It’s been a week since we arrived in Deseo.
During that time, the temporary guild branch was completed and staff were dispatched, but the moment they saw the city of Deseo, everyone’s faces fell.
I understand how they feel.
Especially the Crafters, who have to install toilets and build public baths to improve sanitary conditions.
Soldiers have been assigned as guards and have started the work, but there are still areas where the soldiers’ eyes can’t reach. Some Crafters have already been ridiculed, which is disheartening.
“The security in Deseo has not improved. Especially at night, there were several individuals who attempted to sneak into the Emperor’s Castle and the slums to steal magic tools. They have all been apprehended, but their numbers are increasing day by day. We are increasing patrols to cope, but we are reaching our limit in terms of personnel.”
Delfina is giving a report on the security situation in Deseo.
Currently, it’s a regular report meeting with the Guild Masters gathered, but frankly, there are problems everywhere.
“Since the residents of the slums have registered as Soldiers, we will have to entrust the slum district to them. However, given the unpredictable nature of events, I entrust it to your discretion, Lord Delfina.”
“Yes!”
“Public toilets, though temporary, have already been installed in 12 locations. The public baths will be completed in another three days.”
“Thank you for your hard work.”
Clara, a female Dwarf appointed as the Crafter’s Master, is reporting to Sister Hilde about sanitation facilities.
Although the temporary branch was completed only about three days ago, guild activities have already begun, and reports are made daily, so this is another regular report.
“Sales of magic tools are significantly below initial projections. This is likely due to the Emperor’s foolish policies.”
“Regarding the improvement of sanitary conditions, we have provided explanations, but I don’t believe they have been accepted. If left unchecked, it could become a cause of plague…”
The reports from Peruu, the Lamia Trader’s Master, and Jeff, the male Human Healer’s Master, are not encouraging either.
The Emperor strictly restricted the use of magic tools and apparently deliberately provided shoddy ones, explaining that they were dangerous, which seems to have made the residents distrustful.
Yet, they themselves used them as they pleased, which is problematic.
Although this contradicts Delfina’s report, some residents seem to have realized that the magic tools they are using are more powerful than those used by the common people.
The slum dwellers, being outcasts, still mistakenly believe that they won’t be punished for theft.
Jeff has also been explaining the improvements to the sanitary environment since the public toilets were installed, but since there were no problems before, nobody is listening, and most of the public toilets are unused.
“Regarding magic tools, it will take time. However, magic tools are being used in the slums, and their usefulness is understood. It would be advisable to provide some of them through Lord Aquila’s connections.”
“That seems like the best course of action. Then, would you be able to provide Soldier escorts?”
“I will arrange for them. Furthermore, regarding the improvement of sanitary conditions, we have declared it as law. Public toilets have already been installed, so starting tomorrow, we will issue a public decree and subsequently collect fines.”
“Thank you very much.”
It seems faster to spread magic tools from the slums.
However, many slum residents can use Inn, so they don’t necessarily need them.
Still, it will undoubtedly make life easier, so many will purchase them.
Even though they were treated as outcasts, they seemingly had means to earn money, and many of them were even well-off because of it.
As for currency, we’ve almost forcibly exchanged it, so some circulation has begun.
The residents of Deseo were quite defiant, and we helped them, but there were still fools who tried to [attack us/resist us].
“Regarding the Butler’s Guild, as His Majesty feared, they will be demoted to I-rank and retrained, and in the worst case, expelled from the guild. Some of them were even caught red-handed stealing.”
The report from Huey, the male Elf Butler’s Master, is also serious.
Since the temporary branch was completed, the Butler’s Guild has been observing the butlers and maids working in the Emperor’s Castle, noble mansions, and slums.
The slums had no problems, but the butlers and maids working in the Emperor’s Castle and noble mansions can only perform work below that of an I-rank butler, and even veterans can barely reach S-rank.
Moreover, as Huey accidentally discovered, there were people who stole supplies from the Emperor’s Castle and sold them to supplement their living expenses.
