Alistair awoke to a faint, familiar sound:
[Daily Quest: Enhance Physical Fitness]
100 Push-Ups 100 Sit-Ups 10 Kilometers Run
Reward: +3 Stat Points
He slowly opened his eyes. The worn wooden ceiling was still above him, but something inside him felt different. Power stirred in his body, and the system pushed him forward.
"Alright… Let's start here."
He walked out into the courtyard of the small castle and began his exercises under the pale morning sun. It wasn't easy — muscles that hadn't moved in years began to scream — but Alistair didn't stop.
Each movement felt like a declaration of war on the weakness of his old body.
After completing the push-ups and sit-ups, he began his run around the village. Dust clung to his shoes, and sweat soaked through his shirt. Children watched him wide-eyed — they had never seen the Baron run before. The men exchanged glances, and the women whispered in surprise.
He returned to the castle exhausted but smiling.
[Quest Complete]
+3 Stat Points – Use Now?
✔️ [Strength +1] [Endurance +1] [Speed +1]
He opened the system, distributed the points immediately, and felt a new pulse of energy in his muscles.
"Now, it's time for the sword."
He entered the old wooden training yard behind the castle, grabbed a rusted iron sword from the rack, and assumed a combat stance, relying on the memories of the original Alistair.
[Training Quest: Sword Control]
Swing the sword 100 times – Reward: Title "Novice Swordsman"
Alistair began swinging the sword... once, twice, ten times, then a hundred.
Despite the sword's rust and his heavy muscles, each strike became purer than the last. A strange blend of instinct and raw talent surged within him.
[Complete: 100/100 Swings]
Title Acquired: "Novice Swordsman"
Effect: Increases sword attack accuracy by +10%
New Quest Available: Swing the sword 1,000 times – Title "Intermediate Swordsman"
After completing his first training and earning the title of "Novice Swordsman," Alistair didn't stop.
He reset his stance, tightened his grip on the sword, and started a new round of training.
Once, twice, ten times… a hundred… and he kept going. Sweat poured down, his breath quickened, but his gaze remained steady. Each movement carried purpose, weight, and a passion like a flame burning in his chest.
Villagers who happened to pass by the castle courtyard stopped and watched silently. They had never seen a ruler push himself like this.
[Sword Swings: 537 / 1000]
[Sword Swings: 804 / 1000]
[Sword Swings: 999 / 1000]...
And finally…
[Complete: 1000/1000 Swings]
Title Acquired: "Intermediate Swordsman"
Effect: +5% Attack Speed, +10% Accuracy, New Skill Unlocked: [Cleave – Rank F]
Alistair stopped, breathing heavily, his hand trembling from fatigue, but his heart beat with newfound strength.
Then another window appeared — one he hadn't seen before:
[Full Status Unlock – Now Available]
Without hesitation, he said:
"Open status."
And a transparent window appeared before him:
[Alistair Alvaren's Status]
Name: Alistair Alvaren
Title: Baron
Class: Undefined
Current Rank: F
Level: 1
XP: 5 / 100
[Stats]
Strength: 14 Endurance: 13 Speed: 12 Intelligence: 10 Charisma: 11 Luck: 9 Free Stat Points: 0
[Abilities]
System Eye (Passive): Allows viewing of quests, stats, and progress. Motivational Speech (Basic) – Rank FCleave – Rank F (Active): A powerful slash that lowers enemy defense. Progress Insight – Rank F (Passive): Displays progress percentages in quests and goals.
Alistair furrowed his brows.
"Class: Undefined?" he muttered.
"Does this mean I haven't been classified yet? Or that I'm different from everyone else?"
"A class with no name? Then I'll give it one."
He closed the status window, looked at the sword in his hand, then toward the village of Braxton beyond the castle.
Now… it was time to build something real.
The Next Morning
Alistair woke early. There was no time to waste.
He pulled out an old map from a drawer in his study, marked with unclear symbols. He pointed to a green spot to the east.
"Dale Forest… about five kilometers east of the village."
He put on a simple shirt, carried a medium-sized axe, and strapped the sword to his waist. As he left the castle, he locked eyes with Garth standing at the gate.
"Where are you going like that, my lord?"
"To the forest. We need wood, don't we?"
Garth opened his mouth to respond but said nothing. He wasn't used to this kind of baron.
On the way, a few curious villagers joined him. Some followed quietly, cautious. Others came just to witness this "spectacle."
At the forest's edge, Alistair looked at them and said:
"Anyone who wants to rebuild their home… start with me, here."
He drove his axe into the trunk of the first tree.
One strike.
Then another.
And another.
The sound echoed through the quiet forest as everyone watched in awe. He wasn't pretending. He was working hard, focused, and precise.
Some villagers exchanged glances, then an old man joined… then a young man… then a woman… and soon, everyone was holding axes and working beside him.
By midday, piles of dry, chopped wood were neatly stacked.
System Notification:
[Quest Complete: Inspire the Villagers – +5 Charisma]
[Side Quest: "Earn the People's Trust" – Progress: 93%]
Garth approached, wiping his forehead, and whispered:
"They… believe in you now, my lord."
Alistair didn't respond. He simply kept chopping, his face covered in sweat and mud, but a new light gleamed in his eyes.
Back to the Village
The next day, the building began. Villagers used the wood to repair rooftops, reinforce walls, and even make new doors for the first time in years.
Meanwhile, Alistair was busy in a corner of the castle, staring at a new system window.
[System Store – Livestock (Rank F)]
Cow (F): 100 Construction Points Chicken (F): 25 Construction Points
He had earned enough "Construction Points" from his work and the villagers' efforts.
"Purchase: Two cows and three chickens."
The cows appeared first in the old castle barn, their hides unusually shiny, their bodies large, exuding the scent of fresh milk.
[F-Rank Cow Milk – Daily Output: 100 units × 2 = 200 units]
Nutritional Effect: Increases Strength +1, Endurance +1 for one day per glass
Then the chickens appeared — fast, energetic, with light golden feathers.
[F-Rank Chicken Eggs – Daily Output: 50 eggs × 3 = 150 eggs]
Nutritional Effect: Boosts recovery, temporarily increases Intelligence +1, Luck +1
Alistair began distributing milk and eggs to the children and the weak first.
The reactions were remarkable: bright eyes, unprecedented energy, and even rapid healing of minor wounds.
By Week's End
The village was cleaner. Fresh wood was everywhere. Children were playing, women cleaned the sidewalks, and men built together.
A final notification appeared:
[Side Quest: "Earn the People's Trust" – Complete ✔️]
Reward: "Motivational Speech – Advanced" Skill +10 Stat Points + Reputation Raised to: "Respected"
[New Main Quest Unlocked: "Turn Braxton Village into a City"]
Phase 1: Build 10 Improved Houses (2/10)
Phase 2: Establish a Sustainable Food Source
Phase 3: Protect the Borders
Alistair stood once more atop the hill where it all began, looking over the village that had started to breathe again.
"I haven't truly begun… but at least, I'm no longer alone."
He closed the system window.
And the evening sky above him shone with a flicker of hope.