Throwing the Bait
"……A perfect match for the Territory of Devouring."
Arthur murmured to himself without realizing it.
It was exactly that—a title that formed a fantastical synergy with his Territory of Devouring.
When a lord slays monsters of equal level or higher, they gain experience points.
Lords typically only earned EXP by raising their territory's total level.
The other way was completing special missions for unique rewards that bent those rules.
But even those were mostly consumables at best.
Five levels from one was a lucky break.
But the Star of Growth?
Arthur would level up every time he took down a boss monster on his level or above.
This system feels just like those RPGs back on Earth.
Now, unlike other max-level lords, Arthur had unlocked truly infinite growth.
How could he not revel in it?
And then another alert rang out!
As a reward for the birth of the Star of Growth, 2 Power Leveling Bonus tickets have been granted.
Arthur checked it immediately without hesitation.
The Power Leveling Bonus was similar to the Massacre Bonus that Randall had received, but even better.
For starters, monsters spawned endlessly.
Unlike the Massacre Bonus, EXP acquisition was boosted by 1.3 times.
Artifacts and gold dropped too.
A chance to level up personally while leaving the territory's total level alone.
Arthur nodded in satisfaction and slumped back against the wall.
Fatigue pulled his eyelids down without him noticing. Soon, he was fast asleep.
"Mm……."
Arthur woke and glanced around. No one had disturbed his sleep.
They couldn't. Not with Penrus, Brad, and Lauden there.
"How long was I out?"
"Two hours, sir."
Arthur stood, climbed onto Penrus, and they headed out of the castle.
"Waaaaah!"
"Lord Kasha is dead!"
"The rebels did it!"
The territory folk cheered more for Cataloc's victory than Arthur's. They chanted his name in joy.
Atop Penrus, Arthur moved to exit the territory.
Valkas Territory's people would arrive in Arhan soon.
They'd claim everything valuable and accept anyone wishing to relocate to Valkas.
Territory folk had many uses—miners, farmers, even soldiers if they volunteered.
Of course, as people, Arthur would reward their labor fairly.
All this had to wrap in a week. Miss that, and the territory vanished from the map.
"My lord!"
Cataloc and the rebels rushed up as Arthur's group prepared to leave.
"Thank you. Truly."
Despite the man's age, Arthur smiled and nodded.
He's tempting.
Arthur wanted Cataloc.
He could've taken troops too.
But he'd slaughtered them all, and Cataloc wasn't regular forces—he was a Lord Arbiter from the system.
Forcing him along would backfire. His charisma was sky-high.
Unless he followed willingly, it could harm the territory.
As they passed, a woman barreled out barefoot, gasping for breath.
It was Illeyna.
"L-Lord……."
She panted heavily.
Cataloc scowled.
"Do you know who you're blocking?!"
Some believed no one should impede a lord's path.
Cataloc was that type—especially grateful to Arthur for slaying Kasha.
Arthur just shook his head.
"It's fine."
Cataloc's jaw dropped.
So different from Kasha. A small smile crept onto his face.
"Our home's poor, so we have nothing grand. Please, take this for the road."
She offered food wrapped in parchment—potatoes or sweet potatoes, by the look.
"I'll enjoy it."
Arthur smiled and walked past.
Illeyna clasped her hands, watching him and his group fade away.
Thank you, my lord.
As Arthur neared Arhan's border—
Kraaaah!
A wyvern landed roughly, blocking his path.
Arthur spotted Lord Brock dismounting.
His face mixed complex emotions.
"Just what the hell are you?"
Arthur replied.
"Arthur. Duh?"
He was Arthur.
What else to say to "identity"?
Once a Challenger Lord, your old comrade, regressed and restarting the game?
No way.
And he owed Brock no patient explanation.
Brock's grim look softened into a smirk.
Identity? Who cares. Something more important first.
More pressing than his origins.
"I've got a proposal for you."
Thanks to Brock, Arthur returned to Valkas comfortably.
He rode Brock's summoned wyvern straight back with expert ease.
Landing smoothly, he patted its head in thanks.
What the hell is with this guy…….
Lord Brock wanted to flip out.
Arthur had suggested riding it.
Sure, Brock could summon and let him on.
But wyverns were tricky to control, even obedient ones.
Flying at 150 km/h? Nightmare.
Yet Arthur outpaced him effortlessly.
Brock's reaction? "Holy……."
And now the wyvern was happy, leaning into Arthur's strokes.
Not the time. Brock shelved it.
They entered the embassy.
The territory buzzed—cheers for Arthur's Arhan victory mixed with shock and awe.
Arthur listened to Brock's pitch.
Simple summary.
Join the event under Valkyrie Federation's banner.
Rewards based on results.
Arthur chuckled inwardly.
Good fortune rolls in on a vine?
He'd planned to join anyway.
In his past life, this event hit before he started the game.
But post-event, operators leaked full info for laughs—strategies, rewards.
Humans get the first Relic Artifact as a reward.
Exact routes, prizes.
I was gonna sneak in solo with exploits.
Possible.
Special mission rewards or hidden pieces sometimes dropped them.
Like the Scroll of Rule Exemption—ignored no-entry zones, barriers.
Arthur could've used his knowledge that way.
But Valkyrie Federation offering rewards too? Not bad.
Still, he said:
"No thanks."
"That damn 'no thanks' again."
Brock scowled.
Arthur had shot him down just like this at Broad Training Camp.
"Too risky. Scary as hell. And I hear other lords got three months of special training. How am I supposed to beat those monsters?"
Slurp.
Brock spat out his tea in disbelief.
His face screamed: Hey, kid lord? What you did today was scarier—who's scared of who?
The Star of Lords. Among them, a lord who has raised the Star of Growth has been born.
It rang for every lord.
The first human lord to raise a Star of Lords.
Brock had figured it out. He wasn't dumb.
Arthur knew he knew.
Brock had watched the Arhan-Valkas war.
Seen Arthur's impossibles.
He'd smashed Arhan solo.
Not enough? Recruited the Lord Arbiter, rallied rebels, massacred orc forces.
System aid, not his troops—so credited as Arthur's solo kills.
A lord eleven months ahead, crushed alone.
Terrifying.
"What do you want?"
Arthur grinned, stammering playfully.
"I-I'm terrified! How could a good lord like me survive those monsters……?"
"Sigh."
Brock got it.
The ploy.
"Name your terms."
"Aye, sir."
"……."
Brock scratched his head at Arthur's quick shift.
I'm Brock, damn it…….
One of 101 praised lords—yet played by this kid?
"First. If I get Valkyrie Federation to first place, I claim the Relic reward."
Brock's eye twitched.
"Second. No one reveals I'm from any territory—not allies, not the whole Federation."
"Hey, that's not fair!"
"When'd you see me okay casual speech?"
Brock shut up.
First time treated like this.
"I'm older, so……?"
"Eh, I'll allow it out of pity."
Arthur waved magnanimously.
He knew Brock's bind without him.
All cards in his hand.
Should I just steamroll the event……?
Brock's fist clenched on his thigh.
He felt Orwen's rage from the extermination squad.
"Th……third."
Arthur planned two—but checked Important Information View he'd just clicked.
Stunned.
"Third…… uh……."
He hesitated.
"What? Spit it out."
Brock urged impatiently.
"Third. Hand over that dragon egg you have."