"Is this the place...?"
It took one full day of walking to reach the East Village—specifically, one day during daylight hours, which worked out to about seven hours of walking, or eight hours including breaks. We, having departed from the Town probably a little before ten in the morning, arrived at the 'East Village' around six in the evening, before the sun had fully set.
"Hmm..."
I couldn't help but let out a low groan after seeing the place with my own eyes. The village itself, in that common 'more land than people' state typical of the countryside, was about half the size of the 500-person Town. However, the organization of the district was, to put it kindly, not well done. While the Town was almost perfectly enclosed by a circular stone wall, here, there were only scattered fences that looked like they had been erected as an afterthought wherever someone felt like it. They were barely worth mentioning.
"Um, I take it there's a place for us to stay?" I asked.
"Y-yes, there is. It's like a rest area just before the Town, that's what it is," Zapp confirmed. I had been told as much, but my real concern was whether they could accommodate this many people.
I wanted them to make mayonnaise, so I brought the ingredients. Since I can easily farm shellfish, I brought those as well, in physical form. Part of the reason was that I wasn't sure if they existed in the nearby river. As for the porters, I had brought the three young locals—Cart, Ban, and Lielie. I would have liked to call on Gil and Luce for protection, but that was rejected. Bringing them would have left the orphanage security thin, and the children would have missed them and cried—so we had to hire substitutes for the escort. By the way, Ban was the hardest one to bring along, as the girls fiercely protested his departure.
For the one-night-dried fish operation, I brought Mel, and since Wind Magic users are valuable, I brought Lieben just in case. I had already taught various restaurants and inns how to make the dried fish, so they could manage fine without her for a short time. Additionally, I brought about seven craftsmen to oversee the construction of toilets and other facilities. We ended up with a considerable group of about fifteen people, which made me doubt whether the village's accommodations could house us all.
"We don't have as much as your Town, but we were already doing business with travelers coming from outside, so this many will be fine. That's what it is. For now, could you please come to my house? I'll have to talk to my old man, the Village Head, too, you know." Zapp, perhaps sensing my anxiety, proactively made his suggestion.
And so, the party was led to a relatively large, single-story residence in the village.
* * *
The inside of the house was reasonably spacious, and while it couldn't compare to the Town's, it had a decent selection of slightly high-end furnishings. As the 'representative,' I was led by Zapp to the Village Head's room, leaving the other members in what looked like a large hall.
"Welcome to our village this time. And... are you, by any chance, the representative?" The old man, completely white-haired and white-bearded, checked my face and attire while he spoke.
"Old man! This is Shin! He's the one who killed the Giant Boar!" Zapp exclaimed. Hearing that, the old man's eyes widened.
"F-forgive me! I never expected you to come directly! I am Baum, the Village Head of this village. Now, what is it that we are allowed to do? Anything is fine if you permit it," the Village Head stammered, clearly intimidated. I, in turn, addressed him.
"Hello, I am Shin. And about that—if you give permission, I will do everything. Toilets, a large public bathhouse, the creation of condiments, chicken coops, and even water channels for aquaculture."
Hearing that, the father and son exchanged glances.
"W-we appreciate you saying that, but..." Zapp began.
"We can't offer much money in this village. We are not wealthy enough to meet your expectations, you see," the old man mused, worrying about the funds. I saw this as an investment in the future—and above all, a way to reduce my own workload.
"I will provide the funding myself. What I want from you is the manpower and—how shall I put it—mutual assistance."
""Mutual assistance??"" They practically asked in unison, freezing up as if the term made no sense.
"Essentially, I want this village to become the Town's backup, its reserve, for emergencies. Everything from the Town's facilities and resources like chicken and fish, to the supply of seasonings—if something happens to the Town, people should be able to come here and receive an equivalent level of service. For that to happen, you need to be able to do everything in this village, and I need your cooperation."
Hearing that, the son looked at me as if I were a god, but the father, on the other hand, leaned forward.
