Read Novel Full Vol 14 Chapter 14
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(4/4)
Chapter 14 – Think About It the Other Way Around
I took the Ranger to the pioneer area I had targeted. Since the area was unpaved and roadless, we arrived without incident, although there was an accident on the way when the rear wheel fell into a hole. We split into teams and had a quick look around the area, but the results were subtle. I hope the other teams will come and find the best parts of the land.
While enjoying a canned coffee at the Hideaway, I heard the sound of engines. Either Alessia-san’s team or Dorothea-san’s team must have returned from their scouting mission.
Maybe Dorothea-san’s team? Alessia-san’s team was scouting the forest, and it would take longer than Dorothea-san’s team.
When I went to meet them, it was Dorothea-san’s team that had returned, as I had expected. At first glance, they did not look tired or dirty. Perhaps the scouting had been completed without incident.
“Thank you for your hard work. Please have a drink.”
I offered drinks to the returning Dorothea-san and her team. They were all canned drinks bought on the ferry…
Dorothea-san had a sports drink, Carla-san had a soda, and Claretta-san had green tea. I’ll keep this information in mind.
This information is necessary to increase the likability of the drink of your choice when something goes wrong.
I was so focused on the ecchi side of things that I hated myself for not knowing even this simple information.
“So, how was your scouting trip?”
“Well, it wasn’t too bad. Nothing happened.”
Dorothea-san summarized the results of the reconnaissance in a single line. It was very easy to understand.
“I knew it. I hope that Alessia-san and her team will be able to help us in this situation. It would be great if they found a dungeon in the forest…”
“Wataru. We don’t need a dungeon to build a village.”
Dorothea-san replied, but there is a good reason for that.
“The land is so delicate that I feel if we don’t have some special feature, we’ll just build a poor village.”
If there are strong good parts or strong bad parts, the choice is easy, and it is easy to know which strengths to use and which disadvantages to eliminate.
When everything is subtly bad, like here, it is the most difficult. It is hard to know what the right thing to do is… or maybe the right thing is not to build a village.
But I had no choice but not to build a village because I got a development permit for this land, and I told the God of Commerce-sama about it. It is very inconvenient.
“If we are going to build a village anyway, the richer the better. But if I may speak from a Beastman’s point of view, even if it is safe for a Beastman to live here, it would still be an attractive village, wouldn’t it?”
“Yes. Safety is important.”
I see. So even if it is a bit poor, it is still attractive just because it is safe. I remember that Girasole also said that they avoid Human Supremacist countries because of the presence of Beastmen.
Okay, I think I may have found a little direction.
…Oh, I see, I see what you mean. It was the other way around. I had a flash of inspiration!
“Oh, it looks like Alessia and the others are back.”
I was about to rejoice in my great discovery, but Dorothea-san’s words put a damper on my excitement.
Well, if I was going to show off my big idea, the more people, the better, of course.
I greeted Alessia-san and the others and offered them drinks, just as I did Dorothea-san and the others.
Alessia-san has a drink like a shot in the fight, Marina-san has lemon tea, and Ilma-san has a lactic acid drink, huh?
I’ll keep that in mind, but Girasole’s tastes are quite diverse. Is that just a coincidence?
“So, how was the forest?”
I asked after Alessia-san and the others had taken a break and settled down.
“It was normal. There were small animals, Wolves, Slimes and, other small monsters, and Goblins. It’s a very ordinary forest with not much to offer.”
It was not a very favorable report, but it was not a big problem for me, who had come up with a nice idea.
“Master, it looks like there are no dungeons after all; what are you going to do? Do you want to ask them to move the development site to another place?”
Maybe I should have considered Ines’ opinion before coming up with this nice idea.
“Pfft, Ines, I have an idea, so don’t worry.”
“When Wataru is confident, it’s usually when he thinks of something stupid.”
Seeing my confident appearance, Ilma-san said something rude.
“Yes, you looked like that when you said you were going to buy all the luxury liners on the list.”
Dorothea-san also said something terrible in a calm manner.
Even Dorothea-san looked calm now, but she was so excited when she won the lottery. I wasn’t the only one who felt embarrassed.
“So, Master. What is your idea?”
As I had come to expect from Felicia, she listened intently.
I was tempted to say, “Do you want to hear it here?” But since that would just be annoying, I’ll stop. I was already a little annoyed, so I couldn’t make the mistake of pulling the trigger.
“Think about it the other way around. Instead of thinking that it’s not good because it’s in a delicate place, think that it’s convenient because it’s in a delicate place! Think like that!”
“Wataru doesn’t seem to be feeling well, so let’s take the rest of the day off. Felicia, please take care of Wataru.”
“I understand.”
