To get my mind off of the title getting broken in a detrimental way and to vent some frustration, I make my way again to the gate to unleash some rain magic. Maybe we have some new monster types that can scream in pain for a change.

On the way there, I can feel that people are uneasy with me around after yesterday's reveal. Just endure it for a few more days, then everything will become better. Promise.

As I approach the gate, people notice me and make way for me, clearly afraid. I don't let it bother me and continue my way to the top of the gate. Once there, I check what the flood is like currently. It has changed once again. Weird, it has only been about a week since the last change. I guess this disproves my theory that those flood stages are based on a timer, the first stage lasted over three weeks.

Either way, let's check what we're dealing with this time.

Ragelopes and dire wolves are back but brought different companions this time.

Name N/A Age N/A Classes π-Rat 3, π-Rat 1, π-Rat 4, π-Rat 1 Race Monster 3 Extra Monster 3 HP 1179/1179 MP 461/461 SP 1733/1733 STR 341 DEX 318 VIT 52 MAG 138 FTH 115 WIL 81 CHA 75 Skills Poison Bite 9 Weakness Poison

I can't see them very well from here, they seem to be about puppy size, but if they are anything like their same-named cousins from the dungeon they have a literal π-symbol instead of eyes and can move it as if they were regular eyes, creepy little buggers.

Name N/A Age N/A Classes Pipe 6 Race Monster 6 Extra Monster 6 HP 3458/3458 MP 390/390 SP 1430/1430 STR 156 DEX 130 VIT 156 MAG 156 FTH 130 WIL 156 CHA 0 Skills Ally Cannon 6, Physical Resistance 6 Weakness none

Pipes. Literal Mario-esque pipes. Well, they can move, err, slide along the ground at least. No, I'm not drunk!

Ally Cannon

250 SP

Take a small-sized allied monster in and shoot it out to a target destination.

This transport method ignores fall damage.

...so it may rain rats at some point, fricking great.

Name N/A Age N/A Classes Lie Bra-rin 4 Race Monster 4 Extra Monster 4 HP 1272/1272 MP 2376/2376 SP 1128/1128 STR 168 DEX 144 VIT 144 MAG 312 FTH 144 WIL 312 CHA 144 Skills Benediction 4, Boon Magic 4 (Rank 2), Story Teller 4 Weakness Fire

'Lie Bra-rin'? Shouldn't it have been 'Lie Bra-Ryan' instead?

Those monsters get stupider every time... A floating brain holding a book... at least it only has support magic and no attack spells, that would be devastating.

I'm not complaining about getting spared from a proper 'Book Wyrm' for now.

Ragelope and wolf are weak to ice, rest not exploitable, the choice is clear.

With my higher level compared to last time, I can cast two rain spells this time, so I do just that.

Your 'Ice Rain' spell has inflicted a total of 1145994 damage.

Your 'Ice Rain' spell has inflicted a total of 1132484 damage.

I don't have enough SP to cast the glitch blood magic spell and don't feel like waiting two hours or so on it, so that test has to wait until next time. ...wait.

(Did my exp really just jump up by 1691?! Two point three million damage!?)

(That really just happened. You've become quite strong it seems.)

(It was 200-300 exp before depending on the flood stage we were in.)

(Yes, but that was with one spell, you cast two just now so that already jumps up about 500 exp. Then you have the effective 1.2 times multiplier for 'title holder', 600ish exp, double again for your increase in MAG and sprinkle on two ice weaknesses, seems reasonable to me. Don't complain and just enjoy it. We need all the exp we can get.)

(Uh, sure. It is still a surprisingly massive increase... well, Elly, it is your turn now.)

I summon Elly to my side.

"What's up, Jared?"

"For now just create some arrows and shoot some of the monsters down there. I'll head on home, you follow when you're out of SP."

"Umm, I don't think I'll do much damage though."

"Doesn't matter. Unless you laze around too much, it should delay my regeneration to 2000 MP only by a couple of minutes. We'll calculate if it is worth it later. I doubt it, but I want to make sure."

"Uh, sure. I guess I can't stay out 24/7, would have liked to but it costs you a full rain spell per trip here, and currently we need levels way too much..."

"Yeah, sorry. And Maria would like to be out just as much as you, but as you said, we currently can't afford it. We can talk about that later. Maybe we will find a cheat class that lets me keep a summon out for free, lets me summon you from SP instead or doubles my maximum MP. Just something to ease the tension on my MP pool. Well, I need to get out of the sun soon, see you in a bit, Elly."

"Sure, see you soon, Jared."

I return home. 'Home'... a weird feeling. I haven't really felt 'home' since I got to this world. Maybe things are looking up now, despite the impending loss of the 'Lost One' privilege.

"Hi, still around?"

The mansion answers, "Yes, why wouldn't I?"

"No idea, just making sure. I still don't know much about what your awakening does. You said the whole fortress was a part of you, so it would be a possibility that at least your attention could be elsewhere."

"This house is still my main 'body'. Even if the rest is awake now, I 'see' there as much as you can see your back. I can feel that life is going on there but not much in detail."

