Chapter 12
Chapter 12
That evening, after returning home, I asked Tabin for help while we were eating dinner.
Working together would be faster than repairing everything alone. More importantly, having Tabin beside me would make it easier to persuade the residents.
After hearing my explanation, Tabin nodded readily.
“If my daughter asks for help, of course I should help.”
My daughter.
Those words stuck in my throat like a thorn.
“Thank you.”
I forced myself to smile brightly, swallowing the words I wanted to say—that I was not his real daughter.
After dinner, I headed to the storage shed to gather the equipment needed for repairs.
“Ha… how were these even meant to be used?”
The tools in this place made me sigh every time I looked at them.
The hammer’s head slipped off with the lightest swing.
The saw blade was so dull that even applying animal fat did nothing.
It made me newly respect the ancient builders who had created historical structures using tools like these.
“I should buy what I can.”
I wasn’t someone from ancient times.
There was no way I could work with equipment like this.
It felt a little wasteful to spend the points I had carefully saved, but if I was going to do it, I might as well do it properly.
Besides, tools like hammers and saws could be used for a long time once purchased.
“I want to buy both the hammer and the saw, but I don’t have enough points.”
Because I had purchased nails several times while repairing the village, I was short 10,000 points.
“Earning 10,000 points through sub quests would be impossible, right?”
Just in case, I checked the sub quests.
Even if I completed all of them, they would only add up to about 5,000 points.
And it would be impossible to complete them all by tomorrow.
“Looks like I’ll have to buy just one.”
While I was debating which tool to buy first, a system window suddenly appeared.
[★ Point Loan Available! ★
Use it right now!
※ Interest: 30% per week! (˘︶˘)]
“…What is this?”
The wording sounded like the kind of message you would see in predatory loan advertisements.
And the interest rate was 30% per week.
Even loan sharks would cry at that level.
“So you’re telling me to borrow points to repair that boy’s house and the others?”
[We’re simply trying to help because it seems like you need it.]
“If you want to help me, just give me the points.”
[That is impossible according to the rules.]
“Rules, my foot.”
Honestly, it sounded like nothing but an excuse.
Borrowing points with 30% weekly interest was obviously insane.
Yet my eyes kept drifting back to the offer because the tools here were so terrible.
Maybe I should borrow just 10,000 points…
If I worked hard on sub quests for a week, I might be able to repay it.
[Hesitation only means missing opportunities! Loan chances don’t come every day. (･ω<)☆]
…Honestly, this thing felt less like a game system and more like a demon.
“The interest is too high. Lower it a little.”
[Then don’t borrow.]
Seriously, I wanted to punch it.
[Since this is your first loan, I’ll make it interest-free for this week only. How about that?]
“Oh, that’s good.”
That meant I would effectively have two weeks to repay it.
If I worked hard to earn points during that time, I should manage.
[Transaction successful!]
The points immediately increased along with a red notification message.
Below my total points, a small line appeared:
[Points to repay: 10,000p]
It felt like the fine print in a contract—written small and unpleasant.
At least now I can buy everything.
I opened the shop to make the purchases when another system window appeared.
[There is something I forgot to mention. If, during the weekly settlement every Sunday, the loan interest exceeds twice the principal, your Life will decrease. If it decreases three times… you know what happens.]
“What?! You should have explained that from the beginning!”
If I had known about such a rule, I wouldn’t have borrowed the points!
[Please work hard on quests and repay the loan quickly. (´︶｀)]
The system said its piece and disappeared.
“Ha… this is driving me crazy.”
Was this what it felt like to be tricked by a demon?
I pressed my throbbing temples.
The next morning, I packed my tools and headed to the boy’s house with Tabin.
There were already many people gathered in front of the building.
The boy’s parents.
Neighbors living in the same building.
Even residents from houses across the alley.
More people had gathered than I expected.
“Is he the carpenter you mentioned?”
The boy’s parents asked while looking at Tabin.
Others also seemed to assume he was the carpenter.
Considering his build and gender, their misunderstanding was understandable.
“No. She’s the carpenter.”
The boy pointed at me.
Everyone’s gaze immediately turned toward me.
“That woman is a carpenter? Impossible.”
“Right. With such a frail body, how could she possibly do carpentry?”
“This looks like a scam…”
I could hear every word.
Honestly, people judged others by prejudice just the same here as in the real world.
I couldn’t entirely blame them.
As they said, carpentry was physically demanding work that was difficult for women.
Even when I accompanied my father to construction sites in my previous life, people often worried about him teaching such work to his daughter.
“I guarantee my daughter’s ability.”
Tabin stepped forward and spoke firmly.
“During the last monsoon, our Hunter’s Village survived without major damage thanks entirely to this child.”
The crowd began murmuring again.
“I’ve heard that story. Something about installing triangular roofs?”
“You’re saying that woman did that? Hard to believe…”
The gazes directed toward me were mixed with surprise and suspicion.
Most of them looked doubtful, but at least they weren’t dismissive anymore.
“I gathered everyone here to repair the building.”
Seizing the moment, I stepped forward.
“Water leakage isn’t just a problem for one household. It’s a problem for the entire building.”
I pointed at the old wooden apartment building.
“So fixing only one unit won’t solve it. The building needs overall repairs.”
In truth, not only this building but the entire neighborhood needed reconstruction.
But that was beyond my authority, so I didn’t mention it.
“So please cooperate with me.”
The people exchanged glances and murmured among themselves.
The atmosphere isn’t great.
Even though I was offering to fix the leaking houses, their reaction was lukewarm.
It wasn’t that they weren’t desperate.
They simply didn’t trust me yet.
It’s a little annoying.
I had even taken a point loan from that demon-like system to help them.
And this was the reception I received.
Understanding their attitude didn’t stop the irritation.
Maybe I should just leave.
At that moment, an elderly grandmother slowly raised her hand.
“But… wouldn’t repairing the entire building cost a lot of money?”
Ah.
Money was the issue.
People living in houses like these obviously wouldn’t have spare funds.
Most of them probably lived day-to-day.
“If you prepare the materials needed for repairs, I won’t charge any labor costs.”
The crowd began murmuring again.
“You’ll repair it for free? Is that even possible?”
“What if she fixes it poorly and runs away?”
Why did saying it was free make them even more suspicious?
I couldn’t help sighing.
“Big sister said she’d help!”
Suddenly the boy shouted.
“Theo, stop.”
Startled, the boy’s parents tried to pull him back.
But he refused to retreat.
“Isn’t it better to try something instead of doing nothing and waiting for the house to collapse?”
For such a small kid, he spoke well.
After his words, a brief silence followed.
Everyone glanced at one another until a middle-aged man standing in front spoke.
“Theo is right. I’ll entrust the repairs to her.”
“I will too.”
“Our house as well. You said we only need to prepare the materials, right? What should we bring?”
Once one person raised a hand, others began doing the same.
Just like in the Hunter’s Village, people here reacted in much the same way.
“To know what materials are needed, I’ll have to inspect each house first.”
I smiled and adjusted the bag containing my tools.
“I’ll start from the first floor and go through them one by one. In the meantime, go home and check where the water is leaking, where the walls are cracked, and where the floors are sinking.”