Old People Don’t Hold Hands - Chapter 165



Only Krnovel

Episode 165, Development (2)

To my words, Nokin just opened his mouth as if dumbfounded.

Still, I just looked at Nokin with my shoulders straight.

It seemed as if he was trying to take back his remarks belatedly.

“… … Ha, but if you do that, there will be a lot of backlash.”

I guess so.

If you had just stayed still, things like meals and housing would have been provided for you.

Now, you have to work to enjoy everything here.

But only in this way could the city continue to develop.

If I am to faithfully carry out my future plans, the development of this place is essential.

… … For that development, none of the members here could rest.

What I’m saying is that everyone has to work hard at their own job.

So I searched my pockets and took out something that was stuck in there.

And I handed it to Nokin.

“Mr. Declen, why is this… … ?”

“Nokkin, you know what this thing is, right?”

“… … Of course I know. Isn’t this the city’s currency?”

“Yeah, Neil.”

What I took out was a small silver coin.

So, in the city, there is a unit of currency called ‘niel’.

And I… … .

“I plan to create a currency in this city that works like Neil.”

“… … !”

“And I plan to give this currency when each person faithfully carries out their role.”

Of course, money cannot function properly if it is created in an instant and circulated haphazardly.

First, the idea was to instill the concept of capitalism in the people here by distributing food differentially.

At my words, Nokin hesitated for a moment.

“Can I ask why you are trying so hard to reform this place?”

I answered Nokin’s words without hesitation.

“I plan to change the treatment of manifesters.”

The current manifester should be executed immediately the moment his identity is revealed.

In the past, in Europe, it was similar to a witch.

Anyone can kill a manifester, and there is no guilt for killing a manifester.

In addition, because of the ridiculous rumor that drinking the blood of a manifester would allow one to obtain the divine arrangement.

Rather, there were some who lit a fire in their eyes and looked for the manifestor.

There were two things that had to be done to change this situation.

First, to overturn the ridiculous rumors spread in the temple through public opinion.

Second, we will develop our own strength.

In order to do that, we need to develop this retreat itself, where the manifesters gather.

When I told this to Nokin, he listened quietly.

He raised his head and looked up at me.

“… … Although he was appointed to the position in a hurry, I think that, more than anyone else, Mr. Declen was the leader we had hoped for.”

Well, of course, from the perspective of the person who brought it to life, Nokin, my words must have been welcome.

After that, the conversation with Nokin came to an end.

Nokin also began to actively participate in my plans.

That was the first thing Nokin said.

“… … However, regardless of Mr. Declen’s plan, there will likely be those who oppose the reform.”

“I guess so. You should try to resolve that on your own.”

“… … I’ll try. But… … .”

“… … ?”

“What should we do with the old and the sick… … ?”

“They are managed separately, assigned easy tasks, and given food.”

“……All right.”

After saying these words, he left for Nokin to relay the message to others.

I watched the retreat for a while.

So that’s how it ended for that day.

After that, I visited the retreat for a few days with my group.

As the days go by, I can see how Nokin is getting more and more foolish.

Little by little, more and more guys were coming out and doing their work.

Because all of these people who came out are manifesters who possess power.

As the number of people increased, the construction work began to progress more quickly.

After a week, except for a few people who were doing easy and miscellaneous work inside the building.

Almost everyone came out and worked every day from morning to evening.

Meanwhile, the work of classifying the personnel was also completed.

The number of people was exactly as Nokin had previously predicted.

The combat personnel, who were quite numerous, began hunting.

Every day, I ended up with enough crystals to easily fill five pockets.

Today, after filling up the bags I received from Nokin, I was watching the hideout from the second floor.

… … Well, it seems like I’ve become an evil CEO.

If I grow up, it will be better for everyone, right?

And above all.

I have an important mission that will determine the fate of this group.

As soon as he finds an edible crystal while rummaging through his pockets, he swallows it.

Nowen, who had been helping with the construction work downstairs, came up, shaking his hands.

“Hmm! DeClen. Here you are! It looks like construction work is over, so what do we do now?”

With his characteristic friendliness, Nowen became friends with the people he was working with in construction within a few days.

By the fourth day, it was like I was the head of an architectural firm.

The apparitions who worked in construction often became followers.

Diana introduced an administrative system that had never existed before, and then started doing similar work.

Biella was given various tasks, such as distributing food and caring for children.

“Once we finish renovating the building, we will divide it into several rooms.”

“… … A room? So, does that mean I should build a wall?”

“yes.”

The buildings currently in hiding were mostly low-rise buildings consisting of one or two stories.

If there’s a problem though.

Since these buildings are not divided into separate spaces, everyone sleeps together in that huge space.

What reforms should be carried out after introducing capitalism through food?

