Darkness.
That was the last thing Gerald remembered.
A loud crash… a flash of light… and then silence.
Then—
Pain.
His eyes slowly opened.
The ceiling above him was made of wood beams, something that looked like it came straight out of a medieval movie.
"…Where am I?"
His voice sounded younger.
Much younger.
Gerald quickly sat up from the bed and looked at his hands.
Small.
Too small.
"…What?"
Before he could understand the situation, memories suddenly flooded into his mind.
A different life.
A different childhood.
A different name.
Gerald Kaz.
First son of the Lord of Riverwood Town, a poor frontier territory near monster forests.
"Reincarnation…?" he whispered.
Just as the realization settled in—
A blue screen suddenly appeared in front of his eyes.
Floating in the air.
Like a hologram.
[Lord Management System Activated]
Host: Gerald Kaz
Age: 13
Title: Heir of Riverwood Town
Territory Status:
Population: 1,248
Economy: Poor
Military: Weak
Security: Dangerous
Gerald blinked.
"…Is this a game?"
The screen continued.
New Mission Available:
[Beginner Quest]
Improve Riverwood Town.
Reward:
- 100 Gold
- Building Blueprint: Farm
Gerald slowly leaned back on the bed.
Then he laughed quietly.
A dangerous smile appeared on the face of the 13-year-old boy.
"So… this world is basically a strategy game."
Outside the window, the poor town of Riverwood struggled to survive.
Monsters roamed nearby forests.
Bandits threatened the roads.
And the kingdom itself was slowly falling into chaos.
But Gerald Kaz simply stared at the floating interface.
"Alright then."
His voice was calm.
"But if I'm going to live here…"
His eyes sharpened.
"I'm not staying a small-town lord."
The interface flickered again.
And the legend of the young lord who would build the greatest kingdom quietly began.