Morning sunlight bathed Blackstone Territory.
Allen rose early, organizing yesterday's hunting spoils—shadow wolf pelts, beast claws, and some herbs.
"My lord, breakfast is ready." Anna entered carrying a wooden tray.
Today she wore a clean knight's uniform, her golden hair tied in a ponytail, giving her a heroic appearance.
"Thank you." Allen accepted the black bread. "After we eat, we'll head to Blackstone Town."
"Yes!" Anna nodded, a hint of anticipation crossing her face.
Since arriving at Blackstone Territory, she hadn't yet visited the town.
...
After a simple breakfast, the two mounted their horses and set off.
The road from Blackstone Territory to Blackstone Town was rough—winding mountain paths flanked by dense forest, with occasional beast roars echoing through the trees.
"My lord, be careful." Anna watched their surroundings vigilantly, hand resting on her sword hilt.
"Don't worry, the beasts on this road are all Tier 0. They won't attack people unprovoked," Allen said.
He knew this road too well—in his previous life's game, he'd traveled it countless times.
Sure enough, though they encountered several beasts along the way, all kept their distance.
Three hours later, Blackstone Town appeared in view.
It was a modest frontier town with gray stone walls and wooden houses. People bustled through the streets, filling the air with the sounds of daily life.
"Finally here." Allen breathed a sigh of relief.
The two led their horses into town.
Various shops lined the streets—blacksmith forges, general stores, potion shops, and several taverns.
"Let's first sell these materials at the merchant's," Allen said.
Anna nodded, following behind him.
...
[Old Tom's Material Shop]
This was Blackstone Town's largest material merchant, specializing in purchasing beast materials and herbs.
"Welcome!" A portly middle-aged man greeted them warmly. "What can I do for you two?"
"I'd like to sell some materials." Allen placed his pack on the counter.
Old Tom opened the pack, his eyes immediately lighting up.
"Shadow wolf pelts? So many?" He picked up a pelt, examining it carefully. "Excellent quality! Intact and professionally processed."
"These claws are top grade too... and these herbs..."
Old Tom grew increasingly amazed.
"Young man, are you a professional hunter?"
"Something like that," Allen said casually.
"I'll take all of it." Old Tom spoke decisively. "Shadow wolf pelts are 8 silver each—you have 12, that's 96 silver. Claws are 2 silver each, 20 of them makes 40 silver. I'll give you 20 silver for the herbs. Total of 156 silver. How about it?"
Allen calculated mentally—the price was fair.
"Deal."
Old Tom immediately had his assistant fetch the money.
Soon, a heavy pouch of silver coins was placed in Allen's hands.
[Gained: 156 silver coins]
[Current funds: 750 gold coins + 15 gold 6 silver = 765 gold 6 silver]
"If you get more good materials, remember to come find me!" Old Tom said with a smile.
"I will." Allen nodded.
...
Leaving the material shop, Allen was in good spirits.
"Next, let's buy some supplies at the general store," he told Anna.
The two went to the town's largest general store, purchasing a batch of daily necessities—flour, salt, cloth, tools, and so on.
Cost: 50 silver coins
"We also need seeds and farming tools." Allen continued shopping.
This time he didn't hold back—a territory of 43 people needed to cultivate large amounts of land and grow sufficient food.
Various crop seeds, hoes, sickles, plows, buckets... Allen bought nearly all the farming tools in the general store.
Additional cost: 1200 silver coins
"My lord, our money..." Anna looked worried.
"It's fine, we have enough." Allen smiled.
He knew these investments were worthwhile.
"Boss, there's too much here. Can you deliver it to Blackstone Territory?" Allen asked.
"Of course!" The shopkeeper laughed. "I'll arrange a cart to deliver everything first thing tomorrow morning."
"Good, thank you."
...
Shopping complete, Allen arranged for the shopkeeper to deliver all the supplies to the territory tomorrow.
"Come on, let's check out that place." Allen pointed to a shop across the street.
It was a clothing store with various garments hanging at the entrance.
"My lord, are you buying clothes?" Anna asked.
"Mm." Allen nodded and walked in.
"Welcome!" The shopkeeper, a plump middle-aged woman, greeted them enthusiastically.
Allen looked around, his gaze settling on a women's knight uniform—deep blue fabric, exquisitely tailored, looking both practical and beautiful.
More importantly, this knight uniform was made from premium beast leather, with defense far superior to ordinary cloth armor.
"How much for this set?" he asked.
"This is our shop's finest knight uniform, made from Tier 2 beast leather with special treatment. Its defense rivals light armor," the shopkeeper said with a smile. "200 silver coins."
"I'll take it." Allen spoke readily. "Also bring out some everyday clothes, the best quality, sized for her."
He pointed toward Anna outside.
The shopkeeper's eyes lit up, immediately understanding. "Right away! I'll get them!"
