/Sip/

-This tea is just as bland as the food…

-There is little I can do Jonathan… I wanted to grow stronger, this is the best supplement I can make right now.

-I know Richard, thank you for doing this.

-It’s my job after all…

‘He seemed rather evasive’

-Is there something in your mind?

-Oh?... It's just that… I am really thankful. Those kids had been depressed ever since the previous Elder… You know.

-Abandoned you all.

-Yes… Just don't tell this in front of them, I don't want to see them sad again, not when their hope has just been rekindled.

-Don't worry, why would I say that?

-Hoho! I know you wouldn't, you are much better than him…

-Can I ask you a question, Elder? If it isn't too much of course.

Here it comes! Richard is the most intelligent out of the villagers due to his age and experience.

He must’ve noticed the strange anomalies in this place.

-Elder… Ever since you came, we have been doing incredibly well. The crops are growing and the houses are fixed, you even found the previous Elder hidden stash.

-But I can't help but notice that things are going… A little bit too well.

-Isn't that good?

-I am afraid that something I can't really understand is happening right now… Do you know what is happening?

-Richard, I stayed most of the time in this room. Tell me what you saw that is strange.

-Of course!... First it's the Crops… They are growing a little bit too fast…

-Just ealier, I went to check on how the farmers were doing and…

So they noticed… 24 hours have passed since we planted those seeds. The plants should've grown quite a bit. It's obvious something is wrong.

-The Crops had already sprouted and they reached my knees…

-I lived through over 60 winters and never in my life had I seen such a fast growth rate.

-Hum… Is there anything more?

-Yes… Ever since you came, people started to become really excited, so much so that their rate of some actions have become way too fast.

-In a little bit over half a day, Hurgus and the others fixed 14 houses to perfection. I initially thought it would just be some ‘hole fixing’ but they completely invigorated the houses.

-They look as if they had just been built!

-And what are your worries?

-I am afraid that… Something is going on in this village…

-So you are suspecting me right?

-! No! How could I! Please Elder! I wouldn't dare!

‘He got on his knees begging for forgiveness’

Is he so afraid of me? I am not a Wizard dude.

-Get up! It isn't good for an old man like you to get on your knees.

-Let me think about this for a bit.

It's time to use my prepared history!

-Ever since I came here I also noticed this… Irregularity.

-You did?!

-Why do you think I went around the place? It wasn't just to map the surroundings.

'A brazen lie, one that I would like to believe as well'

-My guess is that there is a hidden magic source hidden below the village.

-?! Magic source?!

-Its hard to explain since everything related to the Arcane is rather obscure, but I would say this is only beneficial to us.

-I think this magical force is enriching the grounds, making the plants grow faster.

-They grow even faster due to the fertile soil as well.

-OH! That makes sense…

-So next time if they end up asking you something, just create a lie saying the soil is super fertile… Although I would like you to be careful with your words, I don't want them to suddenly start praying to the spirits or something.

-Hohoho! You can count on me… In fact, most don't even seem to care about this. Treating it as just an abnormal occurrence.

Is it because of my Reputation?... Perhaps if I raise it a little bit further, they won't ask me any more dangerous questions.

-But what about the people’s actions?

-... Come on Richard? What could happen with them? They must just be excited… Everyone is doing their best right now, I think it's better to put your head in the more urgent matters then to botter with Arcane phenomena.

-If you can, though, try to keep this a secret, I don't want them to worry about something that might not even exist.

-Of course!

-From now on, our situation is just going to get better. But I need to plan ahead, so from this day on, I would like you to become my representative.

-Me?!

-There is no one else to trust this task to. It isn't going to be anything special, just relaying some order as I stay in this room.

Richard is the best choice, he is trusted by the others as he is the oldest among the villagers. And I know him rather well, he is easy to talk with.

Once the village grows and people start to get occupied I can think about looking for someone more suited for the job of manager.

I need to distance myself from the others. This way I should be capable of easily commanding people through the Tab.

I will use Richard to give orders to the villagers then I will use the Tab. This way the villagers actions will seem natural.

And even if they suspect something, they won't be able to link it to me since it was good old Richard who gave the orders.

People arent dumb, but these are mediaval peasents… They aren't really the thinking type.

-... If you are entrusting me with such an important task… I shall do my best.

[The village tab has updated]

Hum?

[Territory: Guepas Village (Decaying) (Old)

Tier-0 (5) Village

Elder: Jonathan Asmoste

Vice Elder: Richard

Number of Habitants: 30 (+)

Average happiness: 73

Reputation: 150

Wealth: 10 Gold pieces, 75 Silver pieces, 0 Bronze pieces, 0 Small Bronze pieces

Map (+)

Food supply: 3 months

Materials: 31 wood, 9 rock, 25 cloth,...

Construct: Small hut; Normal house; Dirt road; ...

Inventory: 5 farming kits(Normal), 7 seed bags, Key to the basement...

]

Now it shows the Elder and Vice Elder… Interesting.

Some of our items have started to pile up again, and I can't create another such event like the hidden basement.

But we have enough to fix the Warehouse!

-As your first order, I want you to have Hurgus and his team fix the Warehouse tomorrow. But this time, have the twin do something else with another team.

-Its time to fix some of our roads, and we should have enough material for that…

[Stone road

1 stone

Construct a 10 M long path of small stone bricks

Requires a Tier-1 Stonemason]

We have 9 rocks, more than enough to fix the main roads. And the Twins are enough for now.

At least until oir Stonemason increases his Tier .

This village used to have stone paths, but most ended up being destroyed. And they can't be fixed through the system. Only destroyed.

So I will just have a team build something on top, this will already destroy the broken paths in the process.

Who knows, I might even gain some materials in the process.

-Lastly I want you to get Kalios and some others to demolish these buildings since they are not repairable.

[Ruined wooden house

Cannot be explored nor fixed

Can be demolished for supplies]

Best to get them out of my sight and clean up the map a little.

If I were to say, around a quarter of the houses in the village are in this state, half are broken and the rest are a mix of several conditions.

There are even some houses in some areas that are completely fine… Although their location is quite far and inaccessible…

-I shall do as you request!

-I will sleep for now and tomorrow I will start my physical training… In fact, do you know where I can take a bath?

-A bath?... If you wish, I can have some people fetch water for you in the morning. There is a river not far away from here.

Oh yes the river!... I am so used to modern life that I forgot about it…

-Thank you, tell them I will pay one small Bronze Piece for the person who brings me the buckets.

-They will be very thankful for that!

-Then, if you excuse me, I will take my leave.

-Go on.

/Clack/

‘The door closed and silence returned to the room.’

‘The loudest sound was the noise made by the candle in the desk’

-Starting tomorrow, I will start to fix some things. First the Warehouse and roads so we can store our supplies better and to allow the Caravan to enter the village, next…

[Water wells, Smithing house, Woodcutter hut, Hunter’s outpost…]

-It will be the start of a new Era for this village.