The Strongest Lord: My Strength Correspond To My Subjects!

"Father died in an accident?"

In a humble abode, a tall man clad in worn-out armor frowned heavily as he read a letter in his hands. His eyes trembled slightly, not knowing how to handle this sorrowful news.

He read the letter until the end. The writing at the bottom right was wobbly and filled with wet stains, clearly signifying the writer's sorrow as she wrote it.

Love you, my little Fred.

- Your mother, Cecy.

"Mother wants me back."

Fredrinn sighed. He reluctantly looked around him, having been here for almost a decade. In his reminiscence, he recalled his experience.

He was reincarnated as a fetus in his mother's womb and was full of hope. Unfortunately, he was just a descendant of a small village head.

He was still expectant, but then, reality struck him hard. After numerous attempts to surpass his locked fate, he finally relented and became a soldier in Count Yolden's territory, trying to climb up the hierarchy.

Unfortunately, his qualifications were insufficient.

He can't even be a member of the guards, and could only be a reserved soldier. In reality, he was a sacrificial soldier.

Just a mere mortal who can't even be a squire; what waves could he make? He was able to become a soldier here merely because one of the guards owed his father a favor...

"I guess there's no longer hope for me."

Even as a fantasy's die-hard fan, after decades of fruitless labor, Fredrinn was still utterly exhausted and defeated. Perhaps it may be better to just accept his fate and continue his father's legacy.

Fredrinn hesitated. In the end, he sighed heavily and stood up; his armor clanking as they ground against each other.

Once, he aspired to be a heroic man who could fight against thousands of men alone, but now, the passage of time buried his heroic intent deep within his tired heart.

He packed up his meager stuff, went out of the abode, and met the barrack manager. The man just nodded indifferently and took his badge and certificate, along with his emblem.

"From now onwards, you have nothing to do with Count Yolden. If you tried to exploit the Lord's authority, don't blame us for being ruthless."

The manager coldly recited and condescendingly looked down on him. The worn-out Fredrinn nodded numbly as he left Count Yolden's territory by carriage. It took a couple of coppers out of him.

As for farewell from his comrades, what a disposable soldier can befriend, considering their status?

Fredrinn was no longer a prideful, hot-blooded youth who liked to indulge in delusions and dreams. He's now a man who has been forced to mature by the natural selection of the world.

With a handbag strapped on his shoulders, it took Fredrinn over a week before he arrived at his old village, even by carriage.

The familiar wheat swaying on the vast meadow, along with carabaos pulling the field, greeted his sight. Fredrinn's body seamlessly relaxed.

He greeted several of his fellow villagers. After decades had passed, most of those energetic middle-aged men had grown a couple of gray hairs, and even a couple of elders couldn't be seen anymore.

He, a mere boy, has grown into a man.

"My son!"

Fredrinn felt his tears forcefully breaking out as he was hugged by his mother. After fighting for his whole life to prove that he could be no worse than those with golden fingers, he finally decided to settle down.

As the saying goes, home is where the heart lies.

"How are you? Are you okay? Has anyone wronged you?"

His mother, Cecy, was a woman in her sixties. She's not as beautiful as when she married his father, but it could still be seen behind her loose skin.

Fredrinn hugged her tightly, not intending to tell the truth at all. Let his mother be happy in her old age.

"No worries. I made a lot of friends and had a couple of merits. It was thrilling!"

He tried to make it sound alright, but how could Cecy, his mother, be deceived by such a trick?

If that was the case, then why did he come home with no objection at all?

She merely smiled as she hugged him tighter. Men should be proud and strong, and she's proud of who he was no matter what sort of status people imposed on him.

After this touching moment, for the next week, Fredrinn did nothing but live with his mother. He would plow the field with other villagers, indulging in their way of entertainment.

He would ride on carabaos to enjoy the peaceful wheat field, and he would plant the wheat's seed for the next harvest season. He would feed the livestock and watch as they swarmed their food.

Acceptance is indeed the best way to live. This past week, Fredrinn was the happiest he'd ever been. The village was peaceful and harmonious, unlike the oppressive territory of Count Yeldon.

It was also at this time that the villagers unanimously chose him as the village head. Fredrinn was also expected to marry a delicate woman who had been with him since childhood.

