第１５６６堀：意外と畑は問題ない (Part2)
"That’s true. If someone sabotages the food, there’s really nothing we can do about it. Well, it’s a saving grace that they aren't trying to kill anyone, but it still leaves us, the ones responsible for dealing with the aftermath, effectively paralyzed."
Indeed, as Lilishe-sama pointed out, it is nearly impossible to prevent foreign objects from being slipped into the meals. A simple, intentional gust of wind is enough to scatter debris into the pots. It is a genuine dilemma.
"Um, Yuki-sensei. What if we just told them not to eat food that has trash in it? You know, we could just serve them something else."
"As Mikos says, that’s about all we could do. But even that is quite difficult. We’re providing these meals for everyone who shows up, and because the numbers are so high, we prepare them in massive batches so people don't have to line up multiple times. If we didn't, some people would just keep getting back in line, and there wouldn't be enough for everyone."
"Ah, I see..."
"What Yuki-san says is true, but you have to understand—people who have been starving until now aren't going to throw away food just because a little bit of dirt got in it. It’s precious sustenance. They’ll just think, 'It’s only a little bit,' and eat it anyway."
She’s right. People who have known true hunger would never discard a meal in front of them just to ask for a fresh one. They will do whatever it takes to consume it.
"Exactly. People who haven't been able to eat properly aren't going to toss aside a feast just to get a replacement."
Hairen nods at Lilishe-sama’s words. It seems she experienced her fair share of hardship during wartime, so she understands the sentiment all too well.
"Then, what shall we do about it? Perhaps we could just issue a warning while we distribute the food?"
"Hmm, we could do what Light suggests, but that would mean acknowledging a second round of servings, or allowing people to come back for more. That would require even more manpower, so is that really feasible?"
"It’s not impossible, but... we would have to consult with the sisters."
"Indeed. No matter how much we discuss it here, the final decision rests with Sister Kunoshia and the others who are managing the site."
Yes, as Rurua says, no matter how much we debate the soup kitchen, it won't change anything on the ground. If the sisters say it’s acceptable, we will support them; if they want to suppress the spread of illness, we will take action. We are merely assistants here. We didn't come to seize control of the old Vinoshia royal capital. Our official purpose, after all, is to search for the hidden treasure.
And so...
"Setting aside the need to coordinate our stance with the sisters regarding the town's future, did you manage to gather any good information, Yuki? That was the whole point of the soup kitchen and the recruitment drive, wasn't it? Not to mention the search of the Adventurer's Guild."
I decided to ask about our primary objective. While we are certainly busy with various tasks, our true goal is to pretend we are hunting for the treasure in order to capture the members of the dark guild lying in wait.
"Ah, as for that, I'm currently in the middle of compiling the intelligence. From what I’ve heard, the royal tomb we’ve had our eyes on from the start remains the most likely location."
"That is my opinion as well."
"Yes. I agree."
Hmm. It seems the location of the treasure is indeed the one Steve discovered initially.
"Honestly, I think we can consider it confirmed, but I would appreciate a little more time."
"That’s true. I agree that it’s the only logical place, but we’ve only been here for two days, haven't we? It’s still too early to be certain."
Indeed, we have only been in this town for two days. Once Yuki and the others dive into the treasure hunt and reach some sort of conclusion, our support here will come to an end. The fields aren't fully established, the training isn't finished, and two days is far too short for Rurua and Lilishe-sama’s assistance to take full effect.
"We’ll stick to the schedule. We were originally slated for a two-week stay, and I have no intention of changing that. If the enemy decides to move, I’d like to see it for myself."
This is Yuki’s lure. By sticking to the plan, we can observe how the enemy reacts—or perhaps see if they are unaware of us, or if they are trying to project a sense of composure. Even if they choose not to move, that in itself is a choice. Any action they take—or don't take—will provide information to Yuki, or rather, to all of us.
...Yuki, as always, lets nothing go to waste. He extracts intelligence from everything. That is why he is so reliable, and why we can keep pushing forward, knowing our efforts will not be in vain.
Surprisingly, the fields are doing fine with Weed’s help. But looking back at history, during the Sengoku period in Japan, it was common practice to engage in *aota-gari*—buying up a neighbor's rice crop while it was still green to prevent them from harvesting it. Targeting the fields is, surprisingly, a sound strategy in warfare.