The recovery of the Demon Lord of Ruin, Takuto Ira, and the new national strategy he revealed.
The Mynoghra Great Renovation Plan, utilizing the vast quantities of gold coins brought by the Brave Questus Demon Lord's army, was promptly examined in detail and executed under a meticulous plan.
Regarding the cities to be worked on, first was the Great Cursed Realm.
Given the current state where Takuto had temporarily transferred the rights of leadership to Atou, a portion of the "Eternal Nations" authority was restricted.
Since Atou herself had to go and issue production and building commands, construction in Dragontan was regrettably impossible within a timeframe of just today or tomorrow.
Conversely, for the Great Cursed Realm, Mynoghra's base, it was possible to immediately complete construction using the "emergency production" command.
Of course, with no reason to hold back the execution of the construction plan, the plan proposed by Takuto was swiftly implemented, and the city underwent a dramatic transformation in just a few days.
◇ ◇ ◇
The magical power stored within the nation of Mynoghra—normally invisible—had now become so dense under the special circumstances of emergency production that it was visible as a concentrated mass.
The viscous, purple gas, so condensed it would make breathing difficult, seeped into the ground under Atou's direction.
Simultaneously, changes appeared on the land that had previously been nothing but cursed earth. Structures were erected at a furious pace, as if invisible giants were conducting earthworks across the terrain without restraint.
Perhaps it took several dozen minutes, or perhaps an hour?
What appeared on the ground where the pulse of the earth and the assembly of building materials had just finished were the buildings scheduled for work that day.
"Hah... Is this the end, then?"
"Yes, um... that's correct. The construction of the Abnormal Zoo was completed the other day, and today's tasks are also now finished. Therefore, all work in the Great Cursed Realm is concluded. Good work, Atou."
Atou, who had completed the remaining production from the previous day via emergency production, exhaled softly while confirming the schedule with Emuru.
Emergency production, which Takuto could perform effortlessly, was evidently still quite taxing for her, who was not originally suited for the role.
"Even though special fatigue doesn't accumulate, it does get a little tiring after building this much continuously. Still, I can't afford to complain!"
"That's right. In the end, we ended up troubling the king, whose condition is still not fully recovered, even including the preparation phase..."
"Although personnel training has progressed, for urban development on this scale, it was still too much for just us."
Emergency Production" is a handy command, but it's not like pressing a single button in a game and having everything done for you.
Selecting the land to build on, of course, but also clearing the designated site, constructing the roads to reach it, appointing staff and overseers, drafting operational manuals—there's a multitude of tedious tasks involved.
Like the Pseudo-Humans who were already there when the "Market" was produced, the system does provide some basics, but only the bare minimum; the rest must be supplied on your end.
Takuto often grumbled about this very thing: that compared to a game, there were far too many minute, bothersome details.
Atou felt that was absolutely true, and as a sense of something like camaraderie welled up within her towards Emuru, who was in the same boat, she couldn't quite find the words for it.
"Now then, shall we review the current situation of the Great Cursed Realm? Especially since things like shared vision aren't usable right now, it's important to see things with your own eyes."
"Yes! That's right!"
Still, this period of intense, condensed labor was finally coming to an end.
Rather, this was where it truly began. The time had come to personally observe the operational status of the facilities they had built and see for themselves just how much the cities of the Great Cursed Realm had developed.
It hadn't been a specially scheduled event, but the two of them couldn't hide their excitement, their footsteps noticeably lighter as they strolled through the town.
Recently, it had been a string of difficult problems with no time to rest, but now that Takuto was somewhat revived again, they had the leeway to simply walk through the streets.
An inspection like this posed no problem at all and was, in fact, well worth doing to grasp the current state of affairs.
"First, let's head to the palace. Above all else, searing its appearance into our minds is the top priority!"
It was something Takuto often said, but confirming the development of a town you helped build was an unparalleled joy for an SLG player.
Of course, Atou felt the same. A freshness different from her gaming days was leading her heart into a state of excitement.
Walking through the center of town alongside Emuru, they made their way toward the palace.
