Current Route and Environment Map of the Protagonist So Far

Rustle rustle rustle—boom!

Rows of unknown trees toppled in time with the grinding roar of the logging machines.

The lower shrubs and vines were leveled by something like a combine harvester.

The bulky, towering machines swung massive iron hammers, “disciplining” the rugged ground into a uniform flat surface.

On the edge of the site, soldiers in uniform stood in a neat line, watching for any small or mid‑sized creatures that might wander in.

What had been wilderness just moments ago was quickly carved into an obvious man‑made passage.

Under the orders of a foreman‑like soldier, we sorted wood and stone into different piles.

All the stones had to be smashed into chunks below a set size.

Cart after cart of small gravel was hauled onto the flattened road the machines had pounded out, clattering down in a steady pour.

Another team brought over some unknown semi‑solid substance, something like asphalt but without the smell or color.

They poured it into the gaps between the gravel.

A rough road spread outward like that, bit by bit.

For most of today, I was just breaking stones and hauling them.

Pure physical labor, zero skill involved.

Obviously it had to be one of the lowest‑paying jobs.

If I learned how to operate those big machines, I’d probably get paid more, right?

That part really did feel like a modern construction site.

But those clunky beasts looked like nineteenth‑century industrial relics from my original world.

Wouldn’t even be surprising if they exploded at any time.

Forget it. One step at a time. Things will work out when we get there.

With people around me occasionally slacking off and bragging about how amazing they used to be, the day slipped into evening before I knew it.

Just as I expected, the heavy labor didn’t make me feel all that tired.

If anything, for the current me, this didn’t even count as “heavy.”

Everything I picked up felt so light I couldn’t even tell what weighed more.

By now I could basically confirm it: this was definitely a side effect of the Wish Power.

My resistance to lethal external force had boosted my physical stats, indirectly increasing my strength and stamina.

Had to be that.

If not for the glaring sun overhead, I probably wouldn’t even be sweating.

But if that really happened, I’d look way too creepy standing in a crowd of guys reeking of sweat.

I wonder if we’ll even get a chance to bathe at night…

After a whole day of work, it was finally time for dinner.

First things first: fill my stomach.

In a relatively open area, big tents for the workers had already been set up.

Near the roughly ten super‑sized tents, countless smaller tents were packed in tight.

We lined up in front of the big tents, and the leading soldiers started handing out badges and contracts.

Soldier: Keep an eye on your work badge. From now on, whenever we’ve got odd jobs that only need a few people, you and the people you share a table with will be one work unit.

Soldier: If you didn’t receive a badge and a contract, it means your attitude during today’s probation was improper. You’re not qualified. We won’t be hiring you.

I saw several of the guys who’d been slacking and bragging all day clutch their heads and squat down in regret.

Serves them right.

The road’s already built; heading back will be way easier than coming here.

Thinking back on it, the hiring process here was surprisingly detailed and fussy.

First a verbal interview, then a physical test.

After that they registered your personal info, then checked again before departure to weed out any shady types trying to sneak in.

Only after a full day of probation did we officially sign an employment contract, something like a labor agreement.

It was pretty much the most thorough way to eliminate unreliable people.

Guess that counted as a sign of social development too.

While I was thinking that, the badge and contract were already handed to me.

Three symbols that looked like numbers were written on the badge.

The first was slightly spaced apart from the other two.

As for the contract, of course I couldn’t understand a single word.

Soldier: You’ll eat at table 48 in tent No. 7. Don’t just stand there spacing out. Move.

Xiv: Oh, o‑okay…

So these three numbers were 7, 4, and 8? Got it.

Though, why does that combo feel so ominous somehow…

Inside tent No. 7, the food distribution line was set up right by the entrance.

The cooks were scooping dishes out of big vats and portioning them into metal lunch boxes.

I grabbed one at random and started looking for table 48.

One thing worth noting: almost every table had five people, like it was fixed that way.

If each table seats five, then 48 tables makes 240 people.

Seven tents means at least 1,680.

By that math, the total number of laborers definitely topped two thousand.

Bigger than the scale I’d imagined before we set out.

When I reached table 48, the other four “tablemates” were already seated.

I spotted the big guy Ink River, the Seasonal Wolf, right away, sitting alone on one side of the table, slowly savoring the food in his box.

Having someone I knew there suddenly made me feel a lot more at ease.

The other three strangers were crammed together on the opposite side, staring at Ink River without saying a word.

The moment they saw me walking over with my badge on, the three instantly shifted their target and locked onto me instead.

??: Yo—looks like our group’s finally all here.

The speaker was the oldest‑looking of the three, around thirty, with long ash‑blond hair parted down the middle, hanging all the way to his shoulders.

He wore a loose over‑shirt easy to move in, and at a glance he had the vibe of a street artist—totally out of place on a construction‑site‑like scene like this.

??: Praise Xiv. Our meeting must be the will of the gods.

??: I could tell at a glance—we all share the same pursuit. We’re gonna get along just fine from now on.

??: Let me introduce myself first. My name’s Day High. I’m twenty‑eight.

Day High: That’s right! Just from my name, you should know I’m from the most famous land of numbers—Numeria!

Xiv: …………

Nope. Hearing your name, the only thing I got was “weirdo.” I didn’t “know” anything.

??: Ah, I get it. There’s only one country where people’s surnames have numbers in them.

