Chapter 3 – A Lord Without Land
The crackling fire was the only source of light in the dense forest. Reinhardt sat on a makeshift seat—a large rock—chewing on the last bit of roasted wolf meat. It was tough and gamey, but at least it filled his stomach.
As he leaned back against a tree, the weight of his situation hit him again.
"I'm a 'lord,' huh?" He sighed, glancing at the status screen hovering in the air.
[Status Window]
Name: Reinhardt
Title: Landless Lord
Level: 2 (EXP: 20/50)
Class: Lord (Novice)
Strength: 12
Dexterity: 11
Endurance: 13
Intelligence: 15
Charisma: 14
Gold: 0
His title felt like a joke. A lord with no land, no followers, and no wealth.
"If this is some kind of strategy game, I'm starting on the hardest difficulty."
Still, he wasn't completely hopeless. He had a powerful sword, a system, and some survival skills. Now he just needed a plan.
[New Quest: Claim Your First Land]
Objective: Find a suitable location to settle.
Reward: 100 EXP, Basic Blueprint System Unlocked.
Reinhardt's eyes narrowed. A place to call his own… That was his first real step toward an empire.
The next morning, Reinhardt packed up his things (which wasn't much) and followed the river downstream. If he was going to find land, he needed a source of water, fertile ground, and a safe location.
Hours passed. The forest slowly thinned out, and the land opened into rolling hills. Then—he spotted something in the distance.
Smoke.
Not the kind from a wildfire, but controlled, like from chimneys.
"A village?"
Reinhardt quickened his pace, moving carefully in case they weren't friendly. As he approached, he saw it was a small settlement, barely more than a dozen wooden houses. A rickety wooden fence surrounded it, more for marking the boundary than actual defense.
Then he saw the villagers.
They were thin, tired-looking, and carrying crude tools. Their clothes were worn-out and patched together. Some kids ran barefoot across the dirt paths, their faces hollow with hunger.
Reinhardt frowned. These people were barely surviving.
[Empire's Vision Activated]
[Location: Struggling Hamlet]
- Population: 52
- Resources: Low
- Defense: Almost None
- Development Potential: Moderate
"…They need help."
Then, a voice called out.
"You there! Who are you?"
Reinhardt turned to see a man in his late forties, dressed in a simple tunic with a short sword at his waist. He had graying hair and a cautious expression.
"I'm just a traveler," Reinhardt said carefully. "I saw the village and thought I'd take a look."
The man narrowed his eyes. "A traveler with a sword like that?" His gaze flickered to the Emperor's Edge at Reinhardt's hip. "You're no ordinary wanderer."
Reinhardt could already tell—this man was the village head.
"My name is Reinhardt," he said. "I'm looking for land to settle. Your village… looks like it could use some help."
The village head crossed his arms. "And what would a man like you gain from helping us?"
Reinhardt smirked.
"Maybe a place to start my kingdom."