Chapter 63
Chapter 63
On my birthday, Miron left for Nubiar.
I wanted to see him off until he boarded the portal, but Calix Krauvel threatened me to mind my own work, so I couldn’t.
Still, perhaps because the migration project had satisfied him, Miron never returned, nor did any other elves come again.
Having safely passed that critical hurdle, Nubiar accelerated the construction of the reservoir and sluice gates that had been temporarily halted.
I also focused on preparations for the summer monsoon. In addition to the drainage construction, buildings were repaired, and residents of structures too dilapidated to fix were relocated elsewhere.
In case problems occurred during the monsoon season, evacuation shelters were also designated so people could immediately take refuge.
I even paid attention to small details—protecting food with oil-coated cloth so it wouldn’t rot and installing covers over wells to prevent rainwater from entering.
Perhaps construction on Nubiar’s side had progressed smoothly as well, because less than a month after the migration work was completed, they sent word that the retention basin and sluice gate construction had also been finished.
With all preparations complete, exactly one week later—
Shaa—
The summer monsoon, which the residents of Belheim feared most, began.
Thick sheets of rain poured down endlessly, as if a hole had opened in the sky. It truly could not even be compared with the autumn monsoon.
And yet I felt no anxiety at all.
The preparations were perfect. This time we had even built models and tested everything, so there was absolutely nothing to worry about.
I’m a little worried about Nubiar, though.
I hadn’t been able to personally confirm whether the retention basin and sluice gate construction had been done properly.
I had received photographs of the completed site, but since they were black-and-white, it was difficult to see clearly.
Please let nothing happen.
Otherwise I wouldn’t be able to clear the Main Quest.
With that desperate wish in mind, I checked the Quest Window several times a day.
If everything had held, the quest completion notice would definitely appear.
A week passed with me checking the Quest Window so often it felt like it might wear out.
Then—
[Main Quest Complete.]
[Reward: 150,000 Points Acquired.]
At last, the quest completion notice I had been waiting for appeared.
Since we didn’t go to work during the monsoon season, I had been rolling around in bed, but I immediately jumped up.
[With this, all CH2 Main Quests have been completed.]
So that really had been the final Chapter 2 quest.
[Additional Reward: 20,000 Points Acquired.]
[New items have been added to the shop.]
[Title Acquired: Slightly Famous Architect.]
“If you’re famous, you’re famous. What kind of title is ‘Slightly Famous Architect’?”
I clicked my tongue in disbelief, but then I grinned when I saw the more than 300,000 Points I had accumulated.
So this is what it feels like when just looking at something makes you feel full.
“They said the System Shop was updated too, so maybe I should go shopping.”
First I should buy nails. And if I can replace my hammer, I’ll replace that too…
“Ah, I should replace the saw first.”
After cutting wood so frequently, the saw blade had become dull and was no longer usable. The hammer wasn’t in great condition either, but the saw was more urgent right now.
“Wow, there’s even a saw that costs 300,000 Points.”
It must be that good.
Tempting as it was, it was too much for me right now. I compromised with a saw around the 100,000-Point range and used the remaining Points to buy a better hammer than before.
“A woodworking plane would be nice to have too.”
There were no planes here, so when smoothing wood grain I had to use a wide-bladed carving chisel.
It worked precisely, but if my concentration slipped even a little, mistakes happened immediately, and it took a long time.
“I should buy one and have the workshop replicate it.”
Hammers and saws were difficult to copy because their material and precision determined their performance, but a plane could be used as long as its structure and angle were correct.
“Ugh, now I only have 30,000 Points left.”
There were still many things I wanted to buy. This was a problem.
What tempted me most was sweet instant mix coffee. Coffee existed here too, but it was expensive and very bitter. You had to add a lot of sugar just to make it drinkable.
The problem was that sugar was also extremely expensive.
Because of that, I had barely drunk coffee since coming to this world.
“Ah, I want to drink it.”
Once the thought took hold, my eyes kept drifting back to it.
“One box costs 25,000 Points, but there are 180 sticks inside… It might be worth it…”
I had worked hard all this time. Wouldn’t it be fine to indulge a little for myself?
