Overlord of Blood and Iron

What is a bus driver?

The term “bus driver” originated from online games where it described those who used their high levels, skills, and items to help low-level players clear dungeons or lead a team to victory.

Simply said, the low-level players were the passengers, and the high-level players were the drivers. Therefore, in the Peacock Dragon subjugation this time, Kang Chul-In’s role would be to get the adventurers to get on the bus like passengers.

It was a difficult thing to do.

It was not easy to grow a low-level, newbie group of adventurers and go against a Level 40 Monster. Bluntly said, it was as impossible as a camel passing through the eye of a needle.

But…

Though it was impossible for someone else, Kang Chul-In had a way.

Even if they could not take on other Level 40 monsters, it was very possible to make them able to handle one Peacock Dragon.

He was sort of a professional Peacock Dragon hunter.

Because he had a full understanding of the monster, Kang Chul-In’s plan was not a delusion but a reachable goal.

Kang Chul-In opened the store as soon as he got back to Laputa.

- Item Store.

- Normal, Magic, Rare item purchase available.

- Lord level rises, and the level of items available for purchase increases.

[Main Weapons] [Sub Weapons] [Shield] [Clothing] [Expendables] [Accessories] [Utilities pertaining to Territory Management]

 

*Gold or Jewels are needed to purchase items.

*Epic-level items are not available for purchase in the store.

Kang Chul-In knew exactly what items he needed to buy. The items that he purchased were as follows:

- 10 Blood Swords (5 Gold Each, 50 Gold total)

- 25 Blackthorn Spears (10 Gold Each, 250 Gold total)

- 5 Cold Pavise (A large shield, about 8kg, very heavy.) (20 Gold each, 100 Gold total)

- 70 Stamina Potion Low level (1 Gold Each, 70 Gold)

-70 Low-level Wisdom potion (3 Gold Each, 210 Gold total)

-2 Chains (50 Gold each, 100 Gold total)

Total: 780 Gold

Will you purchase the above items? (Yes/No)

780 Gold.

It was a large sum of money totaling almost 32,000 dollars, so it made him cringe a little, but he did not feel like it was a waste.

He would get most of the items back anyway, and this would be cheaper than purchasing an army. Gold could be gathered and earned, but dead people would not return to life.

This is enough.

With this, he had everything he needed in order to face the Peacock Dragon.

“Lucia, load these items onto the wagon.”

“Yes, Lord.”

“Tell Timothy, 3 weeks’ worth of rations for 40 men also needs to be prepared.”

“Yes, Lord.”

“Ah, also…”

Kang Chul-In added.

“I will take Podolski on this subjugation.”

“The Director of Security, my Lord?”

“Yes.”

“But Podolski is questioning Kimura…”

“What? He was caught already?”

“Two days after he hid, Podolski found him hiding inside the closet and locked him inside the dungeon with handcuffs.”

“Just as I thought.”

“Huh? What do you mean…?”

“Ah, nothing.”

Podolski was the master of capture and binding.

“But, my Lord, why is it that you are taking Podolski? For the Peacock Dragon subjugation, it seems like Commander James is a better fit for the role,” Lucia asked.

“I have a reason.”

Kang Chul-In answered with an unknown smile.

“And what is that…?”

“If you want to hunt a dragon, you need to bind those wings first.”

“The Podolski that I have seen is a master of knots and binding. I do not think there is one better to handle the metal chains than him.”

“Oh really? I did not know that Podolski had such skills.”

“It’s even the way he looks.”

Lucia did not understand what Kang Chul-In was saying at all and tilted her head in confusion. There was no way for her to know that Podolski looked exactly like the Korean Police Department mascot.

“You don’t need to know everything.”

“Ah, yes, my Lord.”

“Prepare everything.”

“Yes, Lord.”

The preparations ended with that.

The next morning.

Kang Chul-In set out to meet the adventurers.

“Oh, Oh! Our Lord is going out!”

“Lord! Please rid us of the bad monster!”

“Please be safe!”

