The grassland was quiet.
Too quiet.
Fifty-two villagers stood in a loose group around the glowing Territory Core, looking unsure of what to do next.
Some clutched their bags tightly. Others simply stared at the towering giants standing nearby.
The giants themselves were perfectly still.
Like statues.
Massive statues.
Derrick stood in the center of it all with his arms crossed.
"…Alright," he muttered to himself.
"Step one of becoming a Lord."
He looked around.
"Figure out what the hell you're doing."
A blue system panel floated in front of him.
[Construction System]
Available Buildings:
Basic House
Wooden Fence
Storage Hut
Resources:
Food — 100
Wood — 50
Stone — 50
Derrick scratched his chin.
"Okay."
"Let's think like a strategy game."
Food meant survival.
Wood meant buildings.
Stone meant stronger buildings later.
But the villagers clearly needed somewhere to stay first.
He turned toward the elder.
"What skills do your people have?"
The elder blinked.
"…Skills?"
"Yeah," Derrick said.
"Carpenters. Hunters. Blacksmiths. Builders."
The elder thought for a moment.
"We have several carpenters… some hunters… a few farmers."
He paused.
"And one blacksmith."
Derrick's eyes lit up.
"Oh that's huge."
The elder looked confused again.
"…Huge?"
Derrick nodded.
"A blacksmith means weapons."
He looked around at the villagers again.
"Which means eventually we can arm people."
He turned toward the giant beside him.
"My big friend."
The giant lowered his head.
"Yes, my Lord."
Derrick pointed toward the forest.
"I need wood."
The giant nodded.
Then simply walked toward the nearest tree.
The villagers watched in confusion.
The giant placed both hands on the massive trunk.
And pushed.
CRACK.
The entire tree snapped like a twig.
The villagers gasped.
The giant casually picked it up and carried it back.
Derrick blinked.
"…Okay."
He looked at the elder.
"Yeah we're definitely using giants for construction."
Within the next hour the giants had brought back dozens of trees.
They worked faster than any group of lumberjacks Derrick had ever seen.
The villagers slowly began organizing themselves.
Carpenters stepped forward first.
They inspected the wood carefully.
Then began cutting it into planks using simple tools.
Derrick watched the process closely.
He noticed something interesting.
The system panel updated whenever the villagers worked.
[Wood Processed]
+12 Usable Lumber
"Oh," Derrick said.
"So the system tracks production too."
That was extremely useful.
A young boy ran past him carrying a small bundle of sticks.
He almost tripped.
Derrick grabbed his shoulder before he could fall.
"Careful there."
The boy looked up nervously.
"…Sorry, my Lord."
Derrick smiled.
"No problem."
The boy hesitated.
Then pointed toward the giants.
"…They won't eat us, right?"
Derrick laughed.
"Nah."
"They only eat monsters."
The boy's eyes widened.
"…Really?"
"…I think."
The boy ran back to the villagers looking both terrified and impressed.
Derrick rubbed his forehead.
"Great."
"Now the kids think my army eats monsters for breakfast."
A loud hammering sound suddenly echoed nearby.
CLANG.
CLANG.
Derrick turned.
The village blacksmith had already begun working.
He had set up a small temporary forge using stones.
The man wiped sweat from his forehead and bowed.
"My Lord."
Derrick walked closer.
"You work fast."
The blacksmith shrugged.
"If monsters come again we need weapons."
Derrick nodded.
Good mentality.
A few minutes later the system updated again.
[First Building Completed]
Basic House ×1
Derrick turned toward the structure.
It was simple.
Wooden walls.
Thatched roof.
But it looked sturdy.
The villagers cheered quietly.
For them this wasn't just a building.
It was safety.
More houses quickly followed.
The giants helped lift heavy beams.
Carpenters directed the work.
Children gathered sticks for fires.
Even the elderly helped prepare food.
Derrick stood near the Territory Core watching everything.
He felt strangely proud.
Just this morning he had been a college student.
Now he was organizing an entire village.
"…Life comes at you fast," he muttered.
The elder approached again.
"My Lord."
"Yes?"
"We should also build a fence."
Derrick immediately nodded.
"Agreed."
Defenses were critical.
He opened the system panel.
Wooden Fence
Cost: 20 Wood
Derrick selected it.
The system displayed a glowing outline across the settlement perimeter.
"Oh that's convenient."
He turned toward the giants again.
"Time to build walls."
The giants began digging holes for wooden posts.
Villagers hammered planks into place.
Slowly but surely the settlement began taking shape.
By sunset—
Ten houses had been built.
A small storage hut stood near the Territory Core.
And a rough wooden fence surrounded most of the area.
It wasn't impressive yet.
But it was a beginning.
A cooking fire crackled in the center of the settlement.
Villagers gathered around it.
For the first time since their village was destroyed…
They looked relaxed.
Derrick sat on a wooden log nearby.
The giant he had ridden earlier stood behind him like a silent bodyguard.
Derrick glanced back.
"You know… I should probably give you guys names."
The giant tilted his head slightly.
"…Names?"
"Yeah."
"Calling you 'giant number one' feels weird."
He thought for a moment.
Then pointed.
"You're… Grom."
The giant nodded.
"Grom."
The other giants waited.
Derrick pointed again.
"You're… Bor."
Then.
"Krag."
"Tor."
"And… Luga."
The giants repeated their names quietly.
Grom.
Bor.
Krag.
Tor.
Luga.
Derrick leaned back.
"Much better."
The village elder approached slowly.
"My Lord."
"Yes?"
"Thank you."
Derrick looked around.
The settlement was small.
The houses were simple.
The fence was rough.
But children were laughing.
People were eating.
No monsters were attacking.
For now…
They were safe.
Derrick scratched his head awkwardly.
"Yeah… well…"
"We're just getting started."
The elder nodded.
Then he looked toward the mountains.
"…My Lord."
Derrick followed his gaze.
The cliffs towered high above the grassland.
And now that the sun was setting…
Something strange became visible.
Faint glowing patterns.
Carved into the stone.
Runes.
Ancient runes.
Derrick slowly stood up.
"…Okay."
He narrowed his eyes.
"That definitely wasn't there before."
The giant named Grom stepped closer.
"My Lord."
"…Yes?"
"The mountain…"
"…belongs to the giants."
Derrick blinked.
"…Excuse me?"
Before he could ask another question—
A system notification appeared.
[New Location Discovered]
Ancient Giant Ruins
Derrick stared at the message.
Then slowly smiled.
"Well…"
"Looks like tomorrow's adventure is already planned."