I Died and Became a Noble's Heir

Chapter 276: To the Garden

[Six Elemental Sanctuaries Established]

[Domain Expansion: 15 square miles → 28 square miles]

[New features unlocked]

[Demon Transport Options Available]

Jack’s attention snapped to that last line.

’Transport options?’

He’d assumed the sanctuaries were just housing, but apparently, they served additional functions.

[Demon Transport System Active]

[Contracted demons can now be moved to Floor 25 sanctuaries]

[Cost to transfer demons to Floor 25: FREE]

[Demons will be assigned to appropriate sanctuaries based on their elemental alignment]

[Loyalty and combat effectiveness will increase while residing in aligned sanctuaries]

Free transportation to his domain? That changed logistics significantly. Jack could pull his entire demon army from Floor 24’s frozen wasteland and house them in environments specifically designed to enhance their capabilities.

But the system had more information.

[WARNING: Transport to Elysium (Mortal Realm) operates under different rules]

[Soul-bound creatures can travel to Elysium at no cost]

[Blood-contracted demons require payment per transport]

[Cost: 250 Death Tokens per creature per journey]

[Current Blood-Contracted Demons: 27,475]

[Cost to transport all demons to Elysium: 6,868,750 Death Tokens]

Jack did the math quickly.

Nearly seven million tokens to move his entire army to the mortal realm. Expensive, but not prohibitively so given his current wealth.

And that was assuming he needed all twenty-seven thousand demons at once, which seemed unlikely.

More realistically, he’d transport specific units for specific missions, keeping the bulk of his forces here on Floor 25 where they could train and grow stronger in their elemental sanctuaries.

’This is incredibly efficient,’ Jack thought, already seeing how the pieces fit together. ’A secure base that I can teleport to from anywhere. Housing that strengthens my forces. The ability to deploy demons either here in the tower or back home as needed.’

The Soul Warden’s domain wasn’t just a floor in the tower. It was a complete military installation, designed to support everything from troop housing to tactical deployment..

S dismounted from Fluffy, his movements precise as always, and walked toward Jack with obvious approval in his expression.

”The previous Soul Warden took years to build even one sanctuary,” S said respectfully. ”You’ve constructed six in less than an hour of claiming the domain. Either you’re exceptionally decisive or exceptionally reckless.”

”Can’t it be both?” Jack replied, his attention still split between the system notifications and the visible changes to his domain.

Pho had moved closer to one of the windows, his form silhouetted against the view of the newly constructed sanctuaries.

Jack realized, watching the Deathfrost Demon’s subtle body language. ’Wondering if these sanctuaries make me stronger or just spread my resources thinner. I guess I’ll have to get more information from Death.’

Kyren had wandered over to another window, his simple mind processing the changes with obvious confusion but also excitement. ”Boss makes big homes! Demons live in pretty places now!”

”Something like that,” Jack agreed, a slight smile tugging at his lips despite the situation’s seriousness. Kyren’s enthusiasm was genuine, uncomplicated by the political calculations that motivated most demons.

Perched on Jack’s shoulder, Corvin’s purple eyes tracked everything with an unsettling, almost human awareness.

Through their soul bond, Jack could feel his curiosity.

The strategic value couldn’t be overstated.

Jack turned away from the window, his attention shifting to more immediate concerns.

The sanctuaries were built. His demons could be transported. But there were still resources on this floor that he needed to secure.

”S,” Jack said, his tone shifting to something more businesslike. ”Where’s the garden?”

The demon’s eyebrows rose slightly. He had been waiting for this quetiom to be asked.

”Malakai’s cultivation garden? You want to see it?”

”We need to check on it,” Jack confirmed. ”If the previous Soul Warden maintained magical plants and crystals for creature enhancement, I need to know what’s still viable after centuries of neglect.”

’Plus, if S’s earlier comments about Dark Prism Crystals were accurate, the garden might contain materials necessary for Corvin’s evolution.’

Jack had invested heavily in leveling the raven before, and completing that evolution was a high priority.

S’s smile widened, approving of Jack’s priorities.

”The garden is in the castle’s eastern wing. Through the portrait hall, past the library, down a corridor that most people miss because it’s hidden behind an illusion. Malakai was paranoid about protecting his cultivation materials.”

”Can you show me?” Jack asked, already moving toward the throne room’s exit. Standing around discussing logistics was useful, but seeing thel resources available was more important.

”Of course,” S replied, falling into step beside Jack with Fluffy following at his heels. The three-headed hellhound’s claws clicked against marble floors.

Pho moved to follow as well. The Deathfrost Demon hadn’t spoken since Jack claimed the throne, but his presence made it clear he wouldn’t let him out of his sight.

’Let him watch,’ Jack thought. ’The more he sees of what I’m building, the more he’ll understand that resistance is pointless. Better to serve willingly and benefit from the sanctuaries than fight and gain nothing.’

Kyren brought up the rear, his single arm swinging with each step, his simple mind apparently content to follow wherever Jack led. ”Boss go to the garden! Garden pretty! Kyren like garden!”

They left the throne room, moving back through the massive doors into the portrait hall beyond. Jack’s gaze swept across the paintings again, noting details he’d missed during his initial approach.

So many Soul Wardens. So many who’d sat on that throne and claimed this domain.

The system had mentioned the previous Soul Warden died, but it hadn’t explained how.

One portrait still caught his eye. Same one as before. He didn’t stop to examine it, but the pull was there.

The feeling was stronger now. As if claiming the throne had created some connection between him and whoever that painting depicted.

’Later,’ he decided. ’First the garden. Then I’ll come back and figure out why that portrait feels significant.’

They moved through corridors of classical architecture, past columns and arches.

Some looked like meeting rooms. Others resembled armories, their walls lined with weapon racks that stood empty.

S led them with confident familiarity, his path never wavering despite the castle’s size and complexity.

He’d clearly been here before, possibly multiple times during Malakai’s reign.

”The previous Soul Warden and I had an arrangement,” S explained as they walked, apparently reading Jack’s curiosity. ”I provided certain services. He provided access to his cultivation materials. Mutually beneficial relationship that lasted nearly a century before his... departure.”

”What happened to him?” Jack asked, the question just came out before he could consider whether it was wise to ask.

S’s expression shifted, becoming more serious.

”That’s a complicated story. Let’s just say that claiming the Soul Warden’s domain makes you visible to entities who prefer to remain unseen. And not all of them are friendly.”

Not exactly comforting. But Jack had already accepted that power came with a target on your back.

The stronger he became, the more attention he’d attract from things that could actually threaten him.

They reached a corridor that looked identical to a dozen others they’d passed. But S stopped here, his hand reaching out to touch seemingly empty air.

Reality rippled like water disturbed by a thrown stone.

The illusion dissolved, revealing a doorway that definitely hadn’t been visible a moment ago. Beyond it, Jack could see greenery and hear the sound of running water.

”Malakai’s garden,” S announced, gesturing toward the entrance with obvious pride.

”Everything you need to evolve your companion and more. Assuming the plants survived centuries without maintenance.”

Jack stepped forward, his curiosity overriding caution, ready to see what resources the previous Soul Warden had left behind.