The story hooked me well enough with some humor in the earlier chapters. I may amend or add detail to the review as time progresses. I dislike time loops as a story concept, cardinal sin after Mother of Learning blew up I know, but I tried this story anyways and was not disappointed. Although I disliked Blessed Time, this story made me consider giving MoL another shot at some point in the future, even though initial chapters did not hook me. There's a decent amount of worldbuilding being done to distinguish the setting from a more generic medieval fantasy, which is always a plus. The eponymous (correct use of the word?) spellbook and the way our MC utilizes it keeps the story interesting as well. Even some of the functions which seem remarkably mundane to us readers really help Tal in the loops. The amount of exposition on both the magic system and the world's history are just about right, we're not left in the dark but not bombarded with info either. I encourage people to try it.

Holy Roman Empire, forgot the other. I like kingdom building, forgot the other at this point.

Royal domain will expand. I would assume monarchs had to delegate management of some of their land to beauracrats if their demesne was large enough. What kept such people from building their own power base, at least in the case of European style monarchies?

So the real reward was the trade benefits with Shuluk. The rank elevation mainly just provides him with a prestige and political legitimacy since it's land he already has.

Wonder what made her family abandon her.

With all the turmoil to the east it and all the division in Fiveria, it's a great time for Casburland to invade.

Won't even the rival factions need to send people at some point? Seems like it's just Oakley and the King versus a more centralized kingdom at first glance. The King in Casburland seems to have a better position.

That was no small feat Collin was asking*

I do hope so.

As far as they live in place without any civilization, with absurdly powerful monsters surrounding them. Brainwashing people with over the top patriotism probably keeps people from deserting.

To be fair, this is also a guy who ruined his future. Don't you think he might be a little bit biased, wouldn't you be?

Rule 1 of teaching: Don't project killing intent on students. It's just not conducive to teaching.

That one nation fell to empire in a week. A week! I'm curious how it happened. Numerical superiority or not, I would guess mobilizing an army takes a while.

Feat*

It's said her county joining either faction that borders her won't make huge difference either way. Is the power disparity between the dukes and counts really that significant. Alternatively is it because there a lot of counts who are already aligned with them?

:(

Still better than being a commoner probably. Then again, you become marriage bargaining piece, as a commoner you at least don't have deal with that.

*Sigh* I was really hoping he would marry for land.

Figured he would have married Burgess' daughter, but I guess that would make things too easy.

One again empire or kingdom?