CHAPTER 69: CHAPTER 69: THE ARRIVAL OF THE OVERPOPULATION CRISIS

"So this... is power equal to a Sanctuary Knight?"

Ryan was shaken. Just a single sword strike had slain the demon giant.

The crown had already returned to Ryan’s hand. With the fall of that blow, the heroic spirit Gonzalves had also fallen into slumber. This was exactly what the Amethyst Archmage had warned: the artifact had only its final remnant of power left.

Without Ryan’s Stag Blessing, the spirit would have dispersed immediately after unleashing that sword strike. Even the crown itself would have shattered, vanishing into eternal death along with the continent of Exnir.

With the death of the demon giant, the cultists fell into terror and began to flee in all directions. Furnace City erupted in a tidal wave of jubilation.

"We’ve won!"

Riding his warhorse with his knightly retinue, Ryan passed through Furnace City. Everywhere he went, eyes brimmed with fervent admiration.

Indeed, victory in war brought trust and respect. Even the serfs now believed they could live better lives under such a lord.

Right in front of everyone, Ryan made an announcement: he lifted the slave status of all the soldiers on the city wall, granting them the rights of free citizens.

This decision wasn’t purely for boosting his prestige—more importantly, it was part of his plan to take these people to the Frozen Territory.

Slaves were the lord’s property, and their daily food needs had to be met by Ryan. But as free citizens in the Frozen Territory, they’d have to fend for themselves.

Don’t want to work? Then you won’t even have food—life might be worse than a serf’s.

Of course, the former slaves of Furnace City didn’t know that yet. They were simply overjoyed by the change and praised the benevolence of their noble lord.

Over the course of the next day, Ryan sent soldiers beyond the walls to track any remaining cultist activity. Only once he confirmed their retreat did he place the Gate of the Planes in the center of Furnace City.

He hadn’t ignored the idea of avoiding this war. But after careful thought, he realized it was impossible.

The gate was only so large, and with Furnace City’s population nearing twenty thousand, it would take a considerable amount of time for everyone to pass through.

And during that time, if the demon-worshiping followers stormed the city, chaos would be inevitable.

Moreover, once the gate appeared, Furnace City would no longer be able to keep the abyssal monsters at bay.

With an escape route available, everything changed.

Additionally, Ryan still needed to loot the entire city. He needed wealth—never had he needed it more desperately than now.

Because Furnace City’s population was simply too large. When these 20,000 people appeared in the Frozen Territory, it would bring not just disorganization, but most critically, a severe food shortage.

The Empire’s Merchant Guild had delivered grain, but how long could it last?

Ryan needed wealth. He needed gold and goods favored by the southern nobles to trade for enough food.

Without food, he couldn’t feed so many people. Without food, he couldn’t support a larger army. And without an army, he couldn’t expand his territory.

Put plainly, the Frozen Territory had entered its first population crisis.

That said, it wasn’t impossible for Ryan to abandon those twenty thousand people.

Standing at the ruins of the Mage Academy, the air had lost all its warmth. In its place was a bone-chilling cold. With the artifact gone, the furnace had lost its last source of heat. Within mere hours, the temperature in Furnace City had plummeted to an autumnal bleakness.

The sudden change in temperature caused many of the elderly to pass away—they simply couldn’t endure the cold.

Learning this, Ryan had no choice but to organize the people into groups to pass through the planar gate in stages.

"Let the soldiers who defended the city head through to the Frozen Territory first."

With this command, the city’s brief celebration faded into silence. Many slaves and commoners sank into despair, believing Ryan had abandoned them. They huddled at home, wrapping themselves in cloth, waiting to face death alongside Furnace City.

The north wind blew again. Morning came, and snow fell upon Furnace City.

"In over a hundred years, this is the first time it has snowed in Furnace City."

Behind Ryan stood some of the former nobles. They looked at his back, their eyes full of reverence—and a transformed understanding of their own identities.

Before the gate appeared, they still clung to the pride and glory of their noble lineage. But when Ryan had effortlessly summoned a planar gate that hadn’t appeared over Furnace City in more than a century, all that dignity was shattered.

Now, as they gazed upon the drifting snow, they no longer saw its quiet beauty—only terror and despair.

In more than a hundred years of Exnir’s history, no tale had ever sung praises of winter.

Everyone knew: in the cold northern reaches, there was only unending frost and hunger. Even wild beasts could not survive the bitter depths of winter.

Ryan closed the planar gate. This didn’t just plunge the commoners and slaves—who knew nothing—into despair. It also left these descendants of noble houses uneasy and afraid.

Furnace City was gradually becoming as cold as the northern wilderness. If they couldn’t leave with Ryan, they too would perish on some freezing night.

"Death and cold will soon consume this city. But before it truly dies, there is still arable land here."

"Though most of it has already been dug out and taken away, what remains must still be used—especially the soil near the Mage Academy, which remains rich and fertile."

Ryan turned and addressed those who had followed him onto the battlefield after the noble council:

"I need you to stay here for a while—at least until the end of this winter. Cultivate the land. I need food."

"I’ve already told you about the birth of the lordship system. When winter ends and you come to my territory, I will grant you three titles of lordship—three noble ranks. Moreover, I will allow each of you to carry at least five hundred gold coins through the planar gate."

"This is my mercy—and also an offer you cannot refuse."

Ryan’s words caused many of them to clench their fists. But just as he said—they had no real choice.

Staying here meant certain death. None of them believed they could survive the winter.

But if they chose to become Ryan’s subjects, they would no longer have the right to choose anything else.

Having said his piece, Ryan turned again to look at the snow-covered Furnace City. Without the heat of the underground fire vein, even his breath now seemed to frost in the air.