SSS Rank Talent 1 is a 1000

There was truly nothing in the castle. I gave up when I found what could only be called the kings room. It was big…and full of snow.

I felt too tired and cold to keep going. "This place is too cold. I need a proper warm place to rest."

The short demon leading the way immediately seemed to have a dilemma. None of these rooms were suitable for someone as glorified as the demon lord. This entire castle was unworthy of the Demon Lord.

There were very few intact rooms. None big enough for the demon lord. Certainly none were warm.

I walked over to the last intact room I saw. It has a fireplace. I go into the empty room and sit in front of the cold empty fireplace.

After a chest is opened it can be kept or put back in the inventory to be turned into scrap wood and little bit of metal bits.

I turn to the small demon. "Are you able to light a fire?"

Even though I have sticks to rub together. I hope his magic can do it. Like all people as kids I tried it it before and could never get it to work.

The demon brightened up. Nodding profusely. "Yes Demon Lord."

I pull out the wood scrap and the demon takes it and makes a big pile. He then steps back and holds his hand towards the wood. "Fireball."

A ball of fire shoots from his hand to the wood.

In moments the room is lit and I lay close to the fire for warmth. "Thank you."

The demon seems very pleased with himself. "Of course my Lord. No thanks necessary."

I check out the troops. The map revealed is basic. Only what my demon has actually seen is detailed. But I can see all the ice and snow. Big steep mountains. A shit place to start off.

I notice the tall demon acquired some exp. I notice there is also a log for actions my troops take.

I checked it. And find that he defeated a level three ice boar. I felt stunned since both of my troops are level one.

This doesn't make sense to me.

Though I do not play in games there are three very big determinations of strength. The most obvious in level. The next is equipment. He's a level 1 with shit equipment. Level two maybe but level 3 is setting off alarms.

I know boars are smart and brutal enough to kill full grown men. Even experienced hunters can get hurt hunting boars. He only has daggers.

Though I guess it must have to do with the final determination. Quality. I don't know how to determine quality right now.

Though I guess that's not considering everything. Perhaps he set a trap or caught the boar while it was weak.

I sighed and noticed the hour was up. Right now there isn't any trading that I know of since the store is closed. That's where my talent will shine. But right now I need to stockpile.

I opened my inventory. There are only 100 slots. It seems like a lot especially since stacking isn't an issue. But with a thousand chests pulling random equipment it filled up with only a couple dozen chests.

That's also why I let the demons open them. For now I clicked on the few scraps of wood. Wood is a seemingly limited resource in this ice land. It's also the only current source of heat. The less I have to trade for it the better. Especially if people try to price hike it cause they figure out how much I really need it.

The scraps of wood go from 3 to a 1003. A very satisfying change. I started pulling out chests. "You open them. Only give me the food and water for now and sort the weapons into different open chests. Anything that doesn't fit those two categories we'll figure out as we go."

The grand unboxing began. I noticed the trend very quickly. Each box had a weapon, a defensive item, one food item, and if lucky something else.

Usually the lucky item was water. Though it also could be a second of one of the preset items. Me and the demon set a system and quickly piled through the chests. Until the second demon returned.

A notification screen popped up. "Demon 1 has returned with one monster corpse. Placed in inventory."

I switched to look through what happened. It seems he only need to arrive at the castles proximity to drop off his kills. Or even other items. Things like prisoners are automatically entered into the dungeon making things very safe and convenient.

I put the ice boar in my inventory. Thank whatever Gods there are cause there was an automatic decompose button. Though I decided to wait till the hour was up. Multiplying a boar to decompose a thousand boars is more my style.

The demon designated at Demon 1 didn't hesitate to leave once the boar disappeared. Continuing on his scouting mission.

Me and the short demon continued to open chests. After a certain point we probably had every possible item the chests would give.

