The Lord Who Levels Up by Devouring - LLD Chapter 33: A Lord’s Responsibility and Duty (1) (Part 1)

A translucent message floated before me: “Management Mode has been unlocked.”

Even before I could finish forming a question, a stream of related messages flooded my vision.

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[Management Mode] serves as a guide that allows the [Player] to oversee and monitor information related to their owned territory.

Once [Management Mode] is unlocked, the [Player] can access the following features:

1. The [Player] can gain “Territory EXP” to level up the territory. As the territory’s level increases, various research options and beneficial effects across the Territory can be unlocked and applied.
2. The [Player] can view the current status of both material and human resources, including the territory’s financial state.
3. The [Player] can detect the presence of hidden resources within the owned territory.

Additionally, you can monitor ongoing research, production, trade, and dispatch operations.

For more detailed information, refer to the [Management Mode] tab.

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Thanks to the clear and concise explanation, I understood it right away. And I also realized immediately—this was one of Ian’s abilities.

‘So this is how Ian managed to lead the Allied Forces so flawlessly.’

The Allied Forces that united all peoples of the continent.

As the continent’s hero and the supreme commander of the Allied Forces, Ian led with such mastery it could only be called perfection.

There might have been murmurs, but never any real conflict. It was likely because of this very ability.

Then came another message:

◆Error: No territory currently owned by the Player.

It was an ability I couldn’t use at the moment.

As it said, I didn’t “own” any territory.

Sure, as the heir to the House of Whitewolf, I held the authority of a minor lord. But being a lord wasn’t the same as owning the County.

My father had left me no inheritance whatsoever.

Currently, the one who legally owned the County was my younger sister, Serapia.

Well, technically, Serapia had already signed a letter of intent agreeing to hand over her position as lord to me…

‘But there’s no need for that right now.’

To be exact, I had no intention of clinging to the County.

That ability could easily be applied to the Allied Forces later on.

After all, the activation condition for [Management Mode] was ownership of a “Territory.”

And it’s not like the ability itself would disappear just because I wasn’t using it now. There was no reason to become attached to the House of Whitewolf’s domain.

Just the fact that I could gain quest EXP and level up was satisfying enough.

Then suddenly—

A new translucent message popped up in front of me.

◆A Territory Quest has arrived.

Another territory-related quest.

Before I could even begin wondering, the content unfurled before me:

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You didn’t just start a merchant group from scratch—you made a fortune on your first trade mission!

Head held high! Nose in the air!
You strutted around like a conquering general returning from victory!

But wait—what’s this?! What in the world—?!

You’re… not even a proper lord?!

A puppet! A stand-in!
A pretty face! A marionette!

You’re the definition of a paper-thin lord!

Think that’s too harsh?
Have you even stopped to consider how you’ve treated your subjects?

You hit them on a whim!
You beat them because you felt like it!
You shook them down for drinking money!
You stole from them for gambling money!

Compared to that, “paper-thin” is practically a compliment!

You’re a terrible person! A truly awful person!
Do you even know what your people think when they see your face?

“Die…”—oops, that’s too harsh.
“Drop dead…”—nope, still bad.

“Ascend to heaven”…?
Okay! Yes, please ascend!

That’s right. Your people are literally praying for your ascension every day!

That’s how far your authority as a lord has fallen—deep into the abyss!

But worry not!
There’s still a way to pull your fallen lordship back from the brink!

What is it, you ask?

Authority means nothing if not backed by responsibility and duty!

Now then, clever as you are, surely you understand what must be done?

Fulfill your responsibilities and duties as a lord—and claim the authority that follows!

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==[True Lordship Comes from Fulfilling Duties]==

[Objective] – Raise your territory residents’ Affection Level to [Trust] within 90 days.
[Reward] – Authority
[If Refused] – [Management Mode] will be revoked.

“……”

I was speechless.

The quest’s mockery was one thing, but the penalty for refusal wasn’t just harsh—it was basically a threat.

Affection levels followed this hierarchy: Hatred < Disgust/Loathing < Anger < Conflict < Indifference < Familiarity < Amicable < Trust < Affection.

◆For your information, your current affection level with the territory residents is [Disgust]!
◆Residents at [Disgust] status hate and despise you!

◆[Disgust] does not entail active hostility, but it does mean they refuse to be near you and harbor a passive aversion.

…Yeah, no kidding.

And [Disgust] was the same affection level I had with Kai.

The required level, [Trust], was the same as with Serapia.

In other words, I needed to turn Kai into a Serapia.

That sounded weird, but if I didn’t, I’d lose [Management Mode]—in 90 days.

It was absolutely a threat.

Still, it wasn’t entirely bad news.

‘Because I can earn EXP from this.’

Quest EXP offered far better returns than monster hunting.

Just one quest gave me 2 full levels.

Considering how much EXP was needed to level up now, it was clear that quests were going to be my main source of progression.

The problem, though, was that quests didn’t just come whenever I wanted.

I still didn’t fully understand the mechanics behind them.

They likely only appeared under certain conditions or triggers.

So, I had to accept them when they came—and clear them while I could.

This territory quest was no different.

No need to think it over—accept.

◆Territory Quest [True Lordship Comes from Fulfilling Duties] has begun.

‘So I need to raise the people’s affection…’

It was a bit of a headache, but not impossible.

The hint was in the quest title itself.

True lordship comes from fulfilling duties. In other words, I had to act like a real lord.

And that meant—

‘Bringing back supplies to prepare for the coming winter.’

Making sure the people were fed and kept warm.

As luck would have it, I was currently in Frecce, a free city known for trade.

With goods from all over the continent gathering here, it was the perfect place to stock up on supplies for the harsh winter ahead.

The only issue—money.

But even that wasn’t a problem right now.

‘The money I earned this time…’

Before founding the Predator Merchant Group, I had about 30,000 gold.

After deducting expenses for the wagon, labor, tolls, lodging, equipment, and so on, I spent about 9,800 gold.

That was almost exactly the 10,000 gold I had expected.

‘Luckily, I didn’t have to pay for the meat.’

Because I had hunted the monsters myself, there were no material costs.

Had that not been the case, 30,000 gold wouldn’t have even come close.

So in the end, the total profit amounted to—

‘142,450 gold.’

That was over 14 times the return on my investment.

More than enough to prepare the County for the winter—no, it was more than enough. It was excessive.

Translatin_Otaku

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