Side: Mako
Upon arriving at Amagi Castle, I was immediately led to the first conference room.
I thought I had arrived a little early, but it seemed His Majesty and the others were already gathered and waiting for us.
It’s not that I’m unaware of keeping them waiting, but I couldn’t help but think, “Get to work, will you?”
“Excuse me for keeping you waiting.”
“It’s not time yet, so you don’t need to worry about it.”
“We were also interested. With many members of the Royal Family, including Emperor Reinhardt, registering as Hunters, it’s invaluable to be able to fight monsters, even if it’s not the real thing.”
It’s true that a lot of people from the Royal Family have registered as Hunters.
The Celestial Emperor and Empress are all registered, and the Phantom King and Beast King registered just the other day.
Among the Beast Duchies, Horn, Flug, and Blume registered, and among the Bridge Duchies, Gran Rieve and Gemios registered, so nearly half of the country’s rulers have become Hunters.
Hunters make their living hunting monsters, and it’s not uncommon for them to lose their lives to them.
Yet, the leaders of each country are becoming Hunters, which increases the possibility of unfortunate events.
Admittedly, the Celestial Emperor, Empress, and Gran Rieve, who have evolved to Ancient Class, aren’t a huge problem, but other countries aren’t like that. Gemios, the Bridge Duke, hasn’t even reached level 30, so frankly, I wonder why they registered.
“I believe it’s one of the safer combat training methods, but it probably won’t lead to level-ups?”
“Even when using magic, is it because the opponent is an illusion?”
“I believe so.”
Whether or not training with MARS leads to level-ups hasn’t been definitively proven, but it’s almost a certainty.
The illusions make it seem like attacks hit and are hit, but in reality, it’s just practice swings and magic honed for actual combat.
Therefore, no matter how much magic power is used to attack, no physical sensation of cutting or piercing monsters is felt.
You can gain experience and develop strategies, so if you want to level up, you should hunt monsters properly. And since MARS is also virtual reality, if people prioritize leveling up there and stop hunting, it would be completely counterproductive.
“That’s probably true. However, I suspect some people will start thinking along those lines.”
“I agree. Well, those kinds of people can’t be trusted, so in a way, it’s a helpful outcome.”
Unfortunately, there are Hunters who, arrogant about their high level, don’t go hunting.
The exact number is unknown, but the Baliente region, which was in a state of civil war until last year, has a particularly large number of such individuals, and several Hunters have already been punished.
Baliente also had many such individuals among the Hunters who served as private soldiers for nobles in the eastern part, so it seems to be the same there.
Therefore, once MARS is officially operational, there will definitely be those who plan to use illusory combat training to level up and act high and mighty.
For the time being, it’s only planned to be installed at Memoria General Academy, but eventually, it will be installed in Amister and the capitals of the Three Kingdoms. It will also be installed in the territory granted to Yamato, so I imagine problems will arise around that time.
“That’s likely. However, arrogant Hunters might demand to use the MARS at Memoria General Academy, so we’ll need to address that.”
“Indeed.”
Ah, that possibility exists.
The installation of MARS at Memoria General Academy is not a particularly secret matter.
Even if it were kept secret, students would use it, and the information would spread quickly.
Initially, Hunters may be skeptical, but once they learn that they can train to fight monsters safely, there will undoubtedly be Hunters who demand to use it as well.
“Regarding that, we are considering opening it up to Hunters a few times a month. After all, it would only cause friction if only the Scholar’s Guild could use it.”
“Ah, has that matter been settled?”
“Officially, yes. We’re already inundated with applications, so we’re struggling to keep up.”
Grand Scholar Master Clinos replied with a wry smile.
MARS can be used not only for combat training but also for ecological surveys of monsters.
There is already the example of Viscount Archlight, who has made progress in the domestication of the Blue Lake Bull, making it incredibly attractive to Scholars.
However, since the installation site is the academy, even if it’s adjacent to the Scholar’s building, Scholars can’t use it as they please.
Therefore, once a week, Scholars who wish to do so will be allowed to use MARS for research.
“So, many Scholars applied, and the Grand Scholar Master is overwhelmed?”
“I apologize, but that is correct. We are also adjusting class schedules in parallel, but we are severely short-handed.”
I feel apologetic since both issues stem from us.
Especially concerning the class content, we completely delegated it.
“In that case, do you think it would be better to install MARS in Float or Feel sooner rather than later?”
“That would be helpful, but is there an issue with installation space?”
“You are correct…”
The quickest solution is to install MARS, but both the capital and Feel are currently undergoing expansion, so space hasn’t been secured yet.
Feel, in particular, is problematic because it’s bordered by Veil Lake to the north, east, and west, meaning expansion is only possible to the south.
There are also fields managed by the Trader’s Guild, which is causing headaches for Sir Yuri.
“Currently, the only place where installation is possible with a little expansion is probably Glacian, wouldn’t you agree?”
“Glacian? Why… Ah, I see.”
“Interesting. That’s very interesting.”
Yamdato’s murmurs elicited a spark in Emperor Glisina’s eyes.
Yes, that’s bound to happen.
His Majesty and the others are also curious about why Glacian.
“Uh… well, Glacian is surrounded by a lot of forests, including the area around Plazia Island, isn’t it?”
“Yes. Furthermore, a portion of them are Treant trees, so there are many subjugation and collection requests.”
I knew that Treant was the name of a tree and a monster, but hearing it directly feels strange.
However, Treants are a source of lumber second only to Heavenly Trees, Treasure Trees, Cherry Trees, and Fusang Trees, and it has been verified that high-ranking Treants can withstand the magic of Ancient Class monsters, and even the lowest-ranked Treants can withstand the magic of High Class. Therefore, I believe they can also be utilized as a specialty product of Alegria.
