第１７２０堀：ウィードの仕事現状確認 (Part1)
Excavation 1720: Checking Weed's Current Work Status
Side: Yuki
Following Steve’s advice, we decided to dispatch a proper military unit to handle the current trouble, but...
"This turned into a much bigger deal than I expected."
"I suppose so. But as was pointed out to us, there was no way this wouldn't become a major incident."
"True enough."
Seraria and I exchanged these words while sorting through a mountain of paperwork.
Initially, I thought a simple investigation of the village would be the end of it. However, the situation escalated the moment the host country voiced their opposition to our inquiry. In fact, there was now a distinct possibility that the village might be wiped off the map to keep us out. We were forced to move with extreme caution.
"How did things go on your end, Seraria?"
"I received word from Sister Aria. She managed to secure an opportunity to visit—or rather, demand an explanation from—that country playing the fool."
"That’s good to hear. Charl mentioned she’s tightening up the schedule on her side as well."
"Honestly, I wanted the investigation talks and the treaty negotiations to move in tandem, but..."
"If there's a chance the village will be destroyed or if they’re up to something behind the scenes, we can't afford to be reactive. It can't be helped. Besides, the Intercontinental Exchange Alliance promised to back us up if anyone claims Weed is overstepping."
"Well, there’s clearly a high probability they’re hiding something. It’s fundamentally suspicious for them to refuse an investigation when Suurus was left in such a state of ruin."
Our stance as the Intercontinental Exchange Alliance was exactly as Seraria described. That said, the other party has their own pride to consider, and it’s only natural for them to be plotting something. Unless a crime is proven, it’s difficult for us to force our way in without more details.
"Has Nina turned up any new information?"
"Nothing substantial beyond the initial monster survey. The area is heavily populated by Goblins and Orcs, with some Giant Snakes and Giant Spiders in the mix."
"A nuisance to fight in the forest. Well, I suppose that’s why they stay there."
True. Monsters that hunt in the woods rarely venture out into the open.
For the record, Nina has been dispatching them with ease. She’s still only scouting the outskirts, so there’s every possibility that stronger monsters will appear as she goes deeper.
"Information on the remote village is steadily trickling in, but we’re still completely in the dark regarding the summoning kidnappings."
"Well, that’s how these incidents usually go. More importantly, the Holy Sword Users haven't arrived yet. Weren't they scheduled for this afternoon?"
"Yeah. They said pushing them too hard would cause problems."
"That makes sense. Their departure from the city was officially recorded; if they arrived at a remote village in an impossible amount of time, it would draw suspicion. We want to keep the involvement of Weed and the Alliance as hidden as possible."
"We have no choice but to wait for them to cry for help."
"Though I only realized that after it was pointed out that they might just crush the source of the problem first," Seraria added with a cynical smile.
All I could do was laugh. It would be fine if it were a joke, but for a ruler, that was a perfectly plausible option. National prestige carries that much weight.
This time, it felt like our own arrogance had tripped us up—the assumption that the banner and authority of the Intercontinental Exchange Alliance were absolute. Not everyone is going to bow their head and obey. They likely believe that if they submit to this investigation, their country will be looked down upon in the future—seen as a manageable nation that can't even govern its own territory.
If they can erase that dishonor simply by crushing a tiny village, it wouldn't be strange for them to consider it a small price to pay in the grand scheme of things. From another perspective, even though they are under the umbrella of Great Powers like Roschur and Gartz, they’ve shown a dangerous streak of rebellion.
I can't judge which side is 'right.' However, since we and the other Alliance nations are now mobilizing for a potential emergency, the negatives seem to outweigh the positives for them...
"They're definitely hiding something."
"They are. We offered the Alliance's full support for this investigation, yet they still refused. They must be doing something they desperately don't want us to find."
Exactly. The possibility that they are stubbornly refusing because exposure would be catastrophic. Steve pointed this out as well, and it seems highly likely. We have to consider how to handle that scenario. Furthermore...
"The most annoying part would be if their secret and the summoning kidnappings are two entirely separate matters."
"...I hate that possibility the most. It would mean splitting our forces even further."
If the state’s corruption and the kidnappings aren't linked, we’d have to divide the investigation teams and change our approach for each. Weed’s military strength would be spread even thinner.
"Speaking of military strength, how is the navy in the port town doing? Weren't you saying something about establishing a dedicated force for the town?"
"Ah, Aslin is still in the middle of training them. For now, they aren't 'port-stationed' per se; we have personnel on loan from the main navy guarding the place."
That side of things is a struggle too. Just when I thought the port town was finally taking shape, troubles started popping up everywhere.
"The road ahead is long for them as well. We’re increasing our numbers here with Quar and Jessica leading the effort, but it’s not something that happens overnight."
"That’s the same everywhere, not just for the military. It takes time for someone to become a veteran."
Raising people rarely goes perfectly. The same applies to monsters.
Fortunately—though perhaps not for the monsters themselves—I can use my Dungeon Master powers and magic to mass-produce monsters that emerge with a certain level of skill and technique. Even so, there is still a world of difference between them and the old guard like Steve, Surakichi-san, John, Mino-chan, and Kirika.
My current conclusion is that experience simply has to be accumulated over time.
"On a brighter note, the Intercontinental Exchange School seems to be doing well."
"The school has been running properly for a while now. Ratz and Eris are managing it expertly. It should be stable by now. The exam period is likely coming to an end, too. Our visits to the continental schools are finished as well."
It feels like a lifetime ago, but it was actually quite recent. We finished our visits to the schools in Zurabur and Logari, which we had never visited before. It was right after the port town finally took shape and got its name that all this started.
"Once the exam period ends, the formal enrollment begins, doesn't it?"
"Yeah. We’ll have to show our faces at the entrance ceremony."
"I haven't heard anything about that from Ratz or Eris yet, have you?"