"...What is the condition, then? I understand developing us as a backup, but it can't be all for free, can it?" As expected of someone with the wisdom of age, he knew from experience that sweet talk often hides a trap. However, I genuinely had no hidden agenda. Still, based on advice from Carman, I knew that if I didn't ask the other party to contribute something, I wouldn't be trusted. So, I thought about the one thing I'd considered, then given up on, back in the Town.
"I actually want you to make something in this village. It's a seasoning, but while the method is simple, it takes an enormous amount of time. I want you to take charge of its manufacturing and delivery."
"I-is that all it is?" Zapp stammered. I grinned slyly at his question.
"When that seasoning is finally complete, Zapp, I believe you'll regret calling it 'that all.'"
In contrast to the son, who recoiled slightly, the father leaned in further.
"Is the negotiation settled, then? And now, if I may ask, where do you intend to start?"
"First, the sewage system. Without it, we can't have toilets or a bathhouse. Also, we will build water channels around the village. I've brought the shellfish, so we can start aquaculture immediately."
Fwoom, the Village Head exhaled a deep, heavy breath.
"Then, I ask for your assistance. Whenever you need assistance with village matters, guidance on the surroundings, or help with anything else, please use my foolish son. If he speaks, the villagers should follow him."
"Understood. Then, let's begin tomorrow." After exchanging deep bows, I took my leave of the Village Head and Zapp.
* * *
"That's enough for today, everyone. The inn has prepared accommodations for each of you, so please follow their instructions." I asked everyone to rest for the day, and we dispersed.
"What should we do with the shellfish, Shin?" Cart, who had carried the shellfish in a water bucket, showed it to me and asked.
"Mel, please change the water once. They're pretty hardy, so leaving them overnight should be fine... Wait, aren't these multiplying?" I pointed out. Everyone crowded around the bucket to see.
"Woah, seriously? Do they multiply in just half a day?" Ban wondered.
"You really are a mysterious person, Shin. To even be able to create creatures like this," Lielie added. I shook my head emphatically from side to side.
"No, I cannot create living creatures! Anyway, was it really alright, Claudio and Olga? To take on the role of my guards?" I asked, directing my question to the replacements for Gil and Luce. They were the adventurers who had come to the Town for a 'test.'
"Frankly, it's more interesting to be with you, Shin, than to go back to the Royal Capital," Claudio stated.
"Besides, you needed guards, didn't you? Or are we not good enough for you?" Olga challenged. I shook my head again.
"No, that's not it." I looked back at the water bucket holding the shellfish at my feet. "But still, what should we do? Could someone please get a larger bucket for me?"
Mel, whom I had just called, came over. "Why not just have someone use Earth Magic to dig a hole outside the village and put them in there with water?" she suggested casually.
Scratching my head, I replied, "That would be fine, but we don't have a sewage system yet. If we make a pond haphazardly, changing the water will become a huge hassle."
"Ah, that's true. Well, I'll go and fetch a bucket then!" Saying that, Mel ran off somewhere. The remaining members began to divide and check the luggage they had carried. And so, the night of our arrival in the village deepened.
* * *
—The next morning. I had breakfast and a planning session with Zapp at the Village Head's house, and we decided to split into two groups. One group would check the surrounding conditions—to see if fish, birds, and shellfish lived there. The other group would select the area for the facility construction and determine which facility should be built where.
"I'll have the craftsmen here in the village help with the sewage system right away... What should I do?" Zapp asked.
"Zapp, you'll guide me around the area. Ideally, it would be best if we could secure birds and fish near this village."
"Got it. After we finish eating, I'll show you around." Thus, the group was divided into the team staying in the village to work and the team going out to investigate, and operations began.
* * *
"Let's go, then." I had Zapp lead the way and headed outside the village. The porters included the three regulars—Cart, Ban, and Lielie—as well as a few other villagers. Claudio was assigned as a guard for the outside team, while Olga was tasked with the security of the village group, who would be working and waiting.
