第１９１９堀：北部は穏やかでっす (Part2)
“Besides, if they’re the type who won’t listen, then just as Nina-san said, we can’t count on them as a fighting force.”
“And Yuki has likely already considered that much. Making those kinds of calls isn’t our job; it’s for Yuki and the others at the top. Our role is to gather solid information here in the North so they can make those decisions. Though, I have to say, I’m shocked by how ‘clean’ everything is so far.”
“Right? The demi-humans are treated with care as precious assets, and they haven’t even had to touch the powered suits Yuki prepared for them.”
“You have to call them ‘Hero Suits,’ or Filia and her group will get fussy,” Nina corrected.
“Haha, well, I suppose it’s a good thing there haven’t been any victims to necessitate them. But as for what Nina-san found when she sneaked into the northern lord’s manor to gather intel…”
I couldn't help but make a complicated face at the memory.
“It’s perfectly clean, yet completely in the red. Funny, isn’t it?” Nina said, offering a dry joke in response to my expression.
“It’s not funny at all,” I replied flatly.
“It really isn’t,” Kishua added.
“No? A joke about the financial situation being so dire that bankruptcy is imminent in the near future?”
Nina explained her attempt at humor, but it truly wasn't laughing matter. In short, while the local government’s innocence regarding corruption had been proven, what we found instead was a fiscal nightmare. The battles against the monsters in the North had intensified to such a degree that their finances were in shambles.
“It’s not time to panic yet,” Nina said. “This is only the second town. It’s possible these two just happen to have failing economies, or perhaps the Kingdom of Phiana in the central North is providing support.”
“Oh, was that the arrangement? Filling in the gaps?”
According to the northern situation—or rather, the political structure—that my brother had shared with us, the North is designed for mutual assistance in times of crisis. The nations bordering the monster territories handle the front lines, and the central Kingdom of Phiana trades the resources gathered from those conflicts to generate profit. Naturally, the agreement includes providing aid if any part of the line is about to collapse, but…
“There’s a limit to that,” Kishua noted. “These two towns aren’t exactly on the front lines. If they’re already in the red, I hate to think what the others look like.”
“Again, it could just be that the management of these two specific towns is incompetent,” Nina countered.
“Well, as Nina-san says, it might be too early to jump to conclusions,” I conceded.
Still, the fact that two towns are already facing financial ruin isn't something I can personally laugh off. If things go poorly, the residents will be the ones suffering under the weight of heavy taxes. Of course, if it’s the price of survival against monsters, it can’t be helped, but there’s no guarantee the funds are being used appropriately. We didn't have the time to investigate that deeply, though.
“True. It’s only natural for territorial management to have its ebbs and flows. It’s Weed that’s the anomaly for being so constantly stable.”
Haha, well, Weed produces DP just by having people exist within it. As long as the dungeon system remains functional, we have a stable supply of resources. And even if the dungeon were to fail, we’re constantly building facilities outside to compensate, so it won’t fall apart easily. My brother is very thorough about those things.
“True enough. Regardless, the lives of the townspeople don’t look visibly ravaged yet, so there’s likely no need for us to intervene,” Kishua said, gazing out the inn window.
Outside, the rhythm of daily life continued. Dusk was approaching; mothers were returning home from shopping, and children were heading back after a day of play. Their expressions didn't show the strain of monsters or heavy taxation; they looked like people who had spent another peaceful day. The town was still tranquil.
Or so I thought.
“E-Emergency! A monster horde is approaching the town! Residents, evacuate indoors immediately! Soldiers, assemble! Adventurers, report to the guild at once!”
For a heartbeat, the world seemed to freeze in a sudden, heavy silence.
Then, a roar of shouting erupted, and the town was plunged into a vortex of absolute chaos.
I believe the title mentioned something about it being peaceful.
That was a lie.
Such is the way of the world.