He wasn't exaggerating.
When we reached the so-called manor, it was little more than an abandoned, creaking structure with peeling paint, broken shutters, and vines crawling up its sides like nature trying to reclaim it.
Elvie wrinkled her nose. "I've slept in burned-down wagons nicer than this."
"No one's going inside," I said. "We set up camp out here for now."
I stepped into the quiet carriage and shut the door behind me. The padded interior muffled the sounds of the camp outside—just a few muffled voices and footsteps on dirt.
I settled on the seat and took a deep breath before focusing my thoughts.
Guardian System: Access.
The translucent screen flickered to life before me, floating in the air with a comforting blue glow. This part still felt like magic, even though I knew it wasn't—not really. Not by Earth standards anyway.
I scrolled through the newly unlocked Earth Catalog, which looked suspiciously like an Amazon storefront—but filtered for medieval necessities and lifestyle compatibility. Gold coin icons shimmered beside each item, their Earth equivalents blinking underneath in brackets. The conversion rate still made me squint:
1 Small Gold Coin = £150
1 Large Gold Coin = £300
I winced. Better be worth it.
My finger hovered over the screen, then clicked:
Total: 20 Large Gold Coins
Confirm Purchase?
I hesitated, then sighed and hit YES. Then I took my pouch and counted 20 large gold coins and offered it to the guardian screen, it disappeared then I heard another ding.
Hidden Quest Completed: Earth Item Purchase
Reward: 5% discount and all earth items.
Hmmm. Not bad. I closed the reward screen then another screen shimmered as it processed the transaction.
A moment later:
Transaction Approved. Items stored in Guardian Inventory.
Location: Back pack
My backpack, resting beside me, started glowing with a faint, warm pulse of light.
I raised a brow and muttered, "If this is a scam, I'm going to sue you in ten planes of existence..."
I tapped the window gently. A moment later, Igor appeared, knocking twice.
"Yes, my lord?"
"Call Miss Agnes. Quietly."
He nodded and disappeared. Moments later, Miss Agnes peeked through the door, her ledger still in hand.
"You needed me?"
I gestured to both of them. "Help me. I'm about to show you something."
Then, with a deep breath, I reached into the backpack—and found the first item.
A rolled-up family-size camping tent, vacuum-sealed in clear plastic with a smooth zipper pouch.
Both of them blinked.
"...What in the Goddess' name is this?" Agnes whispered, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"Wait," I said, pulling out all the ten tents then another item—a self-inflated mattress that expanded slightly as I moved it. Then came the boxes of toiletries: toothbrushes, toothpaste, feminine kits, soap bars in pastel colors, wipes, portable lanterns, and blankets and pillows.
One by one, I handed the items out. Soon, the carriage was full.
Igor held up a folded pillow with a tag. "My lord... There's magic in this. Weak, but refined... tamed."
Miss Agnes was already holding up one of the blankets to the light, marveling at the soft, silken weave. "Everything you touch, Dirk, feels like it came from a mythical royal vault. Even the fabric—it glows faintly. Can we use these to amplify mana flow?"
"It's possible," Igor nodded, his expression now more serious. "These kinds of items may resonate with mages. Even low-level ones could boost their control."
"Igor," I said quietly, "let's not spread that around, alright? We'll say these came from one of the supply carriages."
Agnes glanced up. "You don't trust them?"
"I trust some of them," I said, pulling another blanket out, "but not the crowd. Not yet. Let's keep the myth alive but vague. Don't let anyone know what I'm capable of—just that I'm... resourceful."
Igor gave a respectful nod. "As you wish, my lord."
Agnes smiled, setting down a crate. "Let's get the others set up, then."
*****
We moved quickly. I taught Igor and Agnes how to set up the tents, guiding them through zippers, metal poles, and foldable legs. The design was modern, sleek, and unlike anything they'd seen.
"Dirk," Agnes muttered, "this is some kind of divine engineering."
Even the air mattress confused them at first—until it hissed to life and began to inflate on its own. That made Igor jump back.
"By the flame gods! It breathes!"
I laughed. "No, it's just air pressure. Controlled mechanics. No magic. At least, not the kind you know."
I called for the two women, "Elvie, Ella," I said, handing them a crate of food and supplies, "I want you two to take some of this to the villagers. Build goodwill. Mamon, bottled water, some noodles. Use the maids and three of the guards."
Ella grinned. "We're bribing them with snacks?"
"Winning hearts, one mamon at a time," I replied.
They both grabbed the boxes and headed down the hill, their guards following behind.
A small crowd began to form as more of my companions returned and started helping. Elvie and Ella had finished handing out snacks—mamon, bottled water, and instant noodles—to the villagers. Children were eating sweet buns with sticky fingers, and I caught one elder examining the bottled water like it was a holy relic.
Igor's wife, Mira, arrived shortly with their five children, all eager to help. The kids giggled as they passed out snacks from neatly packed boxes and showed the villagers how to peel open cup noodles and pour hot water.
Miss Agnes had already appointed some of the maids to organize the toiletries. "Even the combs are enchanted with soft bristles," she mused, brushing her own hair with one.
As tents popped up across the clearing, the villagers, who had initially eyed us with suspicion, now stared in awe.
"They've brought a small kingdom with them," I overheard one man whisper.
"I heard their baron commands the heavens," a woman murmured in disbelief.
No one questioned our origins anymore.
That night, we gathered around our campfire. Lanterns cast warm light on our makeshift haven. I watched them—my people—laughing, eating, resting.
The Next Morning I woke up to the warmth of morning light filtering through the canvas walls of my tent. The silence was almost peaceful, until I realized I was alone.
Felix's bedroll was empty, and the five beastkin guards that had slept near the entrance were also gone. My brow furrowed.
Then the scent hit me.
Sizzling sausages, fried eggs, and the rich, mouthwatering aroma of meat being seared over open fire drifted in through the flaps. My stomach growled in approval. I sat up slowly, rubbing the sleep from my eyes and stretching out the knots from yesterday's travels.
I slid open one of the small side windows of the tent and peeked out.
The camp was already alive.
In the distance, I saw the maids, sleeves rolled and aprons stained with oil, crouched near makeshift stoves and stone grills. Some were cracking eggs over flat iron pans, while others flipped sausages with wooden tongs.
Smoke curled gently into the morning air as the comforting sound of breakfast being prepared spread across the clearing.
The men were busy too. Several villagers, along with my own men, were hauling logs and branches. Igor, ever the overseer, stood nearby with a charcoal-streaked notebook, giving out short, efficient orders. Felix stood beside him, overseeing the horses and carriages, ensuring the tack and feed were properly handled.
I stepped outside, the cool morning breeze brushing against my arms, and called out toward a group by the tent's entrance.
"Ella!"
She turned, instantly alert. "My lord?"
"I want everyone to gather after breakfast," I said. "Tell Miss Agnes, Felix, Igor—and also the village elder and the townsfolk. I want to hold a proper meeting. Everyone should know the plan for what's coming."
She bowed her head slightly. "Right away."
Before she turned, I added, "And Elvie?"
Ella nodded again. "I'll fetch her."