第８１３堀：田舎発展物語 準備 (Part1)
Chapter 813: Rural Development Story – Preparations
Side: Yuki
"When you showed it to Deryu-san and Kirue-san so openly, I wondered how you were going to talk your way out of it, but you just breezed right through it."
While Taiki-kun and I were inspecting the men’s bath facilities, he suddenly brought that up.
"Well, if I had stayed silent or tried to play it off, they would have only grown more suspicious. It deviated from the original plan, but this was the best course of action. I never expected Deryu to look at a simple stretch of concrete and immediately identify it as a runway."
I had assumed Deryu would be confused since she’d never seen a real runway before, but she hit the nail right on the head.
"Usually, even if you look at a runway from the side, it just looks like a wide, paved plot of land, after all."
"I thought she might mistake it for a future construction site, but since she pressed me, I had no choice but to calmly talk her down with cold, hard logic. Anyway, everything looks normal here."
"But won't the wives give you a hard time? They know you have all the supplies stored here."
"Only if they ask about future plans or report that I’m using them. But I’ve already built it, and I’ve already explained the reason why."
"I see. Though, the second half feels a bit like a report filed after the fact."
If I can hide it, I will, but once the cat’s out of the bag, there’s no helping it. I have to be honest and talk my way through it.
"The DP I spent isn't coming back now, anyway."
"It’s not exactly a lie, but if you keep relying on post-facto reports, you’re going to lose their trust, you know?"
"I know. Keep doing this, and I’ll end up like the boy who cried wolf."
I’ll just have to handle that part skillfully.
They say a lie is a necessary evil, after all.
With that small talk out of the way, the inspection of the men’s bath concluded.
"Alright. The supplies are all accounted for."
"They are. But this super sento isn't really big enough for everyone in the Jarna territory to fit in at once, is it?"
"Well, it’ll hold thirty or forty people at most. Even that’s pushing it. Tell me, do you remember any large public baths that have thirty shower stations?"
"Ah, now that you mention it, you’re right."
"Even sentos, which you’d think have a lot, actually don't have that many."
I suppose it’s partly to increase turnover, though.
"It’s not like people are going to be in here forever, either. Besides, I don't even know how much of a habit bathing is in this region to begin with."
"That’s true. People in this world don't really take baths, do they?"
"Well, at this level of civilization, water—and hot water especially—is a luxury. Unless it bubbles up from the ground naturally, no one uses it so extravagantly."
"When you think about it that way, Japan is pretty luxurious. Anyway, enough chatting. The inspection is done, shall we head out?"
"No, I’ve worked up a sweat. I’m planning to take a dip right now. I already told Kirue and the others. Did you not hear, Taiki-kun?"
"Oh, I was so focused on the talk about building the airfield that it completely slipped my mind."
"I see. Well, let’s have a relaxing bath and talk about those things then."
"Sounds good. There’s nothing like the first bath after a hard day’s work."
And so, we decided to hop into the bath just as we were...
*Splash...*
The sound echoed through the bathhouse. It was the sound of a washbasin being pushed by the ripples in the tub and bumping against the wall.
"That’s a nice sound, isn't it?"
"Yeah, it really feels like a proper bath. It’s a relief to see the equipment is working perfectly."
"It really is a great bath... though, now that I think about it, won't we get glared at by the Margrave guarding the border if we build a facility like this?"
"Probably not immediately. Right now, preparing for the Seasypho Kingdom is the top priority. But depending on Baron Jarna, this place could become a major tourist destination. If that happens, who knows what will occur."
They’ll end up competing for tourists and residents.
When that happens, I’m sure various problems will arise.
"But in that case, won't the blame fall on us—or rather, on Weed—since we’re the ones who installed it?"
"Blame, or perhaps complaints, will come, but Weed can just say we were introduced to this place by them."
"True."
"Well, more than that distant future, the immediate issue is the move to the Seasypho Kingdom. We have to figure out how to handle that painfully long journey."
"It really is a long time if we have to accompany the march every step of the way."
"As long as we’re moving as a group, that can’t be helped."
That’s right. The real purpose of establishing a base in the Jarna territory wasn't just to keep the Seasypho Kingdom in check, but to serve as a forward base for support.
Of course, without the cooperation of the local residents, we’d just be dragging our feet, which is why we’re planning this social gathering.
"Come to mention it, there’s talk of the Seasypho Kingdom’s reconstruction support army returning home, but haven't they effectively done nothing?"
"They only provided relief supplies. Well, the amount was significant enough that it shouldn't be a problem on the surface. And the Haiden side wouldn't be happy having another country’s army overstaying their welcome, either."
"True. So, is General Rake preparing to withdraw as soon as he returns from Weed?"
"Seems like it. Their original purpose wasn't supporting Haiden’s reconstruction, but resolving the maritime issues of Seasypho. Now that a solution is in sight, they probably want to go home as soon as possible. They’ve seen the threat of the monsters with their own eyes, after all."
"Shera-chan is an exception, right? Since Aslin-chan’s subordinates have undergone abnormal evolution."
"Well, I hope that’s the case."
If that’s true, things will be much easier moving forward.
If we deploy Shera-chan and the monster navy, we can overwhelm them unless there’s a massive difference in numbers, and it would mean there are no monsters capable of damaging an aircraft carrier.
"Even so, we have the example of Alfin’s Grado."
"That’s true. If a monster of that 'Great Beast' class appears, there’s nothing we can do."
"It’s hard to just believe they don't exist..."
"Even on Earth, the largest living creatures are in the ocean."
Whales, giant squids, and the like—the truly massive creatures live in Mother Ocean.
So, it wouldn't be strange at all if there were giant monsters or kaiju we haven't seen yet in this other world of Aulito.
In fact, as Taiki-kun pointed out, although it was artificial, the super-giant monster Ground Zero was created by the hand of the Holy Sword wielder, Alfin.
"Oh, that reminds me, can’t you check for them with the dungeon’s summoning system?"
"Technically, such giant monsters exist in the data, but I don't know if they actually inhabit this world. And frankly, it’s better to spend the DP on other weapons or facilities than to summon just one of those."
"I suppose that’s true."
I wouldn't even know how to utilize them if I did summon them.
Especially giant aquatic monsters—they’d be completely useless inside a dungeon.
Weapons are just much more versatile.
"Well, even so, I doubt they’d be able to destroy an aircraft carrier in a single blow. If something like that existed, the Seasypho Kingdom would have already pulled out of the sea."
"Well, that’s true. Still, we can’t afford to let our guard down."
"Indeed. Anyway, let’s get out of the bath. We’ve been talking for a while, and I think we’ve stayed in longer than I intended."
"You’re right. It would be pathetic to pass out from the heat."