We made it back to base unscathed.

As always, Rowa greeted us at the entrance, "Welcome home."

When Micro noticed me, he darted over, and I gave him a good head pat.

"I'm home. By the way, what's with that pile out there?"

I pointed to a specific spot in the yard.

"Yes. My master instructed us to stay behind to guard the place, but thinking it might be best to make good use of our time, I took everyone out to forage. Was it an inconvenience?"

It seemed they had decided to go on an expedition on their own initiative.

"No, not at all. Thanks a lot."

I moved closer and began stowing the loot from several baskets into our storage.

Most of it was fruit, but there appeared to be some mushrooms and herbs as well.

You can never have too much food, so this is very welcome.

With the salvage complete, I headed inside with the rest of the group.

"By the way, what about the trade?"

Rowa glanced over at us inquiringly.

"We've located nine boys today, and successfully closed deals with all of them."

"As expected of you, sir."

She seemed pleased to hear my response.

"Mm. While I was at it, I also stopped by Ryoka's place and made a bunch of huts. Sou-kun did that."

Chiiku added.

"Well then. Truly worthy of our Master, possessing the compassionate heart befitting an island ruler."

Loa’s face lit up with even more joy than before.

Since Loa’s friends are part of the Seio Party, she must be happy that they now have proper places to sleep.

The Seio Party is a large group, so we could have gifted them big houses like ours, but after much discussion with everyone, we decided to hold off on that.

Considering the strict nature of our trade, the Seio Party wouldn’t be able to pay off the price for a large house anytime soon.

Plus, starting from huts would serve as motivation for them to work harder toward a better life, it was decided.

Since we also expect them to provide maps and gather materials on their end, it’s in our best interest for them to be motivated.

There is also the point that without drawing this minimum line, we wouldn't be able to distinguish between them and our own crew.

"Yay! I've paired Kaiser Monshi with Seina!"

「……This debt will absolutely be repaid, you know that?»

"S-sorina… there's a murderous aura coming off you. It's just a game, so let's have some fun, okay?"

When I stepped into the living room, Shōbu, Yumakai, and Genchū were in the middle of a video game session.

It was a party-style board game with a Japanese setting, something like a modernized sugoroku.

It seems that, by the hand of Shōbu, an uninvited character has been possessed within the Dream Realm.

"Ahh, welcome back, everyone~"

"...Welcome back."

"W-welcome home."

Shōbu greeted them with a smile, Yumakai looked slightly awkward, and Genchū seemed embarrassed, each reacting in their own way.

Yumakai's awkwardness was probably because she felt guilty for playing games while we were working.

But I was the one who asked them to stay put, and on top of that, they had gone out of their way to gather materials, so I didn't have a single complaint.

"Ah, it's fine if you keep playing."

"Roa-chan, we thought you'd vanished without a word, but turns out you were out greeting people. You could've just told us, you know~"

"I apologize for my lack of notice. It appeared that everyone was deeply engrossed in the game."

"…No, you were playing right up until just now, weren't you?"

"Mm, it's Roa's turn next..."

Since the game allows up to four players in a battle, it seemed the group of four left behind had been having a good time with it.

Among the stay-behinds, only Roa belonged to a different group within the class, but she seemed to have fit in well. "Hehe, you look like you're having fun." "Oh? Are you playing too, Shion?"

"Nope. I think it's about time I started prepping dinner."

Shion turned down Mabue's invitation.

"May I help out?"

"Then I'll take Roa-chan's place."

Meneko sat in front of the television and gripped the controller.

"Sousuke-kun, is there something you could fetch for me? Would that be okay?"

"Ah, of course."

Heading to the kitchen, I arranged the items Shion had asked for.

Hearing today's menu, I was already looking forward to eating.

"I'll do my best in making it."

"I look forward to it."

That said, there were still things left unfinished.

"Shinpo, before dinner is ready, would you mind helping me gather a few materials for a bit?"

It was a rather rough estimate, but Shinhō reacted sharply.

"Oh, yes. You can never have too much wood or stone."

"Ah, with your magic, Shin-hō, it will be gathered up in no time."

"Leave it to me."

"We can't just let the students work alone... Shall we come along, Sensei?"

"No. Sensei, please handle the lighting arrangement today as well. Once that's done, here you go."

I lined up wine bottles on the desk.

"——W-wait, this much...!"

The teacher’s eyes sparkled.

"Since Chiyu is here too, it's fine if you drink as much as you want."

"N-no. I'll wait until the Kunou-kun group comes back."

Is the thought that one cannot drink alcohol while students are working?

So typical of Lumines-sensei.

Before departure, Chiyu somehow came to see us off at the entrance.

"...『Stamina Enhancement』"

Apparently, my childhood friend had seen through everything.

My vitality was enhanced, and the rod between my legs strengthened as well.

“K-Kitagura... what is this...”

Shinpo’s face flushed red.

“I know. Mino-chan is the only one who couldn’t have her morning time. Go enjoy yourself thoroughly.”

Shinpo was the only one denied the next morning after her first experience due to the event.

I had promised to make up for it later, but between going to the river and persuading the other guys, I got so busy that I ended up keeping her waiting until this hour.

“Oh... thank you. Is it really alright?”

“Ah... um, I’m going to head out then.”

“Mm.”

I stepped outside with Shinpo.

The phantom beasts reacted to us, but I assured them, “We’ll be fine on our own,” and moved beyond the barrier.

After confirming there was no water source nearby and sensing no signs of wild animals, we locked eyes.

Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes shimmering with a bewitching glow.

“...I’m glad you didn’t forget.”

