Chapter 2: Establishing Home
It all began during one stormy night. When Duine's mother was in labor, her colleagues tended to her as best as they could. However, at the right side of the bed, they never noticed that an old man was watching from the distance.
They were second floor high, so they never expect any bystanders to see anything. However, it seems the man was floating on thin air. Not that anyone would be out in the rain to tell the tale.
The old man had a long conversation with your typical isekai shut-in. It seem he just died of depression, after being kicked out of his parent's home. Apparently, he was embezzling his family's savings to afford a limited edition doll, just to satisfy his obsession.
As for the details of why the mysterious man decided to revive the man, Duine doesn't know. When the newborn came, the old man transfer the otaku soul then fades away.
"YES! FINALLY, I'VE BEEN DREAMING FOR THIS MOMENT!"
The otaku burst in excitement. For so long, he glamorized a life where he could imagine anything he wants in this magical world.
"I'LL SHOW THE WORLD WHAT I'M CAPABLE OF! THIS TIME, I WON'T LET ANYONE TAKE AWAY MY HAPPINESS!"
It seems the soul was granted a divine blessing from the mysterious man. Since he was a soul, nobody seem to notice a strange orb flying to the baby. What the otaku didn't notice was he was being observed.
It emerged out of the baby's chest as it begins to quietly cry. The non-existent shadow begins to extend all over the baby as the Otaku soul begins to land.
It grasp it and pulled it into the baby.
When the soul begin to settle into the infant, he notice something was wrong.
"Umm, why can't I feel anything? shouldn't I be able to crawl, or at least feel something?"
Just when the otaku become confused, he felt a strain in his own mind. It felt as if he is constantly being choked to death.
"*Gasp* Why does it hurt?! What's going on?!"
The otaku panicked as his vision of the light begins to fade. He remained oblivious to the fact that there was already a soul inhabiting the newborn.
This soul begin to tear and bash the otaku, as he begins to lose his mind.
"AAAAAHHHHHH! IT HURTS, HIH HURZ!" His mind begins to be scooped by the native soul.
Hours passed after the mother passed away. The otaku's soul was left with only his very core.
"*Pant*, *pant*, please stop! What did I even do?!" he cried. He even forgot why he was here.
As he was given a moment to rest, the soul threw what's left of the otaku soul away.
"W-Why....." As it fell, the otaku died for the second time.
The culprit began to immerse itself to all the memories it stoled from. It was disgusted by the actions his invader made. The only redeeming factor is his love for art and science.
The soul begins to bawl through out the room as the colleagues tried to tend the baby.
That's how much Duine remembered. Though he may have obtained the memories of a man in his late 30's, he's very much himself at the moment.
He knew that his first opponent wasn't intentionally stealing his body. But what good is his knowledge, if he isn't going to use it.
Ranging from the Bronze Age up to his modern era, Duine couldn't believe such marvelous collection of memories remained unused by this moron. Though he could understand the constant stress of his midlife crisis, he isn't him.
For all he care, Duine could put these knowledge for a better use. But that wasn't the most valuable part he acquired. The blessing the otaku wielded is creation divination.
Just by its blessings alone could change the world forever. Not only could Duine create an object at will, he could also create an entirely new magic from all known and unknown aspects.
Its reserved to the divine gods, since records from all religious organization preached of it and the mages throughout the times couldn't muster such feats even if they're at the peak of their rank.
Why Duine never reveal his secret?
It's quite simple. Since the otaku immersed himself in the cultural arts of manga and anime, it's pretty much boosted Duine's skepticism over the world. After all, he was abused throughout his entire childhood. He does find solitude in the otaku collection of anime, so he didn't go bat shit crazy.
Besides, he's now happily enjoying his newly found freedom.
It starts to feel chilly.
He stood up and try to wipe off the sand particles off his bottom.
Duine turns and proceed to the woods.
"[Fly]." Duine casted as he levitates up to the sky.
He views the entire island, trying to get a better idea of how should his home should be.
It is desolated after all, with trees spanning nearly every corner of the island.
He could erect a metropolis with a snap of his finger, but it would've been too obvious. He need to explain how he was able to construct such massive infrastructure without any backings.
Perhaps it should be a modest house?
Nay, he should live his life to the fullest. He is lord after all, he should at least look the part. Though he never had any experience with noble etiquette, he could intimate like one, since he lived in that wretched manor.
Duine reached out his hand to the ground.
What Duine casted expanded the island as the ground emerge from the sea. It begins to fill every gap and hole to form a circular island.
The entire island quaked as he prepare his next spell.
At the very center of the island, Duine constructed his ideal castle at the center of the mountainous region. Though it was considerably tall, it was a hill at best, making it more accessible to move about. He risen stone walls into a star shape fortifications, since it's proven to be effective in deterring sieges. He wanted the building's style to be similarly to that of the Victorian era buildings, with more roads to maneuver from one place to another.
The island is huge after all. What came as a blessing is how insignificant the island was deemed to the kingdom, thus it was overlooked. Even the count didn't think it was anything special, given that the investment is too large with little to return.
This wasn't the case for Duine. Though he could settle in the mainland's territory and establish himself there, he would attract unwanted attention from all the kingdom's geopolitical schemes. Besides, he obtained an authentic lordship, thus enforcing his social status as baron.
While the buildings begin to materialize upon his magnificent city, he also need the final touch. After all, what good is a city if it doesn't have a place for the lord to use as his personal estate and seat of power?
Duine began to contemplate how his castle should look like. He would imagine that it should be a wizard's tower, since he's using it to build a home, but he also wanted it to act as an impenetrable fortress as the final stronghold.
So, Duine decided to erect seven towers, one of them being at the center while the other six surrounding it as bastions. The walls will act as a garrison, while connecting the bastions to form a defensive line with two gates at the opposite sides. He then created a moat surrounding the palace while raising four bridges to act as a concentrated point for the defenders.
As for the water, Duine simple placed four rune carved boulders to fill the moat with fresh water. The island is surrounded by sea water, so there's no use in drinking that. Duine already created river streams so that the city wouldn't drown. Although the six towers were impressive enough alone, one stood tall among the rest.
There was enough space for him to add more rooms to the building. So he decided that the tower should also contribute to the holding's defense. It should be his realm's trump card as the other six would deal with intruders who somehow manage to get close.
Thus, Duine begin to fill in the space by building extravagant palace entrances, a huge ball room, and whatever he could imagine from the fantasy mangas.