Episode 319: Interlude (A Certain Forest Country 2)
The trade volume between the Afrasia United Kingdom and the Forest Country (Lebresta) was increasing day by day.
Initially, the trade was conducted in the East Gate city, but as it became clear that continuous and large quantities of goods could be traded, merchants from the Forest Country (Lebresta) flocked to this small town.
However, the East Gate city did not have the capacity to handle it all.
Of course, ＜The Tree＞ could have easily solved the problem.
However, I-Class Strategic AI ＜Fragalia Zero＞, in charge of the East Gate city, prioritized the employment of local residents, and ＜The Tree＞ was careful not to intervene directly.
However, this did not mean that everything was being handled manually as before.
Heavy machinery was used when necessary, and tools were also provided.
It was merely a matter of suppressing rapid modifications through hyper-science.
Incidentally, heavy machinery was being rented out at almost market price, on the grounds that the Adventurers of North End City could do something similar.
In this situation, the East Gate city continued to expand, but there was a severe shortage of people.
Even with the arrival of many merchants from other countries, they were struggling to find a place to sleep for the night.
Faced with this problem, the Forest Country (Lebresta) created a new post town, or rather, a checkpoint, in its own territory near the border.
The name of this town was Luwana.
It was a major logistics hub where large quantities of goods made by ＜Paraiso＞ were brought in, and various goods were gathered from within the Forest Country (Lebresta).
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“That’s it, that’s it… yes! Stop! Good!”
At the loading dock, a guide was loudly directing a multi-wheeled transport vehicle.
The multi-wheeled transport vehicle was a large cargo truck lent by the Afrasia United Kingdom—no, ＜Paraiso＞.
It was being driven by personnel from the Forest Country (Lebresta).
The goods were loaded in the East Gate city and unloaded in Luwana.
Then, cargo was loaded again in Luwana and transported to the East Gate city.
Since transportation by horse-drawn carriage was inefficient, ＜Paraiso＞ offered to provide the trucks, and the Forest Country (Lebresta) reluctantly agreed.
The Forest Country (Lebresta) probably wanted to avoid the influx of cargo trucks and automated machinery that were clearly superior to their own.
Their own industries could be devastated. They were being cautious.
For the time being, operation was only permitted between the East Gate city and Luwana.
Of course, the merchants were not happy. They could transport many times the cargo at many times the speed of a horse-drawn carriage. Even if there was a usage fee, it was still cheaper than the cost of maintaining horses and carriages… or so they seemed to think.
Therefore, transportation from Luwana to the rest of the Forest Country (Lebresta) was done by horse-drawn carriage and water transport. The transport routes were currently being rapidly developed, and it was rumored that travel had become easier.
“I heard the badgers were excited, but really, they’re giving us something incredible.”
In particular, various parts related to the undercarriage, which directly affected transportation efficiency, were well received.
These had originally been imported from the Rock Country (Doradia), so they were relatively easily accepted by the Forest Country (Lebresta).
And their performance was considerably higher than conventional products.
“The badgers have good skills, but they can’t believe that all the parts are available.”
“Even we have trouble making the same thing in large quantities. I understand why the Council of Elders (Le Elphia) is directly involved.”
In the newly established Luwana Council, discussions like this were held every day.
They had to examine the items brought in one after another from ＜Paraiso＞ and issue import permits.
In particular, metal parts, which had begun to play a major role in domestic logistics, needed to be handled with care.
They could become strategic materials that could hold domestic industries hostage.
“If we import them in large quantities, we should limit ourselves to those for which we can find alternatives in case the trade volume is reduced.”
“Is that actually possible for the badgers? This is the opposite side, and the information is too slow.”
The badgers—the Dorada People, the main constituent race of the Rock Country (Doradia)—traditionally live underground in mountainous areas.
Their physique is specialized for living in underground passages dug out of rock, and they are short and have very strong muscles covering their entire bodies. They are a stocky race.
And because of this ecology, they have very high technology for excavating mines and using the minerals they produce.
They are indispensable partners for the Lebresta people, who are not good at handling metal products in general.
However, there was a problem: the Dorada, who have a strong commitment to handicrafts and little interest in other aspects of life, and the Lebresta, who value appearance and are often noble, often clashed due to differences in personality.
However, both are long-lived races, and both understand that they are indispensable trading partners, even though they dislike each other, so they have continued their relationship while being tense.
For the Rock Country (Doradia), the relationship with the Forest Country (Lebresta), which supplies them with a large amount of food and Magic Stones, the power source for Magic Tools, was also important.
“Well, some of the things they made with those technologies have been passed around. It takes time, but they can make them with similar precision. But the price is high, and it seems that it is still difficult to make the same thing in large quantities.”
“I also heard from the ＜Paraiso＞ people. They said that making the same thing in large quantities makes it cheaper. If you only make one-off items, the price per unit will be even higher.”
“I heard that too. If you’re just going to make that, it’s cheaper to ask the badgers.”
Producing the same thing in large quantities. They wanted the Rock Country (Doradia) to acquire that technology somehow, but it had not been fully realized even in the Forest Country (Lebresta).
They were finally getting their looms to operate stably.
And a lot of fabric was also being supplied from ＜Paraiso＞.
“I heard that the looms in the center have improved a lot thanks to the parts from ＜Paraiso＞…”
“I also heard that they finally proposed joint development to the Rock Country (Doradia), because they couldn’t afford to wait.”
If the Forest Country (Lebresta) could establish stable operation of looms within its borders, it would be able to increase the amount of yarn and fabric it imported.
Fortunately, the fabric from ＜Paraiso＞—probably out of their kindness—was being traded at a fairly high price, and its distribution was strictly controlled.
For the time being, it would be used domestically as a luxury item.
And domestically produced woven fabrics could increase their distribution as everyday items.
Of course, that expectation was also based on the assumption that the looms would be operational.
“Glass products and ceramics samples have also arrived. This is… the amount presented is on a different scale…”
“It’s the same as our country’s annual consumption. It’s impossible, impossible.”
The logistics experts continued their meetings, arguing this way and that.
In the end, they decided to import raw materials for glass and ceramics instead of finished products. By using clean raw materials without impurities, they would be able to produce beautiful products without impurities.
Even if imports were to be disrupted, they could simply use domestically produced conventional products.
They would look worse, but they would not be unusable.
“It’s only a relief that we can export from our country…”
“We’re prioritizing the Soul Butterfly materials. Because of the quantity, there was a surplus. That’s helpful, and we’ll probably be able to produce a lot for the next few years.”
“Once that Territory dispute settles down, will it go back to being a rare material…”
Currently, the Soul Butterfly, which is the main export to ＜Paraiso＞, is appearing in large numbers due to the aftermath of some kind of powerful Monster Territory dispute that is thought to be occurring in the depths of the Demon Forest.
Once the Territory dispute settles down, the frequency of their appearance will naturally decrease.
In other words, if they didn’t find alternative exports now, there was a possibility that domestic distribution would become a scene of carnage in a few years.
“This is another headache…”
“For the time being, we have no choice but to export Magic Tools or crafts with high added value…”
Wouldn’t it be better to just honestly ask the girls of ＜Paraiso＞ for help?
The Luwana Council was in such a state of confusion that such a foolish opinion was voiced.
I’m sorry, there have been a lot of interludes lately… Hmm, but this story might even be more interesting with the interludes…
Let’s have my sisters do their best a little more. Yes, let’s do that.
So, that was the story of the Forest Country.
Among the current settings, it is quite an advanced nation. So, I’ll have them worry about various things.