Uther had never been the type to rush toward danger.
A self-proclaimed lazy genius, he preferred to spend his days reading ancient scrolls, sleeping under the trees, and avoiding the chaotic world of knights and mages. Yet fate had a strange sense of humor.
One rainy afternoon, while exploring a forgotten dungeon deep within the Blackstone Forest, Uther stumbled upon a strange chamber hidden beneath the earth. Most of the treasure chests had already been looted or rotted away with time — except for one.
At the center of the room, lying atop a cracked stone altar, was a simple black ring, faintly glowing under the dust.
Curious, Uther picked up the ring.
The moment his fingers brushed the cold metal, a voice echoed inside his mind.
> [System initializing...]
[Binding to Host.]
[Welcome, Pioneer.]
Uther jolted back, dropping the ring onto the floor. His heart raced as he glanced around the empty chamber, half-expecting to see a prankster mage hiding in the shadows.
"Who's there?!" he shouted, spinning in circles.
But there was no one. Only the old stones and the endless silence.
The voice calmly spoke again:
> [Do not be alarmed. I am the System. I reside within the Ring you have touched. I have selected you as my new Master.]
Confused and suspicious, Uther cautiously picked up the ring again. "A system... inside a ring? Why me?"
The System, seemingly emotionless, answered:
> [You possess the rare qualities required: high intelligence, latent magical potential, and... an unacceptable level of laziness. My previous hosts have all failed. I will help you grow, Master.]
Still skeptical but curious, Uther slipped the ring onto his finger. Instantly, a small translucent blue screen appeared before his eyes — floating text and symbols he had never seen before.
> [First Mission: Find and Restore a Forgotten Village.]
[Objective: Locate the Ruined Village in the Greenveil Region. Repair the village. Recruit your first villagers.]
[Reward: Unlock Basic Village Management Functions.]
Uther blinked at the screen, half-wondering if he was dreaming.
But as he tightened his grip on the ring, he knew deep down: this was real.
A lazy genius now had a system — and the first step to a future he never planned for had just begun.
The air inside the dungeon felt heavier now.
With the ring securely on his finger and the System's translucent screen floating beside him, Uther knew he couldn't waste time — though every part of him wanted to just lie down and nap.
"Greenveil Region, huh?" Uther muttered, brushing dust off his cloak. "Sounds like a lot of walking... maybe too much walking."
The System responded immediately:
> [Greenveil Region: 23 kilometers northeast from your current location. Estimated travel time at current physical level: 2 days.]
Uther sighed deeply. "Two days of walking? Maybe I should've just stayed lazy."
Still, there was something inside him — a spark of excitement he hadn't felt in years.
Maybe it was the mystery. Maybe it was the chance to build something of his own. Or maybe... it was because he could finally do things his way without nobles or guilds breathing down his neck.
Packing a few supplies he had scavenged from the dungeon, Uther made his way out into the misty forest.
The Blackstone Forest was known for its twisting paths and hidden monsters, but strangely, no beasts bothered him that day — as if the ring's presence drove them away.
Along the road, the System continued to explain itself.
> [The Ring contains advanced management abilities. Once you repair the village, you will gain access to building upgrades, troop recruitment, defensive structures, and resource gathering.]
[Additionally, your own growth — physical strength, magic power, leadership — will be accelerated through System-guided missions.]
Hearing that, Uther chuckled. "So you're basically... my personal cheat?"
> [I prefer the term 'Strategic Growth Partner.']
The System's deadpan voice made Uther grin for the first time that day.
---
Arrival at the Ruins
Two days later, exhausted and covered in mud, Uther finally arrived at the edge of the Greenveil Region.
Before him lay what could barely be called a "village" — just broken stone walls, collapsed houses, and overgrown grass swallowing everything.
The ruins were silent... almost mournful.
The System chimed:
> [Location confirmed: Abandoned Village of Greenveil.]
[Initiating Repair Mode.]
[Please place your hand on the Village Core.]
At the very center of the ruins stood a cracked monument — the Village Core.
Without hesitation, Uther walked up and placed his hand upon it.
The ground trembled slightly. Dust and old magic stirred in the air.
Suddenly, several new screens appeared before him, showing repair options, building menus, and a list of potential villagers.
A single line glowed brighter than the rest:
> [Welcome, Village Lord Uther. Let us build the Mysterious Village together.]
Standing there, with the sun setting behind him and the winds carrying the scent of a new beginning, Uther smiled lazily.
"Guess I have work to do after all..."
Uther stared at the floating screens in front of him, feeling a strange mix of awe and laziness.
The System had unlocked the Village Repair Menu, displaying options like:
[Repair Village Core] (Required)]
[Rebuild Basic Houses (0/5)]
[Restore the Well (Optional)]
[Clear Debris (Optional, speeds construction)]
Each repair required Materials: stone, wood, and magic energy.
Unfortunately, Uther had none of these — except a little magic energy, and the System had a solution for that too.
> [Activating Basic Magic Conversion: You can temporarily use your mana to substitute for missing materials. Warning: May cause extreme fatigue.]
"Sounds awful," Uther muttered, scratching his head.
"But... no pain, no gain, right?"
Reluctantly, Uther selected [Repair Village Core] and placed his hand once again on the broken monument.
Immediately, a pulse of light erupted from the Core, and blue veins of magic spread across the cracked stone like living roots.
It hummed to life — weakly, but enough to stabilize the village area.
> [Village Core stabilized.]
[Basic Protection Barrier deployed. Low-level monsters will avoid the area temporarily.]
Uther staggered back, breathing heavily.
The mana drain was heavier than he expected.
He dropped onto the ground, staring at the half-crumbling houses around him.
"This is gonna be a lot of work..." he groaned.
The System gave him new missions:
> [Main Mission: Rebuild 5 Basic Houses.]
[Side Mission: Clear 10 units of debris.]
[Reward: Unlock First Recruitment Function.]
Dragging himself to his feet, Uther decided to start with clearing debris first.
Using a broken branch as a makeshift tool, he pushed aside fallen beams, stones, and old furniture, working slowly but surely.
Time passed.
The sun was sinking, painting the ruins gold and crimson, when Uther finally cleared enough space for building.
> [Debris cleared: 10/10.]
[You have gained +1 Endurance stat.]
Sweating and aching, Uther gave a tired but satisfied grin.
"Not bad for a lazy guy, huh?" he joked to himself.
Finally, it was time to rebuild the first house.
Using the repaired Village Core, he spent more of his precious mana to summon a construction array — a glowing blueprint that hovered in the air.
Bit by bit, stones floated into place, wood planks materialized from raw magic, and soon, the first humble house stood proudly in the ruins.
It was simple — just one room, a fireplace, and a thatched roof — but it was the beginning.
> [First House Rebuilt: 1/5.]
[Unlocking Recruitment Option: Villagers can now be accepted into Mysterious Village.]
Panting, Uther collapsed onto the soft grass, hands behind his head, staring at the starry night sky.
He smirked lazily.
"So... who's gonna be my first villager?"
He didn't know it yet, but nearby — hidden in the woods — a group of desperate slaves had already noticed the faint lights of the revived village...
And fate was about to bring them to Uther's doorstep.