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Charles Cross had spent his entire existence battling something. He was born in a fortress whose purpose was to keep monsters at bay. Even before he could grasp much, he trailed his father to the front lines and matured amidst the gore of monsters attempting to breach the fortress walls. When his father passed on,…

On a barren hill, far southeast from the walls of Crossroad, stood a lone figure. An old man, seated on his steed, analyzed the defensive proceedings with a grim demeanor. This was Charles, the Margrave of Crossroad. “…” A life spent in battle against monstrous threats and leading defenses had honed his instincts. He knew…

Hostile NPCs. As the name implies, they were characters that posed a danger to the players. These devils would infiltrate the stage and put players through hell, mainly in two distinct categories. Firstly, the kind that directly engaged in battle. Just like playable characters, they boasted skills, special moves, and unique characteristics. Typically, these devils…

Far too many. An overwhelming quantity. As I observed the tsunami of rats surging towards the castle wall, I swallowed my dry saliva. It felt as though I were standing on a seafront rather than a wall. A seafront that was on the verge of being assaulted by a turbulent, rolling tide. Squeak! Squeak! The…

Two days had passed. The dawn of Stage Start Day arrived. At long last, the city wall repairs were finished. “There were many areas where we had to hurry because of time, but it should hold up as a city wall.” I laid a comforting hand on the shoulder of the Mason Guild leader, whose…

The sincere efforts to repair the wall had reached their fifth day. Two days remained until the stage was set. “Fantastic work, everyone!” I shouted as I ascended to the site of the wall repair. “Take a breather and grab some food.” Trailing me, the Lord’s Mansion servants climbed onto the wall, distributing refreshments and…

“I’m stirring up talk across the continent. The fresh lord of the monster frontier is from the royal family, and he’s not stingy with his gold.” Jupiter proclaimed with a sly smirk. “And once word gets around, the mercenaries will start pouring in.” “Hmm…” It was uncharacteristic of her to take the lead without being…

The next day dawned. As soon as the first rays of light sliced through the morning haze, I departed from the mansion. My plan was to supervise the preparations for our upcoming defensive clash by making a complete tour of Crossroads. The city walls were my first stop. There, I found the laborers glistening with…

Late that day, I once again found myself on the doorstep of Lord Cross’s mansion. “Lord Cross! Are you home?” With a vigorous thump on the outer door, I stepped into the mansion’s garden. Almost instantly, Lord Cross appeared from within the mansion. “Don’t you cherish your life! I made it clear! Stay away from…

Deciding to postpone the report until the following day due to the late hour, I indulged in a meal and took some time to rest. I reasoned that I would only fret the night away if I listened to a problem I couldn’t immediately solve. Having spent the entire day engrossed in the dungeon, I…