The Catalysts Of A Future Village

Hey, Shun here!

It's actually quite fun to play kingdom building stuffs but it could also easily wreck your own schedule in life. The fact that you have to schedule everything in your life around it is just off-putting, to say the least.

Speaking of building and stuff, isn't sand box games really amazing?

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(Shun's POV)

"That hurts, boss man! Ah, by the way, I almost forgot." Ichika said while rubbing her head.

"Yeah? What is it this time?"

The moment I asked that, Ichika looked at me and said…

"Welcome back, boss man!"

Upon hearing her say this, the smile on my face widened even more. I'm really thankful that the [Dimensional Train] opened up as fast as it did.

Now, I could visit my friends regularly if I wanted to. The only thing that's missing is, I guess, a hub or something for us to gather at — somewhere we could chat or something without having to spend DP and such. That would be really helpful.

As I was guided towards the luxury suite where Rokuko and the others are at, Ichika continued to chat with me whilst Ikumei and Zenko silently guided me. They were hugging my arms from both sides as they guided me through the corridors of the Rabbit's Capsule Restspot.

We would occasionally pass by some adventurers who would show surprised expressions upon seeing me but, we didn't pay much attention to them.

"Say, boss man, is the rumours true?" Ichika suddenly asked whilst we were walking down the road.

"Hmm? What is? Why do you sound so serious all of a sudden, Ichika? That's kinda creeping me out…" I blurted out while looking at Ichika, taken aback.

I've rarely seen her act seriously. The only moments when I've seen her be so serious was during the times when she's so fixated in food.

Outside of food related stuffs, I've never seen her like this. Do note that I've stayed with her for months so, this speaks volumes of just how fixated she is on food and how laid back she is as a person.

"What do you mean creepin' ya out, boss man!? I guess I am weird, true that, but ya don't have to say it to my face, aye!?" Ichika said while showing a slightly angered expression.

"Eh? So you aren't going to deny that you're weird huh." Atleast she's aware of her own weirdness, I thought to myself.

"Of course I am!"

"Anyway, you were asking about the rumours or something? What rumour is this about?" I asked, trying to get back to the main subject that has been derailed because of my remark.

"Mm, well, I heard ya went to different places, ya? Did ya go ta Wakoku er somethin'? Jus wonderin'…"

"Wakoku? Nope, I didn't. I did have more supplies of unique food from that country, like what you ate earlier, but I am yet to visit that place." I said while looking at a group of adventurers who are approaching us.

It seems like they just got off from their own capsules and are ready to go inside the dungeon. With them having fully decked out with adventuring gears and whatnot, I think it's pretty obvious to any observers who have a working pair of eyes.

Anyway, I wasn't interested in the people themselves but the conversation they're having.

"Hey, I hear that Samuel from that C-rank Adventurer party is plannin' on movin' his family ta this place." Adventurer A said while addressing his two buddies. This guy looks like those people who loves gossiping.

"Many people plans on doing that, man. They're just waiting for a more reliable way of earning money to pop out inside the dungeon and they'll probably be more people who would move to this place…" Adventurer B said, looking like he's still struggling on making a decision.

"I don't know about you guys but I have a feeling that the exact thing you are all waiting for to make a decisive decision will appear in just a few days or so. I'm gonna be starting to claim a land of my own near this dungeon… Gotta prepare before people starts streaming at this place…" This guy is either wise or he doesn't really have to worry about anything but himself right now.

There's no way someone would jump in on something that is still uncertain without thinking about their family or partners first. Especially when you already have a wife and kids.

Dad once said that, when you have a family, you have to be careful about each and every one of your decisions. That's because, when you have a family, it's no longer just about yourself.

In conclusion, the first one is a gossiper, the second one is a family man or a father of a few kids, and the third one is a bachelor. The gossiper aside, I wonder if it really is fun to have kids and such like how those people who just got married paint it out to be.

I could imagine that it would be really troublesome to take care of kids if you aren't fond of them.

"I just wish there's somethin' 'round here to keep us entertained or somethin'! Ya know, a bar or a brothel would do…" said the third guy as our paths intersected. Yep, this guy's a bachelor, no doubt about it.

After we passed by those guys, Ichika suddenly called out to me.

"What'cha lookin' at, boss man?"

"Oh? Ah, I just heard their conversation and got curious. Looks like our dungeon and inn are gathering some attention, isn't it?"

"Yep! It is! But, boss man… When are ye building a gamblin' place? That's a good place ta earn some good cash ya know?"

Hearing her suggestion, I went silent for a moment before looking at her.

"So that you could have a place where you could quell your gambling addiction at?" I asked.