The one who picked up the thread was the guy beside Day High, with slightly yellower ash‑blond hair.

His hair was cropped so short it looked like it had just begun to grow out a month after being shaved.

He wore a plain T‑shirt and shorts.

Out of everyone here, he looked the most like an actual laborer—well, besides Ink River.

??: Name’s Li Weishe. I’m twenty‑four. My specialties are hard work and archery.

Xiv: …………

My heart did skip a beat when I heard the surname Li, but this name…

Yeah, his parents definitely had terminal Naming Disease too.

Day High: Mm, Little Li, I knew it just from your name. We really are the same kind of people.

Li Weishe: Yeah, yeah. I felt it too the moment I saw your face.

…Yeah, I felt nothing at all.

What wavelength are you two even communicating on?

Day High: A man’s true romance is lust!

Li Weishe: A man’s true romance is shooting!

They shouted it in perfect sync.

Xiv: …………

Ah, so that’s what you meant by “the same pursuit” at the start.

Day High: And you, little bro—how should we call you?

The third guy beside Day High and Li Weishe had plain black hair.

His clothes were a bit ragged, like he’d just wrapped random pieces of cloth around himself with zero sense of style.

In another era, he’d definitely be that free‑spirited drifter or wandering swordsman type.

??: I’m Half Moon Outflow. Twenty.

He finished his self‑introduction with just those few words, way more reserved than the other two.

As for the name… I’ll hold my comments.

It’s a world I’m still unfamiliar with, after all.

It wouldn’t feel right to just trash their cultural naming customs.

Right, these weird names are definitely this world’s culture’s fault!

Day High: Our youngest little buddy—what about you?

Xiv: Huh? Oh…

I’d been eating and listening to them chat at the same time.

When I heard the topic shift to me, I hurriedly swallowed what was in my mouth.

The food wasn’t bad.

When I looked up—what the hell—Day High’s eyes were full of tender affection.

If that gaze got any more dangerous, I’d be calling you a sex offender.

Xiv: I’m Xiv. Sixteen.

Day High: What!? You’re from my hometown too?? Ah—never thought I’d meet someone from back home in a place like this, and in the same group!

Xiv: Who’s from your hometown?? Hands off my head! Don’t touch!

Day High: Huh? You’re not? It’s just been so long since I saw someone else with a number in their surname, I slipped up…

Day High: Anyway… Little Xiv, coming out to do hard labor at your age—got some tough circumstances at home?

Xiv: Nothing special. My family’s just short on money, so I have to make a living.

I had zero desire to explain my entire backstory, so I tossed out a casual line.

Day High: Ah, that’s rough. Don’t worry. Big Brother High is here; I’ll look after my fellow countryman.

Xiv: That sounds way more like “bullying” than “looking after” me—and I told you, I’m not your fellow countryman!

Li Weishe: Don’t worry, Little Xiv. I’ve long since gotten used to the evil of bullying newbies and the young.

Li Weishe: If life here ever feels too hard, just remember there’s someone worse off than you right here.

Xiv: That’s a pretty twisted way to comfort people, you know!

Half Moon Outflow: …I don’t bully people. And I don’t plan on being bullied.

Xiv: Oh. Well, thanks in advance then…

Day High: The only problem is… I can’t say whether that guy over there bullies people or not.

Ink River: …………

Ink River had just finished his meal, apparently.

He put his spoon down with a loud clang against the lunch box, making Day High and Li Weishe both flinch a little.

Ink River casually wiped his mouth, flashed his fangs, and used a fingernail to clean between them. Then—

Ink River: Ink River. Sixteen.

Li Weishe: …………

Day High: …Ah. You really do look young, sir.

Half Moon Outflow: Seasonal Wolves always look young.

Half Moon Outflow: And his skin’s smooth, no full‑body fur. That means he’s in a calm season personality‑wise. What are you two so scared of?

Li Weishe: Ah… so that’s how it is?

Day High: Then why were you speechless with shock at the start too?

Half Moon Outflow: That was just my first time seeing a Seasonal Wolf working for humans. I thought it was strange, that’s all.

Ink River seemed to completely ignore the three of them, tidied up his dishes, then glanced over at me.

Ink River: Xiv. Want to go take a walk?

Xiv: Huh? Oh, sure.

I hurried to finish the rest of my dinner, then followed behind Ink River to return the dishes and step out of the tent.

The three at the table just stared, dumbfounded, as Ink River and I walked out shoulder to shoulder, like they’d lost the power of speech.

Whatever. Who cares what they think.

I’d much rather stick close to Ink River than those three.

Birds of a feather flock together, and people group by kind.

I mean personality‑wise, obviously.

…………

…………

Day High: That Xiv kid… he’s not ordinary.

Half Moon Outflow: He’s just a calf that doesn’t fear tigers yet, doesn’t know the real nature of Seasonal Wolves.

Li Weishe: By the way, we don’t have any more work tonight, right?

Day High: Nope. And all those people chasing after the Pioneer Team to make a quick buck have arrived too, yeah?

Li Weishe: Then there’s only one possible answer!

Day High: That’s right. Let’s go night cruising!!

Half Moon Outflow: I’m done eating. You guys go play. I’m just gonna—

Day High: Of course you’re coming with us!!

Half Moon Outflow: Hey—listen—

Li Weishe: Obviously the more people, the more fun!!

Half Moon Outflow: …………