Morning arrived gently.
Too gently.
The sun rose at the perfect angle, warming the island without scorching it. The sea shimmered in polite shades of blue. The breeze carried the scent of salt and fresh earth instead of rot and despair.
Lucifer noticed immediately.
He stood atop a small cliff overlooking the village, arms folded, expression faintly suspicious.
"…This place is getting ideas," he muttered.
Behind him, the Empire Construction System flickered awake.
[Daily Check-In Complete!][Population Status: Stable.][Happiness: High.][Security: Excessive.]
Lucifer glanced sideways.
"Excessive?"
[Guardian Dragon: Active.][Hell Wolf Pack: Active.]
He looked toward the distant hills.
A colossal dragon lay curled around the island's highest peak like a loyal cat, one eye half-open, tail lazily flicking away clouds. Shadows moved beneath the trees—hell wolves patrolling with military precision.
Lucifer sighed.
"I told you to guard, not intimidate the ecosystem."
The dragon lifted its head slightly and rumbled apologetically.
The system chimed again.
[Tutorial Phase Continuing.][Next Objective: Develop Agriculture.]
Lucifer stared at the panel.
"…Didn't I already fix that?"
[System Clarification: You improved environmental conditions.][Agriculture Development requires infrastructure.]
Lucifer pinched the bridge of his nose.
"You're very particular for something that thinks I'm a farmer."
The villagers gathered cautiously as Lucifer walked through the settlement.
They bowed.
Not deeply.Not formally.
But with something new in their eyes.
Trust.
And fear.
And awe.
A young woman stepped forward—freckles, wind-tangled hair, hands stained with soil.
"Lord Lucifer," she said hesitantly.
He stopped.
"…Lord?"
Her cheeks flushed. "S-sorry. Sir? M-Master? Um—"
"Lucifer is fine," he said. "Titles are exhausting."
She nodded quickly.
"Th-the crops," she said. "They grew overnight. Too fast. The soil is rich, but… we don't know how to handle this much."
Lucifer followed her gaze.
Fields that had once been thin and sad now overflowed with grain so heavy it bent the stalks. Fruits gleamed unnaturally perfect. Vegetables looked like they belonged in royal banquets, not a forgotten island.
Lucifer hummed.
"Ah," he said. "I overshot again."
The system chimed.
[Agricultural Output: +600%][Warning: Storage Insufficient.]
Lucifer sighed.
"Fine."
He snapped his fingers again—but this time, he restrained himself.
Granaries rose. Irrigation channels carved themselves neatly into the land. Windmills turned lazily, powered by just enough breeze.
The villagers watched in stunned silence.
The system glowed.
[Agriculture Developed!][Reward: Food Security Buff.]
[Achievement: 'First Harvest' — SS-Rank.]
[ERROR: Rank Ceiling Exceeded.]
Lucifer smiled thinly.
"You really should upgrade your expectations."
By midday, Lucifer had discovered something unpleasant.
Ruling Hell was easy.
Ruling people was annoying.
They argued.
They hesitated.
They asked questions.
A lot of questions.
"Who decides food distribution?""Can we trade with nearby islands?""What about pirates?""Should we build walls?"
Lucifer sat on a crate in the village square, staring at the sky.
"In Hell," he muttered, "everyone obeys or burns."
The system chimed.
[Governance Panel Unlocked!]
A new window appeared.
[Options: Autocracy / Oligarchy / Monarchy / Republic / Theocracy.]
Lucifer blinked.
"…You have presets?"
[Recommended for Beginners: Monarchy.]
Lucifer laughed softly.
"Of course you do."
He selected it.
[Congratulations! You are now the Ruler of Beginner Island.]
Lucifer looked around.
The villagers knelt.
All of them.
Slowly. Unevenly. Awkwardly.
Lucifer froze.
"…Get up."
They didn't.
"I said get up."
They hesitated, then rose, eyes shining.
An old woman whispered, "We finally have a king…"
Lucifer felt something strange tighten in his chest.
Not pride.
Not annoyance.
Responsibility.
"…Troublesome," he muttered.
The system wasted no time.
[Emergency Quest!][Pirate Fleet Detected.][Threat Level: Medium.]
Lucifer squinted at the horizon.
Sails.
Black flags.
Rusty ships patched together from desperation and cruelty.
"Ah," he said. "There it is."
The villagers panicked.
"They're back!""They'll burn everything!""We can't fight them!"
Lucifer stretched lazily.
"Relax."
He walked to the shore.
The pirates laughed when they saw him—one man standing calmly as their ships approached.
"Look at that!" one shouted. "They sent a welcoming gift!"
Lucifer raised a hand.
He hesitated.
Then sighed.
"No," he said. "Beginner mode."
He snapped—but gently.
The sea obeyed.
Waves rose—not towering, not apocalyptic—just enough to tip ships, tangle sails, snap rudders. The pirates screamed as their vessels spun helplessly, grounded safely but firmly on sandbars.
Lucifer walked across the water.
The pirates fell silent.
"You have two options," he said pleasantly. "Leave this island forever… or stay."
"Stay?" a pirate croaked.
"As citizens," Lucifer added. "Work. Behave. Don't be idiots."
The pirates stared.
"…And if we refuse?"
Lucifer smiled.
The dragon's shadow passed overhead.
They nodded vigorously.
"Citizens sounds wonderful."
The system lagged.
[ERROR: Enemy Converted to Population.][Population: +312.]
[Achievement: 'Bloodless Resolution' — SS-Rank.]
Lucifer returned to shore.
The villagers stared at the former pirates unloading supplies and apologizing.
"…This is not how raids usually end," someone whispered.
Lucifer shrugged.
"I dislike mess."
That night, Lucifer sat alone on the cliff again.
Stars glittered above.
The system flickered beside him—less confident than before.
[Host…]
Lucifer glanced at it.
"Yes?"
[…Are you certain you are a beginner?]
Lucifer smiled.
"Absolutely."
The system paused.
[Then why is territory development exceeding advanced models?]
Lucifer leaned back, hands behind his head.
"Talent," he said. "And good weather."
The system didn't respond immediately.
When it did, the text was slower.
[New Feature Unlocked: Technology Panel.]
Lucifer's eyes gleamed.
"Oh?"
[Note: Early access granted due to… anomalies.]
Lucifer laughed quietly.
"You're adapting."
[I am… recalibrating.]
Lucifer looked over the island.
Lights glowed in new homes. Laughter drifted on the air. Guards patrolled—former pirates, farmers, fishermen, all united by something dangerously fragile.
Hope.
"…This is more interesting than Hell," he admitted.
The system processed that sentence.
Deep within its core, something shifted.
For the first time since its creation, the Empire Construction System wondered—
—not how to train its host—
—but how to survive him.
✦ End of Chapter 3 ✦