Chapter 279: To the Next Stage!

As soon as the wedding was over, they had to change locations.

After all, today wasn’t just for their wedding alone, but also for Axel’s coronation as the one and true king of their kingdom.

In the castle’s throne room, they all gathered.

Of course, for the audience to be able to see the actual coronation, the camera alone was moved to the throne room, with the projector still at the World Tree’s location.

How?

Well, Fenrir had to keep a small rift for the camera’s wiring to connect it to the projector, allowing this seemingly impossible feat.

The one acting as the cameraman was Maria.

At first, she pointed the camera—which was positioned at the right edge of the red carpet—toward the empty throne. It was located on a raised platform, three steps up. At the front, in the very middle of it, Beatrix stood. In her hand was a well-decorated crown. The crown for the king.

“…It’s time.”

As she whispered, the door leading to the room opened wide.

Maria quickly panned the camera toward the entrance, catching a few figures as they marched in.

At the head was Axel.

He was still wearing his wedding attire, but over it, he wore a red cape. A sash across his body bearing various symbols that were more ceremonial than meaningful.

The girls also didn’t change their attire, staying in their bridal dresses as they marched along behind Axel. Though of course, their veils were no longer lowered, revealing their faces clearly to the camera—to everyone.

Axel looked sharp as he walked forward, each step snappy and precise.

He looked regal as they marched forward, arriving at the steps before the throne. And there, Axel knelt. The girls curtsied, lowering their heads.

Beatrix, seeing this, began to slowly come down the stairs.

She didn’t stop until she was just a step away from the kneeling Axel, and spoke. “Axel Walker. I, Beatrix von Shardrain—in lieu of a person of authority—hereby crown you…the King.”

The ceremony itself was just that.

Beatrix placing the crown on Axel’s head, and Axel accepting it.

After the crown settled on top of his head, Axel slowly stood up, and faced the camera—which moved to the spot behind Beatrix for a closer, clearer view.

“I, Axel Walker, accept becoming the one true ruler of this land,” he spoke clearly, sharply, and gallantly. Taking a deep breath, he continued. “I shall become the first king of the Axevaria Kingdom, and shall be known as Axel Walker Axevaria from now on!”

Despite the crowd being hundreds of meters away, Axel and the others could still hear the powerful cheers coming from everyone. Hearing it unexpectedly brought a thin smile to his lips.

Shaking his head, Axel then slowly walked up to the throne, turned around, and sat.

“…”

He paused, thinking of the long path he took before coming to this point.

How he started with nothing in this wasteland, built a tent, welcomed the girls, built a bigger settlement, and added more and more people. How he even welcomed a witch, went to their dimension to help, and met Mimir.

How he soon gained power that was literally at the limits of what mortals could achieve.

And all that… happened in the short span of two months.

“Thinking back, I didn’t even want to be king at first,” Axel murmured to himself.

Then, he stared at the girls down the stairs, at Beatrix, at Maria. “But here I am.” He smiled.

Ring~!

Hearing a familiar tone, Axel quickly viewed his quest. And there, he saw that some of the values had been updated.

[

Quest: To the Next Stage!

Requirements:

– Claim Land under your Name (100 / 1,000 sq. kilometers)

– Increase your Harem (5 / 5) ✅

– Govern People under a Banner (36,193 / 50,000)

– Create a Bulwark in any Frontline Against Demons, Connected to Your Base (0 / 1)

– Gather Recipes (1,916 / 100 ✅)

– Combined Stats Requirement (269,371 / 20,000 ✅)

Rewards:

– System upgrade from Version 1.02a to Version 2.86b

– Unlock Metallurgy System

– Unlock Mana Manufacturing

]

The harem requirement moved from 1 to 5 and was completed!

The land he owned also increased to 100 sq. km. now, while the people under his banner changed from zero to 36,193—the current actual count of his kingdom’s populace.

“Just a bit more…” Axel sighed.

He was no longer the “leader” of a camp. Instead, he was now the ruler of a new kingdom!

And of course, this was far from being the end.

Rather, this is nothing but the beginning…

…

From noon until the evening, the populace were celebrating the day.

Not only was there the wedding, but even a coronation, after all. Throwing another party was a given!

If there’s one thing to point out, however, it’s that most of the dwarves’ top brass were absent from the celebration. After all, they were busy working with Axel’s orders.

