Isekai Nonbiri Nouka

In Village Five, training was held where Ririus and the others entered the forest on their own.

It seems Ririus and the others returned safely.

That is good.

However, Ria and the others who followed them in secret were dissatisfied.

They wondered whether such mild training would really be useful.

As for me, I think it is fine for the training to be mild, since Ririus and the others are still children.

Honestly, I even wanted to oppose letting them enter the forest on their own in the first place.

That is why I opposed with all my strength when Ria and the others tried to take Ririus and the others into the forest around the Big Tree Village.

Calm down.

Ririus and the others are still children.

Fuuma, who also secretly accompanied Ririus and the others…

No problems there.

Ah, you tied Ria and the others up with threads several times.

No, you do not need to apologize.

Ria and the others must have been planning something strange.

Something like staging a crisis for the children.

Thank you for stopping them.

-0-

And today.

Setting Ririus and the others aside for now, Ria and the other High Elves enter the forest as part of their training.

Since snow has piled up, they plan to finish in a few days for safety.

If possible, I would like Ria and the others to avoid doing anything dangerous as well.

「We will not go far, and the forest is our garden. Please do not worry」

When they put it that way, it is hard to oppose.

But do they really need pursuers?

The ones chasing Ria and the others in the forest are a group of kuros.

They are not exactly full of motivation.

More like reluctant.

Some of them look unhappy, saying it is cold and they would rather stay in the kotatsu and keep warm.

Normally, the Fenrir family, who are strong in winter, or the Cocytus Wolves, a subspecies of Inferno Wolves led by Fubuki, would be ideal.

However, the Fenrir family and the Cocytus Wolves are the main force guarding the winter village.

They cannot be pulled away for training, so Ria and the others held back.

Instead, they pleaded with Kuro and the others who were sitting in the kotatsu.

Those who failed to escape into the kotatsu, or were kicked out of it, make up the pursuer role gathered here.

Still, Ria and the others did not ask without a plan.

It seems they properly called Anne as well.

「Without pursuers, there is no tension」

That may be true, but…

This is training, right?

If the pursuers are kuros with little motivation, is that not unsuitable?

When I voiced my doubt, Ria and the others looked away.

「Village Chief. Do you think we High Elves could do anything against highly motivated Inferno Wolves?」

But they were saying that Ririus and the others’ training was too mild…

「No matter who we are, we would not tell children to face a dragon barehanded」

I see.

That is the level we are talking about.

「Then, we will begin the training!」

Saying that, Ria and the others entered the forest.

Even though it is winter and they are wearing thick clothes and heavy gear, their footprints are barely visible on the snow.

Amazing.

After a few hours, the kuros are supposed to begin the pursuit.

But…

It would be cruel to make them wait until then.

All right, all right.

I will play with them until it is time.

Ah, as thanks for going along with Ria and the others’ training.

Whether my actions were good or bad…

Because kuros became motivated, all of the High Elves were captured that very day.

I am glad the training ended safely.

-0-

Sea sponge.

Sea salt soap.

Seaweed soap.

They are popular beauty products that have recently begun to be produced and sold in Shashaato City.

Even Shirukine-san, the wife of Beezel, who is very sensitive to beauty-related matters, seems to be paying close attention to them.

Why have these items been lined up in front of me?

The one who arranged them is Bell, who has just returned from Shashaato City.

Then Bell brought in Miyo from the next room, bound with rope.

「Miyo was involved in the production of these items and yet failed to report it to the Village Chief. I believe this constitutes treason. How shall we deal with her?」

As Bell stated this calmly, Miyo hurriedly protested.

「T-that’s not it. There’s no way I’d commit treason. It’s a misunderstanding, yes, a misunderstanding」

What is going on, Miyo?

This is different from usual. That strange dialect is slipping out.

「What kind of misunderstanding would that be?」

You’re going to keep going without worrying about it, huh.

