Pioneer Lord: I Have Conquering System

After looking around, Levi didn’t make some grand, righteous speech. Instead, he spoke in a solemn voice.

"As Warriors of High Cliff Castle, you’ve done exceptionally well. I am proud of you! To win a war while outnumbered nearly ten to one... even the most discerning strategist would have to call that an impressive result."

Everyone instinctively puffed out their chests, sharing in the honor.

"You have given so much for High Cliff Castle. From now on, you will no longer need to head to the battlefield..."

But when Levi’s tone changed, the wounded men all grew fearful and uneasy. ’Does the Lord think we’re worthless now? Is he planning to abandon us?’

Before they could continue their pessimistic speculation, Levi spoke again:

"High Cliff Castle will provide for you for the rest of your lives. As for the Warriors who fell in battle, High Cliff Castle will take full responsibility for their families as well!"

At this, Levi cracked a smile and teased them.

"Of course, you’ll have a new mission: have plenty of big, healthy sons to make High Cliff Castle stronger. After all, we can’t have you just eating and drinking for free."

Everyone burst out laughing, and some of the wounded who could still move pounded their chests and declared loudly.

"Lord, I may not be good for much else, but I’m especially fertile! I’ll give High Cliff Castle a big, healthy son next year and have him join the High Cliff Castle army!"

"That’s right! Even though we can’t fight for High Cliff Castle anymore, our sons can!"

"I want to help the Lord, but I don’t have a wife yet."

Levi laughed, looking at the young warrior with the broken leg who’d said he had no wife. "Don’t worry. High Cliff Castle will be responsible for giving out free wives. No one gets to slack off on this mission."

The somber atmosphere in the wooden shelter was swept away, replaced by a wave of passionate energy.

The Feder Warriors, who already idolized Levi, now looked at him with even greater fervor, their eyes filled with deep emotion.

After all, even in the Saint Misa Kingdom, the wealthiest kingdom in the world, the most they did for their fallen soldiers was issue a death benefit. And after it passed through countless layers of corruption, it was anyone’s guess how much actually ended up in the family’s hands.

But a Lord like Levi, one who not only took responsibility for the rest of their lives but would even help them find wives? There was no one else like him.

This gave real meaning to the fight they had fought. It strengthened their sense of identity with High Cliff Castle and put their hearts completely at ease.

Although Clan Leader Baisitina would never have abandoned them, they had, in name, already become subjects of High Cliff Castle. If this Lord had truly decided to cast them aside, their fate would have been hard to predict.

Fortunately, this Lord cherished his soldiers as if they were his own sons.

After a few more words of encouragement for them to rest and recover, Levi left the wooden shelter.

"Levi..."

Baisitina looked at the Lord, deeply moved.

"Hold on," Levi interrupted Baisitina. "Don’t say anything that’ll make you tear up. I can’t stand that stuff. Since you’ve decided to throw in your lot with High Cliff Castle, you’re one of us. High Cliff Castle doesn’t play favorites!"

Baisitina, whose eyes were already glistening with tears, managed to choke them back. The resulting expression on her face, a mixture of being moved and amused, was rather comical.

"Thank you, Levi. You’re..." Baisitina said, her tone serious and formal.

’Can’t believe I came all this way and I’m still getting friend-zoned!’

Levi clapped his hands over his ears and stalked away, grumbling.

Being friend-zoned reminded him of a friend from his past life who’d been told the same thing by his girlfriend.

It left Baisitina standing alone, strands of her white hair fluttering in the wind.

...

The hardest part was over. All that remained was to wait; time would smooth everything out.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

Not a single body remained on the battlefield. Only the bloodstains mixed with the dirt served as proof of the unimaginably brutal battle that had taken place here.

The bodies of the fallen Feder Warriors had all been buried the previous day in a lush green meadow on the mountain behind the castle.

Thanks to the boost from Levi’s system-granted Medical Skills and Sam’s Healing Technique, every wounded Warrior who made it off the battlefield was now out of critical danger.

Now they just needed time to recuperate and they would make a full recovery.

The prisoners from the Evil Fang Tribe all surrendered after the war, and Levi promptly put them to work in the iron mine.

They worked eleven hours a day with a one-hour break at noon.

Considering it was hard physical labor, Levi did provide three meals a day, although meat was only served once every three days.

And even for this, the prisoners were grateful to the point of tears.

After all, as long as they did their work, they were guaranteed three full meals a day and were safe from danger. It was practically the life of their dreams.

Just look at their old lives: every day was spent either hunting or raiding other tribes, and it was always a question whether they’d even be alive the next day.

Now, they didn’t have to think about any of that. All they had to do was focus on their work to earn their food.

...

The climate was refreshing in the morning before the sun rose.

Stepping outside for a stretch after a good night’s sleep, a gentle mountain breeze would hit you, carrying the unique earthy fragrance of the Kas Mountain Range. It was the most pleasant part of the day.

But the Evil Fang Tribe was in no mood to enjoy this beauty. They had already sunk into a state of constant, inescapable fear.

Some time ago, their Warriors had set out for battle full of confidence. In the end, it wasn’t until the following day that about a hundred of them managed to straggle back in a sorry state. When questioned, the truth came out.

Not only had they failed to capture the iron mine, but even their Shaman and Chieftain had been killed.

Fortunately, they hadn’t lost too many men. As they were discussing what to do next, a Wilderness Alliance Army happened to be passing through. It’s unclear whether it was to avenge their Chieftain and Shaman, or for some other reason...

...they chose to join forces with this Alliance Army of the Wilderness.

The result...

The seemingly unstoppable Wilderness Alliance Army, over four thousand strong, had also been completely crushed by the Feder Tribe.

Only a handful of Evil Fang Tribe Warriors managed to escape. When anyone tried to question them, they would just tremble uncontrollably, as if afflicted with malaria, refusing to speak a word.

They only kept muttering fearfully about "a Demon."

Their state said it all. The news—that they had not only been defeated, but that the Tribe had lost nearly all its Warriors—spread like wildfire.

Even the young children in the Tribe knew they had been defeated. They knew that the bearded uncle who doted on them and their mothers had left his life on that battlefield and would never come back.

The hundred or so remaining men argued fiercely over whether to stay or flee, but no single person could win over the crowd.

So they resorted to trading insults about each other’s female relatives.

Losing eighty percent of their able-bodied men was akin to the Evil Fang Tribe having both arms hacked off. No matter what they chose, the fate that awaited them was crueler than facing a wolf pack in the Wilderness.

As noon approached, small groups of Feder people began roaming the perimeter of the Tribe’s camp. Every so often, they would fire a stray arrow or two into the camp, slowly tightening their cordon.