However, on the other hand, it’s also a cause of difficulty in development.
“I’ve considered clearing out all those Treants, or subjugating them and then developing a portion of Glacian into developed land.”
Yamato himself is straightforward in confessing this, but it’s true that I’ve considered it, and we’ve discussed it internally.
Since it would be outside the barrier, we would need to expand the existing barrier or install a new one. Float and Dragunia would need to resolve their land division issues, and Bestia is entirely a city on Bestia Island floating in the Neblina Bay, so there’s no room for expansion.
Therefore, Lady Hilde’s sister and the next queen, Princess Brynhild, was planning and is currently executing redevelopment after eradicating the slums.
In contrast, although Glacian is surrounded by forests and the sea, the Beast King Castle and the Beast King Palace are located outside Glacian’s barrier and are covered by a separate barrier.
Therefore, it’s entirely possible to expand the barrier on the Beast King Castle side or build a new city and have a new barrier erected there.
The presence of the Treant forest prevented development, but it’s a significant point that development is possible anytime if that issue can be resolved.
“Hmm, that’s worth considering.”
“Moreover, Glacian is close to the center of the Philia Continent, and with Prada’s opening, transportation convenience has also improved. Therefore, in our opinion, Glacian is the most likely candidate for the next MARS installation.”
That’s how we concluded.
Although it would be possible in abandoned bridge cities or newly relocated Flug and Blume Beast Duchies, it felt problematic to prioritize the three duchies, so we regretfully excluded them from the options.
However, I think installing it there eventually is a possibility.
“Hmm, having MARS installed only at Memoria General Academy is also an issue. It’s a shame it’s not in Float, but Float is close to Memoria anyway. However, Glacian is not a bad location either.”
“Transportation convenience has also improved, you know. The opening of the port in Prada, in particular, is significant.”
“Retisencia is effectively sealed off. Well, it was often cheaper to go through aerial routes even at great risk than to go through Retisencia.”
Thanks to the completion of the port in Prada, Amister can now also set sail on the Nadal Sea.
Before that, to get from Amister to Alegria or Libertà, one would have to go through Retisencia or Baliente by land, or use aerial routes.
Passing through Retisencia was not only dangerous due to poor public order, but it was not uncommon for RTS military personnel, who were supposed to maintain that order, to demand bribes.
Furthermore, ordinary people would normally try to steal goods in transit. Even if discovered and pursued, they would retort with anger and call the soldiers, so for the past few years, there were virtually no Traders using the Retisencia route.
Still, for residents of northern Amister, if they couldn’t use aerial routes, passing through Retisencia was faster, so there were undoubtedly Traders who reluctantly used it.
However, with the opening of the Prada port, there is no longer a need to pass through Retisencia.
Although there is the Mylight Mountains, Feel is located north of Amister, and ship fares are not that high, so there is no reason to go through Retisencia. Public order in Amister is vastly superior, so Traders have long awaited the development of the Prada port.
The ship services operating from Prada go directly to Glacian, and even pass through Glacian to Rodpiece and Acquario. They are also considering services to Solemne in the future.
Of course, not only those countries but the entire Philia Continent benefits from improved distribution.
In Earth, as maritime shipping developed, so did countries, so I realize the importance of ports.
“Yamato, regarding the development of Glacian, since you brought it up, you will be subjugating the Treants, won’t you?”
“Is it okay to do so?”
“It would be helpful if you could, but we can’t pay much as compensation.”
If we were to issue a special request like that, the compensation to Wing Crest, which possesses not only Ancient Class but also Element Class Hunters, would be an exorbitant amount.
That’s partly why I hesitated to bring it up, but we could just say we hunted them ourselves, and if we take the hunted Treants, that would be sufficient compensation.
If I had to be greedy, it would be helpful if there were An or Catastrophe Species, but that would be too much to ask for Alegria.
“Treants, you say? Depending on the scale of the development area, subjugating all of them will be difficult.”
“It might become one of Alegria’s core industries, so I won’t be that greedy.”
I don’t know the exact scale of the development area, but if we assume the MARS facility will be larger than Memoria General Academy, the Coliseum alone would need to be about 150–200 meters square.
Adding research facilities and accommodations for Scholars, and considering Hunters will also use it, we would need facilities for them as well.
This means an area at least equivalent to the Tokyo Dome would be necessary.
No, I don’t remember the size of the Tokyo Dome, so I need to check it later.
I think I put that data into the Engraving Tool, though.
However, at that scale, it might be better to create a new district.
“Beast King Glisina, can you handle this?”
“It is an opportunity Alegria cannot afford to miss, so I will gladly accept. Upon returning to Glacian, I will discuss the details with the relevant parties and contact you once a decision is made.”
“Please do.”
The redevelopment of Glacian was decided so easily, but Emperor Glisina also seemed to be considering an expansion of Glacian, so it’s a timely opportunity.
Furthermore, with the installation of MARS, it’s beneficial for Alegria. We will clear a portion of the Treant forest ourselves, and compensation with Treants is acceptable, thus reducing costs.
Of course, the minimum guaranteed pay for Hunters based on their rank is mandatory, but employing many Hunters would take time and result in casualties, so it reduces the hassle in that regard as well.
Scholars, who are also researchers, will gather, making it economically beneficial.
I’ll be busy again for a while, but since Mana and Rika are pregnant, it’s been difficult to go hunting. Even though they are Treants, it’s a large-scale hunt, so I’ll accept this as it is.
