I started my afternoon with a clear goal: take stock of the chapel's furniture and see what needed replacing.
It didn't take long to realize the answer: everything.
The pews were cracked and splintered, their backs bowed from years of use. Two tables stood uneven, patched together with bits of rope and hope. The chairs were missing legs, or creaked so badly that sitting on them felt like tempting fate.
In total, there were thirty-two pews, two tables, and eight chairs that needed to go. I doubted they had even a year of life left in them. The chapel had clearly been cared for, but time was merciless, and wood was not eternal.
Back behind the chapel, I stood before my growing network of crafting stations. I summoned the [Carpenter's Station] menu and queued up a large batch of wood planks. In about an hour, I'd have enough raw material to start making replacements.
While the crafting timer ticked away, I glanced at the stacks of unfinished furniture and mused aloud. "Joinery… that's going to be interesting."
In my old world, skilled carpenters could build furniture without a single nail or screw, just through perfect joinery: interlocking parts that held together by tension and precision. My crafting system simplified that process into a seamless miracle of design. As long as I had the materials, I could produce furniture that would make even a master craftsman jealous.
While the planks processed, Claire joined me outside, her blonde hair glowing faintly in the afternoon sun. She watched the crafting interface curiously as the progress bars filled and the faint shimmer of material transformation glowed from the bench.
"Claire," I began, "is the chapel short on money right now? I mean, this furniture looks like it's been falling apart for years."
She smiled wryly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "It's not a question of money. We're fine, actually. The problem is that the village hasn't had a proper carpenter for almost a decade."
I raised an eyebrow. "No carpenter? How does a village survive without one?"
She sighed softly. "About ten years ago, our only carpenter moved to the nearby city to work in a large workshop. He never trained an apprentice. We've sent a few people to study the craft in his place, but they won't be back for at least another year or two. Until then, we've just been making do."
I nodded thoughtfully, then asked, "If I started producing furniture, how likely would it be that villagers would buy some for themselves? My system doesn't require much labor; And if I can cut down trees, the materials are basically free. I could sell cheaper than a traditional carpenter and still profit. With the money, I could hire local adventurers as escorts to visit that place in the forest Cecil mentioned."
Claire blinked, momentarily speechless. "Were you… a merchant in your old world, Abel?"
I laughed. "No, I was a construction worker."
She smiled knowingly. "Because the moment I mentioned a gap in supply and demand, you immediately started planning a business around it."
"Can you blame me?" I grinned. "Back home, the idea of running a shop or production line was just a dream. Here, I actually can. My crafting skills handle production, my inventory handles storage and delivery, all I need is customers."
Her eyes lit with amusement. "Then it seems the goddess didn't just send us a craftsman, but a businessman as well."
"Let's just say I'm motivated," I replied, scratching the back of my head.
We spent the next half hour discussing logistics: pricing, delivery, and potential buyers. Claire offered to introduce me to a few villagers and shopkeepers who might need new furniture. The plan was simple but solid: replace the chapel's furniture first to use as a demonstration of quality, then expand from there.
By the time our planning session ended, the crafting queue for wood planks had finished. I quickly began converting them into pews, tables, and chairs. The whole process would take around twelve hours in total: a full day's worth of virtual carpentry.
"Looks like that's it for today," I said, stretching. The sun had started its slow descent, casting long shadows across the chapel courtyard.
Claire smiled. "You've done more in one day than most people manage in a week. Go rest. You've earned it."
I nodded, said my goodbyes, and began walking back toward the inn.
Cecile accompanied me as far as the chapel doors, humming softly to herself. "I'll pick you up tomorrow morning, alright?"
"Sounds good. Thanks for the help today."
She gave me a little wave, her usual energetic smile in place. "Don't oversleep, mister craftsman!"
With that, she trotted off down the road, and I made my way into the inn.
The moment I stepped inside, the warm scent of roasted meat and ale hit me. Behind the bar stood Belle: the busty cowkin barmaid whose cheerful demeanor was rivaled only by her… generous proportions.
She was polishing a glass, humming to herself, when she noticed me. Her tail flicked lazily behind her as she leaned forward on the counter, giving me a smile that could melt steel.
"Well, well. I know I said not to come back too late, but you're earlier than I expected. Done for the day already?"
For a second, my brain short-circuited. Her neckline left little to the imagination, and the soft sway of her chest as she leaned closer was almost hypnotic. I managed to recover enough to reply, "Yeah, I'm done. Busy day, though. What's the price of ale and some bar snacks tonight?"
"Ale's two copper a cup," she said, propping her chin on her palm. "For snacks, we've got skewers or nuts, again 2 coppers. And of course, my company's free." She punctuated that last line with a playful wink.
I couldn't help laughing. "You know, where I come from, it's usually men who flirt like that. Women are usually on the defensive."
Her ears twitched, and her expression softened immediately. "Oh! If I made you uncomfortable, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to cross a line."
I quickly waved my hands. "No, no — not at all! I like it, actually. You're making my evening more interesting."
Her smile returned, warmer now. "Good. I'd hate to scare off my favorite new customer."
I chuckled. "Favorite already, huh?"
She giggled, resting her head back on her hand and leaning just enough to make my pulse quicken again. "Well, I did promise to do something special for your dinner tonight. Would you be willing to wait until closing? I can cook for you personally, after the doors are shut."
The offer was… tempting. Very tempting.
"Honestly?" I said, summoning six copper coins from my inventory and placing them gently on the counter. "That sounds great to me. I'll finish my ale and snacks, then head up to my room. Knock when you're ready."
Belle's smile widened, her tail flicking again. "It's a date then, handsome."
As she turned to pour my drink, I leaned back against the bar, taking a slow breath. Between rebuilding chapels, starting a carpentry business, and fending off flirtatious cowkin barmaids, this new world was already proving far more stimulating than my old one.