“Chiii! Chiii!”

  A blue-grade Cursed Spirit Death Rat darted through the sewer at high speed, chased by a shadowy, bloodthirsty figure. Former allies had joined the enemy, cutting off every escape route. No matter where it ran, opposing Death Rats blocked the way.

  It was completely surrounded.

  Footsteps echoed steadily as a young man approached. The rat looked up at the loathed executioner raising a wand.

  “Arcane Bullet.”

  BANG!

  A powerful gray light pierced its body. A second and third shot followed, erasing the spirit.

  [You have acquired Cursed Spirit: Unnamed Death Rat – Grade: Blue][Congratutions. You have leveled up.][Arcane Bullet upgraded to Level 5. Damage +5%][You have sin a Cursed Parent. Area purified. Evernd Territory +2,654 sqm][You have collected 1,000 souls. Reward: 10 Soul Coins, 1 XL Spirit EXP Card][Evernd territory reached 25,000 sqm. Reward: 10 Soul Coins, 1 Purple Spirit Upgrade Card]

  “Phew… Finally leveled up,” Fethan sighed. It had taken nearly ten cursed spirits just to push his level from 30 to 31. Luckily, there were more cursed spirits in the sewers beyond just the Rat King.

  He swore he’d never return here unless absolutely necessary. A week of killing filthy rats amid garbage and sewage had frayed his mental health. Especially the haunting whispers that caused persistent headaches.

  As Fethan ran toward the light at the tunnel’s end, he failed to notice a red-eyed giant cockroach watching him from the darkness.

  After delivering the cores to the Guild and stopping at the supermarket, Fethan returned home on his motorbike. Usually, his house was dark and depressing. But tonight, the lights were on even before he stepped inside.

  The moment he opened the door, he found Stel wearing a headscarf and wielding a mop, scrubbing the floor with earnest intensity.

  The petite girl turned and beamed.

  “Welcome home, Mr. Fethan! Just a moment—I haven’t cleaned the bathroom yet. I’ll finish mopping first!”

  “No need! Really, no need to clean everything…” Fethan panicked. Stel was so small and frail that a strong gust could blow her away. Yet every time he saw her, she was pushing herself too hard. Lumi looked on in admiration—she couldn’t match this level of diligence.

  “I just want to help! Please let me work!” Stel pleaded.

  Fethan sighed and nodded.

  “Alright. Then how about this? I’ll give you a sary—separate from your allowance—for helping around the house.”

  “No! I can’t accept that!” she shook her head. But Fethan insisted.

  “Work deserves pay. You’re keeping this house running, and I should compensate you. We don’t have much right now, but until Jonathan’s support comes in, I’ll give you 50 Dennies a day.”

  “But… an allowance is already too generous… getting a sary too…” Stel looked miserable.

  “Why does it upset you so much?” Fethan asked.

  “Because I’m just staying here… Doing chores helps me feel useful. If I get paid for it, I’ll feel guilty.”

  “I get it. You don’t want to feel like a freeloader, right?”

  She nodded softly. Fethan sighed again and smiled gently.

  “We’re family now. Supporting each other is what family does. I won’t stop you from helping—but don’t overdo it, alright?”

  Stel rexed and pced a hand over her chest. She didn’t know yet that while she wouldn’t receive a sary, her allowance would quietly increase. That realization would come ter.

  Fethan entered the kitchen and unpacked quality ingredients. He cleaned the meat and vegetables, then started cooking. The aroma of sauce-coated vegetables and marbled meat wafted through the house, distracting Stel mid-clean.

  She came downstairs to find the table set with stir-fried golden carrots and meat, dumplings made with flying cabbage, hot rice sprinkled with bck sesame, and bonito broth soup. Her eyes sparkled.

  ‘It looks delicious…’ she thought. She’d seen fancy meals before—but this one made her breath catch.

  “Stel, come join us. I made plenty. Let’s celebrate you moving in.”

  “Celebrate… for me?”

  “Of course.”

  “Are you sure… just for me?”

  “Yes. For my little sister.”

  Fethan scratched his cheek in embarrassment. Lumi nodded proudly beside him. Stel looked away, cheeks puffed like she was holding back a smile.

  ‘Little sister…’

  That word felt… special.

  She put away her gloves and mop, then sat across from him. The half-siblings, who resembled each other more than expected, began eating in quiet harmony. Lumi sniffed the fragrant dishes—but, being a spirit, couldn’t smell a thing.

