“...You want to go investigate the <Demon Forest>?”
“Yes. The ecology of the monsters inhabiting the <Demon Forest> is extremely interesting. I want to conduct an active investigation.”
The guildmaster of the “Adventurers’ Guild” that existed in Northend City was holding a meeting with a representative of <Paraiso>, the current ruler.
The other party was a tall woman with fox ears and a tail. Her brown wavy hair stood out, and she seemed to be the External Affairs point of contact for the current <Paraiso> garrison forces.
“...Is that a request for us to provide the information we have?”
“No. It is enough if you attach guides and the like. We will conduct the investigation ourselves.”
In Northend City, adventurers—and the resource called monsters that they brought back—were the lifeline for the city’s survival. Even if they had been placed under control by force, they could not simply accept being told to hand everything over.
But the <Paraiso> representative had never once taken such an overbearing attitude.
“The investigation is the main objective. We have no intention of hunting the monsters to extinction, and in that sense, we do not intend to take your work. However, we recognize that the ones most knowledgeable about the monsters, and by extension the <Demon Forest>, are you adventurers. Therefore we are requesting your cooperation. Of course, I promise we will pay appropriate compensation.”
They had seized this adventurer city by force.
Therefore, the residents paid a certain degree of respect to <Paraiso>.
The fact that they did not commit unreasonable violence against the residents, and not only that, but even provided necessary supplies such as food and cloth, also helped build that reputation.
The guildmaster considered it.
The Adventurers’ Guild was an organization born in order to hold together, by force, the rough and violent people called adventurers.
They fought monsters day after day, and possessed power separated from ordinary people.
If they ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) appealed through violence, people who did not make fighting their livelihood could not stand against them.
However, if they behaved however they pleased, the city would collapse in no time.
The Adventurers’ Guild maintained order in Northend City by using the method of suppressing power with a greater power.
“...Understood. I will arrange to attach the most rational ones we have. But even if you’re going into the forest, it won’t do if you don’t have at least a minimum level of ability.”
“No problem. Basic performance is the same as the troops that seized this city.”
The soldiers who seized Northend City were the Android Communicators with fox ears and tails, who even now periodically patrolled the street corners.
They had a record of carefully neutralizing adventurers who resisted.
“I see. Then, well, there probably won’t be a problem. Though someone with a bit of a rebellious streak might get mixed in...”
“No problem. We will crush them.”
“...I see.”
The guildmaster, while having a strong tendency to appeal to force, was still the top of an organization in their own way.
If <Paraiso> made a request, they understood that no matter how bitterly they felt about it, they had no choice but to comply.
Most adventurers would not harbor treasonous intent toward <Paraiso>, which had demonstrated its power.
But some were still trying to resist.
Especially among true adventurers who spent most of their time in the <Demon Forest>, there were plenty who, out of pride, could not acknowledge <Paraiso>.
“As for compensation, let’s see. We have not obtained enough of this city’s currency, so it will basically be payment in goods. Is that acceptable? Within one week, we also plan to open our own shop. We could also give you currency usable there.”
“Ah... Yeah. If you’re going to route supplies to the guild, I don’t mind being paid in money. Pick things out from there.”
Even though <Paraiso> had taken control of the city, it had not engaged in any looting.
In other words, they did not have cash on hand. Now that it was said aloud, that was true.
Also, opening a shop was news to the guildmaster. What did they intend to sell?
“As for the shop, we will consult separately, but it is mainly planned to be food and daily necessities. Of course, we will give sufficient consideration to existing merchants as well, so please rest assured.”
“Ah... Yeah. If you’re going to think about that, I’d appreciate it.”
Their pace was being thrown off the entire time. The guildmaster let out a sigh.
They had come into the meeting prepared for various things, since the other party was the ruler, but it felt like it had ended in wasted effort.
It did not seem like there was much need to think about bargaining.
“Also, we will build a supply base in the suburbs that will serve as the investigation team’s foothold. Regarding land use, is there anything we need to be concerned about?”
“If it’s outside the walls, use it however you like as long as it’s not on the road. Inside the city, it’s usually the commercial guild running things. Like you can see, if we’re not inside the walls, we can’t even sleep properly.”
Because it was close to the <Demon Forest>, monsters inevitably appeared in the surrounding area.
Unless they were inside the walled city, they certainly could not live properly.
“I see. Then we will build the base as we please.
“And also, up to now we have been making various demands, but our policy is to lift them in stages. Approval will probably come down soon for activities by the self-defense militia to resume.
“In exchange, our patrols will decrease.”
“...Understood. Going forward, what position will you be in?”
The de facto top of Northend City was this Adventurers’ Guild. There was no lord. The commercial guild had influence as well, but compared to the Adventurers’ Guild, it was a level lower.
How would <Paraiso> insert itself into that power structure?
“Let’s see. Well, I want you to recognize us as something like a lord. However, basically, we will leave things to your autonomy as before. We will speak up only when we judge that there are clear signs of rebellion against us. For example—if you were to fail to suppress resistance against us, we would then dispatch an operating force.”
“...So it’s fine to understand that you won’t interfere except in extraordinary circumstances?”
“That understanding is correct. Our objective is neither tyranny nor exploitation. If I had to say it, it is land. Fortunately, the United Kingdom of Aphrasia is wide—at least in land, yes? In that sense, we believe we can coexist with you. If you resist, we will suppress you. But basically, you may do as you like.”
This might have been the first time that part of <Paraiso>’s objective had been conveyed.
The guildmaster desperately turned their mind, trying to understand <Paraiso>’s objective.
“Exchange with the Royal Capital and other cities is cut off right now. Will that be reopened as well?”
“We will permit it. We will also begin improving the roads soon. From now on, travel will become easier. Ah, you do not need to worry. We have already seized the other cities too, but it is much the same as here. Gradually, you will be able to return to daily life.”
It still seemed it would take a long time before the guildmaster could truly understand <Paraiso>’s laissez-faire approach.
◇◇◇◇
Northend City has a lake adjoining it from the north side to the west side. This is meaningful as water for daily life, but it is also an important location for preventing monster incursions.
And to the east.
At a location about 2 kilometers away, heavy equipment air-dropped from Gigantia had begun construction work.
What controlled it was a strategic-grade AI installed ahead of time.
The AI selected this time was the O-class AI <Cosmos>, created by copying Olive’s neural pattern. However, the control unit chosen was not a Brain Unit, but a large computing device that used a Photonics Neural Network.
Compared to a Brain Unit, it was a large device about eight times greater in volume, but it was a computing device capable of quantizing all information, and capable of flexibly accommodating backups and external function integration.
This time, in investigating the <Demon Forest>, it was necessary to operate a large number of terminals, but if a Brain Unit were used, then if that individual were lost, valuable information would be lost as well.
Therefore, they decided to use an electronics-based computing device for which backup and real-time synchronization were easy.
And for that control and oversight, highly compatible, electronics-based optical-circuit elements were also required.
In terms of flexibility of thought, it possessed computing capability not much inferior to a Brain Unit, so operating experience up to now should also be applicable in full.
<Cosmos> would, for the time being, be responsible for manufacturing infiltration devices for the investigation.
