What Eren had discovered was that the experience gained by his spirit summons was also being rewarded to him. More surprisingly, his experience points were directly connected to the three Calamities.
However, another possibility soon crossed his mind.
What if the experience points weren’t exclusive to him and the three SSS-Rank spirits? What if every spirit he summoned, including the ten F-Rankers, received the same rewards?
If that were the case, it would mean that all his summons were connected to him in some way, sharing a system that allowed them to grow together.
The thought alone was enough to excite him.
’If that’s how it works, does that mean I can stay idle while my summons do all the work and still receive the rewards?’
Eren nearly laughed at the possibility.
Although he had no intention of becoming that kind of lord, it was certainly an interesting discovery. If his theory proved correct, it would mean that he could continue growing stronger even when his own contribution to a battle was limited.
Still, there was something he couldn’t overlook.
’I’m the lord of this settlement. I’d have to be the one to lead my subjects.’
He had no intention of hiding behind his summons forever. If he wanted to build a settlement that could survive in the Ashen Frontier, he needed to become someone capable of making decisions, bearing responsibility, and facing danger when necessary.
With that thought settled, Eren turned his attention to Vaelzara.
The Demon Queen had already reached the spot where the others had gathered the dry wood. Several thick branches had been arranged into a small pile, with thinner twigs placed between them to help the fire catch.
Vaelzara examined the arrangement for a moment before raising her right hand.
A faint crimson glow appeared around her fingers.
Then, without so much as a warning, a red flame burst into existence above her palm.
It wasn’t the familiar yellow or orange flame Eren had expected to see. The fire was a deep, vivid crimson, almost like liquid blood burning in the air. Its light illuminated Vaelzara’s pale face, reflecting in her crimson eyes as she brought her hand closer to the wood.
The moment the flame touched the dry branches, they ignited.
WHOOSH!
A wave of heat swept across the area.
The fire spread rapidly, swallowing the thin twigs before climbing over the thicker branches. Within seconds, a towering mass of crimson flames rose from the pile, illuminating the surrounding darkness and casting long, dancing shadows across the ash-covered ground.
The heat was so intense that Marcus instinctively stepped backward.
"Whoa! What kind of fire is that?!"
He retreated another few steps, raising an arm to shield his face from the heat.
"Simple fire," she responded softly.
The others quickly followed his example.
Even Eren had to move farther away. The temperature around the fire was becoming unbearable, and the flames were far too powerful for anyone to stand beside them comfortably.
Vaelzara, however, remained completely unfazed.
She stood beside the blazing wood as though she were standing in an ordinary room, her red hoodie barely moving in the rising currents of hot air.
Eren stared at her.
’And she calls that a simple fire?’
He had asked her to ignite some wood so they could cook their food. He hadn’t expected her to produce something that looked capable of melting the surrounding rocks.
"Vaelzara!" he called out. "Can you reduce the intensity a little?"
She glanced over her shoulder.
"Reduce it?"
"Yes! We’re trying to cook meat, not burn down the entire settlement!"
Vaelzara looked at the towering flames before returning her gaze to him.
"Understood, Master."
She lifted her hand again, and the crimson flames gradually settled. The fire remained strong enough to cook their food, but the heat became more manageable.
Eren released a quiet breath of relief.
At least she could control it.
With the fire ready, they began preparing the meat.
The pieces from the gutted Ashfang Wolf were arranged on several sturdy branches that had been cleaned and sharpened into makeshift roasting spits. Since they lacked proper cooking utensils, they had to make do with whatever materials they could find.
Vaelzara took charge of the roasting.
It was hardly surprising. None of the F-Rankers could stand close enough to the crimson fire for long without feeling its overwhelming heat, and even Eren had no intention of volunteering for the job.
Vaelzara, on the other hand, handled the meat as though she were preparing dinner in her own palace.
She turned the roasting spits at regular intervals, ensuring that the meat cooked evenly. Occasionally, she adjusted the flames with a slight movement of her fingers, preventing the outer layer from burning while allowing the inside to cook thoroughly.
