The Outcast Settlement was louder than usual.
Demons moved around the wooden barricades, expanding the defenses and building small huts from stone and scrap wood.
Smoke rose from cooking fires.
For the first time, the place actually looked like a small village instead of a hiding spot.
Grik stood near the gate with his hammer resting on his shoulder.
He watched the wasteland carefully.
"Something strange is happening."
Ruun sat on the barricade wall above him.
"What do you mean?"
Grik pointed toward the horizon.
"Look."
Small figures were walking toward the settlement.
Not one group.
Several groups.
Weak demons.
Injured demons.
Even some half-starved creatures.
Ruun narrowed his eyes.
"…Word is spreading."
Inside the settlement, Rai was standing near the center when the system appeared again.
---
SYSTEM NOTIFICATION
Reputation Increased
Title Gained:
Ruler of the Outcasts
Effect: Outcast demons are more likely to seek your protection.
New Population Incoming
---
Rai closed the screen as the gate guards approached him.
"Rai."
"More demons are arriving."
Rai walked toward the entrance calmly.
When he reached the gate, he saw them.
Nearly twenty demons stood outside.
Most looked exhausted.
Some carried wounds.
A few were barely standing.
One stepped forward slowly.
A tall demon with cracked horns.
"We heard…"
He hesitated nervously.
"…that this place accepts outcasts."
Behind him, the others lowered their heads.
"We have nowhere else to go."
Grik crossed his arms.
"Well…"
He looked at Rai.
"That decision belongs to the boss."
The entire group looked toward Rai.
Rai studied them silently.
Weak.
But desperate.
Just like the first group that had arrived here.
Finally he spoke.
"If you stay here…"
His voice was calm but firm.
"You work."
The demons quickly nodded.
"Yes!"
"We will!"
Rai continued.
"You follow the rules."
"No stealing."
"No killing."
"And when the settlement is attacked…"
"…you fight."
The demons knelt immediately.
"We accept!"
The gate opened.
The new outcasts slowly entered the settlement.
Excitement spread among the original residents.
Their territory was growing.
But among the group of newcomers…
One figure stood quietly in the back.
Much taller than the others.
Nearly two meters tall.
Broad shoulders.
Grey hair that fell around his face.
His brown eyes watched everything carefully.
He didn't kneel like the others.
Instead, he simply looked at Rai.
Grik noticed immediately.
"Hey."
"You're the only one not bowing."
The tall man shrugged.
"I don't kneel easily."
Several demons gasped.
Grik gripped his hammer.
"You've got guts saying that here."
The man stepped forward.
His presence was strong.
Confident.
"I came here because I heard something interesting."
He looked directly at Rai.
"A human ruling demons."
Rai stared back calmly.
"And?"
The man smiled slightly.
"I wanted to see if it was true."
Grik cracked his knuckles.
"And now that you've seen him?"
The tall man stretched his arms casually.
"Now I want to fight him."
The entire gate area went silent.
Ruun sighed.
"…Of course you do."
Grik grinned widely.
"Oh I like this guy."
The tall man stepped into the open space before Rai.
"My name is Lucian."
His brown eyes sharpened.
"And if you're really strong enough to lead this place…"
"…prove it."
The settlement held its breath.
Their leader had just killed a B-Rank monster.
And now someone new was challenging him.
Rai looked at Lucian quietly.
Then he spoke one sentence.
"Fine."
Grik laughed loudly.
"Hahaha!"
"This is going to be fun!"
The newest arrival in the settlement had just issued a challenge.
And this fight…
Would decide whether Lucian would become an enemy.
Or Rai's strongest ally.