Castle Morne's new members

At the Morne Mourning Grave Site of Grace, on the beach where he had fought the Leonine Misbegotten, Tarnished summoned Melina.

"Melu, help me level up."

Melina was reluctant to touch Tarnished's abs again. With a hint of resistance, she said, "You can actually just ask silently. Through grace, I can channel the power of runes into your body without appearing."

"That won't do. Life needs a sense of ceremony. Besides, I really want to see your face more often, Melu."

Melina pressed her hand against Tarnished's abs.

Rather than listen to his embarrassingly cheesy words, she would sooner touch his embarrassingly firm abs.

"Can't wait to get your hands all over my body? Go on, don't hold back. Enjoy my strong, pure body to your heart's content!"

"You have two attribute points. Where do you want them?" Melina asked expressionlessly.

"Vigor."

Melina did as requested, and Tarnished's attributes became:

Level: 18

HP: 483

Focus: 78

Stamina: 96

Perception: 110

Memory slots: 2

Vigor: 13

Focus: 10

Endurance: 10

Strength: 16

Dexterity: 16

Intelligence: 12

Faith: 10

Arcane: 10

Tarnished wanted to make a few more lewd remarks, but unfortunately, Melina dissolved into starlight and vanished the instant her work was done.

"Shy Melu is so cute."

Tarnished smiled, unbothered. Just then, Irina arrived and said, "Lord Tarnished, the armor alterations are finished."

"Oh, so soon? Thanks for your hard work. It's windy here. Let's head back inside first."

Inside the room, Irina stood before Tarnished with a suit of scale armor in her hands, her cheeks flushed with bashfulness.

"Lord Tarnished, please allow me to help you put on your armor."

"Just call me by my name, Miss Irina." Tarnished spread his arms without a trace of embarrassment.

"A-all right, Tarnished. You can just call me Irina, too." The tips of the castellan's daughter's ears turned red with embarrassment. Her blindness had kept her sheltered in her chambers for years, and this was the first time she had ever been so close to a man. More importantly, Tarnished was almost naked so he could put on the armor. Though Irina could not see, she could smell his masculine scent, feel the burning warmth of his body, and trace the contours of his firm, powerful muscles.

So hard, so thick, so strong! Was it this strength that saved Castle Morne, Father, and me?

Irina's imagination ran wild, and her face grew redder.

"I personally wouldn't mind if you kept feeling me up, but the castellan is waiting for me. Shall we speed things up a little?"

Irina snapped out of her reverie, mortified. Apologizing repeatedly, she began helping Tarnished put on his armor.

In the end, Tarnished had not accepted the position of Castle Morne Knight Captain. He had only softened his stance to find a legitimate reason to stay. Originally, Irina had died a gruesome death, after which Hyetta had possessed her body and become the Frenzied Flame Witch. Although Hyetta herself did not seem particularly aggressive, it was hard to say whether the possession had been orchestrated by the Frenzied Flame's lunatics. Tarnished therefore decided to stay and keep watch for a while longer.

The castellan knew none of this. He simply assumed Tarnished was unmoved by beauty or power, which made him even more pleased with him. He then redoubled his efforts to win him over. After offering his daughter, Edgar offered equipment, finding a suit of armor in the storeroom especially for Tarnished. He even carefully considered Tarnished's carrying capacity and had his daughter Irina make alterations to lighten it.

[Castle Morne Scale Armor]: Armor made from linked small metal plates to defend against attacks. The shoulder cape is made from tanned Rock Lizard hide and provides good fire defense. Irina poured her maiden's heart into it, slightly increasing HP and faith.

There were also an [Iron Helmet], [Iron Gauntlets], and [Iron Greaves]. Thanks to Edgar's careful calculations, this equipment did not exceed Tarnished's load limit, leaving him at "medium load" and still able to move nimbly. He had clearly put considerable thought into it.

Clothes made the man. Already tall and imposing, Tarnished looked even more martial in his new armor. Even Melina was surprised.

Was Tarnished always this handsome? I almost didn't recognize him with clothes on. And he's so broad!

Irina only reached his chest, a tiny little thing beside him.

Melina was tall and slender and did not normally care much about height, but she still could not resist standing invisibly in front of Tarnished and raising a hand to compare.

She fared a little better than Irina, reaching Tarnished's chin, but overall, she was still a tiny little thing beside him.

Hmph.

"How does it feel, Tarnished? Is anything uncomfortable?" Irina asked, standing on tiptoe as she straightened his collar.

"Everything's perfect. Thank you, Irina."

The castellan's daughter blushed again. "You're always so polite to me. You're Castle Morne's great benefactor. It's only right that I do these things for you."

Tarnished chuckled and bent closer. "Really? Anything at all, wife number five?"

At the word "wife," Irina felt herself go weak all over, completely overlooking the number before it. She gave a tiny "Mm," as faint as a mosquito's hum, like a little lamb that had abandoned all resistance before the big bad wolf.

