[Lord of Abundance] Chapter 6: The World Stowaway

 Chapter 6: The World Stowaway

After a full day of “meditation,” Kun—who hadn’t even had time for dinner—sat in the castle’s meeting hall, listening to progress reports from his three domain officials.

“…A total of one hundred and twenty-seven commoners who came with us from the royal capital, along with three hundred and sixty-six slaves, have all been registered.

For those without names, I followed your instructions, Young Master, and had Mark assign them simple, easy-to-remember ones.

As for being granted names, the slaves are all deeply grateful for your kindness.”

Growing more emotional as he spoke, Old Tate even stood up and bowed toward Kun, as though expressing the slaves’ gratitude on their behalf.

Kun merely nodded, his expression unchanged, showing no particular pride in the praise.

Among the kingdom’s nobility, granting a name to a slave was almost unthinkable.

To them, slaves were no different from livestock—lowly beings whose sole purpose was to expend their strength and flesh for their masters.

How could they be worthy of a name?

But Kun, having seen another world and been shaped by its culture, history, and knowledge, saw things differently.

To him, this act was both pragmatic—and instinctive.

The nobles of the kingdom regarded slaves as inherently inferior, not even truly human.

And so, cruelty toward them felt justified.

But Kun couldn’t accept that.

From his perspective, whether king, noble, commoner, or slave—there was no fundamental difference.

They were all human.

Publicly, he found it unbearable to see people like himself reduced to beasts—worse than beasts, even.

Privately, he needed people—thinking, learning, living individuals—to build his domain.

And such qualities could never emerge from those crushed into slavery.

That was why he had made that contract:

Serve faithfully for five years, and they would regain their freedom.

Old Tate looked at Kun with admiration.

As expected of my young master, he thought.

Such a simple method—and yet it had won over the slaves’ loyalty.

And without a hint of arrogance.

He had truly grown.

Having once been a slave himself, Tate knew exactly how powerful these measures were.

By publicly announcing the terms of the agreement—having Vittorio write and post them throughout the village—Kun had established trust.

And by giving names to the nameless, he sent a clear message:

If even slaves were treated with such kindness, what of the commoners?

Tate was certain—

The slaves’ loyalty now surpassed even that of the guards Kun had brought from his family.

If honesty and kindness weren’t enough to prove Kun’s capability as a lord—

Then appointing Dawn, a third-tier high warrior, as Chief Constable—and taking action against the Everdark Forest’s threats—

Completed the picture.

Strength.

Not just Tate—Dawn and Vittorio had come to the same conclusion.

At first, they had found Kun’s actions puzzling—even naïve.

But when they saw the fervor in the slaves’ eyes after registration, they realized they had underestimated him.

After Tate, Dawn stepped forward.

“I surveyed the outer boundary between the Everdark Forest and the Fengrao Domain. There are numerous signs of magical beasts.

More concerning—this.”

He pulled out a bloodstained fang, about an inch long, gleaming coldly in the candlelight.

“I found this in the remains of a thick-skinned wild boar—eaten down to the bones.

Following tracks and droppings deeper into the forest, I discovered a mid-sized pack of Blood Direwolves—no fewer than a hundred.”

“Blood Direwolves?” Vittorio paled. “By the Goddess… aren’t those among the most vicious low-tier magical beasts?

Aren’t they supposed to be solitary? Could you have been mistaken?”

Dawn held up the fang.

“See the groove? It carries the wolves’ signature effect—wounds that won’t stop bleeding. Weapons made from these fangs have the same effect.

If you doubt me, feel free to test it on your own hand.”

Vittorio shook his head frantically.

Kun chuckled.

“That’s enough, Dawn. Don’t scare our tax officer—unless you don’t mind having your salary docked.”

“N-No, of course not.”

Vittorio wiped sweat from his brow.

Dock a third-tier warrior’s pay? Who would dare?

“It’s likely a queen has appeared,” Kun said calmly.

“Blood Direwolves are matriarchal creatures. They gather only during mating season, around the queen.