“Alright, let’s do it.”
I shut my eyes tightly and pressed the purchase button. When I opened them again, a box of instant mix coffee sat in front of me.
[Remaining Points: 5,000p]
My Points were practically depleted.
“Whether it’s salary or Points, they both just pass through your account the same way.”
Still, the fact that I had saved up this much without spending it until now was impressive enough.
I could just work hard and earn more later.
Comforting myself like that, I took the coffee mix and headed to the kitchen.
I poured the coffee mix into a cup and added boiling water. The sweet aroma spread instantly.
“Yes, this smell.”
This was real coffee.
After just one sip, my mind relaxed and my stiff thoughts seemed to start moving again.
“That’s a wonderful smell.”
Tabin, who had been in the room, also came out after smelling the fragrant coffee.
“Would you like some coffee?”
“Coffee? Did you manage to get something that expensive?”
“Yes. They gave it to me as a reward for my hard work.”
Since it was a reward I had given myself, it wasn’t technically a lie.
“Go ahead and drink.”
I prepared a cup of mix coffee for Tabin as well. He took one sip and his eyes widened.
“This is coffee?”
“Is it not good?”
“Not good? On the contrary, it’s so delicious it’s shocking!”
Tabin praised it endlessly, saying he had never tasted coffee like this in his life and that it wasn’t coffee but a masterpiece.
Seeing him enjoy it so much made me feel proud.
“If you want more, just let me know.”
“No, that’s alright. Coffee this good must be expensive. One cup is enough.”
“It’s not that expensive, so tell me anytime if you want another.”
When I insisted again, Tabin glanced at me cautiously before slowly extending his cup.
“Then… just one more…”
Honestly, his behavior was adorable for someone with such a large build.
With the heavy sound of rain pouring outside as background music, I leisurely drank coffee and chatted with Tabin.
Bang, bang bang—
Someone suddenly began knocking hard on the door.
Who would come in this weather?
“Huh? Miron?”
Through the window, I saw Miron standing outside, completely drenched by the heavy rain.
Startled, I rushed to open the front door.
“Miron, why are you here? Didn’t you return to the forest?”
“I did return, but I came back because I have something to attend to.”
“With me? No—first, come inside.”
I couldn’t leave him standing outside like that, so I brought Miron into the house. Even his raincoat had been useless—he was soaked from head to toe.
“The bathroom is over there, so go wash up. Do you have clothes to change into?”
“I do not.”
“Then I’ll bring you some. You’re fine with wearing something someone else used, right?”
Miron nodded.
Once he entered the bathroom, I placed a soft towel and Tabin’s clothes outside the door.
By the time I had wiped the water he had tracked in and prepared warm mix coffee, Miron came out of the bathroom.
I had given him the smallest clothes Tabin owned, but they were still too large.
“Sit here and drink this.”
I guided him to the sofa and handed him the cup.
After taking a sip of the mix coffee, Miron’s eyes became the widest I had ever seen them.
“What… is this?”
His reaction was exactly the same as Tabin’s.
“It’s coffee.”
“This is coffee?”
Miron took another sip as if he couldn’t believe it and then sighed in admiration.
“This is the most delicious coffee I have ever tasted in my life. How did you make it?”
I couldn’t exactly say I just opened a packet of mix coffee.
So I gave a vague answer.
“That’s a secret recipe only I know, so I can’t tell you.”
Fortunately, Miron didn’t press further.
“Aileen, not only are your architectural skills excellent, but your coffee-making skills are impressive as well.”
Instead, he looked at me with pure admiration.
All I had done was mix instant coffee, so hearing something like that made me scratch my cheek awkwardly.
“So why did you come here? Did something happen at the relocation site?”
If something had happened, he would have gone to Marquis Howell Smith instead of me.
“No. There are no problems with the relocation project. In fact, it was never something I cared about in the first place.”
What? He personally went all the way to Nubiar to demand the construction be stopped, and now he says he didn’t care?
“I came here because of another matter.”
Miron gripped his cup tightly and slowly began to speak, looking tense.
“To resolve that matter, Aileen… I absolutely need your help.”