第１７３６堀：集う仲間たち (Part2)
"There are still those who view Weed with suspicion. It’s a classic case of a rigged game, isn't it? Orchestrating a 'forced investigation' by planting powerful monsters—it’s a despicable scheme. Any person of integrity would naturally refuse such a thing."
"…So that’s why you sent someone like Kate, who is considered a person of integrity."
"Exactly. Kate, in particular, hails from the Dosou Kingdom and is well-versed in the nature of monsters. A report from her carries the weight of credibility; it provides a sense of security that there’s no deception involved."
"And while she’s at it, she’ll investigate the forest."
"That’s the plan. What she finds will be a surprise. Though, a large salamander might just happen to attack something somewhere. After all, they’re monsters—their behavior is unpredictable."
"…I see. Indeed, that’s true."
In other words, if I find anything suspicious in the forest, I’m to let the monsters attack it and observe the outcome?
"Oh, no, no. You’ll just 'happen' to discover a facility under attack and step in to save them. If the panicked people inside happen to lash out at you, well, that’s just an unfortunate necessity you’ll have to deal with."
"You really are black-hearted."
"Not at all. It’s only natural for monsters to inhabit a monster forest. I haven't heard of any facilities existing there, so it’s only right to confirm what kind of buildings they are, don't you think? The world is a noisy place, after all."
He truly is black-hearted.
Considering the recent shadow-work of the dark guilds and the threat of a Great Monster Outbreak, the Adventurer Guild—not to mention the Merchant Guild and other major factions—can no longer afford to ignore the situation.
Since the official government announcement only mentions a forest inhabited by powerful monsters, an investigation becomes an unavoidable necessity.
In short, he’s turning public opinion to his side.
No matter what the Ousano Kingdom or the Aae Kingdom say, they won't be able to criticize the move.
After all, their own official statements claim they haven't investigated the area.
"I understand the situation, but what about me? The merchants are already saying they’ll be heading back soon."
"The merchants are there for business, after all. They aren't looking for a long-term stay. They’ll take the information back to the Merchant Guild and report on the presence of monsters and the like. They’ll include the surrounding areas in their report as well."
So they’re reinforcing the information from that end, too.
"As for you, Nina, continue the search for the missing persons. Sia and Kishua will join you tomorrow. Three days after that, Leila, Neferi, Fio, and Kate are scheduled to arrive."
"I see. So you want me to investigate as much as I can within those three days?"
"Exactly. Since the Adventurer Guild has decided to move, we no longer need to worry about the state’s interference, so we’re aiming for a swift resolution. That said, we can’t move too many personnel, as Weed and the Intercontinental Exchange Alliance are officially uninvolved, and we still have the completion party for Glass Port Town to manage. Plus, there’s the matter of the Oae Kingdom."
"Honestly, so much is happening at once. And speaking of which, is the Oae Kingdom situation alright?"
"I’m currently at the front lines checking that out myself. I’m gauging the enemy’s strength."
"What? Why are you going there, Yuki? What about your subordinates?"
It makes no sense.
Yuki is our leader.
It’s unthinkable for a leader to head into a dangerous zone.
"I’m there as the representative of Weed. I need to show them that we are capable of fighting back. It’ll keep them from getting any foolish ideas."
"What, are the people over there showing signs of targeting you?"
"Not yet. Not yet, but while Lulua and I managed to heal the King and his guards in the blink of an eye—and while I’d prefer they just step back—I suspect the intention to secure us is starting to take root."
"Ah, so you healed them."
It’s no wonder they’d want to secure them after seeing the healing capabilities of Yuki and Lulua.
Still, just being perceived as capable of such things is a headache in itself.
"Well, I’ve told them I’d heal the soldiers on the front lines, too, and I’m using that as a cover to transport supplies. Besides, Stasia is in command over there, and Enola has tagged along as a healer. Holly is there too, so it should be fine. Actually, I’m going to use this opportunity to solidify our standing once and for all. So, no need to worry. Nina, use these three days to dive deep, find anything suspicious, and report back to me."
"Understood. I’ll move as soon as Sia and Kishua arrive."
And just like that, my time waiting in the cold village came to an end, and I began to move in earnest.
It’s something we’ve talked about before, but people don't just gather when it’s convenient; they are there because of everything we’ve built up until now.
Even though Yuki says we’re short on people, our allies—or whatever you want to call them—are steadily increasing.