Chapter 85: Orde, the Southernmost Town
I returned to the Lord’s mansion in Orde, where I was, as a matter of course, asked to cook.
While busily preparing the meal, I posed a question to Aunt-san.
“There’s no sign of anyone else around. Are there no servants or anything here?”
“Ah, about that… When I first arrived, I was at a loss, wondering how I’d manage alone in such a large mansion. Just cleaning the areas we use is a huge task. But you see…”
It seems Aunt-san came here to recruit soldiers, and in the course of requesting cooperation for the war, she was asked to help with the water shortage.
Apparently, Lestall used to provide funds and look after things, but when they heard that support would disappear, they grew anxious. That’s when Aunt Mary was dispatched. She promised to bring water and, in return, secured their agreement to provide soldiers.
So, she had apparently planned to return as soon as she fulfilled her promise.
“I was thinking I’d just have the newly appointed Lord take over and do their best, but it looks like the Marquis Arbane Family is going to be entrusted with it…”
Apparently, the southern region was originally Marquis Arbane’s territory.
Though, that was a very long time ago.
Nowadays, only the Royal Capital Belfast’s domain and the southern region remain, yet the noble families are in a state of saturation.
Because it had been completely entrusted to lower-ranking noble families, the name “Marquisate” had become a mere formality.
However, even upon hearing the news of this restoration, the former lords of this place didn’t return.
Families who had been stripped of their peerage for fifteen years were struggling financially and wouldn’t want such a territory. Due to these circumstances, it became logical for the Marquis Arbane Family to take care of it.
“But, my family home seems to be struggling financially too, so even if they’re given such an expensive territory…”
As a result of discussions with Marquis Arbane, it seems it was decided that Aunt-san would look after this place for the time being.
They couldn’t afford to tie up the hands of those who could fight.
“Um, are the salaries for the soldiers and such okay?”
“Yes, for now, those worries have disappeared. Thanks to you, Rui-chan.”
It seems that if all the money allocated for transporting water becomes available, they can manage the minimum level of territorial administration.
Apparently, as long as there’s no water shortage, they have enough produce for things to run normally.
Perhaps because the sea is close, the Monsters in the Dungeon are also a bit different from elsewhere, making it a source of materials. The Town apparently sustains itself by exporting clothing and Magic Tool materials.
“So, it’s a Town that can get by normally as long as it doesn’t dry up due to drought?”
“Yes. It’s not exactly prosperous, but it should be able to maintain stable management, at least.”
“Then it’ll be fine while I’m here. I can bring water.”
I said that, but while Aunt-san looked happy, she also showed a troubled expression.
Apparently, she doesn’t think it’s a job she should have me do.
She says it’s fine in an unavoidable emergency, but it’s not good to make it a regular thing.
As we were talking about that, a knock echoed on the door.
“Ah, today was the meeting day. I was so surprised by Rui-chan that I forgot.”
Upon asking, it seemed that the Town’s prominent figures had gathered for a meeting to discuss progress on the water shortage issue.
Apparently, they couldn’t wait for replies to the letters they’d sent and had been asking individually about progress every day. Since it was a hassle to explain repeatedly, they decided to choose representatives and meet regularly to hold strategy meetings each time.
It seemed today was one of those days.
When she welcomed them in, four elderly people entered and immediately bowed deeply.
“We heard from the townspeople. To think you would go to such lengths for us… With this, we can live in peace this year. We offer our deepest, deepest gratitude to Arbane-sama.”
“No, this is not from our family. It is a gesture from the Belfast Royal Family.”
Aunt-san, while saying, “So please direct your gratitude to the Royal Family,” urged them to take their seats.
“But, I’m also relieved that I was able to fulfill my promise. I hear there have been no deaths among the soldiers sent from here in the war so far, so it’s all good news. Though the fighting still continues…”
One of them widened his eyes and showed confusion, saying, “Zero deaths? We heard it was a major battle…”
Rumors that Belfast would fall had been flying around everywhere.
