C-01: It beings here

"We're fucked."

It was the conclusion I came to when I've finished reading all the records in the archive.

A month ago, I woke up with all the memories of my past life. Who I was in the past is irrelevant.

My name is Elric Blackmore, fifteen, and the current lord of the Dukedom of Blackmore.

A month ago, my so called parents left this dukedom to me and went to live in the capital.

The so called territory was just a single city and the surrounding area. It was supposed to be bigger with multiple cities in the time of my grandfather.

But my so called parents were incompetent and their living was so opulent that the raked debts upon debts. Debts in which they were forced to pay in land to the surrounding lords and ladies.

When I was of age, they threw it all to me, emptied the coffers, and left all the responsibility to me.

And then there's the monster wave that is set to arrived in two weeks. The decadal rampage of hundreds of monsters ranging from fodders to city killers and occasional kingdom killers.

"Now, now. Don't be so dour, young master. I'm sure we can manage somehow." The longtime butler and the man who raised me, Marcus, said. 'Back in the days of your grandfather, us two alone has stopped a few monster waves."

"That was you two at your prime, with an army to mop up those that got past you two." I replied. "We got no army, you're way past your prime, and we got no gold to hire soldiers of fortune. And this town basically has no defences. All it takes is a single C-rank monster and everyone is monster chow."

"Ho, ho, ho." Marcus laughed heartily. "I may be past my prime but I'm confident I can protect this city."

"You could, but I'm not gonna risk it." I said. "Please leave me, I need to think."

"As you wish, young master." Marcus bowed. "Do you wish to partake in tea later this afternoon?"

"Yes, and thank you Marcus." I said as I leaned on my desk and proceed to think.

The city is devoid of defenses. No walls, no towers, and the only armed force was the local militia.

No gold in hand and no immediately exploitable resources to get quick cash.

And the relationship to the surrounding lords are not good enough for them to send an army to defend what little piece of land I have.

Heck, I bet they're waiting for me to beg them so they can levy a heavy price for their troops.

If the financial situation isn't bad enough, the people refuse to pay more taxes. A decade of heavy taxes would do that.

(Initializing finished)

(World Trace Enabled)