2 (2)

On his way to the city of Proia, Louis discovered a man collapsed on the ground. The man was a commoner, nearly killed after being attacked by monsters. He was a merchant. Misfortune had struck during his trade journey. The moment Louis roused him, a quest activated.

It was a Subjugation Quest.

Judging from the number, Louis guessed they were not Ogres. If it had been Ogres, he would have abandoned the quest outright, but with proper tactics, a hundred mercenaries should be enough to hunt two hundred monsters. The military strength of an armed group was measured in swords, and currently Louis’s mercenaries amounted to just one sword. What could be done with one sword? At the very least, it took twenty swords to defend a city—his power was absurdly low.

For Louis, rejecting this quest was unthinkable. On the contrary, he had to seek out such quests to gather points.

‘And I happened to need a Subjugation Quest.’

“You’ve barely regained your senses, Lord Louis.”

One mercenary spoke to him. Louis immediately ordered that the man be brought over. First, he had to confirm whether he was mentally sound. Having once risen from the brink of death himself, Louis knew the mental shock of first waking was immense.

Sure enough, as the man opened his eyes and staggered, he clung to Louis and repeated words of thanks over and over.

“I have something to ask.”

“Anything you wish, my lord.”

“What kind of monsters were they?”

“…Green Skins.”

Green Skins meant either Orcs or Goblins. Orcs and Goblins, though less intelligent than humans, had tremendous reproductive power and physical strength.

Goblins, while weaker physically, were more cunning than Orcs, and above all, cruelly treacherous. If the man had been captured by such Goblins, he would surely have been subjected to horrific torture. Why did Goblins torture humans? It was simple—merely an instinctive bloodthirst.

Two hundred Goblins would mean enormous reward points. Completing the Subjugation Quest could easily push his total over two hundred points in one go.

Two hundred points would unlock a Stage 2 Trait. The exact trait to seize Proia could be considered later.

“…Those bastards… my men…”

“Ah, I have a request.”

“You are my savior. Anything…”

“You’ll have to guide us to that place.”

“…Of course… Pardon?”

The man, having just escaped that hellish place, nearly lost his mind when Louis suggested returning. Once a human was scarred by such torment, the unconscious instinct was to avoid that place at all costs—even in favorable conditions. The man quickly glanced around in panic.

The soldiers numbered roughly one hundred. True, it was a fight they might win, but it was also perilous. Two hundred Goblins. If they lost, he would once again fall into Goblin hands. They were on the move—if captured now, he would be dragged into Goblin-held territory.

Torture was certain, and he might end up living as a Goblin’s slave.

“Please… reconsider…”

“Why?”

“They are the Big Tusk Tribe.”

Even among Green Skins, there were many tribes. The Big Tusk Tribe was notorious among them. Why such a tribe’s members were roaming in Pontina’s lands was unclear, but Louis thought differently.

‘Then the reward will be greater.’

He knew this terrain by heart. No matter how renowned the tribe, they were still monsters, lacking in intellect. At the very least, it was natural to assess the situation and devise a strategy.

“Lead the way.”

“Ugh…”

“That is an order. I am Louis Pontina, third son of House Pontina. You are bound to obey.”

Only then did the man realize who Louis was and agree. In truth, even if Louis had not revealed his identity, he had no choice. No commoner without mana could withstand Louis’s charisma.

Thanks to his fair treatment thus far, the soldiers’ average Satisfaction was 1, and naturally none opposed Louis’s command.

A few, however, had dropped to 0.

Before long, Louis found the Goblin village. The settlement was cleverly hidden, but still poorly placed in true Goblin fashion. They had built their camp along a small river, pressed against a cliff.

It would be simple: drop stones or logs from above, and the Goblins beneath would be massacred.

If they collapsed the only entrance on the right flank with a rockslide, the only escape for the Goblins would be to cross the river.

Then, with archers prepared across the bank, they could cut them down as they fled.

The best way was to deal massive damage with the first rockslide. Louis pointed toward the central square.

“When do they use that place?”

“When they eat humans. Or when their shaman prays to their god.”

Indeed, everywhere he looked he saw humans enslaved like livestock. Preparing the setup would take about three days. With one hundred soldiers—equivalent to a single hammer of production—it would take three days to ready the rockslides and supports.

If they fought head-on, survivors could be rescued, but the soldier casualties would be devastating.

The Big Tusk Tribe was strong in direct combat.

“In that case… could you save them now?”

“I’m sorry, but no. The wind of fortune that blew upon you did not favor them.”

Louis rejected his plea and focused on preparations.

In truth, once Louis issued orders, his role was little more than overseeing progress.

He divided Centurion Boromir and Kalbang into two groups.

Kalbang took charge of the rockslides, while Boromir waited on the river’s far bank.

For now, everyone contributed their production to preparing the rockfall.

Besides the hammer, there was fatigue. At 100% fatigue, men collapsed. Humans were no machines. So Louis managed the men, rotating them into three shifts as fatigue rose.

Normally, productivity dropped sharply past 60% fatigue. But soldiers had one peculiar trait… once discipline was enforced, they gained the special attribute called “Do It.” This allowed their fatigue threshold to stretch to 80% in urgent conditions.

Though the soldiers themselves suffered greatly, Louis completed preparations half a day earlier thanks to this military trait. Now all that remained was to strike during the Goblin ritual two days later. When the central square brimmed with Goblins, that would be the moment for a decisive blow.

Even so, two captive humans had already died. Yet as Louis received the report, he accepted it. One could not survive this harsh world if one fretted over every single life lost.

After granting his soldiers ample rest, Louis moved Boromir’s unit to the far bank according to plan. Then they waited. Thanks to the accelerated schedule, the soldiers could rest their weary bodies, reducing fatigue by 30%.

And then, night fell. The Goblins’ central square blazed brilliantly.

Every Goblin gathered there, carrying out bizarre rituals.

The humans were bound and set aflame one by one. From above, everyone clicked their tongues at the ghastly scene, waiting only for Louis’s signal.

Louis waited for the perfect moment—for the Goblin leader to appear in the square. Amidst screams echoing through the valley, a hulking Goblin strode in. As he raised his crude sword high, Louis gestured.

‘Commence operation.’

The soldiers, burning with fury, unleashed their pent-up rage at Louis’s signal. Shouting, they heaved with all their might. Logs and boulders wavered, then tumbled down one after another. The Goblins, in their excitement, thought the rockslides were divine signs sent by their gods…. until the logs crashed onto their heads.

Crunch…

The first log miraculously struck the very leader who had lifted his sword. His skull burst in an instant, his headless body slumping to the ground. Nearby Goblins were crushed to death as collateral.

An unexpected windfall of points. Regardless, Louis simply observed the chaos unfolding below.