Grand Opening Rice Cakes

011.

"No, why? Is it because of the mod?"

In the game, there is no case where the Empire randomly sends an airship flying over out of nowhere.

Even so, the air soon whips through the bushes as a pure white airship lands.

Chwi-i-i-ik-.

That place happens to be near our settlement, the very spot where the trade caravan stayed last time.

Vivian and her sisters were watching it while [ Tightly holding each other's hands ].

Chi-i-i-ik-.

Soon, the vehicle's doors swung upward like wings, and six heavily armed soldiers in pure white armor came marching out with chwak-chwak-chwak-chwak sounds.

They form ranks in front of the vehicle.

I held my breath at the sudden overwhelming pressure.

Soon, a young child popped out and displayed [ Laying out a red carpet ], and out from the center of it stepped a guy with hair like Mozart.

"W-What is this? Was it originally like this?"

Mozart was dressed in aristocratic attire. He was wearing a white shirt with frills, gold trousers, and sported white aristocratic powdered hair.

Mozart soon walked forward, flinched briefly upon seeing the three sisters, and then displayed [ Pulling out a scroll ].

Text bubbles pop up.

"Ah, ah, fuck. Is there no skip button for this?"

But the text comes up way too slowly. This fucking Mozart talks so damn slow.

Vivian was listening [ Politely ], Second was [ Yawning ], and the youngest was [ Counting on her fingers ] as if counting something.

"...incarnation of mercy who bestowed the first well upon the Southern Desert, sole successor continuing the legitimacy of the fallen ancient dynasty, blessed one upon whose head the grand priests of twenty-six temples personally placed the crown, master of tolerance who forgave three traitorous dukes overnight yet scale of justice who showed no mercy to the fourth, shield protecting the lands of humanity from the whispers of the Outer Gods, living law and walking order—among the servants of His Majesty the Emperor, I am Theodore, Chief Scribe to the Aide of the Keeper of the Key to the Eighth Gate."

As I read it, my eyebrows twitched for a moment.

"This motherfucker! He was just talking unnecessarily long!"

This damn AI character really committed to his roleplay concept.

The flow wasn't like the game at all, and his babbling was so long that I focused and read carefully just in case, only to realize he's introducing himself as the scribe to the aide of a servant of the Emperor.

He's not even someone high-ranking.

Vivian greeted him simply.

He soon displayed [ Clearing his throat with a 'Ahem-hem-hem' ], then displayed [ Glancing around nervously ], and opened his mouth once more.

"No, this asshole prattles on forever and then tells us to keep it concise? Haaa..."

First of all, he's a total fool.

At least his business was clear.

I wondered what it was about, but seeing that he mentioned 'registering', it seems he just came out to investigate since a new settlement popped up in the region.

Whether Vivian wisely caught on to his meaning or not, she displayed [ Stepping forward with a smile ].

At that, the Imperial folks all flinched momentarily.

"What, why are they acting like this?"

Vivian bowed her head again.

At that, the Imperial folks all displayed [ Sighing with relief ].

"Honestly..."

I don't know why the image of an Outer God is like this.

However, if I think about the concept of this mod where the player is an Outer God...

'Hmm...'

Even I've done plenty of inhumane things, so I can understand the context.

Soon Mozart displayed [ Wiping sweat ].

"What. That's what it was?"

These guys came to pitch insurance. Asking if we have any intention of being incorporated into the Empire.

This route exists in the game too.

<Path of the Empire>

Well, there are various benefits given, and it's an ending ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠route worth trying at least once, but I've done it so many times that it's no fun.

Fearing that our girls might get tempted, I immediately clicked send Revelation.

Vivian looked up at the sky and answered immediately.

Mozart flinched.

Soon Mozart paused for a brief moment. Then he displayed [ Grunt ] and wore an understanding expression.

He displayed [ Scratching his head with a quill pen ] again and carefully spoke up once more.

"Hmm... Interesting, huh?"

The AI mod is definitely different.

This was asking whether it's okay to give us things like quests.

