Isekai Nonbiri Nouka-Chapter 921: Game Center Plan

●Character Refresher

Universal Ship: A sail ship–shaped airship built by Loo. Its arms can extend and retract.

Tou: A Mercury. Captain of the Universal Ship.

-0-

After unloading all the cargo, the Universal Ship slipped out of its dedicated dock and toppled over in a nearby forest.

What is it doing?

I know.

The Universal Ship was sulking.

It thought, ‘If you want a model of a sail ship, you already have one right here’.

No, from my point of view, the Universal Ship is a modified sail ship, completely different from a regular one.

Even if the appearance is the same, the internal structure is totally different.

Even if it can float on water for disguise purposes…

I understand.

I’m sorry.

My bad.

Before looking at the sail ships in Shashaato City, I will take a good look at the Universal Ship.

You don’t want me to look if I don’t really want to?

That’s not true at all.

I definitely want to see it.

Please, show me.

-0-

With my complete surrender, the Universal Ship calmed down and returned to its dedicated dock.

Good.

Even Captain Tou gave me a warning.

When you think of ships, you should think of the Universal Ship.

I truly am sorry.

Hmm?

Even though the Universal Ship is the ship, if we are going to build a sail ship, you have a blueprint?

No, there are no plans to build one.

The Mountain Elves probably have no intention of constructing a real one either.

For now, you just want me to take a look… this is a very detailed blueprint.

Did you draw this, Tou?

Three masts, big, about sixty meters in total length… this is a galleon.

And this unfamiliar equipment?

Flight capabilities?

「Unfortunately, if we make it fly, the dragons would cause a commotion, so this ship cannot fly. However, we have left space available so that a flight device can be installed at any time.」

This strange empty room in the center is for that, then.

And this equipment here?

「Defensive systems.」

Oh, how are they used?

「Well, you aim them at anyone trying to destroy the ship and fire.」

That sounds like armaments, though?

「According to the design, they are classified as defensive systems, so they are defensive systems.」

Is that just playing with words?

「It is a technique for getting the budget approved. It is also important for diplomatic reasons.」

I see.

For now, I will hand these blueprints over to the Mountain Elves.

Even if they cannot make a real ship, they might be able to make a model.

Would that be alright?

「That would be fine. If we have a model nearby, more people will take an interest in ships.」

So that was your goal?

「Yes. If we had one more Universal Ship, we could use it for sightseeing and promote it…」

That is true.

Well, Big Tree Village is far from the sea.

The only ship the villagers can interact with is the Universal Ship.

Because of that, the Universal Ship felt left out when it was not recognized as a model of a sail ship.

I need to be more careful.

-0-

The medal-dropping game machine we built before, where you insert medals and try to knock them down.

Since we didn’t have any medals, we used medium copper coins to play.

Yes, that game that Youko and Michael-san got completely hooked on.

Sensing it might create some ruinous addicts, we decided to shelve it for a while. However, the medal-dropping game machine continued to be improved upon by the Mountain Elves.

Single-player machines, multiplayer machines, machines with additional medal towers, slot machine–like features, jackpot features, all kinds of enhancements to the gameplay.

They even integrated magic tools for automatic music performance, playing tunes that stir up a gambling spirit.

Magic tools for lighting were also incorporated, flashing and blinking extravagantly.

There were even machines equipped with magic devices that could produce flames.

…….

There is no problem if they are modifying them voluntarily.

No problem either if they are enjoying them privately.

Even when a whole room in the mansion became filled with these medal-dropping machines, I only restricted children’s access and otherwise paid it no mind.

However, it is normal to want many people to see something you have made, to use it, and to hear their impressions.

The Mountain Elves came to consult with a large pile of reward medals, asking if they could set the machines up somewhere.

Actually, not just somewhere, they specifically said Village Five.

Personally, I do not mind if they set them up.

What I cannot allow is the use of actual currency — coins currently in circulation — instead of medals.

New novel 𝓬hapters are published on ƒreewebɳovel.com.

I have to do something about that.

-0-

Thus, it was decided to create special medals exclusively for the game machines.

Fortunately, Village Five has a large supply of iron.

If we use that…

「It may be cheaper than medium copper coins, but if it has value, isn’t it the same thing?」

Guh.

「If you are going to make medals, I recommend using brass.」

Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc.

「Both materials can be obtained from the Goroun Company.」

I see.

So, about making the medals…

「Please leave it to us. We can mass-produce them at the workshop in Village Five.」

Really?

「We have a pressing machine.」

I see.

Ehto…

「Village Chief, we would like you to decide the size of the medals and come up with the design.」

Got it.

「Also, please explain everything properly to Youko-sama and Village Five.」

Right, I’ll do my best.

-0-

The medal size was made slightly larger than a medium copper coin to avoid confusion.

For the design, one side featured a deformed fox.

The other side featured a deformed Inferno Wolf.

After making a life-sized wooden sample and handing it over to the Mountain Elves, mass production of the medals began the very next day.

They turned out quite beautiful.

-0-

As for explaining things to Youko…

Youko, having previously gotten hooked on the medal-dropping game, was hesitant about setting it up.

She said it was dangerous.

However, I did not miss the way Youko’s tail was wagging.

Somehow, I managed to get her permission, and it was decided that a game center with medal-dropping machines would be built.

The location was a newly cleared area at the foot of the mountain.

A short walk away was the Patisserie Fairy Fairy.

The game center was built there.

Immediately.

……

Wasn’t that a bit too fast?

