Chapter 755 – Conversation About Disaster Prevention in the Royal Capital
Raimeiren and the others made a snow mountain of around 30 meters high on the south side of the village.
The children were very excited seeing the yearly snow mountain they can play at.
Hey, children.
Before you go to the snow mountain, you should thank Raimenren and the others for building it.
Also, did you already have breakfast?
Don’t wear light clothes.
Wear something warm.
If you sweat, you can just….maa, the oni maids who will be accompanying you will give you further instructions.
The children took their skis and sleds and headed for the snow mountain.
I’ll be there later too.
Incidentally, the children knew why Raimeiren and the others built the snow mountain so they thought of making Hiichirou and Guraru use it first. However, Hiichirou said that they should all play together.
Raimeiren was in tears saying Hiichirou had grown up to be a good boy but I think he had always been a good boy.
Or maybe I thought so since I’m the father.
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After breakfast.
Youko did not go to Village Five but stayed in the village.
There is a meeting with the demon king, Beezel, and Randan.
The topic of the meeting is to recheck and reconfirm the economic relationship between the kingdom and Village Five.
Well, these matters had been discussed several times beforehand so there shouldn’t be any major issue.
In fact, the talk about it was over within five minutes after the demon king arrived.
It was over but….
Why am I reading the report about it?
Village Five aside, why do I have to know what’s happening to the Demon King’s Kingdom?
Hnn?
Chat?
Yeah, I don’t mind but, what are we going to talk about?
Randan took out a document and put it on the board.
「Actually, the number of fires in the royal capital has become alarming….」
According to the data Randan showed me, twenty-seven fires, big and small, occurred in the royal capital between spring and fall of this year.
27…..that’s a lot.
If it were a full year, that means there would be at least two fires per month.
「It is increasing every year desu. When we were discussing about countermeasures, someone talked about the fire incidents of Village Five desu. I don’t know about this year but last year and the year before, there was not a single fire incident. That’s amazing. I would like to know if there’s some kind of countermeasure or initiative for you to achieve this…. 」
I don’t know any countermeasures or initiatives you are talking about.
I’m just urging the residents to do the usual fire drills….mainly fire extinguishing and evacuation drills.
「No, no, village chief, that’s not all.」
Youko began talking.
「Village chief was very particular about disaster prevention when he founded Village Five. Not only did he make sure that evacuation routes and evacuation sites were secured but he also strictly set the width between houses to prevent the spread of fire in case there was fire.」
Well, that’s natural.
I’m sure you’re doing the same, right?
Hearing my question, the demon king, Beezel, and Randan turned their gazes away.
……
Eh?
You haven’t done it.
Didn’t you design your cities?
-0-
The demon king started talking.
「In building a city, the only things that will be planned are the defense facilities and the nobles’ mansions. We give them the freedom to do what they want….」
Translation: The royal capital was close to the front line, why would we waste our time designing the city?
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Beezel argued.
「We converted an already existing city and turned it into the royal capital so there are some parts that are hard to touch….」
Translation: Even if we design the city, it will be stopped considering the effort required to realize it.
-0-
Randan says.
「Giving the citizens freedom and liberty is our policy.」
Translation: Even if we order them, not many will listen.
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And you’re telling me you’re running a country?
No, I understand that you have to step back in designing the city considering war with other countries.
However, there hasn’t been any conflict for the last ten years or so so you have to think about improving the city.
「I’ll encourage them.」
「We’ll do our best」
「We’ll try.」
No no no, why are you so reluctant?
Ah, I see. You’re joking, right? I guess there’s nothing wrong with being lighthearted.
-0-
This will be a long conversation so the oni maids brought a new tea….green tea.
There’s also some kinako mochi (mochi made from soybean flour) given to everyone.
Green tea was served because of kinako mochi.
Nice choice.
The kinako mochi was made from last year’s mochi powder but there’s no problem with the taste.
Ah, we haven’t pounded them yet this year.
I’m planning to do it on a nice day when we can get a certain number of people together.
Today would have been a perfect day but it was taken by the snow mountain.
-0-
Let’s get back to the fire issue. It’s important to find out the cause of the fire.
We need to find out what is causing the fire and take countermeasures from the findings.
At the same time, you should build evacuation routes and evacuation sites.
