Dark Warlock in the Apocalypse

It had been quite some time since the leader changed and a new class system was implemented. The commoners, who had once resisted the pioneers, now accepted the changes without protest. They had painfully realized what it meant for the powerless to oppose the powerful in this world. In that sense, life for the commoners had not been all that bad.

"Honestly, life is much better now compared to before, even if there's a class system," one commoner said.

"Yeah, back then, it was lawless. If you even made eye contact, they'd drag you to some corner and..." another shuddered.

"At least now, as long as you bow properly, there are no problems," the first one continued.

"Ever since the class system was implemented, no one has been beaten or killed."

Although there was a sense of unease and fear with the establishment of social ranks and the class system, they had gone through far too much to be concerned about something as trivial as "formalities." Back when Chad was in power, the pioneers were gods, and the commoners were nothing more than slaves. What difference did it make now if one was a noble or a commoner?

The fact remained that the pioneers still reigned over them.

"Yeah, no matter what they do, we can't refuse anyway. At least now there's order, right?"

"We should quietly follow the rules they lay down. If we mess up, it could go back to the hellish days."

"What were we even thinking back then, going up against the pioneers in a world like this?"

The commoners, who had awakened from their dreams of the old Earth, were finally coming to terms with their harsh reality. However, there were still a few who were dissatisfied, refusing to yield. Among those few was Henry, a commoner who held resentment in his heart.

"A class system? Nobility? What a load of crap," Henry thought to himself, lying on his hard bed. He wouldn't dare voice his thoughts aloud, but at least he could grumble to himself. "The new leader is better? Sure, better compared to Chad, but is that really saying much?

That bastard was a complete devil!"

To Henry, anyone human should have been better than Chad. How could people celebrate the fact that their new leader was just a little better than a monster like that?

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"Have they all forgotten what human rights are? They're acting like being promoted from slaves to serfs is some great privilege," Henry seethed internally. He gritted his teeth, cursing the other commoners. Back then, everyone was out of their minds, not listening to reason. But now, people were actually capable of thinking, and yet they still chose not to resist and simply accepted the class system.

"If you're human, you should be willing to fight, to burn yourself for your rights," Henry thought angrily. "There may be sacrifices, but that would be a worthy sacrifice. Through that sacrifice, many others could be saved."

Yet, as much as he thought that way, the idea of Henry himself being that sacrifice never crossed his mind. He had a family, after all, and even if he did sacrifice himself, it likely wouldn't make much of a difference. So, he waited. He waited for someone brave to make that sacrifice for him. He hoped for someone who would be courageous enough to change their reality.

"Those damn cowards," Henry muttered under his breath, closing his eyes. As always, he resented the other commoners for their lack of sacrifice. He wished that tomorrow, someone brave would step forward to change the reality they lived in. He, himself, hoped to enjoy the fruits of that courage.

The next morning, Henry was still fast asleep when he was abruptly awakened by his mother, who was shaking him vigorously.

"Henry! Get up! Quickly, wake up!" his mother shouted, her voice filled with urgency.

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"Mom, let me sleep a bit longer... I'm exhausted from all the farm work," Henry groaned, frowning as he turned away.

"This is not about the farm, Henry! Something incredible has happened!" she insisted.

Henry blinked, trying to comprehend her words. "What could be more important than farm work? Did a rat get in or something?"

"No! The house, Henry! The house has changed!" she exclaimed.

"...?" Henry blinked in confusion. Changed? What did she mean by that? Did the house transform overnight or something?

Rubbing his eyes, Henry reluctantly got up and looked at the ceiling. His eyes widened immediately.

"What? The ceiling... why does it look like that?"

The ceiling, which had been dirty and worn, looked entirely different. The color, the material—everything had changed from straw and dirt to polished wooden beams. Shocked, Henry sprang up from his bed, looking around.

"...!"

Everything was so clean. The house, which was once more akin to a mix of a stable and a shack, now looked almost luxurious. The floor was no longer just dirt; it was covered with wooden planks, and in the middle lay a new carpet. There was now a fireplace, the kitchen had expanded and separated from the living area, and even his bed had been replaced by something much more comfortable.

"See? I told you! When I woke up this morning, it was all like this! Do you know what happened?" his mother asked, bewildered.

Henry was speechless. He had no idea how any of this had happened. "Could it be... the system?" he thought to himself. The only thing that could change even a bed while someone slept was the system. But why would the system suddenly show such kindness?

Until now, it had only favored the pioneers while ignoring the commoners.

"Aaah! Everyone, listen up! Wake up, you lot! This is important, so open your ears and listen carefully!" a loud voice suddenly bellowed from outside, making Henry flinch.

It was Derek, one of the lord's close aides. He was simple-minded and a brute, with a demeanor that reminded people most of Chad's old gang. Most commoners avoided even making eye contact with him.

"You must all be confused about the changes to your houses! Everything's gotten a whole lot better, hasn't it? Obviously, it didn't change on its own! The lord did this for you!" Derek shouted.

"The lord? That dictator?" Henry was stunned.

Derek continued, "There's an authority in territory development that allows for upgrading the entire territory! The lord used all the magic stones earned from the dungeon for this! It took a whopping forty thousand magic stones, forty thousand!"

"...!"

Henry's jaw dropped. Forty thousand magic stones? He had never even seen a hundred, let alone thousands. The number was so high that it seemed almost unreal.

"Be grateful for the lord's grace, you lot! If you behave well, there may be even greater rewards! The lord is merciful! Now, enjoy your beautiful new village! That's all!" Derek concluded.

With that, Derek's voice disappeared, leaving behind a stunned and bewildered Henry. He stepped outside, still trying to make sense of everything.

"...!"

Henry almost collapsed in shock. The entire village had changed overnight. Houses had been rebuilt, roads were now properly paved, and a fountain had even appeared in the village square. Where the village once resembled a medieval plague-ridden settlement, it now looked like a quaint town straight out of a fantasy movie.

"Forty thousand magic stones..." Henry muttered to himself. Yes, with that many magic stones, it made sense that such changes could be made to the entire territory.