As for the ‘bleeding magic’—it’s not magic. It’s bacteria in their saliva that inhibits clotting.”

“Harmless to the wolves, but deadly to prey. A common symbiotic adaptation.”

Dawn examined the fang again.

“So… not magic.”

He didn’t fully understand what “bacteria” meant, but he trusted Kun’s judgment.

“Since we have unwanted guests in the forest,” Kun continued, “we must accelerate the buffer zone plan.

Once the queen begins breeding, the pack will hunt everything in sight. The Fengrao Domain cannot withstand a hundred wolves.”

“Understood.”

Dawn nodded, then added:

“I’ll need more manpower. The current guards aren’t enough.

And better tools. The frost fir trees are too tough—stone axes won’t suffice.”

“More manpower?”

Kun turned to Vittorio.

There were over a thousand people in the domain. With only two tasks—logging and construction—how could manpower be lacking?

Vittorio hesitated, his handkerchief soaked through.

Tate and Dawn both remained silent, as if uninvolved.

Kun smiled reassuringly.

“It’s fine. Trust takes time—both from the land and its people.

Tomorrow, I’ll inspect the domain myself. We’ll address everything then.”

Vittorio stood abruptly and bowed deeply.

“Thank you, my lord. I, Vittorio of the Diara family, swear to manage every coin faithfully, without embezzlement.”

“I look forward to it.”

Kun returned a composed smile befitting a lord.

Once the tea was finished, Dawn and Vittorio took their leave.

Kun turned to Tate.

“Ask Mrs. Mary if there’s still pan-seared lamb chops and pear juice—and chestnut bread. Two servings.”

“Two?”

“For a friend. One who’s come from… far away.”

Kun smiled faintly.

“Prepare a guest room as well.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

With that, Tate departed.

Kun returned to his laboratory.

The spell he was about to perform—Flesh Reconstruction—was far too grotesque to be done publicly.

At the center of a prepared array, he placed the cultivated fungal mass.

From his storage, he took out a seed no larger than a grain of rice.

As he chanted, it sprouted—its root extending like a needle.

A blood-drinking plant from the Sunset Desert.

It fed on animals, draining them dry.

In harsh conditions, it stored the blood as nutrients, becoming dormant until rain returned.

From its root, droplets of preserved blood emerged.

Li Tianyun’s blood.

They fell onto the fungal mass.

The mass stirred—reviving rapidly.

Blue light pulsed through it.

Floating, it began to form—

Brain. Nerves. Bones. Organs. Flesh. Skin.

Soon, a complete human body lay within the fading glow.

A black-haired youth.

Kun raised his coral wand.

“Second-tier Abundance Magic—Life Link!”

A golden arc connected the body to the Gate of Abundance.

The youth’s eyes opened.

Kun grinned.

“Welcome to the Dawnlight Continent, my friend.”

“Try moving. See if everything feels right.

This body is modeled after your original one—except for the brain, which uses neural fungus.

Your illness still exists, but here, it’s manageable.”

Li Tianyun slowly clenched his hand.

His movements were sluggish.

“A mismatch between soul and vessel,” Kun muttered. “You’ll adapt.”

“Th… thank you.”

Li Tianyun’s voice was firm.

To think—

Kun had gone this far, even finding a way to smuggle him across worlds, just to save him.

In his original world, there was no cure.

So Kun brought him here.

To become a warrior.

To break the limits of life.

Their lives were linked—strength gained here would flow back, transforming his original body.

His illness would vanish.

The plan was absurd.

And yet—Kun had succeeded.

“I don’t know how to thank you,” Li Tianyun said quietly.

“Start by getting dressed.”

Kun handed him clothes.

“Spider silk lining, red fox fur exterior. Warm enough. It’s freezing here.”

“Then we’ll go eat. Mrs. Mary—remember? She makes excellent lamb chops.”

Kun couldn’t stop talking.

Like a child eager to show his home to a friend.

For the first time—

This lonely lord had someone to share it with.