Valerian Empire - Chapter 41

If video game currency is to exchange with real life currency, then it must have a powerful economic entity to guarantee the exchange rate. Furthermore this entity is none other than a country’s government. But why would a government guarantee the ability to exchange video game currency with real life currency?

War can also be fought with currency. Winning victory without firing a shot is a way to topple a country. A game where real money can be exchanged, a super money-making machine. Its name is [Zero] and it is a financial explosion from head to tail.

- Description from Novelupdates

I’m Kuna, a former countess’s daughter, working at the café of the Adventurers’ Guild “Shield of the Silver Wolf.” Together with my Carbuncle, Lulu, I spend my days serving customers with special drinks infused with healing power!One day, a customer from my own White Wolf tribe visits…With the newly joined companions, I find myself facing my family, who is trying to take me back to the Kingdom of Aluda!The happiness everyone in the guild has given me—I will protect it this time!This is a life-reversal story filled with fluffiness and healing power!

At 20 years old, Su He married Mr. Jiang, a business tycoon with billions to his name, proudly hailed as a business mogul. Upon learning of this, people said that she, a country bumpkin lacking background and wealth, was merely a poor doctor with a beautiful appearance, unworthy of the esteemed Jiang family head. Gradually, however, people discovered that this 'poor doctor' with 'no background' was in fact the jewel of a prestigious medical family in the capital, an expert surgeon in the medical field, an heir to a medical research institute, and a mysterious designer... Everyone knew that within Mr. Jiang's heart, there was a cherished figure. As the four-year marriage agreement neared its end, the man handed her a document, his tone gentle yet assertive: 'Sign it!' 'A divorce agreement?' Su He asked, her eyes bright with unconcealed excitement and anticipation, having longed for a divorce. The man snorted coldly, 'Just sign it!' Not long after, Mr. Jiang reneged, stating: 'Since you've given birth to my child, you'll be mine for life!'

Welcome! If you want to jump in without any spoilers, feel free. Otherwise, here's a story primer, with a list of more specifics on what to expect from my work further below.Our story follows a fallen knight haunted by his past, in a world afflicted by war and supernatural wounds. Alken is the Headsman of Seydis, an executioner tasked by the divine powers of his homeland to hunt dark sorcerers, warlords, and traitors of all varieties, lest they drag the world into calamity.Once a paladin, this role ill suits him. Forced to cross lines that shake his beliefs, tempted by dark forces, and seen as an ill omen wherever he wanders, his path is often a bloody one. The longer he spends in the shadows of his world, the more he comes to realize just how many have been disenfranchised by the existent order. During his lonely battles through a land haunted by the restless dead and ancient magics, his journey becomes increasingly strange and personal.Enter a realm where the dead stir in every shadow and brooding demigods wage a millennia long war for a ruined heaven, where blessed knights wield gilded flames and sorcerers battle with weapons forged of their own souls. Enter a world of faustian alchemists, of saintly demons, and of time-weary elves.From Oathbreaker you can expect— A setting heavily inspired by Forgotten Realms, Planescape, Fromsoft games, and authors such as Michael Moorcock and Kentauro Miura. — A first person POV from an older protagonist who already knows a lot about his world’s history and cultures, who shares this information with the reader as it becomes relevant.— A mix of action adventure and quieter moments where the focus is on character development. Lore is shared piecemeal, usually only as it relates to a particular arc or character beat.— A heavy focus on mystery, both with the setting and the protagonist. The main character’s backstory isn’t shared up front, and a lot of the narrative involves learning about him a bit at a time, either from his own narration or other characters interacting with him.— A semi-soft magic system where many mages manifest unique powers tied to their own soul, or gain unique powers through eldritch pacts.— Romantic elements. These don’t crop up much until later in the story.— A variety of supernatural beings, such as elves, vampires, gargoyles, chimera, and trolls. Many are familiar, some are not, and most of the familiar ones have my own twists put on them.—Nobledark fantasy. This means that the world is often themed around tragedy and horror, but it’s not dedicated to being gritty. There are elements of high fantasy intermixed with the scarier stuff.—Episodic arcs. Each story arc usually has a specific locale and antagonist or set of antagonists, but certain overarching plots tie them together.— A long running narrative. I don’t have a specific projection of how long or how many arcs or books, but you should expect this to be equivalent to a long running serialized work.This is my first web serial! I hope everyone enjoys it. For trigger warnings, readers should beware that there are some heavy topics in here. When I think something might upset certain readers, I’ll put a warning in the author notes above a chapter. If I miss or overlook anything, feel free to let me know in the comments! I am currently publishing the same story on my wordpress, which is linked below and in my profile. I release three chapters a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. Thanks for reading!(I originally had a link to a wordpress, but I'm in the process of overhauling that space. It's not a priority since my readership is all here, but just in case anyone noticed and was wondering)