The King's System

Announcement!

Today will be the last day of mass releases like this. So far, I've been writing and publishing them without even proof-reading them, and therefore I have no stock of chapters. I'm on holidays right now, and that's the only reason I can write so much. I'm reducing the release rate so that I can still publish even if I don't get the time to write on that day.

I'll be releasing 3 a day starting tomorrow, so that's a guaranteed 21 chapters a week. If we can get higher than Rank 500 in any given week before the reset, then I'll do a mass release of 10 chapters.

That's all!

**********************************************************************************************************

I've finished the sword already. With less than 15 minutes left on Mana Merge, I need to hurry up and name it.

'For the chivalric values that every knight should have, I shall name this sword the 'Knight's Rose'!' (Daniel)

Instantly, the mana around me changed. It surged towards my body, threatening to destroy me from within. Luckily, the sword was also very greedy. It s.u.c.k.e.d up the mana from my body as soon as it was available and continued until every last drop was gone.

The naming process took 10 minutes. It was as if there was a vortex around my body, and all the mana in the immediate vicinity was flowing towards it. Even the flames in Tordal's forge seemed to be affected by the sudden flow of mana.

Afterwards, Ed appraised the sword again.

[Knight's Rose (Half-God): A sword forged for a loved one. Guided by their views and principals, this sword is tailor made for them.

(Sealed): Only the person this sword is designed for can unleash its true potential.

(Named): The forger has given this sword a fitting name. At the same time, the forger has infused his intent into the sword and upgraded its rarity.

(Half-God): Has all the requirements to become a God item, except for divinity. The sword has already accepted its purpose. It will serve its wielder to the best of its ability.]

The sword is still sealed, since Catherine is not the one holding it.

With my sword finished, I wait for Tordal to complete his. His face is extremely pale right now, no doubt panicking from the fact that I made such an exquisite sword.

Viscount Sivod is also seething, with his face as bright as a tomato. I don't really care what he thinks though.

---

Finally, after another hour, Tordal finishes his sword. There was no way he would be able to restart it after seeing my sword, so what he's ended up with is just a plain mithril sword.

The both of us take it to Sivod, who is the judge for the contest. No doubt, he'll try to do something so that the result will be Tordal's win.

However, my actions have directly made that impossible. The unintentional theatrics of the forging and naming process have deeply impressed the audience.

If Sivod announces Tordal as the winner, then he'll fall out of favour of the citizens. And a lord without his citizens is no lord at all.

Therefore, he'll be forced to reluctantly crown me as the winner. And for the added final touch, I suppose he'll try to force me to give him the sword.

Instead, I'll directly ignore him and walk straight to Catherine. Oh, his speech is starting.

"Wonderful, truly wonderful! Erast is blessed to have two marvellous talents such as yourselves. I think there is no… doubt about the winner! The winner is… Daniel, Gorund's apprentice!" (Sivod)

The crowd erupted in cheers. They're obviously very happy that someone of my calibre is in their town. I won't be staying here for much longer after this though.

"Oi, you, Daniel. Give me that sword." (Sivod)

Straight to it, huh? He didn't even offer any payment. What makes him think that I can't go to one of his rivals and supply his army with high-quality swords? What an idiot.

As planned, I simply ignore him.

Instead, I walk to Catherine and kneel before her.

Like a knight offering up a sword to their lord, I raise the Knight's Rose and speak the lines I've prepared.

"Catherine, I would like to offer this sword to you. I have named it 'Knight's Rose', inspired by your kind and chivalric views. Will you accept?" (Daniel)

This sounds like a proposal now. Well, it probably could be considered as one. Except the ring has been replaced with a sword.

I've also spun a lie, since the sword's conception was much earlier than when I went on a date with her. But then again, ignorance is bliss.

"Yes nya! Thank nyou, Daniel!" (Catherine)

She grasps the handle of the sword, and lifts it towards her face to inspect it more carefully.

I rise up from my kneeling posture, and move closer to her.

Catherine, who notices my intention, grabs the scabbard that is now in my hands, sheathes her sword, places it at her waist, and falls into my embrace with her head on my c.h.e.s.t.

I lift her chin up with my finger, and give her a quick but passionate kiss.

This has riled up the audience even more. They are now directly ignoring the presence of Sivod, and completely focused on Catherine and me.

Catherine seems embarrassed, but I place my hand around her waist and wave towards the crowd in a sort of victory shout.

There's absolutely no need to do this, but at least it will solidify my popularity over Sivod's.

Speaking of Sivod, he's stormed off somewhere along Kuzzat and Tordal. I bet they're thinking of new plans to mess with Gorund.

However, with all the citizens of the town as witnesses, he'll be forced to sign that sales contract in the end.

They've doomed themselves by underestimating me.

Gorund comes up to us with teary eyes.

"D-Daniel… *hic* thank you so much. I… I don't know how to repay you…" (Gorund)

Again, please stop! There's no need to spout such lines that should only come from chaste maidens!

This is totally ruining the atmosphere I had going. Even Catherine has woken up from her daze, and is trying to wriggle her way out of my embrace. I'm not going to let that happen though.

"Gorund, I thought I told you not to say stuff like that again! Do you want me to die of disgust!? Anyway, there's no need to repay me right now. If I need you, I'll call for you. Consider this as thanks for teaching me blacksmithing." (Daniel)

"But… I didn't really teach you anything at all!" (Gorund)

"Maa, don't sweat the small details!" (Daniel)

The two of us look at each other in silence for a second, before bursting into laughter.

Catherine is looking at us with a weird light in her eyes. Oh no, don't tell me she's awakened to immorality!

I must guide back towards the correct path! Which is between two women, not two men!

"Catherine, go back with Arin for now. We'll need to leave soon." (Daniel)

Speaking of Arin, I kind of forgot she existed for a moment. She's looking at me with jealousy yet a bit of pride. I think I know what she's thinking about. Which means I'll have to learn how to make bows pretty soon…

"Gorund, I'll be leaving the town today. I don't want to get caught up in Sivod's machinations." (Daniel)

"Yeah, I was gonna suggest that anyway. Don't worry, I won't let him get the better of me! I'll be waiting for your call." (Gorund)

"Alright, I'll be counting on you." (Daniel)

With that out of the way, I can peacefully leave the town of Erast.