episode_0035

Thanks to Brasha, I think we can let go of our worries about the pig farm.

The cultivation is continuously increasing in production, and it seems likely to continue this trend in the future.

With the influx of refugees from the Republic of Jilke, we can supplement our workforce.

Along with that, due to the strength in feed portions, and a significant catch, it seems unlikely that there will be a shortage of food at least.

Setting aside the dietary composition, self-sufficiency has been achieved for now.

Just reaching this point is a great achievement.

Not long ago, we had nothing to eat and survived on dry bread for days, but now we have three square meals a day.

So, what we need to do next is definitely population influx, along with infrastructure maintenance.

People need to keep coming in, and to handle that, we need infrastructure.

Conversely, with infrastructure in place, people will come in.

Who would come to a village living and farming in the middle of nowhere?

“So, Administrator. Are you listening?”

“Uh…?”

The administrator, chin in hand, looked at me solemnly and blinked slowly.

“What did you say…?”

“I asked if you were listening.”

“What are you talking about…?”

“Administrator, pull yourself together. We’re discussing policies to revive the village.”

“Oh, right….”

Then the administrator rested his chin in his hand again and stared at me intently.

“I’m listening….”

Nodding slowly, he continued speaking.

“When I roamed around the village, I found many good trees on the mountain. Let’s expand the existing logging facilities to produce timber in large quantities.”

“That’s good….”

“For starters, let’s use the processed timber to renovate our old houses in the village, make furniture, and try various things.”

“Yes, yes….”

“We’ll build more boats to float on the river. And I’ve been thinking, maybe it’s time for us to start trading too?”

“That’s right….”

“Mr. Judanto, the distribution margin is too high. Of course, considering the risks of overland transportation, it’s not unfair, but I think it would be better if we had our own trading team.”

“Mm-hmm….”

“In that regard, how about trying canal trade using the river? It’s much safer and cheaper than overland transport, and can carry a lot more goods.”

“That sounds great….”

The administrator mumbled hesitantly with relieved eyes. That might not work out after all.

“Administrator.”

“Yes….”

“Can I just take care of it myself?”

“I’m fine if Jack leads….”

“Understood. Then please sign here.”

I handed him a power of attorney.

If the administrator signs here, I become the representative of the administrator who can exercise all powers except for certain limited ones.

In a very small village without an administrator, this was done using a law that allows the appointment of a conscientious resident as an administrator by the authority of the administrator.

Since the administrator’s condition wasn’t good, I had been considering temporarily taking on that role for a short while.

“You know this can’t be canceled, right…?”

As the administrator reached for the pen, I grabbed his hand and asked.

“What are you talking about? It can’t be canceled? As far as I know, administrators are not appointed for life, right?”

“Uh…? Administrators…? Oh….”

After carefully reading the document, the administrator smiled softly and scratched his head.

“It’s not a marriage certificate….”

“Administrator, did you have your potion today or not?”

“I did….”

Several empty bottles were rolling on the floor where the administrator pointed.

“I told you to only have one a day. Why didn’t you listen?”

“Because it makes me feel so good….”

“Oh, dear.”

Our gloomy administrator, Bellamy, was suffering from severe depression.

Despite passing the difficult central bureaucracy exam, for some reason, he was assigned as the administrator of this starting village corner.

He did various things in this remote corner with nothing, but when no results came, his spirit and determination eventually crumbled.

Slowly, it seemed that the depression improved as I gave the healing potion.

But then, what is this?

When you drink it, your mind clears up, and an administrative official addicted to that feeling starts consuming several bottles of potion a day.

No matter how much an ordinary person drinks, there are no side effects.

Originally, healing potions are not like that.

However, the story changes for unique cases like administrative officials.

If you drink too much beyond feeling better, you end up staggering and just laughing.

So, even though I clearly limited it to one bottle a day.

It seems like when I’m not around, they secretly go to the store, lie to others, and get a few more bottles.

“From now on, really only one bottle!”

“Okay, from now on… Then I’ll drink that one bottle now….”

“I didn’t bring it. I’ll give it to you tomorrow.”

“I know everything hidden in your clothes…. It smells….”

The administrative official sniffed and rummaged through my waist.

Then, he forcibly took out a potion hidden deep inside and gulped it down.

Could it be that he has become so sensitive that he can even detect the scent of potions like a dog?

Impressive.

* * * * *

In this way, I temporarily became the village’s acting administrative official.

