NOVEL NEXT Chapter 3: Headquarters
With six units to spawn I chose to spawn a total of five workers.
Was it greedy? Of course it was, but at this point this was the jumpstart that I need. In a week's time I'll have the headquarters that I want and the command to summon a hero unit. The workers were efficient, three of them focused on gathering wood and stone while the last two began to dig to make the foundation of the building.
I used the last of my crystals on a scout with a bow to even out my hunting party. We had a lot of frontline combatants and an archer was a great addition.
[Basic Unit]
Worker: 5
Infantry: 2
Scout: 1
Currently 8. Limit: [8/15]
With me as an additional combatant we had a total of nine people, the hunting party provides the workers with food and protection. We hunt boar in the area and having a decently clean river was plus for not just drinkable water but for variety in food as well since fish is accessible.
We have been staying in a makeshift camp so getting actual rooms will be a plus for us when the building is finished.
Thankfully the surrounding area is relatively safe compared to the deeper parts of the forest, no attacks aside from the occasional wolf or two. With enough numbers the smarter animals and monsters know that staying away from a human camp was necessary for their own survival. Sadly much like weaker monsters the animals have a really low chance of having a magic crystal, so even if we decided to hunt more than what we already do gaining more crystals won't net us a profit. It was not worth the effort.
The next week would be a peaceful one, the cycle of hunting and fishing was mundane but at the very least I didn't have to do it alone anymore.
Currently 8. Limit: [8/17]
The number went up and I looked at the small headquarters with a smile. With an open balcony on the second floor one could set up an archer to look from a bit over the trees. There was also a meeting room and a few bedrooms. While the description says that it can only house five units, if a few of us sleep on the floor then we have plenty of room.
[The command: Spawn Hero has been unlocked.]
[500 Magic Crystals required.]
"It'll be a long time before we can do something like that, that's for sure." I said out loud.
But for that day all I could think about was to celebrate the small wins, we had a home and in a month's time a new basic unit will be produced by the building. "Which is why from tomorrow onwards you will be building the training facility!"
---
The Kingdom of Hortnam is currently in disarray. With most of its bordering towns and some cities falling to the forces of the demons, the ruling powers need to make tough decisions to keep their kingdom's morale and general safety.
In light of this the leading guilds as well as the military have been fighting tooth and nail to regain the lands that were lost to the demons. It is only now, two weeks into the invasions where the capital and the nearby territories finally stabilized.
"Congratulations gentlemen, we have successfully defended the main regions. But this celebration will have to wait." The King was in his 50s but still as strong as a bull. "We need to reclaim our land, retake our towns from these foul creatures and send refuge for those that have been in hiding. It's time to make the shadows afraid, Ask the available guilds to aide in this task."
With the orders sent out those that are already in the frontlines would be forced to move even further up. With the mission to reclaim old territory and the incentive that "Any loot they take is theirs too keep." Human greed encompassed them. Loot was one thing but also glory and renown? There was much to gain for those that were willing.
Multiple groups headed for differing destinations, aiming to reclaim land in the name of the kingdom. Among them is a small party consisting of a few talented individuals, transferees who opened their paths only a few days after arriving.
The party of Noah Glasc, with his path as a Holy Swordsman. His five month old party has gained a reputation as monster rookies who have a bright future ahead of them.
"So.. Noah... tell me again why we're headed for Rikport?" The mage of the party asked with little to no enthusiasm in his voice.
"Niko... we owe those people a lot, even if they have fallen it is only right that we pay our respect to our benefactors." The swordsman stated, smiling from ear to ear.
"I still say that we should have headed for the cities, that's where the Demon commanders are. Don't we want our names out there Noah?" A man with a large shield on his back chimed in.
"...You know what... you're right Briggo, Niko where's the closest city that needs our help?"
"Three days west from here, a day if we get some horses."
"Sounds like a plan, let's do this boys. We can always head to that town after we finish right?"
"Yeah, yeah. Don't worry too much and it's not like survivors in towns like those is guaranteed anyways. Most of the people there probably couldn't even use internal energy." Briggo shrugged.
---
Interest in the smaller towns is only present for those that have family or friends within them, this is why the Captain of a platoon is headed for Rikport. "We must make haste, the hidden shelters in Rikport can only last for so long."
The capital is a week's travel away from Rikport even with the help of horse-drawn carriages. The captain and his platoon were originally from Rikport which is why they still held hope. Though the chances of survival for the people there was slim, the captain and his men needed to see it first-hand before counting that option out.