Legendary Extraction: Kingdom Builder in a Ruined World-Chapter 35: Feast.

The whole place went dead silent.

The suggestion had cut through the air like a knife.

Every man in the group—no matter how furious they had just been at Veran—flinched. Some instinctively reached down to guard their own balls, as if they were the ones being sentenced.

Even Elias, who was on the second floor of his building, watching and listening through the window, felt an invisible chill run down his spine. His hand reflexively dropped to protect himself, and his face twisted in discomfort.

"That woman..." he muttered, eyes wide. "A ball has fallen."

Among men, it was an unspoken truth—even the cruelest enemies rarely wished for that kind of punishment. The balls were sacred. Off-limits. But Veran’s crimes had gone far beyond forgiveness, especially against the women.

So no one objected.

But no man stepped forward to do the deed either. That task belonged to the women.

Moments later, a gut-wrenching scream tore through the air. Veran’s cry sliced through every man’s soul. It echoed like a war horn, loud and sharp, the sound of a man losing what made him a man.

From the sidelines, the men watched in frozen horror. Some winced while others made mental notes never to cross any of the women present.

Elias, still by the window, took that note very seriously.

"No matter how strong I become," he whispered, "never get on their bad side."

After that, the women took full control. The torture continued—not just painful, but something close to art. The kind of slow, deliberate punishment that doesn’t look like revenge anymore but take an almost ritualistic look.

The men stood aside, their earlier anger now replaced by quiet respect or fear. It was brutal, but no one could say Veran didn’t deserve it.

As the sun began to set, Veran was barely holding onto life. His body was broken, mangled. His eyes were unfocused, his breath shallow.

Finally, someone spoke.

"Let’s burn him," one woman said, her voice cold and steady.

No one argued.

A pyre was built. Veran’s nearly lifeless body was dragged onto it. A torch was lit, and the fire caught quickly.

The scent of burning flesh filled the air. As the flames rose higher, so did the voices of the people.

---

[Ding!] Quest: "Claim What’s Yours" - Completed

Rewards: +10 Attribute Points

+100 EXP

+5 Extraction Points

+1 Skill Book

---

Elias stared at the notification as the crowd below roared with cheers.

The smell of charred flesh was strong in the air, but none of the freed slaves cared.

They were finally free.

Kael’s death had broken their chains.

But it was Veran’s death that freed their hearts.

"All hail Lord Elias! All hail Lord Elias!"

The chant shook the ruined grounds.

Elias smiled.

He waited for the cheering to calm down before calling for the cook and a few others. When they arrived and bowed, he handed them several items—some he had just bought from the system, and others he had previously bought and stored in his inventory.

Ingredients. Tools. Everything needed for a proper feast.

Today marked a turning point.

The threats to his territory were gone. His power had grown. And most of all, the rewards he earned—both from Kael’s defeat and the completed quest—were huge.

So for once, Elias didn’t mind spending a little extra.

A feast that was well-deserved.

He burned through hundreds of Karma Points, buying barrels of quality alcohol, exotic spices, fresh ingredients, and everything else they would need to make the evening truly graceful.

Meat wasn’t a problem. He still had plenty of dire wolf stored in his inventory—fresh and well-preserved.

With just a few commands, the preparations were underway.

The cook and his helpers bowed again before heading out to begin the setup.

Meanwhile, Elias took his time preparing himself—both physically and mentally.

Tonight marked the day he would become a true Lord.

The system’s quest completion notification meant only one thing—some among the freed slaves had already made their decision.

They had chosen to stay.

To serve under him.

To become the first real inhabitants of his territory.

And soon, Elias would find out exactly who they were.

He sat quietly in his room, listening to the sounds of preparation from below—pots clanging, firewood crackling, footsteps rushing back and forth, mixed with laughter and cheerful chatter floating in through the window.

Just then, a familiar adorable voice echoed gently in his mind.

"[Hehe~ Master seems nervous...]"

Elias chuckled and rubbed his temples.

"Of course I’m nervous," he muttered.

"Until now, I felt like a leader, yes... but not their true Lord. Kael and Veran still cast a shadow over them."

He leaned back in his chair and sighed.

"But now that they’re both gone... everything rests on me. Their lives, their safety, their future. It’s my responsibility now."

He paused again and exhaled deeply.

"As a Lord, that makes me proud. But as a man... I won’t lie. It’s a bit scary."

