The Overlord of Blood and Iron (WN)

That night.

Rumble,

Bang!

An unexpected thundercloud enveloped the sky.

Roarrrr!

Heavy rain began to crash down as well.

Noisy and eventful.

...Just like Kang Chul-In’s first night.

***

The next morning...

“His Majesty has arrived~!”

With Alfred’s announcement, Kang Chul-In and Ninetails entered the Lord’s Hall.

Something was off, however.

“Good morning.”

“G-Good… hah... morning… everyone...”

Unlike Kang Chul-In who looked fresh, Ninetails appeared to be in a bad condition.

She had messy hair, blank eyes, dark circles around her eyes, and pale lips.

Brrrr…!

Her legs were also shaky.

That wasn’t the queen of Fox Valley that everyone knew. Instead, Ninetails looked more like a chronically ill person.

“...!”

All of the subjects in the hall couldn’t help but be shocked.

W-What even… he is even good in bed?

Kwak Jung, in particular, was shook to the core.

It was a form of jealousy.

As a man, no, as a member of the male species!

God damn it! How can a human be so good at everything?

At one look, Kang Chul-In was 100% the reason for Ninetails’ pitiful look.

For the past three years, including his previous life, he had been holding his sexual urges in.

As he released it all on Ninetails, it wasn’t surprising for her to be so fatigued.

In addition, his technique was truly amazing...

Good at fighting, rich, smart, a playboy… And now, he’s even good in bed? Damn it! How is this fair?

Kwak Jung was right.

Except for his bad temper and carelessness in domestic affairs, Kang Chul-In boasted perfection in every field. He unintentionally made everyone in his surroundings harbor an inferiority complex.

He is strong!

A true man!

How passionate was his first night even…!?

Amazing!

The subjects of Laputa admired Kang Chul-In.

And,

“Long live his Majesty, Kang Chul-In!” “Long live his Majesty, Kang Chul-In!”

They began to cheer for him in a grandiose way, embarrassing Kang Chul-In.

“… These idiots.”

Kang Chul-In covered his face in fatigue.

He welcomed loyalty anytime, but this time it was too embarrassing and absurd for him to deal with.

He could even imagine them applauding for him one day for taking a large dump.

“That’s enough!”

Kang Chul-In raised his hand and stopped the cheering.

“Keep your imaginations to yourselves. Let’s begin the morning meeting, understood?”

“Yes, your Majesty!”

The subjects replied loudly. Any more teasing and they would be in for horrifying mental training.

“Kwak Jung, commence your report.”

“Yes, virility king… N-No, your Majesty…!”

Kwak Jung shocked himself with his wrong choice of words.

“I-I apologize!”

“Hands in the air.”

“Yes...”

“Also.”

Kang Chul-In added.

“Come to the mental training room after lunch.”

“E-Eek?!”

“See you later.”

Kang Chul-In had an ominous smile on his face.

Me and my big mouth…!

Kwak Jung regretted it but it was too late. Kang Chul-In rarely retracted his words.

“Let’s start the meeting.”

“Yes… your Majesty...”

Kwak Jung, looking depressed and fearful, commenced the meeting.

***

A few days later, the crowning ceremony was held.

Bang, bang!

The magic-engineered artilleries shot blanks into the air.

“From today onwards, our territory shall be called the Kingdom of Valhalla!”

Kang Chul-In announced.

The Kingdom of Valhalla!

The nation borrowed its name from Kang Chul-In’s old territory in his previous life.

“Wahhhhhh!”

“Long live his Majesty, Kang Chul-In!”

“Long live Valhalla!”

A total of 150,000 people cheered for their new nation and king.

In addition, 20,000 soldiers, who boasted the greatest military power in Pangaea, pledged their loyalty to Kang Chul-In.

His new royal guards, in particular, were especially enthusiastic.

“The royal guards of the Kingdom of Valhalla greet his Majesty!”

Admiration and affection towards Kang Chul-In overflowed from these soldiers’ eyes.

That was because,

“Your Majesty…!”

A man stood in front of Kang Chul-In.

He was once a slave in the Absilon territory.

Rok.

He was a man who had lost his beloved lady to Lord Gonzales and had become a slave afterwards. He surrendered to Kang Chul-In and signed up for the Laputan army.

And now, he was a disabled veteran equipped with a magic-engineered mechanical arm, eye and leg.

“Rok, your humble servant and the Lieutenant Colonel of the royal guards, greets his Majesty!”

Wi-ing, chuk!

Rok’s mechanical right arm folded into a salute.

“Ah, it was you?”

Kang Chul-In recognised Rok and nodded.

“Yes, your Majesty!”

“I’ve heard about your great accomplishments on the battlefield. I apologize for giving you little attention due to my busy schedule.”

“Not at all!”

“...Can you lower your voice?”

“No can do!”

“...”

“How can I show your Majesty such a half-hearted attitude!?”

A lieutenant colonel.

With that title, Rok displayed an unwavering military discipline.

Well, of course, the man he was saluting to was the king… the head of state himself.

“That’s true, but is there a need to shout?”

“Yes, sir!”

Rok shook his head.

“Your Majesty had already given this lowly slave two new lives.”

“Me? Two lives?”

“Yes, your Majesty!”

Rok began his story.

“Your Majesty has saved me from my hellish days. When all the Absilon people feared and called you names, I didn’t. I was happy to see you, and you were like a god to me.

“Hmm...”

“I lost my beloved woman to the evil Lord Gonzales, and even became a slave. But I was too weak to take any form of revenge. To someone like me… your Majesty was godsent.”

That was true.

Kang Chul-In’s appearance was indeed a turning point in Rok’s life.