“Our people are putting our faith in you!”

Around 500 people of Laputa saw Kang Chul-In off and paid their respects to their leader.

It’s perfect!

Lucia was standing on the right side of Kang Chul-In, worthy of her position as an Secretary. She was very much pleased with the current situation.

Kang Chul-In’s march to battle was small but was filled with class and authority.

Kang Chul-In, who was wearing black armor with the print of a tiger on it, exuded the image of a Lord. The white horse that he rode was from a good bloodline — enough to add more to his authority as Lord.

To the right and left of Kang Chul-In, there stood Lucia, who was wearing a tight leather suit, sword, and shield, and Podolski, who was wearing a blue uniform. They exemplified power and authority to anyone who saw them.

And following them?

Bulls as big as a house were pulling three wagons that held items and food for the adventurers, and the ten soldiers in full armor that were guarding the wagons were the most competent soldiers of Laputa.

All these things were a scene that Lucia had prepared. She had shown her potential as an Secretary.

“I don’t know if there is a need for the troops as well,” Kang Chul-In said.

“I am using the adventurers to preserve our troops, but this seems counterproductive.”

However, Lucia’s opinions differed from that of Kang Chul-In.

“Lord, I think that I am right this time around.”

“Really?”

“Yes, a Lord needs to have authority. No matter how charismatic and competent you are, I do not think the adventurers will see that right away. Also, humans are highly dependent on what they see, and they are quick to judge others based on this. I believe that it is right to prevent any possible negative thoughts among the adventurers before they happen.”

Lucia was right.

In the past, Alfred had also often pointed out such flaws in Kang Chul-In’s character and nagged at him often.

“Lord, maintain your dignity!”

“Lord, please do not go to the enemy’s side on your own!”

“The author called Dorian is too frivolous. How is this putting some distance? I cannot close my eyes at night worried that you might become frivolous as well!”

Lucia probably would have agreed with Alfred.

“You are right.”

Kang Chul-In agreed with Lucia and nodded. He needed the aura of a true Lord from the beginning to control the adventurers.

It took about an hour and 30 minutes to travel from Laputa to the entrance of the Dark Forest, so Kang Chul-In mostly conversed with Podolski and Lucia while riding. Kang Chul-In mostly listened.

“This humble servant, Podolski, is so honored and glad that you have called me, my Lord!”

Podolski was riding on the wagon with the supplies. He laughed loudly and was happy. The handcuffs that hung on the left from his waist gleamed under the sun.

“I will make sure to tie up the Peacock Dragon’s wings and prove worthy of your trust in me!”

It seemed like Podolski was fired up to prove himself.

“Ha. Director-General, you know a few tricks, but do you have the skills to please the Lord?”

Lucia looked at Podolski and laughed.

“Tricks! These are all skills that are flesh and blood!” Podolski roared.

“Well, Director-General, you can’t even handle one Ogre!”

“That…”

“Think about it. If you are to keep your position as Director-General, you will need to train and improve yourself diligently.”

“B-but…!”

“Of course, you have many tricks up your sleeve. But that is not enough, definitely not.”

Director-General Podolski got swept up in Lucia’s sharp remarks and got scolded again and again.

However, talking back was impossible, for Lucia was the second-in-command in the territory. Position was everything.

“Lord, that dethroned Lord — he is still crying and saying that he still does not want to go home.”

Podolski, who lost out in the conversation he had with Lucia, tried to change the subject by starting a conversation with Kang Chul-In.

“Lord, after this subjugation, won’t you check out the bar within the territory? The woman who runs the place is so beautiful that the men of Laputa are all crazy over her. However, the woman never even blinks an eye. Don’t you think the story might be different if you showed up?”

However, Lucia did not leave Podolski alone.

“Can you please shut that low mouth of yours? Our Lord is far removed from the flames of desires of a common man, Director-General Podolski.”

Lucia’s face showed clear signs of disapproval.

“The Lord will only associate with pure and virtuous women like myself.”

Lucia’s shoulders puffed up.