  Her face dimmed with sorrow.

  “This sucks… It looks so good but I can’t even taste it. I can’t smell it either. Ugh, being a spirit is torture! Is this what being dead means? You don’t even get to be happy?” Lumi wailed.

  Fethan ate his stir-fried veggies and meat, watching Stel’s reaction. She pierced a dumpling with her fork, dipped it in soy sauce, and took a bite. The soup inside burst into her mouth, releasing the fragrance of flying cabbage.

  Tears welled in her silver eyes.

  “Eh?” Fethan and Lumi exchanged gnces as Stel began crying.

  “W-what’s wrong? Not good?” Lumi asked.

  “Stel, is it the cabbage? Or something else? Tell me if you’re allergic.”

  “No… It’s not that. It’s just… I haven’t eaten anything this delicious in so long. And it’s from you… It just makes me so happy. Warm. Right here…” she touched her chest, sobbing.

  Fethan exhaled, initially worried she was reacting to an allergy.

  He smiled at his precious sister.

  ‘So this is what it feels like… to have family.’

  He’d always longed for it. Losing his mom young. A father who vanished. If only someone had been there to grow up with him.

  Who would've thought that fate would gift him such an adorable, protect-worthy little sister?

  “Eat as much as you want. I’ll make it again anytime.”

  “Hic… Hic hic hic…” Stel cried harder, overwhelmed by his gentle words. Fethan and Lumi froze—neither knew how to comfort a child. This parenting thing was hard.

  Fethan entered his private study and opened the gate to Evernd.

  He ran to the Lord’s Office—his efforts from the past week had finally paid off.

  [Evernd][Glory: Level 1][Territory: 25,000 sqm][Popution: 1,000 (Orange: 1, Purple: 3, Blue: 55, Green: 388, White: 553)][Soul Coins: 3.84][Tax Income: 51.725 Soul Coins/month][Structures: 3 (General: 0, Special: 3, Miraculous: 0)]

  Evernd Castle LV1Immortal Barracks LV1Evernd Shop LV1[Blueprints Owned: 2][Requirements Met for Glory Level 2 Upgrade: ?]

  [Upgrade Glory to Level 2?]

  “Upgrade.” No hesitation.

  Evernd shook. Hellhounds howled. Rats scattered. Spirit energy thickened dramatically. Breathing alone felt revitalizing.

  [Glory Level 2 Achieved. Max Popution: 2,500. Max Territory: 50,000 sqm][Special Structure Unlocked: Cursed Prison][New Skill: Dominion Sigil (A)][+50 Undead Army Capacity. Max: 150][New Spell: Fme Curse of Annihition (A)][+2 Levels, +50 Soul Power, +2 to All Stats][1 Authority Card, 1 Special Structure Upgrade Card][Soul Energy Density x2. Tax Bonus +5%][All Castle Facilities +1 Level]

  “Damn…” Fethan inhaled. The benefits were huge. Leveling Evernd was more important than grinding his own levels.

  He opened his character panel. Stats had significantly increased. Two new skills had appeared.

  [Dominion Sigil (A) – LV1: Borrow Soul Power from Evernd’s citizens. Repayable with Soul Coins and interest. Max borrowable: 1,000 Soul Power]

  “Incredible. It’s like a government bond—but in Soul Power. I’ve got a backup battery now.”

  But the second skill…

  [Fme Curse of Annihition (A) – LV1: Requires 100 Soul Power minimum. Unleash a devastating curse using deadly fme. Leaves a curse mark. The longer endured, the more powerful the attack. Damages both user and target.]

  “I’ll only use curses if I absolutely have to.”

  Curses were potent but dangerous—hurting caster and target alike. Prolonged use corrupted the soul. Many curse users went insane.

  Fethan didn’t want to follow that path.

  ‘I have Lumi’s fusion and the Death-Guiding God. No need for curses.’

  He left the Lord’s Office. Outside, Evernd was celebrating. Hellhounds danced. Rats twirled. The Werewolf ran ps. The Reaper sunbathed, smiling.

  Everyone benefited from the upgrade.

  ‘I should use the new resources wisely. I’ve got a Special Structure Upgrade Card. Castle? Nah. Shop? Not needed. The barracks… I’ll upgrade that.’

  Fethan selected the Immortal Barracks and used the card.

  [Immortal Barracks (Special Structure) LV2: +10% EXP and skill gain during training. Unlocks facility purchase. You may now hire a Commander to enhance the building’s efficiency.]

