Luka watched with admiration as the hunters and various townsmen started arming themselves with makeshift leather jackets and short, hunting bows. "We really need to develop the mines and prepare ourselves for the future." He mumbled while mulling over the vague information from his memories.
The territory currently lacked iron, copper and stone despite having recently discovered several rich iron and mineral veins close to the Amol Highlands.
He closed his eyes while taking deep breaths to adjust himself. A violent excitement brewed within his veins, the rush of adrenaline and excitement streaming through it. Like a warrior about to step into battle for the first time after a long break.
"Are you alright, My Lord?"
A delicate hand seized his shoulder, shaking his body slightly.
"Mm? Oh, it's you, Galatea."
Her sudden action jolted him out of his meditative state, allowing him to see their full forces, barely eighty or so men stood, with half being amateurs in battle.
'I hope the experience of hunting shall help them adjust.'
He studied Galatea's grandfather, Gerard, who wore decent iron armour while holding a wide kite shield. The old man responded with a wide grin and enthusiastically nodded back to him, while signalling Galatea with his chin.
"What's the matter, Galatea?"
When he returned his gaze, a moist gaze observed him closely, causing a strange chill to travel down Luka's spine.
"N-Nothing, it's just something my idiotic grandfather said." She quickly avoided the subject, curling her blonde hair as she took her helmet and slipped it on. "Are you sure you want to fight on the front lines... Luka?"
'Oh...'
The moment she spoke his name, not calling him Lord, his slow brain engaged, realising she approached him out of concern.
'Well, the previous Luka could barely walk, let alone fight.'
He struggled for a moment, trying to decide how to explain things to her without sounding ridiculous, but then he remembered the Destiny System. 'Father, let me praise you for giving me a small period of advantage over the other humans.'
Until the Destiny System was activated, humans lacked the ability that other races could use to grow stronger or sense their growth.
Elves had mana, the fallen had the power of sins, and even the dwarfs could manifest a craftsman spirit.
Humans, on the other hand, only had natural growth, and the only way to discover their changes was through life and death battles or painstaking hard work.
"Phew, then I will show you."
"Show me?" Galatea cocked her pretty face to the side, a smirk on her lips. "What're you going to show me?"
"How I suddenly became healthy, and that I will become a Lord worthy of you."
His words seemed to carry a certain ambiguity, her cheeks flushing pink under the helmet's gap.
'Let's summon you.'
As an Archangel, with administration permissions, he'd never used the Destiny System as a user before. With the new experience greeting him, excitement welled up, causing energy to rush faster inside his stomach the moment he tried.
"Come, Oblivion."
He extended his arm into the void, grasping something invisible before Galatea's eyes, a long, jet black sword with a vibrant ruby encrusted in the pommel.
The grip was roughly 25cm long (10 inches), with a wide, cross guard in the shape of black angel's wings and a broad blade around four fingers wide and 120cm long (47 inches), with a red groove covering 80cm (31.5 inches) of the blade. The weight of the blade weighed his arm down quite heavily, roughly 2kg (5 pounds).
A faint purple aura clung to the blade like a small breath, creating illusory trails in the air when it moved.
"T-That! What the hell is that, Luka?! It looks so evil..."
Several of the knights and townsmen also saw him summoning this large blade. In his left hand, he grasped the void again, before an ornate, black sheath materialised, with the pattern of a black wolf bordered in silver near the mouth.
'A black wolf, huh?'
Luka cut the air twice with the flick of his wrist, a beautiful purple arc of mist following as he effortlessly sheathed the large, bastard sword with a sigh. "Feels good."
Galatea's eyes widened upon seeing his slash; the cut was sharp, swift and elegant. Even the untrained eye would understand his mastery of the sword.
"H-How?!"
He turned to face her while extending the sheath with a smile, "Call it the benefits of becoming a chosen one."
"B-But Luka!"
The concern in her eyes was grave; she stepped forward with such enthusiasm that she almost butted his head with hers.
Luka placed a hand on her shoulder, keeping their distance close, relishing in the faint scent of sweat berry ale on her breath and those beautiful eyes that only looked at him.
"Galatea... if I were to only tell a single soul the truth, it would be you." He paused, watching her expression change, her eyes widen, and her plump lips curve into a smile. "Please, can you give me some time? For now, let us focus on the battle. Afterwards, I swear to tell you what I know."
She didn't respond instantly, only staring into his eyes.
The townsmen and knights remained noisy in the background as the Militia returned from their scouting mission.
"Mm, I understand... You must promise to tell me after, or else I won't be happy."
"Of course."
He'd managed to avoid telling her for now, but thanks to his father's help, he would reveal the existence of the Destiny System. Then, with his remaining administrative powers, activate Galatea's panel, allowing her to grow faster.
'With my current powers, I think I can help five people.'
With a nod, he asked. "Please help me fasten this sword to my back, Galatea."
Thus, under the warm sight of Gerard and the jeers of the knights, she couldn't help but step behind him and start fastening the leather straps along his back.
Luka couldn't help but close his eyes and enjoy the service.
While Galatea's eyes darted along his shoulders, her lips trembling as she whispered.
"When did his shoulder become so broad...?"