Ardi stood in the middle of his new domain, looking out over the lush, fertile lands. With quiet determination, he said to himself, "This village will be called Minori Village." The name felt right—not only because the land was rich, but also because the Fairy Spring of Abundance had turned barren soil into a promising, living landscape.
Smiling, he turned to Yui. "Yui, I've decided. Our home will be known as Minori Village."
Yui's eyes danced with mischief as she laughed softly. "Oh, Master, only you could come up with such a lovely name, it fits you and the land perfectly."
Ardi rolled his eyes good-naturedly. "You always have a way with words, Yui."
Eager to share his vision, Ardi stepped onto a small platform near the Daimyo Manor and addressed the gathered villagers in a warm, confident voice, "My dear Villagers, I am proud to announce that our community will now be known as Minori Village! May our lands, enriched by the magical spring, flourish and bring us abundance."
A ripple of approving murmurs and soft clapping spread through the crowd. An young man said, "My lord, your vision gives us hope for a bright future!" A young woman added, "Yes, my lord, Minori Village is a name we can be proud of!"
After enjoying the positive response, Ardi turned his attention to planning the new settlement. He pulled up the Live Map on his HUD and opened the blueprint interface—a tool that let him drag and drop building plans onto a virtual map, much like the strategy games he used to play.
"Look at that, Yui," Ardi chuckled as he began arranging his plans. "Just like those games—drag, drop, and done!"
Yui laughed, teasing, "Oh, Master, you really are hooked on those games, aren't you? But it's cute. You make a great strategist."
Grinning, Ardi continued. With the villagers and Yui by his side, he started placing his building plans on the map of Minori Village. His vision was clear:
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Eastern Sector (Production & Agriculture):
On the east, the Fairy Spring of Abundance, set between the Daimyo Manor and a shimmering river. Around the spring, he positioned four Rice Paddy & Farm buildings—one in each direction. To complete the circle, he added two Cherry Orchards (instantly created from the Cherry Orchard Rickshaw) alongside two Fish Hatcheries, ensuring plenty of production. To guarantee water supply, he planned four Water Wheels powered by Windmills around the spring.
Northern Sector (Industry):
In the north, he set aside space for an industrial hub with a Forge, a Lumber Camp, an Artisan Workshop, and a Clay Pit & Kiln. These buildings would support manufacturing and crafting.
Central Sector (Civic & Cultural):
Around the Daimyo Manor, Ardi planned a Shinto Shrine, a School, and a Dojo to meet the community's spiritual, educational, and martial needs.
Perimeter (Defense):
To protect his community, he planned Palisade Walls & Gates around a 300-meter radius from the Daimyo Manor, enclosing all the structures.
Before finalizing his layout, Ardi pulled up the Building Planning Panel on his HUD, which summarized the details:
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[Building Planning Panel: Minori Village]
Rice Paddy & Farm
- Materials: 35 Wood, 25 Stone, 5 Metal
- Build Time: 7 hours
Lumber Camp
- Materials: 25 Wood, 15 Stone, 5 Metal
- Build Time: 5 hours
Forge
- Materials: 20 Wood, 30 Stone, 15 Metal
- Build Time: 8 hours
Shinto Shrine
- Materials: 40 Wood, 20 Stone, 5 Metal
- Build Time: 8 hours
School
- Materials: 30 Wood, 15 Stone, 5 Metal
- Build Time: 6 hours
Dojo
- Materials: 25 Wood, 20 Stone, 5 Metal
- Build Time: 6 hours
Palisade Walls & Gates
- Materials: 40 Wood, 10 Stone per 100 meters
- Build Time: 5 hours
Water Mill
- Materials: 30 Wood, 10 Metal
- Build Time: 6 hours
Clay Pit & Kiln
- Materials: 40 Wood, 30 Stone, 5 Metal
- Build Time: 7 hours
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Windmill
- Materials: 35 Wood, 20 Stone
- Build Time: 6 hours
Artisan Workshop
- Materials: 25 Wood, 15 Stone
- Build Time: 5 hours
Grand Totals:
- Wood: 1,425 units
- Stone: 545 units
- Metal: 100 units
- Total Build Time: 226 hours
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Ardi studied the panel carefully and murmured, "This plan is ambitious, but with all of us working together, we can build a thriving Minori Village." His eyes shone with excitement as he dragged and dropped building icons onto the map.
Yui leaned closer, her eyes sparkling with admiration and playful teasing. "Master, you're really in your element, aren't you? I can see your heart is as vast as the fields you plan to cultivate."
Ardi chuckled. "You always know how to make me smile, Yui. But this isn't just about buildings—it's about creating a home for all of us."
Nearby, a young man whispered, "My lord's vision is inspiring—I can almost see Minori Village coming together." Another villager added, "With such careful planning, I'm sure we'll overcome any challenges."