The brick-paved roads and signposts indicated that the town had been improved down to the smallest details.
Also, with daily goods flowing in via Dragontan seemingly plentiful, the people's attire was richer than before.
Houses were being completed one after another. Previously, the area had been dominated by small, minimum-viable dwellings or apartment blocks, but now, quite impressive homes were being erected all over the place.
Some were also constructed by Atou himself through emergency production, and the number now suffices to meet the residents' needs.
As always, the influence of the cursed land makes it difficult to evaluate appearances objectively, but the people living here are bright and lively.
In terms of vitality alone, one could even say no one remembers the former dark elf settlement anymore.
As they continued, a massive building came into view before the two of them.
Sitting regally as if to dominate the strangely twisted trees, it was the palace of Mynoghra, which had undergone evolution in the form of expansion.
"First and foremost, I believe the most significant change in this city is that the Palace of Mynoghra has become even larger. Additionally, compared to before, there are more rooms and they are more luxurious! And the throne has become truly grand!"
Emuru spread her arms wide, raising her voice somewhat louder as if boasting before the more powerful palace.
Of course, Atou knew this since he had constructed it, but her childlike joy was surprisingly endearing, so Atou couldn't help but let a soft smile escape and gave her a slightly exaggerated nod.
Since it had been rather hectic lately, he hadn't had time to properly check, but seeing it now, something indeed welled up inside him.
"Yes, yes, it is truly a wonderful thing. Honestly, until now, calling any of the structures a palace was rather generous, but with this, it can finally claim to be a base fit for a king."
The Palace of Mynoghra—that is, the royal palace of "Eternal Nations"—could be upgraded to a larger size as the city's scale increased.
This Level 2 palace was still an initial version, but even so, it was more than sufficient for the current Great Cursed Realm.
Designed for a city population scale of several thousand to around ten thousand, it now loomed even larger than before, looking up at its majestic presence.
Naturally, it was fully equipped with various rooms necessary for state administration, including a guard post, archive, kitchen, banquet hall, and even a small research room and library attached.
What had previously been an extension of the city hall had finally, at this point, attained functions worthy of the name royal palace.
However...
"However, the problem is that despite having a fine palace, we lack enough people to fill it."
As Emuru pointed out, there existed the intractable problem of a severe shortage of personnel.
It was one of the pressing issues plaguing Mynoghra, and also one of the most difficult to resolve.
Time would eventually favor Mynoghra, but it certainly wouldn't be lenient.
While technical research and construction were often solved through Takuto’s various stratagems, the matter of population growth proved particularly difficult to address. Including Dragontan, Mynoghra’s total population still did not reach ten thousand. Though one might call it a developing nation, for Atou—who had experienced various super-massive states in the past—this was admittedly a source of some dissatisfaction. That said, it wasn’t entirely without improvement.
"That will come in time. We’re gradually replacing those engaged in menial labor with Pseudo-Humans, so personnel numbers should recover somewhat. More importantly, your companions will be joining us, won’t they?"
"Yes!"
The expression on Emuru’s face brightened further. Recent days had been a whirlwind—from the conflict with the Renea Divine Light Kingdom to Vittorio’s summoning and a cascade of events that made it easy to overlook—but contact with their kin, the Dark Elves who had fled to other lands, and their acceptance was steadily progressing.
From the Fondue homeland and surrounding towns and villages, to neutral states on the far-off Dark Continent, the Dark Elves’ intelligence network facilitated communication at light-like speeds. Arrivals increased steadily—some who had finally found a place of repose, others who came as they were, with nothing but the clothes on their backs.
Concerns about becoming beings of darkness had been nearly nullified by the excessive praise of Old Mortar and Gia for Takuto. The long-held wish of the Dark Elf race—for a homeland to return to—was now gloriously fulfilled here.
"Additional housing is also under construction for the Dark Elves who have volunteered to migrate to the Great Cursed Realm. Since we’re primarily building simple, temporary dwellings, the quantity needed is high, but the burden shouldn’t be too great. The plan was for them to gather more slowly, but…"
"Plans seldom go as expected, do they? Takuto did instruct us to actively welcome residents, and since these are Dark Elves, there’s no issue—please proceed with the housing construction as needed. We’ll need accommodations for the Pseudo-Humans as well."
