The Overlord of Blood and Iron

“Free?”

“What kind of game is he playing…”

Murmur murmur. The people of Esmeralda all seemed confused at Kang Chul-In’s offer.

“W-What are…?” Mike Jackson shouted at Kang Chul-In.“What kind of bullshit are you…?”

“Bullshit?”

“...?”

“Are you saying you don’t want to go even when I’m letting you?” Kang Chul-In scoffed. “Or maybe you’re used to your pathetic lives because you’ve been living like pigs.”

“...!”

“It’s not like all of you suddenly became masochists… if you’re satisfied with being treated less than cattle all your lives, then fine. If you want to die in this cursed land, I won’t stop you.”

They were cruel words that dug into the hearts of the Esmeralda people.

“W-What did you say…”

“Did you think I would congratulate your reactions?”

“...!”

“What’s the problem?”

“T-That’s…”

“Moving...”

“...!”

“That’s probably the best way for you to escape this hole of despair.”

“Huk…!” Mike Jackson froze in surprise after hearing Kang Chul-In’s answer.

“...!”

The same went for the rest of the people of Esmeralda.

“This is a strategic place in Pangaea where most battles will occur.”

He was trying to explain it simply.

“It’s true that I also don’t have a way to prevent battles from occurring in this place. I haven’t reached the peak of being able to stop wars completely.”

It was a hint towards Kang Chul-In’s final goal in life, the strength to stop wars. That was what he would be satisfied with. If he had the complete Trinity Impact set, the armor Ectoplasm Oversuit of the Emperor of Blood and Iron, and increased his level by about 100, it would be a realistic goal.

“Of course, I won’t lose and allow the losers of the north to take Esmeralda.”

“...”

“Why, you don’t believe me?”

“That’s…”

“I’ve never lost a single battle or any territory.”

“...!”

“Am I wrong?”

“...”

“Has anyone here heard about me, Kang Chul-In, losing? If you have, raise your hand to speak!”

There were none. No one at all.

“I am undefeatable. Like I already said, I’m a victorious commander who has never experienced loss.”

There wasn’t a hint of arrogance in what he was saying because it was all true. It was the undeniable truth. Kang Chul-In was the strongest person in Pangaea after the Great Summoning. They said being humble was a virtue, but it was Kang Chul-In’s style to show everything as it was.

“But none of you will believe me when I promise not to lose Esmeralda. Am I wrong, Mike Jackson?”

“Y-You’re right…”

“No, aside from believing me or not, you must be sick of all the battles that occur here.”

“That’s also…”

“Then you can just leave.”

“...!”

“Move.”

“M-Move!?”

“You can find another place to live far away from this cursed land. To be honest, any land will be better than this warzone. How is it, am I wrong?”

“Y-You’re correct…!”

“Then leave…!” Kang Chul-In shouted. “All of you!”

“...!”

“No one from the Valhalla kingdom will stop you from leaving! So leave at ease to find new land! Find your happiness away from this tunnel of darkness! That is how I plan on giving you salvation from all your suffering.”

Thump!

That was the will of Kang Chul-In, and the simplest way to escape from the tunnel of despair. If this land was destined to be a warzone forever, it was a hundred times better to leave.

“A-Are you being serious?”

Mike Jackson asked Kang Chul-In.

“Will you really let us leave?”

“Of course.”

Kang Chul-In nodded.

“B-But…”

“...?”

“Even though this land is cursed, it’s still our home.”

“Are you trying to teach me what I already know?”

“T-That’s not it…”

“Why, is it because you don’t have anywhere to go?”

“Yes, sir…”

“You don’t have the money to go find new land, and you don’t want to establish a new home for yourselves even if you do?”

“Yes…”

“And you don’t think there will be a Lord who will accept 150,000 refugees?”

“Yes, sir…”

“Then...”

Kang Chul-In spoke the main point of his long speech.

“Go west.”

“West…?”

“If you go to the Ishtar region in the west, there will be a kingdom called Valhalla.”

“Y-Your Supreme Majesty…!”

“Their king will accept you with an open mind. No, he has already ordered the construction of a refugee camp to the ants and dwarves there. But, that’s not the end of it.”

“...!”

“He also convinced his picky financial manager and rich wife to provide funds for the next 2 years so you don’t have to starve. Also, he is planning on setting up temporary residences for you throughout the kingdom instead of designating a specific spot for refugees.”

“...!”

“If you head there, the king of the Valhalla Kingdom will help you settle. However!”

Kang Chul-In added on.

“This is a benefit only given to those who work to improve the society and culture of the Valhalla Kingdom.”

“I-Is that so?”

“Merciless discipline awaits those who take goodwill for granted. If you can’t assimilate and stubbornly insist on the ways of the Esmeralda Kingdom, and if there are any who try to attack the locals…”

Gulp!

Mike Jackson swallowed.

“It’s annoying, but the King will visit the houses of those bastards and make them regret it.”

“...”

“He promised to rip you apart himself if I’m being honest.”

It was a scary threat, but a necessary one. Most immigrants had a hard time getting adjusted to where they moved, and people of the same origins gathered in slums. Kang Chul-In couldn’t bear to see that over his dead body.

“How’s that, Mike?”

“Pardon?”

“Would you like to leave this Esmeralda territory and settle in the kingdom that that King, or rather I, rule?”

“T-That’s…” Mike Jackson couldn’t say anything because he was so taken aback.

“Why, you don’t want to? It still sounds like a lie, hm?”