Right here, living.

So, to sell to the manifesters by the room unit.

It was necessary to split the interior of the building, which was no different from a huge one-room apartment, into several rooms.

“Please divide it into a very small room suitable for one person to stay in, and a large room suitable for a family to stay in together. Mr. Nowen can design this part.”

“Oh, it seems difficult… … . Well, let’s give it a try! We can do it like the accommodation we’re staying in.”

Still, it seems like it’s not an empty promise that I’ve done a fair amount of construction work.

Noh-kun did as he was told and did it skillfully.

I went back down and watched Nowen giving various instructions to the workers.

I rolled the crystals in my pocket in my hand.

After all, it seems they don’t mess with high-ranking hunters who would collude with the temple.

The crystals I obtained were not precious or of high purity… … .

Since I had a lot at hand, it was very helpful.

Even though it is difficult to gain new powers.

The powers already obtained could be strengthened.

In this way, the power of the flames could grow even stronger.

The power of steel could raise the level itself.

Now that it’s like that, you’ll be able to use stronger steel more often.

In addition to that, the power of pain, the power of control, … … and finally the power of absorption.

Most of the powers I had were greatly upgraded.

Among them, the one that could be upgraded the most was.

“ignition.”

… … That was the power of pain.

Hwarururur!

The light on my ignition was no longer red.

It felt like an ominous, dark purple aura.

The reason the color of the fire changed so ominously was because the power of pain had become stronger.

Perhaps the power of ignition itself is not that strong.

Since the power of pain had grown this much, the pain felt upon contact would have been extremely severe.

… … What if this also applies to emission?

It would have been even better if the power of control and stiffening of the subject were combined when the pain reached its limit.

In addition to these modifications, I was also steadily consuming the items I received as loot from Nokin.

I mainly consumed it for strength.

He left the remaining small branches to feed his colleagues.

A week from now, we would be heading to the labyrinth again.

Before that, starting from today, I was thinking of seriously feeding these to my colleagues.

The numbers for each branch were not high, but there were so many of them.

Unlike EndWorld, there is no status window here, so it is difficult to check exactly… … .

In total, you will be able to increase 50% of the stats you currently have.

Especially in the case of Biella, who had the lowest stat value, that value would rise explosively, reaching close to 50.

Let’s just sit there and do the math while looking at the branches and the water.

Someone tapped my shoulder from behind.

I turned my head and saw what was standing there.

It was Diana.

“Oh, Miss Diana.”

“Mr. Declen. What were you doing here?”

“I was just calculating something for a moment.”

At my words, Diana looked at the bag in my hand for a moment.

He stood next to me and looked out over the first floor of the hideout.

“… … Certainly, it’s a huge place no matter when you see it.”

“Yes, it will get even bigger in the future.”

“… … As Mr. Declen said, can we really be accepted by the people?”

“It will be difficult, but I will definitely make it happen.”

“… … Then that must be so. There is nothing Mr. DeClen cannot achieve as he wishes.”

Diana’s eyes were subtly sparkling as she spoke.

Maybe he trusts me strongly.

Starting with the winter forest I came across as a runaway slave, with nothing in my possession.

… …Because so much has happened before I get to stand here.

I lock eyes with Diana for a moment.

Diana turned her head away without answering.

Diana turned her head to the first floor, fanning herself with one hand, and pointed to Nowen.

“Come to think of it, how did you persuade Mr. Nowen? It must not have been easy.”

… … Oh, that’s what I mean.

Would it be okay to tell Diana in advance?

“Mr. Nowen liked Ms. Biella.”

“… … Jo, you like me? As a man?”

“Yes, Mr. Nowen said so himself.”

Diana, who was momentarily surprised by my explanation, nodded silently as if she finally understood and muttered.

“Somehow, so at that time… … .”

It seems that Diana also has some idea.

“… … So, Mr. Nowen decided to join us because of Ms. Biella?”

“No, that wasn’t it. The reason I persuaded him was… let’s say it was for justice.”

“… … I see. But, Mr. Nowen, do you plan on confessing someday?”

As Diana spoke, she quietly looked at Biella and Nowen, who were moving busily on the first floor.

Even while working tirelessly, Nowen’s gaze is constantly drawn.

I stayed with Biella, who was crouching behind me and handling things.

I too, along with Diana, looked at that sight and shook my head.

“No, he said there weren’t any.”

“… … Is that so? Why?”

“I think Mr. Nowen will be in danger a lot due to the nature of his powers. That’s why he said he has no intention of confessing in the future.”

I cannot reveal this feeling because my situation is dangerous.

Diana, who had been quietly listening to what I was saying, turned her head again and looked at me.

and.

“… … Then what about Mr. Declen?”

“……yes?”

… … and asked me ridiculous questions.