As the pre-scouting had indicated, we reached the river in about thirty minutes. I had the trio set up their fish-catching basket nets there, and after entrusting Claudio to guard them, we headed for our other destination: the mountain. The 'mountain' was more like a small, tall hill, and we arrived at its base about ten minutes from the river.
"Hmm..." I looked at the mountainside and walked around, setting up bird-catching traps at the same time. I had Zapp and a few other villagers assist me with this, and we decided to pass the time gathering information until the traps caught something.
"Speaking of which, Zapp, you didn't have much of a fence, but do you not have any issues with bandits here?" I asked. He and the other villagers laughed self-deprecatingly.
"No one would ever think of attacking a village that has nothing. We only managed to scrape by because we're close to the Town and are a rest stop along the way, so travelers, merchants, and adventurers would occasionally visit us, that's all."
So, that was their only source of income. I had seen the fields in the village, so I knew their food supply was self-sufficient with the grains, probably the same as the Town's. But that alone wouldn't be enough to fulfill dreams or hopes.
"By the way, are there any caves around here?" I inquired. They looked at each other.
"Never heard of any."
"In the first place, we have no business going into the river or the mountains, you know."
Here we go again, I thought. I supposed it couldn't be helped. They could generate water with magic, and the food supply was sufficiently met by the same grain as the Town. Since they couldn't use advanced attack magic, they assumed they couldn't fish or hunt—so naturally, there was no reason for them to venture out. It would just be a high-risk activity for them.
"Guess I'll have to make one... It's just digging horizontally. Since I can build a tunnel, it shouldn't be too much trouble."
"Um, what are you planning to make?" Zapp asked doubtfully. I turned to face him.
"I'm going to make a new seasoning here. Actually, it's a storage facility, but it needed a large plot of land and had to be far from the village. Well, let's wait a while for the birds to be caught."
About thirty minutes later, having secured around twenty birds, we returned to the river to meet up with Cart and the others. They had also caught about thirty fish. Taking all of it, we headed back to the village.
* * *
Upon arriving back at the village, we prepared lunch and held a lecture on how to make one-night-dried fish, other dishes, and condiments. The location was the largest inn in the village. Not only were cooks present, but also housewives. I hoped that this knowledge would spread as widely as home cooking in the Town, and I also believed it could become a source of income for the housewives, so about thirty women were attending the lesson.
"You must be the cooks, then?" I asked.
"Y-yes, we are!" Three men in their late twenties to early thirties responded to my call.
"Then, first, you three will learn this, and afterward, please teach the housewives." The plan was to have the professionals see and master the techniques first, and then have the general populace learn from them.
"S-so many eggs..."
"I heard a rumor that the Western Town had dishes that used a lot of eggs... It wasn't a lie, then." Ten or so women were bewildered by the sight of the ingredients. I intended to teach them how to make mayonnaise, and for that, I had brought a whopping fifty eggs, along with generous amounts of vinegar and oil.
"It's fine to fail as many times as you need. Also, you must absolutely wash your hands after handling the eggs. First, let's go over how to fillet meat and fish—" After that, I demonstrated mayonnaise and tempura², making them in front of the group—though it was less a 'teaching' session and more a practical demonstration.
Within thirty minutes of the class starting, dishes like tempura sandwiches, mayo-chicken sandwiches, and tuna-mayo-like sandwiches were being carried out of the kitchen one after another. With each dish, there were gasps of surprise and cheers. The inn was wider than the 'Clan' inn in the Town, but it still couldn't hold all the villagers and the party from the Town, so the finished dishes were carried outside as well.
I had planned to talk to the craftsmen during lunch, but they didn't seem to be indoors. I went outside to look for them and spotted a familiar craftsman talking to a man who appeared to be a local village craftsman.
"How's the work? Can you build the sewage system?" I approached them, raising a hand in greeting. They reacted immediately.
"Oh, Shin. We've managed to get about twenty people from the village who can use Earth Magic to help, so we think we can get it done in three or four days."
