Author:  Thank you for reading.

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“Boring~” (Puerial)

“Whens lunch?” (Belle)

“...” (Shiro)

“D-damn...why are they...so strong…” (Bandit 1)

“Nooooo!  Let me go...uhg” (Bandit 2)

“Wait!  We can make a deal!  Aaaaaah!” (Bandit 3)

Ah, another weak bunch huh.  I cant deny they aren't anywhere close enough to satisfy our current battle prowess.  Lets finish this up quickly.

Currently, It’s been a few days since we left Birgen and we have only encountered a few weak bandits here and there based close to the last city in the area were the final sect family resides.  The city is called Concord, and has already been mostly captured by my forces.  It's been surrounded by my troops to prevent the criminals and upper echelons from escaping.  The only resistance left is the sect home and a few hidden hideouts for local criminal groups.

Since the upheaval of the previous order this area went by, most of what was left of bandit groups have fled to evade capture (If their leader was smart enough to run that is).  Slavers are also now a rare commodity since it was no doubt suspicious when a lot of them never returned to the northern areas past the mountains opening point.

The only criminal groups left are small time crooks without much head strength to realize being a crook in this area is no longer a good idea.  It’s actually pretty amazing how much safer it is to travel now compared to before.  Merchant groups have actually started coming down in swarms when the few that showed up left with large hauls.  

The cities are now showing large signs of flourishing under these conditions.  Public opinion is at an all time highest while public order is at a continuous rise.  With ample job opportunities and agricultural improvements, food markets and such have made a decent rebound from its rather despondent state from before.  

The increase of domesticated animals have also given a small source of income.  As well as each city having started up areas to cultivate them after Birgen produced its second generation of animals after the first group was born.  Having a reliable source of meat and such has made people slowly stop questioning the current people in charge and rather stuff their faces with a smile.  People tend not to complain when their livelihood makes noticeable improvements after all.

“Kuro, when you're done with these guys, let's set up camp.” (Belle)

“Alright.” (Kuro)

“I’ll set up the bath.~” (Puerial)

“I got the tents.” (Shiro)

“Hey!  Where are you touching!” (Female Bandit)

“Quiet.” (Kuro)

“!!!!!” (Female Bandit)

“...Done, all of you head back to Birgen for your assignments.”

After sending off the bandit group when I finished treating the woman for her future, I started making dinner preparations as Belle maintained watch on the surroundings.  Shiro can hear people approaching at a fairly large distance at this point while I can do the same if I use magic, but it's better safe than sorry.

“Kuro.~” (Puerial)

“Massage *blush*.” (Shiro)

“Can't you two give it a rest at least while we travel, and how the hell can you keep up with them.” (Belle)

“*Sigh* just drop it.” (Kuro)

Thankfully, I can repress their emotions from getting too heated for the most part.  Though, doing it for too long causes them to build stress.  Travelling also seems to make their stress build a lot more rapidly.  Whether I’m busy or not, these two hormone induced girls won't give up if I don't satisfy them for too long.  At this point, I don't particularly mind as long as it doesn't come up at a bad time.  

The night was spent in a vigorous mood, much to Belle’s annoyance.  She calmed down after I took her shift to be on watch, so it didn’t end in any arguments.  

Without wasting time, we continued on to reach Concord at a good pace.

…

“Hey Kuro, what do you think we’ll get from those people in Concord?” (Belle)

“Hmm, if it's anything like my family from Birgen...than we should find something interesting.  Maybe some rare ore, or something I can study later.” (Kuro)

Knowing how these families think, there is a high chance for something interesting popping up if we completely ransack the place.  

“Any issues with the new equipment?” (Kuro)

“Nah, the stuff feels amazing.  Makes it hard to believe how much better they are compared to normal weapons and armor on the market.” (Belle)

“They are perfect.~” (Puerial)

“No problems.  They don't hinder movements at all.” (Shiro)

Hmm, it seems my cloth armor doesn't have any complaints.  If things keep going well and I get top quality materials, this armor will eventually be unmatched by normal standards.

Hybridized Armor

Versilian Metal/Cloth Armor (Set)

Rank: B-

Description:

The fabric was woven through special methods to form an odd hybridization between high quality Versilian metal and unknown cloth with enhanced properties.

Effects:

Defense up (Upper Medium)

Durability up (Medium)

Textile Strength up (Upper Medium)

Softness up (Upper Medium)

Retractive attribute

Self Repair (Small)

Abrasion resistant (Medium)

Deterioration resistant (Medium)

Temperature resistant (Medium)

Body Enhance (Lower Medium)

Magic Resistance (Lower Medium)

Clarity Boost (Small)

No doubt about how much the armor has improved from before.  Each armor has been tailored to meet the demands and fighting styles of each of us.  I also put some effort in it's aesthetic appearance since it was demanded of me.  Oddly enough, when I put some effort in it's appearance the effects of the armor seems to have improved slightly.

Since then I have been putting emphasis on all of the artistic details of all my works and have noticed they are slightly superior to when I make them normally.  I believe it's the effect of my [Artistic Hands].  Normally my work does look pretty good on their own, but become very eye catching when I put in some detail.

Usurper’s Arm

Weapon

Rank: B-

Description:

A glaive designed for practicality.  Regardless of how practical the design was meant to be, people can't help but admire the weapons might and appearance.

Effects:

Durability up (Upper Medium)

Sharpness up (Medium)

Balance up (Medium)

Self repair (Small)

Elemental Damage (Moderate)

Mana Steal (Small)

Air Current

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Quick Morph (Quickly repeated use can endanger the blades integrity)

My new weapon is very effective in various combat situations.  Mana Steal is self explanatory and not only activates when slashing people, but spells as well.  Air current is a subtle stream of air that wraps around the blade when I wield it, and prevents air resistance while having a slight knockback effect against opponents.

