1st Person POV (MC)-Present Time-

  As the green energy swelled, I felt a gentle breeze coursing through my entire body as grass in varying colours began to grow and wildflowers bloom.

  Corresponding with the visual effects of this {Spell}. While the cast bar is getting filled up until it reaches the end.

  *TINGGGGGG* *FWOOOSHHHHH* *RUSTLE* *RUSTLE* *RUSTLE*

  The magic activates and green energy seeps into the ground spreading to all directions infusing the nd with vitality as life blossoms.

  Seeds that I have pnted grow instantaneously ripened and ready to be harvested. It is truly an odd sight to see a spot of verdant green lying in the middle of a wastend, as it is also being rained upon.

  “*WHISTLE*” -Siegfried-

  “Done decorating your room already?”

  “Yep, nice work out here.” -Siegfried-

  “Hehehe! It ain’t much but it’s honest work. Now I can hire NPCs. By the way, which one should we hire first?”

  Hearing my question, I shared the dispy with him, and he, too, can see what NPCs the U.w.U guild can hire as Siegfried ruminates by stroking his chin for a second or two before answering.

  “I think, we should choose Mercenaries NPCs.” -Siegfried-

  “I was thinking of hiring Farmers first, may I ask why?”

  “Hmmm... they can provide protection reducing chances of monster spawning near our Base. That way the farmers stay protected!” -Siegfried-

  (“Owh! That makes sense.”)

  “True, reduce the risk of getting other NPCs killed. All right! We go with that one. Then we hired farmers to manage these farmnds I made.”

  Siegfried nodded and without further ado, I clicked on the mercenary NPCs.

  Hm... The system instructed me to point my finger I did and as a result, there is a silhouette of a building like a barrack or maybe a dorm? Complete with a training ground too as I hover it on an empty pce.

  By flicking my index finger as if saying confirm ‘building’. Stash of wood and stones in my safe inventory were consumed randomly and blue cubes began to construct that barrack as it was done almost in an instant.

  ...

  ...

  ...

  “I didn’t see any NPCs though...”

  I commented out loud while Siegfried rubbed the back of his head equally as confused as I was. The funds have been consumed too!

  “I didn’t sense any ‘Life’ except us” -Siegfried-

  (“Noooooooooo...”)

  Internally I was saddened greatly but clinging to hope that something would happen if we waited longer...

  -Few Minutes Gone By-

  At first, I thought it was a waste until Siegfried turned his head and made a grunting noise notifying me what he felt.

  Soon after, we hear voices on the outskirts. Gruff in tone and some in excitement...

  “Ohhhhh!!??? I didn’t know there was a pocket paradise out here in this godforsaken wastend. Lowlight adventures’ guild never disappoint in their info!” -Mercenary-

  “Boss, do you think they gonna hire us?” -Mercenary-

  “Shit, the rain going to make me all soggy.” -Mercenary-

  “Shut it!” -Mercenary Leader-

  Arriving here at our Base is a group of people each wearing different sets of armour but they share something in common.

  They’re all men in arms carrying swords, sabres, great swords, bows, and more. A single person carries a multitude of weapons like a jack of all trades...

  One of them, upon noticing us in the middle of this rain began to approach closer with hands raised to signify non-hostile intention but his sharp blue eyes stared with wariness.

  (“Heh, inspired by Vikings I see... I mean it fits with our theme aesthetically so no compints from me!”)

  Seeing that, I asked out of curiosity. A rhetorical question but it’s an opening dialogue!

  “I presume you’re the mercenary we hired?”

  “Yes, The ‘Band of Blood’ here to serve-“ -Mercenary Leader-

  He smirks before continuing.

  “-As long as the money flows.” -Mercenary Leader-

  I looked at Siegfried with raised eyebrows as he stared at them with intent before whispering to me.

  “They’re quite strong in LV90 plus, I think they’ll be good level at fending off mob spawns here.” -Siegfried-

  (“He’s noticed them faster, that’s why the LV appeared quicker.”)

  Not a moment after, their LVs appeared atop their head confirming what Siegfried saw

  I nodded to his advice. Fixing my posture to have a little bit of dignity, I put on my ‘best’ act. Referencing to the many posh dramas I watched in my whole life.

  I purposely tried to deepen my voice as I spoke with pauses.

  “Well then... to meet in the downpour is a sign of ill omen... Thus, I shall deign to fix.”

  I can simply cancel the rain effects with mere thought but to give it a fir I snap my fingers together. I need to give a great first impression as a Guild Leader of course!

  Although it’s faint, I think I hear a snort come from Siegfried. Maybe it’s my imagination?

  “THE FUCK...?” -Mercenary-

  With that finger snap, the clouds parted and the rain abruptly stopped as the sun pierced through lighting the entire area in its warm embrace after a cold downpour.

