Episode 18.
Becoming Known
[The clothing store construction is complete.]
[You successfully built the building by perfectly following the guidelines.]
[Completeness of the finished building +10%]
[Durability of used materials +10%]
[Maintenance cost after construction –5%]
“I’ve finished.”
Arlen put down the hammer, looking satisfied as he gazed at the clothing store he built himself.
The clothing store, crafted intricately with wood, gave off a warm and cozy atmosphere.
The natural grain of the wood shone softly in the sunlight.
It was cozy and neat.
Alfredo, who was watching the clothing store, felt a strong sense of discomfort and tilted his head.
“But something feels off.”
“What is it?”
“Isn’t this clothing store different from the one we saw in Lete Village? It definitely didn’t look like this…”
“It’d be boring if I copied it exactly. I just added my own details.”
“Ah, I see now…”
Ding!
At that moment, an alarm rang.
Messages kept coming as if the message window had not ended.
[You have achieved an amazing feat.]
[You succeeded in building the clothing store by your own hands without relying on any skills.]
[Strength, Stamina +1]
[Dexterity +2]
[Experience points for Star Hands, Star Architecture, and Star Design skills increased.]
[You have gained job experience points.]
[Your level has increased.]
Aren’s stats increased, and he leveled up.
He opened the status window, allocated the raised stats to Dexterity, then closed it.
‘It’s confirmed.’
Aren nodded.
The phrase “without relying on skills” on the message nagged him.
‘I’m not completely ignoring them, right?’
Even this construction used Star Hands, Star Design, and Star Architecture skills passively.
Yet that message appeared, meaning the system was referring to “skills” as those related to automatic building used by users.
That was clear now.
“One question solved. Let’s check now.”
Aren inspected the clothing store options.
[Unique Clothing Store LV. 1]
Grade: C
Description: A clothing store built by a very skilled carpenter who added his own ideas to the existing form.
Built with oak wood, it is very sturdy.
Staff: [None] <Available for Hire>
Visitors: 0
Maintenance Cost: 43 gold
Durability: 575,000/575,000
Options: Durability Reinforcement
Probability of customers visiting +10%
Quality of goods sold +10%
Resident satisfaction +10%
<Hidden Option>
Sells clothing with special options.
“How is this? But how do I hire staff?”
“Ah! There are several ways to hire.”
“What are they?”
“First, you can press the hire button. It’s the easiest. Just press, and it’s done.”
“Really? What else?”
“Direct hiring.”
“Direct?”
“Yes. The village chief can personally find and hire talent. If you’re lucky, you can find someone skilled.”
“Hmmm…”
Arlen stroked his chin.
Since he didn’t have time to find talent himself now, he pressed the hire button.
[Would you like to hire a clothing store staff member?]
“Yes.”
[You have hired a clothing store staff member.]
A small light flickered, and a woman appeared before Arlen.
She had short hair and wore glasses.
She smiled and bowed to Arlen.
“Hello, Village Chief? I’m Delia, the clothing store staff~ Nice to meet you~”
“I’m Arlen. This is…”
“I’m Alfredo, the Village Chief’s right hand and butler.”
“Ah… yes.”
For a moment, Delia’s gaze towards Alfredo was cold, but Arlen ignored it.
“Then, I look forward to working with you.”
“Hehe, yes! I’ll do my best to fill your pockets so you won’t regret hiring me, Chief!”
“…Alright.”
Watching Delia respond cheerfully, Arlen reopened the clothing store status window.
Staff: Delia
Visitors: 0
Maintenance Cost: 68 gold
‘Maintenance cost appeared.’
Maintenance cost increased after hiring Delia.
“What’s this maintenance cost…?”
“Maintenance cost covers Delia’s salary, building repairs, and restocking goods for the clothing store.”
‘Base maintenance cost is 50 gold, and each hired person adds 30 gold, right?’
Originally, maintenance cost was 80 gold.
But due to the Star Design option and the “Novice Village Chief” title effect, it was reduced by 15%.
“The clothing store is only level 1 now, but as the level rises, you can hire more staff and sell various goods.”
Building the clothing store was not the end.
