kscans

Chapter 456 - An Unsteady Hand at the Helm

◇You have acquired a Title◇
・『Lumberjack』

"A bit too on the nose."

I let out a small chuckle at the blunt title the system had bestowed upon me. With one job, no, two jobs... considering the scale of the scene, maybe ten jobs done, I stretched.

A diameter of about one hundred meters, I'd say.

I wasn't sure if it was a perfect circle, but I had cleared a ring of trees around the three log houses, and the view had become much clearer.

As I mercilessly swung my fists, my conscience pricked me with the thought, 'Isn't this just pure environmental destruction?' but I summarily dismissed it with the justification that it was just a game, cutting down the trees along with my guilt. I hope to be forgiven, as this is all for the sake of surviving the event.

And so, the lumbering work, a continuation from yesterday, was finished...

""—...""

The two girls stared into the distance at the literal mountain of massive trees piled up.

They were surely lamenting the daunting task that lay ahead. I'm pretty sure it wasn't my imagination that the light had faded from their indigo and orange eyes.

If only our inventories were functioning normally, cleaning up would be... well, not easy. Even if the system was lenient with the capacity for material items, trying to store a giant tree whole would probably fill up a 'bag' with just one.

Well, there was no need to process every single one.

"Let's just quickly deal with the branches and leaves, and use most of them as a 'wall' as they are. If we use our heads a bit for placement and securing them... well, we'll manage somehow."

When I offered this peaceful solution, the two of them looked visibly relieved. No, really, I had no intention of burdening them to that extent.

However, there was just one problem in order to actually manage somehow—I'm pretty bad at this kind of base-building stuff. Not so much bad as I don't really care about the details, so I tend to be careless.

Therefore, for me to take the lead in constructing the defensive wall that would be our lifeline from now on... was a bit, no, very worrying. To be blunt, I didn't want to do it.

So,

"Let's ask for help when everyone gets back. And if there's anyone who's played craft-based games, we can just dump it on—I mean, ask them to take command."

"I'm for it."

"In that case, let's work on the house until everyone gets back."

There seemed to be no objections, so I was relieved that I wouldn't have to expose my questionable taste again, following yesterday's 'artwork'... No, I'm serious, that was different.

If I had paper and a pen, I could draw illustrations at an average level—

◇◆◇◆◇

"I've been wondering since yesterday,"

"Yeah?"

"What is that?"

"I wonder... in... terior design...?"

"What do you think it says?"

"Is that even a picture?"

"Isn't it writing?"

"Ah, like hieroglyphics..."

...

"Stop it, don't look at me like that."

At lunchtime, after the guys who had been out hunting returned.

Nono-Nia, who must have overheard the questions the guys were muttering as they looked at the mysterious piece of wood hanging from the ceiling, turned to me with smug grins, and I shot them a half-lidded glare.

Even if I were to say 'Behold!' and try for a rematch now, it's not like I'm particularly good at it, so... the bar has been raised to an unreachable height.

It is truly regrettable.

As we gathered around the lunch prepared by our chef, who had already earned our complete trust by the middle of the second day—in the banquet hall, which was beginning to look quite respectable as a 'dining hall' with the tables and chairs that Nono-Nia had puzzled over and I had built.

I listened to reports from the guys who had brought back various spoils of war, and just as Tetsu-san had said, I was asked again about the 'future policy.'

I guess what they're looking for isn't so much a leader as someone to take the lead.

Originally, combatants in Arcadia basically operate in groups due to the difficulty design. These regular players, who are the foremost practitioners of that 'basic' principle, seem to be used to large numbers.

However, or perhaps because of that, they probably want to have a clear 'head' to ensure smooth group operations, rather than leaving things ambiguous.

And, well... since I'm a title holder, of all things. I myself don't mind working as a subordinate, but if acting that way would become a burden to them, I have no choice but to accept.

Embarrassing as it is, I shall humbly accept this great responsibility.

"—And so... sorry to trouble you, but the construction team will prioritize setting up the defensive wall under the direction of Oaks-shi."

"Roger that."

"We're countin' on ya, boss."

"Ah, don't expect too much, okay? I've really only dabbled in survival craft games..."

And so, the matter of the defensive wall, our top priority that needed to be laid out by tonight, was settled. I entrusted the task to the axe warrior, Oaks-shi, who apparently had experience with survival craft games with tower defense elements.

He's starting to get all humble now, but from the way he was talking earlier, he seems to have played a fair bit of 'that kind' of game.

I have high hopes that he and the five subordinates I assigned to him will do a good job.

"And... as for the other two teams, we'll maintain the status quo as discussed, but with a slight focus on your roles. The investigation team doesn't need to worry too much about bringing back spoils of war."

"Got it!"

"We'll look into a bunch of stuff!"

Even if we were to divide into teams, this was a survival situation where we were just going with the flow. Dividing into too many small groups would just get complicated, so the remaining twenty-seven were roughly split in half.

A hunting team, which would continue to focus on gathering supplies, mainly [Stardust Relics], and an investigation team, which would look into the 'Subjugation' system, the surrounding environment, and other various things.

As we were maintaining the status quo, they would continue to enter the forest and hunt.

Whether it was triggered by the passage of time or the accumulation of spoils... the trigger remained a mystery, but things had apparently already started to change in various ways since yesterday. Whether they had come from afar or spawned nearby, the event was steadily progressing.

Compared to last night, the number of types had already increased. If there was another assault tonight, it would likely be even more lively than yesterday's.

"We'll be expecting some new ingredients from the hunting team."

"Well, that one..."

"Can we even hunt it?"

"Maybe a sneak attack...?"

I heard that some interesting creatures that could potentially be good ingredients have appeared—so I, along with Nia, whose sparkling eyes were leaking expectation as she sat quietly at the end of the table, will be holding out hope.

Is she a carnivore? Anyway, with the meeting over.

"Alright, that's the plan. Dismissed!"

I clapped my hands with the intention of making a sharp, resounding sound, but from my small hands, compared to my original body, came a weak, pathetic 'pish.' And so, I was met with indescribably lukewarm gazes.

It was one hundred percent my fault for making such a lame move—but still.

I would not forgive the disappointed sighs I heard from all around the moment I reactivated [Trance] to hide my embarrassment and changed back. I'm a guy, is there a problem?

"Ahem... What is it, gentlemen? Get to work, quickly. Hmm?"

Placing my hand on the hilt of the sword at my waist for no particular reason, I smiled sweetly... and the predictably easy-to-read gentlemen stood up in a lively manner and dashed off as if fleeing.

Haha, how amusing. Imitating Irori seemed to be super effective.

...As the dining hall grew quiet like a receding wave, the one thing that concerned me was.

"Why did you suddenly start grinning?"

"No, um, just... a little..."

As a result of my jokingly tracing the cold, intimidating voice of the Sword Saint fanboy... for some reason, my partner next to me seemed to have lost control of her cheeks.

What's with that strange look? What's gotten into you all of a sudden?

---

(A rough tone of voice and a cold tone that's a gap from his usual self is a bit of a) kink for me.

Not for me, for Nia-chan.