With the help of the Hearthfire of Nidavellir, they could literally make anything that they could imagine! The only limiting factor for them now is materials and their own physical stats.

After various things were taken care of, Axel changed back to his usual suit and set off.

“Good evening.” He greeted the dwarf’s chief, Helion, with a smile. “Is my order done already?”

Helion quickly turned to him and smiled, patting his thick beard.

“Boss—No, is it King Axel now?” He teased. “Your order’s done, but only yours. For the lasses, it would still take a day at least.”

At the same time, he pointed toward the back of the smithy.

Axel turned to face that direction, finding an armor holder with a set of armor on it.

“I see…” Axel whispered as he inspected the product.

It was as he requested.

A light armor that should be worn over one’s clothes. A small breastplate, shoulder pads, arm guards, shin guards, and an open helmet. One that only covered a line across his forehead, and following down the line drawn by his sideburns to his chin.

The material was obvious from its blue and silver color. A combination of mithril and iron, lined with silver. The parts that really need protection—like the plates of the breastplate—were what Axel prepared beforehand by forming the God Mineral he had.

In short, with this, his armor really became indestructible. Impenetrable!

“These came out nicely,” Axel praised while caressing the armor. “Is it already finished? Can I wear it now?”

“Feel free, King Axel.” Helion grinned.

Without hesitation, Axel quickly did as he liked.

He donned the armor part by part. The Breastplate over his chest, the armguards, shin guards, and the helmet. Although his armor literally covered only a small part, he confirmed that none of them hindered his movements.

“The fit is perfect… As expected of dwarves.” Opening and closing his fist, he commented.

“Of course!” Helion answered fast, rubbing his nose with pride. “We dwarves will never disappoint others with our craftsmanship!”

Axel smiled thinly, nodding along.

With his armor done, and with his “harem” officially reaching five members, it was finally time for him to make the next move.

“Then, the payment is as discussed before. I already moved the minerals you need to the warehouse. Check it out tomorrow, or whenever you have time.” He waved as he walked away.

It was nighttime, but Axel’s “work” was still far from over. After all, it’s not like they have much leeway with time.

With the collectors’ threat on the horizon, Axel couldn’t just sit still.

As soon as he got out, he called to thin air. “Navi.”

[Yes, yes!]

In one call, the little penguin appeared.

Beside him, almost as if they always came as a pair now, was the black-and-white cat, Mimir.

Axel was aware that the two’s “relationship” was going well. However, he couldn’t be bothered to ask for specifics. Like, do spirits even do the “act”? He might be curious, but he definitely didn’t want to ask.

“I’ve finished the first step as you required,” he explained. “Now, can you lead me to the dimension I need to build the base at?”

[…You’re heading out now?]

Navi’s voice was filled with confusion more than worry.

After all, today, he just got married. And on the first night of marriage, there’s…

“Yes, I’m heading out now.” Axel nodded, breaking Navi’s train of thought. “Don’t worry, the girls already know of this. We talked about it beforehand.”

Navi looked doubtful. He stared into Axel’s clear eyes, unflinching, before letting out a deep sigh.

[Well then, I guess it’s fine? Then, let’s head to the Interdimensional Teleporter in Witcheria first.]

Axel wanted to make an interdimensional Teleporter here too if he could. However, not only was he lacking the required functions to craft it, he didn’t have the time to make it either.

Thus, their only “path” toward the dimension they were heading for was by borrowing Witcheria’s teleporter.

Axel nodded fast, before pulling out a Return Scroll from his inventory.

One that was tagged at Witcheria’s castle directly.

Without delay, he tore the scroll, activating it.

A bright flash of light covered his body, robbing his vision for a brief moment.

When he opened his eyes, he was already standing in Witcheria’s familiar courtyard. In the middle of a specific teleportation array.

“D-Duke Walker!”

And as soon as he appeared, witches noticed his presence.

The face wasn’t a familiar one, but the name on her status did ring a bell.

“Nemu…?”

He whispered the girl’s name. The one who was supposedly an “expert” at setting up teleportation arrays.

Then, next, he went straight to the point.

“Can I borrow the Interdimensional Teleporter for a moment? I want to head to some other dimension.” He said. “Please inform Queen Wisteria.”

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