After the three recruits left, Athena stepped out to the reception. Micah stood up immediately.
"Start recruiting the farmers," she said. "Just thirty for now."
Micah nodded. "Understood, my lady."
"When they're all accounted for, have them go to Faelyn's for tools. Haggle with him if you must—see if he'll rent them out for a fair price. Is that clear?"
"Yes, my lady."
"And when they're ready, you notify me."
With that handled, she turned on her heel and made her way back inside, realizing with a sigh that she didn't have anything else pressing to do for the rest of the morning.
She pulled up her system window and selected Rain and her scouts. The screen shimmered for a moment before revealing the small party weaving through thick forest. They were moving cautiously, but nothing exciting was happening. No monsters. No threats. No discoveries. Just leaves, trees, and more trees.
She shut the screen with a flick of her hand and leaned back in the chair, debating if she should check in on Elandor. But after a moment, she shook her head. Let him have the day off if needed.
"So, system," she asked aloud, "Anything for me to do today?"
[System Notification: No, Host. You are currently free.]
"Well, I hate being idle," she muttered, standing up.
An idea struck her.
"If I want soldiers, I might as well go get them myself."
And with that, she stepped out into the village and started doing exactly that.
Any able-bodied man or woman she spotted, she approached with confidence and a bright smile. "Would you like to be a soldier?" she asked one.
"...What's a soldier?" came the reply.
"Oh, it's like a knight. But better than a knight," she said proudly. Her eyes sparkled. "Where I'm from, we had buildings that touched the clouds! Carriages that moved without horses. Lights that came on with a flick. And the people that protected us—those were soldiers."
Most stared at her like she'd just told them she was a god. So she kept going.
"They were fast. Disciplined. Brave. Not just strong—they were smart. They fought in perfect coordination, trained for every disaster. No knight could compare."
Before she knew it, people had started to gather. First a few curious heads, then more. A couple sat down. Children tugged on their parents' sleeves and whispered. Someone even brought a stool to sit properly.
Athena, caught up in the moment, continued her passionate ramble. "And where I'm from, there were flying ships! Magic rectangles that let us speak to anyone, anywhere! Walls that glowed and changed at a touch! We had water inside our houses and—oh! The food! You could taste entire worlds in a single meal!"
Gasps of disbelief echoed around her. The villagers didn't know what to believe—but her energy, her vision, was infectious.
"But all of that?" Athena said, voice rising. "It didn't come from one person. It came from all of us. And here? I believe we can build it again. With your help. That's why I was sent here. Don't you see? That's why I'm here."
The crowd stared, caught in the gravity of her words.
Then someone raised a hand.
"What about the dragon?" a quiet voice asked. "Have you defeated it?"
The crowd went utterly still.
Athena blinked, stunned for just a moment.
She forced a smile. "Don't worry," she said coolly. "That creature will never hunt us again."
The crowd erupted into cheers and hopeful laughter.
But inside, Athena was practically screaming.
Shit. Shit. Shut up! she thought. I completely forgot about the damn dragon.
Still, it didn't seem like it was waking up anytime soon… hopefully.
After her little moment bonding with the people,Athena made her way back home, a slight bounce in her step. But as she neared she slowed down. Elandor was standing right outside the door, staring at it as if trying to understand a puzzle.
His face twisted with disbelief. "Is this where you stay, my lady?"
"Yes. Any problem?" she asked, already knowing what he was thinking. The place wasn't exactly fit for someone of her status. It was almost laughable, really.
Elandor shook his head. "No can do, my lady. I'll have another place prepared for you—one of the empty manors. The people shouldn't see you here."
Athena waved it off. "It's okay. After all, I did mention equality in my manifesto."
"Manifesto?" he echoed, squinting. "What's that?"
"Nothing," she replied quickly. "Why are you here? And if you don't mind me asking—where have you been?"
Elandor suddenly fidgeted. "About that… I'd like to take you somewhere."
Before she could respond, the scenery around her twisted and blurred.
Athena looked up—and her mouth fell open.
They stood before an estate. Bigger than the manor she saw back in the village.
"This is huge," she whispered. "Why does this island have so many big, abandoned places?"
"Why are we here?"She asked turned towards Elandor,"And where are we?"