"But is this really okay? I heard we're even getting paid a daily wage..." the village craftsman wondered.
Of course, the option to have them work for free was there, but due to motivational issues, that was absolutely out of the question. Besides, they were doing this under the promise and contract to become the Town's backup. While I wouldn't call it subservience, I had to hold the initiative to a certain extent. And the best way to do that was to surpass them in funding.
"Also, about the water channels—"
"Speaking of that, why don't we just make it a moat around the village?" It was Claudio who spoke up, with Olga, naturally, beside him.
"I think that's a good idea too. If you're going to develop this village the same way as the Town, the possibility of it being targeted will also increase significantly," Olga added.
I had been uneasy about the village's defensive capabilities, too. However, the water channel in the Town was built with shallow water depth to prevent children from drowning—I couldn't just ignore the children of this village.
"Hmm... But what if a child falls in, just in case?" I pondered. The villagers who heard me looked puzzled.
"The children don't go outside the village, to begin with. It's dangerous. They might go to gather wood or materials, but an adult always goes with them," one villager explained. Ah, I see. It was the same in the Town, but indeed, not many adults, let alone children, went outside. The public safety and security here couldn't be compared to Earth, but in exchange, their awareness of crime prevention and defense must be thorough, almost instinctual. The children in the Town played in the water channel because it was a 'safe zone'—this made me re-recognize the harsh realities of this world.
"Well, if you're that concerned, why don't you build a fence or an earthen wall?" Claudio suggested.
"That's right. That would certainly increase the defensive power," Olga agreed. Taking their suggestions into account, we decided that a moat was simply digging up the earth and filling it with water. A discussion came up about making it in a single day, but since the sewage system wasn't ready and there was no nearby river to drain into like the Town, we agreed to build the structure but postpone filling it with water.
* * *
"Alright, start digging from here."
"Like this, all the way around, got it?"
Before I knew it, Claudio and Olga were taking the lead, directing the work of digging a moat around the perimeter of the village. "Is it okay to be a little far from the village?" I asked. Under the direction of the craftsmen, the villagers began digging the ditch about ten meters away from the existing fence. In a straight line, this would be quite long.
"It's better to leave some space. That way, it won't be a hassle later when we want to expand the village," Olga stated matter-of-factly.
"Olga is a Viscountess, so you can trust her with this stuff," Claudio chuckled. The villagers who heard this were astonished.
"Huh?!"
"A-a Noble?!"
Ignoring the confused villagers, Olga put Claudio in a headlock from behind. "What do you mean, 'trust her with this stuff'? What do you mean by that? Besides, this is knowledge I gained during my time as an adventurer. It's not just bandits, there are monsters too. It's always better to be safe than sorry," she insisted.
Seeing them display such affection was a little too much, so I turned my gaze elsewhere. I noticed the three young adventurers. I waved, and Cart, the leader, responded first.
"You're working hard, Cart. And Ban and Lielie, too." The three gathered in front of me.
"We're getting a daily wage, too!" Cart confirmed.
"Cart, Lielie, and I can use Fire Magic and Earth Magic, you see..." Ban added.
"So, this kind of construction is perfect for us!" Lielie finished enthusiastically. I nodded my head in confirmation.
"That's right. And speaking of which, the river nearby... it seems there were other creatures in it after all."
"Yes. I don't think it's much different from the river near the Town," Cart answered as the representative.
When I asked them to set up the fishing nets, I had requested them to report or, if possible, capture any shrimp or shellfish they saw. Shrimp were a no-go, but a few shellfish had gotten into the nets, and apparently, they were scattered around relatively everywhere. This meant that if we could secure a way to catch them, the village could replenish the materials.
"Then, please follow the instructions of Claudio and the craftsmen. And please, be careful not to get injured."
"""We will!""" The trio responded energetically and returned to their assigned positions.
