第１３２９堀：仕事の終わり (Part2)
"An army is, by its nature, an entity that only exerts its true strength during times of crisis. In other words, it’s a bottomless money pit. You can understand why that’s a persistent headache for those tasked with running a nation, can't you?"
"Yes, I understand that well. I, too, have led an army in my time."
"It’s to mitigate that burden, if only slightly. Think about it: in other countries, soldiers are almost exclusively conscripts, and those conscripts are usually farmers when they aren't being called up, right? It’s the same principle. By having them till the fields and contribute during peacetime while simultaneously undergoing training, we earn the support of the populace. An army that is loathed by its own people is an army that will inevitably be stabbed in the back."
The foundation of a nation is its people.
The military exists to protect those people and their property, but if they continue to place an unbearable burden upon the citizenry, they risk being struck down from behind—at which point, there is nothing left to protect.
Internal collapse becomes an inevitability.
Tilling the fields is, in part, a measure to prevent such a catastrophe.
"I see."
Having reached this point in the explanation, Fiora nodded repeatedly, seemingly convinced.
It is, I suppose, a rather unconventional approach.
We possess not only modern agricultural techniques but also specialized machinery and facilities for cultivating the land, which means the volume of what we can produce is on an entirely different scale.
Above all, cultivation within the dungeon is stable, sparing us the anxiety of a poor harvest—a truly delightful benefit.
Furthermore, because we utilize the sheer manpower of the military to carry out the work, the scale of our fields expands accordingly.
Of course, it is kept to a size that does not interfere with their primary duties as soldiers.
With that conversation concluded, I arrived at the General Government Building where Seraria resides and made my way to her office on the top floor.
"You're here. Show me the documents immediately."
Usually, we might exchange some pleasantries, but today’s documents require immediate notification to various nations and departments once approved. The real work begins only after that seal of approval is granted.
Therefore, unless it is the dead of night, if the documents are reviewed and found to be in order, one must take action immediately.
That was the very reason I had reviewed them early this morning.
It wouldn't do to issue a proclamation just as the workday was ending.
"Right. Orelia."
"Yes!"
I signaled to Orelia, who took the documents from me and handed them to Quar, who was standing by in attendance.
"Understood. I have received them."
With that, Quar began her review.
Since there was a brief lull while she worked, we took the opportunity for some light conversation.
"If there are no issues with this, we can notify the relevant parties by this afternoon. Do you think we could hold a celebration tonight?"
"I’m not sure if every department will be able to secure a venue on such short notice."
"Ah, that’s true. Let’s stagger them, then. We’ll cover the budget from our end... though the exact amount will need to be discussed."
"That’s the crux of the problem, isn't it?"
We want to celebrate, but we aren't in a position to unilaterally decide how much the state can afford to spend.
I assume a budget has been set aside, but...
As I was pondering this, the door opened.
"That won't be a problem. We have secured a budget that allows every individual to enjoy a satisfying meal, provided we avoid the most extravagant establishments."
"And of course, for those who don't want to dine out, we have a supply-provision model so they can hold their parties in the conference rooms. No trouble at all~!"
Eris and Ratz entered as they spoke.
They must have heard about our discussion from Seraria, as they were already carrying the documents regarding the budget and supplies.
Quar, having observed their arrival, spoke up.
"It is fortunate that you are so well-prepared. Very well, Your Majesty. There are no flaws in the documents. Please review them once more and sign. I shall examine the budget and supplies."
"Understood."
And so, though it was a tedious process, we completed the task, and thirty minutes later...
"Right! That’s it. Quar, send these documents to all departments. Notify the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well. Make the notifications to the other nations our top priority."
"As you command."
With those words, Quar took the finalized proclamation and exited the room.
Watching her go, we all let out a cheer.
" " "We did it!" " "
The student exchange program can finally begin.
It took this much preparation to finally reach this point.
There is still much to be done, but for now, let us celebrate the achievement of this goal.