Kingdom Building Game: Starting Out With A Million Upgrade Points! - Chapter 33

Chapter 33: The Weight Of Leadership
Seraphine smirked, glancing back briefly. Her mud-streaked face displayed no sign of fatigue despite the massive boulder trailing behind her.

“Good. Means you’re finally working. Now stop whining and move those legs!”

BAM! SPLAT! Another knight stumbled, his boots sinking deeper into the muck. He let out a frustrated growl as he yanked on the rope, the muscles in his arms bulging with effort. “How does the emperor make this look so easy? It’s like the boulder’s nothing more than a pebble to him!”

“Focus on yourself, not him!” Seraphine yelled. “Do you think it’s actually easier for him? He’s the emperor, he must set an example. I am certain he is struggling as much as you are, but he isn’t stopping, not even for a moment. So you must give it your all.”

“Yeah, and if your all isn’t enough, you’ll find yourself out of the order before you can even blink,” said another knight under his breath.

His words were meant to be quiet, but they echoed just enough for the surrounding group to hear.

A nearby knight, a towering figure with mud streaking his armor, shot him a glare. “Then maybe you shouldn’t be here if that’s your attitude. The emperor doesn’t tolerate half-measures.”

“Enough chatter!” Arkanos’ booming voice carried across the swamp, silencing every complaint and murmur.

His tone wasn’t angry… it was calm, commanding, and somehow even more intimidating.

Every knight froze for a split second, then quickly resumed their grueling task—heads down, ropes taut, and feet slogging through the thick mud.

Arkanos continued pulling his massive boulder, not slowing down even for a moment. He spoke without turning his head, his voice echoing effortlessly.

“The swamp doesn’t care about your strength or titles. It doesn’t care about your struggles or excuses. Even if you get exhausted, no one will pull you out. Any who dare to will be removed from the order, same as for those who decide to leave their boulder behind due to ‘exhaustion.'”

“What I want is a pack of hungry wolves, not starved dogs.”

“Either you overcome this, or be left behind.”

The silence that followed was intense, but soon grunts of effort and groans of strained ropes filled the air, along with the incessant squelching of boots in the muck.

One knight, the wiry young man who had spoken earlier, gritted his teeth and dug his heels in. “I… won’t… give up!” he said to himself.

“I’ll prove I belong here… no matter what.”

Seraphine noticed his effort and nodded slightly, a look of approval in her otherwise hardened expression.

“That’s the attitude we need. Keep pushing.”

The knights pressed on, each finding their own rhythm amidst the mud. Some stumbled and recovered, others gritted their teeth against the burning in their muscles, and all of them, without exception, cast fleeting glances at their emperor.

Arkanos remained a force of nature, unyielding, his sheer will and strength radiating with every step he took. He wasn’t just leading them… he was showing them what it meant to be unstoppable.

What it meant to carry the weight of his vision on his shoulders.

And reminding them he would only accommodate those who would do the same.

As the sun climbed higher in the sky, the swamp grew hotter, the humidity clinging to them like a second skin. The knights’ grunts and groans grew louder, but none dared to stop, not with Seraphine’s watchful eyes on them and certainly not with the emperor leading the way.

And through it all, the words Arkanos had spoken echoed in their minds:

“Overcome, or be left behind.”

Meanwhile, in his head, Arkanos heard a series of notifications.

〘 Congratulations! You have leveled up! 〙

〘 – Current Level: 60 〙

〘 – Bonus Stat Points: +5 〙

〘 – New Class Skill Unlocked! Check your status for details. 〙

〘 Loyalty Update: 〙

〘 – Your troops’ loyalty has increased to 55%! 〙

〘 – Higher loyalty boosts morale and combat efficiency. 〙

〘 Unit Grade Advancement: 〙

〘 – Your knights have improved from Grade E to Grade D! 〙

〘 – Enhancements include: 〙

〘 – Increased base stats (Strength, Endurance, and Agility). 〙

〘 – Improved battlefield coordination. 〙

〘 – New unit tactics unlocked. 〙

〘 ⋄ System Notification ⋄ 〙

〘 Your leadership has left a lasting impression on your forces. Continue to inspire greatness! 〙

Seeing all this, Arkanos simply smiled. ‘Good, it’s all going according to plan.’

…

Back in the royal capital’s barracks, the knights had finally returned from their grueling training session. The courtyard was bathed in the warm glow of the midday sun, the once heavy and oppressive air now carrying a faint breeze.

The knights stood in neat rows, their mud-soaked armor gleaming under the light.

In the center of the courtyard, a group of mages began to chant.

“Aqua Vortex, Purify the Earth, Wash Away the Stains of the Soil!”

The incantation echoed through the air, a swirl of magic forming above the courtyard. With a surge of mana, torrents of water rained down from the spell’s core.

The water washed over the knights, cleansing them of the thick layers of mud that clung to their armor, their faces, and their bodies. The ground beneath them rippled as the excess water drained away into the earth.

Arkanos stood tall, his gaze set upon the knights as the spell completed. His armor was now sparkling clean, the polished black surface catching the light.

“Good,” Arkanos said. “You’ve all done well.”

The knights stood straighter, pride in their eyes as they received his approval.

“Go clean up and return here as usual. We have more training to do.”

“Yes, your Majesty!” the knights responded, bowing and quickly making their way toward the barracks to freshen up.

Arkanos turned, his eyes scanning the courtyard. As he walked toward a corner of the stone-paved space, his gaze fell upon the Queen, Illena… standing with a towel in hand.

With a graceful smile on her face, she caught his attention as she calmly walked toward him.

She reached him and handed the towel to him with a soft smile. Arkanos accepted it without a word, his hand brushing against hers for a brief moment before he began to wipe his face and hair.

The towel was cool against his skin, a soothing sensation after the brutal training.