* * *
Then, as the sun began to set—
"...They can really do this, huh?" I couldn't help but voice my amazement as I looked at the moat that encircled the village, which must have been about 1.5 kilometers long. The moat was about two meters deep, and on the village side, an earthen wall about one meter high was constructed like a handrail.
"How is it? It looks like a small fort, doesn't it?" Olga asked.
"It might be a bit excessive, but if we're going to compete with that Town, we have to go this far," Claudio agreed. I nodded in agreement with both of them. Given that they could accomplish this much, I could certainly believe the craftsman's claim that they could run the sewage system to the nearby river in three or four days.
"From here on out, it'll be our job, so how about you, Shin, return to the Town tomorrow?" the craftsman suggested.
"Yes, I suppose so. Then, I'll need Claudio as a guard, and as a porter—I'll ask for Cart this time." When I called out, he walked out from the crowd of craftsmen and villagers.
"Understood, Shin!"
My return to the Town was also a matter of my own circumstances. It was driven by the necessity of the Town's business and trade. Currently, while eggs and shellfish were fine, the fish and poultry used for trade with the Count were only supplied by me. The fish would last for a few more days because of the water channel that doubled their number, but the poultry supply would definitely stop. That's why I had been asked to return to the Town 'as often as possible' from this village, which was a day's travel away.
And there was one more thing that the Guild Master Gil and I had discussed and decided upon.
* * *
—Flashback—
"About that trio... is it difficult for them to reach Silver Class?" I had consulted with Jan, alone, about Cart, Ban, and Lielie during the selection process before coming to the East Village.
"Ah, well... when it comes to offense, it's hopeless for them."
"Gil and Luce at least had some specialization in attack, so we could make excuses for them. But those three... without support-type or special magic, they are beyond help," the Guild Master Gil confirmed. In this world that relied on magic, the evaluation of the Gold Class Gil was incredibly heavy.
"Hey, don't make that face. Shin, you've been creating a lot of employment opportunities. And you said you wanted to create a team specializing in civil engineering, right? That'll be enough for them," he consoled.
"That's true, but construction work doesn't come up that often. I still think it would be better if they had some kind of 'magic' they could use to make a living..." I worried, crossing my arms. Gil chuckled.
"You aren't a god, you know. They're lucky enough to be helping you catch fish and birds right now." His words were logical and correct, even without the intention to console me. But I didn't know how long they would be able to hunt. I hadn't succeeded with aquaculture for anything but shellfish yet, and what if I were gone, or couldn't ask them for help anymore...
...Wait?
"...That might work."
"? What might work?"
—Flashback End—
* * *
"Well, we'll head for the Town tomorrow morning. We have to catch some birds and fish along the way, too. Let's see..." I looked around at the assembled members' faces. "Lieben, please take care of things with the craftsmen. If anything happens, consult with Zapp immediately. And Olga, please take care of the village security."
And so, my life of shuttling between the Town and the village began.
* * *
Two weeks later—I had been returning to the Town every two or three days and coming back to the village, completing about two rounds with the accompaniment of Cart, Ban, and Lielie. I was back in the village once more. The 'East Village' was gradually acquiring the same facilities as the Town: sewage, toilets, a large bathhouse, water channels, and a chicken coop.
As expected, the sewage system had been a little trickier, but the river was far away, and the drainage had to be routed downstream so as not to interfere with fishing, which was a known complication. The two-meter-deep moat surrounding the village had been filled with one meter of water, with about 300 giant fish swimming in it.
Also, water channels for shellfish and shrimp were built inside the village. The chicken coop was huge, large enough to hold about 400 birds. This meant that since the Town's 200-bird facility could secure about 80–100 eggs per week, this village could potentially produce nearly 200 per week. In terms of the scale of the water channels and coops alone, this village surpassed the Town.
But there was one problem: I was the only person who could capture the vital fish and poultry. However, I knew that the solution to this was only a matter of time.
As I considered this, Zapp, the Village Head's son, rushed out to meet me.
"Welcome back, Shin. You must be tired."
