第１６０１堀：商会として (Part2)
"Yes, yes, it’s a relief to see you’ve properly digested the materials. And regarding that..."
"You don't need to worry about the greetings. The primary objective of this port initiative was to track the dark guild, so everything has been incredibly sudden. It’s only been three or four days since the project was approved, after all. Under normal circumstances, we’d still be in total chaos, with absolutely nothing moving forward."
Indeed, it had only been a few days since the decision to build the port. We were at the stage where one would usually still be debating how to even begin, but thanks to Yuki-san taking the lead, we had already identified the site for the port. We had even reached the point where Sisua and Sona were actively planning the structure of the town itself. From an outsider’s perspective, they were nothing short of exceptional.
"Thank you. Now, regarding the shops?"
"Are you not referring to the personnel from the Commercial Department?"
"I’ll handle the coordination for that through the administrative office. No, I wanted to ask for the specifics regarding the opening of a Super Ratz branch."
"Specifics, you say?"
Sisua and Sona tilted their heads in unison. Ah, well, it was only natural for them to be a bit lost, given this was their first time building a town from scratch. Yuki-san offered a wry smile. It seemed this was my cue to step in and provide some guidance. Having watched these two work tirelessly to maintain order since the founding of Weed, I found it a genuine pleasure to offer my support.
"What is the projected scale of the town? Initially, the residents will likely be limited to administrative staff, but once it begins to function, there will be a significant influx of people. If we have to open shops, renovate, and dispatch personnel every time the population grows, it will just be double the work. If there were no prospects for development, I would suggest we wait and see, but in this instance, that’s clearly not the case, is it?"
I said this while turning my gaze toward Yuki-san.
"The port will also serve as a base for investigation. Setting aside the question of whether we can guarantee safety for the general public in the surrounding areas, the town itself will be functional. Therefore, a certain number of people will inevitably reside there."
"I see. In that case, please let me know the projected population. I will propose a store size that aligns with those figures."
"Is that how it works? ...You’re absolutely right."
"It’s quite a headache if you realize you don't have enough space later and try to add on. Wait a moment, let me get the map."
With that, Sona retrieved a map of the port from the desk. On it, a square area had already been cordoned off. Inside that space were three circles, labeled 'Naval Port District,' 'Port District,' and 'Residential District.'
"I see. You’ve essentially divided it into these three sectors?"
"Yes. That was decided during our very first meeting."
"The first meeting?"
"That was when we decided to build the port town. Yuki-sama anticipated potential disasters and invited experts—Taizo-sama, Taiki-sama, and Sota-sama—to help us finalize the plans."
"Ah, I understand."
Indeed, when it comes to disaster countermeasures, Japan is second to none. I, too, had been shown various recordings—the sheer helplessness of natural disasters, and yet, even in the midst of such devastation, how people reach out to one another to survive and rebuild at an unbelievable speed. As these thoughts crossed my mind, I listened to Sisua and Sona’s explanation.
Essentially, the naval and fishing ports were to be kept separate from the town itself. That was only logical. One must be vigilant against disasters like tsunamis or attacks by sea monsters, and distance is an absolute advantage. The town was to be located two kilometers in a straight line from the sea where the ports were situated. That distance should provide enough time to evacuate in the event of a tsunami. In the worst-case scenario, Sisua and the others could use the dungeon system to construct a breakwater.
Next, the two ports—naval and fishing. This was an unavoidable necessity. Naval vessels are inevitably large and require specialized, highly confidential facilities for maintenance. In contrast, a fishing port is a commercial hub. The ships are smaller, and the facilities for landing fish and monster materials are entirely different from those of a naval base.
"Based on these factors, we’ve divided the area into the three sectors mentioned earlier. And as for the scale, we are anticipating a city of ten thousand."
"Haha, I do think that’s a bit of an exaggeration, though."
Seeing the two of them look slightly embarrassed, I immediately countered.
"That’s quite naive of you."
After all, I had to consider the ease of opening the shops and their future expandability. Ratz, too, was going to be incredibly busy with this project.