The Start Of The Royal-Viewed Showdown

Celestial Carpenter was the highest-rank version of the Carpenter job.

Their skills were not drastically different, but buildings they constructed were said to become imbued with mysterious power.

There was even a rule that sacred halls and temples for enshrining gods had to be built by Celestial Carpenters.

Because it demanded not only craftsmanship, but also a high Spell Power parameter, it was considered an elite production job.

Being able to change into it was a huge deal.

But after thinking it over for a while, I flopped onto the bed in my room.

“Still, I don’t really have any use for it right now…

I don’t believe in gods that much, so there’s no point remodeling this base into a temple…”

Normally, the moment I gained a new job, I tested it right away, but Celestial Carpenter was the one job I just couldn’t get motivated to try.

After that, my classmates’ residential area developed rapidly.

Until recently, they could barely even clear rubble, but now rows of wooden houses that actually looked like a settlement began to appear.

The reason was that the academy opened a school store.

It was a facility where you could exchange tickets for all kinds of goods, and the vice principal ran it as the store manager.

“Yes! Welcome, zansu! How about a Level-Up Potion that makes you level up instantly when you drink it, zansu!? You can level up as high as Level 5, zansu! Today’s grand opening sale price is two million Ender each, zansu!”

The star product, the Level-Up Potion, was bought up by students in droves and sold out the very same day.

“Now then, next star product, zansu! Rubble Removal—professionals will clear it in no time—three million Ender, zansu! And likewise, House Construction by professionals is seven million Ender, zansu!”

Unbelievably, some of the “products” could even summon outside contractors.

It was a total rip-off, but as long as you paid with tickets, you could have professionals do it without dirtying your hands at all.

Classes with plenty of ticket value jumped on it immediately, buying the Rubble Removal and House Construction package.

Lower-ranked classes couldn’t afford it because their tickets had low face values.

Their territories remained buried in rubble as ever.

And so the residential area became a place where the gap between rich and poor widened dramatically.

Around that time, Monaka and Kotone came to visit my house.

Kotone, wearing a strained expression, spoke to me.

“Um, Master… I feel terrible asking this of you, but…”

“What is it? Say what you’ve got to say.”

“I would like you to build a house for my class…”

From what I heard, ever since that disaster, Kotone’s class had been staying at Monaka’s place.

“Leo-kun. I really didn’t mind living together with Kotone-san’s class at all. But then the vice principal showed up…”

“No! Kotone-san’s class should be living on their own territory by now, zansu! Otherwise it sets a bad example for the other students, zansu! A student of Kotone-san’s stature needs a fine home, zansu! But there’s no need to worry, zansu! I have it aaaall planned out, zansu!”

After saying that, the vice principal had brought professional Celestial Carpenters along, without even giving Kotone a chance to refuse.

“Yes! If you leave it to this skilled carpenter, he will build a splendid home worthy of Miko Kotone-san, zansu! Now then, hand over your tickets, zansu!”

As if recalling that moment, Kotone clenched her fist and told me,

“I wish to offer all of my tickets to you, Master…”

“I get it. That’s why you came to ask me to build the house.

But if that’s the case, you should’ve told me sooner.”

“Huh?”

“You came so formally that I thought it was something serious…

If it’s crafting, you don’t even have to ask. I’ll do it.”

The two girls clasped hands and rejoiced.

“Thank goodness, Kotone-san!”

“Yes, thank you very much!”

“Then let’s get started right away. Oh—before that, I’ll need to haul building materials. Can you get me some help?”

While Monaka and Kotone went to gather manpower, I went into the forest.

To make something that wouldn’t lose to the house I built for Monaka, I chose the best trees and felled them.

While I was at it, I also picked flowers that seemed useful for this build.

I loaded what I gathered onto a handcart, then piled on the Gis Planters sitting in my yard as well.

Together with Tomoe—Kotone’s attendant and a powerhouse—I hauled it all to the residential area.

On the territory of Class 1-19, led by Kotone, the vice principal was there, and several Celestial Carpenters had already started working.

When Kotone protested, the vice principal snickered at her.

“Muh-ho-ho-ho! Bringing some unemployed student—what exactly do you think you’re going to do, zansu!?”

“I wanted my master to build the house for me! Stop the work at once—!”

“No! Then do as you like, zansu! But if what you build is shoddier than what these Celestial Carpenters make, I’ll smash it to pieces immediately, zansu!”

I didn’t pay their exchange any mind.

I drew lines across an open space on the lot and began laying the foundation.

That was when the Celestial Carpenters themselves butted in.

“Hey, kid! What do you think you’re doing!?”

“Don’t tell me you’re trying to build a residence for Lady Kotone too!”

“Listen up, kid. We Celestial Carpenters aren’t just ordinary carpenters. Do you understand what it means to build another house right next to ours!?”

“That’s called a Royal-Viewed Showdown—a deadly serious match where the gods of heaven pass judgment!”

“Look at the sky! It was clear a moment ago, and now it’s clouding over!”

“That means the Royal-Viewed Showdown has begun! The losing house—and the craftsman who built it—gets struck by lightning!”

“Going up against us pros, and Celestial Carpenters at that, the outcome’s obvious! Quit while you’re still not charcoal!”

I was focused on my work, so almost none of what they were saying actually registered.

“Hm? Did you say something?”

I replied, and for some reason, their hair practically stood on end.

“Y-You bastard! You’re picking a fight with professional carpenters—Celestial Carpenters!”

“And you’re trying to challenge all of us by yourself! You’re completely disrespecting us!”

“Looks like you don’t value your life! Boys, forget it—show this brat what professional work really is!”

“Oooooh!”

The craftsmen roared, resuming construction with gusto.

Watching their backs, I muttered to myself,

“I don’t really get what’s going on, but I’m glad they’re fired up. Crafting is more fun when you work hard, and you end up making better stuff.”