After settling the matters concerning Seraphina and arranging for the surviving Silvercrest soldiers to be released without their weapons, Ashveil finally had time to examine the equipment confiscated after Adrian’s defeat.
Among the spoils were the Steel Longsword and five sets of Reinforced Leather Armor awarded by the Lord System, along with the swords and worn armor collected from Adrian’s five soldiers.
They had also recovered a heavy iron warhammer from Adrian’s belongings. Combined with the tools obtained from previous battles, Ashen Hollow finally possessed a reasonable supply of equipment.
It was a considerable harvest, especially for a territory as impoverished as Ashen Hollow.
Ashveil first examined the two weapons.
[Iron Warhammer | Grade: D]
[Type: Weapon | Condition: Good]
[Evaluation: A heavy iron hammer capable of crushing armor and breaking stone.]
The warhammer possessed tremendous destructive power, but its weight made it difficult to handle. After attempting to swing it several times, Ashveil decided to set it aside.
Such a cumbersome weapon was unsuitable for him. However, it could eventually be assigned to a stronger soldier or used to break apart rocks at the northern mine.
The steel longsword was considerably more appealing.
[Steel Longsword | Grade: D]
[Type: Weapon | Condition: Good]
[Evaluation: A well-forged sword with a balanced blade and superior durability.]
Compared to the Coarse Iron Blade he had been carrying, the Steel Longsword was sharper and better balanced.
Ashveil swung it experimentally before replacing his old weapon.
After nearly losing his life against Adrian, he had developed a greater appreciation for proper equipment.
The five sets of reinforced leather armor were also a welcome improvement.
[Reinforced Leather Armor | Grade: F]
[Type: Armor | Condition: Good]
[Evaluation: Leather armor reinforced for improved protection against ordinary weapons.]
Their defensive capabilities were superior to the worn equipment currently used by his soldiers.
Ashveil selected one set for himself and reserved the remaining four for his spearmen.
He then checked the resources accumulated from his recent battles.
[Territory Resources]
[Gold Coins: 185]
[Source Stones: 3]
[Forgotten Essence: 3]
[Tier 1 Troop Recruitment Vouchers: 2]
Although the territory had acquired a considerable amount of equipment, its resources were still limited.
The two recruitment vouchers were particularly valuable. Each could summon ten Tier 1 soldiers, allowing Ashveil to double his current military strength.
Unfortunately, Ashen Hollow’s food supply couldn’t support such an expansion.
His ten spearmen already consumed twenty units of food each day. Recruiting another twenty would add forty units to the territory’s daily requirements.
Until Ashen Hollow established a reliable food supply, expanding the army would only create another problem.
Ashveil decided to keep the vouchers in reserve.
Nevertheless, the recent battles had taught him much about being a Lord.
Whether it was commanding soldiers, managing resources, or developing his territory, he was gradually becoming accustomed to his new responsibilities.
While he was putting away the remaining equipment, the door of the Lord’s Hall creaked open.
Ria entered.
Her expression carried its usual playful smile, although Ashveil could still detect traces of exhaustion beneath her composure.
The battles at the northern mine and Ashen Hollow had consumed much of her remaining magical energy.
"Little lord, I believe you’ve forgotten something."
Ashveil glanced at her.
"Already?"
"Unfortunately, I’m still rather hungry."
He sighed.
Although Ria had regained some of her strength through their previous exchanges, her current condition remained far from satisfactory.
Moreover, her abilities had already saved his life several times. Helping her recover was undoubtedly beneficial to Ashen Hollow.
"Fine. Just don’t overdo it."
Ria smiled and extended her hand.
Their fingers intertwined, and the familiar sensation of his vitality being drawn away immediately spread through Ashveil’s body.
His breathing gradually became heavier as strength drained from his limbs. Compared to their previous exchanges, the suction seemed considerably stronger.
Outside the Lord’s Hall, the settlement had grown quiet.
The spearmen were resting after their exhausting battles, while Rowan and the villagers gathered around a small campfire to prepare their evening meal.
After several minutes, the sensation finally stopped.
Ashveil slumped against his chair, his limbs feeling almost completely devoid of strength.
Ria, meanwhile, appeared noticeably more energetic.
"How do you feel?" he asked weakly.
"Much better."
At that moment, a system notification appeared.
[Sovereign’s Pact: Vitality Absorption Completed!]
