--
Before the sun had even risen, the castle was alive with activity.
The five soldiers who fought the previous night had only rested a few hours. Despite their wounds, they stood in the courtyard practicing basic movements—with a new spark in their eyes.
Alistair stood before them, watching silently. He wasn't searching for strength in their bodies… but in their eyes.
> [Side Quest: Build an Army – Phase One]
Trained Soldiers: 5/20
Build a Training Barracks: Not yet
Appoint a Head Trainer: Optional
The system opened a new window titled:
> [Available Buildings – Current Level: Starting Town]
Training Barracks (Level 1): Requires 100 Wood, 30 Stone, 15 Workers
Poultry Farm: Requires 50 Wood, 10 Wheat, 10 Workers
Cattle Pen: Requires 80 Wood, 40 Wheat, 12 Workers
Alistair smiled.
He turned to his steward, Garth, and said,
"Start preparing the men to collect wood from the forest. Send the workers to build the poultry farm first… then the cattle pen."
Garth asked in surprise,
"Why not start with the barracks?"
Alistair pointed to the courtyard.
"These men don't need a building to become warriors. But the villagers need food before they can even think about war."
---
By midday, movement was everywhere:
A group was harvesting wood from the forest's edge.
Another gathered wheat from the remaining stockpiles.
Children ran between buildings, helping carry baskets.
And the women… for the first time, smiled as they baked bread in the open.
Brick, one of the five soldiers, approached Alistair.
"My lord… do you intend for us to train ourselves? Without an instructor?"
Alistair thought for a moment, then opened the system.
> [Store – Training Skills Section]
Aura Breathing Technique (Rank 1): 50 System Points
Basic Sword Combat (Rank 2): 100 Points
Basic Spear Defense (Rank 2): 100 Points
Assign Temporary Trainer (NPC): 200 Points
He only had 120 points.
He muttered to himself,
"Not enough… I'll need more."
He opened a side window:
> [Daily Objectives: Complete Tasks – Reward: Bonus Points]
Complete a physical training session: 0/1
Participate in constructing a new building: 0/1
Personally train 3 soldiers: 0/3
Alistair understood what he had to do.
He took off his shirt and walked to the training yard, shouting:
"Which one of you thinks he's strong? Come here. I'll train you myself!"
Villagers gathered—some hesitant, but curiosity outweighed fear.
Alistair sat down and took a deep breath, then began showing them the proper breathing techniques.
"Inhale through the nose… hold it… exhale slowly. Focus your aura around your stomach, let it flow to your limbs."
At first, it was difficult.
But after an hour of training, a faint aura began to show around their bodies.
> [Daily Goal Complete: Train 3 Soldiers – +10 System Points]
Alistair quickly opened the system:
> [Purchased Aura Breathing Technique – Confirmed ✅]
[Skill Installed for Trained Soldiers: +10% Aura Learning Speed]
---
By evening, a farmer came running toward him.
"My lord! The cows and chickens have arrived from the nearby villages! Bought them at a cheap price from traveling merchants."
Alistair smiled.
"Excellent. Let production begin immediately. Every egg feeds a family… and every drop of milk strengthens a soldier."
Then, a series of notifications appeared:
> [Poultry Farm – Completed ✅]
[Cattle Pen – Completed ✅]
[Daily Food Rate Increased by 30%]
[Villagers' Condition Improved – Happiness +5%]
---
The following night, Alistair was in his office reviewing the statistics:
[City of Brixton – Status Update]
Population: 8,931
Military Strength: 5/800
Trust: 87%
Daily Food Supply: Stable
Morale: Hig
Recommended Next Construction: Training Barracks – Level 1
But what caught his attention was a strange notification:
[A random event is approaching… Will be triggered in 72 hours]
[Warning: The event may be positive or disastrous depending on the city's preparedness]
He stood up suddenly, his expression turning deadly serious.
He said to Garth:
"We need a training barracks now. Use whatever wood we have left… even if we have to tear down the front gate!"
Garth swallowed hard.
"Are you expecting an attack?"
Alistair replied,
"The system doesn't issue warnings for nothing.
The next day, construction began immediately, aided by the five soldiers and the villagers who had volunteered after the victory.
Alistair lifted the hammer himself. Every strike against the wood was a declaration: This place will not be taken easily ever again.
By sunset, a new notification appeared:
[Training Barracks – Completed ✅]
[Number of Trained Soldiers: 5/20]
[Special Unit Unlocked: Brixton Guard]
Followed by a special notification:
[Main Quest – Build the Army – Phase One: Completed ✅]
[Rewards: +30 System Points – Advanced Training Shop Unlocked – Next Quest Unlocked]
[Main Quest – Phase Two: Forge Strength]
Train 50 soldiers Construct an Advanced Training Camp Appoint a Professional Military Commander (Mandatory) Survive a Trial Attack within 7 days
That night, Alistair sat on the rooftop of the palace, looking down at the sleeping village.
It was no longer just a farm.
And he was no longer a paper baron.
He raised his head to the sky and said:
"Brixton... the first step on a long road. If war is our fate... so be it. But we will be the ones to start it, not the ones waiting for it."
A final notification appeared:
[Unlock Title: City Founder – Phase One]
[Title: 'The Baron Who Ignited the Rise']
[Effect: +10% to Construction and Training Speed]
And the moon continued to shine on his path... a witness to the birth of a legend.