Every world has its moment of first creation.
A single word from an omnipotent being.
Perhaps it was created with the phrase, “Let there be light.”
Or maybe it began with an unimaginably beautiful fireworks display, born from explosions and smoke.
Even the vast world of Last Felix had its creator, and a creation myth recorded in the form of transcripts.
“Director? If we exclude male characters, wouldn’t female users be more interested?”
“No, women also like beautiful women. Are you saying I’m not a woman because of that? Want to fight?”
“Um, for an all-ages rating, the design is a bit too… you know.”
“It’s fine. We’ll just tone it down until release, then release it like those adult games and distribute unofficial patches on Twitter or something. They do that on Steam too, right?”
“Wouldn’t developing an auto-battler with 3D modeling be a bit of a waste of resources?”
“Huh? Even games like Gogo’s Auto Chess are just auto-battlers. Might as well have busty and curvy female characters fighting stylishly. Plus, if we do it well, we can reuse the assets later.”
Though the creator was neither omniscient nor omnipotent, most of their opinions were bulldozed through and reflected in the creation of the world.
However, some ideas, despite their stubborn persistence, were ultimately discarded.
“…You want to include adult service scenes in an all-ages game? Are you out of your mind, Director?”
“Ah, why not? We can release an adult-only version. Or, like some games, make it a mod—”
“There have been many cases where that led to bans. Like Vanished… And even if it’s an unofficial patch, that kind of thing leads straight to media exposure.”
“Hmm… Well, fine.”
“Wait, the protagonist’s job is a shopkeeper? Aren’t you getting too carried away with the concept?”
“Why? Why not? It’s good, really good! They can throw potions over characters’ heads to support them, shoot beams like the Celestial Demon Beam, and fight monsters together. You know, like in those web novels where they buy chicken with points. We can even include that as a meme.”
“…I’ll discuss this with the CEO. I’m pretty sure they’ll oppose it 100%.”
“Tch, you guys are so unromantic.”
“You want to include hidden quests? Have you been reading game-related novels lately?”
“Hey, don’t dismiss romance. Imagine me rising to the top with a hidden quest. Isn’t that cool? Isn’t it romantic? Any further objections will be considered a personal attack.”
“If you’re going to do that, you should remove PvP… What kind of curse are you trying to put on the players?”
“Hmm, maybe you’re right.”
Thus, some settings faded into the annals of history, but the creator never gave up.
With a strong determination to bring their ideas into the world.
“Ah, we won’t include it in the live version. Let’s just develop it first, as practice. I’ll give you a hefty bonus.”
Finally, after secretly pressuring the team to push through their vision, they hid it in the world about to be born, packaged as dummy data.
And so, with a beautiful fireworks display, light came into the world.
***
6 a.m.
The start of Saha’s day.
Though not as early as Yohanna or Ark, she rose at dawn, tidied herself, and offered a prayer to the goddess.
“May today pass without any problems, in the name of Sweetie.”
Then, picking up a sandwich Ark had kindly prepared the night before, she stepped out into the dimly lit streets.
After a light walk to the knight’s headquarters, she checked the complaints received the previous day and planned her colleagues’ routes.
Celestia, with its ever-growing population, was expanding its outskirts at a rate that could almost be called reckless development.
Recently, issues like theft and other problems had been cropping up, making the knights’ duties increasingly burdensome.
Sighing, she spent the morning organizing paperwork.
“I’ll go patrol the tower now.”
“Take care, Captain!”
“Bring back a cocktail!”
“…Drinking during work hours is prohibited.”
“Aww, Captain, you’re so stiff.”
The cherished time of climbing the tower with the adorable Ark.
Not only fulfilling the noble mission bestowed upon the knights by the goddess but also…
…Indulging in personal desires, the most blissful time of the day.
Today, too, while ensuring Ark’s safety, Saha led the way, cutting through spider webs with the new weapon Ark had specially made for her.
“Saha! You’re amazing!”
“Hehe… Ahem, it’s nothing.”
Ark’s affectionate praise made her feel like she was floating on air.
After conquering the tower, the rest of the team headed to Ark’s shop.
Though it was a pity, Saha returned to the knight’s headquarters to handle the remaining tasks, seriously considering passing the captaincy to someone else.
Late at night, returning to the guild house.
“Saha! You’ve worked hard.”
Ark, with a smile as bright as the sun, greeted her warmly.
It felt like…
…A scene she had imagined since childhood.
A dream where, after working hard, she would return home to a rabbit-like husband who would cutely bounce around, running over to her with playful affection.
It felt like that dream had finally come true—
“Uh… Ark, why are you still awake? What about the shop?”
Just before her fantasies ran wild, Saha barely held onto her rationality.
“I closed early today. I had things to do… and something to give you.”
Something to give?
What?
What is she implying?
Is it finally time to receive the seventh phoenix tail feather?
Is it legal?
Is it legal to pounce?
Saha’s mind raced, but what Ark handed her was slightly different from what she had imagined.
A contract granting her new powers as a hero.
And the image of herself engraved on it with magic resembled the strongest fighter she saw daily in the dimensional arena.
…..
“W-what is this, this absurd…!”
