Chapter 67: The Final Preparations!
Author’s note: Thanks to Zach Gartman for subscribing to Patreon and supporting the novel; this extra chapter is to mark the occasion. I’ve also made a bold decision: from now on, for every new Patreon subscriber, I’ll publish an extra chapter! I reckon I can do it – put me to the test!
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After naming his new companion Asra, Kaiden spent some time getting to know her personality and preferences, and explained the Territory's basics to her just as he'd done with his other companions.
Unlike Ibla's childlike simplicity or Piedra's calm obedience, Asra possessed a clear, level-headed intelligence that made communicating with her through the spirit bond feel remarkably natural. She listened attentively, asked precise questions whenever something confused her, and absorbed information with striking speed.
Kaiden found himself genuinely enjoying the conversation.
After a short while, he asked her to fly out and scout the Territory's skies, making sure to emphasize that she shouldn't leave its borders. She agreed calmly, then spread her small wings and rose into the air with grace. Despite her small size, her flying style was elegant and precise, as though she were rising without the slightest effort.
Kaiden followed her with his eyes until she vanished among the clouds, then turned his focus back to the task ahead of him.
Twenty-four hours remained.
He'd already completed five of the day's six quests, meaning only one remained outside his direct control. There was nothing left for him to do but wait.
So he decided to focus on what he could control.
He opened his storage and began reviewing everything he'd gathered over the past days. The list was long, and plenty of items still sat unused or unprocessed — resources he hadn't found time to deal with, blueprints not yet built, raw materials waiting to be put to use.
He spent a full hour methodically reviewing everything, delegating what could be delegated, and ordering the construction of what needed building.
He summoned Casper, briefed him on several new tasks for the workshops, then handed over a number of resources to be distributed to the relevant craftsmen.
Once the administrative work was finished, he turned his attention to something he'd been putting off for a while.
Mithril.
Blacksmith Hook had been waiting for clear instructions on manufacturing priorities, and now Kaiden finally had a definitive answer.
He headed straight for the blacksmith's workshop, where he found Hook standing in front of the forge with his assistant beside him. The moment he spotted the Territory's lord, he straightened up and bowed respectfully.
"My lord."
Kaiden said:
"Hook, leave the rest to your assistants. Starting today, I want you to focus entirely on producing Hero-rank equipment. Make weapons using the mithril we have. After that, move on to armor, and coordinate with Asil at the rune-carving workshop — she'll handle engraving everything you produce."
"Understood completely, my lord. I'll start right away!"
Kaiden nodded, satisfied, then left the blacksmith's workshop.
His next stop was the rune-carving workshop, where he found Asil training her two new apprentices. He explained the plan to coordinate with Hook, and she received the news with obvious enthusiasm, having long looked forward to working with high-quality materials for the first time.
After finishing at both workshops, Kaiden made one last round through the Territory to check on the various preparations.
The catapults had already been tested and repositioned, with Aws having carefully chosen their locations based on the best firing angles, and the siege weapons now stood ready in case of an emergency once the deadline passed.
As for the alchemist's workshop, it was running at full capacity, with Luther continuing to produce successive batches of enhanced health recovery potions using the remaining spider blood.
He finally remembered the archer tower blueprints he hadn't built yet. They'd become an urgent necessity now, so he chose three suitable locations and built them immediately, mildly surprised at himself for having put it off this long.
Atop the Lord's manor, the siege weapon craftsman's assistants were studying the giant ballistae, jotting down every kind of detail with enthusiasm, as though what they were looking at was pure treasure.
Along the Territory's borders, soldiers of various ranks had taken up organized formations.
Kaiden stood at the center of his Territory and took in a full sweeping view around him.
The sun had begun tilting toward the western horizon.
All around him, the Territory buzzed with organized activity; everyone moving with a clear purpose, everyone preparing for what was coming. The scale of change that had taken place in just a single week was almost hard to believe.
At that same moment, two Elite Soldiers approached him, having reached the rank threshold — which also meant the final quest of the sixth day had been completed!
[Quest "An Army of Nascent Champions!" completed. Reward sent: ×10 Rune-inscribed mithril armor sets.]
Kaiden stopped at the entrance and stared at the notification.
Ten complete sets of rune-inscribed mithril armor had appeared inside his storage.
He pulled one out to inspect it.
The armor was truly exceptional — lightweight despite its remarkable toughness, covered in fine rune engravings that were already active, giving off a faint blue glow along their lines. Its defensive level far exceeded anything his current craftsmen could produce at their present skill level.
He shook his head slowly, a calm smile spreading across his lips.
"My talent never disappoints me."
He immediately distributed the armor to the Emerging Heroes according to seniority.
"Twenty-three hours remain."
He murmured, gazing at the countdown hanging at the edge of the protective barrier.
He hadn't slept well in several days, and he could feel the accumulated exhaustion weighing down on his body.
He also knew that once the countdown hit zero, sleep would become a luxury he could no longer afford.
So he made a calculated decision.
He turned around and headed back to the manor.
He'd eat dinner, read for an hour, then get a deep, restful night's sleep, so he could face whatever awaited him tomorrow with a clear mind and a rested body.
The moment he pushed open the Lord's manor's iron gate, one of the notifications he'd been waiting for finally appeared before him.
Once that was taken care of, Kaiden finally allowed himself to rest.
Dinner was simple but filling — a bowl of rice, grilled vegetables, and a thick soup packed with large chunks of meat. As usual, Sidra had outdone herself with the cooking.
Kaiden ate his dinner quietly at the stone table in the main hall, alone this time, his thoughts drifting between the preparations already completed and those still waiting for him.
Once he finished eating, he went up to the third floor, changed out of his outer clothes into a comfortable robe, then sat down in the reading chair beside the bookshelf.
He picked up the novel *The Adventures of Hero Alexander*, which he'd never had the chance to finish before.
He read for a full hour.
During that hour, Asra appeared at his balcony window, landing on the railing, watching him read with quiet curiosity. He gestured for her to come in, and she approached and settled down near him without saying a word, content simply to stay by his side.
After some time passed, Kaiden closed the book.
He extinguished the magic lamp.
Then lay down on his bed.
As for the last thought that crossed his mind before sleep took him, it wasn't about the countdown, nor the coming battles, nor the other races surrounding him.
It was something far simpler.
He'd come a long way in seven days.
And he meant it, with complete sincerity.
— End of Chapter Sixty-Seven —
Author’s note: As I told you earlier, lads, my editing software has been playing up, so these few chapters might contain a few errors. Please let me know if you spot any mistakes or anything like that. Please bear with your poor author for a bit. Thank you