“W-wait. Alessia-san… Alessia, you shouldn’t try to end the conversation either. Felicia, don’t look at me with a worried expression. I’m not particularly sick.”
Why is this such a reaction to my passionate speech?
“But Wataru, even if you think it’s convenient, doesn’t that still mean it’s a delicate place?”
“Yes, it doesn’t change the fact that it’s a delicate place. Wait, I haven’t finished talking about it yet.”
Alessia-san and the others tried to get up from their seats right away, even though I had just answered Claretta-san’s question. Felicia, even if you touch my forehead, I don’t have a fever.
“So far, I’ve taken the path that’s easiest for me.”
Everyone nodded without hesitation, but it was a complicated feeling.
“I see; Wataru is determined to break away from the person he has become and take on the hardship himself. That makes me reconsider my decision.”
“No, it’s not that. I am only willing to accept some hardship, but I do not intend to take on the hardship myself.”
It is hard to deny Alessia-san’s positive opinion, but if I nodded my head, I would feel that hardship would overwhelm me, so I would deny it once and for all. I don’t want hardship.
“Master, I don’t quite understand what you mean.
“If this is a delicate land, let’s make it a wonderful land. That’s what I mean.”
“What do you mean?”
Ines, that is a good point.
“The land is bad because there is no water, but that means we should build a canal and a water reservoir… No, it means we should build a huge water moat for the safety of the city. With plenty of water, the land would be a little better off, wouldn’t it?”
“Master, haven’t you also smelled the trouble of digging a canal into the harbor? A huge moat and a canal are incomparably more troublesome than a small canal to the harbor, you know? Do you understand?”
I do. If I were an ordinary person, I wouldn’t have bothered with such a complicated thing.
But on the other hand, this is an opportunity.
Because the cost of building the Mermaid Village, even if it was just the materials, was three platinum coins, right?
Even if I make a big deal about the mental health facilities to be built in each country and the subsequent maintenance costs, the total cost would still only be about 150 platinum.
Buying a new luxury liner leaves more than 2,500 platinum coins for charity.
If I just spend it in small amounts, the charity expenses will only increase. If I am not careful, the God of Commerce-sama might punish me.
So this is an opportunity.
I have permission from the God of Commerce-sama to do charity work here.
If I am going to build a village or even a city for charity, it is only natural that I should be excused from preparing the environment.
Since this is a large construction project, it will require a large number of people, so I can ask the guilds and merchants to gather a large number of Beastmen who are in vulnerable positions in various places.
Then it would be a good idea to do the big construction here and spend all the charity money. That’s the idea.
If we were to do a major construction project, it would require a lot of digging and a lot of hard work. Normally, I would definitely avoid it.
But even if I had to go through some hardship, it would be worth it if I could use up most of the charity’s expenses.
No, it would not only be worth it, but it would be a plus if I could escape from the charity expenses that are always stuck in the corner of my mind and never leave.
This is the secret of turning things around.
Let’s spend all the charity money on a big construction project under the guise of development!
＊＊＊
I enthusiastically presented this wonderful plan to the ladies.
“Um, well, this country is my hometown, and if it enriches my hometown, that’s a good thing… I guess?”
Yes, Ines is right; if there is an investment of funds as much as public works, this country will be enriched. Of course, it’s a good thing.
“You said it would be attractive just to safely house the Beastmen, but do you really need to go that far?”
It does, Claretta-san.
“It’s good that it’s safe.”
Yes, as Carla-san said, it’s a good thing.
“Master, it is true that if the moats and canals were built, this place could become richer and safer. But this is an island country, and there is no discrimination. Isn’t that an exaggeration?”
It is not difficult to understand what Felicia is saying. But since there is no way to convince her, let me use a somewhat cowardly example.
“Felicia’s village was attacked even though it was in a country where there is no racism. Bad people are everywhere, and they will go anywhere they can make money. If you build a small village in an undeveloped area that is hard to get to in this country, you may not be able to compete if you are attacked. Then, if you build a big city, the country will take notice, and if you are attacked, you can fight back. That’s the way it is.”
I am sorry to remind you of the pain.
“Indeed… you’re right…”
Felicia was convinced, and the whole atmosphere of the place changed to one of conviction.
Okay, it’s decided now.
There’s no point in staying here any longer; let’s go back to the royal capital.
Although our visit to the site changed the original plan quite a bit, it wasn’t a wasted trip because we got some great ideas after seeing the area.
When we get back to the royal capital, I’m going to hit the Adventurer’s Guild and the Merchant’s Guild with 2,500 platinum coins and use them without a second thought.
Oh, if I were to strike through a conversation, would it be at the royal palace instead of the guilds?