Overlord of Blood and Iron

It was quite an enthusiastic welcome.

Bang! Bang bang!

Sounds of thunderous drumming could be heard.

“Herooo~!”

“Kya~!”

“We love you!”

Many beautiful fox-women cheered and tried to hug Kang Chul-In, their tails swaying temptingly.

“Woah, so cool!”

“Thank you, hero!”

“You’re the best!”

And the male demi-humans also cheered for him, their gazes full of envy and respect. 

“Hero!”

“Look over here, Mr. Hero!”

Some small demi-human kids also came by and hugged him, handing him flowers.

What…

Kang Chul-In was surprised by all the fanfare within the city.

There were a couple of reasons behind all of this.

The first reason was that the ranger group that returned had spread the news about Kang Chul-In’s martial prowess, and the second reason was that he had gone into the base of the werewolves headfirst, before emerging unscathed.

That was right.

In the eyes of the demi-humans, Kang Chul-In was a true hero that had saved not only the ranger squad but also the women that were kept within Kalevala. It made sense that they were praising him so much.

“Kang Chul-In!!”

-Bark Bark!

Dorian Explorer and Jack came to greet him.

Dding!

And at that moment, a notification popped up.

[Affinity with Demi-humans has risen by 50!]

[By becoming the hero of the Demi-humans, charm has risen by 50!]

[+50 Lord points.]

And…

[As a reward, the title ‘Hero, oh my hero’ will be given.]

[Title] Hero, oh my hero

Type: Title

Rank: Unique

Option 1: +120% charm to all unmarried women within a city

Option 2: +25% experienced earned from monster hunting

Option 3: +70% healing from resting in a city

Penalty Option 1: -30% charm to unmarried men in the city

Penalty Option 2: -5% to all stats whenever you do something ‘bad’. (Stacks to 5 times)

“.......”

Kang Chul-In was lost for words.

Even though he had gotten all types of titles in his previous life, this was the first time he had ever come across such a title. 

He didn’t like how the system forced this title on him, but the title immediately showed its effects.

“Kyaa~~!”

“Marry me!”

“I love you, hero!”

The demi-human women started to scream harder and cheered for Kang Chul-In.

There were even some that revealed some of their assets to Kang Chul-In. It was because of his increase in charm.

“Kang Chul-In, thank you!”

Dorian came by, and thanked Kang Chul-In.

“As expected, you came to save me!”

“No…”

“What?”

“I just went because I had something to do there. Do you honestly think that I knew you were there? It was just pure coincidence that I found you there.”

“...Tut.”

Dorian pouted.

“Thank you anyway. For saving me, and Jack. I’ll definitely pay this back in the future.”

Dorian said, before stretching his hand out for a handshake.

“I don’t shake hands with pushovers like you.”

“Kuk, that’s mean. I even stretched my hands out for you…”

“Infection.”

“Sorry?”

“I’m scared that your idiocy might infect me as well.”

Kang Chul-In avoided Dorian as if he were a virus.

“...Dammit.”

Dorian became depressed.

At that moment.

“You’ve come, hero!”

It was Emily, along with those who seemed like they were the subordinates of the Ninetails.

“Thank you so much for back then. I was able to return to Fox Valley because of Milord.”

“Is that so. Anyway, I want to meet Queen Ninetails.”

“Of course. I’m the maidservant of the Queen. She’s waiting for you right now.”

“Oh?”

Kang Chul-In smiled.

There was a reward for all the suffering (?) he had gone through. It seemed as if the Ninetails wasn’t one that was indifferent to her benefactors.

“Ride this, Milord.”

Emily led Kang Chul-In to a fancy looking carriage. It seemed as if they were going to do a parade.

Dammit…

Though Kang Chul-In didn’t want to do so, he still didn’t avoid it. 

This was all because he had to look good to the Ninetails.

He didn’t want to get remembered as a Lord that didn’t have any manners and ruin the good relationship that he had built up so far.

For now, he would do it.

As he stepped onto the carriage and sat down.

“The hero is moving! Get out of the way!”

One of the warriors who were sitting in the front shouted, making Kang Chul-In blush in embarrassment.

If not for the fact that he was wearing his mask, Kang Chul-In would have definitely jumped out the carriage.

...To think I’m a hero…

Kang Chul-In said, biting his lips.

The problem was…

“The hero is moving!”

“Get out the way!”

The demi-humans didn’t seem to share his embarrassment, instead continuing to cheer for him.

------

The small city that the Ninetails controlled was a beautiful one, called Fox Valley.

The city of pure white, Fox Valley!

This city of white that was hidden behind the dense fog was enough to make one gasp in wonder.

The roads were also pure white, and the drainage was clean.

As a Lord, Kang Chul-In thought that he would want a city like this too.

This was the moment that the stereotypical view that the demi-humans lived in the forest was broken.

After riding on the carriage for around 1 hour, Kang Chul-In was finally able to arrive at the Ninetails' palace.

Of course, he couldn’t meet her immediately.

“Hero.”

Emily led Kang Chul-In.

“The queen has prepared a bath for you, hero.”

“Is that so.”

“She’s told me to serve the hero properly, so…”

“Not bad.”

Since he was also feeling quite uncomfortable not having taken a bath for 10 days, Kang Chul-In agreed quickly.

He didn’t want to meet the queen of the demi-humans in such a pitiful state, after all.

------

At the same time, Laputa stayed busy.

Construction leader Kimura was busy working on his project of building a new city, while James and Michael trained the knights. Other than that, Drakan also helped train the normal soldiers, while Timothy and Lucia were trying their best to sort out the internal affairs within the territory. 

