[Gold Accumulated: 120]
The workers are hammering away on the modern house's frame—progress steady, precise, methodical.
I open the system menu without delay.
"Summon two more villagers."
---
[Summoning: Common Villager x2 - 100 Gold]
[Gold Remaining: 20]
Two fresh faces emerge in the soft blue glow.
Renne – a quick-witted girl with a curious streak and sharp eyes
Tarl – quiet, broad-shouldered, already asking where to help
They join Sera without hesitation—learning fast, eager to belong. The population ticks up again. Momentum builds.
---
[Population: 21]
[Passive Gold Increase: +110/day]
---
With everything running smoothly, I head out.
The trees hush around me as I cross into the west clearing. Birds scatter. Wind hums low. Then I spot him—Rye, crouched in the brush, drawing something into a patch of soft dirt.
He looks up before I speak. "You're early," he says. "But I've got something."
I kneel beside him as he gestures to the map he's scratched into the ground.
---
[Scouting Report: North-West Quadrant]
Dense Forest Path: Leads toward a large, hollowed-out tree—unnatural stone formations beneath it.
Wild Game Zone: Good for hunting and meat supply.
Ruined Structure: Overgrown. Covered in moss. Looked like it once had magic.
Unstable Mana Pocket (Risk Area): Weak interference. Nothing hostile detected… yet.
---
"Show me," I say.
Rye nods. "We should take the hollow tree first—less risk, more cover. Could be useful."
---
[New Points of Interest Unlocked]
The Hollow Tree (Explorable)
Abandoned Wild Shrine (Ruined Structure)
Mana Pocket (Caution Required)
Scout Note: Territory Expansion Required to Enter Zones
---
I place a hand on his shoulder. "Good work."
He nods once and melts back into the brush.
I return to the settlement as dusk rolls in. The first frame of the modern house is already up—Renne and Tarl helping like they've always been here.