Despite that, they were showing surprise that not only had Belfast won, but there were no deaths among their soldiers.
“I wasn’t on the battlefield myself, so I don’t know the details, but it’s not a lie. Right?”
“Yeah. There were 450 deaths, but they were mainly from the regular army and the mercenary groups that helped us… The less experienced soldiers were kept in the rear as a contingency.”
Hearing the actual numbers, he seemed convinced and his face relaxed. “Is that so? It seems you gave them special consideration. Thank you very much,” he said, bowing his head.
“Now, about the future… It seems I’ll likely be staying here as the Lord. If that happens, can I continue to count on your cooperation?”
“Oh! That is most joyous news! I, Balls, will gladly follow Arbane-sama’s words!”
It seems Aunt-san has already built a good relationship with them. All the representatives showed faces of joy and relief at the news.
“That’s good. However, I still know very little about the Town. Besides the water shortage, are there any other chronic problems you’re facing?”
In response to Aunt-san’s words, Balls-san listed several difficult issues.
The stagnation of the Town’s industry, stemming from a shortage of goods caused by the decrease in Hunters and soldiers.
Due to the war reducing the number of available Hunters, it’s apparently difficult to summon more.
Conversely, the water-carrying jobs, which were once plentiful, have disappeared, leading to a problem of increased unemployment as those people lost their work.
Then there’s the financial problem, where money just kept flowing out due to the water shortage. Since they had to keep transporting water by human power, naturally, obtaining water also cost money.
He strongly explained that the populace was groaning under poverty.
All the issues discussed were related to the water shortage.
Since no other problems came up, it seems that, just as Aunt-san said, the Town is stable under normal conditions.
“Hmm… So it’s money after all. That’s difficult…”
“Yes. However, thanks to you, we’re over the worst of it, so it probably won’t lead to many deaths from starvation. We intend to address these issues slowly on our end.”
Hearing that, I mulled it over.
The most urgent issue seems to be that the livelihoods of those who were already poor have collapsed because money was taken for the water shortage. They were worried about starvation deaths, after all.
Even if they try to alleviate that, the supply of goods is stagnant, industrial stagnation is predicted, and no one can hire new people, so there are no jobs.
The matter of the water carriers is also related to this.
When logistics are stagnant, jobs will only continue to decrease.
In short, it’s economic stagnation.
The future looks bleak, and everyone is reluctant to spend money, so businesses aren’t profitable.
Money also flowed out of the Town for water procurement, and the total amount of money circulating within the Town must have decreased.
I felt it was a story of a vicious cycle.
When I stopped my long deliberation and looked up, Yuri was looking up at me anxiously.
I see. My princess is distressed, is she?
Hmm, then I shall act.
“Well then, first we need to make things to sell outside. Shall I go get some materials?”
If just having the materials is enough, I can bring a large amount.
A temporary fix is fine. After all, the root cause, the water, has been resolved for now.
“And this is…?” Balls-san said, looking at me.
“Ah, my name is Rui. Mary Arbane is like a wet nurse to me.”
Aunt-san gave a slight nod in return. It seems she’s going along with it.
Is her judgment that it’s fine as long as the Town’s soldiers know?
In any case, I want to be able to move around freely, so I’m grateful.
“I see. But, even if you say you’ll go get them, by yourself…”
While nodding in agreement, I changed the subject to Monsters to get information.
Apparently, mid-rank Hunters are strong enough. The Dungeon is also about ten Floors deep, an easily reachable distance.
If that’s the case, bringing back a large haul should be easy, so I asked Yuri, “Want to go together?”
“Fufufu, it’s been a while since we went to a Dungeon together, hasn’t it!” she smiled happily.
I was glad she seemed pleased.
“So, it’s a preliminary survey first, then. It seems you have an idea, so we’ll try to move in that direction on our end too.”
