Wait. Damn the early sun. Why didn't I get a warning that it was rising? How is it already morning? I strap my quiver pack over my shoulders and sprint to the training grounds. Luckily, the guards are diligent with door duties and open the gates when they see me running out of the forest. More impressive is their quick reaction to my retreating flight. Three guards raise their bows and scan for threats. Five guards channel their mana and ready their spells. Two are sprinting to signal the warning. Already, the gate is dropping. They've timed it perfectly for it to close as soon as I'm in.

None of my attempts to wave off the alarm succeed. Some might even say it escalates the non-existent threat. "Stand down," I shout at the top of my lungs. "Stand down. It's just me. There's no threat." Though it's counterintuitive, I stop running and persist in my shouting. Thankfully, my rarely used roar skill amplifies my voice, and the message is delivered. I might have added excessive mana, though, and my shout sounds through the entire city and echos off the mountains.

Now I feel silly. Kind of wish I could sink into shadow right about now. Feeling my desire, shadow cycles through my channels. It's nice knowing I have an easy exit; however, I don't take my preferred path of cowardice. Boldly, I stand before the guards and explain the situation in a dignified fashion.

"Hey, sorry for the confusion. There isn't any threat. I'm just late." I keep walking toward the gate that's now closed. One of Gavin's squadmates, Isabella, keeps her eyes on the tree line and her bow at the ready. One of the lancers, I think his name is Colby, dismisses the boulder he holds above his head and motions for the others to ease up. Despite most of the guards being a rank higher than him, they follow his order.

"Scared us witless, Sir," Colby says. His voice matches his scrawny build. Not high, low, or anything that stands out other than it sounds exactly as it should. The young lad forces a laugh. One of his hands covers his belly; the other hand, wrapped in bandages covered in runes, fidgets at his side.

"Did you call me sir?" I wait 'til I make it through the gate before I clear up more misconceptions.

"Yes, Sir."

"We are almost the same age." The irritatingly formal lad only needed a beard, and we would look identical in age. There should be none of this respect for older person silliness.

"It is not about age, Sir." My brow raises. I hold my ground and stare at the defiant individual. "It is your rank."

"My rank? I'm only one rank higher than you, and several of your fellow guards outrank me."

"Not your cultivation rank. Colby is trying to say you are king but is dancing around it." Isabella's eyes stay locked on the perimeter. "He is annoyingly timid." Isabella grins and nudges the young guard with her shoulder. "That's why we put him in charge."

I'm technically the King of Wolvsten since I have dibs vocally and through some binding contract with my core. Similarly to Bones and his dungeon, the land is tied to my soul. Apparently, the more claims I have on the land, the stronger I can become — at least according to Gene. However, even after establishing a dungeon, a new town, and clearing out threats, I haven't noticed any change in strength besides cultivation gains, which are different from lich gains. At least, I think so. I haven't died in some time, so maybe there's something there… However, I can't control any part of my land, I feel no special connection besides recycling to my death spawn, I can't teleport to any spot — which, if this is my land, I feel like I should have a right to do — nor do I have authority over the inhabitants of my land.

It could be that I'm not a very good ruler. I argue I'm the best kind of ruler. I'm a king on technicality and seem more like the nameless appendage between the pinky and the cursing finger. I'm here; my presence adds value, but neither I nor anyone else knows that value. Even Lana and several others, who don't technically have a role, add more value. Maybe Lana is the right-hand nameless appendage, and I'm the left.

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"Oh. Right. I'm king in title only," I say nonchalantly. I knew the day would come when my rule was challenged. I just didn't think it would be so soon. "I have no real power unless the boney one tries to make me do something. Besides that, I prefer to be a secret king. The kind of king nobody knows about, so no one targets me for some grand assassination game."

"Like the King of Lackia?" Another guard pipes in. Maybe her name is Amy? She's as tall as Colby. Of the Anvileers, she and her kiddo are more rugged. Most of the people from Anvil wear simple clothes and fabrics. Amy and her boy wear wool and leather that have been patched and sewn together. Even now, she wears a hooded cloak over her earthly-toned armor that covers her short blond hair. Fire still burns in her hands even as she folds them across her chest.

"Who's the King of Lackia?"

"No one knows, Sir," says Colby.

"And he's the king?"

"Yeah. I even voted for the king myself," says Amy.

"Then yeah, I'm mysterious like the Lackia King." And just like that, I clear up confusion and keep responsibilities off my shoulders. The day might still be perfect.

"No offense, Sir." Colby the Timid speaks up as I start walking away. I pause even though, in my heart, I know I need to run. You are not much of a mystery anymore, Sir." I am offended. Though I don't say it, and I keep a calm face. I'm the biggest mystery here. Who can contend with me? That's basically my identity at this point. I'm the guy who doesn't know who he is. I'm probably way more mysterious than the lazy King of Lackia.

"Colby," I say his name a little sharper than intended and pause to let my voice simmer. "I like you. Consider yourself now, High Steward. You will be the acting king while I keep my secret allure as the hidden king."

"That is not a thing," says Amy. Maybe she is trying to protect Colby, or she is jealous. There's an easy solution for that.

"Amy, you are now promoted to Chancellor to King Colby." This is getting dangerous. I'm on a power trip and don't know if I can escape this high. Maybe being king isn't so bad. "Who's next?" I catch the fastest eyes to turn down. "Issy, you are Colby's Royal Councillor."

"I do not think Gavin will let you poach him from his squad." Isabella tries to fight my promotion.

"Poaching? You can stick with your squad. Just see that Colby is correctly counseled." My next victim is another member of Gavin's crew. The half-orc has avoided eye contact with me this whole time, unlike Issy, who kept her eyes on the trees. The jovial brute looked everywhere except at me as if he knew something was brewing. Wise man. I don't even know if these titles mean anything. I'm just drunk on power. "Grom, you're the Royal Chef. Bloom, you're the master of Revels. And he isn't here, but Cru is now the King's General."

Judging by the gobsmacked faces, I crushed the promotion ceremony. This is actually kind of fun. Maybe I like being king, but I probably need to reign it in a little.

"You can not be serious?" The king asks, his voice backed by the confidence of his new command.

"Dead serious, Sir. I'll get the word out about the new assignments. Bloom, there probably needs to be a celebration for the occasion."

"It will be done." Bloom hesitates. "Though I might need some help if it is going to be a banger."

"Glimmer has now been promoted to Revel Master as well. Do we need more?"

"Nope." Bloom is clearly the happiest of the guards with her and her Glimmer's assignment. I'm able to infer this because she is the only one smiling. Though I can't quite tell if she is smiling or scheming. The rest of the guards are looking absolutely shocked. Bet they didn't think I could create a new ruling class before breakfast. That's on them for thinking Bones created himself. Someone had to be foolish enough to promote him.

"Great. Well, congrats and good work, everyone. Keep keeping us safe. I'll see you all later." No sirs are given as I turn and walk away victoriously. It's hard to ruin the perfect day. Fate is on my side.