Chapter Text
Chapter 1: Desires
With the reign of the new king, Laios Touden, the Golden Kingdom was once again established in the world after a thousand years in isolation. The island slowly grew into a continent, with the hidden lands revealed through the dungeon. Many clans and races slowly formed around the new king, pledging their allegiance to him.
But the sheer amount of responsibilities and political drama was taking its toll on Laios.
In the early years of the Melini kingdom, many conflicts occurred between the clans for land usage and other economic prospects to strengthen the newly established kingdom.
What will happen to the newly formed land that came out of the ocean?
Becoming a king is a lot more difficult than I imagined.
Laios sighed as he ran through some documents that were needed for another proposal that day about what to do with the territory. Some forests had magically sprung up as a miracle in renovating the salted wastelands, leading up to more debates and opportunities.
“Your Majesty, are you feeling well?”
“…”
He looked up with dreary eyes and spotted Kabru next to him, looking over his paperwork. He was now one of Laios’ advisors, aside from Marcille, who wasn’t available on certain days. She had left with Falin as they went together to study the lands in nearby countries for the current land renovations.
“Kabru, do I really need to go to the clan meetings? All they talk about is their territories and what they want to do with it. If this goes on, nothing will ever get resolved.”
Kabru chuckled and slid another document in front of him.
“Well, that’s your call. You’re the ruler of this kingdom now. It’s not like you have a body double or someone to take your place for them. Are you really not good with this?”
Laios sweated nervously, nodding slightly.
How did he know what I want?
“I-It’s fine. Who knew that politics involved so many more problems than just getting everyone’s basic needs met? Every race wants their piece, and sometimes even more. Especially the long-lived races, I don’t know what I can do to appease them.”
“That’s how it’s always been. You’ll get used to it.”
“…”
As if that’s going to help a lot. If only someone else could resolve these issues for me.
Laios felt nauseous before he felt his stomach growling back at him. He always felt hungry and nothing less than forty percent full. The unending desire to eat and eat despite that.
Groan. Groan. Groan.
He quickly rubbed his stomach to ease the noise.
“Are you hungry? Dinner is almost ready for you, your Majesty. Come right this way.”
Kabru leaned over and spotted Laios with the guard’s schedule and a magic book in his hands. Laios stood up and organized some documents on the desk and rushed to put his books away. Kensuke was in the corner of the office, barely visible. Kabru then escorted Laios from his office to the dining room, that was slowly being renovated and refurbished into living quarters within the castle.
A spacious room fit for a king. The dining table was filled with many delicious dishes from the island and the farmlands nearby. Plates filled with meats, cheese, bread, and delicacies and preserves from other regions.
Laios ate in silence, shoving morsels of food into his mouth with his hands and chopsticks. The walls of the castle looked so dull and plain, with nothing much to look at.
“You don’t look so good, Laios. Do you want me to make something else for you?”
Senshi poked out of the door and approached Laios, who continued eating the food.
“I don’t know. I’m just sick of the constant meetings every other day. It’s getting tiring talking to them when they all want the same things! Senshi, when are they going to appreciate the monster dishes you cook up? Has there been any experiments done with the food?”
Senshi shook his head.
“But the last time we did that, you got food poisoning. They’re not used to cooking with unfamiliar ingredients. Are you sure you want to do that again?”
Laios shoved a piece of bread into his mouth before responding.
“That’s fine. Better than being stuck in diplomacy talks all day! It gives me an excuse to get out of it for some time. Ugh, if only Falin and Marcille were here. This would be more bearable.”
He stopped eating for a bit and rested on his chair.
After eating so much, Laios needed his rest. There was still a lot of work to be done, especially as a newly established country. Despite Kabru helping him with everything, it is still essentially overwhelming and complicated. He had to continue making decisions on everything.
Trade, regulations, budget limitations, taxes, etc.
There were just so many things to do.
Will it ever end? Is this what a ruler does running a kingdom?
This is so getting exhausting…
…
Hm, what’s that smell? It smells so good!
Immediately, a waft of a nice broth hit his nose and he opened his eyes to find a hearty bowl of soup in front of him. A smooth silky broth filled with noodles and boiled monster mushroom slices on a heartwarming bowl. The sensation helped relieve his stress and fatigue from overwhelming him.
Laios’s eyes widened with surprise and happiness.
“Did you really have to make it for me? But there’s already so many dishes in front of me.”
Senshi nodded. He swiftly put a special soup spoon in front of him.
“You have to eat well, Laios. You also need to take more breaks and rest periodically. Eat as much as you can and go to sleep as soon as possible. Fatigue will eventually get to you.”
“…”
Senshi is right. Maybe I do need a rest when I have some time left.
If only I had any.
My schedule has been packed for months now. There’s no time to take a break.
Laios sighed and quietly finished the soup. He gently smiled back at Senshi as he got up and prepared for the evening. He patted Senshi on the shoulder as he left the room.
“Thank you for the food. It was delicious.”
Later that night, Laios continued reading through his magic book while in bed. Before they left, Marcille had given him some magic books to study from during his spare time. Minor spells and incantations for daily activities and simple exercises in manipulating the mana in their surroundings. He sometimes looked around the room, to check if there were any late-night visitors coming in. A suit of guard armor on display was beside the door, on the lookout for any intruders. Beside him, there was a stack of Kabru’s notes, reminding him of tomorrow’s meeting and what to do.
He picked up one of the notes next to him.
