He relied on the group chat's enhancements.
He really was just a lazy guy!
Takumi grumbled inwardly.
After chatting with shiroyasha and completing the daily check-in, Takumi went to bed.
Nothing else happened that night.
The next morning, when Takumi got up, he checked out the live streams in the group.
As for the food festival, it still needed a few more days of preparation.
It would coincide nicely with the New Year.
Even though Takumi's announcement was a bit sudden, many people had already begun preparing today.
Including Velvie, who was overjoyed after receiving Takumi's message.
She dropped everything and ran off to start preparing.
Clearly, she was also looking forward to celebrating the New Year.
...
Nyaruko:
[So boring!]
[I don't want to work.]
[Still need 700 more points before I can travel.]
[I want to fight those evil spirits too!!]
Nyaruko was grumbling again in the group chat.
She wasn't eating well, sleeping poorly, and had zero motivation for work.
All she wanted now was to jump to another world.
After recent check-ins, she had saved up 300 points.
Only 700 more and she'd be ready to transfer.
She hadn't even dared to buy anything from the group's store lately.
Everyone who saw her messages was speechless.
This girl was always whining.
Her value was dropping fast!
Chapter 364: The Physics Sacred Sword
Takumi: [Can you stop complaining already!!] [Everyone knows you want to travel to another world, but you don't have enough points.]
Takumi couldn't help but complain. Please, just stop talking. Aren't you tired of saying the same thing every day?
Nyaruko: [Hmph!] [If I don't say it, how would you know I want to travel?] [Maybe some kind-hearted soul will give me points!!]
She didn't care. Right now, she just wanted to go play in another world.
Shiroyasha: [LOL!] [Takumi, why don't you give her 1000 points?]
Shiroyasha popped up and immediately encouraged Takumi to help out. She wants to go to your world so badlyjust give in.
Takumi: [I refuse!] [I don't even have enough points myself. I'm waiting to strengthen once more.]
There's no way he could spare any points. If Nyaruko wanted to come over, she'd better just keep checking in. Actually, earning 1000 points in the group wasn't that hard.
Bronya: [Nyaruko, you could try selling something from your world.]
There had to be items worth selling in her world, right? Who knows, someone might be interested.
Takumi: [[Image]] [You mean these? Not even a dog would want them!]
Sell her stuff? She actually had uploaded some things: The Necronomicon, alien corpses, weird wriggling tentacles... Even a picture of her signature ahoge (idiot hair).
Who would want that stuff?
Nyaruko: [Hey!!] [That's too much!!] [I'll have you know those are treasures in my world! What do you mean not even a dog would want them?!] [Tons of people would love those if I posted them over there!!]
Nyaruko was clearly upset. Was he looking down on her? Did he not understand the true value of those items? They were treasures back in her world!
Bronya has retracted a message.
After seeing the picture Takumi posted, Bronya quietly deleted her suggestion. Forget she said anything. That stuff... really was not appealing. Buy it and you might get mentally contaminated.
Chika Fujiwara: [Umm...] [Nyaruko, maybe take down your current items.] [You'd be better off listing your Physics Sacred Sword instead.]
Chika was taking a break from fighting evil spirits and had peeked into the group chat. After seeing Takumi's images, she was speechless. Even a crowbar would be more useful.
Nyaruko: [That thing only sells for 10 points! Who would want it?!]
You think she hadn't tried? She had listed it, but it was only valued at 10 points. No one wanted it. Sure, it was called the Physics Sacred Sword, but it wasn't all that useful.
Well, it depended on who used it, of course. She didn't bother listing it again.
She did have other tech she could upload. Like a CQC grenade or something.
Chika Fujiwara: [Alright then.] [Just keep checking in regularly.]
Not much else to say. Slow and steady wins the race. None of her items were selling. Takumi's uploads were better in every way.
Why would anyone buy hers? Even the alien techLala had already uploaded a bunch. And hers were better.
Nyaruko's stuff might even come with sanity-damaging properties. So hardly anyone was interested.
After all, her world was full of eldritch horrors. Who knew what kind of curses or properties those items carried?
And the prices were absurdly high. People couldn't afford them.
Most of her listings went for tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of points. That alone proved her world was a bit messed up.
People even suspected she was deliberately withholding the truly expensive stuff. She probably had much better items but simply chose not to upload them.