"[Hehe~ Alia believes in Master. Master is more than capable. You’ve done everything right—saved them, fought for them, protected them. So, Alia believes Master can do this.]"

Her words brought a soft smile to his face.

"Thanks, Alia."

He stood up, straightened his tunic, and adjusted his belt.

Just then, a knock came at the door.

It was Vael.

"The preparations are complete," he said in his usual flat tone. "They await your presence."

Elias took in one last breath.

"Then let’s not keep them waiting."

---

Outside, the atmosphere was warm and lively.

People sat in groups around a huge bonfire that crackled brightly, casting golden light over their faces.

Laughter echoed through the air.

Cups clinked together in celebration.

At the center of it all stood a massive feast table, stacked with roasted meat, fruits, soft bread, and barrels of sweet-smelling drinks.

Then, the large front doors of the building creaked open.

Elias stepped out—neatly dressed in dark green and black, with a cloak trimmed in gold. His posture was calm, but his presence was commanding.

"Lord Elias is here!" someone shouted.

The celebration paused immediately.

All eyes turned to him.

One by one, they stood up and bowed.

"Lord Elias," they said in unison.

He smiled gently.

"Please sit," he said, motioning with his hand. "There’s no need to be formal tonight."

They obeyed quickly, settling back down as he walked into their midst.

The firelight danced across his face as he looked around at them—their hopeful eyes, their quiet anticipation.

He cleared his throat.

"In the past," he began, "you were swallowed by darkness."

His voice was steady, clear, and carried across the entire area.

"Under Kael and Veran, your freedom was stolen. Your names, your dignity—all taken from you."

He paused for a moment.

"But today... you are free."

Murmurs of agreement spread quietly through the crowd.

"You are no longer slaves," Elias said firmly. "You are people. Survivors. And from this day onward—you are yourselves again."

He let his words sink in.

"I will never stop anyone who wishes to leave. If you want to explore the world, search for loved ones, or start fresh elsewhere, I’ll support you."

He smiled again, more openly this time.

"But if you choose to stay... and make this place your home..."

He spread his arms wide.

"Then I welcome you—with all my heart."

Silence followed after Elias finished speaking.

Then, slowly, a few people began to nod.

Soft smiles spread across the faces of the group.

Elias looked at them and couldn’t help but smile too, before continuing.

"You don’t have to decide now," he said gently. "Sleep on it. Think it through. In the morning, tell me your answer."

"Okay, Lord Elias," came the chorus of replies.

He smiled again, warmer this time.

"Then—let the feast begin."

The crowd erupted in cheers as music began to play. A few people picked up the simple instruments Elias had provided. The sounds weren’t perfect, but they were cheerful. Plates were passed around, and cups were filled.

Laughter filled the air.

Dancing followed.

Then singing.

Real joy.

For the first time in many years—maybe even in their whole lives—these people had something worth celebrating.

Elias stayed among them for a while, sharing drinks, learning names, and laughing with the crowd. It was something he had never truly done before—not under the watchful eyes of Kael and Veran.

For once, no one in the group felt afraid of being watched as they ate.

No one feared being punished for laughing too loud or enjoying themselves too much.

Freedom had a taste—and tonight, everyone was savoring it.

After some time mingling, Elias quietly excused himself. Vael followed him as they made their way back inside and headed upstairs.

As they walked, Elias let out a quiet sigh of relief.

"I’m glad today turned out the way it did."

Vael nodded. "It was expected. You’re stronger than you think, Master. They simply underestimated you."

Elias gave a small smile.

But deep down, he knew things hadn’t gone smoothly just because of his strength. If it hadn’t been for the soul rebound catching Kael off guard, the battle would have been far tougher—maybe even lost.

He sighed again at the thought.

’Next time, I can’t rely on luck. I have to keep training. No shortcuts.’

Kael had paid the ultimate price for underestimating him, but Elias knew not every enemy would make that mistake. The enemies that came next would come prepared—and if he wasn’t strong enough, they would crush him without hesitation.

They reached his room. Elias entered while Vael stayed outside to keep watch.

Inside, Elias undressed and settled into bed.

Outside, the voices still sang and laughed. The fire continued to crackle in the night.

But little by little, the sounds faded.

And as the deep night settled over the land, Elias finally drifted into sleep—his body tired from the weight of the day’s events.

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