"Housing for the Pseudo-Humans… Their sensibilities differ from ours, so I’m a little uneasy if what we’re building is sufficient…"
"Rest assured. I share that same concern."
Continuing their conversation, Atou and Emuru walked further from the palace. They were heading toward the newly constructed residential district for Pseudo-Humans, located directly beneath the treetop Dark Elf quarters.
Upon arriving, they immediately began inspecting the facilities. But what met their eyes were only haphazard piles of earth, each punctured by a round hole resembling some burrow—distorted, misshapen structures standing in rows. The entrances were large enough for a person to pass through, but the sheer number of holes would likely cause someone with trypophobia to scream or faint on the spot.
Neither Atou nor Emuru seemed to want them in their sight any more than necessary, so they gave a slight wave back to the Pseudo-Human poking its head out of the hole and quickly moved on.
Pseudo-Humans, the original native citizens of Mynoghra.
It would likely take some more time before their bizarre ecology could be accepted as perfectly natural.
"Pseudo-Human, sir. Everyone's basically a good person, but they're pretty frequently hard to understand, you know."
"They're energetic with their responses, though, aren't they... Well, the 'Land of Wine and Meat' has been completed too, so the numbers will probably increase from here on. It seems we'll need to get used to that sort of thing as well."
Having reached that conclusion, Atou gazed upon the pool of alcohol stretching out before them.
The rich scent of spirits had been intoxicating her mood since a while ago, and she even felt a warmth spreading through the core of her body.
The inexhaustibly welling pool of wine stood lined with trees of human flesh like mangroves, their fruit waiting impatiently to be harvested.
Drink, eat, sing to your heart's content—the ultimate resort. One of the newly constructed facilities, the "Land of Wine and Meat."
One might assume it would be a hotbed of moral decay, and indeed it was, but this was Mynoghra. The Brain Eaters, equipped with the ability to maintain public order, were exercising their power to the fullest in monitoring discipline, so there wasn't even a premonition of trouble.
That said, the Dark Elves had largely developed strong self-restraint thanks to the long and grueling journeys they had overcome, so they enjoyed themselves in moderation without needing surveillance. No problems there.
Harboring those impressions, Atou and Emuru scrubbed from memory the Pseudo-Humans who had started some raucous revelry in the center of the pool, and headed off to inspect the next facility.
Clothing, food, and shelter. Life in the Great Cursed Realm grew richer with each passing day.
"...So it's come to this."
"...It really has."
The inspection of the constructed facilities reached its end, and they arrived at the place they had been desperately trying to forget.
The final building. The "Menagerie of Abominations."
In truth, this facility surpassed even the palace as the largest structure in the Great Cursed Realm.
Here, a certain problem existed.
The Heteromorphic Zoo, true to its name, showcased a variety of creatures that one rarely encountered in everyday life—things that resembled animals—and, for those with courage and combat prowess, offered the chance to interact with them. It was a major tourist attraction that the Great Cursed Realm took pride in. However...
Currently, the Heteromorphic Zoo presented itself to Atou and the others much like a failed public works project: desolate and melancholic.
"Is... is this really alright, Atou? I mean, business-wise?"
"Well, it was essentially forced into existence to mass-produce rejects, so it's no surprise it's become a haunt for the bush warbler," Atou replied, ignoring a Pseudo-Human shopkeeper who kept trying to promote wooden souvenirs of completely unrecognizable shapes. Atou entered the facility's administrative office and reviewed documents detailing the operational status.
Naturally, the books were in the red.
Though, being buildings from 'Eternal Nations', even with few visitors, the facilities still performed their functions to the fullest. Somehow, the final mana balance ended up in the black—an advantage that could only be described as unfair.
Still, this dire state was hard to ignore.
Strange cries echoed ceaselessly from deep within the grounds. Would this facility ever truly turn a profit?
"The visitor numbers column is too terrifying to look at directly. Why does it get a gold star when it hits double digits? It's not exactly a number worth celebrating."