Normally, the game doesn't have this process.

Without any communication or meeting, an Imperial quest window would just pop up out of nowhere.

Because this is an AI mod, it seemed to conduct prior negotiations like this.

I carefully stroked my chin and began to deliberate.

For now, there's no need to take the <Path of the Empire>. But there's also no reason to keep too much distance. Among the quests given by the Empire, there are plenty of sweet honey-pot quests that can be easily exploited with tricks.

I issued a Revelation to Vivian, who was waiting for my response.

Mozart displayed [ Looking at Vivian with a startled flinch ], and soon also displayed [ Writing something on the parchment ].

Watching this, it feels like an MOU, but they're going through all the proper steps.

Rustle, rustle. The signing came to an end.

Once the consultation concluded, Mozart soon displayed [ Clapping hands together ].

The two soldiers standing in front began groaning as they unloaded boxes from the airship.

"Huh, what? There's something like this too?"

The boxes open one by one.

[ Silver Coins x200 ]

[ Mechanical Components x8 ]

[ Comms Console (Small) ]

"Eh? What kind of item is this?"

My eyes landed on the Comms Console (Small).

It's a radio-like device used to call passing trade caravans or communicate with other factions.

In the original game, it's something you have to grind components for and build yourself.

However, whether it was a mod-exclusive item or something, I received a small pre-assembled product.

It seemed like an item placed there to make the most of the language AI mod's features.

Once all the supplies were unloaded, Mozart displayed [ Fastening his collar with a snap ].

He displayed [ Puffing out his chest proudly ]. His voice held twice as much energy as when he recited those titles earlier.

"Ugh, babbling at length again."

Vivian displayed [ Politely bowing her head ].

Mozart turned around with a satisfied face. The soldiers followed behind him with chwak-chwak-chwak-chwak steps, and the child from earlier hastily rolled the carpet back up.

Chwi-i-i-ik-.

The airship rose, blowing the bushes about. Beyond the window, Mozart was even displaying [ Waving hand ].

"Man, my ears are gonna bleed."

Still, well, that guy named Theodore doesn't seem like a bad guy.

Meanwhile, Second was flabbergasted.

However, the reaction from our girls was somewhat strange. Vivian displayed [ Clasping both hands together ], and then spoke in a trembling voice.

"No, why is she like this again..."

In reality, this quest didn't even exist in the original game; it was a quest treaty generated by the mod—like a gift of opening rice cakes.

"Hmm..."

I was about to dissuade their feelings, but then I thought it might be quite a unique emotional moment for our girls.

After all, they were on the brink of death until recently, and now a massive entity like the Empire put their worshipped God's name on an official document and even left tribute items behind.

"Tsk. Well, if they're happy with it themselves."

I decided not to correct her. What's good for our girls is good.

The three sisters grunted as they moved the accepted 'tributes' inside.

In particular, the Comms Console (Small) was small like a radio, so it could be installed right on top of the dining table.

I thought the briefly chaotic event was coming to an end like that.

However, that evening, before the heat that the engine of Mozart's airship had warmed in the bushes could even cool down...

Chik- chik-chik-.

Vivian, who was chatting with her younger sisters at the dining table in front of the console, displayed [ In a Panic ].

She looked back at her younger sisters. Then she displayed [ Looking up at the sky with trembling hands ].

Because Vivian felt a sense of responsibility from receiving the items, she assumed accepting the quest was a given and was even contemplating helping them out.

"Aigoo. My child."

This is a type of quest that pops up occasionally in the game too. And as far as I know, it's the sweetest of sweet quests. There's no way we'll get hurt.

Still, Vivian was so cute that I decided to tease her a bit.

And then, thinking I sounded like a real god, I was chuckling to myself, but...

Vivian looked up at the sky for a long moment, then displayed [ Calming her trembling ] and displayed [ Pressing the response button firmly ].

She seemed to have made an immense resolve.

Chik-.

"Okey-dokey~ Y'all come on in."

While I was singing a cheerful tune, Vivian was acting somewhat strange.