[Ria’s Recovery Progress: 7%]
[Physical Strength and Magical Energy Capacity Increased]
Ashveil examined the notification with interest.
Seven percent.
Although the increase appeared small, he had already witnessed how powerful Ria could be with only a fraction of her former strength.
If she continued recovering, her abilities would undoubtedly become even more formidable.
At least the vitality he had sacrificed hadn’t gone to waste.
After putting away the remaining equipment, Ashveil finally retired for the night.
Early the following morning, Ashveil gathered his subordinates outside the Lord’s Hall.
With the recent influx of equipment and materials, it was finally time to improve Ashen Hollow’s infrastructure.
Their first priority was accommodation and food production.
Most of the soldiers had been sleeping outdoors, while the villagers occupied whatever shelter remained usable inside the ruined cottages.
The territory also lacked a reliable source of food, having survived largely through gathering and hunting.
Ashveil ordered Rowan to organize the construction of additional cottages and a farm.
Over the past several days, Rowan and the villagers had gathered enough timber and stone to begin construction. Their supplies were still limited, but they finally had enough materials to build their first cottage and farm.
Under his supervision, the villagers and available soldiers immediately began working.
The villagers worked more efficiently with the tools they had gathered, while the spearmen assisted with transporting heavy materials.
By midday, the first cottage had been completed, and work on a small farm was progressing steadily.
A wooden building stood near a newly cleared field, where the villagers had already begun preparing the soil.
Ashveil examined the results with satisfaction.
Although Ashen Hollow remained far from prosperous, it was finally beginning to resemble a functioning territory.
He also ordered a holding shelter prepared for the six captured kobolds. Until the northern mine could be properly secured, the prisoners would remain under the Forgotten Kobold’s supervision.
However, the construction work revealed another problem.
Manpower.
With only four villagers, the territory’s development was progressing slowly. Although the soldiers could assist with simple labor, their primary responsibility remained defending Ashen Hollow.
Ashveil considered using his recruitment vouchers, but ultimately dismissed the idea.
What he needed were additional workers, not more soldiers consuming the territory’s limited food supplies.
For now, the vouchers would remain unused.
After arranging the remaining construction work, Ashveil turned his attention toward another matter.
Silvercrest.
Adrian’s territory was located somewhere beyond the western hills, and according to Seraphina, most of its soldiers had accompanied him during his failed attack.
With their Lord dead and most of their soldiers defeated and disarmed, Silvercrest was unlikely to offer much resistance.
Ashveil had no intention of leaving such an opportunity unexplored.
He instructed Rowan to continue supervising construction and ordered the remaining spearmen to maintain their patrols. The Forgotten Kobold would remain responsible for the prisoners.
Afterward, Ashveil departed with Ria and Seraphina.
Their destination was Adrian’s former territory.
The journey westward took a little over an hour.
Seraphina led them through several wooded hills, following a narrow path between the trees.
She remained quiet throughout the journey.
Ashveil understood her reluctance. After all, Silvercrest had been her home since her summoning, and she was now returning there alongside the man responsible for Adrian’s death.
However, he had no intention of discussing the matter.
Eventually, the forest thinned, revealing a broad valley surrounded by wooded hills.
Ashveil stopped at the edge of the ridge.
Below them stood a settlement enclosed by a wooden palisade. Several buildings occupied the clearing within, including a farm, a barracks, a workshop, and a sturdy Lord’s Hall.
Compared to Ashen Hollow, the difference was considerable.
His territory had begun with little more than a few ruined cottages and a collapsing watchtower. Meanwhile, Silvercrest already possessed proper defenses and several functional buildings.
However, one particular structure caught his attention.
Near the center of the settlement stood a circular platform constructed from pale stone. A cluster of flames burned above its surface, seemingly unaffected by the wind.
"What’s that?"
"The Hero Altar," Seraphina answered. "It’s where Lord Adrian summoned me."
Ashveil examined the structure with interest.
So that was how Adrian had obtained a hero of Seraphina’s caliber.
He had known that higher-grade territories enjoyed better starting conditions, but the difference was greater than he had imagined.
Silvercrest was only a Grade D territory, yet its facilities were already far superior to those of Ashen Hollow.
And above Grade D, there were still Grades C, B, A, and S.
Ashveil couldn’t help wondering what kind of advantages those Lords had received.
It seemed he had severely underestimated the gap between starting territory grades.