Maybe it was because the High Elves, feeling they could not leave all the work to the Mountain Elves, worked hard too?

I think the High Elves are always working hard.

Besides, as long as the building is properly constructed, even if it is fast, there is nothing to complain about.

The residents of Village Five also helped, providing employment opportunities.

-0-

The game center’s size is about fifty meters by one hundred meters, with roughly half of it being two stories.

The first floor is for general guests, and the second floor is apparently for nobles.

The walls are thick, and the interior has a double-layer structure.

No sound spills out into the surroundings.

Next to the game center, an office building was added.

It included break rooms and changing rooms for the employees.

Just when I thought that was the end, they also started building a dining hall and an inn for guests nearby.

Isn’t the scale getting a bit too big?

Will it be alright?

Youko’s secretary says to leave it to them.

W-well, I will trust them.

-0-

The civil servant girls began gathering employees for the game center.

It seems they did not want the Mountain Elves to be the only ones getting attention.

I think the civil servant girls are working hard too.

Also, I do not think they are intentionally favoring the Mountain Elves… but I will not argue.

Please do your best.

Maintenance workers, customer service staff, security personnel, and mages…

Mages?

Why?

Ah, for anti-cheating measures.

To prevent medals or machines from being tampered with by magic.

Also, they will be on alert for beast tamers and monster tamers.

I guess these things need to be considered.

No, no, I will leave the employee gathering to you.

I am counting on you.

I have my own work to do.

-0-

At the game center, customers would borrow medals and use them to play.

The plan was to lend thirty medals for one medium copper coin.

Basically, medals could not be exchanged for cash, and we would not allow it.

If medals could be exchanged for cash, they would effectively become currency.

Customers would also be prohibited from taking medals out of the game center.

They must either deposit their medals at the hall or exchange them for items listed on the exchange list.

I was tasked with creating that exchange list and deciding the number of medals needed for each item… or so I thought?

Apparently, my job was only to set the exchange rate.

If I were to choose the exchange items, products from Big Tree Village would end up filling the list?

To be honest, I had been thinking of Big Tree Village’s crops and such.

To avoid causing confusion, Youko’s secretaries and the civil servant girls would decide and gather the exchange items.

Understood.

As for setting the exchange rate…

Since thirty medals would be lent out for one medium copper coin, the baseline would be how much value an item exchanged for one hundred medals would have.

……

Wouldn’t it be fine to set it so one hundred medals equals one medium copper coin?

It would make calculations easier.

Anyway, let’s go with this setup for now.

If there are any problems, we can adjust it later.

We can also fine-tune it by changing the number of medals lent per medium copper coin.

-0-

Youko approved it, and the exchange list was officially announced.

Small goods appropriate to the exchange rate and product vouchers for partner shops were lined up.

There were no particularly flashy items.

「If a wealthy customer borrows a large number of medals, they could obtain any of the exchange items. The game center would make a profit, but that would not be acceptable.」

Indeed, Youko had a point.

「Even if we limit the number of medals lent per day, it would be meaningless if they simply hired others to borrow more.」

I see.

「At first, I considered using it to attract people, but gathering too many would also be troublesome. That is why we are not offering conspicuous exchange items.」

Understood.

No complaints from me.

「Good. Now, about the trial operation of the game center…」

Youko decided on the date, and a trial run with invited guests was held.

The main invitees were village council members and important figures from the merchant guilds.

Since we wanted them to actually play, each guest was given about five hundred medals free of charge.

As for their impressions… I wonder?

At first, they seemed puzzled.

「You put the medal in here… Oh, I see, I see.」

「If the medals fall over there, it’s a chance.」

「The numbers move… and if they line up, it’s a big win opportunity.」

「Hmm. In the end, the medals can be exchanged for items on this list.」

They maintained a composed attitude at first, but…

As time went on, they became serious.

「Three hundred more medals, please.」

「Same here.」

「Numbers are power! Rapid-fire insertion!」

「You there, would you like to cooperate and aim for that spot together?」

「Grrr… I can’t topple that tower.」

「The numbers… won’t align! Why!?」

In the end, they delivered feedback and suggestions with calm expressions.

「It is inconvenient that there is a closing time.」

「We would like to play a little longer.」

「We need a way to reserve seats. It would reduce conflicts with other customers.」

「It would be better if we could exchange medals while still seated.」

「Regarding the exchange items, I think it would be good to have things like this…」

「The background music should be a bit more lively.」

「Is the construction of the inn progressing well?」

「As for meals, it would be helpful if more convenient food options were available…」

「Regarding the exchange items, who should I speak with if I want my guild’s products included?」

「You should regulate the entry of children. Also, those accompanied by children.」

「Could I take one medal as a souvenir?」

A considerable number of opinions and suggestions were gathered.

Some of them were unreasonable, but they were valuable insights.

I will make good use of them.

As for the overall reception… since no one called for the game center to be shut down, I will consider it a success.

Regarding taking medals home… since it is a trial operation, each person may take one medal as a memento.

Only for today.

「Alright! The tower collapsed! Now’s the chance!」

Michael-san, Michael-san, the hall is closing now.

Please follow the staff’s instructions.

-0-

Tou 「A ship like this would be so nice. I wish we could build it.」

Universal Ship 「……（lies down）」

-0-

Youko 「Eh? You are going to set that up? Would that not just cause even more problems?」（tail wagging furiously）

Michael 「What is this tower… A triple spiral, and even special medals. I… I must topple it.」

Village Council Member 「Ano, there are no autograph tickets or handshake passes for Youko-sama?」（checks the exchange list five times）