Not a Slave-pen

「Hey!」

As I was perplexed by Brave Peckle’s transformation, Alto approached me.

「Kizuna-kun, did you give any orders to Brave Peckle?」

「Eh? I just told him to make accessories with Romina?」

「I see, as I thought.」

「Do you know something about it?」

「Yeah… the almighty Brave Peckle has one downside.」

Alto gave instructions to the clearly disgruntled Brave Peckle using the Peckle Counter, making him move.

「Treating me like a damn servant, I’m not a slave-pen!」

His manner and attitude were really bad…

But…that line was rather painful!

It could be interpreted as the collective will of all the Peckles!

Also, you’re not a human, you’re a Peckle.

「His stress gauge rises extremely quickly. So if you make him do something, you have to keep an eye on him, or it’ll skyrocket instantly.」

「I see… so that’s his downside.」

I guess that’s the price for his high performance.

As a hero, I can’t help but think he should endure more, but it’s a rather game-like weakness.

Still, I think it’s a reasonable setting.

「Whoa… if I give him instructions and leave him be, it could get bad real fast.」

「Exactly. And when his stress gauge exceeds 50%, he gets openly rude like that. He has a rather unique AI, doesn’t he?」

Just what kind of setting is that?

「There might be some backstory or something. From what I’ve researched, it seems we might learn a bit more if we build a library.」

「I want to know, but I also don’t want to know.」

「Well, Brave Peckle increases the abilities of all Peckles by 20% even if you don’t make him do anything, so the best thing is to leave him alone to reduce his stress.」

So he’s the type that’s meaningful just by existing.

What a waste of a treasure, this Peckle.

And it seems someone like Alto, who carefully checks on all the Peckles, is necessary.

By the way, about a fifth of the castle construction is done so far.

It still seems like there’s a long way to go.

「So, you had Brave Peckle make accessories?」

「Ah, this.」

I showed the Oreikal Star Fire Bracelet to Alto.

「Hahaha, looks like something that could put Romina-kun out of business.」

「Alto… haven’t you learned your lesson yet?」

Romina started cracking her knuckles.

It felt like the second round between the Merchant of Death and the Blacksmith was about to begin.

「Is the drain enhancement for Yamikage-kun? No, knowing you… you probably made something with the materials on hand and happened to make something that would please Yamikage-kun too.」

He really is a talkative guy.

Let me mess with him too.

「Great deduction, Alto-kun.」

Alto looked troubled.

「By the way, where is Yamikage-kun?」

「I don’t like smart merchants like you.」

「Can you not make threatening jokes like you’re about to shoot me with that bow?」

Not that it would do any damage if I did.

Well, whatever.

「I had Brave Peckle grant an unimplemented skill while he was at it.」

「I see… but when you have Brave Peckle make something, could you consult me first?」

「Got it.」

「By the way, while Romina is focusing on her blacksmithing proficiency, isn’t she neglecting her basic levels? Things like physical strength will still matter, right? This is a good opportunity, why don’t you have Shouko-kun or Tsumugi-kun help her?」

「Indeed… The poor performance might also be due to the level. That might be a good idea.」

And so, the plan for mass-producing superior accessories was postponed for a while, and Romina went to help Shouko and the others.

「Kizuna-kun, can I have a moment?」

「What is it?」

「As we progress with developing this island, I’m becoming more convinced of my suspicions.」

So the development of the island has been steadily progressing.

Thanks to Alto operating the Peckles on my behalf, it has transformed dramatically.

The area around the pond where I used to fish, where the catfish lived, was completely paved over, and the pond itself had become like a fountain. There were also countless vacant houses.

But why are they building so many houses?

「My guess is that this place is likely equivalent to the Third City.」

「Hmm… what’s your reasoning?」

「As you’ve probably noticed, it’s the number of vacant houses. While some are operated by Peckles, there are facilities like Romina’s workshop that are clearly meant to be shops, and they’re included among the necessary buildings.」

Necessary buildings seem to refer to structures that must be built.

Basically, it’s like the Peckles saying,『You must build this many of these buildings-pen』

It’s a specification that subtly gives off the scent of a game system.

It makes me want to ask the management what they’re thinking, making players build a city.

That said, incorporating such a system is interesting in itself.

I guess it’s different from typical online games.

This may also be possible because the players are managed consistently from start to finish.

「There are also areas where we can’t freely build houses, although the plots are secured.」

Alto showed me a map of the island.

Areas where we can’t freely build, huh?

Thinking normally, it’s probably somewhere some event will occur later on.

「Also, they had us build a pier on the beach and construct houses there. That area has a lot of vacant houses too.」

「…Like vacation homes or something?」

「Of course, since there are rental workshops available.」

「It makes sense for the Second Life Project.」

「And it has a strong resort vibe too. There’s a beautiful blue sandy beach, which I think a lot of people would prefer over the shoreline of the first city.」

Well… this game was originally called the Second Life Project, so being able to freely buy houses and relax is understandable.

I don’t quite get their motive for having us develop a place suitable for living, but the term development does have a certain appeal, as evidenced by other games too.

Actually, I’m quite enjoying it myself.

「Either way, things are progressing smoothly. The so-called castle will eventually be completed, and it’ll be interesting to see what happens when it’s done.」

「I want to get off this island soon.」

「You say that, even though you’re the one who dragged us into this? Well, whatever.」

And so our days passed like that.

Then, one day…

As I was absentmindedly dangling my fishing line by the sea, suddenly my vision was overlaid with a projector-like effect.

「Wh-what’s this?」

It was the same kind of floating sensation as when using the Tome of Return.

Was I being teleported somewhere?

Jii… with a sound like a film reel spinning, a mysterious countdown started 5… 4…

I opened the menu and adjusted my equipment, just in case.

2… 1…

Bang!

A sound like waves crashing resounded, accompanied by a glass-shattering effect, and my vision cleared.

This is… a hill by the seaside on the outskirts of the island? It’s a somewhat open area.

「Kizuna-san.」

「Onii-chan.」

Tsumugi and Shouko, who were nearby, called out to me.

「Wh-what’s going on!?」

「What is this?」

Alto was flustered by the surprise, while Romina tried to assess the situation.

「Whoa…」

Sheryl exclaimed in a voice that made it difficult to tell if she was surprised or just spacing out.

It seemed she was in the middle of making a ship, holding a wooden mallet in her hand.

Does this mean everyone on the island was forcibly transported here?

「What just happened all of a sudden?」

As I checked my equipment, I tried to assess the situation.

29:24

A mysterious countdown was displayed in my vision.

It said 30 minutes, so I guess it’s a time limit for something to start. but I can’t take any action until I understand what’s going on.

That said, it was obvious something had to be done, so I surveyed the area again.

…Right in the middle of the open area, Brave Peckle was floating horizontally.

He seemed unconscious?

It was quite a surreal sight.