Soon, the shopkeeper brought out several outfits—elegant dresses and practical tunics, each made from fine fabric with excellent craftsmanship.
"These total 300 silver coins."
Allen paid and handed the clothes to Anna.
"My lord, this..." Anna froze, looking at the clothes in her hands, her eyes reddening slightly.
She'd been at Blackstone Territory all this time wearing that old knight uniform.
Though she washed it daily, it was still just one set, long since worn and damaged.
She'd never imagined the lord would buy her new clothes.
"That knight uniform is too worn out, time to replace it," Allen said casually. "As my guard, you can't dress too shabbily."
"Th-thank you, my lord..." Anna lowered her head, her voice choking slightly.
She clutched the clothes tightly, warmth flooding her heart.
The lord... had truly changed.
He was no longer that wastrel who only oppressed the people.
He cared about her, thought of her.
This feeling of being valued... felt so good.
...
The two continued browsing the town, purchasing some miscellaneous supplies.
"There's a tavern over there, let's get something to eat." Allen pointed to a corner.
[Hunter's Tavern]
This was Blackstone Town's liveliest spot, where adventurers, hunters, and merchants liked to gather.
As they approached the entrance, they heard raucous voices inside.
"Hahaha! Made a killing today!"
"Come on, drink up!"
Allen pushed open the door.
The tavern was hazy with smoke, filled with people drinking and chatting.
He found a corner seat and sat down, Anna sitting across from him.
"Two stews and two ales," Allen told the server.
"Coming right up!"
Just then, a grating voice rang out.
"Well, well, if it isn't Blackstone Territory's waste of a lord!"
Allen frowned and looked up.
Three men in leather armor approached, led by a bald man with a scarred face and a cleaver at his waist.
"Scarface Jack." Allen recognized him.
This was Blackstone Town's local tyrant, who specialized in bullying outsiders. He had a dozen lackeys, all lowlife thugs.
"Oh, you remember me?" Jack grinned, revealing yellow teeth. "Heard you got kicked out by your family? Tsk tsk, how pitiful."
People around them looked over, whispering.
"That's the lord of Blackstone Territory?"
"The waste who got his engagement broken by the Saintess?"
"Tsk tsk, how embarrassing."
Allen remained expressionless, ignoring them.
He didn't want trouble.
"What, cat got your tongue?" Jack walked to the table and plopped down next to Allen. "Back when you were still a young master of the Gray family, you were pretty arrogant. How come you're like a turtle hiding in its shell now?"
Anna's expression changed, about to stand, but Allen pressed her shoulder.
"Don't be impulsive," Allen said quietly.
He knew causing trouble here would only bring more problems.
"Oh, and there's a little beauty here too." Jack's gaze fell on Anna, a lecherous gleam in his eyes.
He looked Anna up and down—golden hair, delicate features, the tight knight uniform outlining perfect curves.
"Not bad, not bad, great figure." Jack licked his lips. "Little lady, what future is there following this waste? Come with me instead, I'll make sure you eat and drink well."
Anna's face turned iron-blue, her hand already on her sword hilt.
"Jack, don't go too far," Allen said coldly.
"Too far?" Jack laughed loudly. "I'm helping you! A waste like you doesn't deserve such a beautiful woman. Let me have her, I promise to treat her real good."
As he spoke, he reached out to touch Anna's face.
"Smack!"
Anna slapped his hand away, fury in her eyes.
"Looking for death!" Jack's expression darkened. "Not taking the easy way out, huh?"
His two lackeys immediately closed in.
"Boss, should we teach them a lesson?"
"This girl's got spirit, I like it."
People around them backed away, no one daring to intervene.
Jack had run rampant in Blackstone Town for so long—who would dare provoke him?
Allen took a deep breath, suppressing his anger.
He stood up, saying calmly, "We're leaving."
"Leaving?" Jack sneered. "Did I say you could go?"
He grabbed Allen's shoulder and shoved hard.
Allen staggered, nearly falling.
"Hahaha!" Jack and his lackeys burst into laughter.
"Waste is waste, can't even stand steady!"
"This kind of person dares call himself a lord?"
"That female knight is blind to follow him!"
Anna couldn't take it anymore. She shot to her feet, drawing her longsword.
"Enough!"
A Tier 2 knight's aura exploded instantly, the entire tavern's temperature seeming to drop several degrees.
Jack's expression changed, instinctively stepping back.
"T-Tier 2 knight?"
People around them exclaimed in shock.
But Jack quickly regained his composure.
"What, want to fight?" He sneered. "This is Blackstone Town. The mayor doesn't allow private duels. If you dare make a move, the town guard will arrest you immediately."
Anna gritted her teeth, her sword trembling slightly.
She knew Jack was right.
Blackstone Town had strict rules—private duels were forbidden, violators severely punished.