"West side of the island. Walk with me," he said, starting forward. ""Most of us peasants used to live along the southern border. Some nobles chose to live among us—but the rest stayed behind the sealed boundary. I managed the village and didn't cross that line. That was the King's order."
Athena nodded. Hence the abandoned manors.
Elandor continued, "Then the disaster happened. Everyone—especially the nobles left. About four years ago, I was approached by some elves. They didn't say who sent them, but they were powerful… and dangerous. They paid me some money and in turn,I kept everyone away from this place,not that they ever wandered this far."
He finally paused in front of a door,"They said if any other person were to come to make a deal,I should turn them down. I don't know what they did here but they just packed the stones and left."
Athena who was standing behind him was staring at the door wondering why they weren't going in...stones?
Elandor finally opened the door revealing a staircase.
A basement? She wondered.
A small ball of fire materialised in his hands as he went down the staircase. He finally reached the foot of the stairs and paused,turned to face her. "They came for this."
The fire in is hands burned brighter as she finally realised they were in some sort of...cave?
The walls of the veins were coated with blackish stones,glistening with bluish veins.
[SYSTEM INITIATING...]
[Basic Ore Detected: Iron. Would you like to initiate a regional scan for mineral distribution?]
Iron ore? With bluish veins?
[The energy from the island's core has begun to affect the resources.]
"Is that a good thing or a bad thing" Athena asked totally unsure.
[Would you like to transfer basic mineral knowledge package? Recommended for hosts with limited scientific background.]
"Yes. Yes, please."
In an instant, a flood of knowledge surged into her mind—chemical structures, smelting processes, historical uses, even safety warnings. Her knees wobbled slightly, and she leaned against the rock wall.
Elandor noticed and stepped forward. "Are you alright, my lady?"
She nodded slowly. "System,you said something about scanning."
[Oh yes. Scanning initiated...]
[Scan complete. Unrefined mineral clusters present: Iron ore – confirmed. Also detected – Limestone. Sulfur. Trace amounts of gypsum.]
[System Notification: Extended regional scan initiated. Would Host like to receive a full geological report of the western territory?]
Athena raised an eyebrow. "Sure. Hit me with it."
[ Processing... Scan complete. Displaying regional mineral map.]
Before her, a glowing 3D map unfolded in her mind. Dotted marks lit up in varying colors across a terrain that was all within the western portion of the island.
[ Mineral Sites Identified:
Iron, Limestone & Sulfur: Current cave site. Also includes trace gypsum.
Copper Veins: Located approximately 2.5 kilometers southwest of current position, at the base of a small hill range.
Niter Deposits (Saltpeter): Found in shallow, dry caverns slightly north-west of the main cave—1.2 kilometers out.
Charcoal Pits (Old Growth Woods): A thick forested area west of the current estate, where traditional charcoal kilns can be set up. Trees are ideal for charcoal production.
Phosphorus Fragments: Unstable but extractable. Located near the niter caverns, likely remnants of ancient bird droppings and decayed flora over time. Moderate yield potential.]
Athena paused. Her head felt like it was on the verge of combusting—too much information, too fast. Every time her eyes skimmed over a mineral, its properties, industrial uses, melting points, even historical applications flew into her head like some divine download. She staggered a step and grabbed the cave wall for balance.
"System," she muttered, rubbing her temples, "be honest with me. Am I… a protagonist in a novel? Because all this—" she gestured around wildly at the ore-rich cave walls, the overgrown estate, "—it's too convenient. Too unreal. Why and how am I this lucky?"
The system, ever calm, replied:
[ Host. This is not a novel. This is real. It may not be Earth… but it is your reality now.]
Athena stared ahead, her lips slightly parted. "So you're telling me all these materials… they were here this whole time? Even before I transmigrated?"
[Affirmative. These resources existed long before your arrival. Their discovery was simply… delayed. Until now.]
She turned to Elandor, who stood still on the stairs, watching her with furrowed brows and clear concern.
"My lady?" he asked gently. "Are you alright?"
Athena burst out laughing—light, almost giddy. "I'm fine," she said, waving a hand as if brushing away the weight of the world. "More than fine, actually."
She stepped forward,"Elandor…"
"Yes, my lady?"
She clapped a hand on his shoulder, grinning like a child who had just found treasure. "Congratulations. You just us our first industrial zone."