"Then..."

Just as Tarnished was about to push his luck, a cough suddenly came from the doorway.

"Ahem!"

Castellan Edgar glared at Tarnished with a grim expression. "It's time for you to leave!"

"Ah!" Utterly mortified, Irina hurried out.

Deeply disappointed, Tarnished looked at Edgar. "My lord, your timing couldn't be worse."

"No, my timing is perfect." Edgar's face twitched as he resolved to keep an even closer eye on this little bastard. "Get the hell... get going. The soldiers are waiting for you. Remember, don't get careless. They may only be a group of Demi-Humans, but reports say they can use magic."

"Got it."

Tarnished left the castle with a squad of soldiers and headed north.

Watching him go, Edgar felt thoroughly reassured.

Though the Tarnished did not have the best reputation, they could see the grace left by the goddess and use the Erdtree's power to restore their strength and heal their wounds. Their combat prowess far surpassed that of ordinary people. With Tarnished there, a mere group of Demi-Humans would surely be easy prey.

Castle Morne now needed rebuilding from the ground up, and its foremost need was people. Edgar planned to gather the garrisons scattered throughout the Weeping Peninsula. He had not ordered them back to defend the castle during the Misbegotten rebellion only because they were still guarding against other threats.

The most important of these was the garrison at the Forest Lookout Tower.

As its name suggested, the Forest Lookout Tower existed to watch over a forest. That forest was called the Demi-Human Forest, and true to its name, a group of Demi-Humans had made their home there.

Demi-Humans were among the oldest races in the Lands Between. Their numbers were vast, and one could find these idi... little darlings anywhere. Their low intelligence prevented them from constructing buildings, so most lived in caves or ruins. Biologically speaking, they were more like an intermediate stage between beasts and humans. Though they could use tools, their small bodies had never constrained their wild nature, leaving them as primitive and savage as beasts.

If they broke out of the forest, they would cause at least as much destruction as the Misbegotten. That was why Edgar had preferred to hold Castle Morne and fight alone rather than recall the soldiers keeping the Demi-Humans in check.

The castellan truly was a man of unwavering loyalty and courage.

Unfortunately, he had chosen the wrong person to serve.

Fortunately, Edgar soon came to his senses as well. Realizing that Godrick was no worthy lord, he abandoned his mindset as a vassal and began planning for Castle Morne as its true administrator.

A map hung in his room. Stormveil Castle, where Godrick resided, belonged to Limgrave, while Castle Morne belonged to the Weeping Peninsula. The Bridge of Sacrifice marked the boundary between the two regions, dividing their northern and southern domains. Under the original arrangement, Castle Morne had been a satellite castle that supported Stormveil Castle. But Godrick had first started the vile practice of "grafting," then abandoned Castle Morne when it needed rescue. Since he had made the first move, he could hardly blame Castle Morne for responding in kind. Edgar had decided to break free of Stormveil's control completely. Gathering the Weeping Peninsula's garrisons would both increase the population and bolster their defenses.

But the garrisons could not simply withdraw. First, the Demi-Humans occupying the Demi-Human Forest had to be eliminated. That was Tarnished's task.

Edgar knew that the Tarnished could grow stronger through battle, so this was undoubtedly helping Tarnished "farm experience." After all, rather than trying to destroy the Demi-Human group single-handedly, Tarnished now had the Forest Lookout Tower's garrison to help him, making success all the more certain.

Tarnished did not disappoint Edgar. He successfully dealt with the Demi-Human group, but his method differed somewhat from Edgar's plan-rather than slaughtering all those small monsters, Tarnished persuaded them to join Castle Morne!

Looking at the crowd of clamoring Demi-Humans outside the gates, Edgar turned green.

He pulled Tarnished aside and asked, "What are you doing? Didn't I tell you to deal with the Demi-Human problem?"

"I did," Tarnished said. "I made an agreement with the Demi-Human Queen. Castle Morne will accept the Demi-Humans as full-fledged residents, and they'll swear allegiance to Castle Morne and never betray it."

Edgar's vision went dark. "What does Castle Morne need a bunch of Demi-Humans for?"

"Didn't you say we were short on people? Demi-Humans make excellent workers," Tarnished said matter-of-factly. "The Weeping Peninsula gets lots of rain and little sunlight, which means low crop yields, but it has abundant pasture-perfect for raising livestock. Demi-Humans aren't good at much else, but they can communicate with animals and excel at caring for livestock. They're exactly the skilled workers Castle Morne urgently needs."

Edgar began to see some sense in this and asked, "How do you know Demi-Humans can communicate with animals?"

Tarnished answered with a smile, "Some Demi-Humans once hid among a flock of sheep to ambush me. They nearly killed me. If they can soothe even timid sheep, they must be able to communicate with animals."

Edgar was speechless. You were nearly killed by Demi-Humans, and you still dare trust them? You're far too carefree!

