The so-called "path," as Faust understood it, was basically like a character class in a video game.
You performed actions that aligned with your class requirements, practiced its principles, and in return, you gained power and grew stronger.
Or to put it even more simply: you earned experience points and leveled up.
The path Faust had inherited from his adoptive father was Sovereign Ruler, a legacy that could only be established by someone who actually ruled a nation—a path reserved for royalty.
To be blunt, Sovereign Ruler was easily one of the best choices among all Hero paths, second only to maybe Champion or Savior. Pretty much every monarch in the world would pick this path if they had the chance.
Conquest, governance, and crusade, the scope covered by these three domains was massive.
As long as you were actively working toward your goals, you'd make steady, consistent progress.
Whether you were a bloodthirsty war maniac rampaging across battlefields or a patient, methodical philosopher-king, you could advance smoothly along the Sovereign Ruler path and become incredibly powerful.
Let me say something the traditional paths won't want to hear: Sovereign Ruler is genuinely broken.
Not only does it level up fast, but the stat gains are through the roof. Aside from the tough entry requirements, it has basically no weaknesses.
[Hmm... Sovereign Ruler? Yes, an excellent path. Especially for someone with your ambitions.]
Faust heard Mephisto's whisper in his ear. Even the Fae seemed impressed with Sovereign Ruler.
[Throughout history, most tyrants have walked this path. This legacy was built for tyrants from the very beginning.]
Faust raised an eyebrow. "Because Sovereign Ruler is so powerful?"
[No. Because no matter how mediocre someone's talent, with enough resources invested, a Sovereign Ruler will inevitably become strong.
In other words, it can mass-produce competent villains.]
"...Should've seen that coming."
Faust now understood what Mephisto had meant by "fate favors tyrants."
We bow before you, Champions, Sages, and Saviors! We Tyrants are just here to lick your boots.
Under the rule of the Wheel of Fate, even roles had rankings and class distinctions.
And Tyrant was a silver-tier fate locked in place—it couldn't rise or fall.
It was certainly leagues better than being a nameless extra or cannon fodder.
But no matter how strong you became, no matter what you achieved or how many victories you racked up, you'd ultimately end up as someone else's stepping stone.
According to Mephisto, in His memory, the story of Tyrants rising and falling played out endlessly on repeat.
The violent, conflict-ridden history of mortals was nothing more than the same script performed over and over again.
Whether it was warriors rising up against oppression, heroes returning from their quests, or wise kings exposing conspiracies...
After a Tyrant rose to power at lightning speed, they inevitably faced an ending where these protagonists brought them down just as fast.
[The only exception so far has been the Empire. The nation founded by that particular tyrant has lasted for centuries, but that doesn't mean he escaped the tyrant's fate. It's only because he was a dragonslayer.]
[The achievement and glory of slaying a dragon are enough to earn fate's blessing, protecting his nation and descendants for centuries to come.]
Listening to Mephisto reveal secrets no mortal could ever know, Faust's eyes lit up. "So the Tyrant's stepping-stone problem can be overridden? Not bad."
He definitely wanted to become a tyrant, but being used as a stepping stone was out of the question. Since there was already a successful precedent, it wasn't an impossible hurdle to clear.
Still, glancing at his status screen again, Faust couldn't help but sigh. "Unfortunately, my progress is still way too slow."
Even though the Sovereign Ruler path had broad requirements, he remained frustrated with how things were going. The problem was that he wasn't making full use of all three roads.
The Path of Crusade wasn't even worth discussing. The Kingdom of Aurum didn't have any monsters worth crusading against.
As for ancient enemies... those didn't exist either. This prince had always played nice with everyone.
If he had to name something, the Kingdom of Aurum did have ongoing conflicts with the Empire, but competing with the Empire... yeah, right. As if they stood a chance.
The Path of Governance was progressing most smoothly. Faust constantly held himself to the standards of a wise ruler, and the results were steady. Just... a bit too steady.
[Whether crusade or governance, neither comes close to conquest. Conquest is the true shortcut to becoming a hegemon.]
"The Path of Conquest, huh..."
Faust's expression turned sour.
Because of the Kingdom of Aurum's weak military strength, there was zero chance of launching military campaigns abroad. And with nothing but neighboring countries surrounding them on all sides, even the option of expanding into unclaimed territories was off the table.
[Why the long face? Your achievements on the Path of Conquest aren't bad at all. You've even manifested a characteristic.]
"Ahem!"
Hearing that, Faust quickly cleared his throat twice and frowned in annoyance. "You can see it yourself, can't you? Why even bring it up?"
Faust had indeed made progress on the Path of Conquest and even manifested a mystical characteristic. It's just that this particular characteristic...
[Inherent Characteristic: Lustful Sovereign]
[You have proven yourself to be the alpha among males, the man desired by all women. Your very presence captivates them.
You dominate their bodies and minds, insatiable and never satisfied. Such lustful behavior deserves recognition.]
[You are blessed with inexhaustible stamina, irresistible attraction to the opposite sex, and unceasing desire.]
Oh my god, a living legend in the bedroom!
Yes, Faust's daily "parties" with the capital's noblewomen weren't just because the prince enjoyed himself. More importantly, he was grinding experience for his Path of Conquest.
Conquering nations was conquest, and conquering specific individuals was also conquest. The two weren't even ranked differently in terms of value.
The prince had tried using personal charisma to win over his subordinates, staging touching moments of mutual respect between lord and vassal, but the results had been minimal.
The definition of "conquest" was pretty strict. Simple loyalty wasn't enough. It required complete devotion and submission—becoming an utterly faithful follower.
That couldn't be bought with high positions and generous salaries. You had to use both carrot and stick, maintain tight control—and honestly, the efficiency was abysmal.
Eventually, Faust had scoured the royal library and even consulted Eleanor, finally learning about this "alternative strategy" from his sister.
What else was there to say? To advance along the Sovereign Ruler path, he'd do whatever it took! Especially something he had zero moral qualms about in the first place.
It was just a bit embarrassing to have it officially recognized as an achievement.
If he were a conqueror capturing cities and territories, unlocking victory conditions to trigger this characteristic, that would be genuinely glorious praise.
This Lustful Sovereign inherent characteristic was really hard to evaluate. Though the side effects were insane, honestly speaking, it should count as a top-tier mystical characteristic.
Forget everything else—the nearly unlimited stamina wasn't just for letting the prince challenge anime-level body counts.
It also allowed Faust to stay energized and continuously perform high-intensity work without burning out.
[Hehehe, among mortals, satisfying the Path of Conquest this way is quite rare. But in a sense, you could be considered exceptionally talented, no?]