Kapitel 8: New Ratkins

"Did Nyx do well? Nyx carried all the boxes by herself!" Nyx's cheerful voice filled the air as she leaned against the wall.

Light took a bite of an apple, smiling. He patted her head gently and praised her.

"You did well, Nyx."

For a moment, Light hesitated, glancing at the innocent face of the new ratkin. He didn't want to bring pain to her cheerful and pure expression. But he had no choice—it was crucial for their survival.

After a long pause, he finally asked, "Are you ready, Nyx?"

"Yes, master! Nyx is ready to go!" she nodded vigorously, her enthusiasm undimmed.

Light took a deep breath, made a small cut on his wrist, and paused. He realized he could control the effect of his blood—it could be harmless or deadly—but it would always carry poison and disease.

At first, he had been baffled when Nyx drank his blood and survived. He eventually deduced that her nature as a mutant ratkin must have given her some resistance. Still, he couldn't see the full extent of her abilities or skills.

Nyx opened her mouth, allowing the blood to drip in. Moments later, her body began to twitch. She gripped Light's hand tightly, her voice low and strained.

"Nyx doesn't feel good."

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You have granted the Half-Ratkin Nyx your gene.

Time until Raskin's birth: 24:23:10

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"It's okay, Nyx," Light said softly, supporting her as he placed her gently on the bed. His reassuring smile masked his concern.

"Uhm, Nyx will be okay—for the master and for the ratkin!" Despite the pain wracking her body, Nyx mustered her strength and spoke with fierce determination in her eyes.

Light smiled faintly, patting her head once more. He then glanced at the tiny baby ratkin lying next to her. The creature was small, its eyes still closed as it rested.

He could hardly wait for it to grow. According to the system, a baby ratkin would reach adulthood in just one week. By then, it would be able to walk and talk.

His bloodline truly was powerful.

Light left the Great Hall, stepping into the cold air of the sewers. The faint green glow of the surroundings provided dim illumination, and the unpleasant stench was bearable.

He sat at the edge, letting his feet dangle into the cold water below.

"I want to go home…"

...

Time passed as swiftly as a flying banana, and Light had been living in this world for ten months without realizing it.

The swarm had grown steadily. Today, Light sat in his office, recording the resources they had "gathered" for the day. After a while, he stretched his arms and glanced out the window.

The sewers looked the same as ever, except now they were bustling with activity. Ratkin moved about, fortifying their defenses and chatting with one another like ordinary people.

A smile formed on Light's face as he opened his status screen. It had been a while since he last checked it.

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Name: Light (Male)

Race: Ratkin

Title: The First Ratkin, Ancestor of the Ratkin

Rank: Soldier Class

Job: None

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Skills & Abilities

1. Enhanced Night Vision

2. Extendable Claw

3. King's Aura

4. Plague Body

5. Giant's Strength

6. Battle Instinct

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Energy: 121

Buildings: 1

Ratkins: 40

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Over the months, the ratkin population had risen to 38. Including Nyx and Light, their total numbers now stood at 40. It still wasn't enough given their current situation, but Light felt a glimmer of hope. The slow, steady growth was proof that his efforts were paying off. If there are more mutant rats under him, their numbers might have already reached the hundreds.

As the population grew, so did their need for resources. Fortunately, they had a whole "stockpile" waiting for them on the surface. Light glanced out the window, then turned his attention to the papers on his desk.

"There are currently 13 female ratkin, including Nyx, while the rest are males. However, it seems they don't understand what intercourse is. This is a problem. If I want to increase the population, the race can't rely solely on me."

Despite their adult bodies, their minds were still like those of children. Born and raised in the sewers with limited knowledge, their understanding of the world was stunted. Thankfully, Light had managed to "acquire" some books from the surface to help educate them. However, many of them showed little interest in reading, which frustrated him to no end.

He sighed. "Is this how my parents felt when I ignored their orders?"

Stepping out of his office, Light was immediately greeted by the lively chatter of the bustling ground floor.

"Hey! How much did you grab this time?"