Objectively speaking, though, Tarnished did have a point.

Even if he recalled every garrison on the Weeping Peninsula, their numbers would still be nowhere near enough. Taking in other races to rebuild Castle Morne was not out of the question.

"But Castle Morne just went through a Misbegotten rebellion. How can you guarantee the Demi-Humans will keep their promise instead of doing the same thing?" Edgar asked, raising the most crucial issue.

He had assumed Tarnished had made some sort of gentlemen's agreement with the Demi-Humans or intimidated the ugly creatures through force. Instead, Tarnished smiled and said, "Don't worry. With their intelligence, Demi-Humans don't even have a concept as complicated as betrayal."

Edgar opened his mouth, at a loss for words.

In the end, Castle Morne took in the Demi-Humans.

Though they were as noisy as a troop of hairless monkeys, the Demi-Humans remained reasonably orderly under the Demi-Human Queen's direction.

"Remember your promise, human," the Demi-Human Queen said haltingly. "Castle Morne must give us clean homes and enough food."

"Of course, Your Majesty," Tarnished answered. "You'll get everything you want. In return, the Demi-Humans must work for Castle Morne and protect it and its other residents."

"As members of the same tribe, that goes without saying." The Demi-Human Queen's values were utterly straightforward. In her eyes, once the Demi-Humans joined Castle Morne, the castle and the Demi-Humans belonged to the same tribe. They were family. There might be other races and other kings, but that merely meant this was a large, multiracial tribe.

Tarnished was very pleased with the Demi-Human Queen, and the Demi-Human Queen was equally pleased with Tarnished.

Before leaving, the Demi-Human Queen even extended an invitation. "Human, I want to mate with you. The other humans are too small and scrawny, but you're different. Our offspring would surely be healthier and stronger!"

Edgar almost burst out laughing, while the other soldiers struggled just as hard to contain their laughter. Only Tarnished turned green, waving his hands repeatedly in refusal.

The Demi-Human Queen left in disappointment. Had Tarnished been a Demi-Human, she would certainly have taken him by force. Unfortunately, he was human, and she had to preserve harmony within the greater tribe.

"Is that how you persuaded the Demi-Human Queen?" Edgar glanced at Tarnished's crotch. "You didn't actually... with her..."

"Of course not!" Tarnished immediately defended his innocence. "There's a place called the Impaler's Catacombs near the Demi-Human Forest. An Adult Rune Bear living there kept harassing them. I killed the Rune Bear for them, and that's how I earned their trust."

Edgar snorted. "You actually dared pick a fight with a Rune Bear? You're far too kind for your own good!"

Though it was a reprimand, his concern was plain. Adult Rune Bears stood at the top of the food chain; even flying dragons dared not provoke them. To Edgar, Tarnished taking on a giant bear for a group of Demi-Humans showed complete disregard for his own safety.

Tarnished did not dislike that concern. Last time, it had been precisely that kind of care from so many people that had carried him through to the end.

Unfortunately, those friends, teachers, and comrades had not met good ends. This time, however, Tarnished swore he would change their fate.

Edgar suddenly felt a change in Tarnished's presence, as though he had found his path forward, as though he had made some firm resolution.

But when he looked again, Tarnished had returned to his usual cheerful, joking self.

"Sorry. I won't be so impulsive next time." Tarnished first accepted the castellan's criticism, then added with a smile, "Still, doing good deeds has its benefits. The Demi-Human Queen gave me a thank-you gift, and I found some treasure in the Impaler's Catacombs, too."

Tarnished took out two items.

[Demi-Human Queen's Staff]: A Glintstone Staff adorned with scepter ornamentation. Once gifted to placate the Demi-Humans, it can be used even by those of low intelligence. Fools at the academy scoff at this staff.

[Spelldrake Talisman]: A talisman depicting a blue dragon crest. Increases magic damage negation. In ancient times before the Erdtree appeared, Ancient Dragons were said to rule the age. Thus, the dragon design is regarded as a symbol of all manner of protection.

"Good finds. Keep them," Edgar said with a nod.

"Huh? I don't have to hand them over?" Tarnished was a little surprised.

"Castle Morne doesn't need your handful of scraps."

"Heh, just what I'd expect from the Weeping Peninsula's uncrowned king. How generous." After offering that compliment, Tarnished changed tack. "But you absolutely can't refuse what comes next."

"What is it?"

Tarnished clapped his hands, and the soldiers behind him brought up a cart carrying the corpse of an enormous adult Morne Bear.

Edgar's eyes widened.

Tarnished smiled. "Let's have a feast to celebrate our new companions joining us!"

That night, everyone received crisp, sizzling roast meat dripping with fat. Through that most primitive act of sharing food, humans and Demi-Humans took their first step toward understanding one another.

Being alive was the beginning of happiness. Tarnished sincerely hoped that kind people would never be hurt again-except for the Bear Lord of Cinder, of course.