“W-who is pure and virtuous?”

Podolski tilted his head to the side.

“What do you mean who? Of course, it is me. If one was to receive the Lord’s royal favor, shouldn’t the woman at least be myself?”

“Ha… what is this…?”

“Why? Is there a problem?”

“Well, aren’t you, Secretary Lucia, far from pure and virtuous?”

“What? What does that mean?”

“I mean, your body… ah!”

At that moment, Podolski caught himself and shut his mouth, but it was spilled milk.

“Director-General Podolski?”

“….Yes, Secretary Lucia.”

“For harassment against a superior, you will have a salary reduction for three months.”

“…”

“Do you have an issue with this?”

“N-no…”

There was no way he would have an issue.

If he said he had any issues… it was obvious that today would be his last day alive.

“Ha… Lord, I am sorry that I had to make a scene. Please forgive me…”

Lucia asked for forgiveness with a flustered expression.

“No. Of course, you are in a higher position than Podolski, so of course he can be punished. It was just.”

“Thank you, Lord. Sigh… it seems like you trust and like Podolski, but in my opinion, it doesn’t seem like he is someone to keep close.”

“Why? Is it because he is rude to you?”

“It is not that…”

“…?”

“Isn’t he too crude?”

“Crude?”

“How could he talk to you about a bartending woman…? I am worried that you might be influenced by the Director-General’s crudeness.”

“Lord, you will only have a pure, virtuous, and innocent woman. And also, don’t you think only such a woman will suit you?”

It seemed like Lucia really had gotten things mixed up.

“Lord, you are the highest and most dignified of men. If you were to have a woman, a woman with high status and a pure bloodline from a good family…”

“Lucia.”

Kang Chul-In cut in.

“I have no interest in status or family.”

Lucia’s face was filled with shock at the response that she did not expect. It looked like the face of someone who was betrayed.

“I want to explain in detail, but it would be too long, so I will not. Just know that.”

To tell the truth, Kang Chul-In had maintained an allied relationship with the Overlord Hecate through “Planned Enjoyment”. It was a shocking truth that the Ishtar Coalition was built on his and Hecate’s fiery one-night stands, but it was a long lost past that no one remembered but Kang Chul-In himself.

“I, Lucia, get it finally.”

Lucia nodded as if she understood.

“So, you do not care about the status or family background of the woman but only herself as a person?”

Lucia, not knowing Kang Chul-In’s true intentions, misunderstood again.

“Ah, love that goes beyond status and position! You are a true romanticist, milord!”

Kang Chul-In did not know how to answer, so he just stayed quiet, nudging his horse to walk ahead.

What romanticist.

He had never been called such a thing in his life.

“Would Overlord really come?”

“I mean, I doubt he wouldn’t. He even sent a contract.”

“Right?”

“But how did he get those items? Did he find a good dungeon somewhere?”

“On World, there were posts that said they gained items by opening up treasure chests found in ruins. Overlord probably opened one of those.”

10 in the morning, the 40 adventurers who showed up to the promised location were talking amongst themselves and discussing Overlord, who had turned the World community upside down.

However, when Overlord did not appear even after 10 AM, the adventurers began to talk. There were even adventurers who were quick to anger who ran here and there with red faces.

“That bastard! How dare he trick me?!”

Billy, who was almost 190 cm tall and all muscle, expressed his anger at the Overlord who did not appear even after another 10 minutes.

“Yea, don’t come at all! If you come late, I will break your neck!”

But just as Billy was threatening Overlord…

“There, there he comes!”

“White horse? What’s with the wagons?”

“Overlord, is it?!”

A couple of the adventurers pointed to the figures coming towards them and shouted.

“What? Overlord is here?”

Billy opened his eyes wide and looked towards the pointed fingers.

“Hah, he’s late, and he’s taking his sweet time?”

Billy’s thick hands grasped the handle of his ax.

“Let’s see if he will move like a turtle in front of me.”

Billy took large, bouldering steps towards Kang Chul-In, who was approaching them from far away.