Elena eventually joined her.
The Frozen Calamity stood a short distance away, using small amounts of frost to cool the air around the cooking area. Her magic couldn’t eliminate the heat entirely, but it made the surrounding temperature more bearable for everyone waiting nearby.
Eren watched the two women working together.
One controlled flames that could have reduced ordinary creatures to ashes, while the other wielded frost capable of encasing ten enormous wolves in solid ice.
And somehow, both of them were preparing dinner for a group of settlers who had barely survived their first day.
He couldn’t help finding the situation amusing.
’If someone had told me this morning that I’d be having dinner prepared by the Demon Queen and the Frozen Calamity, I’d have thought they were insane.’
The smell of roasting meat soon began spreading through the settlement.
It was rich and savory, with the scent of fat dripping onto the hot wood and sizzling against the flames. The aroma alone was enough to make several of the F-Rankers swallow impatiently.
After everything they had endured that day, a proper meal felt almost unreal.
When Vaelzara finally decided that the meat was ready, she removed the roasting spits from the fire and carried them toward the others. This chapter was copied from g.com without permission.
"Your food, Master."
Eren looked at the roasted meat.
Its outer surface had turned a beautiful golden-brown color, while the juices glistened beneath the firelight. The smell was so inviting that he immediately realized just how hungry he had become.
"Good work, Vaelzara."
She gave a small nod before setting the meat down.
Eren then reached into his supplies and brought out all five loaves of bread.
"Everyone, come over. Let’s eat before the food gets cold."
The others didn’t need to be told twice.
They gathered around the food, and Eren began breaking the loaves into smaller portions. He distributed the pieces among everyone, making sure that nobody was left out.
When he offered some to Vaelzara, however, she shook her head.
"I’m fine with the meat, Master."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. You can give my portion to someone else."
Eren studied her briefly before accepting her answer.
He wasn’t entirely certain whether demons had different dietary needs from humans, but he wasn’t going to force her to eat something she didn’t want.
With the bread distributed, everyone finally settled down to eat.
The first bite was enough to make Eren pause.
The meat was surprisingly delicious.
It was tender beneath its slightly crispy exterior, with a rich flavor that spread across his tongue. The natural taste was unlike anything he had expected from a monster that had spent its life roaming the dangerous Dominion Expanse.
He took another bite.
Then another.
’This is actually good!’
The Ashfang Wolf meat was far better than he had anticipated, and after a day of surviving on limited supplies, he had no intention of wasting a single piece.
The others seemed to share his opinion.
Marcus, who had spent most of the day building their shelters, ate with an expression of genuine satisfaction. Garrick praised the flavor between bites, while Aldric appeared particularly pleased that their discovery had secured them a source of food.
Even the usually reserved Elena seemed to enjoy the meal.
For a little while, the exhaustion and anxiety that had followed them since arriving in the Ashen Frontier faded into the background.
They were no longer worrying about the next monster attack or how they would find enough food to survive.
For that brief moment, they were simply a group of people sharing a meal around a fire.
Eren looked around at their faces.
Despite their different backgrounds, Classes, and abilities, they were all gathered in the same place, depending on one another to survive.
It was a small thing, perhaps, but it meant something to him.
This was the beginning of his settlement.
And if he wanted to build something that would last, moments like this were just as important as fighting monsters.
Once everyone had finished eating, Eren stood and brushed the crumbs from his hands.
"Darius, Roland, Elias, Lyra. You can leave your positions for now, but don’t wander too far from the perimeter. Stay alert until Kael, Vaelzara, and I take over."
"Understood, my lord," Darius answered on behalf of the group.
The four watchers began returning from their positions, looking relieved to have a chance to rest after their long hours on guard.
However, before Eren could make further arrangements, Hela stepped forward.
"There’s no need for you to take over."
Eren turned toward her.
"What do you mean?"
"I’ll keep watch tonight. You should all get some sleep."
Eren frowned slightly.