In her shock, Saha accidentally pushed Ark slightly.
“Ugh!”
Thud!
Ark’s body flew and slammed into the wall.
“A-Ark?!”
***
Ah.
Familiar…
“Ark, are you okay? Are you alright?”
“Ma-Master…!”
“Waaah…! Master…! Are you okay?”
…Really familiar.
Three heads peeked into her field of vision.
I feel like I’ve seen this in the opening cinematic of Phantasy Star…
Shaking off the awkwardness for a moment , she got up.
It was her familiar room.
…Not her old studio apartment, but the guild house’s.
And when she turned her gaze slightly.
“Ugh, I’m so ashamed…!”
“Miss Saha? Could you shine a bit more?”
Saha was kneeling with her hands raised, and above her, Ellis was sitting on her plump buttocks.
What is this?
A master-servant reversal world? Or a Demon Castle knight reversal world?
“…Ellis, get down. Saha didn’t mean to do that. I was a bit rude.”
Right.
I was too excited and pushed it on her suddenly.
From Saha’s perspective, it must have felt like suddenly being handed a photoshopped picture of herself in a bikini.
I can understand that.
“Sniff…! Ark…!”
“Everyone except Saha, please leave. We have something important to discuss.”
After sending everyone else away.
“Saha, I understand. I’d be shocked too. But, though it might sound strange… I really think it suits you. And you’ll become even stronger.”
I whispered to Saha with 100% sincerity.
Then.
“Such deep meaning…!”
Saha was deeply moved.
…Did it work?
Soon, a soft light enveloped Saha’s body.
Wow.
Wowowowowowowowowowow…!
…Before I could finish my exclamation.
The light wrapped around Saha again, and Saha (swimsuit) returned to Saha (normal).
“But it’s still embarrassing…”
What.
Why isn’t it a fixed form but a toggle?
Why isn’t it a bikini that blends seamlessly into daily life?
This is a scam…!
***
After being betrayed by the bikini.
“What, is it Tina tonight?”
“Ahem!”
Under the 24-hour close surveillance of Ark, there was no way to escape the heroes’ gaze.
So, reluctantly, I headed to the shop with Tina to enjoy the night air.
When checking the secret workshop.
Sharing secrets is a bit uncomfortable, but…
…whatever.
Tina is cute.
Entering the shop, which was lively earlier but now enveloped in silence.
Second floor.
[Construct Secret Workshop.]
[Cost: 2,000 points.]
[Y■/N🔺]
“Wow!”
Sparkle, sparkle, bling-bling.
With a slightly tacky effect, walls began to form in real-time in the previously empty space.
Opening the oddly modern-looking door, inside was…
“…..?”
“Master, what is this?”
A plain white room stretched out.
Huh?
Is this a bug?
Or is it unimplemented?
As Tina and I stood side by side, question marks floating in our heads.
Buzz.
My phone vibrated.
[LF – Shopkeeper Add-on]
[Update complete.]
No Wi-Fi, but it updates…
I had long since discarded such realistic concerns.
Opening the app, a new menu, ‘Secret Workshop,’ appeared below the original ‘Point Shop.’
Clicking on it.
[Secret Workshop LV.1 (Max Level LV.1)]
[The functions of the Secret Workshop are in beta testing. They may not work properly.]
Along with a chilling warning.
[Workshop Function: 3D Printer]
[No tooltip exists. Please enter a tooltip.]
[Required Points: 1,000 points.]
[Workshop Function: Status]
[No tooltip exists. Please enter a tooltip.]
[Required Points: 5,000 points.]
[Workshop Function: Special Gacha Machine]
[No tooltip exists. Please enter a tooltip.]
[Required Points: 10,000 points.]
[Workshop Function: ???]
[Not unlocked.]
[Required Points: ??? points.]
A list of functions, all missing tooltips, sprawled out.
What’s a special gacha machine?
Suddenly, a shiver ran down my spine, and dopamine seemed to surge.
But the required points were too high for now.
A 3D printer…
I checked the ‘Mammonite Revolver Blueprint’ I had acquired earlier from my inventory.
REVELATOR. No idea what it means.
CLASS MERCHANT. Merchant class.
…This game.
Was the shopkeeper supposed to be the protagonist during planning?
Who would think of that without getting shot in the head?
But given the B-movie vibe oozing from every corner of the game…
…It’s possible.
For now, with my current points, the only thing I could unlock was the 3D printer.
[Y■/N⃞]
Clicking it immediately.
With the usual cheap effect, a 3D printer, like the ones in real labs, appeared in the corner of the room.
“Wow! Cool!”
Ignoring Tina’s reaction, I inserted the blueprint into the slot.
[Mammonite Revolver (RANK B)]
[Required Materials: Iron Ingot x50 / Gold Coin x1,000 / Magic Powder x20 / Flame Crystal x10]
[A dedicated weapon for merchant-type heralds. Its power scales with the amount of gold possessed.]
The required materials and weapon description appeared on the screen.
…A dedicated weapon.
And.
Its power scales with the amount of gold possessed.
“This..…”
Me.
Finally putting a period on the heroes’ beloved newbie life.
Can I finally become a proper dealer and protagonist?
My heart skipped a beat.