After Surviving the Apocalypse, I Built a City in Another World

Afterwork hours had once again begun in Alterra, and every commercial street was livelier than the other. What was interesting to observe, with the increasing number of aborigines becoming citizens, was how the cultures meshed together.

One face was Culinary fusion, and one of the people who was doing it best so far was none other than the Gold’s former cook, Koro.

They had asked him to live his own life, and told him he wasn’t their servant anymore. He was reluctant, but he had also seen how... carefree life was here and how the Golds wouldn’t need him anymore.

If he insisted, maybe he’d just seem like he was trying to attach himself to them. He was still sad, though. After all, he grew up with them and didn’t know anything else other than preparing food for them.

However, a few days ago, they gave him a gift: a stall in the marketplace as thanks for his service.

They had wanted to give him a shophouse, but they were all rented out. Fortunately, there were still some openings in the Marketplace.

Anyway, it would also be a good thing to start small and focus on improving his craft and understanding of the market before actually expanding to an actual shop.

His offerings were some local snacks made from the local materials like the Flute Plant, creating a unique texture that was definitely not like the bread made by the System Restaurant.

Combined with the sauces of Alterra, it created a different taste and texture, which the exploratory Alterrans welcomed very much.

Although the locals really didn’t have enough spark in their flavoring, they at least had generations to improve what they did have.

It gave a unique taste of two cultures, making it quite popular shop, so only a few days after opening it, he already got queues during peak hours.

One of the peak hours was in the late evening times, which was a late snack period for many. His special bread was very light in the stomach, but also comfortable to eat, making it a perfect late-night snack.

”Good job,” Otto said as he bought one.

Koro flinched when he realized who it was. ”You didn’t have to line up, Mast—” he paused when he received Otto’s look. ”Mister Otto,” he said. ”I could’ve given you one.”

”No, it’s fun being like everyone else,” he said, taking the snack wrapped in thin paper. He tasted it and nodded in approval. ”Continue innovating,” he said, ”This is the best place to grow.”

Koro’s smiled, heart warm. ”Yes, sir.”

There would also be Olga and Hilda’s new store, which was set up in the house they bought.

After shifting residences and getting the required contribution points, they had the right of first refusal regarding the purchase of the unit, so naturally they bought it as soon as they got enough points to do so.

Classes had just ended today and the two women and a helper they hired arranged the items so they were ready for the class tomorrow.

Hilda couldn’t help but feel melancholy. ”To be honest, I was not sure how our first class would go,” she said, resting the back of her head on the comfortable armchair.

Olga chuckled, remembering what happened.

They did not expect their enrolled students—their slots had a maximum of 10 per session—would be so... interested.

They were genuinely willing to learn what they had to say. Many even had notebooks ready.

Such a difference indeed.

In Bleulle, there were classes in the academy that taught various customs and the like of powerful cities. This was needed to be able to do well in the circle. In these classes, there were also subjects about the general culture and political structures in another City, so they could interact better with them.

However, in the academies, people only learned to look better—nothing else. They barely applied what they learned if they deemed to person they were interacting with unworthy of the effort.

For instance, a noble would learn about another City’s ways of greeting. However, if they met someone of lower stature from that City, they would not bother adopting what they learned at all.

In contrast, these people asked so many questions—some were deep and insightful—as if truly wanting to understand.

They asked questions like ’Why is it like that?’, many of which they couldn’t answer as quickly as they would’ve liked. Many times, the women ended up thinking about what they were taught as well.

Yes, indeed, why was it like that?

There were many questions about things they just grew up into, not questioning at all even when they grew old. Eventually, they’d receive insights and understanding about culture in general that made them enlightened and more appreciative of the world.

They would feel as though they had learned just as much as their students had learned from them.

And this was such an amazing thing.

...

While this part of the Town was getting its rest, there were plenty of zones that were just beginning their days. As always, Alterra’s Nightlife was as bustling as always.

The entertainment streets had lines full of party bars, with drinks, light snacks, and music. Of course, the music was limited to the instruments they had, but it was what the older generation actually preferred.

The ’young’ music was not too attractive for them.

The aborigines, on the other hand, could take anything as it appeared. The instruments in Xeno were far more limited, after all, and the arrangements were very new to them, and they enjoyed the novelty.

However, through time, some Xeno instruments—percussion, flute, and some string instruments—could be seen here and there with increasing frequency, especially in the shops with an aborigine as its owner or as its investor.

Interestingly, some things like a combination of aborigine dances had also crept in. The dances were a bit folk-y, but the beat matched some Terran songs, and it ended up being quite fun.

The native drinks were also integrated. Many even used them in Terran drinking games.

Because of the smokey attribute of the drink, it made the game even cooler.

Anyway, on the dance floor in a bar, Oslo was dancing around. He—as always—was surrounded by women. He didn’t sleep around anymore, but he sure still flirted quite a bit.

At some point, he bumped into Leez, one of Obi’s underlings. They were apparently dragged there by the other guards to ’loosen up’ after a long day at work.

”He” was dancing along with a wide smile on ”his” face, a little drunk, and didn’t notice that he had entered Oslo’s circle. Some girls around him didn’t like the proximity and gave the androgynous lad a bad look.

”Hey!”

”There’s still some space over there!”

”He’s cute though. I’m into softer guys lately...”

The girls had differing views on the newcomer who was dancing an odd dance while drunk. After a few moments, ”he” ended up bumping into Oslo.

Oslo blinked when, unlike the others, he realized something.

A woman?

It wasn’t obvious, but as a former womanizer, he naturally could recognize a woman, especially at close proximity, and most especially when they were inebriated. However, she was obviously trying to hide it so he didn’t say anything.

He couldn’t help but think of his thickheaded brother who did not see women (and even mocked people in love), but he was quite comfortable with this one.

Oslo couldn’t help but give out a mirthful smile (which was misunderstood by some women and started making Boy-love fanfiction about him and Leez in their heads).

In reality, Oslo’s mind had a much more ’sinister’ plan.

Was the chance for revenge coming?