"I got a whole sack! Almost got eaten by a human's pet—a giant fire-breathing lizard!"

"A lizard? That sounds like a dragon."

Light raised an eyebrow at the conversation. Could they be talking about that dragon statue humans use to ward off ghosts?

"Found this shiny rock in one of their lairs. Think it's magic?"

"That's just a button."

"A _button_? Does it summon lightning?"

"Nope. Humans use them to keep their clothes from falling off."

"Pfft! That's ridiculous. Who needs those? We're better off without them!"

Light glanced at the so-called shiny rock and sighed. It was, indeed, just a clothing fastener. Their ignorance of the surface world was understandable but frustrating. His stolen books had been a step toward improving their knowledge, yet progress was slow.

"How are you, Father?"

A large ratkin, noticeably bigger than the others, approached Light with a plate in hand and set it on the table. This particular ratkin wore glasses—a habit Light couldn't quite understand but found amusing nonetheless.

"We just saw each other a minute ago," Light replied, taking an apple from the plate.

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Kratch

Gender: Male

Race: Ratkin

Rank: Soldier Class

Energy: 105

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"Oh..." Kratch seemed to realize something as he pulled a small notebook from his pocket. Adjusting his glasses, he read the contents aloud in a low murmur.

"They say when you greet your parent, it means you need something, and the parent will comply. It doesn't work. I should cross it out."

Light overheard his muttering, and his lips twitched slightly. Straightening his posture, he regarded Kratch, his third-born son. Unlike most ratkin, Kratch had a particular interest in books and the knowledge they held. He preferred solitude, often immersing himself in his studies. Despite his larger frame, he was an introvert—a quiet genius in his own way.

Kratch's mind, always brimming with curiosity, often wandered to unique and intriguing ideas. Because of this, Light found that he could often glean useful insights from his son's musings.

Scratching the back of his head, Kratch spoke in a low voice, "I want to come with you to the surface. I need more books to read."

Light set down the half-eaten apple and shook his head. "The Witchfinders and the Enforcers are already on high alert. The risk is too great right now. We need to wait for them to calm down before making any moves."

Stealing from the surface always had consequences. The recent incidents had drawn the attention of the Witchfinders and Enforcers, and their investigations were intensifying. Thankfully, the ratkin's natural stealth had kept them from being discovered so far.

Unfortunately, things escalated after Ignatius—the half-mutant—was chased by thugs in an alleyway. Although Light had managed to intervene and help him escape into the sewers, traces of their presence had been noticed. This significantly increased the risk for all of them. The discovery of a wanted criminal hiding in the capital had only heightened the vigilance of the authorities.

Light sighed, his expression grim. "There are only two months left before the Cleansing. During this time, we need to find a way to leave this place. The stakes are higher now, and the ratkin are walking a very thin rope."

He leaned back in his chair, the weight of their precarious situation pressing heavily on his mind.

The sewers they called home lay beneath the capital of the Brazenhold Empire. Escaping from such a location seemed almost impossible. Security in the city was always tight, and both the Enforcers and the Witchfinders maintained constant vigilance. However, Light had noticed something peculiar. Despite the recent incidents happening right under their noses, neither the government nor the nobles seemed to be focusing their attention on the situation.

He hadn't seen their forces actively searching or patrolling the areas affected by the thefts and disturbances. It was as if their attention was directed elsewhere.

Light furrowed his brow as he considered this. If they're ignoring something as serious as a criminal hiding in the capital, their focus must be on something far more important.

Obtaining information about the nobles and the government had always been strict and difficult—an almost impossible task for someone like Light, a ratkin. Still, he couldn't ignore the growing sense that this knowledge could be crucial to his plans.

If the authorities were distracted by something significant, it might provide him with an opportunity. But to exploit it, he needed to understand what was drawing their attention.

Light leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk as his mind raced. "I need to find out what's keeping them so occupied," he murmured to himself.

Despite the inherent risks, he resolved to gather the information he needed. If he could uncover what was happening in the capital, it might just be the key to ensuring the survival of the ratkin.