"Hela, you are just one person. We can’t leave the entire night watch to you."
"It’s fine, Master."
"That’s not an answer."
Hela folded her arms.
"Then here’s a better one. I used to be the top vigilante in my hometown. Keeping watch throughout the night was part of my responsibilities, and I did it regularly. I know how to remain alert without exhausting myself."
Eren hesitated.
He knew Hela was an experienced warrior, but that didn’t mean he could simply leave her alone to guard the entire settlement. The Ashen Frontier was dangerous, and they had already encountered a pack of eleven Ashfang Wolves on their first day.
There was no guarantee that something worse wouldn’t appear during the night.
"You might be able to handle yourself," he said, "but what happens if a large group of monsters attacks? You can’t fight everything alone."
Hela gave him a confident smile.
"Then I’ll make sure nothing reaches the shelter before I alert everyone. Besides, I have wings. I can survey the surrounding area much more effectively than someone standing on the ground." Follow the newest chapters on g.com.
She tilted her head slightly.
"You summoned me to help protect this settlement, didn’t you? So let me do my job, Master."
Eren stared at her for a moment.
He couldn’t deny that she had a point.
Hela was a warrior who had fought on the front lines of the Great War. Compared to her, keeping watch over a small settlement should have been a relatively simple responsibility.
Still, he wasn’t entirely comfortable with the arrangement.
"You’ll wake us immediately if anything seems wrong?"
"Of course."
"And don’t try to fight an overwhelming number of monsters alone. Your priority is to alert us, not prove how strong you are."
Hela sighed.
"Yes, Master. I’ll alert you if anything happens."
Eren studied her expression for another moment before finally giving in.
"Fine. You can keep watch tonight. But don’t push yourself unnecessarily."
"Understood."
Hela gave a satisfied nod.
Just as Eren began turning toward the shelter, another voice interrupted them.
"I’ll join her."
He stopped.
Vaelzara stood a short distance away, her crimson eyes resting on Hela.
Hela immediately turned toward her.
"I don’t need your help."
"That wasn’t a request," Vaelzara immediately responded.
The two women stared at each other.
Eren watched them in silence, already recognizing the direction their conversation was taking.
Hela narrowed her eyes.
"I can handle the night watch myself."
"And I can stand beside you without getting in your way."
"I said I don’t need you."
"And I said I’m joining you."
Vaelzara’s expression remained perfectly calm.
"You don’t have a choice."
Hela looked as though she wanted to argue further, but Eren had already decided he wasn’t getting involved.
He simply shrugged.
"Whatever. Both of you can keep watch tonight. Just make sure the settlement remains safe."
Without waiting for either woman to respond, he turned toward the shelters.
He had spent the entire day dealing with monsters, constructing defenses, organizing his people, and discovering more about the strange abilities of his summons.
The last thing he wanted was to spend the night listening to two SSS-Rank Calamities argue over who was more capable of keeping watch.
’They can sort it out themselves.’
As far as Eren was concerned, having both of them outside was probably the safest arrangement he could ask for.
He entered the shelter with Elena following behind him.
The structure was simple, built from thick logs and branches, but it was sturdy enough to provide protection from the wind. There was little furniture inside, and the ground was covered with a thin layer of bedding made from whatever materials they had managed to gather.
It wasn’t comfortable by any reasonable standard.
Still, it was shelter.
And after the day they had endured, Eren was grateful for even that much.
He settled down, stretching his tired limbs before letting out a long sigh.
Tomorrow would bring its own problems. They still needed better weapons, a reliable source of water, stronger defenses, and a proper plan for developing the territory.
But those were concerns for tomorrow.
For now, he just wanted to sleep.
Elena remained standing nearby, looking at the makeshift bedding before turning her attention toward him.
"Master?"
Eren opened his eyes.
"Hmm? What’s wrong?"
She hesitated for a moment, her pale-blue eyes shifting toward the space beside him.
Then, in a voice much softer than usual, she asked,
"Master...? Can I sleep on your chest, please?"