Chapter 45. Insignia "Do you feel something gathering in you after killing that goblin?" "Yes, there is something I feel. It's very subtle, but it is still there." Luke was the one confirming. He was the most sensitive to mana among the three of them, so he should be able to recognize that feeling. "I don't feel anything," Lucy said. "What is that 'thing' gathering in us?" "It is something that only happens when you kill a monster of a higher grade," I replied to Arthur. "And when you can no longer accumulate more, you get your body to a perfect temper or something. I do not know how that helps, but it is a bonus. So for the next few days, we will keep killing monsters of a higher rank, until Luke feels that there is no more energy being collected." "Understood! Thank you for today." All three said together and were about to go back. "Arthur, wait a moment, I have something to discuss." "We'll be waiting for you in the tent." "Come back fast." Luke and Lucy, said running away. Arthur just stood there silently waiting for me to speak first. "I want to appoint you a position. We are making a city and we need people capable of managing it, you will be given a position of great importance." "I will do my best." "Are you not going to ask what is it?" "It does not matter, I will do my best regardless." I grinned, "So how does it feel to be the leader, the 'King' of this town?" I highlighted the King while speaking. He didn't say anything and kept blinking, "Le- leader! But why me?! You are a lot stronger and the person most fit to be the-" "I do not have a good image amongst the people. But you, the people prefer to listen to you. They have only seen the cruel side of me, while you are seen as kind and a person they respect. They won't accept me as a King." "But we can change that, you are hard on us but that is the only reason we can survive. They just need time to look at you." "I like to stay alone," I said with a tone. "I am rational, I do not let my emotions have a say in matters. That is not a good quality to have for a King. A king needs to be emotional and rational at the same time. And you are capable of that, I have seen that emotion in you when you talk about your parents. You were ready to leave everything to protect your parents." Arthur just looked down, not meeting my eyes. "But being a King is a task of responsibility. For now, I will help you make decisions, but there will come a time when you have to make a decision you do not want to. Observe, learn from people around you and then make decisions." "But what if they are wrong? My decisions, they more harm than good?" "Then you make them right, not everyone can be satisfied in this world. The 'want' never ends, your job is to give them their needs." I said as it was something obvious. "Understood." Arthur took a deep breath and said, I would help him should he stumble and be there to pick him up if he falls. He just needs time, time to learn. "So the first responsibility of a King is to build his army." "Huh?" I was walking towards the 'Ant hole' with a bunch of people behind me and Arthur. There were nearly thirty people who had agreed to conscript for the army, but it wouldn't work if they were the weakest of the bunch. So all those who were below fifteen and with decent skill were following us, and I was going to take them to power level. This was where the ant eggs became useful. They were considered to be a monster of F-grade, and they gave experience. So those eggs would be used to bring these people up to level 15. After that, we would have an army or militia of the second-ranked people. Stronger than the average civilians. We could then teach them how to fight in groups, and fight individually. They wouldn't get a perfect body or be able to rank up with maxed out skills, but for these people, it was better than doing nothing and leaving their lives in someone else hands. "Jump down after me, Arthur make sure everyone goes down the hole." "Yes." I had already been here in the morning, while Arthur was asking people to take part in the army. During that time I collected the dead ants using my ring and scouted the entire place for more eggs. I found two other places where the eggs were kept but no ants, sadly. It would depend on how many eggs one person takes to reach 15 but we should have enough for thirty people. We would need to kill monsters if we run out, and I did not want to go around babysitting thirty kids. I led everyone to one of the rooms that stored the eggs. But there had to be something done first. I stopped everyone just before entering the room. "Arthur, go inside and don't touch anything for now. I let everyone in one by one." "Ok..." Arthur said softly and went inside. "Now for you all, the reason I have brought you all here is so that you could reach level 15 and rank up." Everyone's eyebrows rose and their mouths opened. They probably couldn't believe their ears right now. "We can't have our army being weaker than the normal civilians," I had shown them the sweet reward now was time for the condition. "But for that, you need to give up your insignias. We also can't have our military loyal to the Giant Six now can we." No one spoke for a second, this was the first time everyone had probably heard that this city was not connected to any one of the Six. It was natural to be afraid. Who knows how many other small powers were suppressed by these 'righteous' organizations. But 'Seven' sounded better than 'Six', just a personal opinion.