第１６２２堀：関係者以外からの視点を (Part1)
Chapter 1622: A Perspective from Outside the Inner Circle
Side: Yuki
"Huh. So this is the onigiri Seraria made."
Before us sat a row of neatly shaped triangular rice balls.
"Yeah. I tried changing how I wash the rice and how I cook it."
"I hope it suits your palate."
Ria and Seraria said in unison.
Well, it’s just onigiri; it’s not like there’s much room for a disaster, so I picked one up and remembered something.
"Come to think of it, you said you made these yesterday, right? You didn't serve them for dinner, did you?"
"Um, the rice, miso soup, and rolled omelet that you and the others ate yesterday were actually made by Seraria and me."
"Oh, is that so? You two are doing just fine. Why the onigiri for lunch, then?"
"We made these as an experiment, and since there were leftovers after we tasted them, we thought we’d let you and everyone else try them."
"Since it was our first time, we weren't sure, but we were told that having others eat them is a form of experience in itself."
I see, that makes sense.
For my part, I haven't had much time to check on how Seraria is doing lately, so I’m grateful they came to me.
"I see. In that case, don't mind if I do."
" " "Itadakimasu." " "
We all spoke in unison, picked up the onigiri, and took a bite.
Yep, it’s definitely onigiri. The salt and nori were just right.
"It’s actually pretty good."
"Yeah, it’s delicious."
Ryuushi answered energetically, following my lead. The others agreed, saying there were no issues and that it tasted great.
Well, I suppose the idea of creating "dark matter" out of onigiri only exists in the world of gag manga.
Oh, and it was a relief to confirm that they didn't mistake salt for sugar.
Sometimes, you really do get those miracles where people mix up salt and sugar. It’s genuinely terrifying when it happens.
"Phew. That’s a relief, isn't it, Seraria?"
"Yes. I am glad it suited your palate."
The two of them looked relieved to see our reaction.
As I reached for a second one...
"Come to think of it, you two haven't been involved much in the port development, have you? Want to hear about it?"
"Oh? Are you sure?"
"Yeah, it’s fine. I won't force you if you’ve already found something else you want to do, Seraria."
When I said that and looked at Seraria, she wore her usual expressionless face.
"No. I have not decided on anything yet. If you don't mind, I would like to hear about the port."
"I see. Then, why don't you listen in? Sisua and Sona, try explaining it to them."
"Eh? Us?"
"Wouldn't it be better if you explained it yourself, Yuki-sama?"
The two tilted their heads at my suggestion. Well, I suppose it’s natural for them to think I should be the one doing the explaining.
"This time, I want to see how you two explain the current state of the port. I want to see if you’ve grasped the situation properly and if you can make it sound appealing."
"I see."
"Eh~? Isn't that difficult?"
"Sona, I know it’s difficult. However, if you can't articulate it, people won't gather. Even as acting lords, being able to explain the appeal of your own territory is an important skill."
I taught Sona the reason why, since she was tilting her head—Sisua, at least, seemed to get it.
It would be too pathetic if a lord couldn't convey the charm of their own land. It’s like a mayor in Japan being unable to promote their town. Such a mayor would likely be recalled immediately. After all, their salary comes from taxes. If they can't even mention that the town is easy to live in or has plenty of greenery, you certainly couldn't entrust them with the town's budget.
And Sona isn't stupid. She seemed to understand what I was getting at.
"Indeed, if I don't understand that much as an acting lord, my motivation would be questioned. Well, setting that aside, let’s explain it then. That’s alright with you, Sisua?"
"Yes. I don't mind."
And so, the promotional time for the port began for Seraria and Ria. We were to watch from the sidelines and evaluate them.
Before us, the duo of Sisua and Sona faced off against Seraria and Ria across the table.
"Well then, I’ll go first. The port town is a place where you can get fresh seafood and see the ocean stretching out before you."
"Ooh."
"That sounds like something I’d like to see."
Ria and Seraria were intrigued by Sona’s opening pitch. To me, it’s a "so what?" level of information, but on the Rogari Continent, that’s probably a sufficient selling point.
And I was curious about Sisua, who had just had her best talking point stolen. I wondered how she would respond...
"Then, it is my turn. The port town is a newly established town, and we are currently recruiting residents. Naturally, we also provide guidance on housing and employment. Would you like to try living in a new town with a view of the sea?"
"Oh my. Even housing and jobs."
"That is a topic I would like to hear more about."
I see. Sisua didn't go for the tourism angle; she pitched it as a recruitment drive for residents. That certainly doesn't overlap, and even for a Japanese person, it would be intriguing. After all, having housing and a job as a set is crucial when moving to a new land. For those without a foundation for their lives, it means they can live there with peace of mind.
"That’s the gist of it. How was it, Yuki-sama?"
"What did you think?"
"My opinion matters less than what Seraria and Ria think."
I said that and turned my gaze toward the two who had been on the receiving end of the pitch.
"Um, I don't think there are any problems. It made me want to go there."
"Yes. I think it was a very easy-to-understand invitation. And the offer was exceptional, too."
Receiving my gaze, the two of them accepted Sisua and Sona’s pitch favorably.
If this were Japan, people would be nitpicking this and that, arguing about whether the words would actually make people want to go, but this is another world.
"Yeah, if those two say so, then there’s no problem. What about the rest of you who were listening?"
They didn't deny it; they accepted it as it was. That’s possible here. Above all, a lord’s basic job is to give instructions to subordinates, and choosing specific words to pique people's interest is the work of a specialized department.
So, in the distant future, when such departments or jobs are created, there might be people tasked with these difficult assignments.
But, setting that aside, I turned to hear the opinions of the others.