"Zapp, how is the village—well, I can see for myself."
"Everything you asked for is pretty much done. I never imagined we could build something like this..." Just then, Lielie, who had escorted me, and Olga, who was the guard, set down their luggage.
I had Claudio and Olga take turns as guards for the round trip, and Olga, in particular, helped with the village's organization and zoning, like an urban planner.
"Oh, the vinegar and oil. Thank you for always bringing it," Zapp said gratefully.
"We can't produce this in the village yet. I'll talk to Carman so that merchants can be sent here regularly," I confirmed.
While we were chatting, two women called out to me.
"Shin, we—can we go to the bathhouse?" Olga asked.
"It's so hot, and I'm drenched in sweat... I can't stand it anymore!" Lielie fanned her face with her hand.
"Ah, you must be tired. We'll take care of the luggage here, so please go and rest," Zapp said kindly. He, too, seemed to be able to use body reinforcement, as he easily carried the heavy luggage. Seeing them off, I also headed to the bathhouse to wash off my own sweat.
* * *
The next day—I rested in the morning and gathered people in the afternoon. As always, it was to assist in catching birds and fish, but this time, I had made a specific selection of personnel.
First, the trio: Cart, Ban, and Lielie. From the village, I brought Zapp and a boy who had just turned sixteen named Rick. He was small for his age, with short gray hair and a scar on his forehead, which hinted at a hard life, but his efficient way of working was impressive. Usually, a few other villagers would join us, but the restricted and specific personnel selection made them slightly uneasy.
"Shin, um—" Cart began.
"Why only us?" Ban followed, asking the natural question. My answer to them was this:
"Actually, since coming to this village, I've been running a certain test."
"A test? What kind of test is that?" Zapp tilted his head, and the other four showed the same confusion.
"It was an accident at first, but the magic used for the traps to catch birds and fish... it's a setting-type magic, but it can catch a certain amount of things even without magic."
In fact, I had publicly stated that I used to catch birds and fish 'without using magic' in the early days, so the trio from the Town already knew this, but the two villagers were astonished.
"S-something like that is possible?"
"If that's possible—can I catch birds and fish too?" Rick asked hopefully.
I stared at them intently. "Indeed, there are people who can do it without magic, but the amount they catch is negligible. However, there are people who can use this magic unconsciously. I had a few people like that in my Town, too." My words captured the attention of the five, and I hurried on.
"The trigger was an incident where I forgot to apply magic when setting a trap here in the village... But we still caught fish and birds normally, so I secretly investigated it, thinking there might be something to it. And the ones with the aptitude are you five—that's the result of my test."
The five became excited at my words.
"Then, then we—even if we can't use Wind Magic or Water Magic—" Cart stammered.
"We can catch birds and fish!? We can use that setting-type magic!?" Ban cried out.
"And I thought I was going to end up as a Bronze Class adventurer forever...!" Lielie cheered. The three locals were nearly in tears of joy, and the villagers were just as thrilled.
"M-my village... We won't have to rely on or hire outsiders for our supplies anymore!" Zapp exclaimed.
"Zapp, I'm going to work hard too!" Rick pledged.
I was only doing this to make my own job a little easier, so being met with such overwhelming joy made me feel a touch of guilt. In any case, I performed the final 'test'—and on this day, five 'successors' were born.
Summary:
Shin's logistics mission to the East Village accelerates, revealing his pragmatic vision to transform it into the Town's secure, self-sustaining backup. The negotiations with the cautious Village Head and the eager Zapp set the stage for major construction—sewage, a giant moat, and specialized coops. Claudio and Olga's strategic input helps fortify the village, showcasing the blend of modern planning and adventurer know-how.
The real game-changer arrives after two weeks: Shin's secret 'magic-less trap' test. The exciting reveal of latent, unconscious magic-user talent in Cart, Ban, Lielie, Zapp, and Rick not only solves the village's supply problem but also creates five new economic leaders, effectively securing the future of the East Village and easing Shin's immense burden. The emotional relief of the struggling adventurers and villagers is palpable.