Even without Kang Chul-In, the officials of the Laputa territory were busy with their work. It was because when Kang Chul-In returned from meeting the Ninetails, they would move Laputa to the Ishtar territory via flight.

As for Skadi….

I wonder who exactly it is…

She worked hard in order to find the extremely powerful fortune teller that was near Kang Chul-In.

I can’t sense them anymore because of my lost powers…

------

Kang Chul-In was treated like a king.

There were servants that helped him take a bath and clean up.

It wasn’t just the bath.

Soon after the bath Kang Chul-In received an oil massage and was able to trim his hair with the best demi-human hairdresser. It was the best service.

“Hero, please change into this.”

Emily handed a luxurious piece of clothing to Kang Chul-In.

“And after?”

“Yes, you can now meet the Queen after you change into that.”

“Alright. I’ll be out soon.”

“Yes, hero.”

After changing into the clothing that Emily had prepared for him, Kang Chul-In stepped outside.

“Woah!”

“W-W-W-What! That’s crazy!”

“Ha… Should I try my luck?”

“Ha, are you crazy? You think the hero would fall for the charms of a servant like you?”

The servants lost their composure after looking at Kang Chul-In.

It was obvious.

Even normally, Kang Chul-In was quite handsome with charisma. Since a man like that had been taken care of like this, it made sense that the servants gasped in awe.

And the title ‘hero, oh my hero’ was able to add to this.

“Hero, this way.”

Emily led Kang Chul-In.

“Where are we going? Are we going to the main palace?”

“No sir.”

“No? I came here to talk to her as a Lord, so where are we going?”

“We’re going to the Sarangbang*.”

“The Sarangbang?”

At the mention of such a random place, Kang Chul-In’s face stiffened.

Wasn’t the Sarangbang a place that was used to greet visitors, and not Lords? It was a place that wasn’t suitable for the meeting between Kang Chul-In and the Ninetails.

“Ah, don’t misunderstand.”

As if reading Kang Chul-In’s thoughts, Emily laughed.

“They call it the Sarangbang, but it’s a sacred area that no-one has stepped foot into for the last 1000 years. It is nicknamed the ‘palace of agreement’, and is a very special place.”

“A thousand years?”

“Yes, sir. No one has ever met the queen in that sacred area for 1000 years. You can be proud that you’ve broken the record.”

After listening to Emily’s explanation, Kang Chul-In’s face relaxed once more.

He wasn’t being treated unfairly, but rather being treated extremely generously by being able to step into an area that no one had been in for 1000 years. 

After walking for around 10 minutes, Kang Chul-In was able to finally see ‘the palace of agreement’. 

Ting!

From far away, Kang Chul-In could hear the sound of a bell.

Ting ting ting!

“Hero.”

Emily said to Kang Chul-In, at the entrance.

“You can go in now.”

“By myself?”

“Yes. No one other than our queen is allowed to go inside that area. Only you, the hero can go inside.”

“Ah, is that so.”

Kang Chul-In nodded.

“Then I’m going.”

Saying that, Kang Chul-In entered the Palace of Agreement.

It was beautiful.

The flowers in the garden were extremely vibrant in life, showing how well they were being taken care of.

The palace itself looked beautiful too.

Strangely enough, the palace seemed to look as if it was a mix between a traditional Korean Hanok* and baroque style constructions. This created a synergy effect that allowed it to have a traditional and antique look.

Ah, I also want a palace like this.

Looking at this place, Kang Chul-In’s desire as a Lord rose.

...Tut, I’ll have to wait since I don’t have money.

It was when he was deep in thought.

“You’ve come.”

An extremely soft voice pierced the eardrums of Kang Chul-In.

The voice was extremely gentle and beautiful, and it seemed to be pulling Kang Chul-In’s heartstrings.

“I’ve been waiting.”

A woman appeared behind him.

So this woman… is the Ninetails.

For the first time in a long time, Kang Chul-In was truly astonished.

Snow-white hair,

Eyes that were gentle yet also gleamed like a tiger.

Beautiful, jade-like skin.

And that wasn’t it.

Her lips were temptingly plump, and her eyelashes seemed like the moon.

And her body.

She had a bountiful chest and a thin waist, wide hips, and a beautiful body line.

The woman that seemed to be the Ninetails had an absolutely perfect visual appearance. Even Kang Chul-In who had met countless beauties in his life had to admit her beauty was on another level.

“Are you the Ninetails?”

Kang Chul-In asked, with a proud voice.

Even though the Ninetails was beautiful, there was no way that Kang Chul-In would be tempted by a woman’s charms. And not only that, wasn’t he here to talk business with the Ninetails?

“I’m Overlord Kang Chul-In that controls the Pandemonium region. 

Kang Chul-In introduced himself.

Ting ting ting!

From somewhere, he could once again hear the chiming of a bell.

“That doesn’t matter.”

The Ninetails laughed softly.

“That doesn’t matter?”

“Your status doesn’t matter to me.”

She spoke words that Kang Chul-In didn’t understand.

“So, you’ve finally come.”

But the following words made even less sense.

“Us… all the Ninetails from the beginning of time…

Have been waiting, waiting for you. And finally, after 1000 years… Finally you’ve come.”

At this moment, 100 questions filled Kang Chul-In’s brain.

“I’ve been waiting for so long, dear husband.”

Kang Chul-In’s face stiffened.

What was she talking about?

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Sarangbang: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarangbang 

Hanok: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanok