Online Game: Starting With SSS-Ranked Summons

Arthur's footsteps echoed faintly as he exited the bustling streets of Caldera and entered the inn.

His summons were still out in the wild, relentlessly hunting and farming for him.

Each kill they made fed him experience points, pushing him ever closer to Level 15. The notification chimes in his head were much less frequent now—small bursts of progress that kept him moving.

"Almost there," he muttered under his breath, a faint smirk playing on his lips.

He pulled out the Village Protector Insignia, its familiar glow pulsating in his palm.

"Time to see what Charles has been up to."

With a flick of his wrist, Arthur activated the insignia.

[Teleportation to Village #420 initiated…]

In an instant, the world around him blurred. The walls of the inn dissolved, replaced by swirling shadows and fleeting bursts of light. Then—

A soft thud.

Arthur landed inside the mayor's building, specifically in the guest room assigned to him.

'So I teleport back to where I was before teleporting.' Arthur thought.

The room was as he left it—modest yet comfortable. A wooden desk stood by the window, papers neatly stacked on top. The bed was untouched, its sheets still perfectly arranged.

Arthur stretched, shaking off the faint dizziness that came with teleportation.

His eyes narrowed as he headed for the door.

"Let's see if Charles has been pulling his weight."@@novelbin@@

Arthur removed his mask and placed it in the inventory before exiting the room and heading towards Charles's office. He had already told Charles not to let a single person inside the building.

As he walked the hallways, a few guards saw him and saluted him with respect. Arthur nodded with a smile before arriving at Charles's office.

Knock, knock.

"Come in."

He entered.

"Protector, I'm glad you're back," Charles greeted, his tone filled with both relief and anticipation. "I was just about to send the guards to bring the Goblin King inside."

Arthur closed the door behind him, ready to assess the progress and ensure that everything was falling into place as he had envisioned.

Arthur eased himself into one of the modest chairs positioned near Charles's desk, crossing one leg over the other with a calm, observant demeanor.

"Protector, sit here," Charles offered quickly, gesturing to his own, more comfortable chair behind the desk.

Arthur waved him off with a slight motion of his hand. "Don't worry about it. Just sit down."

Charles nodded, settling back into his seat, though a newfound respect settled deeper in his chest. The protector, despite his power and authority, remained humble—a rare trait that only amplified Charles's admiration for him.

'As expected of the protector, he is truly a role model for the whole village.' Charles thought in his heart.

Arthur leaned forward slightly, his gaze locking onto Charles. "How has everything been going?"

Charles let out a breath, gathering his thoughts. "It's been a mix of both, Protector Fateless."

He clasped his hands together on the desk. "Some people… they tried to stir up trouble about the person we imprisoned. There were complaints, whispers, and even a few threats. But we didn't back down. Not at all. And with the Goblin King stationed outside, they didn't dare escalate things. He's… quite strong."

Arthur's lips curved into a faint smile, satisfied.

"In regard to hiring some of the players as teachers," Charles continued, his tone growing more animated, "it's worked wonderfully—just like you said it would. They've taken on the responsibility of teaching the young generation, starting from ages four to six. Once the children are older and ready for higher-tier training, our village guards will take over."

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Arthur nodded, pleased with the progress so far.

"We've also completed the training grounds," Charles added with a spark of excitement in his eyes. "I was actually going to contact you soon to officially open it with us. It's fully stocked with supplies—common, uncommon, and even some rare items."

Arthur raised an eyebrow in curiosity, prompting Charles to elaborate.

"Some of those items have already been distributed as salaries to the teachers for the entire year," Charles explained. "We also provided them with enough coins to live comfortably, which they accepted without hesitation."

Arthur leaned back, clearly satisfied, but Charles wasn't done.

"The rest of the items are secured in the vault," Charles said with a determined tone. "They're reserved for exceptional students and teachers as part of a reward system. We believe this will encourage hard work, discipline, and excellence."

Arthur's smile widened just slightly, a rare warmth flickering in his expression, Charles was proving to be incredibly efficient, and he liked that. "That's good."

"Protector, would you like to officially open the training grounds with us?"

Arthur leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers lightly on the armrest as he considered the mayor's request.

After a brief moment, he nodded. "Sure, I'll attend the opening—but as a bystander. I'll leave the building in a few minutes, and you should leave in about thirty. Keep most of the guards here, but take two with you to announce the opening in the plaza."

Charles raised an eyebrow. "Protector, it's fine. I don't think they'd dare touch me."

Arthur's gaze sharpened. "Take two with you, Charles. Don't worry—I'll summon someone to guard the prison."

The mayor nodded, realizing Arthur's caution wasn't without reason. "Understood, Protector."

Arthur rose from his seat and left the office, his footsteps echoing through the quiet hallways. The guards stationed outside the underground prison straightened at his approach.

"You two," Arthur commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument, "report to the mayor upstairs. Now."

"Yes, sir!" The guards saluted and promptly left.

Arthur stepped into the prison's dark corridor, the flickering torchlight the only source of light, on the cold stone walls. He exhaled sharply and whispered one name.

Aamon.

A swirling black portal materialized before him, dark energy crackling around its edges.

From the portal stepped the imposing demon, towering over eight feet tall. Its head was touching the ceiling, Its jagged, spiked armour seemed to grow from its body, inscribed with glowing crimson runes that pulsed like a heartbeat.

Its ashen-grey skin, fractured like stone, revealed molten veins glowing beneath the surface. Piercing eyes met Arthur's gaze.

Arthur's voice was steady. "Guard the prison. No one in or out."

Aamon's grin was both menacing and obedient. "Understood, Master."

Arthur smirked, turning to leave as Aamon settled into the shadows, like a silent, terrifying sentinel.