The Kingmaker System-Chapter 35 - 34. Master (1)

The darkness of the cold autumn night was illuminated by the full moon in the sky and it was thanks to that that I could see the figures prancing about in the alleyway way below me.

My aqua-blue hair danced with the wind and I couldn’t help but feel bored watching the one-sided fight.

I had been following this particular assassin who was fighting with the fifteen enemy assassins, he had already taken out around ten of them. But he was stabbed by one of them and now he was having a hard time against the rest.

I sat on the edge of the roof with my feet swinging in the air as I watched the show.

[Defender of Divine Glory condemns your cruel nature.]

[Goddess of Wisdom asks Defender of Divine Glory to have patience.]

"Be quiet guys, I am watching." I told them off as I watched the skills of the guy who was fighting.

Even after being injured so gravely he was fighting for his survival and his skills were no joke, he was swift and agile, and his blows were strong too but because of his injury, he was having a hard time.

"I think, I might have found the perfect pawn I’ve been looking for."

[Defender of Divine Glory asks whether it is necessary to see everyone as pawns.]

"Sneak attack." I mumbled ignoring the concern of my Patron.

I pulled out the specialised device that Silas had made as per my requirements and I pointed the muzzle of my very own customised handgun which shot magic frost bullets by absorbing my mana.

It might just be the only gun in this world. I wasn’t planning on starting an arms business because wars were already in vogue here.

I pulled the trigger and shot in the arm of the guy who was going to stab the injured man in the back.

The injured man seemed like he was on his last breath when I leapt from the roof and kicked the one who was the closest to attacking him. The element of surprise worked as I shot two of the assassins and the rest two attacked me.

I smashed one’s head into the wall beside me and kicked the man into the dump ending him with the last shot.

All the five assassins who were ganging up on the injured one were down leaving me and the shocked man.

"Who... Who are you?" He asked as he clutched his side staring at me.

I took a step towards him and he flinched pointing the dagger in his hand at me.

"Stay away from me!" I sighed as he reeked of blood and his steps were already staggering.

"You’re still a few hundred years too early to fight me." My voice stepped out as that of a teenage guy.

I walked towards him and he thrust his dagger at me sloppily, thanks to his already weakened state, I smacked it out of his hand and rested a blow over his neck instantly knocking him out.

His tall frame fell over my shoulder as I stood only half a head below him and I gripped his arm throwing his unconscious body over my shoulder as I walked deeper into the alleyway.

After the series of twists and turns, I stopped at the wooden door and knocked thrice. The door was opened by a familiar man who was in his early fifties.

He had scraggly grey hair that hung over his beady, dark eyes, and a large scar running from his forehead to his right cheek narrowly missing his eye. His salt and pepper beard prickled over his sunburnt face and his lips set into a firm line as he saw me bring yet another near-dead person to him.

He moved out of the way as I walked in and laid the injured man on the bed in the room that reeked of bitter medicines.

"Where did you find him?" The old man who went by the name Doc Black asked.

"In the alley near the smithy’s shop," I answered. "He was stabbed, the wound is deep."

Doc immediately got to work as I glanced around the small clinic.

I caught my reflection in the mirror that was mounted on the wall and watched my sharp ocean-blue eyes staring back at me with the handsome teenage boy’s face and the lean, muscled body draped in dark clothes and a black cloak that covered my head.

The township that had taken only four months to complete had its own perks which included its maze-like alleys that were purposely made for the safety of the residents. The shops that lined the main road brought good revenue to the ones who had found a home here.

After a few minutes, Doc turned and looked at me.

"He’s lost a lot of blood, he will need rest and proper food."

I pulled a pouch from my pocket and tossed it to Doc.

"Arrange it, and get this man up, I need him."

"Are you going to give him a place here as well, Master?" Doc asked making me smile.

"No, he seems good enough for other work so, I’ll keep him with me."

"Pardon, but Master it could be dangerous." Doc said and I chuckled.

Look who was talking, the ex Pirate Captain who was betrayed by his own crew and nearly died if I hadn’t stumbled upon him by pure chance. He had experienced my strength firsthand yet, he was worried about me.

"For who?" I asked.

"You have been bringing strange people around here for treatment, Master. You know they are here to kill you yet, why-"

"I only bring those who stand a chance to survive and fight, Doc. Besides, didn’t I take you in as well?"

Doc sighed as his fingers brushed over his scar and then gave up on the topic.

He knew that the entire town was made up of people I had personally gathered, including those who owed me and those who had nowhere else to go - all of them had come to my town, Oasis.

"I’ll look after him, you should return now, Master. It’s quite late and the cold is growing severe." Doc said and after one glance at the man who looked like he would be in his late twenties, I walked towards the door.

"If you need anything else then let me know." I told Doc and he nodded.

"Yes, Master."

I walked out and released a deep breath feeling the sweep of the invisible wings behind me and the ground disappeared from beneath my feet before I found myself high up in the air.