All the possible weapons were sword, dagger, bow with 7 starter arrows, a wooden spear, a short sword and shield, a crowbar, an ax, a hammer, and a shovel. All of them were rather low quality but could probably last a couple strong swings.

The armor was straight forward. And basically I could cover my entire body in leather equipment.

The food was also not very good. Normally it was hard tack. The rare ones were things like ramen and spam. I even got lucky enough for canned peaches. Truly my ability is the absolute best.

The short demon kept complimenting my 'hoard'. His eyes were very greedy. Seeming very reluctant to part with anything. But one look at me and he was happily sorting it or giving it to me.

This Demon Lord title is amazing. Reluctantly I thought of my family's reactions if they found out what troop I got. Extremely religious family. Especially my mother. Her entire personality is being a Christian. At least it was four years ago.

I shake my head. Seeing my family talking in the chat really took me for a role. I'm over this. I don't care what they think. They probably think this is a trial of God or his judgment.

No let it go. I slapped myself to clear my head. The demon was shocked and immediately kneeled. "What is the problem Demon Lord?"

I shook my head. "Everything is fine now. Let's continue."

After a hundred chests I multiplied the boar. I made some space in my inventory. I clicked on the Decompose all button.

Very quickly five inventory slots got filled with big numbers. 2000 tusks, 1000 Ice boar pelts, 1000 monster cores, 5000 miscellaneous boar bones, 16000 units of uncooked boar meat.

Such an absurd number. As soon as the trading opens tomorrow I will be rich. Selling the meat for other resources is the prime thing to do. I don't wanna sell the armor or weapons.

You can feed your enemy but never arm your enemy.

As of now this is a real and true fight for supremacy. All bets are off and no one is a friend. The only people I will trust are my boyfriend and his family members. Wherever they are.

But it's not so bad. I have two loyal demons right now.

Another pop up blinked in front of my face. "Congratulations, your troop Demon 1 has leveled up to level 2. You are the tenth Lord to level up a troop. Rewarded with one low grade chest."

Wow that was quick. I checked and the tall demon had killed a… level 5 boar? I clicked to have him return with the spoils.

He had actually gone to level three with his kill. Now I know that there is something up. I turn to my very patient short demon. "Are demons a special troop?"

The demon blinked thinking about it. "Demons are considered very good for military action. We are strong and can fly, giving us many advantages. I guess considering other races we are often a superior race. Especially at night."

So it may be the quality thing. I have to say I'm surprised. I was worried I had used all my luck on my talent. But a high quality troop on top of a SSS Rank Talent. One might consider me a protagonist. I'm not foolish to think so. Back in the real world, once you think you're the best you die.

People that act like a protagonist don't normally last long.

The demon returned and the level five boar entered my inventory. I left it for now. To my surprise the demon knocked on the door. "My Lord, I have returned as ordered."

So demons can be polite. How interesting. "You can come in. Just don't step on anything."

There were so many items that the room had become fairly cluttered. The demon enters and goes to me. He kneels so Does the short one. "What are your orders, demon lord?"

I feel like they're being very extra. But what can I do? "How did you defeat the two boars?"

The tall one smiles. "I used my ability to fly to safely dispatch the lowly beast. It is a very meager tribute but I hope the Demon Lord is satisfied."

I sigh in relief. It really was something very simple. Air superiority is no small thing. To drop in and drop out of battle at will…truly it's the smartest way to fight.

Thinking about it, sorting these items is something I can do on my own. I can store the chest after I fill them in my inventory. The priority right now is to gather strength.

I can't afford to be careless but I can't be negligent and get all priorities straight. I don't know what happens if a troop dies. A lot of rules in this world are unclear.

I sigh. "I need you both to go out together and raise your level. You are allowed to only attack if you know you can win without injury. There is no medicine here. If you die it's hugely inconvenient."

"First both of you gear up. You can use anything here. I can easily make more. Your duties are to scout and increase your level."

Both turned into greedy little demons happily grabbing this and that. I let them be. They quickly left.