Outsider 1

I had felt it during my time travel: Knowing a future that cannot be changed is close to a curse.

But…

“Does that mean something will happen a year from now?”

“Yes. Something will. A really fun and big event.”

Still, there was something positive to think about.
Assuming Baek-ho’s words were true, nothing serious would happen for a year.

“You won’t tell me what kind of event it is?”

“Hyung, if you know in advance, it’s not an event anymore.”

“Then at least tell me this. When that event happens, will District 7 get destroyed again……?”

“Hmm, I don’t think so…The event I mentioned isn’t like that…”

That was at least a relief to hear. I was planning to make it big in real estate soon, so that was vital information to know.

‘But… if it’s not that kind of event, then what the hell is he talking about?’

While I was quietly racking my brain, Baek-ho suddenly pulled a regretful face.

“Oops, did I give too many hints?”

Hints my ass. I didn’t have the slightest clue what he was talking about.

“Anyway, I’ve said everything I needed to. You know what’s next, right…?”

What?

“…What?”

The moment I tilted my head, Baek-ho disappeared right before my eyes.

“Poof.”

Ha… I really need to hurry up and get stronger.

***

A few days after I returned from the Marquis’s house, the reconstruction of the Seventh District officially began.

Our tribe’s proud labor warriors.

The adult men from Bifron.

And construction experts sent by various noble families affiliated with Melves, led by the House of Goldbeard.

All joined forces to start the demolition work, and construction proceeded immediately in areas where demolition was complete.

With tens of thousands of workers, the construction progressed at an incredibly fast pace. In terms of speed alone, it seemed to be faster than modern construction sites.

Well, naturally.

Kwoooooom—!

We didn’t have heavy machinery, but we had magic. And we weren’t building complicated skyscrapers. Most importantly, the workers themselves were on another level.

“Wait! If you lift it like that, your hips…”

“Huh?”

“…You guys surprise me every time. Isn’t it heavy?”

“This isn’t even a workout!”

Since the barbarians could handle work requiring heavy equipment with just their bare hands, our work progressed quickly.

“Baron Taylan’s house said that if we pay a little more, they’ll sell us the entire 7-2 commercial district.”

“They’re offering to sell the whole district? Buy it immediately.”

While construction continued, I purchased land in Zone 7 from the nobles the alliance leader introduced me to at low prices.

“The 7-2 commercial district? I thought the plan was to work on that much later.”

“The schedule has changed. Baron Jandel’s orders.”

Naturally, the purchased land went straight into demolition and reconstruction.

The sooner you put up buildings, the sooner you get tenants, and the sooner you use that rent money to buy more land.

“This will be the house I’ll live in for the next two years…!”

“It’s cramped, but it has everything you need!”

“Having Bifron next door is unsettling, but I have no choice. House prices in other districts have skyrocketed…”

Contrary to my worries, it wasn’t hard to find tenants. Since buildings were divided into one-room units, dozens could live in a single building.

Of course, that made it much more affordable.

On top of that, banks approved low-interest loans, and existing residents of the 7th District received housing funds from the royal family—benefits that only fueled business further.

“With this population density, I realized that even if I opened a shop here, I’d have nothing to worry about.”

 

As more residents moved in, merchants gained interest, creating a cycle of growth. Business expanded smoothly.

Of course, not without problems.

“Ahem… sorry, but please forget what I said earlier about selling.”

As District 7 rapidly normalized, several nobles who had intended to sell their land withdrew their offers.

But…

“Excuse me, Baron…?”

“Ah, I’m really busy, why do you keep coming to me?”

“Why is it that construction has happened everywhere but on our family’s land? I came to ask the reason—.”

“Don’t rush. Can’t you see everyone’s working hard?”

“That’s not the issue! All the other buildings around here are finished—so why is mine still empty?! I’ve already sent the construction plans; you could start building right now—!”

“I told you to wait, didn’t I? Did I ever say I wouldn’t build it?
Everything will be built in due time.”

“….”

By the way, the families didn’t have the option of hiring their own workers.

The reconstruction of District 7 had to be done exclusively through House Jandel.

“…Fine. We’ll sell.”

Many families couldn’t stand my blatant scheming and surrendered, though many others still held out.

‘Those ones…I’ll start their construction last.’

One month, two months, three months…

Time flew by. My business was on track, and I had fewer things to worry about…

Earning a lot of money was nice, but nothing good would come from focusing on it alone.

“We’ve finally become a family. Welcome.”

“Phew… I didn’t know it would take this long.”

James Carla, vice-leader of the Sawtooth Clan.

Holy Knight Sven Parav.

