---Next Morning---
Coming down the stairs to make coffee, I walked into the kitchen to find Evelyn already making coffee. Thanking her for making it, I asked if she was hungry. Hearing her stomach growl before she could answer, I saw her face blush. Patting her on the head, I gave her a chuckle because she looked very cute.
"It's okay, I can make you something to eat. It's no problem.", I assured her.
Offering to help me cook, the two of us started making our meal. Being in close proximity with her, I could smell the feint hint of lilac and honey coming from her. It was amazing how fragrant Elves were naturally, Yao and Tuka were no exception. Yao smelled like dark chocolate and strawberries while Tuka smelled like vanilla, I didn't understand why they didn't have a bigger following with the men in the settlement. Wriggling in front of me, Evelyn was trying her best to impress me with her cooking but it was actually herself that was impressing me. Plating our meals, she and I took a seat at the counter.
"Do you normally get up this early?", she asked sliding me a cup of coffee.
"Yep, I have a lot of work to get done right now.", I chuckled, "I have to finish construction on two districts so we can put our plan into action."
"Can I help you?", she inquired, "I want to be of use to you."
"Evelyn, you don't have to pay me back with manual labor for helping you out.", I told her, "If you want, I could find you a position at one of the stores."
"I am not good with a lot of things. Outside of healing magic, I can't do much at all. When I see monsters all I can do is run away. When compared to the others...I am useless.", she said with a downcast look.
Patting her back, I said we'd find something she was good at. Taking a sip of the coffee she made me, it was actually very good. Asking her where she learned to brew coffee, she pulled a book out from a magic bag. Showing me magical images from her childhood, I got to see a young Evelyn and her very attractive mother working together in the kitchen. Not only that, it appeared that Evelyn had an older sister I didn't know about.
'I wonder where she is. If she looks like Evelyn, she'd be a bombshell.', I thought.
"My mother was a really good chef.", Evelyn told me with a fond smile, "As a child I used to help make meals and drinks with her. We would spend days making sweets when it was someone's birthday. They are very important memories to me because they remind me of better times."
"Did she pass away?", I asked.
"Yes, she passed away recently.", she replied, "She was our Former Chief."
Taking a second to process that, it finally clicked with me.
"Wait...Delva and you are related!?", I questioned in shock, 'How did I not notice that!'
"Yes, I am her younger sister...", Evelyn said with a faint smile, "My whole life everyone compared to her, except our mother. Everyone called me a failure because I couldn't fight or hunt like they could...I just couldn't compete."
'Oh you can compete, you are easily over 9000 in my book.', I thought trying to stay focused, "Well I think you have her beat in cooking and brewing coffee. I think there is a position I can put you in that would show off your skills."
"Hehe, I suppose that is true.", Evelyn giggled, "Wait, you have a job for me!? Please tell me what it is!!"
'Hmm...a Dark Elf that looked like both of them, that was a badass on the battlefield and a good housewife. Damn I would have loved to meet their mother...I am going to fucking annihilate those fucking Wraiths!! I am going to make you suffer for robbing the world of such a wonderful woman!!', I thought before answering her, "I will show you after we finish eating."
Finishing our meal, Evelyn and I left to start working. After we left, Nol and the others came out of the bedroom. Having heard our conversation, the women were even more eager to pounce. Deciding that Victor was the man they wanted, they started to think of a way to get into his harem. Having something light to eat, they quickly rushed out of the house to follow Victor and Evelyn.
With the tents long gone from where the Market/Business District would, I got to work constructing buildings. Standing back and watching buildings appear out of thin air, Nol was extremely frustrated that she couldn't understand how the magic I was using worked. Several times she tried to replicate my actions, but failed miserably. If she knew I had a system doing the leg work, she might have had a meltdown.
Once the buildings were up, I decided to leave the naming scheme up to whomever ended up running the shops. Naming the streets was already a difficult enough task for me. Stepping back to look at my work, Evelyn applauded me for a job well done. Already deciding that I wanted Evelyn to run the coffee shop, she was surprised when I asked her to do that.
"Me!? Surely there is someone better than me.", she refuted, "I...I am not that good."
"No, I think this is a great place for you.", I said taking her hand, "Come in and let me show you the place."
Taking inspiration from a coffee shop I frequented in my past life, the shop had a very cozy atmosphere. It wasn't a trendy place, but it certainly had character. Smelling the scent of freshly roasted coffee in the air, the Elves sighed with blissful smiles.
"This takes me back.", Nol sighed remembering her childhood.
"Agreed, it smells like the coffee mother used to make...", Delva said with a sad look, "Back when Evelyn and I were kids."
"It reminds me of my grandmother!", Elda laughed, "She always made the best cups of coffee!!"
"I am surprised all of you drank coffee, I would have thought tea was more to your liking.", I stated.
"No, we enjoy both.", Misery informed me, "We drink coffee during the morning hours, and tea at night."
"Oh okay, that makes sense.", I chuckled.
Making White Chocolate Lattes for all seven Elven women and myself, we sat down at one of the tables to relax. Having not had this delicious beverage since my last life, I sighed as memories of that life came back to me. A lot had happened since then, but I wasn't complaining...too much. After all, I was in the company of seven beautiful Elves which would have never happened in my old life.