It had been four months since and this time was marked by a series of troubling events that significantly impacted the specific individuals.

I enjoyed this time though as being the owner of Oasis town and also of the mine of the magic stones put me on the target board for various nobles.

A lot of spies came by but none were able to locate the mine so, as a resort they tried to infiltrate my town but even then they failed as the people there were loyal to me.

I had built an impenetrable fortress and I wasn’t letting some greedy pigs ruin my hard work.

My flight wasn’t long as within a couple of minutes, I was in the estate where I would temporarily drop by. The luxurious mansion was laced with security devices and watched by the vigilant eyes whom I had hired.

I landed on the balcony of the doors that I had left open and the figure inside stirred as it sensed me. I sighed as I entered the room, I had told him to not get into this room but he actively sought me out.

"You’re back." I looked at his round scarlet eyes that looked up at me with admiration.

"Why are you here? I didn’t say I was coming today." I asked.

"I just had a feeling that you would come."

"Still, I haven’t allowed you to come into my room." I reminded him.

"But, I had to talk about something important to you, Master." The young boy said.

"What is it?" I asked as I removed the cloak making my shoulder-length blue hair fall freely over my shoulders.

"Did you get hurt?" He asked.

"Huh?"

"You smell of blood."

"I found another stray in the alleyway."

"Ah..." He kept eyeing me as I leaned against the side of the armchair giving him my full attention.

"What did you want to talk about?" I asked.

He twiddled his thumbs before he spoke up, "It’s... about why you want to make me the King."

There he goes again...

He had been asking me about the same thing for four months since the time that I had told him that I would make him the King.

Four months ago, he had arrived at the mansion of Marquis Fairisles in the capital upon receiving the letter that was delivered to him.

Marquis Fairisles, Duke Aurelius and a few other nobles who were of neutral faction were now seen with suspicion by Prince Carlos’s faction and the supporters of the Queen. The giant like Marquis Fairisles had started moving so, it might only be a matter of time till the others would follow.

And the one they would support was Prince Eric.

Prince Eric made a decision to become the King and I had him shifted to the East Marquessate under the wing of the Marquis Fairisles disturbing the Queen till the point that she started sending assassins every other day.

Still, the Queen’s assassins were having a field day trying to kill Eric. If they got anywhere near the mansion then they would be taken out by the security force that was stationed all around.

And even if they did manage to get inside, the mansion was filled with magic devices which would go off on the assassins in the form of explosives or concealed weapons making it impossible to get anywhere near him.

"Can you not tell me yet?" Eric asked.

He had decided to put his trust in me since I had saved his mother but it seemed like he didn’t trust my motivation of making him the King.

"You want an answer?"

Eric nodded and I crossed my arms at my chest.

"I don’t want Prince Carlos to sit on the throne and ruin our kingdom any more than the present King is doing." I answered making Eric tilt his head to one side.

"I don’t want pointless wars, nor unnecessary sacrifices, I want a King that could make this Kingdom a peaceful place for everyone from the nobles to the commoners."

"I want to see the King’s hard work reach the grassroots level where every person in the Kingdom would feel happy to be protected and serve their King wholeheartedly." I explained making Eric stare at me.

"I see the potential in you. That’s why I chose you."

Eric kept staring at me for a long moment before he clenched his fists and asked me, "I-If you want to make the Kingdom a better place then you could become a King yourself."

"No, I’m not suited for that job. My work is different, so," I walked over to him and placed my hand on his shoulder, "Make sure you live up to my expectations."

"Yes, Master."

He had picked the habit of calling me "Master" just like how the others called me.

"Also, fix that habit of calling me Master, Prince. You are the future King." I said as I shoved my hands in my pants pockets.

"But you are the Master."

I sighed and looked at the innocent child.

"Your Highness, you know my name, don’t you?"

"Yes."

"Then please use that to address me. The only ones who call me Master are the ones who work for me."

"I’m also working for you."

I sighed running my hand through my hair, "Then it’s an order from me."

Eric stared at me with anticipation glinting in his eyes.

"Use my name while addressing me."

"Al-All right." He seemed disappointed for some reason.

"Also, I will leave tomorrow for some work-"

"When will you return?"

"Don’t know might take months or a year."

Eric’s eyes widened as I said that, and then he looked down at his feet.

"Wh-Where are you going?"

"To grow stronger."

"But you are quite strong."

"I’m not strong enough for the future and neither are you so, train hard and study a lot."

"Yes, Master." He said cheerfully.

"What did I just say a minute ago?"

"Ah, sorry," He grinned.

I didn’t want to raise a King whose memories would be filled with traumas and scars, I would rather raise a happy child who would empathize with others and also know the value and taste of happiness.

"Then, I will work hard while you are away," he said and I nodded.

"Now, go and get some rest." I said gesturing towards the door and he nodded before he walked out.

Just as he was leaving he stopped short making me look at him, "Good night, Ma- Ah, sorry."

His smile made his eyes glow as he corrected himself, "Good night, Baron Ocean Ryujin."