“N-No!”

“Hm…?”

“I’ll go! Of course I will!” Mike Jackson shouted frantically. “I will leave this place and move to the Valhalla Kingdom!”

“Really?”

“O-Of course!”

“You told me not to say bullshit just now, didn’t you?”

“T-That’s…!”

“It’s a joke.”

“...”

“I’ll especially apologize to you this time.”

“Your Supreme Majesty…!”

“I will give you a reward.” Kang Chul-In opened his inventory and handed a pouch over to Mike.

“T-This is..”

“100 gold pieces.”

“...!”

“Think of it as payment for your courage.”

“Your Supreme Majesty… keuk…!” Mike burst out crying.

“How’s that?” Kang Chul-In put Mike behind him and asked the people of Esmeralda. “Will you immigrate to the place I rule, Valhalla Kingdom? Or will you stay here? I’ve already given you the options. Choosing between them is up to you!”

The Esmeralda people answered…

“I-I\'ll go!”

“Going!”

“I would like to become a part of the Valhalla Kingdom!”

“If you accept me, I’ll gladly go!”

They welcomed the offer. Unlike the other Lords who treated them like pigs, Kang Chul-In was like the symbol of benevolence to them.

“Hurrah for the Supreme King of the West!”

“Hurrah!”

“Hurrah for the Valhalla Kingdom!”

“Cheers!”

There were intense shouts of joy.

“Not yet.”

That wasn’t the end.

“Here, I have someone to introduce to you.”

Kang Chul-In pulled the wrist of a woman who was wearing a purple hood.

“Y-Your Majesty…!”

Skadi resisted him.

“It’s alright.”

“B-But…”

“They’re all your people.”

“...”

“We can explain everything carefully. Then, they’ll welcome our return.”

“R-Really?”

“Of course.”

“I’m scared…”

“But it’s something that must be done. We can’t hide the fact that you’re my wife forever, right?”

“That’s true but…”

“Also, we need to show them that I have the right to take over Esmeralda.”

It was true. If it became known that Kang Chul-In accepted Skadi as his wife, the people of Esmeralda had to acknowledge him.

“Be brave, Skadi.”

“Your Majesty…”

“You can do it.”

“A-Alright…!”

Skadi took a step forward towards those who had once been her people. Finally! It was the moment for the woman who had sacrificed her life to reappear in front of her people.

Skadi, you are my wife. I trust that you’re doing well, and you’ll continue to do so in the future.

Kang Chul-In watched her proudly. It was a great accomplishment. He had provided salvation for the people of Esmeralda, something that no Lord had been able to do (although he had an intense fight of words against Timothy because of it).

The result of it was…

[Your [Charm] stats have reached S+ rank]

[Your [Politics] stats have reached S++ rank!]

[Your [Strategy] stats have reached S rank!]

[Your [Speech] stats have reached S+++ rank!]

An increase of his stats, and,

[You have been given bonus points!]

[You have increased a level!]

[You’ve reached level 100!]

Continued into a level up.

“...!”

The Epic item on the fourth finger of his left hand, the [Needle of the Empress], also started to shine in brilliant gold color.

……….

Skadi’s return caused a commotion. However, it was quickly settled. She explained why she had to leave the territory, and how she married Kang Chul-In to protect them any way she could.

The people of Esmeralda believed her, or rather they had to. The offers that Kang Chul-In made would’ve been impossible without Skadi’s help.

“Hurrah for Queen Skadi!”

“Hurrah!”

The hopeful people of Esmeralda greeted Skadi happily.

“Heuk…!”

Skadi began to cry tears of joy again. With that, another day passed.

“Hmm…”

Kang Chul-In spent some time looking over the Needle of the Empress.

[A quest has been created!]

A new quest. After reaching level 100, the quest of the Needle of the Empress was unlocked.

[Don’t forget me.]

Quest details:

In the ‘Cradle of Memories’ in the underground of Styx, look for the old memories of the empress.

Difficulty: Low

Reward 1: All penalties related to marriage deleted (Slot for First Queen opened)

Reward 2: Wheel of Dimensions

※Warning: If the quest is cleared, the item [Needle of the Empress] will vanish.

“...”

The quest and the rewards were both ridiculous.

“The Wheel of Dimensions”

The only thing that was interesting was the item he had never heard about.

“K-Kang Chul-In!”

Just then, Dorian burst open the door and came running into his office.

“What is it?”

Kang Chul-In looked at Dorian with a frown.

“And why is your face like that.”

“T-That…!”

“You looked like you got beat up.”

“...”

“So you were beaten up.”

“...”

“Who beat you up like this?”

Dorian’s face was horrible. His black eye, running nose, ripped lips, and messed-up hair… If someone saw, they would think that he received mental training from Kang Chul-In.

“I sent you to look for the Emperor of Blood and Iron’s grave but you came back beat up like this.”

“No, that’s not it…”

“Then what is it?”

“...”

“Hm… who was it? The one that beat you up like that? A 150-leveled monster?”

“No!” Dorian shouted.

“Then, who was it?” Kang Chul-In asked again. He was curious. Dorian was a pushover and a loser, but he was strong. Even Kang Chul-In felt like he could die if he was hit with the Shotgun Fist, so the one who beat up Dorian must’ve been…

“S-So…”

“...?”

“The Emperor of Blood and Iron wants to see you.”

“...”

“He said to come to the sewers…”

Kang Chul-In’s face crumpled.