"I guess it is better that way. I'm not sure how I would have felt if you could see everything. Privacy and all that."

"Yeah, I understand that. *whispers* Not for a lack of trying though."

"I'll pretend I didn't hear that."

"So, now that you are awake again, what can we do now? I was under the impression that we can now construct new buildings or maybe upgrade existing ones, at least manually built houses supposedly fall apart quickly. I want to know my options at least."

"You will have to give me some more time to recall all the details. I think a year or two."

"So, not a morning person, huh? Just like me. Too much sun outside."

"But if you want to start sooner, you can check your menu. While you are inside a mansion you have successfully claimed, there should be a 'fortress' tab in the list."

"Huh? 'A' mansion? Oh, right, the title I got implied that I can claim multiple fortresses at the same time! Would I then be able to control all of them from a single mansion or do I need to travel to each one all the time?"

"I'm sorry, I don't know. I might recall that later, but at the moment I can't say any of my previous lords ever held multiple fortresses."

"Well, there's always time for a first."

I open my menu and look for the fortress tab.

(In the worst case you could probably install representatives in each fortress that take care of the paperwork for you, so you only need to give the final ok.)

(I need to do that either way, even if I only keep a single fortress. I'm not cut out for big leadership roles.)

(May I ask, why not?)

(Right, you don't share the memories of my previous life the same way Elly does.)

(Uh, she does? That is news to me.)

(Yeah, she is made from a part of me, should've come with the memories as well.)

(Ah, okay. So what is the story?)

sigh

I hate that story, don't want to recall it, but...

(...so one time a few friends of mine wanted to throw a party, I kind of ended up being the organisator and volunteered to abstain from alcohol so at least one person could keep the situation under control ...and I ended up drinking anyway. I don't recall it clearly as I was very drunk, but some shit happened and some people even ended up in the hospital. Since then my best friend Jack refused to talk with me. Weird thing is, I don't recall him talking to anyone else either since then. Didn't even say anything at the funeral three days later.)

(I don't see how this relates to leadership, only that you need to stay away from alcohol.)

(...you weren't there, Maria, you wouldn't get it.)

Finally, I find the fortress tab.

"Uh, 'nameless', right, can we start with the name? Does it only apply to the fortress itself or would I also need to address you personally, uh, mansionally? with it?"

"It applies to both for we are the same being."

"Shame. Coming up with a name that fits both is hard. I was hoping I could call you something 'person'-like like Manfred, but 'Fort Manni' sounds kinda..."

Elly returns, "I'm back, who else is?"

"Just the usual suspects. I was about to think of a name for the fortress. So, how did it go on your side?"

"Pitiful. We got like 8 exp total out of this."

I unsummon her.

(Well, one of the captains came up to me and asked me where I get all of my arrows from. Sorry, I kinda ended up bragging and told him.)

(It was never supposed to be a secret. What happened then?)

(He asked if I could provide some arrows to 'real' archers. Kinda felt like he doesn't like summoned spirits. I just said that I had to ask you that since those arrows are your property.)

(Well, that was one of our long-term ideas. If we can't get the ammo factory back up and running, you could be a substitute.)

(I thought we can't afford the upkeep for summons currently?)

(Exactly, that's why we should ask the others when we discuss all the other stuff as well. They might know a sustainable way to stem the MP cost.)

(And... you don't have to ask me first?)

(About what?)

(Umm, whether I want to do that? I'm not some dumb machine. That sounds boring as hell.)

Did they really have to advance 'AIs' that much that they can get bored?

(Here, take this.)

(A deck of cards?)

(Yup, produce arrows as often as you can and if someone wants them they have to play any game of cards against you, they only get arrows from you if they win. Feel free to learn a few different card games while you're at it, I doubt in this world they play the same games as in my old world. Especially since they lack motorcycles.)

(...now I feel played.)

(You were literally asking for it, sister.)

(Right, so what were you three up to while I was away?)

(Not much, just started looking at the options in the new 'fortress' tab of my menu. Seems like I can only access it while home.)

(He also told me the story of why he doesn't feel fit to be a leader. Did you know about the alcohol disaster, Elly?)

(Uh, no, why would I?)

(Weird, I thought you would.)

(Well, anyway, we were about to think of a name for this mansion slash fortress. Since they are the same, they would also share a name.)

(Got it, Maria. Just make sure you don't leave that to Jared. He has a horrible naming sense.)

(As if you are any better, Elly!)

(Sure, mister let's-call-the-mansion-manni.)

(And what genius names would you come up with?)

(Uhm, maybe 'New Home'?)

(You can leave that level of name quality to Asgore...)

('Death Castle'? 'Bloodhausen'? 'Fortress of Death, Doom, Destruction and Taxes'?)

(Let me quickly check the cellar, I think there might be a spot that isn't covered in chainsword spikes yet from your edgy naming skill.)

We argue some more and in the end, Maria comes up with the name 'Justo'. Elly and I have to admit defeat in the face of Maria's superior naming sense, not that that is saying much.

A vampire ruling over a castle named after justice, what a joke.