Noble officer Melend Kaislan.

Mage corps veteran Lyris Marone.

Once they left their posts and became ordinary citizens, the Ice Rock Expedition members joined my clan.

“Is Ms. Akuraba not joining?”

“I don’t know yet. I contacted her saying I wanted to meet, but there was no reply.”

“Seems similar to Miss Ravien.”

“…It’s not an easy decision. And a lot of time has passed since then.”

“But I just can’t understand it! I still can’t sleep properly because of that incident……!”

“P-please calm down, Miss Marone……. W-well, they must have their reasons, right?”

Rather than being a matter of logic, I thought of it as one of personality. Some, like Marone, carried it heavily, but most believed it was better to forget about it and move on. And realistically, forgetting is easier.

“Um… but now that we’ve joined… do we have anything to do?”

“Honestly, I was wondering the same. With the labyrinth closed, what can we even do?”

“Perhaps… the labyrinth will reopen soon?”

In response to the new members’ questions, I shook my head.

“No, I haven’t heard any news about the labyrinth opening.
But I did hear something else.”

“Something else…?”

“In the festival of the thirteenth month, a grand tournament will be held.”

This was high-level information I’d managed to get through my noble connections; not many people knew about it yet.

“A tournament? What kind of tournament?”

“The details could change, but for now, they plan to gather the clans and have them compete. Our first goal is to win that tournament.”

“…Ah! I heard such tournaments were held before!”

“But why hold such a thing at a time like this? I don’t understand.”

“Precisely because of the times. The royal family always wants to distract the people’s eyes.”

“Um… if that’s the first goal… does that mean there’s another?”

Looking at Sven Parab, who seemed more interested in the second goal, I smirked.

“Of course. But that’s a secret for now.”

“…Excuse me?”

“Don’t look like that. It’s just an idea for now. I’ll tell you more once I’ve worked out the details.”

Mentioning its existence was enough for now.

“Come on. Everyone’s waiting.”

After that, I led the new recruits inside for a welcome feast.

It was an event meant to bring new and old members together, letting them share food and drink to deepen their bonds.

“Miss Karlstein, you look much better.”

“Ah, really? I didn’t notice…”

“You do. In the basement floor 1, you were a bit hard to approach.”

“Haha… was I?”

As for goblins and Kaislan, who lived together on the basement floor 1, they were already familiar with everyone, but there were also those meeting for the first time today.

“James Carla! Nice to meet you!!”

“Ah… likewise. I’ve heard much about you.”

“You use a bow, right? Shoot me once!”

“R-right now…?”

“You only get close by fighting!”

James Carla and Lyris Marone, who didn’t participate in the 1st basement floor expedition, were probably meeting Aynar, Misha, and Auyen for the first time today.

“Marone, say hello. This is Misha Karlstein. And this is our navigator, Auyen Lokrov.”

“Ah, yes… Nice to meet you both.”

Without being overly forward, I just introduced them and stepped aside; the three who understood the intention of this gathering continued chatting amongst themselves.

Ah, of course, that was until Aynar noticed them.

“Hey! What are you three chatting about! Let us in!”

“…Huh?”

“Oh right! Wanna see too? He’s gonna shoot me with an arrow.”

“…I… never agreed to that…”

Everyone seemed drained by Aynar’s energy, but I didn’t intervene.

Why would I?

At gatherings like this, you always need one extreme extrovert to keep things flowing.

“Jandel, come here a moment.”

While I was watching Aynar’s antics from a distance, Amelia approached without a sound and pulled me aside.

“What is it?”

“It’s about the matter you asked me to look into.”

I immediately lowered my voice.

“Ah… did you find something?”

“I can’t confirm the truth yet, but there was progress.”

Honestly, I was a little surprised.

I hadn’t expected results this quickly.

“Even if it’s completely wrong, just tell me.”

At my urging, Amelia explained what she had learned. I listened silently.

And after some time—

“But…”

After finishing her explanation, Amelia looked at me with worry.

“Are you really going to do it…?”

She had found a method because I asked, but she didn’t seem comfortable with it.

But…

“There’s no other way.”

The Noark bastards are hiding too much.

And the royal family hides even more.

Since Baekho and Clown kept all the useful information to themselves, I had nothing to work with.

[“Does that mean something will happen a year from now?”]
[“Yes. Something will. A really fun and big event.”]

Something is stirring beneath the surface.

And with my personality, there’s no way I could just sit by and watch.

It wouldn’t suit an explorer, either.

“Emily, don’t worry too much.”

“……”

“In the end, it just means the time has come.”

It was time to go beyond the walls.

 

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