Kingdom Building Game: Starting Out With A Million Upgrade Points!-Chapter 133: A Moment Of Warmth

Cold winds howled through the Ashen Peaks, sweeping over the snow-covered landscape. Kaela sat in front of Arkanos on the saddle, her hands gripping the reins of his midnight-black warhorse while his arms rested loosely around her, holding the reins as well.

Their thick fur coats shielded them from the biting frost, but even with the warmth of his body close behind her, Kaela still shivered slightly.

Arkanos glanced to the side as a translucent system window flickered into view.

〘 ◇ Level Up! ◇ 〙

〘 You have reached Level 299. ◇ 〙

〘 Achievement Unlocked: Slay 100 Undead ◇ 〙

〘 Achievement Unlocked: Slay 500 Undead ◇ 〙

〘 Achievement Unlocked: Slay 1,000 Undead ◇ 〙

〘 Achievement Unlocked: Who Needs the Gods? ◇ 〙

〘 Achievement Unlocked: Levels Are Just Numbers ◇ 〙

〘 ◇ King-Tier Title Unlocked: Dragon Slayer ◇ 〙

〘 Queen-Tier Title Unlocked: Sovereign of the Abyss ◇ 〙

Arkanos narrowed his eyes as he read the title description.

〘 ◇ Sovereign of the Abyss (Queen-Tier) ◇ 〙

〘 You embody that which the gods once sought to destroy but failed. They cast you into the Abyss, yet you rose again. Creatures of the Abyss bow before your command, yet they fear you as well. Caution: Excessive use of this title will draw the ire of the gods. ◇ 〙

〘 Passive Effect: Immunity to all forms of Dark Magic ◇ 〙

〘 Dark Magic Damage Boost: +100% ◇ 〙

He smirked. 'Useful.'

Then, another notification appeared.

〘 ◇ Upgrade Point Balance: 56,000 ◇ 〙

Arkanos exhaled, shaking his head.

'Perhaps all that spending has finally caught up with me…'

'Still… it should be enough to summon an army of at least 10,000 and construct a few necessary structures.'

Kaela shifted slightly in front of him, drawing his attention. After a moment of silence, she spoke, her voice barely above a whisper.

"…Thank you."

Arkanos tilted his head, an amused smile on his lips. "For?"

She exhaled, reluctant. "For saving me."

He chuckled. "I thought an eternity would pass before I heard those words." He leaned in slightly, his breath warm against the side of her neck.

"For a woman I love to deny me of gratitude after risking my life to save her, mere words cannot begin to properly describe such cruelty."

Kaela stiffened at his words, then sighed. "I know," she admitted. "And… I'm sorry. For how I've treated you in the past."

Before Arkanos could respond, a loud growl rumbled through the air.

Kaela's shoulders tensed as she realized the sound had come from her own stomach.

Arkanos let out a deep laugh. "For a royal consort to have a belly that roars like a dragon's…"

Kaela groaned, her face heating up. "It's not my fault! The last thing I had was tea—days ago. I feel so weak."

Arkanos hummed thoughtfully. Now that she mentioned it, even he felt the gnawing hunger creeping into his body. "We should stop and eat," he said. "Freshen up and rest as well."

Kaela hesitated, scanning the endless expanse of white snow ahead of them. "Where exactly would we make camp?"

Arkanos smirked. "You should learn to believe in me more."

---

They came to a halt atop a small opening, the only sign of life being the dark silhouette of leafless trees in the distance. Kaela remained seated, still gripping the reins as Arkanos swung off the saddle. He gripped the horse's reins beside her, his green eyes gleaming with intent.

〘 ◇ Erect Structure Menu ◇ 〙

〘 Small Manor – 25 Upgrade Points ◇ 〙

〘 ◇ Proceed? ◇ 〙

'Yes.'

The air around them vibrated. A deep hum resonated through the ground as the snow trembled, shifting like liquid. In an instant, stone foundations erupted from the earth, walls forming seamlessly from nothing.

A grand yet modest manor materialized before them, its wooden doors carved with nature symbols. A warm glow flickered through the windows, the promise of a roaring hearth inside.

Kaela's hands loosened on the reins as she stared in awe.

"…By the gods…"

Arkanos smirked, extending a hand toward her. "Welcome home—for now."

The crisp night air bit at Arkanos' skin as he guided his horse toward the stable, the snow beneath its hooves crunching with each slow step.

The beast snorted, sending a misty breath into the frozen air, and flicked its ears as it settled under the wooden overhang. A soft lantern glow spilled from the stable's interior, its warm light casting long shadows over the frost-covered ground.

The scent of fresh pine and damp earth mingled with the lingering chill as Arkanos secured the reins to a post, running a gloved hand down the steed's neck. The horse huffed, shaking off bits of frost that clung to its dark mane.

