第１６０７堀：この世界で生きる覚悟 (Part2)
And just like that, I had secured a firm promise for the youth-restoring medicine.
Well, it has its benefits, so I suppose it’s fine, but there’s no doubt this conversation will reach Seraria and the others...
"Well? Shall we continue talking about children, or would you rather head to the bedroom?"
"Don't be an idiot. Let's move on to the support details, quickly."
She really is relentless. Is it because I brought up the topic of marriage? Or is the situation actually that dire? I’d better be the one to break the news to Seraria.
As these thoughts swirled in my mind, Menou pulled out a document and slid it toward me. I took the papers and gave them a cursory glance.
"...Are you serious? No, wait—can you really afford to provide all this?"
The items listed for aid were shockingly extensive. Not just funds and personnel for guidance, but even ships.
"Of course. I wouldn’t list things I didn’t intend to provide."
"I get that, but if Sea-Cypho goes this far, won't it hit your treasury hard? Ten fishing vessels and three warships—that’s a massive undertaking."
That’s right; we weren’t talking about a single specialized ship, but a whole fleet. I couldn't help but wonder how much she was planning to spend.
"True. Setting aside the fishing boats, you’re right about the warships—even one costs an astronomical amount. And I’m not talking about hand-me-downs; I’m providing you with the latest models."
"And why would you do that?"
"It’s an experiment, of course. To see just how well we can fight against the monsters of Rogari."
"Ah, so that’s the angle."
"That’s the angle. Naturally, I also hope for the development of the port town. The demand for Sea-Cypho’s goods is immense right now. Depending on how much Weed can satisfy the demand in Rogari, we can expand our trade routes to other nations as well."
"I see. So, there aren't any issues regarding the loss of trade routes due to our expansion into the sea?"
"If you ask if there are *no* issues, that would be a lie. There’s talk about losing our current revenue streams. But the truth is, we’re struggling to keep up with demand as it is. There’s pressure from your side, but simply adding more ships doesn't automatically mean a higher catch."
"That’s true."
Fishing is a game of hits and misses. Depending on the species, fish have their preferred spots, and there are places where they simply aren't found. On Earth, we have fish finders to check from the deck, but that’s not the case here.
"Besides, the further out you go into the open sea, the higher the risk of encountering monsters. In the end, we judged that cooperating with the port development in Rogari would be the better outcome."
"I follow."
In other words, the warships and personnel provided to us would serve as invaluable knowledge and experience for Sea-Cypho.
"Even so, I can't just throw them into battle immediately."
"I understand that. I was stunned when I saw the level and strength of the monsters you sent over the other day. Rogari really is a den of monsters, isn't it? Even in Zuraburu, we don't have anything quite like that."
"Is that so? Aurelia Port was relatively quiet, after all."
"Exactly. That’s the extent of it. But in Rogari, a wooden hull could be punctured in an instant, couldn't it?"
"Yeah. We’ve had reports of that."
Given their size and level, it’s well within their capability.
"So, make sure they’re trained and ready for real combat. If that happens, we’ll feel a bit more secure heading out into the open sea ourselves."
"I hear you. But that depends on how the port town develops, so I can’t make any absolute promises."
"That goes without saying. So, hurry up and build it."
"You... I can build the shell easily enough, but that’s exactly why we need to hold meetings. You wouldn't want the town’s layout to end up a chaotic mess, would you?"
"What are you talking about? This is a first-time endeavor; it depends on the terrain, so you just have to start. No matter how many meetings you hold, you’ll never find a perfect solution."
"I suppose you’re right about that."
"Then set a time limit and just build it. Or are you telling me you haven't even thought that far ahead?"
"I have. Failure is part of the process, so I’ve built in some leeway."
"Then Sisua and Sona just need to move forward without fear. In the end, the personality of the creator always leaves its mark."
And just like that, with the earlier tension forgotten, Menou began offering advice to Sisua and Sona while remaining deeply focused on the business at hand.
Having not been raised in the kind of privileged environment Yuki enjoyed, Menou’s sense of resolve is cut from a different cloth. It’s not a matter of who is right or wrong, but it certainly makes for a complicated dynamic.