Chapter 4: First Reward

The northern road was colder than Lucien expected.

Not just in temperature—but in presence.

The further they moved from House Valcroix territory, the less controlled the world felt. The roads became uneven, the guards fewer, the mana in the air thinner and unstable.

Even the escort knights were quieter now.

Not relaxed.

Just aware that they were no longer under anyone’s direct protection.

Lucien walked at the center of the group.

Not because he was important now.

But because he was the reason they were still moving at all.

His body still carried instability, but it had shifted slightly since the awakening chamber. Something inside him was no longer collapsing randomly.

It was stabilizing.

Slowly.

Quietly.

As if adjusting to a new truth.

By evening, they reached a small border settlement.

Not a city.

Not even a proper town.

Just an inn built near a trade stop—old wood, reinforced stone, faint protective runes carved into the beams.

A place meant for travelers who did not stay long.

Or people who had nowhere else to go.

The escort captain spoke.

"We rest here for the night. Then continue north at first light."

No one argued.

Even Lucien didn’t.

Because for the first time since leaving the estate, exhaustion was not something he could ignore anymore.

It was catching up.

Inside the inn, the air was warmer.

Dim lanterns cast soft orange light across wooden tables. Travelers glanced briefly at the escort group but quickly returned to their meals. Border lands did not ask questions unless necessary.

Lucien sat at a corner table.

The knights and remaining serfs spread out around him, maintaining loose formation even while resting. Old habit. Or caution.

A bowl of simple food was placed in front of him.

He didn’t eat immediately.

Instead, he focused inward.

Because something had been changing since the moment he left the estate.

The system was no longer silent.

It was waiting.

Lucien finally spoke.

"Everyone rest here."

A few knights looked at him.

One of them hesitated.

"Sir... we should maintain watch rotation."

Lucien didn’t respond immediately. Then—

"Do it after rest."

The knight paused.

Then nodded.

"Understood."

It was not authority.

Not yet.

But it was enough for now.

As the group settled, Lucien stood slowly.

He walked away from the main hall toward a quieter corridor in the inn.

He entered a small empty room.

Locked the door.

And exhaled once.

Finally alone.

The system reacted immediately.

Not in voice.

But in presence.

Like something that had been holding its breath finally releasing it.

[INITIAL EXILE CONDITION COMPLETED]

[REWARD ELIGIBILITY CONFIRMED]

Lucien’s eyes narrowed slightly.

So that was it.

The condition was distance.

Survival long enough outside controlled territory.

Now the system would respond.

A faint interface unfolded in his vision.

Not intrusive.

Just structured.

[INITIAL REWARD PACKAGE AVAILABLE]

He focused.

And selected it.

The moment he confirmed, something entered his body.

Not forcefully.

But completely.

A vial appeared in his hand.

Clear liquid, faintly glowing.

A simple label formed in his mind.

[PURIFICATION HEALING POTION]

Lucien didn’t hesitate.

He drank it.

Instantly, warmth spread through his body.

Not heat.

Not comfort.

Correction.

He felt something inside him break apart.

Not violently.

But precisely.

Like threads being pulled out of his bloodstream.

The lingering instability in his mana pathways reacted immediately.

The poison residue inside him surfaced.

And then dissolved.

Completely.

Lucien’s eyes widened slightly.

So it was real.

Not damage.

Not sickness.

Poison.

Layered suppression, exactly as the mages suspected.

But now—

It was gone.

A second notification followed immediately.

[NEW SYSTEM ITEM ACQUIRED]

[10× EPIC "NEWBIE VOUCHER"]

Lucien paused.

Ten times?

That was not normal.

Even for something labeled "initial reward."

The system was adapting to his condition.

Or compensating for something.

He opened it.

A roulette appeared

[NEWBIE VOUCHER – EPIC TIER]

The rewards showed everything from:A complete set of epic grade armor to potions,swords,knights,mages,even magic airships and canons which were strictly controlled even the weapons from Earth weapons which could change the war from base pistol to thermonuclear weapons (Author note:These rewards varies from lottery to lottery thermonuclear weapons only comes in legendary grade spin).

Lucien stared at it.

Not because it was confusing.

But because it was too structured.

The system wasn’t just giving rewards.

It was offering risk distribution.

Trade power for uncertainty.

Or accept guaranteed wealth or a loyal follower.

He exhaled slowly.

This was not generosity.

This was design.

Outside the room, the inn remained calm.

Knights resting.

Serfs eating.

The night settling over the border lands.

None of them knew what had just changed inside Lucien.

Not even him fully.

But one thing was clear now.

He was no longer poisoned.

And he was no longer helpless.

Lucien focused again on the system interface.

A gamble either wing big or go home but he didn’t have anything to lose anymore. He was exiled, his marriage agreement might already have been broken, the family abandoned him.

And somewhere deep inside him—

Something that had been silent since death in his previous life...

Started to pay attention.

Then he clicked and the roulette began spinning :

1st reward: Full set of epic grade armor

2nd reward: A knight card

3rd reward: A mage with a small horse or a pony anyway he was too tired to pay attention to it

4th-7th reward: 10,000 gold coins a total of 40,000gold coins

And the rest well it seems his luck ran out all came with a thank you for the spin.

Still he looked at his rewards he made a big killing. Now he had intial gold for his territory a peak stage knight that could be considered someone who could actually stand on his own even in central region or serve as a legion commander and a grand mage.

He simultaneously summoned both of them .

Then with a whoosh and both appeared before him and a strange pressure started rising as they appeared

End of Chapter 4