  I looked at the leader in earnest taking in his features.

  He has scars, multiple of them on his face no doubt from the many battles he’s in. His striking blue eyes widened for a second or two seeing the weather just change.

  He wore studded leather armour with a metal overy for added protection. Strapped on his back for easy access is a great sword which I presume is his weapon of choice aside from daggers on his hips and bow & quiver.

  “I am Skald, the leader of this band.” -Skald-

  He bowed and my tone of voice changed to a more respectful tone as I solemnly nodded keeping the act together.

  “This will be your pce of residence for some time. Your task is to fend off any monsters that are approaching this Land of ours.”

  “Understood.” -Skald-

  So they left until I couldn’t see them anymore after their figures entered the barrack building.

  “Pwah... That’s so nerve-wracking.”

  My shoulders slumped while Siegfried finally burst cackling even clutching his stomach having a bst.

  “Hahahahaha, What was that???” -Siegfried-

  “Heyyyyy!!!! First impression, you know!?”

  He still cackling, finally coming down after wiping a tear from his eyes covered by bangs.

  Adding my own Zenis to the Guild Funds, I hired farmer NPCs. With the funds bar dwindling, I assigned several empty spots for the farmers' housing.

  Farmer NPCs help harvest, pnts, take care of cattle, and most importantly they py an important role in the production of Food.

  With them here, the Food bar still stays high. That way I can keep hiring more NPCs!

  (“They are like my utility golems!!”)

  I pced several farmer's homes and arranged them in a way that looked neat.

  Haahhh, all done!

  With the addition of farmer’s homes, this Land is more like a vilge!

  ...

  ...

  ...

  “I guess I can expect the same with other hire NPCs?”

  At the moment, the house lies empty I asked that question Siegfried who’s scanning the surroundings with his sensing {Skill}

  “Probably... wait-” -Siegfried-

  His voice is alert and quickly turns his head unbelievably fast even making a *crack* sound in a particur direction.

  In the distance...

  It is like a hawk’s screech but far sharper, louder, and even more terrifying. As I hear screams of terror and desperation.

  (“[Farsight]”)

  Staring in that direction my field of view zooms, and I see a group of humanoid figures running. Chased by a scarlet red dinosaur-looking monster I must say it bears resembnce to a pterodactyl with barbed tails. Albeit its wings were covered by fire and spouts of fme occasionally flickering in its mouth. Showing the demonic origin kind of thing...

  By squinting my eyes, I zoom in even further. To look at the running figures.

  (“They are humans! running away from a monster.”)

  I have a {Spell} that reaches this range!

  “[Widen: So-]”

  “No.” -Siegfried-

  He extends his right hand gently interrupting my cast as he continues.

  “Let the mercenary group handle it.” -Siegfried-

  “Ah! Yes, I guess that’s their job. Sorry...”

  He crossed his arms and the mercenaries came outside from their barracks running at full speed riding mean-looking horses upon knowing that screech.

  (“Now where the heck do they get those horses?”)

  “Game logic, Mag.” -Siegfried-

  (“My expressions are very telling eh?”)

  “Yeah very true.”

  *SQUELCH* *CRACKS*

  Siegfried’s body gets taller and I hear more of those noises on his face covered by hair. There are unnatural twitches and sway of his bangs before it settles...

  “Look at them! I knew they were good.” -Siegfried-

  It seems he had modified his eyesight to gain the same effects as [Farsight] {Spell}.

  I too see what they’re doing while promptly creating popcorn and soda for us to snack with my ability.

  “Bet you, 50000 Zenis that Skald gets the most monsters.” -Siegfried-

  “Eh?? Uhm... Then I add 50000 Zenis for that archer guy to get the most!”

  Siegfried’s grin gets wider after seeing that flying monster have their tail held down by a grappling hook unched by the bowmen that I put my bet on.

  But before the bowmen can take care of that monster, Skald already came rushing in swinging his great sword promptly decapitating the creature.

  “No fair, he’s still killing!”

  “Hehehe, all fair in mercenary work.” -Siegfried-

  From there, he nabbed the grappling hook from that creature’s tail before swinging hard to entangle it with other living monsters.

  Bringing them down and cleaving them in two just like the others. Quite impressive to be able to do that purely by strength.

  (“Well... I am going to lose my bet.”)

  It’s fine, I have plenty of Zenis after all, this is merely chump change. We continue watching Skald sweeping the horde of monsters easily.

  As expected, Siegfried wins the gamble and I gave him 50k Zenis in turn.

  Upon their return, I straightened my back and put on another act. Gratefully tells them of their safe return and also protects the farmers.

  Siegfried chimes in by giving a portion of the Zenis he won the bet. It seems they give off a strange expression as if they never heard those grateful words directed at them before.

