Capítulo 4: The Great Hall

Light knew that the diary's owner was Ignatius, so his question was that.

"There is nothing much happening on the surface," Ignatius explained. "The Brazenhold Empire and the Erebusclad Federation are still in a peace treaty. It'll probably be a few years before anything changes—hopefully, nothing does."

He hesitated for a moment, then added, "But I don't know much about what's happening outside of this area."

"What nation are we in?"

"We're in the Brazenhold Empire," Ignatius said and then proceeded to explain more about the empire.

The Brazenhold Empire is a militaristic nation that invests all its resources in its military, neglecting the common people. The empire is ruled by a tyrannical leader, Emperor Septimus Brazenhold, and is one of the most powerful nations of humans on the continent, primarily due to its formidable military force.

With the emperor's iron-fisted rule, the common people live in constant fear and oppression. Ignatius described how the military is a constant presence in daily life, enforcing strict curfews, carrying out public punishments, and engaging in arbitrary violence. While commoners, nobles, and merchants suffer under this regime, the upper classes manage to endure these hardships better.

However, the only thing keeping the emperor in check is the influence of the churches, which provide some protection to the people. Thanks to the churches' presence, the empire remains stable, preventing it from collapsing under its own tyranny.

Light nodded as he processed the information. Internally, his concern deepened. 'How will the empire view me? With such a powerful military in control, I need to grow stronger—and fast.'

'Hopefully, they won't care about the sewers, right? As long as I stay hidden, no one will know I exist...' His gaze flicked to Ignatius, and a darker thought crept in. 'Should I kill him? But... he's stronger than me.'

Light shook his head to clear it. 'No, I need more mutant rats to create more Ratkin. I have to build a powerful force as soon as possible to protect myself.'

He straightened and shifted the conversation.

"Now, about the second question."

"Ah..." Ignatius hesitated, his voice trembling slightly. "Well, I've been hiding down here for years. A powerful organization has been hunting me. I don't know why, but I think it's connected to the monster that destroyed my hometown. I... I want to die, but I can't. I just... I just want to live."

Tears welled in Ignatius's eyes, his composure breaking.

'Hunted?' Light's mind raced. 'This could be dangerous for me. If those people find him, they might discover me too.'

For now, there was nothing he could do about Ignatius's presence. The man was too strong. Keeping him in check would have to suffice.

But then, another idea formed in Light's mind. 'If we work together... we're both just trying to survive, aren't we? Since he overestimates my strength, I could 'help' him repel his hunters while using his power for my own purposes. With Knight-class strength, he could be incredibly useful—not to mention his knowledge. He's like a living google in this world.'

Light nodded thoughtfully, internally marveling at his own cunning. 'I need information more than anything right now. Without it, I'm like a blind ship adrift in a vast ocean.'

"Do you know anything about this organization?" Light asked suddenly.

Ignatius hesitated, then answered softly, "After years of running, I've only learned their name. They're called the Witchfinders. An organization specializing in hunting monsters and the subsidiary of the Empire. I... I didn't expect an entire nation to join their cause against me."

"Then why hide here, in the heart of your enemy's territory?"

Ignatius gave a bitter smile. "My father taught me this strategy: 'Everywhere and Nowhere.' While your enemies search for you everywhere, you hide right under their noses—in their shadow."

Light nodded, satisfied for now. There was no need to press further.

'Being a rat sure is hard...' he thought with a sigh.

...

"Another day, another life..." Light stretched his arms as he stepped outside the hut. It was a subtle reminder that this was only his second day in this strange new world. Despite the absence of sunlight, he knew the time—his son would be born in just a few minutes.

The thought of his child brought a swirl of emotions. As a former human, Light had once imagined having children with his future wife, building a family the way most people dreamed. But life—or perhaps death—had taken an unexpected twist. Now, his firstborn would be a Ratkin.

He sighed, a wry smile tugging at his lips.

Strange as it is, he needed to accept it. The Ratkin carried his blood, his essence. That makes them his family, no matter their form.

"I should check on them later," he muttered. The mutant rat was safely hidden, guarded by a swarm of lesser rats. As for Ignatius, was under the watchful eyes of rats. For now, there was no immediate danger.

His main focus was on constructing the Great Hall. The cramped sewers weren't ideal for such a large structure—especially not a three-story building. He couldn't predict what would happen if he attempted to build it here. Would it collapse? Or worse, damage the entire sewer system?

He had to be cautious when constructing anything.

"Rats..." Light raised a hand, pointing into the dark tunnels. From all directions, a swarm of rats scurried forward, responding to his command. He ordered them to search for a larger, more open space within the vast sewer system.

The sewers spanned the entirety of the Brazenhold Empire's capital, a sprawling maze beneath the city streets. Light's current location was only a tiny corner of it, a mere fragment of the labyrinthine expanse.