"Uh… Yeah, I guess? Like, come on boss man. Like, I have food right now to suppress that urge but, I kinda NEED it in my life, ya know?"

Hmm… She really have a huge gambling addiction.

I wonder if she could control that even more if I introduce a new hobby to her? Like, introducing a game to her, for example.

On the other hand though, I could just make a gambling place where she could gamble all she want and monitor her so that she wouldn't go overboard but, that could also introduce more problems. Also, she is right about this world needing more things on the entertainment side of things.

I wonder why those Japanese people didn't do this, when there's supposedly already many Japanese people who got transported to this place?

While I was once again consumed by my own thoughts, we finally arrived to the suite where Rokuko and the others are.

"Shun! You're here! I totally forgot that you could visit me now! Hehehe!"

Actually, we got welcomed by Rokuko, Koharu, Maichi, Fenny, and Seiko when we were still 50 or so meters away from the suite's entrance. Talk about being so excited.

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Inside the suite that Rokuko is using while people aren't staying in them, we had a little tea party. I am having coffee instead of tea of course.

I prefer my coffee over some tea.

Anyway, after having a brief conversation with the girls, I recognized that many, if not all of them, have undergone some changes in their behaviors. Ichika, Fenny, and Ikumei didn't change one bit but, Seiko, Koharu, and Maichi have some pretty varying degrees of changes in their behaviors.

"U-Um… M-Master… Thank you f-for this recipe book, desu…" Maichi is still stuttering for a bit but, I did feel that she isn't as nervous around me as she used to.

I heard that she could talk straight when talking to the other girls now so that's good improvement from her. She's no longer that nervous mess of a bear beastkin girl.

"Thank for the gift, Master…" Koharu said while bowing her head in a very formal manner.

As for Koharu and Seiko, I think they became more professional when it comes to their work or something. When I did say that we're not in a working environment though, they did relax and become more informal with their speech.

Zenko also caught a bit of their demeanor as well but, it's just slightly. She isn't too formal like these two who acts completely like some maid or something.

Whilst we were having a good time, chatting and eating some snacks, Rokuko suddenly called out to me. She was previously playing with Tsuka and Fenny but, it seems like the two left her alone and are now playing with Ikumei and Zenko who are more than happy to accompany them.

"Say, Shun!"

"Yeah? What is it, Rokuko?" I replied while sipping some coffee.

"Are you going to sleep here today? Your room at the dorm that you made is always kept clean so you could stay there anytime, you know?"

"Ah, about that, I already told my Mom that I will be staying out today so—"

Before I could finish my words, Rokuko cut me off.

"—So you will be staying with us tonight!? Great! Let's play UNO until late night, then!"

"I was just about to say that but you took the words out of my mouth. Anyways, weren't we going to visit Mutsuko tomorrow? I figured that, since it's Friday, I could just spend some time here and we could go there together."

"Good idea! It's decided then!"

Rokuko then began celebrating at the sides. A few moments later, I felt someone tug on my arms.

When I looked to my side, I saw that Ikumei was holding on my arm while looking up to me. Her tail was wagging so fast that I could only see a blur.

Meanwhile, her expression is still mostly neutral. That's cute.

"What is it, Ikumei?"

"Umm… You're going to stay here for the night, Master?" Ikumei asked with her soft and low voice.

"Uh-huh. I will be staying for the night. Also, from now on as well, I will be visiting here more often…"

The moment I said that, Ikumei's expression brightened up, replacing her previously neutral facial expression. Yep, a smile on her face is a lot cuter.

Eventually, Zenko, Fenny, and Tsuka joined in as well and I became swarmed with hugs from all directions.

'Looks like my loli harem is growing…' I thought to myself jokingly. At my current predicament, I could only smile wryly and think about stupid things.

That night, I joined Koharu and Maichi on the kitchen and had a pretty lengthy conversation with the two. I asked them if their work here is getting kinda hard since there's a huge influx of customers everyday but, they told me that they're doing just fine while their foreheads are all covered in sweat.

'Guess I have to hire new employees. Seiko, Zenko, Ikumei, and Ichika also seems to be having a hard time going around the entire inn and cleaning the whole place so, more employees really is a necessity at this point…'

Once I was done helping out at the kitchen, I went to the dorm building that I created and played UNO with the girls until late at night. The older girls took shifts manning the counter and the kitchen while the hired hands from the adventurers guild took their place sometimes.

Just like that, another busy day at the inn passed by.

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※~To be continued~※

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Author's Remarks:

※ Whew, done! That was fun to write! I could've written a bit more in terms of the details that were left out and such but, I only have a few hours to spare this week. Maybe after this, I'll have more free time.