Aunt-san skillfully wrapped things up as we had been proceeding with the conversation, leaving them behind, and the meeting was adjourned.
“Well then, tomorrow was supposed to be for the mountain, but I’m going to the Dungeon,” I told Aunt-san, but she replied with the unexpected words, “What are you talking about? I’m going too.”
But, if Uncle Rudolf is that strong… Aunt-san must be much weaker, right?
I couldn’t help but ask, “Can you even fight?” to which she replied with a miffed expression, “I can handle a Slime at least!”
Yes, a Slime. Apparently, Slimes appear here.
Well, looking at it in the bestiary, it didn’t seem like the bouncy-bouncy type, but I’m a little excited.
Other than that, materials from a Monster called Mupos are apparently a local specialty.
Skeletons are also one of the materials they want me to get, but those supposedly appear anywhere.
Since she says she can handle Slimes on the uppermost Floor, it’s probably best to assume Aunt-san is weak.
Well then, I decided to call it a night and was about to choose rooms with Yuri, but Aunt-san separated us, saying it was improper for an unmarried man and woman, so I ended up sleeping alone and lonely.
Not that it’s any different from usual, though.
And so, we spent our first night after arriving.
The next day, Aunt-san whined that she couldn’t run anymore right away and ended up riding in the cart.
Well, it’s quite a high-paced full marathon, after all. Especially on a Floor with such weak Monsters.
With the two of them on the cart, I ran relentlessly, scooping up any Monsters that appeared with my Maso and continuously tossing them onto the cart bed.
If I used my Maso to throw them in, Yuri would quickly take care of them. Since she just stored them away when they piled up, it was a cycle we could continue indefinitely as long as our stamina held out.
As expected, it’s vast, so unlike the deeper Floors, hunting everything to extinction isn’t easy.
We’d stop after a certain point, gather about ten cartloads worth each time, and take it to the town’s Guild.
At the Hunter Guild, they were greatly surprised, but when I showed them my Holy Knight’s proof, they understood.
Not having to hide my magic anymore is truly a blessing.
The Guild was pleased too, and I was able to return in good spirits.
“Aunt-san, use this to hire some people. It’s just too weird for a Lord to be doing the cleaning.”
I mean, if you’re spending time on things like that, you won’t be able to do your job, right?
It’s not just dealing with problems; there’s probably accounting work too.
“I-It’s fine! Father said he’d send some people!”
Aunt-san looked like she wanted the money I offered but said she couldn’t accept it, perhaps because she felt bad about being helped by a child.
“I heard that yesterday. Just use it.
Do I have to be blunt like Uncle for you to get it?”
“Ah, you mean that thing Rud was so impressed by. I want to see Rui-chan’s magnificent princely appearance too!”
Even Yuri was muttering that she wanted to see it and looking at me, but I didn’t want to do something that embarrassing over and over, so I forced the money on her, saying, “Just use it!”
Casually, separate from today’s earnings, I added some from my own pocket and gave it to her, but she didn’t seem to notice.
With this, she could probably hire up to about five people for several months.
Since she’s been appointed Lord, she probably has funds she can use, but in a situation where she doesn’t even understand how much she’s allowed to spend, she probably can’t use them.
We lived in poverty together, so I know her personal finances are tight.
But, as expected, she finally noticed and said, “Rui-chan, there’s a Large Gold Coin mixed in here?”
Well, I guess anyone would notice if an amount that should be in the hundreds of thousands suddenly jumped into the millions.
However, I replied, “Don’t sweat the small stuff!” and started thinking about our next plans.
“We won’t be staying that long, and I’d like to supply enough to saturate the market, but…
What should we do? Shall we go to the mountains tomorrow?”
“That’s true,” Yuri said. “They’d probably be troubled if we brought too much at once, and besides, let’s go have some fun!”
Indeed, the people at the Dismantling Yard did look troubled.
Well then, tomorrow we’ll definitely go to the mountains, so we made plans for a hike.