第１７８６堀：北の町の現状 (Part2)
"Indeed, if we are speaking of where trouble is most likely to arise, I suppose I am the most probable candidate."
Of course, Eris, Ratz, and the others who are navigating the various negotiations in the royal capital of Oue face their own share of friction. However, there is an established power dynamic there, and being nobles, they at least adhere to a certain level of decorum.
But when it comes to the common folk of the town—it would be rude to call them crude, perhaps, but the uniform standards of etiquette are certainly more relaxed.
Therefore...
"I would not go so far as to say there is no trouble, but having served on the battlefield, I am accustomed to it. My subordinates are the same."
That is correct. I am a general, and I have existed in a place far removed from such trivial coarseness.
Being drenched by the rain is a mercy; I have seen the wretched aftermath of those covered in mud and blood, those who met their ends at the hands of bandits and worse. To us, the squabbles in this town seem like nothing more than children playing at being adults.
Ah, as an aside, because Oue is a nation primarily composed of demi-humans, I have organized my subordinates with a focus on demi-humans as well. Naturally, there are humans among them—partly to test whether any friction might arise, but...
"It is not exactly 'trouble,' but surprisingly, my human subordinates have been accepted far better than I anticipated. I suppose it is because the northern town has long had frequent interactions with humans, and many even reside here."
"I see. So there isn't as much backlash as you thought? Well, the folks in the capital were mostly on edge because of the declaration of war and the surprise attack. Is that the extent of the actual damage?"
"No, they ravaged the fields, killed those who tried to protect them, and took hostages; the reputation is quite poor, to be sure... However, it seems the rescue squads included humans as well, so they appear to perceive this as a conflict between nations—a war of states—rather than a racial divide."
"That’s the angle, is it? Well, that works in our favor. You’re still running the soup kitchens, aren't you? That must be playing a part as well."
"That is undoubtedly the case."
Our Weed soup kitchens are still in operation.
After all, the northern town’s supply lines have been severed by the war. Food, of course, is scarce. They are doing their best to forage in the forests, but the Oue Kingdom has historically relied on the fields outside the walls of the northern and southern towns, as well as foreign imports. With the enemy attacking from the north, the food supply has effectively ground to a halt.
I understand why they would want to avoid offending Weed, as we are the ones filling that void.
Even so, it is rare for that sentiment to permeate down to the lowest levels. I had fully expected there to be some friction regarding our human members, but there has been none at all. Upon investigating the reason, it seems they view this as a conflict between nations rather than a racial one.
Given that context, they are nothing but grateful to us for the soup kitchens, and there is no sign of anyone—even at the lowest levels—trying to obstruct us.
The fact that Yuki-sama provided food so generously surely played a significant role in that.
"It’s a good thing they’re getting along. I’m glad to hear things are going well with the townspeople, but what about the military side of things?"
"We have been coordinating with Daur-dono and his forces stationed in the northern town. Without them, it would be impossible to manage the delivery of supplies on our own."
"That goes without saying."
"Whether we are on 'good terms,' however, is a question that makes me tilt my head."
"What do you mean by that?"
"It is difficult to judge whether one could call it 'good terms.'"
"I see."
"Yes. No one has said anything overtly hostile, and they are undoubtedly grateful for the rescue of the hostages and the provision of supplies. However, we did undeniably steal their thunder, so I believe that is something we should keep in mind."
"True enough. For a soldier, the battlefield is where they earn their glory. A bunch of outsiders swooping in and taking that away... I suppose their inner feelings are hard to gauge."
"Indeed."
These are the points one must be wary of. One might find the ground pulled out from under them in the most unexpected of places.
As we were discussing this, the scheduled time drew near.
"Yuki-sama. It is time for your talk with Baron Siana."
"Understood."
And so, we moved on.
The northern town is, for the moment, peaceful. It seems to be heading in a positive direction, with only the soldiers being a slight cause for concern...
Well, the northern nations are far too inscrutable, so information remains our most vital asset.