第１６７７堀：侮られるのには理由がある (Part2)
"At most, they handle administrative duties or work within the fishing port; it’s rare for anyone to actually head out to sea, save for those with family in the trade."
"Ah, I see. That’s what you meant."
"Um, could you clarify what you mean by that?"
I understood the implication immediately, but it seemed Yayui hadn’t quite grasped it.
"Well, to put it simply," Raiya interjected, "the issue is whether someone as petite and seemingly frail as Miss Yayui could possibly handle steering a ship."
"Excuse me?"
"Plus, there’s the potential for combat against monsters. It’s a matter of safety, too. And mind you, unlike the ships you’re used to, these are powered by oars and paddles. That’s part of the reason."
"Ah, oars and paddles..."
With Raiya’s explanation, the realization finally dawned on Yayui.
"So, I’d be looked down upon because of that?"
"Exactly. We know you’re not weak, Miss Yayui, but in the port town of Aurelia, you’re seen as nothing more than Yuki’s attendant, right? You’ve never had to demonstrate your physical prowess in public."
"Well, obviously. Why would I need to show off my strength during a negotiation?"
"Indeed. Haha..."
Besides, the idea of having to demonstrate the physical combat capabilities of my own attendant during a business discussion was absurd.
"True, but these people work the sea. Unless you show them that kind of strength, they’ll look down on you. It’s not out of malice, but because their lives literally depend on it."
"I see. So, I need to address that first... Hmm. Yayui, you can handle yourself in a fight, right?"
"Eh? Well, I have undergone training, but..."
"You’ve been diving into the Weed dungeons, haven't you?"
"Yes, that’s true. Kirika-sama and Prof-sama told me to keep my skills sharp, so even though I don't 'clear' them, I do delve into the various dungeons scattered across Weed. There are even high-difficulty ones designed specifically for us."
"Wait, you go to *those*?"
"Are you serious?"
"You haven't been injured, have you?"
"Haha, I’m fine. I wear a ring that prevents fatal wounds, so the moment I take a hit like that, I’m instantly teleported to the infirmary."
The "high-difficulty" dungeons weren't the unreasonable "one-hit-and-you're-out" gauntlets I’d originally set up for Mauve and his crew. These were places where one could challenge high-level monsters under strict level caps. They were designed for people like us—those who had leveled up but lacked the necessary field experience.
Specifically, for those in positions like mine—Yayui, Aurelia, Hovis, Lyushi, and Prof—who needed to level up for protection duties but whose technical skills couldn't keep pace, these dungeons were the perfect place to hone their combat instincts.
Of course, when it came to sparring against people, they were trained by my wives—specifically the military contingent of Seraria, Jessica, Stasia, and Fiora, along with Deryu.
Me? I rarely spar with them. Our combat styles are just too different. My wives told me that if I fought them, it would only destroy their confidence.
"In that case, we’re good to go. Shall we gather the group?"
"Yes, please."
"Though, the real question is whether you can hold back... Can you do it, Yayui?"
"Well, I’ve had to deal with people who resort to violence when dealing with merchants, so I can certainly handle suppressing them..."
"That’s more than enough."
That would certainly suffice. If she could suppress those who tried to intimidate merchant guards, there wouldn't be any issues.
"Come to think of it, do those types really show up at the negotiation table? How come I haven't received any reports about this?"
"Prof-sama, Jessica-sama, and Fiora-sama decided it wasn't worth bothering you with. Besides, they know you’re surprisingly overprotective, Yuki-sama, and that your sanctions tend to be a bit... excessive."
"Is that so? Do I really seem that way?"
"I don't think so..."
"Neither do I. I think you’re surprisingly fair, Yuki."
"I think you’re fair too, but you are close to them, aren't you? And since it’s not exactly a department where injuries are common, I figured you’d be pretty angry about it."
"Well, I’m with Mauve on this one. Though, whether it’s 'unreasonable' is debatable. Yuki, your sense of balance is exquisite, isn't it?"
That’s a remarkably trusting thing to say. Though, I suppose it’s true.
And so, with that, the top-level meeting at Aurelia Port proceeded smoothly.
As for the men of the sea working at the Aurelia fishing port... well, that’s a story for another time. Distinguishing between men and women can be a form of discrimination, but there are often practical reasons behind such divisions. If it didn't matter who did the work, there would be no need for discrimination in the first place.
The important thing is to investigate the "why," and to think of ways to mitigate or eliminate those barriers.