One month later.
On a piece of wasteland in the outer area, a brand-new building stood proudly on the land.
"The final work has been completed as per the contract," the boss of the construction company said with a flattering smile, handing the contract drafted a month ago to the financier in front of him. "Water, electricity, gas, and heating are all operational as of today. Are you satisfied with our work?"
"Yes, the balance will be transferred today," Nia Honjo said after confirming that all the contract terms had been fulfilled. "It's been a pleasure working with you."
"The pleasure is ours."
After finishing the handover, the boss and Nia Honjo got into a car and left the outer area.
A month ago, Nia Honjo had approached this construction company.
At first, they had been reluctant to work in a dangerous and troublesome place like the outer area, but after Nia Honjo offered a generous price, they couldn't resist.
Normally, submitting construction applications to the government, purchasing land, and completing the necessary paperwork would have taken at least half a year to build a fully functional building in the outer area.
But after Nia Honjo shared her idea with the Holy Emperor, the supreme ruler of Tokyo had supported her without hesitation.
With the Holy Emperor backing, Nia Honjo settled the terms with the government within a few days.
This astonishing speed made the construction company realize that Nia Honjo had powerful connections, so they didn't dare to cut corners and worked diligently to deliver the best results.
Thus, the shelter was completed in just one month.
Classrooms, a cafeteria, dormitories, a bathhouse everything a cursed child might need was included.
Of course, there was also a small church.
Though it was called a church, it only resembled one in appearance.
The interior was almost identical to the old church Nia Honjo had been living in.
There were no long rows of pews, no statues of gods, no murals, or stained glass.
All that remained was Nia Honjo workbench and other daily necessities.
The shelter built next to the church could comfortably house one hundred cursed children.
The cost was far lower than expected. Of the 300 million yen budget, less than 100 million was actually spent on building the shelter.
Even including the cost of the church, the total was just over 100 million.
Now, everything was ready all that was missing was the final touch.
Nia Honjo sat in the church, humming leisurely as she brewed coffee, waiting for her guests to arrive.
About fifteen minutes later, the church door opened.
Shiraishi Hina, dressed in new clothes, walked in, helping a fifty-year-old man with a cane.
He was an old man with a kind face, half-gray hair, and the beginnings of wrinkles. He wore an ordinary sweater and thick reading glasses.
He looked like one of those elderly men you could find anywhere in Tokyo.
"I assume you are the Miss Nia Honjo the child mentioned," the old man said.
"Nice to meet you, Elder Matsuzaki. I am Nia Honjo."
"It seems there's no need for introductions."
Elder Matsuzaki wasn't surprised that Nia Honjo knew his name. He walked up to her with a kind smile.
The fastest way to shelter the cursed children in the outer area was to cooperate with someone respected by them someone like Elder Matsuzaki.
With the help of Shiraishi Hina and Enju Aihara, Nia Honjo had quickly gotten in touch with Elder Matsuzaki and arranged to meet formally on the day the construction project was completed.
"Please, have a seat," Nia Honjo said, gesturing to the prepared chair.
After sitting down, Elder Matsuzaki looked around the interior of the church and asked curiously, "I didn't expect the church to be decorated so casually. It doesn't look like a place for God to reside it feels more human. Is Miss Honjo truly a believer?"
"Well, not really. You can think of me as a cosplaying nun," Nia Honjo replied with a smile.
"Hmm... you are indeed a strange person."
"Isn't it strange to build a shelter for cursed children in such a desolate area?" Nia Honjo countered. "From a worldly perspective, you don't seem much more normal than me, do you, Elder Matsuzaki?"
"That's true," Elder Matsuzaki said with a chuckle. "When I decided to leave the central area and come here to care for these abandoned children, the people around me said the same thing."
"So, what made you abandon your life in the central area and come here to endure hardship?" Nia Honjo asked, studying the old man in front of her. "You have a refined demeanor, a gentle temperament, and the financial means to care for the cursed children and raise them. If you had stayed in the central area, you could have lived a respectable old age, couldn't you?"
"What's so respectable about being admired by people in such a twisted society?"
Elder Matsuzaki gently patted Shiraishi Hina's head and spoke somberly, "Since the Great Disaster, people have gone mad. They not only treat these innocent children like beasts but also use them as weapons and trample on their lives. They've made this society sicker and sicker without shame."
He sighed and continued, "So I escaped. I left that sick society and came here to live with these children. Though my power is small, I still want to spend my remaining time doing something meaningful something... right."
"Your contribution will be remembered."
"I don't do this to be remembered."
Elder Matsuzaki shook his head and then asked, "Why did Miss Honjo want to build a shelter for these children?"
To complete the side quest.
That was, of course, the main reason.
But Nia Honjo also asked herself: If there were no side quests, would she still dedicate her energy to such a cause?
The answer was yes.
Even without the main quest, even if she weren't playing the role of Nia Honjo, she would still do this.
Because she was a time traveler.
She had the power to prevent tragedies and change the world.
If that was the case, why not do it?
Nia Honjo smiled and replied, "Because they need help, and because I can provide it."
"Ah, I believe that no matter which god you believe in, it would be proud to have a servant like you."
"Perhaps."
Nia Honjo stood up and said, "Elder Matsuzaki, would you like me to show you around the shelter?"
"Of course."
"Then please follow me."
"Can I come too, sister?" Shiraishi Hina asked.
"Of course."
Nia Honjo patted her head.
"This was made for you."