第１７５８堀：思い出される疑問と始まる会議 (Part2)
"Yes. I did mention this briefly when I visited Weed, but do you recall that we have a unit scheduled to move from the northern town to the southern town as soon as their formation is complete?"
"Ah, yes, I remember. You mentioned they would be handling the monsters in the south, correct?"
"Precisely. Lord Tsunai here is scheduled to join them later to serve as our guide and liaison for the southern town."
"Indeed. I hope to be of some small service."
"The thing is, since we are not native to these lands, we lack the context to distinguish between what is anomalous and what is routine. Even the Forest Jaguar we encountered was said to be a rare sighting, and it feels as though the distribution of monsters within the forest has shifted due to the influx of those migrating from the north."
"It is true that we have received reports of an increased encounter rate with monsters along the roads. If the cause is indeed this northern migration, then you intend to investigate the specifics of that phenomenon?"
"Yes. We hope to uncover the root cause of this northern migration. However, as I mentioned, because we are outsiders, we cannot discern whether the information we gather is abnormal or standard. I consulted with Lord Tsunai, and he informed me of the existence of both national soldiers and private adventurers who specialize in monster subjugation. I would like to ask for your cooperation in allowing us to interview them regarding the land and the monsters."
It was a delicate request; handled poorly, it could easily be perceived as an attempt to pry into the kingdom's internal affairs. I wouldn't have been surprised if they refused.
As I waited to see how they would respond:
"Of course. We would be happy to cooperate. It is a shameful admission for a kingdom, but we currently lack the military strength to take the offensive ourselves. We will be relying on Weed, so please, by all means, proceed."
They agreed with surprising ease. The high-ranking officials present merely nodded in silent consensus, with not a single voice raised in opposition.
"Understood. In that case, Lord Tsunai, would you be able to prepare an official mandate that would secure the cooperation of not only the Adventurer's Guild but also the soldiers who are well-versed in monster ecology?"
"Certainly. I shall prepare it immediately."
To my surprise, he began drafting the document right there on the spot. I felt there were perhaps more pressing matters to attend to, but I was grateful for the efficiency and waited for him to finish.
The documents here are still written on high-quality parchment rather than paper. Given the need for long-term preservation, I suppose it’s the most practical choice, though it certainly is bulky.
After about fifteen minutes, he finished the document and presented it to me.
"How is this?"
"With this, we will be able to secure the cooperation of the Adventurer's Guild as well?"
The document was written in grand, formal language, bearing the King's name and a clear command: "Extend maximum cooperation to Weed and Tsunai, who bear this document."
"Yes. Though, keep in mind that the Adventurer's Guild maintains ties with the human races of the north, so there is a possibility of interference."
"Ah, that’s right. The Adventurer's Guild has branches all over this continent, don't they?"
"Indeed. Their scale is comparable to that of the Merchant's Guild; even the kingdom cannot afford to act too aggressively toward them. We have historically cooperated with one another, but regarding this recent invasion by the human races, the Guild remained entirely inactive."
"Did the Adventurer's Guild have a standing contract to intervene in such inter-state conflicts?"
"Information regarding such wars is almost always funneled through adventurers. Yet, there was never a whisper of the northern human races forming a coalition to attack us. Therefore..."
"You suspect there was an intentional blockade of information?"
"In all likelihood, yes."
That, I couldn't deny. Still, if they hadn't suppressed that information, even if the organization as a whole remained neutral, individual branches could have been easily crushed by the state. If keeping their mouths shut was the price of survival, then silence was the logical outcome.
"So, you are suggesting we shouldn't place too much trust in the Adventurer's Guild?"
"That is difficult to say. While there are certainly suspicious elements, the staff and leadership of the local branches—and the adventurers working within them—are mostly demi-humans here in the Oae Kingdom. I believe you can rest easy on that front."
True enough. Just because the upper echelons might be untrustworthy doesn't mean every single adventurer is suspect.
"So, the key is to engage them in conversation and judge for ourselves."
"Precisely. Tsunai, keep that in mind when you begin gathering information."
"Understood."
With that, our movement to investigate the monsters was officially sanctioned.
As for the rest... well, there is still much to do. It seems this meeting will drag on for quite some time.
It’s a bit late to bring this up, but the fact that the King and his royal guards suffered such severe burns is a major crisis. What on earth happened?
Regardless, it is time to start gathering information from the adventurers. They are spread across the world; they shouldn't be this poorly informed.