第１３０２堀：傭兵ギルドの長 (Part1)
**Chapter 1302: The Head of the Mercenary Guild**
**Side: Popuri**
“I see. So you want to know the Mercenary Guild’s recent monster subjugation numbers?”
“Yeah. Right now, the idea that it’s just a fluke is the leading theory, but…”
“But if it’s not, it could mean something is very wrong.”
I was currently in the Principal’s office, listening to Yuki’s concerns. It seemed a report from an investigation his master was conducting mentioned a total lack of contact with monsters, and it was weighing on his mind.
“Understood. It’ll be faster if I go myself. Let’s head out now.”
“Are you sure?”
“I don’t mind. In fact, this is a top priority. We’re talking about the potential for a monster stampede, after all.”
That was the one thing we had to avoid at all costs. While we could likely protect the Academy with Yuki and his people’s help, I could already see the idiots from various countries complaining that we failed to detect the signs. Moving now was only natural.
“By the way, Popuri, what do you personally think of this?”
“The idea of not encountering monsters… well, it’s bordering on the impossible. I’ve almost never heard of such a thing. This Great Forest is known as a den of beasts. It’s said that if you set foot inside, you’re guaranteed to run into something. That’s why we hold practical field exercises for the students. Even though we take a whole day with them, we plan to be back by dusk. The encounter rate is just that high.”
“When you put it that way, it really is strange not to see any.”
“Exactly. Considering that, we need to speak with the Mercenary Guild immediately.”
We didn’t resort to flying, but we kept a brisk pace as we walked through the town. The streets were as peaceful as ever today.
“Changing the subject, how is the testing for the exchange student program looking?”
“It’s viable. We’re currently calling for volunteers for a trial visit. Ah, Ardes was the first to sign up.”
“He’ll be fine, then.”
“I agree. After that, we’ll see how things go while consulting with him. Lara will be the chaperone.”
“Is it alright for the Vice Principal to go?”
“It’s fine. She’s connected to this side, so she can travel back and forth every day. That’s the advantage of our setup compared to other countries.”
“Well, with the Gates, it shouldn’t be that different for anyone, right?”
“Being able to use them freely is a massive benefit. Still, putting the exchange students in for a real experiment…”
“Is something bothering you?”
“Many things. You only truly understand these things once you try them. We can’t let our guard down. There are plenty of kids who behave perfectly in front of me but act out when it’s someone else.”
There are many punks who stay quiet only because of my reputation as Principal. Those kinds of fools are sensitive to hierarchy. Then again, since they don’t even try to hide their mischief from others, they’re really just brats at heart.
I wondered what Yuki’s take on that was.
“That’s a common story. We’ll have surveillance in place, so I think we can provide some backup. We’re also planning to set up a consultation desk for the staff.”
“That’s quite thorough. I only started implementing consultations about two hundred years ago. Before that, most issues were just hushed up. Having the staff look down on you is a disgrace to the individual, and for the grade head in charge, it’s seen as a lack of leadership.”
“The way we run schools isn’t just up to you, Popuri. There are tens of millions of schools in the world. In Japan alone, there are thousands, so it’s natural for these problems to arise. In fact, the culture of concealment might be even worse back there.”
“What a depressing thought. Even if the world changes, some things stay the same everywhere.”
“Well, people’s livelihoods are at stake. It’s tied to the honor of their alma mater, their personal reputation, and their salary. No society is immune to that. Smooth human relations are a difficult thing to maintain.”
Yuki’s gaze seemed to drift toward the distant horizon. Well, he isn’t just the leader of a nation; he’s the coordinator for the Intercontinental Exchange Alliance. His burdens must be far heavier than I can imagine. I’m already overwhelmed just handling the student intake for the continent of If; he’s dealing with the entire Alliance, including international diplomacy.
It sounds lethal. Well, he’s not dead yet, so I suppose it’s doable, but I have no desire to see his schedule.
As we talked, we arrived at the Mercenary Guild before I knew it.
“This is my first time here, but there are surprisingly many people,” Yuki noted.
“It’s not that surprising. This is an Academy City in the middle of a monster-infested forest, and it’s a place you can’t reach without climbing a mountain. You have to worry about bandits on the way here, and it’s the same when you leave.”
“Ah, I see. So people need mercenaries just to come and go.”
“Exactly. More importantly, if you can pass through this Academy, you can reach the country on the other side in a short time. Though that’s been decreasing lately thanks to the Gates.”
“So there really is an impact there.”
“Yes. The number of people making the arduous trek has decreased, but because the Gates make it so easy to visit, the overall population has actually increased.”
“It increased?”
“Overall, yes. The problem is the people traveling on foot. Since the roads aren’t being used as much, they’re starting to go wild. I’ve also heard that towns at the midway points are seeing fewer travelers.”
“Towns and villages without Gates would definitely see a decline.”
“Well, that’s something you were concerned about from the start, Yuki. It’s better because you warned the heads of each nation. Besides, this Academy isn’t the only trade route. It’s just that travelers who specifically want to come here have changed their methods. If you can come directly from the Royal Capital, there’s no need to traverse a dangerous, time-consuming mountain path.”
“So, small talk aside. How should we handle this?”
“Let’s see…”
Yuki and I looked at the bustling crowd in the Mercenary Guild and felt a bit stuck. There were so many people that it was hard to even approach the reception desk.
“Let’s just go upstairs.”
“Is that okay?”
“Normally, no. You’re supposed to go through the proper channels. But in this situation, waiting would be a waste of time.”
Yuki’s time and mine are extremely precious. Idly chatting to kill time isn’t something to be praised. If we wanted to relax, that would be one thing, but we were here on business.
With that, I headed up to the familiar second floor and walked straight into Lamba’s office.
“Hey, hey. Popuri, you old hag. Stop barging in whenever you feel like it.”
“A man who calls the woman who raised him an 'old hag' has no right to complain about manners.”
With that retort, I sat down on the sofa without hesitation. Yuki seemed to be wondering how to react when his eyes met Lamba’s.
“Hello.”
“Ah, well, hello there. Lord Yuki, was it?”
“Yes. It’s been a while, Lamba.”
“Indeed. My apologies for not having the time to greet you properly before.”
The two of them looked a bit awkward. Come to think of it, they’d never really had a proper conversation. I think they’d only exchanged a few words during the Duel Festival. They had almost no direct relationship to speak of.