Takumi: [Let's drop this.] [You guys should head back soon, it's almost New Year's here.] [The food competition is starting too.] [Anyone who wants to celebrate in my world, just come over.] [I'm out!]
There wasn't much else to do in the group chat. Watching Chika and the others fight wasn't very fun either. So Takumi slipped away. Time to go hang out with someone else.
Zhongli: [I'll be there!]
Izayoi: [New Year's? Count me in!!]
Himeko: [I'll be coming too.]
Akeno: [Me as well. I'll even bring God.]
Everyone seemed interested after seeing Takumi's invitation. They all started chiming in.
It was almost New Year's where they were too. They might as well gather in Takumi's world.
Anyone with a few points to spare would be up for it.
Nyaruko: [Me too, me too!!] [Please count me in!!]
Takumi: [We'll see.] [If you're only short a few points by then, I'll lend them to you.]
Before leaving, Takumi saw Nyaruko's message and hesitated. But this time, he didn't say no.
She could keep checking in. If she was just a few hundred short, he'd lend them.
Nyaruko: [Thanks, Daddy!!]
Takumi's face instantly twisted in disbelief. What the hell!?
Nyaruko, where's your shame? Did you throw it all away?
Bronya: [...]
Shima Miiro: [Wow.]
Chika Fujiwara: [Your dignity! It's fallen on the floor!!]
She really dared to say that. Everyone was dumbfounded by Nyaruko's message.
Takumi didn't even want to continue the conversation. He closed the chat and vanished.
He grabbed Gabriel and headed out for a stroll.
Back in Takumi's world, everything was bustling thanks to his recent announcement.
When Takumi and Gabriel reached the street, they saw just how lively it had become.
Many mechanical races were hanging lanterns along the roads.
Even shops had started decorating their storefronts in preparation for the New Year.
It was the first ever New Year celebration in Takumi's worldeveryone was excited.
Takumi even spotted several spaceships flying overhead.
The connected worlds had also gotten word.
So many people were getting ready.
Especially those from the Gourmet Hunter world.
Once they heard Takumi's world was holding New Year's festivities, countless Gourmet Hunters began transporting ingredients there in exchange for money.
It was a golden opportunity to make cash.
Not only that, but they were preparing for the upcoming food competition.
Earn money, then use it to buy magic or weapons in Takumi's world.
Even less powerful hunters could now afford to hunt higher-level ingredients thanks to new gear.
That's why they were all hungry for Takumi's currency.
Some chefs also wanted items from his world to improve their skills.
Takumi's world had almost everything.
Even the highly-coveted Gourmet Cells.
That was the real attraction.
Honestly, if he could, Takumi would love to turn his world into a Multiverse Hub City.
A place where people from all worlds could come and buy whatever they desired.
Chapter 365: This Is Just Baldly Surprising
If Takumi's world could develop into an interdimensional hub, that would be ideal.
Unfortunately, Takumi had no way of making it happen. After all, he lacked the power to let people cross worlds randomly.
Maybe he could spend some points and try a lottery draw in the group chat? But whether he could get a tool that did just that was anyone's guess.
As he strolled through the streets with Gabriel, he thought about these things. He glanced at the lottery options in the group chat. There was a chance to draw a teleportation talisman that led to random worlds. Maybe he could draw something he desired too?
Still, after grumbling to himself, Takumi didn't try the lottery. Whether or not he could get it was a different matter entirely. Right now, he didn't have the points to waste on such a gamble. He wanted to save up.
His next power enhancement would require over a million points. That was an enormous numberone that might take several years to accumulate. Relying on check-ins alone, who knew when he'd reach it?
So for now, saving was the only option. He had infinite lifespan anyway. It was just a matter of time before he gathered enough.
One more power-up, and he'd stop.
After all, if this upgrade cost over a million points, then the next would cost ten million. And then a hundred million.
Points weren't easy to earn.
The system didn't even have a recycle function. If it did, Takumi could've abused bugs to mass-produce and sell his items for power.
"What are you thinking about?"
Gabriel, walking beside him, noticed Takumi's dazed expression and asked curiously.
"Nothing," Takumi replied, shaking his head. "Just thinking."
He didn't explain furthernothing worth mentioning.
They continued strolling.