  It's odd, I mean... their work should be given some thanks and compensation right? Especially in monsters riddled world like Thelea and they cannot be resurrected like us.

  “Oh, u-uhm... thanks for the patronage.” -Skald-

  “Thank you, thank you!” -Farmers-

  “Father... I see lush pnts growing here! What is this pce?” -Farmers-

  “Hush child!” -Farmers-

  I let the conversations between them settle before finally greeting the farmers and I told them about the houses and of course relegating the task of harvesting, ploughing, and pnting.

  ...

  ...

  ...

  And somehow they suddenly have tools they need after coming out from their houses to begin their work.

  “At this point, I think I’ll be unfazed by abruptly appearing horses or farmers tools. Just like your transformation! Hahahaha...”

  “Heh. Ah... Mag, can you *ehem* by any chance do a favour for me?” -Siegfried-

  He rubs the back of his head with a sheepish grin on his face.

  (“A favour?”)

  I raised my eyebrows at him as he eborated.

  “I- Uh, see there’s a ‘monster researcher’ NPC in the list. C-can you hire them?” -Siegfried-

  (“Oh yeah, he does like monsters and learn about them.”)

  “Duh, of course! I shall giveth for I am a generous god.”

  I spoke in that fancy smancy tone while starting to search the lists for that monster researcher NPC.

  “Hahahahahahahahahahahah fuck, my ribs hahahahahahaha.” -Siegfried-

  He crumpled like paper ughing even wheezing as I chuckled a bit...

  Finally finding them, I tapped on it to confirm and a silhouette of a workbench appeared where I pointed.

  “Hold on a minute, I need to get into the castle. It won’t fit the aesthetic if I put it outside here.”

  (“I remember I made a basement exactly like the prison but I didn’t put any iron cages yet.”)

  Quickly manoeuvring to the basement, I put the workbench in one of the vast chambers before decorating it to have that ‘science’ and ‘boratory’ look. Might as well do it while waiting until the hired NPC spawns.

  Siegfried wanders around the basement part of the castle in leisure. Occasionally chimes in useful furniture to add to the basement of the castle.

  *BAM* *BAM*

  The door to the basement rattles getting our attention as a voice comes out from the other side.

  “I am Skald, we found a suspicious individual hanging around the castle.”

  “Wait! I-I am not a suspicious individual!!!” -Researcher-

  Her voice echoed with a strong accent as she vindicated herself.

  Siegfried turned his head towards me as I raised my eyebrows at him. Already knowing that this is probably the researcher we hired.

  Waving my hand, the door opens as I internally cast [Telekinesis]. Revealing two figures, one is Skald and the other held like a captured rabbit is a much smaller figure compared to the 2 metres size of Skald.

  Her reddish-brown hair was puffed up and frazzled a perfect picture of a mad scientist wearing misshapen rge round gsses.

  “Ah, Skald. You may let her go now, she’s the researcher we have hired.”

  “Oof!” -Researcher-

  *THUD*

  Skald simply let her go and the researcher stood then tidied herself up before speaking in an enthusiastic tone already outstretched her hands for a handshake which I automatically accepted.

  “Hi! My name’s Professor Daisy, a monster researcher enthusiast. I have heard from Lowlight Adventure’s guild that you are hiring a monster researcher!” -Daisy-

  (“Quite an approach. She should know that it’s dangerous in tainted wastend.”)

  “Indeed, we are.”

  “Great! Haha, I will be at your service. I can provide critical information regarding a broad spectrum of monsters.” -Daisy-

  I showed her the boratory and her eyes lit up like fireworks.

  “Oh my gosh! I never had this treatment even in Gran Fortia. To think... I now have my boratory!?” -Daisy-

  She sheds a lone tear and seems happy as I gaze at Siegfried who approaches her. Upon noticing Siegfried, Daisy dispyed a curtsy bow as he began to converse about a topic.

  Skald have left the premises probably to the barracks and I am going to decorate more of the basement.

  --

  (“Oh?”)

  I guess that’s Daisy buff... In the {Status} part of ours. I see a newly added buff icon and clicking on it further describes what it does.

  (“Oooooo... That’s pretty good. Daisy gives a buff that increases damage given towards a specific race.”)

  “So, I presume Daisy can give damage buff against humans too?”

  A question I directed at Siegfried who rubbed his chin and replied.

  “Well, on her list. We can get that buff from her so... Yes.” -Siegfried-

  He has this happy grin spread on his face, I think he will be using Daisy’s buff quite often. It sts for 24 hours IRL too!

  Nodding a few times, the basement has been fully decorated. So I’m proud to see it like that!

  “Oh! Sieg, we still have funds for one NPC. Any suggestions?”

  “Hm. I thin-“ -Siegfried-

  *PINGGGG*

  A notification came up, I assume Siegfried saw that too as he was interrupted before he could say what was on his mind.