Everyone’s weapons can really devastate unprepared opponents due to their various effects.  This area doesn’t have a lot of powerful enchanted weapons from what I’ve seen.  None I have found have ever exceeded rank: C-.  Plus their effects aren’t as mysterious as the ones I’ve encountered in Amy’s dungeon.  No doubt something she had a hand in.  One of these effects that I haven't seen on the market would be the illusory effect of our daggers.

Regardless, I will use anything useful to my advantage.

“Hey Kuro, when do you think Cycy will wake up.  I want to hear you two sing again.~” (Puerial)

“It was surprising to hear it you know, you singing.” (Belle)

“It was beautiful.” (Shiro)

*Sigh* the fact that I got caught singing with the fairy doesn’t bother me.  What bothers me is how everyone keeps asking me to sing for them.  All it was at first was me singing casual lyrics using the fairies voice as the base tone in order to have a change of pace one day.  Oddly enough we have good synergy from what people said when we got caught.  The fairy seems to actively try to have singing sessions with me as well since we started.  Probably something she did with her sisters or something back when she was with the {Dryad}.  Even so…

“I don't know, she went into some type of hibernation.  Her races physiology wasn’t studied properly so I don't have much information to go on regarding her current state.  I wanted to leave her in the garden I made for her but she suddenly starts convulsing with a painful face when I try to separate her from me.” (Kuro)

“I hope she will be ok.” (Belle)

“Au, wake up soon.~” (Puerial)

“Cycy *Sulk*.” (Shiro)

I’ve noticed it when I kept observing her, but her mana seems to be flowing in an odd way.  It filters itself with my mana core and reenters her body.  I have a theory as to what may be going on, but I have nothing definite since even Amare is not sure.  A lot of the information she has regarding every race has to be taken with a grain of salt now making things very annoying.

I just hope that whatever is happening to Cycy isn't going to end up strange or something.  I have enough to deal with.

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Nearing the city of Concord

“Ooh, so that's Concord.  It's a bit...depressing.” (Belle)

“From the reports, this place regards commoners and bellow as fodder.  Most of the upper class have some level of strength where they do whatever they want in accordance to some sort of strength rankings.  Anyone who is seen as weak or incapable is reduced to a slave and treated rather harshly.  Especially the woman, they aren’t even treated as people.” (Kuro)

“Hmm...these guys sound perfect for the 'Meat Shield Order' or maybe the 'He-woman assault team' in our military.~” (Puerial)

“Un, the lowest level of treatment we can tolerate giving them sounds good.” (Shiro)

“Disgusting bastards.” (Belle)

“No point getting upset, most of the accused party has already been rounded up for their new lives.  The remaining citizens who haven't committed any offense will be rehabilitated for living normal lives in our faction.  What we are doing right now is clearing out the remaining resistance.  From what I know, the only ones who can give us any trouble at this juncture is that sect.  Even though the threat is fairly small at this point.” (Kuro)

After chatting for a bit longer, we entered the city.  The deplorable state of the city showed how little the upper society cared for the rest of the cities inhabitants.  I already confirmed that they enslaved the enforcers to do their handy work.  They were more than willy for some payback when we freed them.

It’s because of the guards willingness to turn on their masters that I don't force the people who enlist in my forces to do anything they aren't prepared for and assign them to suitable roles.  Criminals get limited training while the main force consisting of relatively good people get higher combat training just in case a similar situation that I’m doing here occurs.  Of course people who studied how to break slave collars aren’t widespread and need a long time to train up.  Most people don't seem to have the aptitude making it a lot harder to build a suitable amount of people for such a job.

Given how I only managed to find 16 people with the aptitude to remove slave collars after having all of my forces tested shows how difficult it is to cultivate as a standard ability for my forces.  I was left no choice but to make it into a special division for usurping possible slave forces.  Thankfully they seem to have done a good job in their test run in Concord.

“What's the status of the situation?” (Kuro)

“Sir, there are two criminal groups hunkering down in their fortified residences, but we have them surrounded and have been whittling away at their forces using some of those strategies we learned.  

They don't have enough people capable enough to force us back and have used annoying methods to buy time.  We think they may be planning to make an escape attempt on our enclosure.  Though we have used the new recruits in our mage forces to detect if they may try tunneling out with [Earth Probe] and have collapsed a few tunnels already.  We are preparing a final push to finish them off.

The only remaining force that is preventing any advancement is that sect.  They have used their abilities to prevent us from getting near their compound without casualties.  As instructed, we prevented them from escaping while waiting for ‘The Black Plague’ *light chuckle*.” (Commanding officer)

*Scowl* that stupid nickname again.  Illis just had to make up such a stupid title for me.  I think the system was mocking me when it was suddenly acknowledged.  I think titles may be generated not just by your actions but by the way people perceive you as well.

The Black Plague

Title

Common

Description:

This name not only makes people fear a deadly sickness but makes people either fear or respect a certain black haired individual.  Certain parties feel fear towards this title, while others find admiration towards it.

I will have to be careful of any weird titles being directed toward me.  If I could go back in time to stop it from spreading at it's roots…*Sigh*.

“Make preparations to finish off the two criminal groups and get it done in a few hours.  Your current numbers should be enough at this point to outright overwhelm them while my group takes over your watch over the sect.” (Kuro)

“Yes sir.” (Commanding officer)

Now then, What does this sect have to give me.

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A/N:  Happy reading.  As you can expect, next chapter will be a fight.

Little later than I wanted due to...you guessed it ‘REASONS’.  My apologies.