第１９５６堀：それでも保っている (Part2)
"If only this were within the borders of Ioa. But since we draw in not just supplies, but skilled adventurers from abroad as well, relying on the Faiana Kingdom to act as our intermediary is simply the rule of the North. It saves us a great deal of trouble."
It was a logical enough arrangement. The nations of the North relied on the Faiana Kingdom to sit at the center and mediate, effectively coordinating their support. It was hardly strange that they were entrusted with handling communications with other countries, too. After all, they were the ones with a bird’s-eye view of the entire northern theater. If one were to clumsily seek aid only from a neighbor, it might upset the balance of other fronts, or worse, create a source of friction due to an uneven distribution of resources.
Still...
"I understand the situation. But surely, there must be independent routes available as well?" Nina pointed out.
She had a point. Even if the Faiana Kingdom maintained the balance between nations, it didn't mean those countries lacked their own private connections.
"Aye, that’s true enough. But in the midst of a war like this, acting on one's own creates all sorts of complications. We make sure to go through the proper channels. Of course, if we were pushed to the brink, that might change, but..."
"For now, we are managing to scrape by. The town is still bustling with life, and if we could just get some additional personnel... though, they tell us that increasing our numbers carelessly is easier said than done."
"Is mobilization impossible?"
"Well, yes. Whether it’s adventurers or soldiers, if we increase their numbers temporarily just to repel the monsters, we’ll be left with a surplus of hands once the threat subsides. They’d either be out of work or forced to head further north in search of new frontiers. Ah, perhaps you aren't familiar with such political nuances?"
"No, I understand. I happen to know a lord, you see."
So, easy reinforcement is off the table. A fair enough reason, I suppose. In peacetime, soldiers are essentially a drain on the treasury. One might wonder what such concerns matter when the nation is on the brink of collapse, but if the country ceases to exist after the war, the distinction becomes moot. If things grew truly desperate, they might find a way, but for now, it hasn't reached that point.
The same goes for adventurers. Unlike soldiers, they are professionals who earn their own keep, so they aren't a direct debt to the state. Even so, since the government encourages their recruitment, there would be all sorts of administrative headaches to deal with afterward.
...Total national mobilization is a measure reserved only for the most dire of emergencies. There are even nations that wouldn't resort to it, even if they were on the verge of defeat.
"The town is lively right before our eyes, after all. Even without becoming adventurers or soldiers, there are trades to be plied—money to be made."
As Chinoku said, the town was bustling. Since there were other ways to turn a profit, only those truly backed into a corner would choose a profession that required risking their lives. Furthermore, if the military or the Adventurer’s Guild were to recruit greenhorns only to have them slaughtered, their reputations would plummet. That would have a direct impact on morale; it wasn't a move they could make lightly.
Yes, it’s a colossal headache.
"...That’s enough to give me a stomachache."
"Truly..."
"Indeed. One cannot simply conscript people without careful thought..."
Hearing the Guild Master’s words, the three of them wore troubled expressions, clearly imagining the logistical nightmare of managing such an organization. I felt much the same.
"Regardless, while we have suffered losses, we are holding the line. I am nothing but grateful that skilled hands like yours have arrived. As for your specific deployment, the daytime units will return by nightfall. Hear their report, and then coordinate with the Third Squad tomorrow."
"The Third Squad? You’ve organized the adventurers into teams?"
"That’s right. The enemy isn't just numerous; they are a vast, overwhelming tide. If we don't form large groups ourselves, we’d be surrounded and wiped out in an instant. We learned that the hard way early on, and paid a heavy price for it."
"A painful failure, indeed. Though, if one could call it a silver lining, the adventurers haven't complained about moving in groups ever since."
I see. I had wondered why such strong-willed adventurers were operating in formation, but that was the reason. They had suffered a bitter defeat, and in response, the adventurers had begun to operate like a military unit.
It seems the front-line towns are engaged in far more intense defensive battles than I had anticipated. The town of Ando, too, clearly has its own history of bloodshed.
That is only natural, of course. People have been living and fighting even while Weed was away.