Earth Dungeon 98.2

Test

Chapter 98.2. Electric Lights

"Food comes from all over Japan. Even the inner city grows crops and has plenty. It's thanks to dungeon utilization."

While sipping the coffee that Daiki distributed and creaking on a chair, Nekomusume explains. The area around the dungeon becomes fertile land, so that's possible...

"Thinning is tough, though. When I was small, I was forced to help thin at the forefront of the dungeon. I thought I would just die normally. Even in the inner city, the lower classes have it tough."

Recalling the past with a disgusted expression, Hanari says. The inner city has its challenges.

"You should come down to the outer city."

"Did you see how heavily armed Wind was the other day? The outer area of the inner town is considered a demonic place, a hellish environment. Especially the ruined city is bad, a place where people are constantly fighting and dying."

Raising both hands, Hanari says jokingly, but...

"I couldn't deny that until half a year ago. It felt like that."

"Oh, I might have died if the boss wasn't there."

"That's right. Not having dinner for tomorrow was normal."

"Tanks to Sakimori-shan."

The children agree, and a little girl climbs onto my lap and sits down. When there's not enough food, people start fighting. If I remember correctly, people started fighting after missing nine meals.

[It's thanks to the Equivalent Exchange Store. Ultimately, it's thanks to you, Sakimori-san.]

[You can worship me with thanks, right? Shizuku-san.]

To Shizuku, who teases me, I respond with a slight smile. At least now I might be considered the savior of the abandoned town.

"However, Mr. President, with the current population of about 4,000, problems are arising. Ryuko is building a large apartment, but it might barely be completed before winter. The rest will be living in the ruined buildings."

Katsuyori reports with a bitter voice, but that's...

"It can't be helped. Even with Ryuko's [Block], there are limits to the construction speed."

[Block] is also a knowledge skill and a skill that allows the exchange of any part. The size that can be exchanged is up to the weight one can carry. And it applies even when operating various construction machines such as bulldozers and shovels. When you touch several tons of concrete with a shovel, it slowly fills the light block. If you solidify it with a magical hydration agent, buildings are constructed at a speed comparable to that of overnight castles.

"Well, it will be resolved with time. What's next?"

"Water and doctors. There's no problem with drinking water, but the rest is tricky. Especially fields. We need irrigation channels."

Shingen brings up the next agenda with a troubled expression, but that's true.

Dungeon-produced vegetables and such don't need much water, but still, some are required. Additionally, the second generation without the magic growth speed still needs water.

In addition to buildings, and irrigation channels, huh? We can't create fields in the ruined city, so we'll need to make them on the other side of the bridge.

"For now, vegetables from the Core Store are managing, right?"

"Well, yeah. But I want rice. I want to grow other vegetables too."

"I haven't reached that level yet. Let's buy from the inner city. It will collapse if we think too far ahead."

[In city-building games, if you try to build a metropolis from the beginning in a distant place, such as a power plant, people won't gather, and it will collapse. At first, you have to make a messy city.]

As Shizuku says from her game experience. So, let's put it off for now. It's always just putting things off. It can't be helped. Amatsugahara Corporation is a small company.

"Now, about the doctor."

"A doctor?"

Seeing the cat girl pouring a lot of sugar into coffee, when everyone notices her gaze, Karin makes an unpleasant expression.

"Impossible! Doctors are high earners. They have a high sense of elitism!"

"Isn't there anyone benevolent who comes to an under-served village?"

"The outer city is the limit! Absolutely impossible!"

Hanari shouts frantically, and it seems impossible. If we had 'Healing Magic', we could manage somehow, but anyone with that skill would be abducted immediately. Potions are also... We don't have status recovery potions. What's going on?

[Status recovery potions are rare. I remember craft skill holders making them using materials from strong enemies like dragons and chimeras. It's faster to look for someone with the [Healing Magic] skill.]

[Shizuku's strong means... It means it's impossible to get normally, right?]

I don't want to put it off. I don't want to put it off for winter. Is there no doctor?

"For now, there doesn't seem to be anything we can solve. The only thing we can do is if you catch a cold, stay warm and eat nutritious food."

"That was the most difficult thing in the ruined city, but now it should be possible. If that's the only option."

Shingen and the others smile wryly, but there's nothing we can do about it.

Even after the meeting, we only identified the problems. Nothing but problems.

"For now, let's raise a toast to the fact that the electricity is on. Let's have a feast the day after tomorrow."

Ah, the reality is harsh. Unlike in games, small things don't get sorted out automatically. For now, let's celebrate the electricity being on until night.