章 2: A Queen's New Beginning
I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. The reality of my situation was beginning to sink in. I was no longer Emily Summers, the ordinary high school girl. I was now the Demon Queen, tasked with rebuilding a fallen kingdom. The system had given me my first quest, but before I started, I needed to understand my new domain. The castle was vast, and if I was going to make it my home, I needed to explore it thoroughly.
The throne room was just the beginning. I walked through the grand doors and down the corridor, determined to see every corner of this decrepit place. The halls were eerily silent, my footsteps echoing off the stone walls. I opened doors to find what must have once been opulent chambers, now in ruins. Dust and cobwebs coated everything, and broken furniture lay in heaps.
As I wandered deeper into the castle, I discovered a grand staircase. Its marble steps were cracked and chipped, but it still held a certain grandeur. I ascended, feeling a strange pull as if the castle itself was guiding me. At the top, I found a corridor lined with what appeared to be bedrooms. I chose a door at random and pushed it open.
Inside, the room was slightly less decayed than the others. A large bed with a tattered canopy dominated the space. Tapestries hung on the walls, depicting scenes of demons and battles. I approached a tall mirror standing in one corner, the glass surprisingly intact despite the state of everything else.
When I looked into the mirror, I gasped. The reflection staring back at me was both familiar and foreign. My eyes, once a plain brown, now glowed a vibrant crimson. My skin was pale, almost luminous, and my hair had transformed into a silken cascade of midnight black. I was dressed in a dark, flowing gown that seemed to be woven from shadows themselves, intricate patterns shimmering faintly as I moved. My hands, delicate but strong, ended in sharp, claw-like nails. I was still humanoid, but undeniably demon-like.
"This is me now," I whispered, touching the glass. The mirror's surface was cold, a stark contrast to the warmth of my own skin.
SYSTEM ACTIVATED
Startled, I turned my attention back to the translucent screen that appeared before me.
Status: Demon Queen Emily
Level: 1
HP: 100/100
MP: 50/50
Strength: 15
Agility: 12
Intelligence: 18
Charisma: 20
Skills: Basic Construction, Demonic Aura
Resources: 100 Units of Stone, 50 Units of Wood
I read through my stats, trying to make sense of what they meant. My health and mana seemed straightforward enough. Strength, agility, and intelligence were self-explanatory, but charisma stood out. Perhaps it would help me in leading and persuading others.
"What exactly does 'Demonic Aura' do?" I asked aloud, hoping the system would provide an answer.
Demonic Aura: An inherent skill of the Demon Queen, allowing you to command respect and fear from lesser demons. It can be used to influence and control demon subjects.
That could be useful. If I was going to rebuild this kingdom, I'd need subjects and allies. For now, though, I had more immediate concerns. The castle was in shambles, and I needed to start fixing it.
"Alright, system. Show me the current status of the castle."
The screen blinked, and a new set of statistics appeared.
Castle Status:
Throne Room: Dilapidated
Main Hall: Ruined
Bedrooms: Partially Intact
Kitchen: Destroyed
Library: Inaccessible
Dungeon: Sealed
Current Resources: 100 Units of Stone, 50 Units of Wood
Available Upgrades: Throne Room (50 Stone, 20 Wood), Main Hall (70 Stone, 30 Wood), Bedrooms (30 Stone, 10 Wood)
I studied the options, weighing my choices. The throne room seemed like the logical place to start—it was the heart of the castle and my seat of power. I selected the upgrade.
Upgrade Throne Room: 50 Stone, 20 Wood. Confirm?
"Yes, confirm," I said.
Immediately, the materials in front of me began to move, assembling themselves as if guided by an invisible hand. Stone blocks fitted together, wood beams slotted into place, and the throne room began to transform. Walls repaired themselves, cracks vanished, and the once-broken throne regained its former glory. The process was mesmerizing, a testament to the system's power.
When it was finished, the throne room looked magnificent. The walls were pristine, the floor polished, and the throne itself was an imposing seat of dark stone, inlaid with glowing runes. It felt right, like a piece of me had been restored.
Throne Room: Rebuilt (Level 1)
Main Hall: Ruined
Bedrooms: Partially Intact
Kitchen: Destroyed
Library: Inaccessible
Dungeon: Sealed
Remaining Resources: 50 Units of Stone, 30 Units of Wood
With the throne room restored, I felt a surge of confidence. This was just the beginning. Next, I decided to upgrade the main hall. It was the central artery of the castle, and its condition would reflect on my reign.
Upgrade Main Hall: 70 Stone, 30 Wood. Insufficient resources.
I sighed. "Guess I'll have to gather more materials before I can do that."
Determined not to let the setback deter me, I decided to make use of my remaining resources to improve the bedrooms. If I was going to summon demons to serve me, they'd need somewhere to stay.
Upgrade Bedrooms: 30 Stone, 10 Wood. Confirm?
"Confirm."
Once again, the materials moved into place, repairing the broken furniture, patching up walls, and restoring the rooms to a livable state. It wasn't as grand as the throne room, but it was a significant improvement.
Bedrooms: Rebuilt (Level 1)
Remaining Resources: 20 Units of Stone, 20 Units of Wood
I looked around, pleased with my progress. The castle still had a long way to go, but it was a start. The system chimed again, and a new message appeared.
New Quest Unlocked: Gather Resources
Objective: Collect 200 Units of Stone and 100 Units of Wood.
Rewards: Advanced Construction Skill, Summoning Portal Unlock
That would be my next step. I needed to gather more resources to continue rebuilding. The promise of a summoning portal was especially intriguing. If I could summon demons to help me, it would accelerate the restoration process.
But first, I needed to find a way to gather resources. The castle grounds likely held the materials I needed, but I had to find them. I left the throne room and made my way to the castle courtyard. The overgrown weeds and crumbling walls spoke of years of neglect. There had to be stone and wood somewhere around here.
As I searched, the system provided guidance, highlighting areas where resources could be found. I discovered an old quarry behind the castle, filled with stone that could be mined. Nearby, a forest offered plenty of wood, though it would take effort to gather it.
The system granted me a basic pickaxe and axe, and I set to work. It was hard labor, but my new body seemed stronger and more resilient than before. Hours passed, and slowly but surely, I amassed a small stockpile of stone and wood.
When I returned to the castle, the sun was setting, casting long shadows over the courtyard. Exhausted but satisfied, I deposited the materials into a storage area the system had designated.
Current Resources: 220 Units of Stone, 120 Units of Wood
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