Quest Completion

As Juanito exited the town hall, he neatly folded the admission permit and loaded it into one of the compartments in his jeans.

'Now where to..'

With his business done and no particular destination in mind, Juanito wandered the streets, still an ample time before the construction of his shop is completed.

The desolate environment felt like it was a beast in deep hibernation. It was most likely the same in other places as well. Stagnant as a still lake.

There were an array of establishments such as taverns, inns, and hostels although it was apparent business wasn't doing great due to the paucity of customers.

As Juanito continued to linger, reality had become all too clear to him that this era was nothing short of impoverished, doubly so to those who situate at the bottom rung of society.

Malnutrition, extreme poverty, and unsanitary dwellings all constitute a civilization on the height of misery.

After acquainting himself with the bedarkened face of his present world, Juanito strolled out of the town's gates manned by the same old, indolent patrol guards.

Surprisingly, he did not proceed directly to where his ongoing shop construction was but instead walked to a dark corner not too far from Bleakstone.

'..it's only a matter of time before this pathetic bunch breath their last..sigh'

Juanito was gazing down upon a dilapidated makeshift shack with a construct much worse than a dog's abode. It was to serve as a refuge against the deathly weather but evidently, its function was close to nonexistent.

Two children and an adult. A ragtag family of tramps.

'This winter would probably be their last, huh..', he thought as an unpleasant sensation trickled from his throat down to his abdomen.

As an orphan, he was sympathetic to these lot, and under normal circumstances, he would lay his hands off and prevent any unsavory repercussions from knocking on his door.

'This time's different, though..', Juanito then released a heavy sigh as if to expel some sort of bad spirit from within. 'This time's different..'

Squatting on the ground, he scooped the two petite bodies and hoisted them on his shoulders.

"They're like twigs..", he remarked upon noticing the disturbing lightness that now hung on his person. He could feel their bones that brushed against his torso as they squirmed in protest, wanting to be freed.

"M-mom.."

"...let..go.."

The pair's weary voices leaked despite the minuscule stamina that inhabit their tiny frames.

Notwithstanding the resistance from the pair, he extended his arm into the depths of the mini shack. There, a woman who was all skin and bones lay unmoving as a stone.

Juanito pressed on an area under the woman's neck, just below the jaw and slightly to the right.

'...'

"..she's gone", mumbled Juanito as he pulled his hand away with a sunken expression. It seemed that the woman had fallen victim to mother nature, or more particularly, to society's partiality to the oppressed.

"I'll be back to send you off properly.." he glumly said.

Juanito then turned on his heel and left the scene with no one the wiser of his seizure of the two underage tramps.

When Juanito returned to where his stall was being built, he swept a copious amount of snow away to the side and laid down the pair who were feebly mustering their strengths.

Not long after, he felt a strong tug on his leg as though a creature latched unto it. Gazing below, he saw the figure of a boy firmly clinging to his leg with the dissipating stamina he has.

"...where..is..m-mother?" asked the boy with a parched throat.

"p-please..I want to see mom" another voice rang, its immature tone laced with desperation.

As Juanito gazed down at the two, he noticed an immense disparity between their poor physiques and their gazes. Their eyes were blazing in contrast to their withering energy.

"Your mother..she's already gone," said Juanito indifferently. "You're already aware of that, right?"

Upon hearing the words, the pair broke into subdued wailings and sobbed so hard they've outdone the cawing of nearby ravens.

"Waaaaa..!"

*sob sob*

"I-I want to be..with mom..boohooo!"

Juanito endured the din caused by the cries of the two and only made a minimal effort to console them, "I'll secure your mother's body after I settle some things."

"Cry, let it all out. Let the sorrow sink in", he stared into the distant sky, unaware of himself articulating his internal monologue. "The grief and hopelessness, even if it crushes your soul, you have to press on."

He then bent his knees and mildly patted the pair on their heads, "Whatever it is, find a motivation to move forward.."

*Clink! clank!*

*Clink! clank!*

Like a bolt from the blue, a mechanical noise echoed as though hydraulic-powered pistons were pressed against fluid in a cylinder, producing sound pressure.

Alarmed, Juanito directed his gaze to the origin of the sound which was the exact spot where he constructed his stall. So did the vagrant pair whose wary eyes showed fright as they were stupified into stillness.

The area was engulfed in a dense industrial fog that obscured the vague structure.

*Clink! clank!*

*Clink! clank!*

*Clank..*

*Clink..*

Moments later, the mechanical noise stopped as the smoke slowly dissipated into thin air, revealing a complex construct with features that were all too familiar to him.

"Finally completed, huh.." exclaimed Juanito silently as he studied the structure before him.

It was like a cube with equidistant dimensions. Its wooden make that looked like maple was indeed plain and simple yet the varnishings gave the structure a pristine glow. It was like a square-shaped jade, polished to perfection.

It was comparable to a cafe in a modern world where people from different walks of life leisurely hang out and whittle their time away.

What caught his attention, though, was the presence of a digital storefront, a display module that was placed above a massive glass window that occupied the exterior of the shop.

*Ding!*

As he heard the notification ring, he opened his UI and was greeted with a pop-up window.

[Please input Brand Name. 16 characters maximum and not exceeding 2 words in total]

"That's to be expected, and I've long been prepared for this", his lips then curved unwittingly into a knowing smile.

"IKESIA"

[Changes will be irreversible. Confirm?]

[ Y / N ]

"Yes", staunchly answered Juanito.

And like an ancient riddle lost in time being ultimately solved, or a singular cog finally affixed into a convoluted clockwork, the gears of fate started turning as a new chapter unfolded.

An inescapable wind will invariably sweep the lands, regardless of a nation's wealth, one's birthright, beliefs and ideals.

Gazing up at the display module on his store, the word IKESIA in bold yellow neon lights now glowed brightly as its incandescent light streaked across the dim dusk like a rising sun.

*ding!*

[You have successfully constructed Wooden Vendor Booth (3x3x3m). You are officially open for business!]

[The store has been upgraded to Otherworldly Booth..]

[Quest No such thing as shortcuts even for a Business Proprietor Completed!]

[Food Produce and Bakery Tabs can now be accessed in the Shop..]

[Class-Exclusive Skill Selection Potion added to your inventory..]

[You have earned an accolade: Rookie Entrepreneur]

*ding!*

[Rookie Entrepreneur has granted the user the ability <Negotiation>]

[New Quests are now available in your journal..]