Feeling the support of his people and the gentle affection of Yui, Ardi straightened his posture and declared, "Let's start building not just structures, but a family—a community where everyone feels at home. Today, we lay the foundation of our future."
After a hearty lunch with his people, Ardi gathered Kazou and a few other carpenters at the edge of Minori Village. The warm midday sun shone over the new military tents and the busy village. Ardi looked at them with both determination and care.
"My Lord, what should we start with?" Kazou asked, his rough hands resting on his tool belt.
Ardi smiled calmly. "We'll begin with the essentials—a Shinto Shrine, a School, and a Dojo. These will be the spiritual, educational, and martial centers of our village."
Chiyo, a young carpenter, frowned in curiosity. "Shouldn't we start with farms and production buildings first?"
Ardi's smile grew gentle. "Normally, yes. But thanks to system rewards, we aren't short on resources right now. And since we haven't secured the right crops or fish for farming yet, it's better to focus on our people—giving them a place to learn, train, and grow spiritually."
The carpenters nodded in understanding. "That makes sense, My Lord," said Kazou. "We'll get started right away."
Ardi felt a surge of pride. These people weren't just following orders—they were listening, thinking, and trusting his judgment.
With construction plans underway, Ardi decided to try something new.
He called up the Dimension Travel panel, and a sleek interface appeared:
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[Dimension Travel]
• Dimension Search
• World Record
• Dimension Dive
He chose Dimension Search, and a loading bar with a countdown popped up:
[Dimension Search]
Analyzing Dimensional Pathways…
Estimated Time Remaining: 1 Hour
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"Well, that takes a while…" Ardi muttered, closing the menu.
With some time to spare, he glanced at Yui, who was watching him with an amused look. "Want to check out our new home?" he asked, smirking playfully.
Yui's eyes sparkled. "Ooh, a private tour with my Master? How romantic."
Ardi rolled his eyes, chuckling. "It's just a tour, Yui."
"We'll see about that," she teased, floating up beside him.
The Daimyo Manor stood at the heart of Minori Village—a three-story building blending function with elegant Japanese style. Its wooden beams, dark tiled roof, and detailed sliding doors gave it a refined look.
Inside, they were greeted by the cool, calming scent of fresh tatami and aged cedar. The manor was simple yet regal, perfect for a lord.
Basement: The Hidden Core
They first explored the basement, a secret shinobi hideout with secret passages, weapon storage, a small prison, and an emergency shelter.
Yui floated through the dim corridors and tapped her chin. "A secret base under your home… That's so cliché, Anata."
Ardi smirked. "Cliché? Or just convenient?"
She giggled. "Maybe both."
"Relax, I'm not evil or anything. This is for Minori Village, so everyone's safe and comfy." Ardi said with a smile.
Floor 1: The Village's Heart
They then climbed to the first floor, entering the Grand Village Hall—a spacious room with high ceilings, traditional sliding doors, and hanging lanterns lighting the polished wood floor.
"This is where we'll hold meetings and gatherings," Ardi explained.
To the side was his Lord's Office, with a large wooden desk, bookshelves, and a view of the village. There were also storage rooms for food, equipment, and supplies—everything needed to keep the village running.
Further on, they found a lord's personal dojo, a cozy lounge, and to Yui's delight—a private onsen.
Yui's eyes widened. "A hot spring?! You never told me you had one, Master!"
Ardi scratched his head. "It came with the manor…"
She floated closer with a playful glint in her eyes. "You should have led with that. Now I'm even more impressed."
"Noted," he replied, shaking his head with a chuckle.
At the back of the first floor was a peaceful private garden with wooden walkways, carefully placed bonsai trees, stone lanterns, and a koi pond.
Yui sighed happily. "This place is really beautiful."
Ardi exhaled slowly. "Yeah… it really is."
Floor 2: The Lord's Quarters
Finally, they went up to the second floor—Ardi's personal space. The main chamber was spacious and simply decorated, with shoji windows letting in natural light. A large futon lay in the center, surrounded by soft cushions and an ornate wooden wardrobe.
There was also an archive room with empty bookshelves waiting to be filled with knowledge, and three extra rooms for future use.
Yui stretched as she landed gracefully on the futon. "Mmm… I approve. This bed is nice and soft."
Ardi gave her a deadpan look. "Are you testing my bed now?"
She grinned. "Of course. As your personal assistant, I need to make sure you're comfortable."
Ardi sighed, amused. "You're getting way too comfortable in my house, Yui."
She floated closer, leaning towards him. "That's because I am comfortable here, Master."
For a moment, the air grew quiet, the playful teasing giving way to something more intimate.
Ardi turned away, rubbing his neck. "Alright, enough teasing. Let's head back down."
Yui giggled and followed. "As you command, my Lord."
As they descended the stairs, Ardi couldn't help but smile. For the first time since arriving in this world, he truly felt at home.