第１２３１堀：帰る時にはなぜかお土産で荷物が増えることがある (Part1)
Chapter 1231: For Some Reason, Luggage Always Increases When You Head Home
Side: Yuki
Despite my resolve, we are making our way through the forest with the same rhythmic *clip-clop* of hooves as when we arrived.
Yes, having successfully concluded our visit to the goblin village, we are now on our journey home.
"Phew... I really am exhausted."
"Are you alright, Yuki-san?"
Responding to my involuntary sigh, Ria, who serves as my guard, steered her horse closer with a look of concern.
We had stayed in the village for about three days to gather information, but as the top-ranking visitor, I was subjected to a constant stream of hospitality, which, to be honest, wore me out.
Well, in this specific instance, Steve is also staring up at the sky from his saddle, looking just as drained.
After all, he was just as popular as I was.
I suppose he’s tired in a different sense than he would be from military training.
But I need to answer Ria’s question.
"I'm fine. There’s nothing wrong with my health. It’s just... being bombarded with questions like that, you know?"
"...Mm. That looked tough. But the goblins all seemed very happy."
"They really did, didn't they? They looked like children who’d just been given toys. Though, we did actually hand out toys, too."
Just as Cleena and Ria said, the goblins greeted us with smiles from start to finish.
Or rather, when you’re asked one thing after another by people with such guileless, innocent smiles, you can’t help but answer them as a human being—so in that sense, it truly was exhausting.
That said, we did gain quite a bit ourselves.
"...If anything, I’m surprised Aslin was able to leave like this."
"Yeah, really. She’s as popular with monsters as ever, isn't she?"
"Well, I suppose that’s Aslin’s talent—or perhaps her natural charm."
Yes, Aslin was even more adored by the village goblins than Steve or me.
I mean, she’s well-liked by the monsters in Weed, but I hadn't expected it to be the same out here.
Up until now, the "outside" monsters we’d tamed were at least somewhat intelligent, like wyverns or sea dragons.
Wait, if I think about it that way, does that mean the goblins in the village were drawn to Aslin precisely because they possess a certain level of intelligence?
As I pondered this, I looked over at Aslin...
"It was so much fun!"
"It truly was. Everyone was so happy when we made things together."
"That’s true. It seems like they don't have much in the way of entertainment here, so they were delighted when we taught them how to craft things themselves."
My, she doesn't look tired in the slightest, wearing such a guileless smile.
Yes, I’m glad Aslin and the others had such a good time.
But come to think of it, what does it even look like for "Aslin and the others to be tired"?
Ah, wait—don't children usually play at full throttle all day and then recover their maximum stamina just by sleeping through the night?
I was like that when I was younger, too.
For some reason, I never carried my fatigue over to the next day.
I’d wake up in the morning with full stamina, burn it all down to zero by nightfall, and sleep. And I could repeat that every single day without any issues.
Thinking about it now, children are truly amazing.
"We also managed to make a promise to provide them with supplies on a regular basis."
"That’s true. They were especially happy about the sweets, but... I wonder if they’ll get addicted?"
"Haha... well, when it comes to sweets, Weed is in a league of its own, after all."
"That’s Onii-sama’s goal, isn't it?"
Yes, just as Hiiro said, the sweets are my strategy.
By gifting them things that can only be exported from Weed, I’m making them want to maintain this relationship moving forward.
After all, in this Kingdom of Zufuia, where luxury goods are scarce, the level of dependency on sweets is quite high.
"Well, I’d call this visit a success. We gathered a fair amount of information. We’ve established ties through Steve’s friendship, Aslin and the others’ friendship, and the promise of supplies. Since they’re happy with these things, I’m sure we can maintain our relationship going forward."
Indeed, there are still many mysteries surrounding the goblin village, but naturally, one can’t solve everything in a single visit.
That’s why the goal this time was to ensure we could keep interacting with them continuously.
"Oh, by the way, Enora. How did the medical activities at the goblin village go? You went around checking on them with the priest, right?"
"Basically, there were no problems. A few people had colds, but that was about it."
"So, no issues on the health front, then. And there were no outbreaks of any unique diseases... or anything regarding their lifespans? Come to think of it, I didn't see anything like a graveyard."
"Ah, it seems it’s their custom to 'return to nature,' so they go deep into the forest to bury them. As for their lifespans, the priest said they generally live to be about sixty to eighty."
Ah, returning to nature, is it?
It seems their lifespans aren't much different from humans.
"The accuracy of that would improve if we had information from other villages. Though, that might be a tall order to start with."
"Hmm, the only goblin villages we can reach through Haiden’s connections are the ones here in the Kingdom of Zufuia."
"If that’s the case, I can guide you to goblin villages through Findar’s connections, if you’d like?"
"I see. Let’s work on that later, then. But for now, I need to finalize the details of the study abroad program I discussed with the Viscount earlier. Plus, the results of the first survey of the Great Tree Sea will be coming in soon. I have to coordinate and handle all of that."
Yes, I can’t do everything at once.
We are severely lacking in manpower, after all.
"Oh, that reminds me, Kodrishi-san. I’ve already conveyed this to Princess Carrie via Kagura, but I’m considering a study abroad program for the daughter of Viscount Keenao of the Kingdom of Zufuia to come to Weed."
"Yes, I have heard of that matter."
"And since that was something I arranged after meeting Fusora-san directly, we took the lead as Weed. However, in the future, if proposals for study abroad programs come from the Kingdom of Zufuia or the Kingdom of Sofuno, could I ask you to handle the intake, Kodrishi-san? It would be problematic if talks came directly to us, bypassing the Kingdom of Haiden, and we decided to accept them on our own."
"That is certainly true. Well, I don't think they would violate the rules like that, but it would be best to have a formal notification sent from Haiden."
"Yes. It’s better to avoid trouble before it starts."
"However, what about the conditions for the study abroad program? If those aren't decided, we won't be able to explain them to the other side."
"I will compile those immediately and contact Princess Carrie through Kagura. Also, Haiden will likely need to establish selection rules as well. Please think about that, too."
"I see. It is just beginning, after all."
"Yes. That’s why we have to think about it from scratch. It’s one thing if a student from a small country introduced by Haiden just lacks talent, but if they were, say, arrogant... Kagura, you understand, right?"
When I said that and looked toward Kagura, she closed her eyes for a moment, perhaps imagining the scenario, and cold sweat began to bead on her forehead.
"That would turn into an international incident in an instant, wouldn't it? Ugh, my head is starting to ache. That means we’d need to teach them about Weed to a certain extent beforehand..."
"Whoa. Isn't that incredibly difficult? Even within Haiden, there are still people complaining about us..."
"Trying to drill that into the heads of young people from small countries is going to be quite..."
At Kagura’s words, Mikos and Kodrishi also begin to look troubled.
They understand just how difficult what I’m asking for is.
They know how hard it is to convey things that even they don't necessarily fully grasp to people who understand even less.