Yes, I’m a horribly powerful individual for these lowborn peasants and low-level combatants.
But what if instead of having to worry about my cruelty, they can trust me to use my might for the correct reasons? This was my solution to speedrun earning the adoration of my people.
I identified the common enemy they all hated. I ended the reign of said enemy in less than a single day’s time, showcasing that I’m capable of achieving things they could only dream of, and now I’m letting them choose the fate of the subjects of their concentrated hatred.
There’s a reason public executions were so popular in the Middle Ages. People simply love seeing others suffer, and if it’s the common enemy number 1, that just turns things into overdrive. This was most certainly one of the most memorable days of their lives.
Now I just had to conduct the execution by my own hands to hammer the idea into their heads that I’m the right man to lead them, just as I’ll hammer the nails into the limbs of their defeated oppressors.
As far as earning the loyalty of thousands of people went, I would say this was as good of a move as I could make.
The perfect checkmate.
…
I patted the grime off of my hands as I watched the results of my effort.
“Mercyyyyyyyyy!!! Please…!!!” Tristan screamed and begged as blood poured from wherever I hammered the nails into his body. It was ugly work, I’m not gonna lie, but my people were hungry for Blackthorn blood. If I had been lenient such as only tying them to the cross with ropes, or Goddess forbid, I didn’t do the crucifying myself, the results of my loyalty-gathering side mission would’ve been much worse.
“We-we are nobles! Gold runs in our veins! You’re our subjects! Take us off right this moment!” The father barked his orders but only leers and crude shouts welcomed his words.
The grandfather had his eyes closed and was murmuring his fervent prayers. I couldn’t help but erupt into a sneer at the sight. Did he think the Goddess would send an Arch-Priest to save him or what? She hates slavery, but at least what the Vraven Kingdom conducts is slavery grounded in rules. What these three did was contractless sex slavery, she would surely look much worse upon their doings.
My attention snapped to a projectile thrown at the baron. The crosses were tall so that everyone could clearly see these three wonderful human beings and bask in the glory of their suffering.
I jumped high and caught the rock thrown by someone in the crowd, after which I grabbed onto Triston’s nailed leg and pulled myself up, eliciting guttural pained wailing from his throat. I used the momentum to land on top of his cross and watched over the crowd.
“I don’t know who threw this rock, and I don’t care. I’d just finished putting these lowlives on display, please don’t ruin my hard work.” I said while theatrically dropping the object to the ground. Some laughs erupted from the crowd, but most were still stunned into silence by my acrobatic display.
“I know that you hate these people, but think about it. Throwing rocks at them at this point is not a punishment but mercy that would save them from the prolonged suffering that awaits them. Do you want that?”
“No!”
“No!”
“No!”
“Then if you feel you must throw objects at them, you should grab some rotten vegetables or mud instead of heavy, hard items. Anyhow. With this, the event is officially over. It’s time I retire for the day. The following times will be tough, but trust me when I say that the payoff will be all worth it. [Warp Gate]” I resummoned the portal that had to be closed so that I could bring the innocents from the baron’s home. I deliberately placed it on the wall in front of the three crosses. The Blackthorn nobles will have the luxury of watching us pack and leave their lands for good, where they will stay to rot until scavengers pick their corpses apart or whoever comes to check on this place takes them off of the crosses.
With that, I jumped off from the construct and quickly made my way away from the crowd that was busy chanting my name. I entered a building where most of my inner circle were waiting for me, though a lot of them were still busy trying to get the people to do as instructed.
As soon as I sat down on a chair, Aurora rushed into my embrace and promptly seated herself in my lap. I didn’t object, instead choosing to move my hands under her shirt and start rubbing her soft belly. “Any problems?” I asked as I looked around the people in the room, and thankfully no issues were raised.
“Dorothy, your husband is working on my home. I’m sorry to ruin your moment, but you will see him when we leave this place in three days.”
She shook her head as tears of joy were still welling in her eyes, “no, please don’t apologize! I’m not worthy.”
“Can’t she speak with him like that?” Aurora asked while leaning back onto my chest. She looked to be very comfortable.
“You’re right, but…”
“I’ll do it!” Dorothy shouted all of a sudden.
“Do what?”
“I’ve been told that my husband is your lordship’s slave and I know of your supernatural abilities. If I become a slave, will I be able to speak with him?”
“Yes.” I nodded while sending her the subjugation request. She accepted without even reading the clauses.
“Just think of him and speak in your mind.” Lyra said with a big, happy grin adorning her beautiful face.
Dorothy did as so and tears immediately started running down her cheeks. Her knees buckled as she fell to the floor and she put her hands to her mouth so that she could muffle her overwhelming sobbing.
It was a heartwarming sight.
With this, most of my duties in the valley and Wraithclaw territories were done. I left it to Ayame to deal with whatever issues that arose, and the construction of the new settlement would have to be done by the hands of professionals. All I could help them with there was buying materials, which I will do very soon.
The only other issue that awaited me was the subjugation of Kai’s slave harem and a few others, after which it was time to begin preparing for the final round of the Phenom Trials. Now that I reached the intermediate tier spells of my Elemental Sovereign class, the tournament will be absolutely glorious.
I wonder how the bigshots will react to learning that I’m the holder of the fabled class which made Queen Morgana so famous. The Phenoms are said to be the new generation of the Consortium, so surely they will celebrate the arrival of such a youth?