The morning sun cast a golden hue over Redbrook, illuminating the remnants of the previous night's battle. The once-oppressed townspeople cautiously emerged from their homes, their expressions a mix of fear, uncertainty, and hope.
Yuuto stood at the fortress gates, his gaze sweeping over the streets that now belonged to him. The air was heavy with the scent of blood and burnt wood, but beneath that was something new—possibility.
Selene, standing beside him, adjusted the strap of her leather belt, her violet eyes scanning the town with calculated interest. "You've taken the first step," she murmured. "Now comes the hard part—ruling."
Yuuto smirked. "I never planned to stop at just killing bandits."
A group of villagers approached hesitantly. Leading them was the old man from the previous night. He had introduced himself as Garret, the village elder—though, with his frail body and hunched posture, it was clear he hadn't held any real authority under Iron Fang's rule.
Garret stopped a few feet away, bowing his head in respect. "My lord," he said, voice hoarse from years of hardship. "The people are ready to hear your decree."
Yuuto nodded. "Gather them in the town square. I will address them soon."
As Garret hurried off, Selene crossed her arms. "You have a plan, don't you?"
Yuuto's gaze didn't waver from the horizon. "I'm not going to rule through fear alone. The people need to see that following me is their best option."
Selene chuckled. "A tyrant with a conscience. That's rare."
Yuuto didn't respond. He wasn't doing this out of kindness—he was doing it because a stable, loyal domain was more valuable than a fearful, broken one.
By mid-morning, the entirety of Redbrook had gathered in the town square. Some stood in tense silence, others whispered amongst themselves. The wounds of oppression were still fresh—just because their masters had changed didn't mean they trusted the new one.
Yuuto stepped onto the elevated stone platform where Iron Fang's former leader had once made his declarations. Now, it was his turn.
He looked over the faces of the people before him—farmers, blacksmiths, merchants, laborers, children clinging to their mothers' skirts. They were weary, but they were survivors.
"I know many of you fear me," Yuuto began, his voice carrying across the square. "I don't expect your trust immediately. But let me make one thing clear—Redbrook belongs to me now. And under my rule, things will change."
Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
"I have no interest in crushing you beneath my boot. I have no desire to take from you what is yours. I only care about one thing—strength. And strength is built through order, through prosperity."
A young man, barely out of his teenage years, stepped forward. "And what makes you different from Iron Fang? They promised order too!"
Yuuto met his gaze without hesitation. "They ruled through fear and greed. I rule through power. You have two choices—stand with me and thrive, or stand against me and fall. I won't waste time convincing you."
The silence that followed was thick with tension. Then, Garret stepped forward once more.
"I have lived long enough to see many rulers," the old man said. "Some worse than others. But I've never seen one who slew an entire mercenary group overnight and still took the time to speak to the people." He turned to the crowd. "We have nothing left to lose. Why not see where this road leads?"
A few heads nodded. Slowly, more followed. The air shifted—not into open acceptance, but a willingness to wait and see.
Yuuto inwardly smirked. Good. That's all I needed.
After the meeting, Yuuto returned to the fortress, where Selene had already begun organizing the spoils they had taken from Iron Fang.
"We have enough gold to keep the town running for a while," she said, rolling open a ledger she had taken from the leader's office. "But we need to restore trade routes. Right now, Redbrook is isolated."
Yuuto scanned the pages. The previous ruler of Redbrook had relied on bribery and intimidation to control the economy. That wouldn't work for him.
"Then we restore trade," Yuuto said simply. "Send word to the surrounding villages. Tell them Redbrook is open for business."
Selene raised an eyebrow. "You think they'll trust us?"
"They don't need to trust us," Yuuto replied. "They just need to see the profit."
Selene smirked. "You really are a merchant at heart."
Yuuto turned his attention to the fortress itself. "What about manpower? How many fighters do we have?"
Selene's expression turned grim. "Not enough. The townspeople can't fight. We need real soldiers."
Yuuto tapped his fingers against the wooden table. Then we recruit.
By nightfall, Yuuto gathered the strongest and most able-bodied men and women from the town. Most were former laborers, hunters, or those who had been forced to serve Iron Fang.
"You are the first of my warriors," Yuuto told them. "You will train, you will fight, and you will grow stronger. Serve me well, and you will be rewarded beyond your imagination."
Many of them looked hesitant, but there was something in his tone, in the fire of his gaze, that made them straighten their backs.
Yuuto turned to Selene. "You will oversee their training."
Selene blinked. "Me?"
"You're skilled," Yuuto said simply. "More than them. Teach them what they need to survive."
Selene studied the group, then sighed. "Fine. But don't expect miracles overnight."
"I don't need miracles," Yuuto said. "Just progress."
That night, Yuuto stood atop the fortress walls, looking over the town he now ruled. The fires in the homes flickered like stars, each one a reminder that he had begun something real here.
Selene approached, standing beside him. "You've made it through the first day. How does it feel?"
Yuuto exhaled. "Like I've just placed the first stone of an empire."
She chuckled. "Ambitious."
He smirked. "I don't settle for anything less."
The night wind blew through the fortress. Redbrook was his. But he knew this was only the beginning.
To truly rule, he needed to expand.
And soon, the entire kingdom would know his name.