第１８１７堀：グラス港町の感想は (Part1)
The celebration for the completion of Glass Port Town was underway.
In essence, our role was to provide support to the various nations. As a diplomat—or rather, as Yuki’s wife—my task involved negotiating with my home country, so it wasn't particularly grueling. The ones truly feeling the weight of responsibility were Sisua and Sona, who were overseeing Glass Port Town this time.
They had jumped from being subordinates like myself to suddenly becoming lords of a territory; the hardships they faced must be staggering. Through my work assisting Yuki and Seraria, I’ve come to understand that managing a country—or even a single town—is an immense undertaking. Even if the scale differed, this was officially our first port, and the mere thought of accounting for the threats lurking in the ocean was enough to make my stomach ache.
"Why the long face?"
As I was lost in thought, Marly-sama called out to me. She was my former superior, the woman known as the Wind Princess of the Magic Swords, and she had come along as a guard for King Fionha of Zilba.
"I was just reflecting on the challenges of managing Glass Port Town," I replied.
"Ah, well, it’s a series of firsts, so I imagine there’s plenty to worry about. That said, Weed is providing the back-end support. There shouldn't be much to fear. Besides, if push comes to shove, the other nations will surely lend a hand, won't they? Everyone was practically buzzing with interest in Glass today."
Indeed, as Marly-sama said, Glass Port Town was being treated as a model case for coastal urban development. It had drawn the eyes of every nation, and because everyone was confident in its success, aid would likely be forthcoming in an emergency. However, requesting aid meant increasing that country’s political leverage over us, which brought its own set of headaches.
"I’m sure you understand, Marly-sama, that we can’t just accept help blindly. You’ve led units before; you know how it goes."
"Yeah, I suppose. 'We’ll give you supplies, so take these people with you,' or 'Carry this luggage,' or 'Go to bed with me.' I ended up sending that last one flying."
"Please try to keep things peaceful," a voice chimed in, harmonizing with my own.
I understood her sentiment, but violence should really be the last resort. Back then, dealing with the idiots who had connections to the upper brass had been a nightmare to clean up.
"Ah, Hivia, you’re back."
The one who had spoken in unison with me was my former colleague, Hivia. She still served as Marly’s adjutant. Her workload seemed to have doubled since I left; I felt a twinge of guilt about it, so I tried to support her in various ways whenever possible.
"How was it? Glass at night?" I asked.
The time in Glass Port Town had already passed eight o'clock, and the world was draped in the velvet of night. However, much like Weed, Glass utilized streetlights powered by electricity and magic.
"It isn't dark at all," Hivia remarked. "I mean, it is certainly night, but it feels almost insulting to compare this to other towns. It’s the same in Weed, but the idea of shops staying open until nine in the evening is just absurd."
"True enough," Marly added. "Normally, once the sun goes down, you’ve got nothing to do but sleep. But here, the night is when the real fun begins."
"We’ve been very careful about that," I explained. "People tend to get up to no good in the shadows, so we’ve installed lights specifically to prevent that. Eventually, we might need to designate certain 'dim' areas, but for now, we’re keeping it bright."
We were discussing the eventual necessity of "back alleys"—places where those with less-than-noble intentions might gather. It’s a difficult balance, as it can lead to a decline in public order, but there are certain types of information and services that can only be found in such places. It’s a double-edged sword.
"The fact that women and children can stroll around at night is a miracle in itself. Well, I suppose it’s the same in Weed," Marly said.
"Yes, it’s a startling environment," Hivia agreed.
"Haha, you should tell Yuki that. Apparently, being able to walk around at night was considered a perfectly normal environment where he comes from."
Though, even on Earth, it seemed such safety was limited to Japan and only a handful of other countries.
"I’ve told Yuki that plenty of times," Marly said. "He just smiles and asks, 'Isn't it a nice environment?'"
"It is. I mean, there are no problems, so it *is* a good environment. It’s just that if people use the public order here as a benchmark, they’re going to have a rough time everywhere else."
"I can certainly see that," Hivia nodded.
Outside of Weed, a woman or child walking alone at night was practically an invitation to be attacked.
"So," I moved to the main topic, "as a town facing the sea—the harbor—what are your impressions?"
This was a massive coastal settlement. Moreover, it was in a location where the risk of being beset by dangerous monsters was quite high. Even on the continent of If, where monsters were relatively scarce on land, the sea was a different story. The ocean teemed with them, and rumors said the further out you sailed, the more monstrous they became. In fact, naval technology hadn't advanced precisely because of these sea monsters. If a hole was punched in the hull, the ship sank. Most nations, If included, saw no merit in building ships for long-distance voyages.
But...
"People are still waiting to see how it plays out, but since Weed is behind it, no one expects it to fail," Marly observed. "Besides, right now Sea Scypho has a total monopoly on seafood. The idea that we might be able to get it elsewhere is revolutionary."
"Exactly," Hivia agreed. "The supply of seafood has never met the demand. If this helps stabilize prices outside of Weed, it will be a blessing. It’s a long way off, of course, but the future looks promising."
As they both noted, the possibility of harvesting the sea’s bounty from any continent was a prospect every nation was watching closely. The ocean was a treasure trove of resources. If one had the means to venture out into it, that alone was a fortune. If these two felt it, the heads of state were undoubtedly thinking in even more pragmatic terms.
"And then there’s that hotel. That 'pool' thing is a shock," Marly said.
"Indeed," Hivia added. "I wondered why they would bother putting something like that on an upper floor... I understand that keeping it within sight makes it safer, but it’s the height of decadence."
"I understand how you feel," I replied. "But apparently, in Yuki’s world, such things are commonplace. He says they’re a staple of 'resort hotels.'"
"Being able to swim safely even at night is a luxury. The baths, too," Marly remarked.
"Yes. I was surprised they opened them up to us as well," Hivia said.
"I believe it was explained, but those are the general-use facilities opened for the attendants and staff. The dignitaries are using the ones on the rooftop," I clarified.
"Even so, it’s extravagant."
"Extravagant indeed. And the food is all-you-can-eat."
That was another of Weed’s innovations. The "Viking" style—or rather, the more formal "buffet"—was incredibly convenient since it removed the need to take individual orders. Moreover, since everyone has different tastes and dislikes, the buffet style was a truly efficient way to dine.
Hearing their feedback, I felt a sense of relief.
"Phew. So, may I assume you are both satisfied?"
"Yeah," Marly grinned. "It was my first time seeing the ocean, and my first time actually getting in it."