‘Jonathan continued to train and order people around through the Village Tab.

He didn't know what to expect from the merchants, so he wanted to make sure the village was in its top condition for their arrival.

To make everything perfect, he picked several miscellaneous items he had acquired and gave them to the villagers.

But not all, he didn't want to incite suspicion, so he only focused on more simple things such as clothes.’

[Average happiness +5

Reputation +5

]

‘His actions were not in vain as he receive positive feedback from the villagers’

“Now they don't look poor. Not much at least.”

I don't know how the merchants are going to act tomorrow, but I hope they don't look down on us and make things difficult for me.

This was one of the reasons why I gave the villagers money, I was waiting for the day a merchant would come. This would allow them to spend their money and buy the necessities they need.

-After they leave, I will use this opportunity to share all of those miscellaneous items in the Warehouse. I will say I bought them to improve their living conditions…

I will gain reputation and happiness…

Definitely

[DING!]

[Average happiness has passed the first threshold]

[Your villagers are very happy with their current situation]

[Happy

Effects:

All of your Units exude a happy and positive aura into their surroundings, decreasing overall anger and negative emotions.

5% Less chance of someone refusing your orders

Every day, as long as this status effect persists. Happiness will increase naturally by 1.

0.1% chance of a random Villager ranking up every day

]

“The effects aren't that bad… But 0.1% chance… Well, I guess it doubled my previous chance”

Now every day has a 0.2% chance of one of the villagers being chosen to rank up.

‘After this, Jonathan continued his training. He told Richard to spread the news that merchants were coming tomorrow so that the villagers could prepare’

‘What he didn't know was that this information was a little too much for the villagers...’

/The next day/

‘Jonathan woke up and checked his Tab…

And as expected, no one Tiered up.

Signing a little, he washed his head in the water and made his way to the river as he had always done in the past few days.

Today was his 6th day, time sure passes quickly...’

‘Richard soo came with a bowl of soup, this time, it wasn't just some basic soup.

There was meat, rice, and even corn.’

“The food is still bland, but at least it's something different… If only the cook could Tier-up.”

‘As he dreamt of a future that will likely not happen anytime soon. Jonathan picked his spear and continued his training by the river’

‘But he stopped 4 hours later when he received a message:’

[The Merchant Caravan has arrived]

“So soon?!”

Shit!

‘Jonathan jumped out of the river’s water, dried his body, put on some clothes, picked his spear, and ran as fast as he could.

Thankfully, the Caravan seemed to be entering the village from the top side, while they were actually on the bottom.

This gave him enough time to switch clothes once more and wash his face’

…

‘Jonathan waited in the road for the merchants to arrive, but he wasn't the only one.

On the sides of the road, the villagers were also waiting for the arrival of the merchants.’

Now that I am here, aren't the roads and houses way too clean?

Did they do all of this?

“Elder”

“Hm? Ah! Richard. You are here.”

“How could I not? This is a memorable event for us after all.”

“... Are merchants so special?”

“Perhaps for you Elder, they are not, but for us… Merchants are the lifeline of a village.”

“We can't make everything alone. So buying what we need and selling what we don't need is the most basic principle of our culture.”

“And now, most villagers have extra money to spend, it's the perfect time to buy whatever they need. Tools, clothes, material, or whatever.”

“It has been a long time since we saw merchants, much less in our current situation where we don't need food. In what seems like forever, we can finally buy something not related to our survival.”

‘Jonathan was surprised, he hadn't thought so far.’

Nevertheless, this is good. If they get even happier, this will only serve to boost the Village’s stats.

“Was that why they cleaned everything?”

“Of course. The villagers were slightly anxious that the merchants would come and see the terrible state of the village, only to leave and never come back.”

“I see. I will make sure they come back though, don't worry.”

Even if I don't do anything, merchants will visit periodically.

If I am lucky, they could even visit every day… Although that's unlikely.

“Then we have nothing to fear, even if they come only once a year we would be more than happy.”

‘It was at that moment that everyone saw several wagons being pulled by large lizard-like creatures approach from the North’

(The village is set like a line, going from the North to the South. If I said anything like that previously, which I don't think I did, just forget it as I will be using this model from now on.)

[The Merchant Caravan has arrived]

[For the size and number of inhabitants, the Merchants consider your village to be barely passable]

[The condition of your village is: Passable]

[They don't know who you are nor do they care]

[Your Reputation with the Arlon Merchant Union is: 0]

[Your Reputation within Tarta is: 0]

[Your Reputation within the Kingdom of Dytio is: 0]

[DING!]

[An unexpected occurrence!]

[The simple yet sturdy layout of your village has incited a nostalgic feeling within the Caravan leader]

[Reputation with the Arlon Merchant Union + 5]

… What just happened?

“In any case, Richard, I will go talk with the gentlemen over there, please, make sure the villagers aren't...”

‘Jonathan looked at Richard with a serious look.

He wasn’t dumb, so Richard soon understood the meaning’

“I will do my best Elder”

‘And so, they parted ways, Jonathan went to talk with the merchants and Richard went to manage the villagers’

…

‘The merchants stopped at the side of the road. They didn't unload anything, but they set up some tables and benches on the ground’

WHAT? How rude of them!

Just because we are a small village, that doesn't mean that you can just treat this place like your backyard!

‘From Jonathan's perspective, the merchants setting up in the middle of the road without asking for permission is the same as disregarding him and all of the villagers.’

‘It was, however, at that moment that he noticed several exclamation marks on top of the people on the side.’

What is that?

‘Jonathan approached the person and checked the village Tab. But he found nothing.’

“Oh? Sorry friend! I didn't notice you there!... Based on your clothes and disposition, you must be the Elder of this village right?”

"That's right. Sorry for the lack of manners on my part, it has been a long time since we got merchants to pass through this place”

“That's normal, until recently, the Northern mountain passage was blocked by a ferocious beast, but thanks to the efforts of the Jade cat Guard, the beast was purged and the passage is now free again.”

“... Sorry for my ignorance, but what is the Jade cat Guard? This village is quite remote...”

“Oh? It's understandable, you all are at the very edge of Tarta. The Jade car Guard is the personal force of the Lord of Tarta.”

“Several decades ago, we used to use this passage to go from the North to the center of the continent. Since there are very few such passages due to the Dividing Mountain Range”

“But ever since it was blocked, many merchants were forced to take a detour and go to some of the more distant passages. Thankfully, the Lord finally gathered a strong team and purchased the creature”

He got close to me and said:

“I even heard they did so pretty easily. Many are thinking that the Lord is planning something.

And without even waiting, our Union came here smelling money!”

“That’s a lot of information.”

… Was this because of the quest I completed?...

That can't be... So, the only solution is the contrary.

The Lord opened the passageway, and the system is now working to make sure some of those merchants can actually pass through this area.

I have long noticed the system's power to influence reality. This isn't too far-fetched if I consider its powers.

“In any case, I would like to apologize first!”

‘He bowed his head deeply’

“What?! There is no need for that sir!”

“Haha… I know we were quite rude, parking in the middle of the road. It's just that we don't have anywhere to stop. I will give you some advice, you should build an Inn as soon as possible.”

“That way, future merchants won't be forced to stay in the middle of the road like this.”

! This guy!

Is he giving me management tips?

This is too much of a coincidence to be true…

“Now! Enough talk, let's get to business.”

‘A system window suddenly appeared in front of Jonathan...’