“I have also received a report regarding those who committed theft. It seems they needed money to cure their child’s illness, so this time we have issued a strict warning and requested Jeff to treat the child. How was it?”
“The child has been completely cured, but it’s a very serious situation. A considerable number of people in the neighborhood were also infected. The cause was the contamination of well water due to the unfiltered discharge of sewage.”
Oh, that’s even worse than I thought.
“Contamination of well water, you say? What happened to that well?”
“We have requested the Crafter’s Guild to seal it. For water supply, we have installed a magic tool that uses a water magic stone, so we should be able to manage for the time being.”
It continued that the residents still didn’t understand, which is quite frustrating.
“We will address the water issue promptly. Clara, I know it will increase your workload, but please cooperate with the Healer’s Guild to investigate the well water and lay down water pipes.”
“Of course, but that will interfere with the installation of toilets in each household.”
“We have public toilets, so please prioritize the water supply. Since there are already infected individuals, we must prioritize water.”
That’s how it is, I suppose.
And yet, the environment is truly terrible.
Not only has a plague already broken out, but people are complaining about the Healers and Crafters trying to fix it.
The maid who stole was grateful, but the neighbors, considering the treatment a matter of course, even hurled abuse at them for being late.
However, we can’t just leave the plague unattended, as we don’t know what might happen.
But, of course, we are doing this for the sake of governance, not out of pure goodwill.
Therefore, before the treatment, we explained how much it would cost.
Although there were many complainers, we confirmed their names in the Library before treatment, so if they try to skip out on the bill, they’ll be arrested immediately.
“Finally, the Hunter’s Guild, how are things progressing there?”
“We’re having an easier time. Nearly 20 people have registered from the slums, and almost half of them are High Class. They have been entering the Deseo Labyrinth for some time, so materials are already being collected. Snow Blossom and Sacred Bird arrived this afternoon, so further investigation will proceed.”
The female Hunter’s Master, Loxy Lipal, opens her mouth to report.
Snow Blossom and Sacred Bird have arrived.
Both of their leaders are Ancient Class, and many are High Class.
We are acquainted with them as they participated in the march, and they are somewhat aware of the current situation in Deseo, so they are reliable individuals.
It is said that 20 people have registered from the slums as well, and considering that they are experienced in the Deseo Labyrinth and nearly half of them are High Class, major problems are unlikely to occur.
“The only issue, if I have to pick one, is the distance to the Emperor’s Castle. Thanks to His Majesty’s decree, even slum residents can walk on the main streets, but there are still those who cause trouble. Hunters can handle it themselves, but it would be difficult for residents registered as Crafters or Traders.”
“I have received that report as well, but we cannot single out the slums. For the time being, Soldiers will patrol the road to the slums.”
We thought about establishing a branch office in the slums, but as Sister Hilde said, we realized that singling out the slums would cause problems.
However, that is also becoming an issue, and it is difficult for residents in other districts to travel to the Emperor’s Castle.
Therefore, at Yamato’s suggestion, we decided to convert one of the Multi-functional Beast Carriages into a mobile temporary branch.
Although it cannot be modified as it belongs to the Order’s Guild, it is spacious inside, so it should be usable.
“Is that all?”
“It’s only been a few days since we opened. However, the problems we are facing are unlike those that occurred in Amister or Torencia, so the response is quite challenging.”
“Indeed. However, your efforts are precisely what the newly established Federation Heavenly Empire needs. I understand it is difficult, but I expect even greater efforts from you all.”
“Leave it to us, Your Majesty.”
“Since we have been dispatched, we will do our best.”
“Improving sanitary conditions is a problem for the entire Philia Continent.”
Although the dispatch is called a “bad deal,” everyone, as elite Guild Registers, is taking responsibility.
This situation will likely continue for the time being, but once the Federation Heavenly Empire is declared, it will likely be influenced by the Treasure Tree, and some improvement, if not drastic, can be expected.
“That concludes the reports from the Guilds. The next agenda item is the issues within Solemne. Vincent.”