“How could I possibly forget?”

Forgetting a promise with a charming woman like Shinpo would be impossible for any boy in his pubescence.

“I’m happy...”

In the heart of the forest, pierced by the slanting rays of the setting sun, Fukaho and I exchange a kiss.

We managed to keep updating daily throughout February as well.

I'll do my best to keep pushing in March too,

so please continue to support us!!!!!

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We returned safely to our base.

As usual, Roa greeted us at the front door, saying, "Welcome back."

When Micron noticed me, he jumped in and I petted him.

"Welcome home. By the way, what's that over there..." I pointed to a section of the property.

"Yes. While you were away, you instructed me to guard the place, but I thought it would be a waste of time, so I collected these things with everyone's help. Did I cause any trouble?"

It seemed they had explored on their own initiative.

"No, it's fine. Thank you."

I moved closer and stored the collected items in several baskets.

Most of them were fruits, but there were also mushrooms and herbs.

Food is always welcome, so I was grateful.

After finishing the collection, I entered the house with everyone else. "By the way, how's the deal..."

Roa glanced at me.

「Today, I found nine guys and made deals with all of them.」 「As expected of you.」

She looks happy after hearing my answer.

「Yeah. By the way, I also stopped by Ryoka-chan's place and made a lot of huts for them. So said Soun.」

「Oh. As expected of you, Master Island Lord, you have such a compassionate heart.」

Loa's face looks even happier than before.

Since the Clear Phoenix Party has Loa's friends, she must be happy that her friends have proper places to sleep.

The Clear Phoenix Party is a large group, so we could have given them a large house like we did for ourselves, but we decided to hold off on that after consulting with everyone.

Considering that this is a deal, the Clear Phoenix Party wouldn't be able to pay for a large house right away.

Besides, by starting with huts, it would motivate them to work harder to achieve a better life, apparently.

We're also expecting them to gather materials and make maps, so it's better if they get motivated.

If we don't draw the line somewhere, it would be hard to distinguish them from our friends.

「Yay! I attached Kaiser Monashi to Sei's name!」

「...I will definitely pay you back for this.」

「S-Setsumi, you're giving off a murderous aura. It's just a game, so let's try to enjoy it, okay?」

When I stepped out into the living room, Soubu, Muuka, and Genjuu were playing a video game.

It's a board game party style game set in Japan.

Looks like the Illusionary Department's handiwork caused some trouble characters to possess the dream world. "Ah, everyone, welcome back." "..." "W- Welcome back."

The Illusionary Department greeted us with a smile, the dream world awkwardly, and the Illusionary Comrade bashfully.

The dream world seems awkward because it feels guilty for playing the game while I was working.

I didn't ask them to watch the place, and they even gathered materials for me, so I have no complaints.

"Yeah, it's fine to keep playing."

"Roach, I thought you'd disappeared, so I went to greet you. Tell me next time, okay?"

"I apologize. Everyone seemed absorbed in the game."

"...Well, you were playing with them just a moment ago."

「Yeah, it's Roa's turn next...」

This game could be played by up to four people, and it seemed like the four of them were having a good time.

It was nice to see that Roa, who was the only one not in the same group as the rest of them in class, seemed to be getting along well. 「Hehe, it looks like fun.」 「Oh? You want to join, Shion?」

「No, I think I should start preparing dinner soon.」

Shion declined Sou's invitation. 「I will assist.」

「Well, I'll take Roa's place.」

Shouko sat in front of the TV and grabbed the controller.

「Sou-kun, could you get something for me?」 「Sure, of course.」

I went to the kitchen and set out the things Shion had asked for.

After hearing today's menu, I was already looking forward to eating. 「I'll do my best to make it.」 「I'm looking forward to it.」

Anyway, there was still something I needed to do.

「Deep, could you help me gather some materials before dinner's ready?」

It's a bit of a rough excuse, but Shinpo reacts slightly.

"Y-Yes. We can never have enough wood or stone."

"That's right. With Shinpo's magic, we can get everything we need right away." "Please leave it to me."

"I can't just have the students work alone... Should I come along too, Teacher?"

"No. I'll take care of the lighting arrangements today. Once that's done, take this."

I lined up bottles of wine on the table.

"――――T-This much...!" The Teacher's eyes shone.

"Since there are a thousand students, feel free to drink as much as you like."

"N-No. I'll wait until Koino-kun and the others come back."

She apparently believes that drinking while the students are working is unacceptable. That's very much like the Teacher.

Before leaving, for some reason, Senju came to see me off at the entrance. "......'Energizing Strength'"

It seems my childhood friend saw through everything.

My stamina was enhanced, and so was the stick in my groin.

"Ch-Chiyo-san, this is..." Shinbo's face is red.

"I know. Mino-chan, you couldn't make time in the morning. Have fun."

The morning after my first time, Shinbo was the only one who couldn't spend it due to the event.

We had made a promise to make time later, but she was busy going to the river and convincing the boys, so she ended up waiting until this time.

"A-Are you sure it's okay?"

"Ah... I'm going now." "Mm." Shinbo and I go outside together.

The phantoms reacted to us, but I told them we were fine and sent them outside the barrier.

After confirming there was no water nearby and no signs of animals, Shinbo and I looked at each other.

Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes were moist and alluring.

"...I'm glad you haven't forgotten me." "I wouldn't forget."

It wouldn't be right for a teenage boy to forget a girl as charming as Shinbo. "I'm happy..."

Under the setting sun, Deepfa and I exchanged kisses.

I was able to continue updating every day in February.

I will do my best to keep going as far as I can in March too.

Please continue to support me!!!!!!

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