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"Rest well my friend," Arkanos murmured buying some hay for it to eat before turning to Kaela.

The two stepped through the heavy wooden doors of the manor, the warmth inside immediately embracing them.

A fire crackled in the hearth, the scent of burning oak thick in the air, mingling with the subtle aroma of aged stone and polished wood. The manor was modest but well-crafted, its interior lined with deep mahogany beams and fur-lined chairs set before the fireplace.

Kaela sighed as they stepped onto the thick rug near the entrance, her boots sinking slightly into the plush fibers. She reached up to unclasp the fur-lined coat draped over her shoulders, her fingers still stiff from the cold. Arkanos did the same, shaking off the last remnants of frost from his sleeves before hanging his coat on a wrought iron hook near the door.

Kaela rubbed her arms, her breath still visible in the air. "It's warm, but I can still feel the cold clinging to me."

Arkanos smirked, rolling his shoulders. "Then a warm bath should be the first order of things."

Before she could respond, he stepped toward her and—without hesitation—swept her into his arms.

A startled gasp escaped her lips as her vision tilted, her arms instinctively gripping onto his shoulders. "A-Arkanos!"

His hold was firm yet effortless, his warmth bleeding through his clothes and into hers. She could feel the steady rise and fall of his chest, the faintest rumble of amusement beneath her palm.

"You're trembling," he remarked, his voice low.

"I—!" She bit her lip, realizing she couldn't argue. The warmth of the manor had yet to chase away the deep chill that had settled in her bones. She let out a small, reluctant sigh. "Fine… But put me down when we get there."

His smirk deepened. "No promises."

Arkanos carried her down the hall, his boots echoing against the polished wooden floor.

The air grew heavier with humidity as they neared a set of ornate double doors at the manor's far end. The scent of heated minerals, steam, and faint lavender greeted them as he pushed the doors open with a nudge of his shoulder.

Inside, there was a private bathhouse. The walls were carved from smooth gray stone, polished to a sheen that reflected the golden glow of several lanterns.

A massive circular bath sat at the center, its waters steaming, infused with the natural hot springs below. The gentle sound of water trickling from stone spouts filled the space, echoing softly off the walls.

Arkanos stepped forward, his boots clicking against the damp stone floor before he finally—reluctantly—set Kaela down. She let out a small breath of relief, though her cheeks were still tinged with warmth.

"Not bad, is it?" he mused, undoing the cuffs of his sleeves.

Kaela ran a hesitant hand along the edge of the bath, feeling the heat rising from the water. The steam curled around her fingers, sending a delicious warmth up her arm. "It's… more than I expected."

Arkanos chuckled, stripping off his gloves and setting them aside. "I did say you should believe in me more."

She shot him a half-hearted glare before turning her attention to the water, dipping a hand in to test it. The heat was intoxicating, sending a ripple of warmth up her spine.

She shot him a half-hearted glare before turning her attention to a nearby wooden shelf stocked with neatly folded towels.

Kaela hesitated, then picked up one of the thick, cream-colored towels, hugging it to her chest. Arkanos watched with mild amusement as she turned her back to him, standing near a wooden partition meant for changing.

The sound of fabric rustling filled the space. She peeled off her boots first, ones arkas had bought to deal with the cold, the damp leather making a soft thud as they were set aside.

Her fingers moved to unfasten the laces of her dress, sliding it off her shoulders to reveal her delicate skim beneath. The cool air prickled her skin, making her shiver as she quickly worked to remove the rest of her worn garments.

She wrapped the towel securely around her body, the soft fabric pressing against her still-cold skin, offering some comfort. Taking a steadying breath, she turned back to face Arkanos—only to find him watching her with a lazy, knowing smirk.

"You took your time," he remarked.

Kaela's eyes narrowed. "Unlike some people, I have modesty."

Arkanos gave a short chuckle before reaching for his own towel. Without breaking eye contact, he casually unfastened his tunic and pulled it over his head, revealing the chiseled muscles of his torso.

Kaela swallowed hard and quickly averted her gaze.

Arkanos noticed, "Don't tell me you're getting shy now, how priceless." he teased, stepping closer.

"I-I'm not!" She said, stepping toward the bath.

The steam curled around her as she dipped a foot into the water, the sudden rush of heat sending a shiver through her body. She let out a soft, involuntary sigh as she slowly lowered herself in, the warmth seeping into her skin, unraveling the tension in her muscles.

She let herself sink deeper into the bath, closing her eyes for a moment. The heat wrapped around her like a comforting embrace, soothing the aches.

"See?" Arkanos murmured. "Told you this was a good idea."

Kaela cracked one eye open, watching him through the soft veil of steam. "Fine… You win this time."

He smirked, his emerald eyes glinting in the dim light. "I always do."

She rolled her eyes, but a small, reluctant smile tugged at her lips as the warmth of the bath wrapped around them both.