"Thank you, Lady Hestia."
Riveria was relieved to see that Hestia was no longer hostile toward her. Although she appeared calm on the surface, she was actually a little nervous. After all, this was her first time doing something like this.
"Don't be nervous. From the moment you came here, we have been family. We don't need to be so formal. Just call me by my name, or you can call me Big Sister," Hestia said with a warm smile.
"Okay, Sister Hestia," Riveria replied obediently.
Not only was Hestia significantly older than her, but she was also the first one to arrive, so Riveria felt it was only right to address her as an elder sister. The only issue was the contrast in their temperaments. Riveria was mature and steady, yet she was calling Hestia—who had a petite figure and a lively personality—her sister. To an outsider, this contrast would be quite confusing.
At the same time, Riveria's heart finally relaxed. Previously, she had worried there might be power struggles within Takumi's harem. But now it seemed she had overthought it; the family was quite harmonious.
"You have just arrived. Let me show you around and introduce you to the current situation of Dimensional City."
"Okay, then I'll trouble you, Sister Hestia."
Following that, Riveria accompanied Hestia on a walk around the city. While they walked, Hestia mentioned several things Riveria should keep in mind regarding Takumi. For instance, even if they didn't always form a group to "practice boxing" with the big boss Takumi, they should still lend a helping hand when others needed it. She emphasized maintaining a non-exclusive attitude and accepting new members to strengthen the team while prioritizing family harmony.
Riveria listened silently and agreed. She knew how powerful Takumi was, so she did not exclude the idea of having more companions. After Hestia finished talking about these personal matters, she moved on to administration.
"I'm mainly managing Orario's affairs now. If you want, let's start here first. If you have any questions, you can ask Sophon. She is the current housekeeper of Dimensional City."
"Well, I'll try my best."
Riveria had no objection. In fact, it suited her perfectly. When she was in the Loki Familia, she was used to dealing with all kinds of logistical affairs. Managing Dimensional City for Takumi was a natural transition, and she felt no pressure.
"By the way, there is also the contract. You should ask Takumi to bring this up. I also signed a contract with him. This is a necessary procedure for joining Dimensional City."
"Okay, I'll go find him later," Riveria agreed with a serious face.
She did not resist the idea. Especially after hearing that Hestia had signed it, she understood its importance. Only by signing this contract could one ensure there was no betrayal and truly become part of the city's core. Seeing this, Hestia nodded with satisfaction. The reason she had taken the initiative to sign was to set a precedent for everyone who followed.
By establishing this unspoken rule, she ensured that all latecomers would become members who would never turn against Takumi. This would prevent future problems even as their numbers grew. Even if they weren't perfectly united, they would at least never hold Takumi back.
Their conversation concluded, and Hestia returned to supervising her projects. Riveria, following the goddess's advice, sought out Takumi in the experimental fields to propose signing the contract. After hearing her request, Takumi readily agreed. He was privately surprised; he hadn't realized Hestia could think so far ahead despite her usually airheaded demeanor. This was a huge help for him, as he had been unsure how to bring up the contract with the women without making it seem like he didn't trust them.
"Hestia asked me to help you manage Dimensional City. What do you think?" Riveria asked after the contract was finalized.
Takumi nodded immediately. "That's exactly what I intended."
To be honest, since the population had increased by two hundred immigrants, managing the city's affairs had become a headache. Although Sophon assisted him, she was an AI; she could provide data but couldn't make executive decisions. He was spread too thin, trying to develop the city and manage the people at the same time. He still had grace improvements, magical creations, and magi-tech research to get to.
Riveria nodded. "So, what do you need me to do now?"
She didn't plan to waste time adapting to her new life. She wanted to start working immediately, figuring that she could adapt while being productive.
"You should go to Sophon first to understand the current state of Dimensional City. Without those details, you won't be able to manage effectively."
"Understood. I'll go now."
Riveria separated from Takumi and found Sophon at the temporary office of the City Lord's Mansion project.
"Welcome, Lady Riveria. Please allow me to introduce the current status of Dimensional City."
When Riveria heard the title, her face flushed slightly. She was a bit uncomfortable with it, but she focused as Sophon began the briefing. The AI detailed everything: the amount of cultivated land, material stockpiles, connected worlds, urban planning, and population demographics.
