Kays Translations

Chapter 148: The Woman of Interest

 Day 357 of life in another world– 23,256 points

A night had passed since the massive migration of refugees, and the population of the pioneer settlement had significantly increased.

About half of the excessively built barracks were now filled, providing a sigh of relief. Looking at it optimistically, with double the space per person, the comfort level should have improved.

Since yesterday was chaotic, the statistics of the refugees had been postponed, but now it was finally time to confirm.

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 (Dog Tribe): 166 people

 (Rabbit Tribe): 42 people

 (Cat Tribe): 162 people

 (Wolf Tribe): 33 people

 (Mouse Tribe): 150 people

 (Tiger Tribe): 10 people

 (Sheep Tribe): 142 people

 (Fox Tribe): 10 people

 (Bear Tribe): 125 people

 (Japanese): 50 people

 (Monkey Tribe): 100 people

Total: 1,010 people

====================

The balance between races, except for some, wasn't bad.

The combat-specialized Wolf Tribe and Tiger Tribe were fewer among the refugees because they were active in their territories in the north. The reason for the low number of Fox Tribe members was clear—they had a Fox Tribe Lord now.

The majority thought, "We, the same race, should receive preferential treatment." Even among those who remained at the Lord's Manor, most were Fox Tribe members.

As for the Rabbit tribe who had been hiding in the western forest, they quickly became friendly upon finding Rado and the others. By the way, all members of this tribe had moved to the pioneer settlement.

"Haruka-san, the registration for everyone is complete. No issues, so we're ready for guidance."

"Yes, then let's transfer one by one. There are coordinators in the village as well, so please follow their guidance."

This marked the seventh "Villager Certification Ceremony." Tsubaki and Haruka were smoothly guiding the process.

This time, 150 people became villagers, including 50 Japanese and the original 50 pioneers. Among them, the Japanese appeared relatively energetic as they moved—.

"Phew... Finally, we can take a breather. Good job with the appraisal, Keisuke-san."

"No, no, Tsubaki has a tougher job, no matter how you look at it. With the substantial increase in pioneers, maybe it's time to consider adding an assistant?"

"Yes, it shouldn't cause any issues to our operations... i have a few candidates in mind, so I'll proceed with that."

"Yeah, please do it as soon as possible. —But seriously, the number of villagers increased at once, huh. It's 731 now. Of course, it's a happy complaint, but..."

"Hehe, the faith points are also increasing."

"But, again, it feels like we're going to lose a lot."

While sharing such banter, we decided to spend a leisurely morning.

Today was designated as a full holiday, allowing everyone to spend their time freely. Naturally, the refugees were included. Considering the fatigue from the long-distance travel and the mental burden, they planned to give them about five days of rest before starting the pioneer work.

(No need to rush; I hope they'll gradually get used to it.)

—With that said, I decided to suspend the food supply to the council.

It seemed unlikely that any more decent settlers would come, and we had already stocked up on magic tools, alcohol, and other items that were only available in town. There were decades' worth of stockpiles. Of course, the Merry Company had also prepared a system for a quick retreat.

Well, that's just a front. The decisive factor for discontinuing the transaction was Zebas... or rather, the response from the Lord and the Council. With a more clever maneuver, we could have been persuaded. For instance, if they had said, "We fully support the resettlement of refugees," I wouldn't have been so dismissive, and we would have continued the food trade.

(I heard the Fox Tribe Lord was skillful... but judging from Zebas's attitude, it doesn't seem that way.)

◇◇◇

In the afternoon of that day, the customary welcome party was being held.

Even if it was a stupidly large cafeteria, when this many people gathered, it became too cramped. They were somewhat forcing their way in, and there were even people standing. Rudorg and the others discussed expanding the cafeteria.

"Hey, Rudorg, if we expand it, should we make it two stories?"

"Yeah, that would be the only option if we keep it here. It's already spread out to the max. Rebuilding it in a different section or making it two stories here—those are the only two choices."

"For me, keeping it in this location is best. It's right in the center of the village."

"You can always take the food home, you know?"

"I'd like to do that later. At least until the villagers get to know each other."

There are so many people. Of course, there are people who want to eat alone and quietly. But it's still early. I wanted to maintain this state until the number of villagers slowed down and we became familiar friends.

It doesn't mean you have to be friends with everyone. I just want people to know each other's faces and names, and to avoid being like, "Hey, who is that?"

"Alright! The first floor will be the regular cafeteria, and the second floor will be a tavern-slash-cafeteria, or something like that. Well, since you're the boss, you'll probably come here every day anyway, right? So, I'll listen to your proposals each time."

"I appreciate that. It's not about repayment, but before withdrawing from the city, I'll stock up on some quality alcohol."

"Oh, you understand well! —Oh, it seems like it's about to start."

With the discussion of cafeteria expansion concluded, the self-introduction of the newly arrived villagers began.

Starting with greetings from tribal units, there were introductions between families and acquaintances, as well as individuals who stood on the stage. Some kept it brief, while others made extended self-appeals, showcasing various personalities. It would be incredibly nerve-wracking, but at least for the first time, I wanted them to do their best.

With each speech, a resounding applause erupted from the villagers. In a group of over 700, it felt like some kind of award ceremony. There were some drunk people, but there were no taunts or provocations. The self-introductions continued in a warm atmosphere—.

In the midst of this, a Japanese woman stood on the stage.

"Nice to meet you, I'm Juri. My profession is 'Architect.'"

(Huh...?)

"In the western city, I used my skills to create architectural models. I made a living selling them, but now I'm here under your care. Everyone, please treat me well!"

(Is creating architectural models a skill? I feel like I've heard that voice somewhere...)

While feeling a sense of déjà vu, I decided to appraise the woman named Juri.

Juri  Level 6　

30 years old

Villager: Loyalty 64

Occupation: Architect

Skills:

- Design Level 3: Allows measurement within visual range of distance, height, angle, and weight.

- Model Level 3: Consumes materials to create objects based on imagination, targeting soil, wood, and stone.

This Juri-san possesses two skills, both of which seem quite interesting. As a surveyor for the village, her skills could be valuable. The modeling skill, depending on how it's utilized, could lead to impressive results...

By the way, is this person really 30 years old with that appearance? She looks more like someone in their 20s, or at worst, late teens. Her distinctive voice makes her seem even younger.

"And, well, there are limitations on the size you can create."

While the explanation continued, a live demonstration using firewood was taking place. Juri-san had a model in her hands that resembled the village church. She completed it in the blink of an eye, receiving thunderous applause from the villagers, and she looked delighted herself.

"Ah, by the way, I can't make weapons. I don't know why, but it seems to be limited to construction-related items. Even so, I hope to contribute to the development of the village."

After this clarification, she made a polite bow and returned to her seat. Even without the ability to create weapon models, her skills were still impressive. She seemed likely to play a role in the construction plans for the village and the pioneer settlement.

—Soon, after everyone finished their self-introductions, the official banquet began. Existing villagers actively engaged in conversations, welcoming the newcomers throughout.

Honestly, with this many people, it was becoming challenging to match names to faces. As the village chief, people should recognize me. In that case, I should also make an effort to memorize names and faces to avoid any unintentional rudeness.

(But that person from earlier is bothering me. If they're an acquaintance or a celebrity, I should be able to recall them easily... Well, whatever. I'll ask directly next time.)

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