Chapter 9: The new Lord

Leon awoke to the sounds of hushed whispers and excited chatter filtering through the thin walls of his small house. Dion, ever the mischievous one, was already awake, pinching his nose with a playful grin.

"Morning, sleepyhead brother." Dion teased, a mischievous glint in his eye. "You missed all the excitement."

Leon sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. He could hear the commotion outside, the voices of the villagers, a sense of anticipation hanging in the air. He stepped outside, curiosity piqued.

His mother, her face etched with a mixture of worry and excitement, approached him. "Son," she said, her voice hushed, "I don't know why they're here, but the eldest in our village wants to talk to you."

"Okay, Mother," Leon replied, a sense of unease settling over him. He wasn't sure what to expect, but he knew that something significant was happening.

He walked to the front of the house, where the eldest of the village, a frail woman with eyes that held the wisdom of a lifetime, stood with her two sons. The woman, who was over 110 years old, looked at him with a mixture of hope and desperation.

"Can we talk?" she asked, her voice raspy but filled with a surprising strength.

Leon nodded, inviting them into his home. He placed a simple meal on the table, a gesture of hospitality. The woman's sons, who had never seen anything like it before, stared at the food with wide eyes.

"Help yourselves, please." Leon said, his voice filled with respect.

Once they were settled at the table, the eldest woman spoke, her voice trembling slightly. "I'm getting older and older, and I can't handle the responsibility of being the elder of this village anymore. I'm begging you, Leon, please be the Lord of our village."

She knelt before him, her wrinkled hands clasped together. Leon tried to help her up, but she stubbornly refused.

"I won't stop kneeling until you accept my request." she pleaded.

"But what about the Count?" Leon asked, a sense of confusion clouding his mind. "He's the rightful owner of this village."

"The Count's right hand came here and told us that the Count will never have responsibility for this village again." the woman explained. "The village is vacant, with no owner. As the eldest, I want you to be the Lord."

"Accept it, Master," the System's assistant chimed in, its voice a smooth monotone. "As a Descendant of Our Lord, who gave you power, you need people, land, and the chance to conquer any kingdom. Be a King."

Leon pondered the System's words. He knew that he needed allies, a place to call his own, a foundation from which to build his power. He also knew that he had a responsibility to the villagers, to protect them, to guide them.

He looked at the eldest woman, her face etched with hope, her eyes pleading with him. He saw the fear in her sons' eyes, the desperation that clung to them. He knew that he couldn't abandon them.

He took a deep breath, his heart pounding with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. "I accept," he said, his voice firm. "I will be the Lord of this village."

The woman's face lit up, a radiant smile spreading across her wrinkled features. She stood up, her eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you, Leon." she said, her voice filled with emotion. "You will be a good Lord."

Leon smiled, a sense of purpose settling over him. He knew that his journey had taken an unexpected turn, but he was ready to embrace his new role. He was Leon Craven, the Transmigrant, the warrior, the hero, and now, the Lord of a village. He had a responsibility to his people, a destiny to fulfill, a darkness to conquer. And he was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

The next morning, a feast was held in the village, celebrating the arrival of their new Lord, the protector of their village. Leon, surrounded by his people, felt a sense of belonging, a sense of purpose that he had never experienced before. He was ready to lead, to protect, to conquer. He was ready to embrace his destiny.

••

The joyous celebration, the laughter and camaraderie, the sense of hope that had filled the village hall, vanished in an instant. A chilling silence descended as the System's holographic display shimmered into existence, a stark contrast to the warmth of the feast.

"QUEST" the System's voice boomed, its digital tone devoid of emotion. "The monsters are on the brink of attacking the cursed land within the next 10 days. Your mission is clear: save the people and protect your land."

Leon's hand tightened around the fork he was holding, his knuckles turning white. He felt a surge of anger, a primal fear that gripped his heart. He had just become Lord, and now, his village, his people, were in danger.

"Rewards," the System continued, its voice a relentless drone.

- 5+ Magic

- Ability to obtain Fire Magic Level 1

- Clothes that made of fire dragon's skin

Leon's mother, sensing his rising panic, reached out and squeezed his hand. He looked at her, her eyes filled with concern, her expression a mixture of fear and unwavering support.

