Barely a fight

With quick steps I walked towards him and spoke soft enough so only he could hear "So with the way you are speaking to me it can be assumed that the Ragnir clan is preparing to go to war with the Jin clan, yes?" As soon as that was said, he stopped what he was about to say and thought for a second.

"Oh, Betsalel I didn't know that was you. Why are you dressed like that? I heard you awakened so why are you dressed like a worker?" He said, genuinely confused.

"Seclusion."

"Ah, my apologies carry on." He then turned to the princess. Presumably to let her know who I am. Although we haven't seen each other in a year or two, Rock and I were friends as young'uns.

"I understand who you are but my question still stands. Do you want to try my knight, son of the Jin family?" So the rumors were true, huh. Weeks ago I received word from my brother that the royal family began making moves to suppress the families in power. Something about centralizing power. I wasn't against it till now. "I will even send out my weakest knight, though do be careful they can be a little testy and accidents do happen." She said with a smile.

So that's where we are going, eh. Well, the crown has just become an enemy to the Jin clan. Father was already on the side of keeping his station as our family has loyally kept this city safe for centuries. So it looks like this will be a thing, huh. I take one look at the guard, level 60. He doesn't have a tier either which means it isn't as impossible a feat. I took one last look at her and said, "Well, that part was true, accidents do happen."

I then turned around and walked away as the guard was dragged underground to his death by two angry shadow ants. Although he out levels them by a lot, if you don't have a way to dig yourself back out and you get caught unaware there is no escape.

As I walked away the crowd erupted in cheers and raucous noise as everyone was more worried about what happened to the guard and how he disappeared as all they saw was him disappear into the ground.

The princess could only sit with an inquisitive glare on her face as I made my way back out of the crowd. On my way back home I began to write a letter to the family in hopes that they would hear about what transpired before anyone tried to spin it into a different light. You know, just in case.

As I got closer to the middle of the village, I had to cross the whole thing since the village square is on the opposite side of the village, I noticed smoke rising in the distance. Should I take a look? Nah, it is not my business so I made my way home. To finish off the knight and get my rewards.

Once I arrived the knight's body was sitting in the living room missing all limbs. I then take my dagger and help him out.

'Knight Lvl. 60 killed'

'Would you like to keep or convert to energy?'

Half, please, Thank you.

'Knight lvl. 30 now in shadow domain.'

'23 level up potions in inventory'

'23 sp'

'23 Lucky draw tickets'

'Killed oponent over 40 levels higher reward: Runal Pledge'

Ooo, what is this Runal pledge?

'Runal pledge'

'Anyone who makes a deal with you, willingly, forfeits their life upon non-completion. 3/3 a day. Only usable until the day of the Shadowkings true death.'

A few things could be learned from the new ability and rewards. Firstly, the Shadowking hasn't truly died. Also, it can be implied that the enforcer of the pledge would be the Shadowking himself. Wow, what an OP skill to have in the early game. Wait, why am I referring to this more and more as a game. Is this not my own life?

If this is going to be my life I must ensure that it does not lie forfeit to the whims of others. Huh, someone is here.

*Knock, Knock*

As he approaches the front door he can hear the shuffling of feet and the murmuring of other children. As he opens the door there stands an extremely old man, Betsalel recognizing him as the caretaker of the orphanage. Next, to the old man stood 13 kids 14 and below in age. Some distraught, some in tears, and even some despondent.

Behind this group stood the village elder and a few other higher ups in the village. Apparently, the building seen burning down earlier was the orphanage. Seeing as his villa is the only other building of that size, with the exception of the tavern and the village heads house, they were here to ask if the kids could stay here.

After a near hour of haggling, on why it should be my manor and how much am I receiving as payment I finally relented. The kids were allowed to stay here. The old man even agreed to stay on as a butler to help look out for the kids. I didn't make the price too big for many reasons. The first of which being that I could use the extra hands around the house especially since I have only done a tidy up level of cleaning job on the house. Then there is the fact that the garden is growing in size exponentially. Also, I now have someone to try my new ability on.

"I personally welcome each of you to my house. Please do realize I understand how you may feel. Detached from this life and emotions because of the constant strife life has put you through, but here I can assure you that you won't have any worries. Just live and relax. Some of you already know me, so you should know that as long as you do the small tasks I ask of you and don't try anything funny against my household, then you can live here with absolutely nothing to worry about." I said. I know my little speech may have seemed corny or out of place but my words were genuine as I do genuinely feel for these kids as they are considered dregs even amongst orphans.

In this world the main goal and focus is power and ability if you have neither then you are considered less than or undesirable. For these kids, the only way to remain an orphan this long is to be seen as having no potential.

Every once in a while different families and organizations would come by to test their potential for awakening and take those who had the potential. These 13 kids were either too young or were found to have no potential.

That is ok though. They are here now. I tasked the butler with organizing the kids living situation and to assign who would do what task. Well it made the most sense to allow him to do it as he is technically the only adult here. Then I went into my room.

David was the only kid out of the orphans that did not seem to be upset about the loss of the orphanage. The reason being he was new and has yet to build any attachment to it. He was actually satisfied with his new life. Instead of staying in a rundown old rickety tavern, they were moved into a spacious villa. And although it was also rundown and dirty at first, the time they spent cleaning it turned it back into a resplendent manor.