start, you got the perk of buying food instead of sourcing it.

Normally, food came after claiming land outside and hunting monsters there—but not early on.

Early game, you could buy as much as you wanted.

Plus, Arthur could keep buying with cash indefinitely.

Unlike other lords, he could purchase food even if territory stocks ran dry.

"They ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠all look weak from hunger."

But their eyes sparkled with huge expectations toward Arthur.

That was typical.

The early game was crucial.

These seemingly reverent residents could turn if you failed to satisfy their hunger.

He'd seen ridiculous cases where they even stormed the castle.

Rare, but it happened.

"We need to buy food."

"Yes. Buy food first, then for the rest, venture out, claim land, build farms and lumber mills to sustain them."

Arthur glanced at Gremori.

She looked puzzled.

That was the standard way.

But Arthur shook his head.

"That way, the ones who get rations eat full, while others clutch empty stomachs waiting."

"If you dislike that, lead soldiers to claim land first, build farms, then feed everyone..."

"I won't. Make starving people wait longer? I want everyone stuffed right now."

Arthur gave a wry smile.

One way to skyrocket satisfaction: Feed them to bursting, fast.

And eliminate food worries.

Without delay, Arthur opened the gold shop.

He clicked the special perk food items.

Then spent 40,000 gold to buy them all out.

"But with the initial 20,000 gold, after all constructions you're left with about 3,000—barely enough for everyone..."

Gremori tried to explain patiently, step by step.

Then she froze in shock.

Wha?! F-Food...?