At this proposal, he had no objection at all. He could live his life in peace and he could marry his childhood sweetheart.

Her name was Rea, and her face couldn't hide her happiness when Fredrinn visited her house to propose. Nearby villagers cheered as they witnessed the beautiful sight.

"Rea, thank you. You've been waiting all these years..."

The delicate, fair-skinned woman with an oval face and magenta hair didn't say anything. She just laid her head on Fredrinn's chest and drew circles, "No matter. You were an ambitious man who wanted to elevate our status; even if I got old and died, I'd still wait for you. I only want you as my husband, and no one else."

Fredrinn's gaze softened as he tenderly put his hand on her soft hair.

Thus, the ceremony was held in the middle of the village. The elders gave them their blessing, while the singles gave their envious glances. It was continued by a simple ceremony of the enthronement of the village head.

Fredrinn respectfully bowed to a grave and shimmered it with specially made water three times. Rea just leaned on his shoulder, as the wife should be the witness of her husband's vow.

Cecy watched the ceremony with a wide smile on her face. Her son became the village head and was married to such a beautiful young woman. How could she not be happy?

The elders nearby squinted their eyes in joy. Although Fredrinn was a failed soldier and couldn't be considered a squire, he was still stronger than ordinary people.

With his strength, at least the safety of the village would be guaranteed. It was infinitely better than a normal man.

"It's done."

"Do you wish to change the village's name?"

His father named it the Brave Village, hoping for it to be filled with brave men.

Unfortunately, with that name, his father unanimously provoked nearby forces and sadly fell at the hands of those forces, drawing disdain everywhere. Continuing this name would simply be a bad omen.

Fredrinn put on a thoughtful look before he decided.

"Let's call it the Village of Peace."

With this name, Fredrinn wished he could reconcile with his broken heart. He also wished for a prosperous, peaceful life to mend his soul. The elders looked at each other with smiles of approvement.

Rea's sky-blue eyes shined as her face lit up with a smile.

"Darling, I like it very much!"

"Oh? Why?"

Laying in his arms, Rea snuggled comfortably and looked at him with her shining eyes, "I've once heard that peace is only for those who can protect their beloved. Since you named the village with that name, wouldn't that mean I'd be protected by you forever?"

Rea giggled happily. Fredrinn was speechless, but he let Rea have her moments.

The elders chuckled lightly. It's a good thing for the numb Fredrinn to have such a lively wife.

Fredrinn was about to retort when his eyes widened. He started to tremble, making others worried.

"Son, are you okay?"

"Darling?"

Cecy and Rea called out with concern, fearing that Fredrinn was having a problem. The stunned Fredrinn quickly snapped out of his stupor and smiled sheepishly.

"Don't worry, I was just too struck by my wife's beauty that I tremble..."

"Y-You!"

Rea was red from embarrassment, and Cecy just laughed it out. Fredrinn looked at them amusedly before his gaze turned fervent as a familiar, flat voice sounded out in his mind.

[Ding! Successfully became the head of a force.]

[National Strength Gathering System has been activated!]

[Analyzing the current force...]

Finally! After decades of toiling his life away, it's finally happening!

Fredrinn watched in anticipation. He didn't say anything to express his excitement, fearing that both his wife and mother would be concerned again.

[Ding! Detected, there are 1 family member, 139 villagers, and 49 livestock!]

[Would you like to bind them and have a share of their strength?]

[Current Force: Level 1 (Village)]

[Family members could share 10% of their strength. 2 talents could be shared.]

[Citizens could share 5% of their strength. A talent could be shared.]

[Livestock could share 1% of their strength.]

"I'm taking off!"

Turns out, his golden finger was kingdom-building oriented. Fredrinn was over the moon. With this golden finger, he could elevate his village into a magnificent empire or even a holy land!

Of course, at the moment, it could only enhance his strength.

His heart was ignited. It was at this moment that he felt like the struggle of being a meager sacrificial soldier for a decade was worth it!

"Bind them!"

[Binding...]

[Success!]

[You received 14,800 kg of strength!]

[Choose the talents you wish to integrate yourself with:

| Family: None

| Members: Bright Mind (Coal), Healthy and Strong Physique (Coal), The Field Preacher (Coal)...]