"Public image?" asked Kaito.
"That's right," Kaguya nodded with pride, "Although most people know you now, it isn't enough. You don't just need recognition, you need influence."
"And how do you achieve that?" he asked.
"Simple. You just have to..." Kaguya paused for a moment, thinking, "Leave it to me."
"What do you mean?"
"I will become your public representative. You will be something like a hidden boss, the kind who holds influence behind the scenes. Of course, I will need you from time to time, but most of the time I will be the spokesperson."
Kaito frowned at that explanation.
"Isn't that too much?"
Although he did not fully understand politics, he did not want to leave the matter entirely in someone else's hands. It seemed too irresponsible even for him.
"It's not, in fact I prefer it this way," Kaguya explained. Her strong desire to be recognized by her family had made her extremely independent, to the point of preferring to do everything alone rather than ask for help.
But Kaito was not willing to give in.
"Denied," he said seriously.
"But..." Kaguya tried to reply.
"No objections. Handle it for now, but in the future I will take the lead. If you are worried that I'm not ready, you can teach me yourself."
Kaguya clenched her fists, frustrated, but had no choice except to accept.
"Fine."
After discussing a few more details, Kaguya left, and Kaito took some time to deal with something he had postponed for quite a while: claiming rewards.
Since the last time he had collected those from Nareth and Veldris, he had not opened any chests. Because they usually contained minor items, he let them pile up, even the experience was scarce.
But today was destined to surprise him.
In addition to several normal blueprints and some uncommon ones from nearby areas, there were two special chests: one silver and one gold.
The silver one came from the southern city, Velanir, which had tried to conquer them the last time, where he had also met Mashiro. The delay in obtaining it was due to the chaos after their defeat: almost the entire city army had been annihilated by Kaito's troops and its leader captured. For a time the territory was a paradise for crime. When the lady of the city returned, it took a little while to regain control. Even so, the difference in education, intelligence, and even power between forest dwellers and elves sent from the royal city was great, so it did not take her too long, especially since Kaito's troops also intervened.
Silver chests were rare. Kaito had only obtained others in Nareth and Veldris.
According to his analysis, the chests were classified as follows:
Wood: easy places, such as the surroundings where hellhounds were still hunted.
Iron: a bit harder, like kobold territories or silver wolves.
Bronze: moderately challenging cities, like the goblin territory or the kobolds if they had been at full strength.
Silver: developed cities with enough intelligent life, like Nareth, Veldris, or Velanir.
Gold: the most valuable so far. Mashiro had given him one when she surrendered, and another from Kaguya when she submitted.
Kaito had never killed a Lord, so he did not know if gold chests could be obtained that way as well, but his experience suggested that every defeated Lord granted at least one. And the gold chest seemed to be the minimum they could provide. This speculation came from the fact that Mashiro had no territory and surrendered automatically, while Kaguya had a more developed territory and fought hard, yet both gave gold chests.
He set the analysis aside and opened the silver chest from Velanir.
[Tower of Aquatic Blessing
Class: Tower
Description: The lady of Velanir was blessed by water, increasing her skill with that element. She shares part of that blessing with your territory.
Effect: Improves the quality of water in the area where it is placed, granting minor recovery and health effects.
Note: "Territory" refers only to the area where it is installed, not to all of the Lord's domains.]
"Don't confuse literal territory with a Lord's territory, huh?" Kaito murmured.
He was already used to it: both Nareth and Veldris had given towers in their chests. The water effects were modest;better sleep, slight recovery, small buffs;but beneficial on a large scale. With more towers like this, his land would be almost a sacred zone, free of disease and filled with enhancers.
Aside from that he only obtained gold, which left him a bit disappointed.
He moved on to the gold chest that Kaguya had given him, but noticed something.
"I have two?" he was surprised for a second until he remembered he had never opened the one obtained from Mashiro.
Without giving it much thought, he opened the first one.
[You have opened a gold chest]
[You obtained:
• 15,000,000 XP
• Skill: Elemental Affinity Level 5 of one element (selectable)]
Kaito froze, a theory forming in his mind. He opened the other chest to confirm it.
[You have opened a gold chest]
[You obtained:
• 25,000,000 XP
• Skill: True Damage]
Both were weaker versions of the abilities of the defeated Lords: maximum affinity of a single element compared to Mashiro's total affinity, and a diluted form of Kaguya's soul attack. The "True Damage" he had just acquired ignored defenses from items or abilities but could not match Kaguya's precision, which could strike directly at the soul.
Even more important was the experience gained. The reason Kaito let chests accumulate was that they normally granted little of it, but this time with only two he had enough to level up several times.
Conclusion:
Wood, iron, and bronze chests: for beginners, useful but not game breaking.
Silver: meant to improve territories, usually with towers.
Gold: focused on personal growth of the Lord, with skills and a lot of experience.
Kaito used the experience immediately:
---
[Name]: Takayama Kaito / Lucifer
[Race]: Original Demon of Speed
[Titles]: Lord of the Territory, King of the Spirit's World*
[Level]: 26 (1,450,000 / 15,000,000)
[Base Stats]:
HP: 30,000 (3,000 ×10)
MP: 500 (50 ×10)
Strength: 1,500 ((70 + 30×10) + 500)
Agility: 8,400 (64 + 20×100)
Constitution: 1,000 (60 + 20 + 20×10)
[Skills]:
Original Demon of Speed (MAX), Speedforce (MAX), Shadow Manipulation (3/5), Holy Affinity (5/5), True Damage, Fire Manipulation (2/5), Air (1/5), Water (1/5), Earth (2/5)
[Stat Points]: –
[Skill Points]: –
[Gold]: 3 045 510
---
He had gained six levels, distributing the 60 points: 20 in MP, 20 in strength, 11 in constitution, and 9 in agility, plus 300 extra points in strength from the increase in his "presence."
He took the opportunity to use the maximum affinity on the holy element, the hardest for him. It was not only difficult to learn but the magic of that element seemed to reject him.
"I should change my armor soon" he murmured. His current gear, while decent, was made of a common material in Gaia.
When he closed the status window he noticed something: a new title, King of the Spirit's World, with an asterisk at the end.
The description indicated it was a lesser version of Mashiro's Queen of the Fairies: it increased affinity in several elements but did not bring them to the maximum. The king was not chosen by mana like the queen, but even so, if he had this title it was because he was recognized, so the blessing was weaker.
"Tsk, even the mana prefers cute girls," Kaito grumbled.
The asterisk caught his attention. When he pressed it another note appeared:
[The so-called "Spirit's World" is not its real name, it is only a name given from the outside. If you meet the conditions, you can give it your own name.
Condition 1: Be the king or queen of this plane. (Completed)
Condition 2: Build your territory within the plane. (Completed)
Condition 3: Your territory must not yet have a name. (Completed)]
Kaito fell into thought. After a few seconds of reflection, he decided it would be best to consult with the others.
______________________________________
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(just delete the hyphen)
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