"Some regulars like Old Mortal and Mearia seem to keep coming, though."
"Perhaps out of intellectual curiosity? I suppose everyone has their own tastes..."
From within the zoo, an especially loud and unsettling cry, unlike any they had heard before, rang out.
It was probably some kind of animal... though naturally, neither Atou nor Emuru had any intention of going to verify. Thus, once again today, the bush warbler sang at the Heteromorphic Zoo.
Incidentally, the bush warblers found in Mynoghra were a different species from those generally known in the world. As for the ones exhibited at the Heteromorphic Zoo, Mortal had mentioned later after hearing stories that it was best not to look at them for too long.
"Now then, as long as the facility is operating properly, there's no problem. Shall we get going soon?"
"You're right... Atou. Unfortunately, this doesn't quite align with our tastes."
Ultimately, inspecting buildings only required confirming they were all functioning without issue.
As long as the aberrant zoo is operational, they were free to leave immediately if uninterested. Having just completed their most cursory inspection to date, the two declined the mysterious wood carving being persistently pitched by the Pseudo-Human shopkeeper and departed the scene.
……
…
Changing locations, the two now stood in this district’s administrative office. Perhaps due to the population not having grown significantly, the building itself hadn’t undergone expansions and remained in active service. More importantly, it was centrally located within the district, and being on the upper level of the arboreal structure, it offered a view of the entire metropolis—this was what mattered.
"Now then, having come this far, it has certainly grown quite large, hasn’t it?"
Had they considered the aesthetics as well, perhaps? From the vantage point near the entrance, looking down over the sprawling expanse of the Great Cursed Realm’s dark woods, dotted with various buildings and structures nestled within, and above all, the majestic silhouette of Mynoghra’s palace looming like a monument straining to drag the sky earthward.
"Yes, compared to its initial state, the scale has increased considerably. Even just observing the clusters of Living Reeds and Giant Flytraps that function as the district’s border, one can see the urban area has expanded significantly."
"The interior is quite hollow, but at this point, it could reasonably be called a district at minimum."
"In terms of scale alone, it far surpasses Dragontan."
As Emuru stated, the urban area of the Great Cursed Realm currently far exceeded that of Dragontan. Of course, the majority of this space was land zoned for future development—the Flesh-Producing Trees and Pools of Wine, Forests of Meat that sustained Mynoghra’s sustenance, and facilities like the Living Reeds clustered around the city’s periphery, hidden among the realm’s ancient trees.
But the Great Cursed Realm—a deep jungle long rumored never to return those who entered by its old name—now possessed the function and appearance befitting its title. Combined with the imposing presence of Mynoghra’s palace towering in the center, it was no exaggeration to call this the stronghold of a power of darkness.
Yet, even such a majestically dark urban center was, as Atou well knew, merely a castle built upon sand. One wrong choice in selection and it would crumble to nothing. He understood this more keenly than anything else, through his experiences thus far.
(If I were being honest, I should be gazing upon this scene with much more tranquil feelings, but...)
The threats to the world still remain.
I do not understand why various existence beyond human comprehension are vying for supremacy in this world.
I do not understand why I came to this world alongside Takuto either.
(Life is just full of such things, isn't it?)
But the flames of war have already been ignited. Therefore, there is no path left but to see it through to the end.
Hence... Atou can only press onward. Alongside the lord she wholeheartedly trusts and has sworn her loyalty to.
"Well then, I've had my fill of this view for now. We should head to report to the King soon. Next, we must advance construction at Dragontan—the thought of seeing his face from now on is unpleasant, but I can't exactly say otherwise."
"That's right, Atou. Mynoghra still has so much ahead of it!"
"Yes, yes. We must make Mynoghra ever greater. And for that, Emuru, I'll need you to keep working hard in the future as well? Of course, I intend to push myself harder than ever before."
"Yes! Of course!"
Atou nods, satisfied with the energetic reply.
At the same time, she takes in the scene below one last time.
Gazing at a town grown to this scale, she felt as if she could momentarily forget the multitude of headaches surrounding them.