Let's build a house.

Step out of Madway's house, face Risha, and open the menu window.

Look at the list of things you can make, below the window.

One thing catches my eye.

Something that definitely wasn't there a moment ago.

"A wooden house, huh?"

"A house?"

"Yeah, a house....Whatever we're doing, we can't start without somewhere to live."

"Yes!"

Risha nods vigorously.

I check the whole list just to be sure. Looks like "wooden house" is the only one that counts as a home.

Touch it, then touch the ground some distance from Madway's house.

As before with the miracle medicine, a magic circle appears, and three arrows shoot out.

2,500 mana consumed.

Set the magic circle aside for now, and check the required materials.

Wooden house. Abnoi grass ×50. Wooden shards ×300. Bushino stone ×10.

"Abnoi grass... was that the stuff I used to make the universal remedy just now?...Ah, so it's some kind of system where materials tied to a previously used item get unlocked?"

That's what I vaguely figured.

Classic game mechanic, so it popped into mind right away.

I thought for a moment, then poured another 2,500 mana into crafting a second wooden house magic circle.

Looking at the two circles side by side, I said to Risha:

"Split up. Risha, gather 100 Abnoi grasses—fifty for each circle."

"Understood."

Risha nodded, then headed off along one of the arrows toward the previous location.

I took the opposite arrow.

After a short walk, I found a mountain of scrap.

Piles of wood stacked high, glowing faintly.

I picked some up and returned to the magic circle, placing it inside.

The wood was drawn into the magic circle. The light from the arrow pointing at it dimmed.

Bring it again. Put it in. The light dims further.

Third time around, one piece of wood remained on the magic circle—left over, not sucked in.

And the arrow vanishes.

"Meaning it’s enough, then?"

Probably, that’s about right.

Tossed the leftover wood into the other magic circle, then brought more wood over.

Made two round trips, and the wood was all accounted for.

Meanwhile, one of the Abnoi herbs Risha was gathering had run out.

"Wait— isn’t the arrow pointing the wrong way now?"

Yes, the part just now—everything was taken, and there’s another one far away, pointing to that spot.

"Ah, so you're pointing to the closest one."

I think so too.

"Yeah, it’s far away, but I’m counting on you."

Yes!

Risha went to fetch more Abnoi grass.

I’ll go get the last remaining material—Bushi no stone.

I walk in the direction the arrow points.

Then I reach a cliff.

"Guess this is right..."

I glance around, peeking down at the edge too.

"Out there, huh?"

A protrusion about two meters high glows faintly.

Several stones are there, glowing.

That’s probably the Bushi no stone... tricky.

Honestly... a little scary.

It’s a cliff—my balls shrink tight.

I scan the area again. No other stones glowing... nowhere else.

"Guess I’ve got no choice."

I step toward the protrusion.

Carefully. Slowly. Down I go.

"Phew..."

Managed to land on the protrusion.

Need ten, right? Two of them, so twenty total.

I pick up the stones and toss them back up onto the cliff.

After throwing exactly twenty, she climbed up onto the cliff’s edge.

“Fuu……”

Tired. Nothing specific happened, but... just mentally drained.

Pick up the stone and return it to its original place.

Risha had already returned. The arrow made of abnoi grass was gone—looks like that side was ready.

"Master, are you alright? You look pale... and your clothes are soaked with sweat."

I’m fine. Just a little tired.

Is that so.

Risha let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.

Leave her behind, slide the Bushino stone into the magic circle.

Ten on each side.

The arrow vanished. The rune circle flared to life.

Same as when the universal remedy manifests.

And the house was built.

A wooden house, just big enough for one person to live in, had been built.

A house like a cottage.

"Can you really make something like this from just that kind of material?"

Muttered absently. Not that there was any law of conservation of mass, but still—using 2,500 units of magic, that was probably why.

Stepped inside. The interior was surprisingly well-put together.

Felt perfectly livable as-is. Sure, furniture and all that would be needed, but… still.

I stepped back out and said to Risha:

“Which one do you prefer?”

“Huh?”

“Which house? They’re the same, but pick whichever you like.”

“M-me? But… this wasn’t made for me, was it? For Master Madway?”

“Huh? Oh—right, I’ll build one for him later. This one’s yours.”

“M-master… thank you…”

Risha’s eyes welled up.

Clearly, happy tears.

The moment a single tear dropped to the ground—

——Magic charged: +20,000.