Character Insight:
Shin is consistently driven by efficiency and the desire to delegate. His 'test' wasn't about altruism, but a pragmatic solution to his own supply chain problem, which ironically makes him a hero to the five selected successors. Olga and Claudio's affection and strategic competence demonstrate that Shin's hiring choices are paying off, as they provide genuine, high-value assistance beyond simple guarding. Zapp's journey from a hesitant local to a highly motivated assistant shows Shin's ability to inspire massive change by giving people a real, tangible chance at self-sufficiency.
Behind the Scene:
The 'seasoning that takes a long time' is likely something like Soy Sauce or Miso, which aligns with Shin's modern knowledge of fermented foods that require months or years to cure, making the village's isolated location and need for patient, long-term labor perfect. The refusal to fill the moat until the sewage is done highlights Shin's strict adherence to proper sanitation and logistics, even when facing pressure to prioritize defense. The 'successor' selection using mana-less traps is a brilliant, subtle cheat—it turns their lack of offensive magic from a fatal flaw into a highly valuable, unique skill set that provides a living.
T/L:
² Tempura is a classic Japanese dish of deep-fried seafood and vegetables. Given Shin is introducing modern cooking, it's a natural fit alongside mayonnaise, using the eggs and oil he brought. ↩
Notes:
• Zapp - Son of the village head of the nearest eastern village. A physically strong laborer but poor public speaker. Desperate to save his village from economic ruin.
• Cart - One of the three new adventurers housed by Shin, he’s a gang leader type with a grateful demeanor for Shin’s kindness. Short-haired and sporting a typical delinquent/leader look.
• Luce - A Bronze-class adventurer, also an orphanage graduate and very close friend of Gil. She specializes in Fire Magic, but can only 'manifest' flames without projection. She has flaxen hair tied in a braid at the back, short stature.
• Ban - One of the three new adventurers housed by Shin, he is gentler and more reserved than Cart, with an androgynous appearance, shoulder-length hair, and a gentle-looking demeanor.
• Gil - A Bronze-class adventurer and recent graduate of the local orphanage. He specializes in Earth Magic (Stone Bullet), but its initial power is weak. He and Luce are close, almost like siblings. He has short hair, slender build, and looks unhealthy.
• Lieben - A tall man Shin hires for his Wind Magic to help create his dried fish product. He has thin, tall frame and slightly tired eyes.
• Mel - A young girl Shin hires for her Water Magic to clean his catch. She has semi-long hair, and slightly foxy, sharp eyes.
• Shin - An average, middle-aged Japanese salaryman who prides himself on his common sense and average abilities. He was forcibly sent to a fantasy world by a God and granted the 'ability' to prevent anything 'outside his common sense' from occurring in his presence.
• Baum - The Village Head of the East Village. An old man with white hair and beard. Experienced enough to be wary of 'too good to be true' deals, which makes him a necessary counterpoint to Zapp's eagerness.
• Carman - The Count's official merchant in the town. A professional, elderly man who quickly recognized the unexpected value of Shin's processed fish.
• Claudio - A Silver-class adventurer called “Endless Stamina,” known for his toughness, with short chestnut hair, a mild face, an average build with strong arms, and a height of 175 cm. He fights in close combat using Body Enhancement (Boost) and a sword, with Gold-class potential limited by low versatility.
• Olga - A Viscountess and eccentric Silver-class adventurer known as the Silver-Haired Witch, with long silver hair, a youthful face with an adult expression, and a height just under 170 cm. She specializes in Fire, Wind, and Reflection magic, and avoids Gold-class promotion to escape obligations.
• Jan - The sturdy branch manager of the local Adventurer's Guild. He is short, has muscular build, and gray hair.
• Rick - A 16-year-old boy from the East Village. Small with short gray hair and a scar on his forehead, which hints at a tough life. He's very focused and works efficiently.