The festive atmosphere around them was gradually intensifying. Most decorations were mass-produced by Prometheus in factoriesthings like firecrackers were easy to manufacture.
No problem at all.
But Takumi still felt like something was missing.
He looked up at the bright blue sky and suddenly had an epiphany.
"Ah, it's snow. We're missing snow."
Hope City was in a warm zone, and without artificial intervention, it was hard to see snowfall.
But for Takumi, that was an easy fix. It just didn't feel right without snow.
"Snow?" Gabriel blinked. "You want it to snow?"
"Yeah. Besides, I haven't seen real snow before."
Takumi felt a pang of regret.
In his previous life, he had lived in the south, and he'd barely seen snow at all growing up. Now that he had the chance, why not make it snow?
With that thought, Takumi activated his powers.
A wave of energy radiated from him and merged into the atmosphere. Soon, the previously clear sky began gathering clouds.
The abrupt change in weather caught everyone's attention immediately.
Huh?
Was it going to rain?
Those with stronger powers could sense it clearlysomeone was manipulating the weather.
As the sky darkened, snowflakes began drifting down.
"Wow!"
"It's snowing!!"
"Snow!!"
Excited cries rang out as delicate snow began to fall.
The cursed children living in Hope City were especially ecstatic. Many kids loved snow, and now, seeing it for real, their happiness overflowed.
Takumi watched as little girls ran by him, unable to hide the smile on his face.
Some recognized Takumi and greeted him before running off, clearly eager to play.
"It's the season of White Album again," Takumi said with amusement.
"How much snow will you summon? Should we issue an announcement?"
Prometheus suddenly appeared.
The snowfall had disrupted her weather forecast, so she needed guidance.
Since Takumi had interfered with the weather, only he could decide how long it would last.
After thinking for a moment, Takumi said, "Medium snowfall, about two to three hours. Let everyone enjoy it."
That duration would be plenty.
"Understood," Prometheus nodded.
Shortly after, the forecast was updated to show light snow in the coming hours.
Takumi didn't give it a second thought and continued shopping with Gabriel.
Before long, they arrived at Gracie's art studio.
Takumi paused, then walked in with Gabriel.
He hadn't visited Gracie since she opened the studio.
He didn't even know how her business was doing.
Rumor had it, business was booming.
Plenty of people who made money in Takumi's world loved to buy Gracie's artwork.
Among the Thirteen Elites, she probably made the most money.
Her paintings were ridiculously expensiveand yet still sold well.
That's why Gracie was filthy rich.
A true wealthy lady!
After all, her art sold like hotcakes.
When Takumi and Gabriel arrived, several men in suits were speaking with the front desk.
Gracie's works covered the gallery walls.
Takumi, the uncultured bumpkin, didn't understand art. But these men loved that abstract nonsense.
Takumi scanned the room and led Gabriel deeper inside.
The others completely ignored thembecause Takumi had tampered with perception.
Otherwise, seeing Gracie would've been a hassle.
With Gabriel in tow, Takumi easily reached Gracie's workroom.
At that moment, Gracie was painting in front of a large floor-to-ceiling window.
She turned around, curious about the noise.
When she saw Takumi, she looked surprised.
"Takumi-oniichan, what brings you here?"
Takumi's lips twitched.
Gracie had reverted to her loli form.
"Why are you a kid again?"
She had clearly grown up before.
What was with this return to loli form?
Was this the legendary mature mind in a loli body?
Takumi couldn't make sense of Gracie's logic.
This was just baldly surprising.
She suddenly became a loli again.
Last time they met, she was fully grown.
Chapter 366: Griseo, You Were Fooled by Elysia
When Griseo heard Takumi's question, she put down her brush and explained,
"Everyone else hasn't changed, so it felt weird that I suddenly grew up. Elysia-nee said I wasn't cute anymore, so I changed back. Besides, I'm more comfortable in this form."
Takumi was speechless.
Elysia, huh? As expected, it was her fault.
She must have said something to Griseo that convinced her to turn back into a loli. Thinking about it, Takumi found it amusing.
"Don't let Elysia fool you like that."
She probably just thought grown-up Griseo wasn't fun anymore and tricked her into changing.
"Elysia-nee isn't that kind of person!"
Griseo didn't mind and even defended Elysia.