"If I want to build my base, I need a bigger space. This area is too cramped for the Ratkin to grow and develop," he said, his voice filled with determination. "But I can't risk going outside right now—it's too dangerous."

As the Ratkin population grows, the sewers won't be able to hold them all. Besides, as a former human, he hated living in this damp, stifling place. he rather lived surrounded by trees and nature. There are so many reasons he needed to leave here.

Last night, he'd sent rats to scout all the sewer entrances. What they found wasn't reassuring. Most entrances led to streets or hidden alleys, many of which were heavily guarded by human soldiers. Some had been sealed with metal plates, etched with strange patterns that radiated faint energy.

He hadn't understood why the sewers were treated with such caution—until Ignatius explained it to him.

According to Ignatius, aside from Mutants, there were two other dangerous entities in this world: Dark Creatures and the Entities Behind the Shadow. Dark Creatures were monsters born from darkness or any negative energy.

The sewers, with their decay, waste, and rot—both physical and metaphysical—were the perfect breeding ground for these creatures. The accumulated refuse of society, pollution, and darkness created the ideal conditions for Dark Creatures to spawn.

Moreover, the toxic atmosphere, mixed with lingering magical residue, occult rituals, or even the despair and suffering of the impoverished, amplified this negative energy. The sewers had become a cradle for twisted forms of life, creatures embodying the corruption from which they were born. In essence, the filth was more than just physical—it had a spiritual and magical essence that fueled the creation of Dark Creatures.

Fortunately, the churches and the empire cleansed the sewers annually to prevent Dark Creatures from being born. The last cleansing had occurred just a few months ago, so there were currently no Dark Creatures to be found here.

In short, Light was considered the strongest presence in the sewers, except for certain half-mutants.

However, for Light, this was a disaster. He clutched his head in frustration and rolled on the ground.

If there were no monsters, where would he get energy from? Rats couldn't provide enough, and the other animals he encountered here were too weak to contain any significant energy. Creatures below the Low Class simply didn't have any to offer.

And that wasn't the end of his problems. Where would he find food? Resources like wood, steel, or even clean water?

This place was, in essence, empty.

"Ugh... I'll think about it later," Light muttered, rubbing his temples in frustration. He ventured deeper into the sewers, guided by his rats. After a long search, they finally uncovered a large, open space suitable for construction.

The area was located near the center of the sewer system, offering enough room to build the Great Hall and still accommodate three additional structures. Surrounding the space were numerous tunnels leading to other parts of the sewers.

On the grimy walls, patches of strange material glowed with an eerie green light, casting an otherworldly aura over the entire area.

Light stepped into the center, surveying his surroundings.

For now, this place will do.

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Do you wish to construct The Great Hall?

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"Yes," Light confirmed without hesitation.

A blue holographic screen appeared in the air, displaying the shape and dimensions of the building. As it hovered above the ground, the earth below began to shift. Slowly, a foundation rose, layer by layer. Walls took form, followed by windows, doors, and every detail aligned perfectly with the glowing outline. Bit by bit, the structure materialized, and as the hologram faded, a solid, three-story building stood where once there had been empty ground.

Above the main entrance, a sign engraved with The Great Hall accompanied by an image of a rat's head clutching a pickaxe and dagger.

A status update popped up before him.

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The Great Hall

Level: 1

Durability: 100/100

Resources: (none)

Workers: (none)

Guards: (none)

Units: Ratkin Worker

Special Units: Stormvermin

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Ratkin Worker

Training Time: 10 minutes

Cost: 5 Energy

Description: A Ratkin trained for labor, skilled in gathering resources and performing essential tasks with agility and precision.

Starting Rank: Civilian Class

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Stormvermin

Training Time: 1 hour

Cost: 25 Energy

Description: An elite Ratkin unit specialized in combat and fortress defense. Trained to serve as the backbone of any military effort.

-Starting Rank: Soldier Class

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The Great Hall stood silent and empty, illuminated by the soft glow of flickering lamps mounted on the walls. The ground floor featured a counter near the entrance, welcoming visitors, with neatly arranged tables and chairs scattered nearby. Behind the counter, three doors led to essential rooms: a kitchen, an office for record-keeping, and a food storage area.

A sturdy wooden staircase led to the second floor, which was just as sparse. This level housed workbenches, rows of empty shelves, open crates, and storage racks, designated as the building's primary storage space. At the back of the depot, a wide gate and staircase connected directly to the second floor, designed for easy loading and unloading resources.

The third floor, however, was the heart of the building. This strategic area housed the main office and served as the command center for future operations.

"This place is cozy, warm even," Light muttered, settling into one of the chairs on the ground floor. The depot was quiet now, but in his mind, he could already envision it bustling with Ratkin workers, their footsteps echoing through the hall.

His gaze wandered across the room, and a sense of determination took root. The Great Hall was just the beginning. To survive, to thrive, he needed to grow stronger—and quickly.