Riveria was shocked. Takumi had built all of this from scratch in just over two months. Realizing the incredible potential of the man she had chosen, she felt a surge of excitement. Compared to Orario, Dimensional City was a far grander stage. For a moment, she felt like she did when she first left the Elven forest and was recruited by Loki. Her original motivation was rekindled!
"So, what problems need my handling right now?" Riveria asked.
"Several," Sophon replied, listing issues intended for Takumi.
"What impact does the City Lord's Mansion project have on other work? If important tasks are delayed, issue a warning and adjust the shifts to two-day rotations."
"Temperature changes? Autumn is coming. What is the food storage situation for winter?"
"Plans for winter activities? We can't have people cooped up all season, or they'll get restless. I'll think more on that. Also, are we ready with thermal supplies?"
Riveria quickly entered her element. As royalty, she had been familiar with governance since childhood, and her time in the Loki Familia had tempered those skills. Dealing with these matters was simple for her.
"Hmm? Alice Nakiri? She is from the culinary world Takumi mentioned..."
One report caught Riveria's eye—an application submitted by Alice Nakiri. Curious about people from other worlds, she asked Sophon for more details. Learning that the girl had essentially sold her service to buy ingredients to cure her relatives, Riveria's expression softened. She admired the girl's sacrifice, even if it seemed a bit hasty. Understanding that Alice's home world had no supernatural power made it make sense.
Reading the application further, Riveria's face turned odd again. Alice was complaining that her workload was too high. She was responsible for three meals a day for the entire city. Even with her improving physique and help from others, she was reaching her limit. Working 24/7 was exhausting for a girl her age, especially one with such a lively personality. She wanted a few days of fresh air.
The problem was that no one else in Dimensional City could match her cooking skills. Seeing everyone else idle while she slaved away in the kitchen had caused a psychological imbalance. She suggested that if Takumi didn't mind, she could return to her home world to bring back some helpers.
Riveria set the application aside. "I'll let Takumi decide on this one. Next item."
She knew it wasn't her place to recruit new people, though she sympathized with the girl.
"Yes. Next is regarding..."
They continued until noon. When the construction bell rang, the girls headed to the canteen. Riveria finished her work, picked up Alice's application, and followed them. She noticed Takumi hadn't arrived yet, but Hestia walked toward her.
"Come, I'll take you to get some food."
"Thank you," Riveria replied with a smile. She knew Hestia was looking out for her so she wouldn't feel out of place.
Neither of them sought special treatment. They queued up like everyone else and swiped a card for food. Since Riveria didn't have one yet, they used Hestia's. Riveria found the process quite novel. The quality of the food surprised her; she understood why Takumi valued a "little cook" so much if this was the result.
Her presence naturally drew attention. When the other girls saw Hestia leading her, they realized she was another new Lady of the city. They were stunned by her beauty and her race—her long pointed ears clearly marked her as an elf. Those from modern worlds couldn't help but stare. Riveria was used to the attention and ignored it.
Takumi arrived late, having been busy improving farming rotation methods. The previous "all-at-once" planting caused high production followed by periods of scarcity. He had reorganized the fields so that different batches matured at different times, ensuring fresh vegetables every day.
After he finished his meal, he sat with Hestia and Riveria. After some small talk, Riveria handed him Alice's application.
"This is something I dealt with. I need you to make a decision."
"Oh? Let me see."
Takumi read it and felt a bit embarrassed. He realized he had neglected Alice Nakiri since putting her in charge of the kitchens. Seeing her complaints, he felt irresponsible.
"Okay, I agree," Takumi said, nodding. If she needed help, he would grant it. "But you know the rules at home. Tell her not to bring any men back this time. Also, let Rishia go with her so the flow of time doesn't become unstable."
"I see," Riveria replied.
Takumi then asked about her work. Riveria summarized how she handled the morning's issues. Takumi was impressed and praised her, even offering a small physical reward. Riveria blushed and pushed him away, mindful of Hestia watching from the sidelines. Hestia didn't mind, simply watching happily.
After eating, Takumi and Hestia returned to their duties. Riveria went to the serving window and told the girl on duty to have Alice Nakiri find her later.