A meeting with the clan leaders again? These representatives are really persistent in getting their race’s interests to heart. But I have to consider everyone’s opinion, no matter who and what they are.
Laios flipped over the notes, checking for any written remarks in the margins.
He didn’t write anything here. Maybe I’ll remain silent and let Kabru talk to them just like before. But it feels like I’m not contributing to anything. Is this really the right job for me?
The king’s room felt empty and dull compared to his vibrant home that was on the side of the Island. The bed side was enough to fit at least three people, but Falin and Marcille weren’t here to enjoy it. He added some minor decorations to fill up his room, with a pile of monster study books and monster body parts hidden nearby.
His old dungeon armor remained on a table next to Kensuke, unused but maintained.
If only he could use them again. It would just be like the good old days.
Where did everyone go? Before I knew it, I became the king of a long lost kingdom. But am I really fit to rule such vast lands in front of me? Am I really fit to be a ruler?
He closed his eyes and fell into a vast space. The sounds and noises of the meeting room with the clan leaders on the current land renovations. On how to divide them between the races and how it will be used to benefit the kingdom. On how the current budget was going to be used.
The meeting room was in a large room inside the castle, with a circular table in the center.
Kabru was beside him, checking up on him before the start of the meeting.
“Laios Touden. King of the Melini Kingdom. Present.”
“Palladol. Representative for the elves. Present.”
Everyone said their representative counterparts as they gathered around the table for the meeting. Marking them as present allowed Laios to keep track of information and those missing and left out during the continual discussions on many different current issues and problems.
The gnome representative is absent today. I’ll have to talk to them later…
Laios sighed and wrote some notes and gave them to Kabru.
Based on their different magic systems and opposing beliefs, the gnomes and elves wouldn’t get along well with each other right now. The mages want to use the intense mana around this land for their own purposes but are willing to offer their assistance to the kingdom in times of need. The dwarves want to build their facilities underground, but there isn’t enough designated space for them to do so. A certain amount of land is also left to orc settlements in the surrounding area. There’s also been many suggestions for a magic academy, but that’s for another matter.
Laios continued listening to everyone’s opinions and viewpoints as best as he could.
His eyes started to droop little by little.
I want to sleep. I just want to sleep. What’s taking the meeting so long?
Conversations turned into blurry noises, with arguments blending together. They slowly became noise to his ears, making him fall asleep. His head was leaning closer to the table as he tried to head rest on it.
“Your Majesty?”
Kabru.
Kabru quickly shielded him from the other members, who were still arguing among themselves. He gestured his hands in a cross hand manner, signaling Laios to stop talking.
“You don’t look like you were paying attention. Let me help you discuss what you wanted to say, Laios. Is that fine with you?”
Did I say something wrong?
“Go ahead.”
Kabru smiled and turned around to face the members around the table. Before he knew it, Kabru blended into the crowd within the circle. All Laios could see was just conversations blended in and out into rhythmic noise, ringing into his ears.
How is no one attempting to wake me up? I can’t even understand what they’re saying!
Laois blinked many times, making sure that he was awake.
Something didn’t feel right.
Wait. Am I actually dreaming?
His eyes widened in surprise and disbelief.
“Was there a nightmare under my pillow? But this doesn’t feel like a nightmare at all.”
In general, I don’t believe any monsters can even get close to me. So this is already impossible.
He sighed in disappointment. He pinched his cheeks to see whether or not he was awake.
“Ouch! Ah, I guess I can’t wake myself up so easily. But out of all the things I could have dreamed about, it had to be work, huh? All I think about is work, work, work these days. Can I ever get a break?”
Laios rubbed his eyes and felt sleepy again.
If only someone could take my place. Then I could be free and not worry about all these things…
I’m not fit for this kind of job.
I can’t read their minds. I can’t be upfront with very persistent people.
If only I could be the king that everyone wants.
I just want to rest.
The meeting room slowly blurred together into a blinding white light, demolishing it into nothingness. Laios suddenly find himself floating in the air, enveloped in a bright angelic light.
“Do you truly desire that? Is that your wish?”
Huh? What? Who is speaking to me?
There was a tiny speck of light before him, radiating pure mana energy.
“What is this? Who are you?”
Where have I seen this before? This feels oddly familiar.
“No need to be afraid. I’m only here to grant your wish.”
His eyes widened, studying it closer. It was just a ball of pure energy, being sentient.
Is this the Winged Lion? But he just looks like a sentient ball now. Is it really safe to talk to it?
“Uh. Well. I-I don’t really need it. I’ve got no desires right now!”
“No desires? Don’t you want a body double for the task? You can be free to do whatever you want afterwards. A king version of you that is up to the job.”
“…”
“You’ve also been very tired and overworked lately. I can sense that from you. You look like you could faint at any moment. Your doppelganger will give you all the rest you need.”
He’s got a point there…
Laios sweated nervously, thinking about what to do. Does he want to continue the mundane lifestyle filled with meetings and political debates? Falin and Marcille aren’t here to support him right now. Kabru usually takes over the meetings whenever he is out of it, with no end in sight.
He didn’t want to feel useless.
But he was tired.
It was hard to think clearly, making it much more difficult to make decisions.
I just want to sleep. I need rest.
He struggled to keep his eyes open as his mind felt drowsy and lightheaded.
Before he knew it, he fell into a deep sleep.
“I see that you have made your decision. Your wish has been granted.”