'I wonder how Kohta reacted when he saw the Elves. He has a thing for them too, I wonder if he got lucky and is courting one of them.', I thought.
"Victor", Nol said scooting close to me, "I wanted to ask if we could make the living arrangement permanent. The bed was super comfortable, and it was nice and toasty warm all night."
Staring her in the eyes, she looked away quickly trying not to make eye contact. I knew where this was going, and frankly I was fine with it. They were good, innocent people so I had no issues with having them join us, I just wanted to make sure other non-humans got treated well too. They had a lot of kin living here so it was imperative the plan went smoothly.
"Let's not beat around the bush Nol. Delva, Evelyn, and you have been very obvious about what you want from me.", I teased her, "I understand you don't know how to phrase things because your lives have always been spent around women. What you are asking is if you can become family with me."
"So you are saying yes?", Lucie asked with excitement.
Telling her I did like them, I said I would be happy to court them. Giggling with delight hearing that, the women took a sip of their lattes, and let out moans. Evidentially they had never had coffee like this before which was rather surprising. Given their love for sweets, I would have thought they had something similar back home. Wiping some foam off their cheeks, the women blushed with embarrassment.
"What is this!?", Delva asked me changing the subject, "This is the best coffee I have ever had!! It tastes like...like heaven!!"
"It's called a White Chocolate Latte, it's one of my favorite coffee beverages.", I chuckled.
Seeing their ears wriggle with delight as they slowly savored their beverages, I smiled with pride. Talking with them about their hobbies and interests, they opened right up to me. As the discussion went on, I made a startling realization. Realizing that they had no knowledge of how bad men could be, I knew I was going to have to be extra watchful of their people to ensure they didn't get abused. If there were others like Evelyn...I could see some asshole taking advantage of them.
"Victor!!", Shizuka shouted walking into the coffee shop, "Why didn't you tell us you were making the coffee shop today? Can I get an iced peppermint mocha with caramel drizzle? Oh, and do you have any scones?"
"Shizuka, normally you are supposed to congratulate someone when they open a store...not ask them for food and drinks instantly.", Rika laughed, "You know there is more to life than cutie drinks, right? Why not enjoy one of my favorite-"
"I can't drink coffee black like you, it's too bitter.", Shizuka complained, "I think that is why you are bitter."
"What was that!?", Rika teased smacking Shizuka on the butt.
Seeing my family and others start coming in, I motioned for Evelyn to follow me. Stepping behind the counter, I showed her how to make the different beverages I knew how to make. Handing her a booklet for other drinks as well, she and I worked together to make drinks and snacks for people. Before we realized it we had a full house, and a line out the door which was rather unexpected. Seeing Mirellia in line, she gave me a smile and waved at me.
"Do you have anything you'd think I'd like?", Mirellia asked me when she came up to the counter with Melty and Malty.
"You like sweet or bold flavor?", I questioned, "Wait nevermind, I know you well enough to know it's sweet."
Blushing she nodded her head with embarrassment. Sliding them three iced mocha cappuccinos they thanked me for the drinks. Taking a sip, the three of them smiled and took a seat over with my family. Getting the remaining people through, it took us nearly two hours to get everyone coffee. By the time we were done, Evelyn and I were ready to take a break.
"I am surprised so many people showed up...", I sighed taking a seat with my family.
"You realize that the entire settlement was covered in the smell of roasted coffee beans, right?", Yuriko laughed, "That's what woke us up, and is also how we knew you were here. I already have orders from shopkeepers that want to have drinks before they open today."
"I knew it be popular, but not this popular. Leaving Evelyn and a few workers to handle this would be too much.", I said looking at Evelyn who was drinking a fruit smoothie.
"I am sure I can ask around for help!", Evelyn stated noticing me gaze.
"If you need workers, some of my people are interested.", Tyuule said coming over with her caramel carrot macchiato, "These beverages are very delicious so we are more than happy to help."
"I can find people too!", Mirellia spoke up with excitement, "We will make this place thrive, this beverage is too good to let fall to the wayside."
Happy to see their enthusiasm after a successful launch, I started coordinating with everyone to get stores stocked and staffed. For now, we would be using the bartering system to purchase goods and the shopkeepers could haggle with people so long as it was fair. Finding me merchants to operate Stores, we got all of them settled in before opening the market.
In the course of a few hours the marketplace was packed, and business was booming. Having a part of what everyone considered normal life back again, the people flocked there to shop or just look at the goods on display. Seeing families bring items to trade with, I slowly got pushed back by eager shoppers.
Taking a step back from the action, I watched things carefully to make sure no fights broke out. Seeing me watching the crowds closely, the radicals didn't try to cause any issues as they saw Stormbreaker in my hand. Looking over at Yuriko and Saya they were busy running one of the stores with assistance from Mirellia and Tyuule, the four of them seemed to be having fun haggling with people.
'I am going to have to give them that letter soon.', I thought remembering the letter Souichiro gave me, 'Now that we are on our way to rebuilding our world, they should know he really wasn't all that bad.'
Deciding to give them the letter at dinner, I checked on my family to make sure everyone was alright. Since it was a busy night all of them were busy working at various stores to help with the rush. Once I was sure everything was okay, I left things to Hayato and headed out to explore the last few portals.