“I got back my stolen wife. I witnessed my enemy getting castrated and beheaded.”

Rok began to tear up.

“Hence, I enlisted in the army. I only fought for your Majesty. Along the way, I got some accolades and could even advance in ranks to become a lieutenant colonel. Moreover, your Majesty even gifted me a new life when I had become a disabled soldier.”

Rok was right.

The Immortal Project.

The project aimed to sponsor living expenses and cut taxes for disabled veterans. For those still in service, it gave them magic-engineered artificial limbs, eyes and more.

Kang Chul-In adopted the system from the United States of America, a nation which treats its veterans with respect!

That was in contrast to some rotten nations, like South Korea, which asked the injured veterans to pay for their own treatment!

“Your Majesty!”

Rok sobbed.

“Your Majesty has given me two new lives. When even the gods had abandoned me, you didn’t. In fact, it’s not just me who thinks this way. All the soldiers of the mechanized unit will agree with me. Right, my men!”

Rok shouted at his subordinates.

“Yes, sir!”

“We all agree, sir!”

“His Majesty is a god!”

The members of the mechanized unit all replied simultaneously.

“His Majesty is even greater than the Buddha, Jesus and Allah altogether!”

An earthling soldier, previously an explorer, even compared Kang Chul-In to an amalgamation of different gods.

Was this surprising?

The Immortal Project was a sliver of hope for the disabled veterans who had to suffer through physical and mental trauma like PTSD.

Such massive support from the government fueled greater loyalty and patriotism in these veterans.

“This life~! For his Majesty~!”

Rok began to sing the military cadence.

“Even if our flesh rots...”

“Even if our bones break...”

“Even if our breaths cease, what’s there to be afraid of...”

“Since our body and soul belong to his Majesty and his nation...”

Subsequently, the rest of the mechanized unit joined in.

This cadence, known as “The March of Blood and Iron,” was the most popular amongst the Valhalla cadences.

Keuh...

Kang Chul-In let out a satisfied expression. He was deeply moved.

Burning loyalty!

As a conquest lord himself, to have such loyal subordinates was a blessing.

“No, no.”

However, Kang Chul-In shook his head.

“Your true savior is not me. It’s none other than yourselves.”

He rebutted his soldiers’ remarks.

“...!”

Kang Chul-In continued.

“I didn’t grant you guys new lives. In fact, you all earned them yourselves. I simply remunerated you based on your hard work. Therefore, don’t waste your gratitude on me. Be instead thankful to yourselves, your family members, and also to your future.”

He was being genuine.

Kang Chul-In was not a man to put on a façade and sugarcoat his words.

“Don’t eulogize me. Be proud of your lives and fight for what you believe in. I am just an ambitious man who plans to conquer Pangaea with your sweat and blood. I do not deserve to be hailed as a hero.”

There wasn’t a single word of lie in his statement.

Kang Chul-In was selfish without a doubt, but his genuine remarks ignited loyalty in not only the soldiers of the mechanized unit, but in all the Valhalla people’s hearts.

“Long live his Majesty, Kang Chul-In!”

“Long live Valhalla!”

“We will join you in fulfilling your ambition!”

“We want to be the people of the world’s most powerful nation!”

The crowd began to roar.

“Your ambition has given us lowly beings food and clothes. How can we ever criticize it!?”

“We have nothing else to ask for!”

“We have enlisted of our own will! How can a soldier fear his own death?”

This was a praiseworthy sight.

As all the people began to follow Kang Chul-In as one, the nation’s power seemingly increased. Loyalty and patriotism may be invisible, but they were forces to be reckoned with!

[Notification!]

At that moment!

[The people’s loyalty has reached rank U!]

[The people’s patriotism has reached rank U!]

A notification popped up in front of Kang Chul-In.

This is…!

The ‘U’ referred to ‘Ultimate’, which was a tier higher than S+++ rank. It couldn’t go any higher.

Moreover,

[Due to the rank U loyalty, the enlistment rate has increased by 20%!]

[Due to the rank U loyalty, the combat power of the soldiers has increased by 10%!]

[Due to the rank U patriotism, the incorruptibility of the subjects has increased by 20%!]

[Due to the rank U patriotism, the people’s respect for their leader and their sense of duty have increased by 120% and 20% respectively!]

Kang Chul-In was endowed with great benefits.

Subsequently,

Flash!

A brilliant and breathtaking golden light fell from the sky and shone upon him.

“Ohhhh!”

“Keuh…!”

All the people of Valhalla were witnessing this scene. Meanwhile, Kang Chul-In had to deal with a flood of notification.

[Kang Chul-In’s status has been upgraded from an Overlord to a King!]

[Majesty has increased by 15%!]

[Charisma has increased by 15%!]

[Intimidation against beings under level 70 has increased by 30%!

On top of these bonus abilities given to a new king,

• Lord points +20%.

• Honorary title (The system decides based on traits).

• All abilities +10%.

• Politics (both internal and external) +1 tier.

• New stat point ‘monarchy’ granted.

• Three mine lottery tickets given.

• Abilities of the main founding fathers of the nation (main subjects) +10% increase.

Additional benefits were bestowed upon Kang Chul-In.

Furthermore,

[Honorary title granted!]

Kang Chul-In finally received his unique title, given only to those who were crowned.

[The system bestows Kang Chul-In, the King of Valhalla, the title: ‘Supreme King of the West’!]

The ruler of the west!

The Supreme King of Ishtar region!

This indicated that Kang Chul-In now had total control of one third of Pangaea.

[Rewards are given.]

[Permission to use level 4 magic-engineered satellite Cosmic Force is granted!]

Kang Chul-In finally received his last reward.

It was the one which had been veiled in mystery.