Horseback Combat System

To the north and west of the village lay mountainous terrain, rugged and uneven, covered in shrubs of varying heights. The distant peaks were lush with trees, and several mountain paths worn by hunters could faintly be seen. To the south ran a small river flowing from deep within the Amon Mountains. The winding river curved around the western mountains and led to some unknown place. The village had been built beside the water, whose sweet, refreshing taste seemed nourished by the mountains' spirit.

After surveying the surroundings with the village chief, Nord returned to the chief's small courtyard. Steward Abel was waiting at the gate, while Marco and the others seemed to have already left.

"Young Master Nord, your room has been prepared."

"Village Chief Colin, thank you for your hospitality. The journey has tired me out, so I'll return to my room to rest first. I have something to discuss with you tomorrow."

"Lord Nord, please feel free to give any orders. I'll inform Mr. Abel when dinner is ready."

Nord entered Village Chief Colin's courtyard. Calling it a courtyard was somewhat generous—it was really just a circle of wooden fencing. The main building was a two-story wooden house that looked rather old. Tools lay scattered around the yard, and Nord noticed what appeared to be an area for martial training.

As he pushed open the door and entered, a little boy hurriedly ran into the room on the right. He then poked his head out to observe Nord and the others. When he saw Nord looking at him, he quickly hid again.

Nord smiled. The boy was probably Colin's grandson. He looked sturdy and adorable. After greeting Colin, Nord went upstairs.

The room was also quite simply furnished, with only a bed and a few basic tables and chairs. The quilt on the bed was brand-new and appeared to be made from the fur of some animal. Abel's room was next door, and Nord instructed him not to disturb him before dinner.

Alone in the room, Nord looked at the somewhat dilapidated village outside the window and sighed inwardly. He was a transmigrator. His original self had been a science and engineering student, though he loved history and often played single-player games. Ever since discovering Mount and Blade, he had become deeply obsessed with it, especially its many rich mods, which made him feel as though he were traveling through countless distinct worlds on adventures. He had never expected his wish to come true and for him to truly transmigrate into another world.

When he had first arrived in this world, he had been terrified. It was an era resembling medieval Europe, an age filled with death, poverty, and ignorance. One never knew when death might descend upon one's head. Fortunately, he had transmigrated into the body of a noble.

Nord Isaac was a noble of the Besser Duchy. His father, Lyman Isaac, had been a knight trusted by Grand Duke Besser, a landless court baron. During last year's war between the Besser Duchy and the Himan Kingdom, Lyman had saved the Grand Duke's life before dying heroically in battle. He had helped the duchy seize vast tracts of land on the Hilo Plain, and Grand Duke Besser had posthumously granted him the title of viscount. Nord Isaac was his only heir.

Nord had originally planned to coast along at the Grand Duke's side using his father's status. This world was too dangerous, after all—blades had no eyes. Beron City, the capital of the Besser Duchy, was far safer. With his father's connections and the knowledge he possessed as a transmigrator, he could at least secure himself a decent future.

But Nord had never expected that a cheat would transmigrate along with him: the Mount & Blade Lord System. It only formally activated when he inherited his father's Nobility Title. In truth, from the moment he had first transmigrated, he had tried every possible way to find out whether he had a cheat. Yet no matter what he did, Nord could not activate it. The servants at the estate had even begun to wonder whether their young master had gone mad. Then news came that his original body's father had died, and Nord faced reality and chose to compromise. But fate was ever unpredictable. The cheat arrived as promised, though it had one more activation requirement: he had to possess a territory. Only upon reaching his territory could he use all the system's functions.

The leap from a court noble to a landed noble was extremely difficult, especially when it came to obtaining a good territory. The lands the duchy had just acquired on the Hilo Plain were particularly coveted. Who knew how much bloodshed the duchy's nobles would stir up over those lands? But none of that had anything to do with Nord. A man had to know his own limits. The fertile lands of the Hilo Plain were far beyond what his strength could claim. As long as he could acquire a territory, regardless of its condition, he believed he could develop it with his cheat and knowledge of the future.

Yet even such a request had cost Nord dearly. To obtain a territory, he had sold all the family's assets, including his own Noble Estate, in exchange for this land. The nobles of Beron City all thought Nord had gone mad. The barren land in the northern mountains was overrun with wild beasts and sparsely populated. Few nobles would abandon prosperous Beron City for such a godforsaken place, and all the estate's servants had left at that time. But none of it could change Nord's decision.

Nord paved the way with money, and Grand Duke Besser, mindful of the life-saving debt owed to Nord's father, granted Tami Village in the northern mountains to Nord. To match his title of viscount, he also assigned the surrounding mountain region stretching a hundred li in every direction to him.

By the time Nord received the Appointment Letter for his territory, he was already alone. Yet the system did not disappoint his expectations.

The Mount & Blade Lord System has officially activated.

Detected that the lord possesses a territory.

Activation reward: One estate steward.

Name: Abel

Class: Noble Steward LV1 (0/100)

Attributes: Strength 7, Agility 6, Intelligence 9, Charisma 8

Abilities: Trade LV1, Etiquette LV1, Item Management LV1, Noble Lore LV1, Engineering LV1

Afterward, Nord and his steward set off for the territory. Along the way, Abel attended to Nord conscientiously, until they reached the territory today.

During the journey, Nord had planned to complete the quests issued by the system so he could build the territory more quickly once he arrived. Unexpectedly, the system did not issue a single quest throughout the journey, not until they reached the village yesterday.

Daily Quest: Investigate the area around the village.

Quest Description: As a lord, you must understand the situation around your territory. Please take a walk around the village and learn about your land.

Quest Reward: Experience ×100, Bread ×10, Gold Thaler ×10

After receiving the quest today, Nord asked the village chief to take him around the village in order to complete it. The gold and bread from the reward could be put toward the village's development. Moreover, Nord discovered that after entering the territory's boundaries, the Personal Panel function had also been unlocked.