「Of course. These were a surprise I was preparing to amaze the Village Chief」

「A surprise, you say?」

「Naturally. I planned to reveal everything later with a big announcement and surprise you, but Bell jumped the gun and exposed it」

「So you were not lining your own pockets?」

「Obviously not. I did not receive any money at all」

「But you did receive the products themselves, correct?」

「Ah, those were just samples. To show what the finished products look like」

「That was a very large number for samples, though…」

「They gave me extra, saying it would serve as advertising if I handed them out」

「We have confirmed that you are selling them, through yourself as an intermediary, to Apollo Beauty Shop, which is connected to Shirukine-san, the wife of Beezel-san」

「I-it involves nobles. If I cannot put up a proper front, I would get taken advantage of」

「I see」

「You understand, then?」

「The one who decides that is Village Chief. Now, next. You are expanding the area around Shashaato City, correct?」

「W-well. There are only limited places where Shashaato can expand」

「You are making heavy use of detached territories, are you not?」

「That is for future expansion. Shashaato is also a major transportation hub. If everything is connected, it would get clogged」

「Hmm. So the detached territories are for flexibility in expansion. There is no other intention?」

「None at all」

「Then about the detached territory in the northern part of Shashaato. Near the place where there was an explosion before. You are producing artificial magnetite there, correct? What is this? It was hidden very carefully」

「Ah, th-that is…」

「And in the northwestern detached territory of Shashaato, you are building a new port, correct? Not only that, you are also constructing a fossil fuel processing facility. There was no report about any of this at all… Is this also a surprise?」

「J-joking. I am joking」

「Which part of that is a joke?」

「C-can you listen without getting angry?」

「Go ahead」

「I wanted to prepare the necessary materials in advance for producing multipurpose humanoid mobile heavy machinery, the Arti-Horse」

「I see. So you were planning to buy up and monopolize them before prices rise?」

「I-I was not thinking of anything that ruthless. I was just thinking about my old age and wanted to save a little」

「That is an excessive amount for old-age planning」

「Prices go up every year, so I do not think it is that huge a sum」

「We will leave the judgment of the amount as well to Village Chief」

With that, the little staged drama came to an end.

The two of them looked at me.

Hey, even if you look at me like that, I do not know what to do…

Well, um.

I do understand that you want to convince everyone by steering the conversation in that direction.

-0-

Did you misuse our assets without permission?

I will not get angry over something like a late report.

At my words, Bell and Miyo both looked relieved.

Well, the civil servant girls might scold you a bit.

Accept that graciously.

「Okaaay」

Now then, Miyo.

What was the real reason you did not report it?

「I was thinking of the beauty products as bribes for Village Chief’s wives, just in case」

I see.

「As for the magnetite and fossil fuels, I wondered if we could somehow revive technologies from the kingdom era」

Hmm.

So the delay in reporting was because there are so many dragons around me.

「Ehehe」

Do not try to laugh it off.

Well, Dors and the others being cautious about technology is also for safety reasons.

Do not dislike them for that.

「Okaaay」

Ah, I will not punish Miyo myself, but I do not mind if Bell personally disciplines her.

「Thank you very much」

「Eh? Village Chief?」

Miyo, do not make Bell worry too much.

For now, the artificial magnetite and fossil fuel processing… I will consult Dors about that.

I do not think he will complain too much.

-0-

Ah, right.

I stop Bell as she is about to leave the room.

How were the Kissinley couple doing?

「……They were working seriously. In fact, this matter came to light because of a tip from that couple」

Really?

「Yes. They said they repeatedly told Miyo that intentionally delaying reports was not good, but she would not listen」

…I see.

The Kissinley couple are in a weak position.

It is not a crime or fraud, but being forced into insincere behavior would put them in a difficult spot.

Bell.

「Yes」

Make Miyo’s punishment a little harsher.

「Understood」

Bell had a very good expression on her face.