Everything hurt.
His back. His ribs. Even his eyeballs.
Sen Zu groaned as he blinked up at a sky far too blue to be Earth's. The sun was larger, and the air... heavier. Thicker. It pressed down on him like guilt on a tax fraudster.
"Ugh... did I finally piss off the wrong firewall?"
He pushed himself up and winced. Dirt clung to his clothes — or what was left of them. His black hoodie was torn, jeans shredded, and his sneakers... only one remained. Classic. He looked around.
He was in the middle of a field surrounded by crumbling wooden houses and broken fences. Weeds grew wild. The wind carried the scent of ashes and time.
There was no traffic. No cars. No noise.
"Where the hell am I? This doesn't look like jail..." he muttered.
[DING!]
A faint sound echoed in his head. Like a notification... crisp, digital.
He blinked.
"System?"
No response.
Before he could question it, footsteps approached.
A young woman stepped out from behind a crooked fence. Her hair was tied back, her maid-style uniform stained with dust, but her face, heart-shaped and flushed from running — froze when she saw him.
She held a broom like a sword.
"You... You're not the chief."
Sen Zu grinned. "Technically, neither was the last guy, if he ditched this dump."
"...What?"
"I mean, hi. I'm Sen Zu. Probably the new boss. Possibly a local god. Are you single?"
She stared.
"I'm Rin. Assistant to the village chief. You're... not what I expected."
"I get that a lot."
......
Ruins and Realization
As Rin hesitantly walked him through the village, Sen Zu took it all in.
Once, this place had structure — homes, gardens, a gathering hall. But now? Everything was abandoned. Collapsed roofs. Dry fields. A well that hadn't been used in years.
"Bandits. Inflation. Famine," Rin explained. "Most people left. The rest... didn't make it."
Sen Zu scratched his chin. "So this is like... recession but with swords?"
She frowned. "Swords?"
"Never mind. So I'm the last hope of a dead village, and my only employee is a shy girl with weaponized blushes?"
She blushed harder. "I-I'm capable! I've managed supplies for two years!"
"Supplies of what? Dust?"
......
Lord System Awakens
[DING!]
A bright screen suddenly flashed in front of him — only visible to him.
......
[Lord System Activated]
User: Sen Zu
Title: Village Chief [Lv. 1]
Population: 1 Attendant
Resources: 0 Wood / 0 Stone / 0 Food
Emergency Starter Gift: Available
Claim now? [YES] / [HELL YES]
......
Sen Zu didn't hesitate.
[Starter Gift Claimed]
Light erupted in the center of the village square. Magic circles appeared, humming with energy. Rin stepped back in panic.
"W-What is that?!"
Sen Zu grinned. "Hopefully not a debt collector."
From the glow, ten small figures emerged. Green skin. Pointy ears. Tiny weapons.
Goblins.
Rin screamed and raised her broom.
"Stay behind me!"
But instead of attacking, the goblins all turned toward Sen Zu... and kneeled.
[Goblins (x10) Summoned Successfully]
Loyalty: 60%
Basic Hut Blueprint Unlocked
Sen Zu looked down at the small army, then up at Rin, who stood frozen.
"...Don't freak out," he said slowly, "but I just got minions."
......
He gave his first command.
"Spread out. Gather wood, clean rubble, and don't eat anything that screams."
The goblins saluted, sort of — and ran off, arguing in goblinese.
Rin blinked. "You... summoned them? With magic?"
"System," Sen Zu replied smugly. "Basically fantasy Wi-Fi."
She stared at him like he was insane. He just stretched and looked around the broken village.
"We're gonna need wood, stone, food, morale... and possibly pants."
"You're really taking this seriously?"
"Of course. I'm a genius, Rin. Chaotic, handsome, mildly perverted, and now officially a lord."
She looked away, blushing again.
......
As the goblins began clearing rubble and Rin scribbled notes with a shaky hand, Sen Zu stood on a broken wall, arms crossed.
A breeze blew through the ruins. Somewhere in the distance, a beast howled.
He didn't care.
He grinned.
"Rin, get ready. We're building an empire... with goblins first, gods next."
......