Reconstruction and Defense

In the town of Beesque, I used DORECA’s Silver Card.

I applied the card’s ability “Repair” to the broken church, and had the two slaves gather materials for me.

When the church stood restored—no, better than before, like new—everyone in town cheered.

“W-what’s this?”

I answered Agafon, stunned.

“My ability… a little magic, really. I can make things, fix broken ones. That kind of magic.”

“Can you fix other things too?”

“Can fix ‘em… just keep waving the magic at everything. The light’ll guide me to the materials. You just tell people what to do.”

Agafon was the son of the former village chief. I figured I’d leave it to him.

I wandered the town, fixing everything the monsters had wrecked—piece by piece.

Magic drained like water, but whatever. It recharges. No big deal.

After finishing up, I ask Agafon.

“Say, what about food? I’ve been going around, but it feels like there’s not much of it.”

“That’s right… In this ruined world, securing proper food is difficult.”

“I see. So this is what it’s like.”

I pull out a Punnyshi from the menu and make it.

“What’s this?”

“Try it.”

“Yes… Ugh, what is this? It’s incredibly bad.”

“Taste-wise, yes. How about your stomach?”

“Stomach? Ahh… my stomach’s swelling up…”

Agafon’s eyes widen in shock.

“That’s the point. It tastes terrible, but it fills your belly. Should I make more of these?”

“Please do!”

Agafon bends his back into a perfect right angle and bows his head.

Food. As expected, that’s the hardest thing to come by.

I set up a Punnyshi magic circle there.

Among the expanded list of Silver Cards, there was a "Punyshi ×10" with a mana cost of 11.

One-tenth more mana cost, but it could be made all at once.

I turned it into a large array of magic circles and left the rest to Agafon.

Repairing the house. Securing food.

After laying out the circles, I handed over command to Agafon.

"Master..."

"Should we help too?"

Risha and Mira asked.

Their expressions said they really wanted to.

"Go help somewhere, casually."

"Y-yes!"

They both dashed off happily to help.

I watched people moving around.

The townspeople, bustling about, still nodded or gave me silent thanks with their eyes whenever they passed me.

Almost everyone looked at me with gratitude—or respect.

Not a bad feeling.

If that’s how it is, I should probably make more things—just as I was thinking that—

"What’s this?"

A sudden, unfamiliar voice cut through the air.

A guy’s voice, rough and flashy—like a gangster’s.

She turned around—there was a guy, not just loud, but flashy too.

"Lord Lukiitch"

Your Grace?

Agafon stepped forward, placing himself before the man named Lukich.

"Hey, what’s this? What’s going on, all this rushing around?"

"Actually... I was attacked by a monster."

"Monster? What the hell happened?"

Yes, we managed to repel them with some help. Now we’re working on repairing the town—

"Then it doesn't matter either way."

Lukich cut off Agafon's words mid-sentence.

Agafon made a fleeting face of annoyance, then quickly returned to his original expression.

Honestly, what the hell was that?

"That's..."

Ilya explained it from the side.

—He’s the younger brother of Malart, the one tying together a few towns around here. Malart… well, he’s like a lord ruling over ten towns.

"Hmm."

So he’s the younger brother of the lord, showing off in the towns under his brother’s rule, huh.

While Eiya explains, the conversation between Agafon and Lukich continues.

“Today’s the day, I suppose. You’re here for the notice.”

“The notice?”

“You’re the son of the village chief, right? Perfect. The protection fee’s going up by ten percent. So make sure you’ve got that covered.”

“W-what—”

Agafon’s speechless. The townsfolk murmuring among themselves.

“Protection fee?”

This time, I ask Eiya.

“Every month, you pay a fee to be under Malart’s protection. That’s how it works—when trouble comes, they’re supposed to defend you….”

But I don’t need to hear the rest.

I get it. If I hadn’t shown up, the whole town might’ve been wiped out. A protection fee like that? Meaningless.

Or, frankly, it’s just a gang’s extortion money. Plain and simple.

"Please, Lord Lukiych. We can't pay any more than this. The town's people have already dwindled from monster attacks. Whether we can even afford the usual fee... it's uncertain."

"Can't pay, huh?"

"Yes."

"Then bring me a few others. One, two, three... three young women. A virgin, bring one."

Lukiych laid out his demand with brutal clarity.

Agafon fell silent.

His fist clenched so tight it trembled.

Angry, but powerless. That was the look.

"Oh? What's this? Complaining?"

"N-no, of course not."

"Then get moving. Bring them quick. Or just pay the protection fee like normal. Either way's fine with me, I don't care."

"...Damn it."

Agafon gritted his teeth, fury simmering beneath the surface.

Well, what now? I want to step in, but I don't know enough yet. Not without more context.

Just as I was weighing my options—

"Master, that house over there... wait—look!"

Risha had returned from wherever she’d been helping.

She looked at me, then froze, sensing the air.

“Huh. Looks like we’ve got a good one here.”

…What?

“Your name?”

“Eh?”

“I’m asking for your name!”

“L-likesh, but—”

“Risha, huh. Good. You come here. You’ll handle three people by yourself.”

“E-eh? E-eh?!”

“You’re Eternal Little, right? Then a strong man—”

Lukitch reached for Risha, saying that.

I stepped forward in silence, drawing Eternal Slave Reformed.

Cut upward from below—Lukitch’s arm flew off.

“…Huh?”

Lukitch stared, completely bewildered.

I didn’t bother explaining.

With the backswing, I decapitated him.

Eternal Slave Reformed, infused with magic—Lukitch’s head popped off without a sound.

He never figured out what happened. His body collapsed before he could.

“Master…”

—Magical energy charged: 50,000.

Risha grinned.

“Not touched, huh?”

“Yes! Not touched at all!”

“Good then.”

Meanwhile, unease rippled through the townsfolk.

Seeing Lukitch’s corpse, the unease spread.

...Got carried away. No regrets. But still, need to cover the fallout.

Touching the red gem, absorbing Risha into the Eternal Slave Reformed.

Swinging the flaming blade down, carving deeper into Lukitch’s body.

“This was my doing. I’ll see it through to the end.”

The murmurs quieted.

Mira arrived, drawn by the commotion. Turning the Eternal Slave Reformed’s blade into water (Mira).

A soft cheer rose.

“I’ll protect this town—develop it.”

The cheer exploded into a roar.