If there’s an emergency, I think it is necessary to evacuate people to houses with big yards.
「I see.」
Randan was impressed but as far as I was concerned, I’m not even saying much.
I’m sure you did something similar, right? You investigated the causes, right?
「Ah, that….」
He seems reluctant.
What’s going on?
Then, Randan began talking about it.
「When a fire breaks out, the area around it will become noisy and our hands will be full for acting against thievery during fire…. Once things settled down, those who started the fire will either be driven out of the city or executed…」
In short, even if you wanted to find out, you couldn’t?
That’s not a good practice to prevent fire from happening again.
What about Village Five?
When I asked Youko, she puffed her chest out.
「In Village Five, the cause of the fire will be thoroughly investigated by the local security team. In the past, what caused fires were magic explosion, torch and bonfire mismanagement, and fires caused by cooking. Of course, countermeasures have been taken for each of these so fires caused by the same cause are almost unheard of.」
Ahhh, that’s expected.
Youko looked at Randan and continued.
「It is presumptuous of me to speak of the royal capital but fire prevention is the result of an accumulation of information. It would be better to create a systematic investigation.」
「I understand. I will inform the mayor and have him create a systematic investigation.」
Eh?
There is a mayor in the royal capital?
Isn’t it under the demon king?
「The demon king is the overseer of the whole kingdom, not the royal capital. Of course, I’m also in charge of the internal affairs of the kingdom and not of the royal capital. He is one of my subordinates.」
Heh, I didn’t know that.
「If it is necessary, do you want me to bring him to greet you?」
No need, no need.
Ah, but could you tell him to hold fire drills?
If the residents experience firefighting and evacuation, even if they don’t want to, it will change their mindset about fires.
That alone would reduce the number of fires.
「Understood. Youko-dono, could you please give me some material about the fire drills conducted in Village Five later?」
「If the royal capital burns to the ground, it will be an economic disaster. There is no problem in submitting them. Ah, and don’t make bif fires in fire drills. It will be confusing and may lead to a real fire. Start small and spread it.」
「Okay, I understand.」
「Also, participating should be voluntary. Don’t make it mandatory.」
「Is that so? However, wouldn’t that make more people aware?」
「Fire drill should be renamed as “countermeasures when there’s fire”. You won’t have any trouble of getting people participate if you use that name.」
Come to think of it, when I talked to Pirika about fire drills in Village Five before, she asked me if I was talking about “countermeasures when there’s fire”.
-0-
I spoke about fire drills with Randan along with Youko.
The demon king and Beezel listened quietly to our conversation….or not.
The demon king was enjoying his kinako mochi while playing with the imoutonekos.
Beezel had Fracia on his lap and was very pleased with her.
Hey, aren’t we talking about disaster prevention in the royal capital?
「It is best to leave things to the person in charge. If I misspoke or something, it will only cause confusion.」
「Agreed.」
I see.
Anyway, the conversation was over.
After this, I’m going to the snow mountain to check on the children. What about you?
Randan will immediately get back and tell the mayor what we just discussed.
Good luck.
The fewer fire victims, the better.
Beezel sent Randan back to the royal capital and then came back here for a family reunion with Frau and Fracia.
The demon king is….building a camp for a snowball fight?
Ah, that’s what Glatts has been doing with the high elves since yesterday.
I don’t know how they divide themselves but I think Glatts is on the demon king’s side this time.
Maa, don’t overdo it.
After I go to the snow mountain, I’ll get something warm.
Youko’s not going to Village Five…..?
She’s going to hang out with Hitoe at the kotatsu.
Well, I don’t mind.
You’ve informed Village Five, right?
Then there’s no problem.
-0-
Randan: Let’s compare the position of the mayor to a fleet.
Demon King: I’m the admiral and I direct the movement of the entire fleet.
Royal Capital Mayor: I’m the captain of the ship where the admiral is aboard and I direct the operation of the ship.
Randan: As for me, I’m like the chief of staff of the admiral.
Village Chief: That made it harder for me to understand.
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Ridley: I can only converse with the mayor’s subordinates so there’s no way I can reach the mayor’s boss(Randan-sama).
At least that’s how it was in the past. Now, if she wants to, she can easily meet Randan.
What’s the point of talking with the member of the city council if you can easily meet the Internal Affairs Minister?
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