Chapter 449 - The Art of Tofu Architecture
“—Whoa.”
“...I’m so tiiiiiired!”
It’s probably been about four or five hours in total since we seriously started working.
I cut down a mountain of trees, the menfolk worked together to level the ground, and I primarily assembled the lumber that Nia and Nonomi-chan-san processed one after another—
What we ended up with was a rugged log house that you couldn't call stylish even as a compliment… or more accurately, a wooden box with a door that I wasn't even sure qualified as a log house.
I mean, it's to be expected. The only two artisans we have are a ‘Jewel Crafter & Tailor’ and a ‘Pure Tailor.’ No one else had any construction know-how, so we basically forced this glorious tofu house into existence through sheer brute force.
With the basic [Magic Craft] skill, they could process materials like wood and stone… but for them, who were used to making clothes, the scale of everything was completely different. It’s amazing they pushed through and worked so hard.
Ultimately, all we really need are walls, a floor, and a roof. As long as we're not sleeping out in the open, we have a basic sense of security, and as long as we have that, there's no problem.
During this event, we get a debuff that makes us unable to act if we don't eat and sleep properly, but on the flip side, as long as we meet those two quotas, we're golden.
It's only for about four days and three nights. Our superhuman bodies don't need a luxury suite.
"Good work. No, seriously, great work."
And so, I offered my heartfelt praise to the two crimson flowers who had perfectly completed a job they not only had no experience in but had likely never even attempted before.
The [Milmarinus] slumped to the ground, exhausted, while the [Splendidly Colored Beauty] collapsed backward onto the dirt with a flourish. To be frank, for the guys, just the fact that ‘this is the shelter these two built for us’ probably gives it more value than a high-class hotel.
Well, I was the one who did the actual assembly, though.
"You worked hard too… Thanks for the heavy lifting…"
"That was a huge help… Just what you'd expect from a ranker… Fuhehe, heh."
They were both utterly exhausted, and for good reason. They had transformed countless logs into lumber.
They'd struggled with the unfamiliar task of creating building materials, going through endless trial and error, and somehow managed to complete the impossible mission of drawing up architectural plans using the same methods they'd use for clothing patterns. They'd tried to assemble it, only for it to fail; they'd put it together, only for it to collapse; and when they thought they were finished, there were gaps everywhere, forcing them to start over.
Unlike me, for whom this was hardly physical labor, they had been wracking their brains for hours. It goes without saying which of the two is more exhausting in a virtual world.
The sight of the large and small boxy structures, like wooden prefabricated huts, was pretty surreal, but as someone who knew the struggle it took to get here, I was genuinely moved.
Anyone who complains will be sentenced to a dose of [Shinden]—well, not that anyone would dare criticize a joint effort by Nonomi and Nia. Men are such wonderfully simple creatures.
"Should we put up a nameplate or something? I mean, you can probably tell by the size, but still."
"Ah, yeah, you're right. It'd be awkward if the guys wandered in by accident, so we should probably be clear about that."
We had built two log houses, one large and one small, for men and women respectively, with a massive communal one right between them. The two on the sides were, of course, for sleeping, while the central one served as a banquet hall and a shared supply depot.
The food we'd gathered, the materials—and the [Stardust Relics (Lapis)] each person had acquired—would likely all be stored here together.
This event is a complete unknown, with no clear path forward. During our earlier meal, the conversation had flowed in all sorts of directions, not just about the unusual ingredients. In the process, a general policy had been decided upon by a unanimous vote of all thirty-six group members.
Our top priority is for everyone to survive and clear the event. We'll focus on helping each other, and all rewards will be split evenly. So, the only thing that currently resembles a ‘reward,’ the [Stardust Relics (Lapis)], will be divided equally among all group members on the final day.
It wasn't quite a unanimous decision at first. A few people suggested, “The two artisans and the chef will have a much bigger workload, so maybe they should get a larger share?” But the three of them shook their heads, so that was rejected.
Conversely, the three of them suggested, “Actually, you can give our share to the combat members who are out there earning it,” but all the combat members shook their heads, so that was also rejected.
This spirit of mutual concession is truly wonderful—it’s just so… Arcadian.
This is the part that feels so unlike an MMO; it’s a utopia so peaceful it’s almost scary.
In the first place, we don't even know what we get for bringing back the [Stardust Relics (Lapis)], or if we're even supposed to bring them back. We've decided to aim for survival, but what happens if you die during the event? Can you respawn? We know absolutely nothing.
That's why we adopted the policy of ‘Let’s just cooperate like crazy,’ and for better or worse, we're taking a relaxed approach. I don't dislike that kind of laid-back attitude at all—
"…Can I ask you something?"
"Oh, what's up?"
As I was carving a picture into a piece of wood with the blade of my Bullet, diligently making a ‘nameplate,’ a voice called out from behind me. I turned around to the questioning tone and saw Nia peering intently at my handiwork with a matching expression.
Too close, too close. Don't try to rest your chin on my shoulder.
"What is that, exactly?"
"A portrait of you, Nia-chan."
"Wh-What…?! With all due respect, it looks more like that monkey from before!"
"I'm kidding. It's my attempt at depicting the universal image of a girl."
"I'm telling you, it doesn't even look human!"
I swear, while I may have weaknesses like a poor naming sense, my artistic skills are average. I believe they're average.
I mean, come on, nobody's ever tried to draw a picture on wood with a knife before, right…?
"Oh my, what an unexpected weakness…"
"Wait, no, you're wrong. If I had paper and a pen, it wouldn't turn into this poorly made, indescribable thing that looks like a botched Fukuwarai game—"
"Hey, if you're aware of that, why did you say it was a portrait of me? Even for a joke, isn't that a little too mischievous? Huh? Hmm???"
"Whoa, wait, wait, calm down…! It was just a little fun! I just got carried away by the survival in the great outdoors, hey, stop, stop it, you…!"
After that, the two girls, who had gotten into the spirit of things, ganged up on me and used me as their plaything… and in the end, my ‘carving of an indescribable monkey’ was put on grand display in the common area. With that public shaming, my little prank was officially forgiven.
My dignity, however, did not survive, did it?
Oh well, what's done is done. In fact, I'll just hold my head high and act like they should all be worshipping my avant-garde art.
Truth be told, his artistic talent isn't much better with a pen and paper.