  ‘Hiring? New feature.’

  He shelved that thought for now—because another structure caught his interest.

  [Cursed Prison (Special Structure): Can imprison up to 100 cursed spirits. Can purify them. Cost: 1 Soul Coin per cell. Curse energy is extracted and converted into Curse Medals. Hire a Warden to increase efficiency. Occupies 5,000 sqm.]

  ‘It can purify cursed spirits… This is huge.’

  Fethan pced the prison far from the castle and barracks. The building manifested—ancient stone, thick walls, barbed wire coiled like living vines. A depressing, grim aura pushed others away.

  Except one.

  The Reaper rushed over, drawn by the ominous pull.

  “Bring it here,” Fethan ordered.

  Two Hellhounds dragged the bound Rat King to the prison gate.

  “CHIIIIII!” it howled. It sensed what y beyond. It would not return the same.

  Its cries were like a prisoner bound for execution.

  “Ki ki ki…”

  A strange chuckle echoed from beneath the Reaper’s cloak. Fethan gnced at it. Maybe this one should be Warden. He had more cursed spirits than just the Rat King. If he could purify them all, his army would grow.

  “By the way, what do you guys use the Soul Coins for?” Fethan asked.

  The Reaper scribbled at light speed:

  {To pay taxes to you.}

  “…What?”

  Fethan facepalmed. So that’s where the coins came from. He paid them wages—and they paid it back as tax. A self-sustaining loop.

  “What if I don’t hire anyone? Where do the coins come from then?”

  {We convert soul cultivation into coins. It slows level-ups, but pays your tax. If you hire us, we save the coins and level faster.}

  “So if I hire you more, you level up faster?”

  {Truly wise! A philosopher reborn! A sage of sagacity! Oh, brilliant one!} The Reaper’s praise flooded the page.

  Fethan stopped reading halfway.

  ‘It’s trying to butter me up. It wants something.’

  “Fine. I’m appointing you Warden of the Cursed Prison.”

  “!”

  {Really?}

  “Yes. You’re the only one eager to be near the prison. And you're my only orange-grade spirit. A former servant of Pharaoh Bck—who better?”

  The Reaper’s eye sockets shimmered. It knelt, offering words Fethan didn’t understand. Was it… crying?

  Then it stood, grabbed the Rat King, and dragged him inside.

  “Chiii… (Good luck, boss.)” Deathratty saluted with zero emotion.

  “CHIIIIIIII!! (I’ll get you all when I get out!)” the Rat King screamed, blood-tears flowing.

  The prison door smmed shut.

  The Reaper’s eerie ughter echoed from within.

  The Werewolf sulked nearby. It wanted a job too—but purple-grade spirits were expensive.

  “Awooo…” it pointed at itself.

  “You’re on standby. Train. Level up. I’ll call you when needed.”

  “Whine…” It drooped, tail limp.

  Hellhounds licked its fur to comfort it.

  “So sad… Why not hire him as a shop clerk?” Lumi suggested. Dog-lovers couldn’t bear the sight.

  “Not a good fit. But… actually… Werewolf, come here.”

  It perked up instantly and ran to him.

  “I appoint you Commander of the Immortal Barracks. Train the Hellhounds and Death Rats. Two Soul Coins a month. Deal?”

  “AWOOOOOOO!!” the Werewolf howled in joy.

  He had a job! With a sary! He howled. The Hellhounds howled. Then they all danced upright.

  They weren’t wolves anymore—they were household pets.

  [Evernd Shop LV1: (No staff)][Immortal Barracks LV1: Unnamed Werewolf – Purple Grade (Commander). Training Efficiency +5%. +15% for canine-type spirits. Cost: 2 Soul Coins/month][Cursed Prison LV1: Unnamed Reaper – Orange Grade (Warden). Purification Efficiency +10%. Cost: 5 Soul Coins/month]

  “I’ll leave the shop to you, Lumi. No tax burden either.”

  “Really? Are you sure? I’ve never worked retail before…”

  “Just run the counter. And there’s nothing in stock. You’re purple-grade, so you owe me 1 coin monthly. I’ll pay you 2. You keep 1.”

  “Then I accept! Lord Fethan’s housewife, reporting for duty~”

  Fethan pinched her cheek with affection.

  He surveyed his growing domain. With pns for Rat Vilges and Dog Homes in mind, he now had infrastructure, leadership, and the beginnings of a sustainable army.

  His future had just begun.

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