第１８１１堀：グラス港町はやる気に満ちています (Part1)
Chapter 1811: Glass Port Town is Full of Motivation
Side: Ratz
After finishing the naval rehearsal, we are heading toward the town hall of Glass Port Town.
"My, oh my. The navy actually performed quite perfectly, didn't they?"
"Indeed. It’s a relief to see that Dressa is managing things so well."
Surprisingly, Dressa seems to have a firm grasp on her duties, both as a military leader and as a noble; the results were flawless. The only people who would have any complaints are those who got seasick from the ocean waves.
"I agree. It’s heartening to see Dressa fully embracing her role at the top of the military. Vilia and Hiiro are doing a solid job as well."
It truly is moving to think that the children we brought from the slums of Roschur have grown into such impressive individuals. Other children of Vilia’s age have also put their hard-earned studies to good use; they are now making names for themselves not just in the town hall, but in various merchant companies as well. It really goes to show just how vital education is. I hope our own children will be able to cultivate their many talents at that school, too.
As we were chatting, we arrived in front of the town hall. Much like at the naval port, the staff were lined up in full force to greet us. Sisua and Sona stepped forward to welcome us.
"Welcome. We have been expecting you."
"Glass Port Town welcomes everyone’s visit with open arms."
Yes, they certainly look like the representatives of the town.
"We tried our best to prepare, but there isn't really much to show off at a town hall, is there?"
"Ahaha, I suppose you're right."
The two of them gave a wry smile, wondering where all that initial enthusiasm had gone. Well, it is true that a town hall is an administrative office meant for the townspeople's business. I, too, would be at a loss as to what to display.
"To begin with, we’re expecting quite a crowd. It would be difficult to fit everyone inside the hall, wouldn't it?"
"Yes. We had considered a formal greeting in the hall, but..."
"We felt that people came to see Glass Port Town itself, not to be packed into a hall."
Ah, that is a fair point. The hall in the town hall is meant for town events—that is, events for the residents. While this is technically a town event, the goal is for them to see the town itself. Leading them into a hall just to give explanations would miss the mark entirely.
"We will open it as a rest area and keep staff stationed there for guidance, but we thought that would be sufficient."
"Exactly. We figured we’d just hand out pamphlets and let them explore freely."
I see. I think that’s the safest approach as well. I wonder what Yuki and Seraria think, though...
"That sounds fine, doesn't it?"
"I agree. They’ve likely already been given plenty of explanations at the hotel. If they know there’s a place to rest and staff to guide them, they’ll manage. They’ll have guards with them, and we’ve already explained the routes back to Weed. The gate on the town hall side is operational, right?"
"Yes, it is. It’s fully functional, connecting directly to Weed, the gates of Glass Port Town, the coast, and the hotel without any issues."
"I do worry about whether people will actually use it that much, though."
As Sisua and Sona mentioned, this Glass Port Town features gates—or rather, movement methods utilizing teleportation traps—that signify it was built by Weed, or rather, the Dungeon. We’ve made efforts to ensure the journey itself is enjoyable, but these are also for those who aren't as mobile or for those who don't have the time to spare. It will surely be incredibly convenient in the event of injuries or illness.
The two of them seem doubtful about how useful it will be, but it will likely prove convenient enough to alleviate congestion.
"We won't know until people actually start using it, but I’m sure people will start coming from Weed to work here as well. Those involved in business will certainly welcome the time saved."
"True. While it’s not a bad thing to look at the townscape on your way to work, efficiency is key if you can save time."
Efficiency is not something to be underestimated. In fact, shortening the commute is a massive advantage. Thanks to these gates, people in Weed can easily travel to workplaces spread across a wide area every day. I hope Glass Port Town becomes the same.
"So, what about the schedule for Glass Port Town? Are there any questions regarding the town’s structure or future plans?"
"Yes. We have instructed the staff to answer any questions if asked. We have also prepared a model of the town’s structure on the podium in the hall, which we’ve opened as a rest area, so they can view it there."
"Oh, I see. So that’s where you put it."
Hmm, if that’s the case, the hall might actually attract a fair number of people. A miniature model of the town’s completion plan is bound to pique interest. Creating these scale models before actual construction helps us visualize the process and the final result, which is very helpful for us. I hope this model-making technology spreads to other countries as well.
By the way...
"Yuki."
"Hm?"
"We’ve prepared those kinds of models, too. So that people can buy them."
As I said that, I took a box containing a commercialized model out of my Item Box. In other words, what Yuki calls...
"A plastic model?"
"Yes. Though, instead of plastic, we’ve collaborated with woodworkers and carpenters to make them out of wood."
"That should be plenty. In fact, wouldn't that be a good side job for the craftsmen and carpenters?"
"It is. Although, there are some people now who make a living specializing in these models."
"Indeed, they are quite exquisite and have real utility."
Eris has properly approved the budget for these models. They are already generating sales, and for Eris, creating these scale model samples before construction actually helps reduce overall costs. It means there’s less need to build, tear down, and redo things.
But I digress.
"My apologies. Please, continue."
"Yes. While they look at the completion plans for the town, we’ll also introduce the shops along with the pamphlets, so they can find their destinations and head out from there."
"That makes sense. It’s easy to understand. I heard that 80% of the shops in the shopping district will be open, but you’ve spoken to the nobles about this, right?"
"Yes, of course we have. They’ve agreed to open on the day knowing full well what to expect. Naturally, we want to avoid trouble as much as possible, so we are planning to increase security."
"I think Sona’s plan is fine. Sisua, you agree, right?"
"Yes, I am of the same opinion. After all, this is a first for both sides. There will likely be many troubles arising from differences in perception."
That is exactly it. The common sense of a noble and the common sense of an ordinary person are two very different things.