第１５０１堀：町はどうでしたか？ (Part2)
"Yes. Considering that, I think Mikos’s perspective is quite sharp."
"See? Did you get that, Kagura?"
"Mmph."
"I’ll be expecting a report on that later."
"Ugh..."
And just like that, we huddled together as a family, openly discussing our recent affairs. The onlookers who had been gauging our movements seemed satisfied with the display and began to drift away. After all, they couldn't very well interrupt when we were clearly deep in a discussion about security and related matters.
Since I had their attention, I decided to push a little further.
"So, what did everyone think after looking around this town?"
"Hm? ...Well, I didn't see anything particularly problematic. It doesn't feel like anything is about to happen anytime soon."
"I felt the same as Dressa. Perhaps it is thanks to Lady Lowel’s hard work, but the townspeople seem to have a temperament that isn't particularly interested in that sort of strife."
"As Lady Shera says, the only threats the people of this town face are monsters and the occasional bandit; there isn't anyone here with any real malice."
Dressa, Shera, and Kirue’s team hadn't sensed anything amiss. Even in their dungeon investigations, they hadn't encountered any overtly villainous figures. Of course, there were petty thieves and the occasional murderer in the slums, but since they weren't backed by large-scale organizations, they weren't worth our intervention.
"I didn't inspect the town, so I'll pass~"
Ratz would be funneling supplies to non-aligned nations through this auction, so she would only learn about her counterparts later. That left the rest.
"Then, Mikos-chan? What about the high-end shops in town—the clothing and jewelry stores you mentioned earlier?"
"There wasn't any talk of strange business partners. Basically, they’re just selling to the town’s wealthy class. There are some places that supply the royal capital of the Ewai Kingdom, but the connections aren't particularly strong. It’s just... well, it’s so far out in the sticks that it’s hard for anyone to get involved, I suppose."
Mikos concluded that, on the whole, the town was just too mediocre. It was true—the location of the Ewai Kingdom was incredibly lackluster. The consensus from everyone confirmed that the town of Wean was, if anything, even more devoid of strategic value. It was starting to look like the Dark Guild hadn't reached out here simply because there was nothing worth reaching for. Perhaps that was exactly why it had been chosen for this auction—it was a place that could truly be called neutral.
As I was pondering this, a new voice called out to me.
"Um, Yuki-san. Is it really okay to be talking so openly here?"
"Oh, Taiki-kun."
I turned my gaze toward the voice to find Taiki and his group standing there. Beside him were Airi, Soel, Bitz, and Ruth.
"You’re being so blatant that people are starting to pull away, you know?"
"Well, that’s the plan. It’s better they know we’re working than to think we’re doing nothing at all, right?"
"...I suppose. But shouldn't things like this be handled in secret?"
"It’s not so much about the Dark Guild as it is about checking for trouble in this town. It’s better to get everyone’s input."
"...You really are something else."
"Fufu, what Yuki-sama says is perfectly reasonable."
Bitz, of course, agreed, and Soel seemed convinced as well.
"Then, should I report my findings, too?"
"Yeah, that’s a good idea."
"In that case, we might as well report ours as well."
"Indeed."
The moment Taiki said that, Eupia and Show arrived, and then...
"Oh, oh, that’s right. This is a good opportunity to share our impressions of Wean in the Ewai Kingdom."
"True. It’ll make for a good conversation starter."
Lowdey and Gartz wandered over while eating, and soon, more and more people began to gather. It wasn't a formal round of greetings, but rather a circle forming to share opinions on the town of Wean. It was a pleasant, harmonious affair.
Whether it was fortunate or unfortunate, this dinner party confirmed that there had been no notable trouble, even from the non-aligned nations. Sometimes, being too rural actually serves as a form of counter-intelligence. That said, it can be quite a nuisance when an entire backwater town is working in concert. It’s a common trope in horror and suspense, isn't it?