Damian and Lyra, however, refused to bow.

The Queen's eyes sparkled with amusement as she looked at them. "They are such fine young people," she said softly.

"Hey! Lyra, Damian! This is the Queen," Nolan called, nudging them gently.

But still, they refused to bow.

The Queen simply chuckled. "It's fine. There's no need for them to. Let them enjoy their meal in peace."

The group exchanged glances, the tension eased by the Queen's gentle understanding, and the room filled with a light, warm laughter. Even in a palace of gold and grandeur, their personalities shone through in full color.

Lyra's voice echoed in Nolan's mind as she connected to him through the party class. Master… why do you bend your head for someone so weak? I still don't understand.

Nolan's expression remained calm as he replied, his voice carrying a hint of amusement through the connection. Well… they are weak. This is the last time I'll ever bend my head for anyone.

He leaned back slightly, eyes glinting with resolve. They offered me 100 million coins for winning the tournament. And there may be other rewards waiting. I need that now. I won't let my pride get in the way of what I deserve.

Lyra felt the weight of his words, understanding beginning to settle in.

You might understand, Lyra… Nolan continued, voice steady and firm. In my previous world, money meant everything. I worked as a cleaner, a janitor. My pay was barely enough for rent, barely enough for decent clothes. I know what it's like to struggle. But in this world… even if I must swallow my pride, I will do what is necessary to gain wealth. I will not let my past struggles repeat themselves.

Lyra nodded silently, respecting his reasoning. She watched as Nolan stood, holding the coin aloft and shaking it slightly—its weight and shimmer reflecting both reward and determination.

In that simple gesture, the room seemed to hum with a quiet intensity. Pride, practicality, and power intertwined, showing the heart of the man who had just saved a city and bent the battlefield to his will.

"So, Nolan," the King began, walking alongside him in the expansive Royal Yard. "Before we meet my daughters—the princesses—I'd like to have a private conversation. Just you and me."

"Of course," Nolan nodded, matching the King's pace as they strolled through the manicured gardens.

The King paused, looking out over the royal grounds. "Wow… isn't this beautiful?"

"It really is," Nolan replied, his eyes scanning the vast expanse.

He stopped and turned toward the King, his expression serious. "Let's get straight to the point. Do you want to work for me? Not just that—I'll give you the title of Strongest Knight. You'll serve in my palace, protect me, and defend the city itself."

The King's face remained calm. "No… I don't want that. We already agreed: if I won the tournament, you'd grant me the prize. Those were the rules."

Nolan raised an eyebrow. "This is just an offer—and I may give you ten times what I offered. You saved my life. You saved this city… no, this world… from a single demon capable of annihilation, one not ordinary but truly formidable."

The King's expression didn't change. "I did my best, yes… but I still don't want to be a knight or serve anyone."

"Fine," Nolan said smoothly. "But you are the hero's companion, right? You're expected to join the hero party, serve under Dalvin Baldric, and so on."

"I'll have to decline that as well," the King replied calmly.

Nolan blinked. The King's refusal stunned him.

"What? Don't you want more honor? Recognition? Every man dreams of that!" Nolan exclaimed.

"I'm not interested," the King said simply.

Nolan's jaw tightened. "I didn't expect you to refuse all of us… but since you won't accept any other offer, I'll honor my promise. You'll receive the 100 million coins from the tournament, as agreed. And for saving this city, I will grant you a vast piece of my land—almost the size of this city, full of trees, preserved by my ancestors. I have no use for it, so it is yours."

The King's eyes widened slightly. "I… I'll accept that. For real?"

"Of course," Nolan replied. "Good. Because if you didn't accept this land, it would feel as though I failed as a King. You've defeated a demon and saved the city—you deserve your reward."

The King bowed slightly in gratitude. "Thank you, Nolan."

"You're welcome," Nolan said, his tone calm, almost casual, though a hint of respect lingered beneath his words.

The King looked out across the parcel Nolan had been given and cocked his head. "It's actually a brick land," he observed. "I wonder—what do you plan to do with it? Tell me."

For a beat, no one answered. Nolan toyed with the coin at his fingers, debating whether to speak plainly.

"All right," he said at last, voice steady. "I plan to build a city of monsters. A city where monsters and humans live together."

The King barked out a laugh that echoed through the yard. "Ha! You're joking, right? You must be joking." He laughed again, as if the idea were a charming fantasy.

Nolan held his gaze. The smile faded from the King's face when he saw Nolan was not laughing.

"I'm not joking," Nolan said quietly. "I can't just sit back and wish for a safer life. I need to build something that protects those like me — an army, a place where we won't be targeted. If the world ever turns against me, I won't be the one forced to strike first."

Silence settled; the weight of the plan hung between them. The King's expression softened into something like contemplation. He stepped closer, a small smile returning.

"Well," he said, "if that's your plan—then tell me how I can help. I'll have my court arrange the funds and any resources you need."

Nolan inclined his head. "That would be… appreciated."

"Good," the King replied. "We'll talk details inside. I'll have the treasury prepare what's necessary."

They turned and walked back toward the castle together, the sun catching the edges of the royal yard. Behind them, servants began to whisper and plan. A city unlike any other—half monster, half human—was no longer only an idea. It had a patron, and now it had a path to begin.

As Nolan and the kids stepped back into the castle, they entered the huge living room where the King and Queen were seated. Celia and Linda were already there, sitting quietly. Nolan walked over and took a seat beside them.

The Queen regarded him thoughtfully, a gentle smile on her face. "Nolan… I'd like to know—how old are you?"

Nolan hesitated for a moment. "Mmm… I'm almost… 20. Almost 21," he replied calmly.

The Queen's eyes widened slightly, her tone teasing but warm. "Wow… you're no longer so young. Old enough to be married, in fact. So… those two ladies—the elf and the demi-human—are your wives, am I right?"

Celia and Linda immediately blushed, their faces turning a deep red. They instinctively ducked their heads, joining in a quiet display of embarrassment.

"None of their races are… an open world," Nolan said quickly, waving his hands as if to ward off the Queen's assumptions. "No, no, no, no, no! It's not like that! They're my friends… my companions."

He glanced at Celia and Linda, who were both fidgeting nervously.

"Celia and Linda… they're from—" Nolan began, trying to explain, but the girls' expressions betrayed their embarrassment. Celia looked down, and Linda quickly looked away.

"Wait… did I say something wrong?" Nolan asked, tilting his head in mild confusion.

The Queen chuckled softly, a knowing smile on her face. "Ah… it looks like I was really slow to get the hint," she said, her tone teasing yet gentle.

"What hint?" Nolan asked, genuinely confused, raising an eyebrow.

Celia and Linda exchanged a glance, both too embarrassed to speak, while Nolan leaned back slightly, realizing that this conversation was about to get much more awkward.

Nolan, meanwhile, kept his composure, though a faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. He didn't answer right away, letting the awkward tension hang for a moment in the opulent living room.

Wow… since you don't have a wife, I could have given you one," the Queen said with a teasing smile. "But you already have two beautiful ladies beside you—an elf and a demi-human. You could just marry them, since you're old enough now."

Nolan opened his mouth to respond, but the Queen held up a hand and cut him off. "No, no—let's keep that aside for now. I heard you fought a demon."

She paused, her expression turning serious. "I wasn't able to attend the tournament you performed in, but even from where I was, I felt the intensity of your fight. The weather… the pressure… your aura—it brought me to my knees. I couldn't move, and I'm sure every single person in this city felt the same. You saved us all."

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