The Distillery RPG Management Game

You logged into a full-dive game called Red and Black Faction Survival RPG, which claimed to offer a high degree of freedom.

As the very first player in the game, you were lucky enough to see a [Business Simulation] option on your screen.

As a casual player who just wanted to relax with a game, you decisively chose that route.

[Welcome, player [Karasuma Renya], to the game. You have chosen the ultra-hard hidden route: [Business Simulation].]

The System instructed you to build a factory. Success would only be confirmed once you had grown your business into a major enterprise.

But you had no people and no factory. You even lost your wallet after finishing a meal.

Oh, for God's sake.

Still, you understood the mission. It seemed just like an ordinary business simulation. You needed to become the owner of a distillery, then make money!

Wait... Why were you a police officer about to lose your job?

You just wanted to be an unremarkable, honest distillery owner, but every task the System gave you was absurdly difficult.

Secure a reliable supply, build Tokyo's number-one company, win the approval of every law-abiding faction, turn all the undercover agents, raise your forum reputation...

So this distillery wasn't just a distillery in the literal sense?

Empty-handed, you put on a look of pure anguish.

So you asked the forum for help:

A chaotic, fun-loving player said to charge ahead, expand by force, and crush all opposition with violence.

A wholesome player advocated a gradual approach, developing red, white, and black businesses from every angle.

You received advice from the other players. Still not understanding what ultra-hard difficulty meant, you were brimming with confidence.

You: Let's begin, my favorite business simulation game! =w=

[Game Start]

*

Kudo Shinichi really liked the neighbor next door.

He was his dad's good friend, as well as an honest and brave police officer. The company registered in his name was supposedly impressive and did a lot of business with the Sonoko family's company.

Of course, Shinichi didn't like him just because he also loved the Sherlock Holmes stories. More importantly, this wonderful senior never looked down on him for having what most people would call outlandish dreams. Instead, he quietly encouraged him, helped him through things, and guided him toward realizing those dreams.

He would smile and pat Shinichi on the head. "Of course I believe in little Shinichi. Nothing is impossible."

The only strange thing was that the senior's smile had been a little odd the day Shinichi plainly stated that his goal was to destroy a certain distillery... But even then, he was an indisputably good senior.

The senior and his friends were all amazing: a computer genius from Russia, a demolition expert who loved bandages... They were all only a little less impressive than Shinichi's dad, but thanks to their help, the Red team had become more united than ever!

The senior's friends were always joking that Shinichi was his little Hawaiian Cooler. It was the name of a drink, but that didn't matter. After all, Shinichi was always talking about Hawaii, so he was trying hard to play along.

But much later, when Shinichi finally broke through all the layers of security with everyone's help and made it to the Crow's Nest...

Aaaah! Could someone tell him why his senior was standing there, smiling as he greeted him?!

*

Starting from nothing in the wilderness: either you explode in silence or go crazy in silence. So...

[At first]

You: A distillery with a conscience! Honest hiring! Five kinds of insurance and a housing fund! Come take a look!

Natsume, Dazai, Conan, Gojo, and the Whiskey Squad: We're busy, don't @ us. Just ask why we somehow ended up as employees again...

[Later]

You: Guys, we've got work!

Natsume, Dazai, Conan, Gojo, and the Whiskey Squad: That's an option? Count me in.

[Helpful reminders]

1. The protagonist isn't a born leader or mastermind. At the start, he's just an ordinary person, and he'll gradually grow as the story progresses. If that's not your thing, feel free to leave.

2. There are a thousand different Karasuma Renyas in a thousand people's eyes. Out of countless worlds, the author is only recording one particular version.

3. Bonus chapters are welcome. The main focus is career, family, and friendship.

[The following is a fairly detailed list of guest characters in this game, appended at the end of the blurb]

You (Karasuma Renya)

Fourth Calamity

Shinichi's dad

The Grim Reaper Elementary School Student and the Detective Boys

The Mouri father and daughter

The Suzuki Group and Kaitou Kid

The police academy gorillas

The distillery's water and wine

One hardworking member of the organization

An original true liquor (the author tearfully adds this to the previous line)

A male calico cat

The old and new Double Black

A trashy doctor who adores little girls and is a senior who won't reveal his name

A kind-hearted Russian rice ball

Some members of the Armed Detective Agency

Some members of the Decay of the Angels

Some members of the Port Mafia, which owns five buildings

Some members of the Rats in the House of the Dead

5t5 (and the rotten oranges who have yet to appear)

Cult Leader Geto (who suddenly started wasting rice balls one day)

Aoyama and the beloved creation of his

Here we are, writing for love. Let's encourage one another!

[Recommended: the author's other simultaneous serial, A Certain Stray Dog's Survival RPG]

[The ostensible focus is career, family, and friendship]

[The real focus is goofy antics and delightful character torment]

What's this? A scriptwriter? Give it a smack.

What's this? Yokohama? Give it a poke.

What's this? Brain Flower? Pick it u

Asano Ze: What? Bungo Stray Dogs? Yokohama? What abilities? What scripts? Stay away from me! (Runs off with his luggage GIF)

Asano Ze: Wait, wait, wait, it's not just Bungo Stray Dogs? I have to face the final boss from the start? Isn't that a bit too... (pointing GIF)

Asano Ze: No, my right hand, how could you do this? Right hand! You really shouldn't pick up this inhuman thing! (heartbroken GIF)

"Huh? How is that an insult?"

"But it really isn't human!" (innocent cat GIF)

Carrying a hefty brain flower, Asano Ze returned to Yokohama with a warm smile. "Yokohama, I'm home!"

Book: No! Don't come near me...

The brain flower in question gave a world-weary smile. That's right, life is... wonderful. We have to face it with a smile.

Mickey Mouse, the second person involved, stared up at the sky but couldn't bring himself to smile again. Yeah, right. Drag him away. Another one's gone mad. At this rate, we'll be one step closer to realizing our dreams, hahaha.

A certain cross-dimensional leader closed the book with an unbearable look on his face. He had never felt so mentally exhausted, and had almost fallen in love with his broken world, which lacked Asano Ze.

Book: Thank you, really. You're so kind...

[Updates have resumed]

Theme: Never forget your original intentions and see them through to the end. I will live for no one but the people, and never let them down.