As Arlen’s level rose and the village expanded, he could level up the clothing store.
That would naturally expand the shop and increase the variety of goods sold.
‘So that’s how it works?’
“What happens if I don’t pay maintenance?”
“It’s okay to miss a few times, but the quality of goods will drop accordingly. And Delia might run away.”
“Ah.”
No one wants to work without getting paid.
Staff need salary to maintain responsibility and motivation.
Without it, responsibility fades and motivation drops.
‘I must make payments properly.’
“Got it.”
Having grasped the overall flow, Arlen nodded.
“Hey? A clothing store just opened here?”
At that moment, villagers discovered the clothing store and began gathering one by one.
Their faces brightened.
Naturally.
“Finally we can buy clothes!”
“I was worried about having no clothes to change into… this is such a relief.”
Thanks and gratitude flowed.
[Villagers are cheering loudly as the clothing store appears in the village.]
[Villagers’ satisfaction increases by 10%.]
[Villagers’ discontent decreases by 10%.]
[The rumor about the new clothing store spreads, increasing the chance of immigrants arriving.]
[Reputation increases.]
“Village Chief, thank you. You even built a clothing store for us…”
“Thank you~!!”
“Thanks to you, we can finally take off these dirty clothes!!”
Villagers came up and bowed in gratitude to Arlen.
Aren scratched his head awkwardly.
He never imagined the villagers would be this happy.
“I just did what had to be done.”
“Many lords didn’t do what they had to. That’s why we fled.”
One villager gently held Arlen’s hand, smiling softly in thanks.
“The lord of the territory we lived in only filled his own belly with taxes he took, never spending on us.”
“Well, that’s why we ran away.”
“Haha! We almost died several times while running away.”
“They didn’t even fix the well properly, so we once walked for an hour to fetch water…”
“I wonder what useless things they spent our taxes on… sigh…”
Villagers each shared their complaints.
Aren was surprised.
‘These are not ordinary immigrants.’
He had thought they were just ordinary NPCs who came because houses were built. But they had their own stories.
They spoke like real living people.
‘This is an amazing game…’
“Anyway, thanks to you, Village Chief, we can live comfortably now.”
“Thank you.”
No matter how many thanks they expressed, it was never enough.
Aren could not hide his embarrassment.
“Ah, ahem… I’m glad you like it.”
After that, the villagers scattered and returned to their homes.
A strange afterglow lingered.
He had only wanted to build a house when he started playing. He never imagined he’d end up here.
It was no lie to say he felt the burden.
But.
‘I don’t mind it.’
Aren clenched his fist and moved forward.
“Village Chief, where are you going?”
“Where else?”
Arlen smiled and said,
“I’m going to build a restaurant.”
There was still much to do.
And a few hours passed again.
[The restaurant construction is complete.]
[You succeeded in building the building by perfectly following the guidelines.]
[Quest ‘Solving food, clothing, and shelter’ cleared.]
[You have successfully solved all the necessities for human survival.]
[Residents are very satisfied.]
[You gained experience points.]
[Your level has increased.]
[Satisfaction increases by 10%.]
[Discontent decreases…]
[Chance of immigrants arriving…]
[As the village chief responsible for the village, you have finally taken a step forward.]
[Unique Title Condition Achieved – ‘A Step of the Village Chief’]
[A Step of the Village Chief]
Grade: A (Unique)
Effect: Increases resident satisfaction.
Decreases resident discontent.
Increases chance of immigrants arriving by 10%.
Increases resource production by 10%.
Increases construction speed by 10%.
Decreases building material consumption by 10%.
Quest cleared.
“Check!”
[Food Paradise Restaurant LV. 1]
Grade: C
Description: A restaurant built by a very skilled carpenter who added his own ideas to the existing form.
The interior is spacious and the atmosphere is good.
Built with oak wood, it is very sturdy.
Staff: [None] <Available for Hire>
Chef: [None] <Available for Hire>
Visitors: 0
Maintenance cost: 43 gold
Durability: 575,000/575,000
Options: Enhances taste of dishes +20%
Chance of customers visiting +10%
Resident satisfaction +10%
Effect of dishes +10%
Duration of dish effects +20%
<Hidden option>
Enhances dish options.
