The morning sun broke through the canopy, its golden rays spilling across the hut Itsuki had built. He stretched, a small smile tugging at his lips.
For the first time since his death, he had slept peacefully. No honking horns. No endless part-time shifts. Just the quiet hum of nature… and the promise of something new.
When he stepped outside, Lyra was already awake, standing near the stream with her bow in hand. Her silver hair caught the morning light, and her gaze lingered on the hut.
"You worked some strange magic last night," she said without turning. "And yet… I cannot deny the walls held. We survived the night without beasts clawing at us."
Itsuki shrugged lightly. "That's the idea. Safety first."
Lyra finally faced him, her expression serious. "Then perhaps… you should see something."
They traveled deeper into the forest, weaving between colossal trees and overgrown roots. The air grew colder, heavier, until the trees thinned into a small valley.
There, Itsuki's breath caught.
Dozens of elves huddled in crude shelters of bark and leaves. Children with hollow eyes clung to their mothers. Hunters sharpened broken spears. The smell of smoke and desperation filled the air.
"This…" Itsuki whispered.
Lyra's jaw tightened. "These are my people. We once had a village, deep in the northern woods. But human raiders burned it, and monsters drove us from the ruins. Now we wander, hiding where we can. Every day, fewer survive."
Itsuki's fists clenched. The sight clawed at him, burning into his chest. These people weren't just surviving—they were barely alive.
And this is supposed to be my kingdom…?
Lyra turned to him, her green eyes sharp. "Last night, you spoke of a dream. A place where no one fears monsters or kingdoms. Tell me, human—" her voice wavered with something between hope and doubt, "—was that only a boast?"
Itsuki looked at the elves again. At the thin children. At the tired hunters. At the women with eyes dulled by loss.
He thought of his old life—how he had worked endlessly, achieving nothing. How he had died without meaning.
"No," he said firmly. His hand pressed against the Codex of Creation at his side, its glow pulsing faintly. "It wasn't a boast. If you'll trust me, then this—" he gestured at the valley, "—will be the birthplace of something greater."
Lyra studied him for a long time, then slowly nodded. "Very well. Show us, Itsuki. Show us what you can create."
The gathered elves turned as Itsuki walked into the clearing. Whispers rose, suspicious eyes following his every step.
He opened the Codex. The pages glowed.
Itsuki stepped forward. Dozens of elven eyes locked onto him, uncertain but hopeful. He raised his hand and summoned the power of Creation.
A surge of light poured into the earth. Before their eyes, massive stone walls erupted, forming a square perimeter around the clearing. Dust and sparks scattered as the ground shook. The elves gasped. For the first time in years, there was a barrier between them and the wild.
[System Notice: Large-scale Creation Complete. Remaining Mana: Critically Low.]
Itsuki staggered, gripping his chest as exhaustion hit him. A mechanical voice echoed in his mind:
[Warning: Insufficient mana to continue large constructions. Recommend smaller-scale creations or assistance from others.]
Itsuki clenched his fist. So I can't do everything myself… Then I'll make sure they can.
He closed his eyes and summoned creation again—not for walls or houses this time, but for tools. One by one, crude iron axes, saws, hammers, and spades appeared in the dirt.
The elves stared, wide-eyed.
"These… are for you," Itsuki said, his voice firm despite his fatigue. "I'll provide the foundation, but it's your hands that will build this village. Together, we'll make a home."
Lyra's people exchanged glances, hesitation fading into determination. Slowly, they picked up the tools. The sound of chopping wood soon echoed in the clarity the first true labor of Itsuki's village.
Lyra stepped closer, smiling faintly. "You didn't give them a village. You gave them the power to build one."
Itsuki smirked, tired but satisfied. "A kingdom isn't something one man creates alone. It's something we shape together."
The spark of a nation had been lit.