第１４６６堀：会議その６ 知らない部署があったりする (Part2)
"Ah, you're right. Narjia and Eris are already juggling so much; I’d be shocked if they took on anything else."
Indeed. Narjia is already serving as the representative for the Blacksmith District while overseeing research into magical exhaustion, and Eris—on top of supporting the Accounting Department we just discussed—is the vice principal of the International Exchange School.
Both of them are incredibly busy.
I, on the other hand, am primarily focused on magic-related research. Well, I suppose that keeps me busy enough, considering I’m constantly trying to replicate Earth’s technology using our local mana.
"Haha, well, I also manage the hot spring facilities in the Commercial District, you know."
"That’s right. And Eris provides the support for that."
"Yes. My subordinates have been growing into their roles lately, so it hasn't been too much of a struggle. Now then, if you’re ready, Narjia?"
Oh, that’s right. Narjia does love the hot springs. I’ve heard she manages them, though I’ve never actually seen her involved in the day-to-day operations. I mostly stick to the laboratory, Yuki’s house, or Hifi’s place. I rarely visit the super-baths; I don't feel settled unless I have a computer or something similar at hand.
"Alrighty then! First, regarding the other departments in the government building: overall, operations are running without a hitch. The Weed Promotion Division is, as always, busy preparing for events. The Road and Park Management Division is also moving along smoothly, handling trash collection and road repairs."
...To be honest, those are departments I rarely hear about. I don't contribute much to those kinds of events, and I’m quite indifferent to road and park maintenance. Still, I understand how vital they are. Even I visit the parks in Weed for a change of pace, and the fact that they stay clean is clearly thanks to the Road and Park Management Division doing their jobs properly. If they didn't, the place would be overgrown with weeds and buried in trash in no time.
And so, after hearing reports from the departments I’m barely familiar with, the government building briefing concludes.
Fortunately, the government itself seems to be operating without any major issues. Of course, the Intercontinental Exchange Alliance keeps us busy, but we haven't seen any blatant, catastrophic upheavals like the Great Flood or the dark guilds. Well, if events like that happened constantly, we’d never have enough hands on deck.
"Alright, that leaves the Commercial, Adventurer, Agriculture, and Blacksmith Districts."
"True. Shall we start with the Agriculture District?"
Ah, right. Since agriculture, commerce, and the adventurers are all technically under government management, we need those reports too. And as for the representative for the Agriculture District, one of our key figures...
"Yes. I will now present the report for the Agriculture District."
It was Kaya. Usually, she speaks with more pauses and a quieter tone, but at times like this, she is crisp and efficient. I hear she had this personality originally, but became a bit more reserved after her village was destroyed. Ah, well, it’s a common enough story, but it’s still a tragedy. At least she’s on good terms with Yuki and the rest of us, so there are no lingering psychological issues to worry about.
"Regarding the Agriculture District, since the start of the Intercontinental Exchange Alliance, we have been focusing on agricultural guidance and increasing crop production within Weed. However, demand has exceeded our expectations, and supply is struggling to keep up. As for the agricultural guidance, it takes a considerable amount of time to identify suitable land and crops for each region, so the list of requesting nations is piling up. We are generally short-handed. That said, we have reached our projected targets."
"I see. So, while we are on track with our plans, the sales and requests are coming in faster than anticipated?"
"It’s surprising... or rather, I suppose it was inevitable. We did increase production with that in mind, but..."
"...Human appetite is a force of nature. Plus, thanks to the logistics secured by the gates, demand has ballooned beyond what we imagined."
I suppose so. We probably anticipated an increase, but the benefits of simplified logistics via the gates are truly remarkable. Man, I was such a fool back when I was a Dungeon Master, thinking they were only good for combat.
And that applies to the rival Dungeon Masters, too. How do they intend to surpass this?
As I pondered that, Orelia and the others brought out tea and snacks for our break, so I decided to dig in.
"Ah, delicious."
These small, square crepes are easy to eat and genuinely tasty. It seems like almost every department has one or two "phantom" divisions I’ve never even heard of. The kind that exist in the shadows, I suppose.