Arlen immediately hired a restaurant staff member and a chef.
“Just make sure to pay the salary on time! Then I’ll do my best!”
“Don’t worry about that. I’ll make sure of the payment.”
“Haha! I’ll work hard as much as I’m paid! If you visit later, I’ll show you paradise in taste!”
Now he had taken a step forward.
But this step was not just any step; it was a great step signaling a new beginning.
Arlen knew.
‘I still have a lot to prepare.’
There were many duties left as village chief.
North forest of Lete Village.
A user holding a rusty sword was cautiously walking through a wolf-inhabited forest.
His face showed exhaustion.
“Phew… I’m tired and hungry…”
His fullness was low.
He had eaten all the bread he brought, so he might starve if he didn’t resolve it quickly.
‘Should I just go back to town? But…’
[Your fullness is too low.]
[All stats are greatly reduced.]
[Attack power –10%]
[Attack speed –20%]
[Accuracy –30%]
[Movement speed –30%]
“Ugh…”
The debuff was severe.
Now he understood why his friend told him to buy plenty of bread before hunting.
‘It’s too far to go back to town… Am I really going to die like this?’
“Ugh… this is…”
The user struggled to walk.
Then,
“Here…”
He saw something.
He thought there was nothing except wolves in this forest.
No, there was one thing.
‘There’s supposed to be a quest abandoned village, right?’
He heard it was a deserted village.
No people, all the buildings decayed and just ruins.
But…
“This is supposed to be an abandoned village?”
It was different from what he heard.
There were people in the village that was supposed to be empty, and the buildings, said to be old, shone as if new.
He rubbed his eyes multiple times thinking it was a mistake, but nothing changed.
“Is this a real village? What’s this smell…?”
Sniff sniff.
A delicious smell floated on the breeze.
The user was drawn in like hypnotized to follow the delicious aroma.
And he found the restaurant.
“Wow! This is great! It’s different from the one in Lete Village!”
How to say it?
The restaurant in Lete Village looked shabby from the outside and was a bit unpleasant to enter.
The interior was narrow, too.
But this restaurant looked clean and neat from its exterior.
The large windows showed a spacious interior, looking nice.
‘It feels really sophisticated, like a real restaurant.’
“Ah… I can’t hold it in anymore.”
Drawn by the delicious smell, the user could not resist and entered the restaurant.
The tables were nicely arranged.
“Welcome! Are you alone?”
“Oh, yes.”
“Then please come this way. What would you like to eat?”
“Well… I don’t have much gold…”
“How about this? It’s potato stew and only costs 300 silver.”
“Really?”
300 silver is 3,000 won.
No matter if the user was a beginner, considering what he had gained hunting so far, he could pay.
“I’ll take that.”
“I’ll bring it shortly.”
The staff brought the potato stew quickly.
“Enjoy your meal.”
“Wow…”
White steam rose.
Well-cooked potatoes floated on the stew, looking very appetizing.
“This really looks delicious.”
It was on a different level from the potato stew in Lete Village.
The savory aroma stimulated his nose.
“First…”
“Check!”
[Savory Potato Stew]
Grade: C
Description: A stew prepared with utmost care by a skilled chef.
Very tasty and long-lasting fullness.
Effect lasts 120 minutes.
Options: Strength +2
Stamina +2
Attack power +3%
Fullness boost +30%
“This is… crazy…”
The user was shocked to see the stew’s options.
Strength and stamina both increased by 2.
Considering that one level up gives 1 bonus stat, it’s like being 4 levels higher.
‘Even the attack power?’
That was not all.
The user nervously tasted the stew and opened his eyes wide.
“It’s delicious!”
The savory potato flavor burst in his mouth and he couldn’t help but admire it.
It was far better than the one in Lete Village.
The 300 silver was never a waste.
‘What on earth is this village?’
“No… I can’t keep this to myself…”
He immediately posted on the Illusion community.
[There is a famous restaurant in the abandoned village north of Lete that sells C-grade buff stew.]
That’s how Arlen’s village began to become known little by little.