"How about it, don't dare now, do you?" Jack smiled smugly. "I just love seeing people like you with power but unable to use it."
He walked up to Anna, reaching out to touch her face.
"Such a pretty face, it'd be a shame if it got ruined..."
Just then, Allen suddenly spoke.
"Jack." His voice was calm. "You really like my guard?"
"Of course!" Jack turned his head. "What, you want to give her to me? Hahaha, a wise man knows when to yield!"
"Sure," Allen said lightly. "But I have one condition."
"What condition?"
"Follow me." Allen turned and walked toward the door.
Jack paused, then sneered. "Want to lure me outside? Fine, let's see what tricks you can pull."
He exchanged glances with his two lackeys, and the three followed Allen out of the tavern.
Anna hurried after them.
"My lord, you..."
"Trust me," Allen said quietly.
...
Allen led them to an alley behind the tavern.
It was secluded, with high walls on both sides and almost no foot traffic.
"This is the place." Allen stopped and turned around.
"Oh, found a nice spot." Jack walked into the alley with a sinister grin. "What, planning to offer up your woman here?"
His two lackeys followed, blocking the alley's exit.
"No." Allen shook his head, a cold smile crossing his face. "I wanted to find a place with no one around... to kill you."
"What?!"
Jack froze, then burst into laughter.
"Kill us? With you, a waste?"
"Boss, has this guy lost his mind?"
"Hahaha, hilarious!"
Allen said nothing, simply raising his right hand.
Black mist poured from his hand, condensing into a complex magic circle on the ground.
"Wh-what is..." Jack's face changed drastically.
The next second, two skeleton warriors crawled out of the magic circle.
They wielded rusted swords, green flames burning in their empty eye sockets, radiating the aura of death.
"Necromancy?!" Jack cried out in terror. "Y-you're a necromancer?!"
"Scared now?" Allen said coldly. "Too late."
He snapped his fingers.
The two skeleton warriors immediately lunged forward.
"Ahhh—!"
"Help!"
Jack and his two lackeys fought desperately, but they were just common thugs, no match for skeleton warriors.
In less than a minute, all three were beaten to the ground, covered in wounds.
"S-spare me..." Jack knelt on the ground, tears and snot streaming down his face. "My lord, I was wrong, I'll never dare again..."
Allen walked up to him, looking down from above.
"Remember," his voice was cold as a blade, "if you ever insult my people again, I'll make you wish you were dead."
"Yes yes yes! I'll remember!" Jack kowtowed frantically.
"Get lost."
The three scrambled out of the alley, not even daring to retrieve their weapons.
...
The alley fell silent.
Allen waved his hand, dismissing the summons. The two skeleton warriors dissolved into black mist.
He turned to look at Anna.
The girl stared at him blankly, her azure eyes full of shock.
"My lord, you... just now..."
"What's wrong?" Allen smiled. "Scared?"
"N-no..." Anna shook her head, a blush suddenly appearing on her face. "I just thought... you looked really cool just now."
Having said that, she felt embarrassed herself, lowering her head and not daring to look at Allen.
Allen paused, then smiled.
"Let's go eat."
"Mm!"
The two walked out of the alley side by side.
Sunlight fell on them, stretching their shadows long.
Anna stole a glance at Allen, an unfamiliar feeling rising in her heart.
So this is what it feels like... to be protected.
No, that's not right.
The lord wasn't protecting me.
He was... standing up for me.
Thinking this, Anna's face grew even redder.
...
On the ride back to Blackstone Territory, Allen hummed a tune cheerfully.
Today had been productive—sold materials, bought supplies, and taught that blind fool Jack a lesson.
He reached down to pat the coin pouch at his waist, confirming the gold was still there.
Good.
But in the very next second—
"Huh?"
Allen froze.
The pouch had somehow developed a small hole, and several silver coins were falling out, clinking and rolling into the grass by the roadside.
"My lord, what's wrong?" Anna turned back to ask.
"N-nothing..." Allen's mouth twitched. "Just... dropped some money."
He dismounted and searched through the grass for a while, only recovering a few silver coins.
[Lost: 20 silver coins]
[Current funds: 632 gold 6 silver - 2 gold = 630 gold 6 silver]
Allen stared at the damaged pouch in his hand, falling into thought.
This damned side effect...
It was fine just a moment ago, how did it suddenly tear?
And right after summoning the skeleton warriors...
"System, you did this on purpose, didn't you?" Allen complained internally.
The system didn't respond.
Allen sighed, resignedly transferring the remaining coins to another pouch.
"My lord, did your pouch tear?" Anna asked with concern. "I'll mend it for you when we get back."
"...Thank you."
Allen smiled wryly and shook his head.
Indeed, using necromancy came with a price.
But for Anna, this small price... was still worth it.
He glanced at the girl beside him, silently vowing:
Next time, I'll definitely keep a better eye on my coin pouch!