第１４０８堀：大氾濫の定義 (Part1)
Chapter 1408: The Definition of a Great Outbreak
Side: Kina
"Yoo-hoo."
When I called out, Ria was the first to approach.
"Yoo-hoo."
She slapped her palm against mine. Deryu, Cleena, and Samantha followed suit. And then...
"Menou and Show, yoo-hoo to you too."
"Oh, we're doing this? Fine by me. Yoo-hoo."
Menou is always a good sport.
"U-um, yes. Yoo-hoo."
Show was still a bit stiff. Well, Show hasn't been in Weed long and hasn't had much interaction with the Adventurer Guild, so she isn't used to this kind of casual camaraderie. Even so, we were introduced through Milly, so we know each other. We’ve even shared lunch and dinner together. The Zuraburu region has monsters, after all, so we have common ground in exchanging information about monsters and Great Outbreaks. Still, Show’s main focus is mastering medical techniques at the hospital, so she spends more time with Rurua.
"Speaking of which, where are Rurua, Lilishe, and Enora? Oh, yoo-hoo, Agil."
"Yoo-hoo. The three of them went to the northern town to treat refugees."
"Ah, I see."
That sounds just like them. I suppose that’s what happens when you’re a cleric studying medicine.
"I heard Mikos got a bit naive after the war?"
"Ahaha..."
"It’s nothing to be ashamed of. You were fine because Kagura and Kaya were there, right?"
"Yeah. I felt relieved."
"Good, good."
We spent some time catching up like that. Even though they’ve returned to Yuki-san’s place, I hadn't had a chance to see them face-to-face. In the meantime, Agil and the others had finished introducing themselves to Mauve-san and Ovik’s group. That must be the princess from Suurus over there.
Milly caught my eye and beckoned me over. When I walked up, she said:
"Kina, seriously. You’re here as a representative of the Adventurer Guild, so why are you just chatting away?"
"Eh? I was just greeting the envoys from our allied nations. It’s a normal thing to do. Perfectly normal."
"Good grief. Come on, go say hello. These are the people dispatched from the Suurus Kingdom to accompany the investigation."
As she gestured, the princess and her attendants turned their gazes toward me. Hmm, their attire is... well, let’s just say it’s a bit unusual. But that’s not really my place to comment.
"Nice to meet you. My name is Kina, dispatched under the instructions of the Adventurer Guild Headquarters to investigate the Great Outbreak that occurred in Suurus."
"Yes. It is a pleasure to meet you. I am the Third Princess, Hasnia, the representative for this inspection. We will be accompanying the investigation this time. Since this is our first time dealing with this sort of thing, I would appreciate it if you could teach us many things."
That makes sense. It’s my first time investigating a Great Outbreak, too. We’ve done simulated exercises in Weed, so it’s not like I’m completely inexperienced, but this is a rare opportunity. Still, are they really sending a princess to a site like this? ...Well, if we’re talking about that, Yuki-san’s wives are the main ones acting as envoys for the allied forces, and most of them are royalty or hold the status of princesses. More importantly, there are people like Show and Menou, who technically outrank a princess, so perhaps it’s necessary to maintain decorum. The reality of the situation is that ability is what matters most, but these small neighboring countries don't always get the memo.
Regardless of that:
"This is my first time inside Suurus as well, so I would be grateful if you could teach me a thing or two. May I ask about the characteristics of the western town?"
"I apologize. Regarding information on the western town, those who evacuated to the northern town are scheduled to come here and explain it."
"Ah, I see. That makes perfect sense."
It would be surprising if this sheltered princess knew the details of the western town anyway. If it were Seraria or Lowell, I’d be convinced, but...
"So, where are those people?"
"They haven't arrived yet. Rurua and the others will likely accompany them. They’re still providing treatment over there, after all."
Agil answered my question. That’s safer for them, I suppose.
"Then, shall we hold the meeting once they arrive?"
"That sounds right. It’s pointless if the necessary people aren't here. I don’t want to give them any preconceived notions, so I’m going to hold off on any prior explanations."
"Agreed. I want to hear the information with a blank slate."
"Eh? What do you mean by that?"
The princess tilted her head, clearly confused.
"In an investigation like this, it’s important to look at things from various perspectives. For example, if you’re told beforehand that 'this place is suspicious,' you tend to focus only on that. General Agil and the others might tell you things because they have their own biases, but that doesn't necessarily mean the answer lies there."
"Ah, I understand. That is why we cannot receive information beforehand."
"Exactly. Of course, there are things you might notice precisely because you live in Suurus, but please keep those to yourself for now. General Agil will only present the situational information first. Isn't that right?"
"Yes. First, I will lay out the map and only what is confirmed. Speculation will come later. We must separate facts from imagination."
"...Facts and imagination. That is difficult."
"Indeed. People tend to mix them up quite easily. Everyone has a habit of interjecting their own conjectures. It is better to start thinking only after you have stripped those away and obtained the confirmed information."
This is something I learned from Yuki-san and the others, and it’s surprisingly useful in my work. Instead of saying "I think..." or "In my opinion...", presenting numbers and facts is much more effective. It allows for objective answers.
"Numbers, in particular, do not lie. You should assume that anyone who hides the numbers is lying."
"Numbers?"
"Yes. For example, how many casualties do you think there were in this Great Outbreak?"
"I do not know."
"Exactly. We might find out once the evacuees arrive, but what would you think if there was a huge discrepancy in those numbers? For example, if only 100 soldiers remained in the western town, but there were 150 deaths?"
"...That would certainly be strange. Where did the other 50 come from?"
"That is exactly the point. If the report simply says 'there were some casualties, but it was kept to a minimum,' those 50 deaths become a mystery, and we would never know the truth."
"So that is why numbers are important."
"It’s the same with money. If your income, expenses, and remaining balance don't add up, it means money is disappearing somewhere. And if that money happens to be taxes?"
"There is a possibility of embezzlement. Facts are indeed important."