"Subquest," the System announced, its voice a cold metallic echo. "To obtain Fire Magic Level 1, you must retrieve the Ring of Iref."

"Iref, the ring's owner, has hidden the ring in the mountains of Fitu."

"Subquest Rewards," the System declared, its voice a relentless drumbeat.

- Ring of Iref

- Mystical Pet

- +5 Boost in Strength

Leon felt a wave of despair wash over him. He was unprepared, ill-equipped, facing a seemingly insurmountable challenge. But then, a flicker of determination sparked within him. l.

He stood up, his voice firm, his eyes blazing with a newfound resolve. "I will save them," he declared, his voice echoing through the stunned silence of the hall. "I will find the Ring of Iref, and I will protect my land."

••

A heavy silence hung in the air, the joyous celebration of Leon's ascension to Lord now a distant memory. The weight of responsibility pressed down on him, a stark reminder of the imminent threat that loomed over his village. He had to save them, he had to protect them, and he had to do it quickly.

The monsters frequently attacked the village, which is why many people died every month. That's why it's called a cursed land.

"The monsters are attacking. I have to go, Mom," Leon stated, his voice firm, his eyes filled with determination. "I have to protect this land."

His father, a man of few words, nodded silently, his expression a mixture of pride and concern. He knew that his son was destined for greatness, but he also knew that the path ahead would be fraught with danger.

Leon then turned to his brother and sister, their faces filled with anxiety. "Dion, Leann, please help Mother and Father. Keep them safe, too."

Dion, his eyes wide with fear, nodded, trying to hide his trembling hands. Leann, her face pale, reached out and hugged her brother tightly. "Be careful, Leon," she whispered, her voice choked with emotion.

Leon embraced them both, feeling their love, their support, their unwavering belief in him. He knew that he couldn't let them down. He had to succeed.

His mother, her face etched with worry, reached out and squeezed his hand. "Be careful, son," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. "Stay safe."

Leon nodded, his heart heavy with the weight of his responsibility. He turned to his father, his eyes filled with trust. "Father, you'll be in charge of taking care of our people. Keep them safe."

He looked at his mother, her eyes filled with a mixture of worry and pride. He could see the fear in her gaze, the fear that every mother felt for their child, but he also saw the unwavering belief in his strength, in his ability to overcome any obstacle.

He took a deep breath, drawing strength from her silent support. "I have to go," he said, his voice firm, his eyes filled with determination. "I have to find the Ring of Iref."

He turned to the System, his mind already racing with plans, strategies, and the chilling reality of the time constraint. "Show me the way," he commanded.

The System responded, a holographic map shimmering into existence, highlighting a path that led out of the village, towards the jagged peaks of the Fitu Mountains. The mountains were a dangerous place, filled with treacherous terrain, harsh weather, and unknown dangers. But he had no choice. The fate of his village, the fate of his people, rested on his shoulders.

He turned to his family, his heart heavy with the weight of his decision. "I'll be back," he promised, his voice filled with a confidence he didn't entirely feel. "I'll be back soon."

He embraced his mother, feeling her warmth, her love, her silent strength. He looked at his brother and sister, their faces filled with worry, but also with a flicker of hope.

He turned to the villagers, their faces a mixture of fear and admiration. He saw the hope in their eyes, the hope that he wouldn't fail them. He knew that he couldn't afford to fail them. He had to succeed.

He stepped out of the village, the familiar sights and sounds fading behind him. He felt a pang of sadness, a sense of loss, but it was quickly replaced by a surge of determination. He was Leon Craven, the Transmigrant, the warrior, the hero, and now, the Lord. He had a responsibility to his people, a destiny to fulfill, and a darkness to conquer.

He followed the path indicated by the System, a winding trail that led through the whispering woods, towards the foot of the Fitu Mountains. He knew that the journey would be fraught with danger, but he was ready to face it. He was ready to embrace his destiny.

He felt a surge of strength, a confidence that came from knowing that he wasn't alone. The System was his guide, his companion, his ally. He had his family, his village, his people, all depending on him. And he had the power of the Lord flowing through his veins, the power of the ancient magic that he had only just begun to understand.

He was ready to face the mountains, to find the Ring of Iref, to save his village. He was ready to become the hero he was destined to be.