I called together the representatives of Hostante and refugees and informed them of this.

No one objected to my decision.

Initially, the village’s current state was largely due to the potions, so instead of resistance, everyone welcomed the atmosphere.

We immediately established a village council.

I served as the chairman with the administrative official, while the rest were members.

Of course, the administrative official was just a figurehead, and all real authority lay with me.

After establishing the council, we quickly implemented policies.

The first thing we did was establish a logging ground.

After scouting the area, we set up a logging ground right below a nearby mountain.

We recruited strong workers from the Potion Knights of Hostante to start logging.

Since it had never been logged before, the trees were thick and straight, perfect for timber use.

I wonder why logging hadn’t been done until now.

Perhaps it was because until I possessed it, the village was merely a starting point and had not engaged in any economic activities.

We processed the quickly accumulated timber to repair the village buildings.

Thanks to this, even the poorest villagers could escape their shanty town lifestyle.

After repairing the buildings, we made furniture to address the shortage.

Although the quality was poor due to the lack of skilled craftsmen, everyone was pleased.

The establishment of the logging ground was a great success, and it significantly addressed the housing issues of the residents.

From then on, various offerings began to pile up in front of our store.

Few people truly believed in me as a god; rather, it seemed more like a sign of respect.

As the quality of life improved somewhat due to timber production, I began to contemplate trade routes with the administrative official.

According to my original knowledge, the river flowing next to our village extends beyond Odellin City.

If we can float large boats, trade routes are not just empty dreams.

However, there is one problem.

None of the villagers know how to build boats.

Building a boat is a completely different concept from being a carpenter.

We could manage a small ferry, but a large boat capable of carrying a lot of goods is beyond us.

Should we bring some people from Odellin City?

Yet, even in the game, there were no boat builders in Odellin City.

What should we do about this?

For now, I decided to postpone this and focus on land trade routes.

I feel sorry for Judanto, but economically, the village needs to engage in trade independently.

If we organize a group with two wagons brought from Odellin City and about ten soldiers to escort them, wouldn’t that be good?

“Hostante Kyeong, what do you think?”

“That’s great. If we have our own trade group, we can save a lot on fees. Judanto is too expensive.”

“Alright. Let’s start by assembling about ten people and send them out.”

That’s how the first trading team was dispatched to Odellin City.

The relevant documents were prepared by the administrative officer, and the most senior member of the village guard, among five members, was appointed as the representative of the trading team.

And as it was the first trade, they decided to send Ribelone along.

Just in case they unluckily encounter goblins or other monsters.

Bandits wouldn’t dare to mess with ten armed soldiers, but monsters are a different story.

Based on my original work’s knowledge, there are hardly any strong monsters in the starting village and the Odellin City area.

This is because it is classified as a beginner region up to Odellin City.

Still, you never know.

After Ribelone left, I recruited another group of knights.

I assigned them the mission of patrolling around the village.

The area near the starting village is an unknown territory not implemented even in the game.

If they explore around, they might be lucky enough to discover ore veins.

If not, they might find hidden artifacts or treasures.

Although I have never roamed around the starting village in the game, I have a feeling that there might be something.

After sending the reconnaissance team, I formed another team.

This time, this team will be sent to Messtophine’s garbage dump.

Messtophine’s garbage dump is a place where high-quality items drop at low probabilities.

It’s like the shadow coat that the dead monster had hanging like a scarf from Mirella before.

I was too scared to go alone, but now that people have gathered, I’ve put together a team for professional excavation.

I meticulously copied and distributed several copies of the garbage dump map I had and also educated them on how to distinguish between trash and items.

The heavily armed search team set off towards the northern road.

They need to bring back good items.

In the shop, only Mirella and I remained after a long time.

“Hehe, oppa. You know.”

Mirella approached me with a sly smile.

“The knight will come tomorrow or the day after, right?”

“So?”

“Then, during that time, it’ll just be the two of us, right?”

“That’s right.”

“Hehehe, then today….”

Mirella wickedly laughed, sat on the desk, lifted her leg, and started caressing my cheek with her foot?

Lifting her leg revealed white panties under her short dress.

Is she really crazy?

“I’m back!”

Brasha cheerfully entered the shop, startling Mirella who jumped back.

“Ah, seriously! Nothing ever works!”

Annoyed, Mirella fled to the upper floor.

“Why does she suddenly feel bad again?”

Brasha chuckled with a puzzled expression on her face.