2. Studying and applying specialized skills will increase personal experience.
3. Skill Proficiency cannot exceed one's Ability Level.
This was the ability Henry had acquired over the past three years, and because of it, his academic performance had always been a headache for his teachers.
During the graduation tournament, Henry became the most dazzling student of his class. He took first place and was personally ennobled by the academy's dean—the King himself. He became a member of the Powerful Nobility, a Knight!
Citing unusual activity from the Alien Races beyond the eastern grasslands, the King granted Henry a fiefdom on the border. There was a village there, which was to be the start of Henry's path to becoming an Overlord!
However…
"What?! You're telling me Westwood Laine was destroyed!"
Henry had just taken a sip of delicious wine when he overheard a patron in the tavern say Westwood Laine had been destroyed.
That was the village on his fief! That village *was* the only pitiful asset his fiefdom had!
The patron was startled and quickly began to explain to Henry.
It turned out that just over ten days ago, a band of Centaurs had sacked the village, plundering all the food and abducting many of its people. The entire village had been destroyed.
The few who managed to escape back were so terrified that they fled that very night.
'Revenge? People scared witless just want to run. You can never predict what someone will do next.'
Henry was completely dumbfounded. He had imagined the fief would be poor. He had imagined it would be a wreck. He had even considered all sorts of challenges to its development. But he had never, ever imagined this.
'Good news: I've arrived at my fiefdom. Bad news: my fiefdom is gone!'
[Owner has arrived in the vicinity of the fiefdom. Overlord Panel Phase Two now unlocking...]
Henry: ???
'Huh? I thought "Overlord" was the pinnacle. There's something even higher?'
[Unlock failed...]
[Newbie Tutorial Mission Issued]
[Mission: Rebuild the Village]
Requirements: A population of over 300, with corresponding basic housing.
[Friendly reminder: Don't take shortcuts. Fight for your own future, Overlord!]
Henry stared at the words "Newbie Tutorial" on the panel before him, the corner of his mouth twitching. 'After struggling for three whole years, I'm already level eight! And in the end, I'm still just a newbie?'
The patron saw Henry's noble crest, thought for a moment, and continued, "My lord, the Count is mobilizing the army. It seems he's planning a counterattack against the invading Alien Races."
"Many villages have been destroyed recently. We've even lost three Barons and seventeen Knights."
That actually made Henry feel a bit better. 'I only lost my fiefdom, but they lost their lives.'
Henry paid the bill for the patron who had answered his questions. It wasn't much money, just a small gesture.
"Bain, finish your food and wine. We're going to pay a visit to the Count here."
Bain downed his wine in two gulps, polished off the meat on his plate, and went outside to get the horses before leaving with Henry.
Bain had been with Henry for three years. He was a beggar Henry had found on the street. The Knight Academy had a rule allowing exceptional students to bring one Attendant to accompany them in their studies.
The pair followed the main road until they reached the tallest and most fortified structure in Odoche: the Earl's Mansion.
"Halt! The Count is in a meeting." A guard at the gate immediately stepped forward to block Henry's path.
Henry presented his crest and identification papers. "I am a Vassal of the King," he said, "but my land was destroyed by Centaurs. I require the Count's assistance."
After inspecting them, the guard immediately reported to his captain. He returned and said to Henry, "Sir Knight, please wait here."
Henry nodded and waited outside. The guard brought him a chair; he was just a low-ranking guard and had no desire to offend a nobleman.
No matter how low their rank or how small their fief, a Knight was still a noble.
After a while, the captain hurried back. "Sir Knight," he said to Henry, "please come with me. The Count has invited you to join the meeting. Your Attendant can wait here."
The captain led Henry to an antechamber to wait while he went inside to announce him. A heated argument was clearly audible from within.
"Count John! We've lost our fiefs! We can't come up with that kind of money right now!"
"Count John, I may only be a Baron, but we are all Vassals of the King! You should send troops to help us rebuild our lands!"
"Count, we can pay to have your army deployed, but the price is too high! We don't have that many Dinars right now!"
The more Henry listened, the more troubled he became. 'Looks like the situation is dire,' he thought.
"Sir, the Count will see you now."
Henry entered and found an empty seat along the edge of the room.
"Who's the newcomer?"
"Henry. Henry Bro, a graduate of the Royal Capital Knight Academy. I am the lord of Westwood Laine, a Vassal of the King, and a Knight by rank."
The man next to Henry spoke up cheerfully, "I am Knight Boman, also a graduate of the Royal Capital Knight Academy and a Vassal of the King... It seems you were the most outstanding student of your class."
Henry was puzzled. "Why do you say that?"
Boman puffed out his chest. "Because I was the most outstanding student of my class."
Henry chuckled. 'So he's just complimenting himself,' he thought.
"That's right, the 'once most outstanding student.' Knight Boman, after your fief was destroyed, didn't you also come running back here?"
"You! Fass! And didn't you run away too?!"
The Count at the head of the table slammed his hand down, and the two immediately fell silent.
The Count rubbed his temples. As far as he could recall, those two, Boman and Fass, had been at each other's throats for the last four or five years.
He couldn't understand it. They were both Knights, and their fiefs weren't even adjacent. What could they possibly find to argue about every single day?