Chapter 15: Special Book

His gaze shifts back to Mari and Seria, who are both visibly shaken, though their relief at being away from that monster is evident.

Lina breaks the silence, her voice low but curious. "Doran, what are you thinking? Do you think it could've been… a level 100 monster?"

Doran doesn't answer immediately, his expression unreadable. Finally, he says,

"It's possible. Something that can move faster than an orc and slice through one like it's nothing isn't ordinary. If it was level 100 or higher, that explains the speed and power."

Lina's face pales at his words. She leans forward, gripping the edge of the table.

"If this is true… isn't this really bad? The last time a level 100-plus monster emerged, the city almost got destroyed. If another city hadn't sent someone strong enough to kill it, who knows what would've happened."

Doran nods slowly, his eyes narrowing. "I've heard stories about that. A hobgoblin, wasn't it? An evolved form of a regular goblin. They said it tore through the city like a storm, faster and smarter than anyone expected."

Mari and Seria exchange uneasy glances, the tension in the room thickening.

"What if that thing—whatever killed the orc—is even worse than the hobgoblin?" Lina asks, her voice trembling.

Lina sighs, running a hand through her hair. "Then staying here in Misorn is a death sentence. It's only a matter of time before it causes havoc."

"We need to decide what to do—and fast. Misorn isn't equipped to handle something that powerful. If we stay, we're putting ourselves at risk."

Seria hesitates. "Can we come in with you?"

Doran looks at Seria, his expression softening as he leans against the wall. He crosses his arms, his voice calm but resolute.

"Of course. We can't leave you here," he says firmly. "After all, what happened to you is our fault."

Mari's eyes widen in surprise. "Your fault? You didn't enslave us. You didn't—"

Doran interrupts her with a shake of his head.

"We handed you over to that monster, even if it was temporary. Whatever happened after that, we have to take some responsibility. Leaving you here would make us no better than him."

Seria's hands tremble slightly as she clutches the edge of her chair. "Thank you," she whispers, her voice filled with gratitude. "We… we didn't expect this. We thought we were on our own."

Mari exhales, her composure faltering for the first time. "I don't know how we can repay you, but we'll do whatever we can to help."

----

Alix steps back, wiping the sweat from his brow. The training room is quiet now, save for the faint hum of dissipating energy. He sheaths his blade, glancing at the glowing marks left on the floor from his final strike.

"Not bad," he says to himself, a small smile tugging at his lips.

He takes a moment to gather his thoughts before deciding on his next move. The system's integration feature was clear—to bring monsters into his fold and make them part of his kingdom, they needed to willingly write their names in the special book bound to the system. And for that, he'd need Calak's help.

"Time to head back to the town," Alix mutters, stepping out of the training room.

After a few minutes of walking, Alix arrives at the town, his royal guard—a lizardman in disguise as a regular monster—following closely behind. The transformation before him takes him by surprise.

In just a few days, the once-chaotic settlement had turned into a thriving hub of activity. The streets were cleaner, the buildings sturdier, and the monsters more organized than he'd ever seen before. Alix mutters under his breath.

"In just a few days, they've really made this place better."

Soon, they reach the modest but well-kept building where Calak resides. Alix had contacted him earlier through a communication item since the system's telepathy didn't work over long distances. When Calak learned of Alix's impending arrival, he insisted on preparing a grand welcome, but Alix rejected the idea.

As Alix approaches the building, he sees Calak waiting outside. True to form, Calak kneels as soon as Alix steps within view.

"Welcome, Your Majesty," Calak says, his deep voice carrying respect and a touch of pride. "Do you have any orders for me?"

Alix steps forward, raising a hand. "Rise, Calak. There's no need for formalities right now. Let's talk inside."

Calak nods, rising to his full height, and gestures for Alix to follow him inside.

Inside, Calak pulls out a chair for Alix before taking a seat across from him, his crimson eyes gleaming with anticipation.

"What brings you here, Your Majesty?"

Alix pulls out a neatly folded piece of paper and places it on the table.

"I need your help with this," he says, pushing the book toward Calak.

Alix sits across from Calak, the book resting on the table between them. He looks at the hobgoblin, his expression serious yet calm.

"Calak, I need you to make sure that every monster in the town writes their name on this book. It's part of becoming a real, permanent citizen of the town. Without this, they won't be considered part of my kingdom."

Calak said, "It's easy enough, Your Majesty. I can gather them and get this done. But, is there anything else you need me to do while I'm at it?"

Alix shakes his head, his voice steady. "No, that's all. Just get them to write their names, and the process will be complete. I'll be waiting here when you return."

Calak's heart swells with excitement. As a regular guard, he never imagined he would have the chance to speak directly with His Majesty.

In the game, anyone who was part of Alix's kingdom viewed him as a god, a being of immense power. And now, here in the real world, nothing has changed. To be trusted with such an important task—it feels like a dream come true for Calak.

Alix watches as Calak exits, filled with determination. For Calak, it's a day he'll never forget—a day he's no longer just a guard.