“Yes. In Deseo, the Soldier’s Guild is conducting patrols, so the security situation is gradually recovering. However, other cities remain unchanged. While the edicts from His Majesty have been received, many nobles seem to be deliberately ignoring them.”
Vincent Goldtscheer, the former Prime Minister of Solemne, has been conveying the intentions of Amister and Torencia and is currently investigating the domestic situation.
Information needs to be scrutinized, but so far there are no problems, and his granddaughter is in charge of the information. If things go well, the Goldtscheer family might be granted territory in Solemne and become independent.
“As expected, but is that so? Are they gathering troops?”
“Yes. It appears that nobles governing several central cities, rather than those in cities on the Allied Forces’ path or those that arrived after the subjugation of Deseo, are jointly gathering soldiers. The total number is unknown, but it likely exceeds 1,000.”
Considering the time for procurement of weapons, armor, and provisions, they are moving as we predicted.
“The number of soldiers is estimated to be around 1,000 at least?”
“Yes. However, the army and navy have both significantly reduced their total numbers in this war, and almost all of the Steam Battleships have been lost. Considering that, the total will likely not exceed 2,000 even at most.”
The Solemne Army, both land and sea, numbered around 20,000, but it has been almost completely annihilated in this war.
In particular, the navy had developed and operated iron ships called Steam Battleships, equipped with numerous cannons, but we sank nearly 300 of them, crew and all.
Each Steam Battleship carried about 50 crew members, so nearly 15,000 people have gone to an watery grave.
The army also suffered losses of 2,000 near Laofen, 12,000 in the Klagen Plains, and an additional 2,000 reinforcements from the north of Solemne after the fall of Deseo. It’s possible that less than 10,000 remain in total, combining land and sea forces.
“While a reduction in the total number of Solemne troops is not welcome, we cannot let them off the hook entirely. It can’t be helped. We will make an example of those nobles and their soldiers.”
Sister Hilde makes a harsh statement, but that’s probably for the best.
The main perpetrators among the nobles are destined for the death penalty, no matter how they try to justify themselves, but the issue of what to do with the soldiers remains.
However, if they are pardoned out of leniency and gather soldiers in other cities, they might join them.
There probably aren’t any foolish soldiers like that, but it seems to be the Solemne national character to repay kindness with evil, and it’s prevalent even among civilians. Therefore, it would be less troublesome in the long run to make an example of them.
“Then the Soldier’s Guild will prepare for interception.”
“Please do so. However, relying solely on the Soldier’s Guild will result in unnecessary sacrifices. In that case, I will also stand on the front lines.”
Sister Hilde intends to go to the very front lines?
Delfina is also there, and with two Ancient Class individuals, it’s more than enough power. However, it’s inevitable that some normal soldiers will be sacrificed, and depending on the situation, even High Soldiers might be in danger.
Sister Hilde and Delfina will likely be fine, but it is not desirable for us to suffer casualties, and if we are to make an example, it is better to aim for zero casualties on our side.
“Yamato.”
“Yeah. In that case, we’ll participate too. It’ll be overkill, but if we’re going to make an example, it’s better to overwhelm them, right?”
“Are you sure?”
“Of course. It might be taking away the Soldier’s Guild’s job, but there’s no need to get injured or lose your life over such a trivial matter.”
I’m glad Yamato and Mana think the same way I do.
“Thank you. Then we will gladly accept.”
“Sorry about this, Yamato.”
“As Mana said, there’s no need to waste time on such trivial matters, and it’s foolish to get hurt or die.”
“That’s right.”
That settles it.
The rebel army will be faced by all the Ancient Classes of Wing Crest, Sister Hilde, and Delfina, a total of 11 people.
Although it’s only 11 people, an Ancient Class is said to be equivalent to an army of ten thousand, so it is more than enough fighting power.
It’s an excessive amount of force, but the goal is to demonstrate our power to the Solemne nobles, so it might be good to summon some of them as well.
Sister Hilde, I’m sure she’s thinking about that.
