Volume 6 - CH 21

The stampede on a very large scale had subsided in less than a day.

The outside of the city, which had been so full of monsters, was now quiet.

The flow of power felt from the dragon’s veins was now less than half.

It must have taken a lot of energy to cause such a disaster.

It would take more than a year to return to normal.

Conversely, the danger of another stampede has been eliminated for that long.

I don’t know what will happen now, but …… some boss monsters will be born again, and they will form dungeons in each mountain.

Because that’s the kind of land this is, apparently.

Fortunately, the city suffered surprisingly little damage. Considering that this was a catastrophe that rarely happens, it is almost a miracle.

Of course, there were casualties. Eventually, the entire city will have to hold their funerals.

But —- now is the time to celebrate the victory honestly.

There is much that needs to be done. If we focus only on what we have lost, there is no way we can raise morale in the future.

And so.

The sun had set. Adventurers were drinking in various parts of town.

I myself was drinking quietly in the corner of the guild’s bar.

“Gah-hoo-hoo-hoo!”

But still, it’s too loud.

Zamlug’s booming laughter seems to have reached the bar across the street.

I don’t mind a lively atmosphere, but I was never good at this kind of thing.

But for some reason, I feel like my friends in my previous life were all like this. I must be remembering it wrong.

Incidentally, Amiyu and the others were also present at the party, but they were put to sleep in the corner because they were crushed early. Apparently, they were not good drinkers.

“Seika Lamprog!　Come here!”

Zamlug’s voice echoed through the room.

When I was reluctant, he grabbed me by the arm and pulled me up forcefully.

“It’s Seika Lamprog!　The hero who defeated the monster worm and saved the city from the stampede!”

A cheer erupted from the adventurers.

For some reason, Zamlug handed me a cup of fire wine. When I drank it as it was, the cheers went up even more. These guys are happy no matter what, aren’t they?

“How can you drink that fire wine as it is? Lamprog, you’re as strong as ever.”

I couldn’t help but run to the table where Lloyd was sitting, and the first thing I said to him was,

“I didn’t want to drink , but …… I don’t know how I got so carried away.”

“Because a tremendous amount of income will come into the city. You will be guaranteed your livelihood, and you will be famous, so you can’t help but get carried away.”

“What do you think? Not all materials can be exchanged for cash immediately, and if you don’t sell them carefully, you will lose a lot of money. Even the dungeons won’t be back to normal for a while.”

Not surprisingly, after the stampede subsided, a large number of monster carcasses were left in the vicinity of Lakana.

In other words, a treasure trove.

It was decided that they would become the property of the city for a time. This was apparently stipulated in an old law of Lakana. It was a reasonable arrangement, since the market price would break down if all the adventurers put them up for sale at once.

In exchange, of course, all residents were to receive a not-so-cheap monthly stipend. Adventurers who went into battle would, of course, receive an extra amount. At least for the next year. If they could live without working, it was understandable that they were excited.

However, now that the dungeon has disappeared, adventurers have no other means of earning money. They cannot waste money as long as it goes to living expenses.

In addition, Lakana has a large inventory of monster materials, and merchants are likely to come to Lakana to prey on them. It was going to be very difficult to maintain the market price and sell them little by little so as not to be cheated by them.

However, we might not have to worry too much about that.

Silas seems to be a go-getter, and on top of that, he’s in league with Fiona.

Well, he will do well.

While I was thinking about this, my eyes suddenly fell on Lloyd’s cup.

“…… that. I see you’re drinking too today.”

“Oh, …… to mourn my comrades. At times like this, I drink a little too.”

Lloyd sipped his glass.

It seems that many people will be drinking that way tonight.

“Oh, Lloyd. You’re welcome to have a drink, but don’t be such a bitter drunk!　We’re celebrating victory tonight!　If the party leader looks like that, he’s not doing his friends any favors!　…… And hey, don’t get too bitter. It’s not good for the future.”

Lloyd says with a slightly serious face to Zamlug, who moves in a way that makes it hard to decide whether he is drunk or serious.

“… I can’t do that. I lost my comrades because of my bad leadership. I have no right to forget about that responsibility… In fact, even the mayor has resigned from tonight’s celebrations.”

“Except for my father. He’s not an adventurer anymore. But what about you and me?　We are adventurers, aren’t we? Adventurers who choose their own way of life and get rid of it. Your friends are like that, too ……. You are too arrogant to take responsibility for the lives and deaths of every single member of your party.”

“Nevertheless. I ignored the adventurer’s style and made them bend the freedom of their own choice, and promised them success at the party. If I don’t take responsibility here, my words will be a lie. “

“Haha, your people will soon start to say all kinds of spoiled things. They deserve to be protected, they deserve to be saved, they deserve to be seen in a good light.”

“I don’t mind. I would rather have everyone live in this city, taking all of it for granted. The idea that people deserve to lose their friends, to die young, and so on, is absolutely wrong.”

“You know… ……”

“Oh, shut up.”

I put down my cup and said impatiently.

“If you’re going to quarrel, please do it somewhere else. The alcohol will taste bad.”

Before I knew it, the area around the table had become a little quieter.

The surrounding adventurers also seemed to be lost in thought due to the argument between the leaders of the two major parties in Lakana.

“…… Seika Lamprog. What do you think?”

“What?”

“What do you think …… adventurers should be?”

“……”

Zamlug suddenly turned to me, and I was puzzled.

I turned to Lloyd as if to ask for help, and for some reason he nodded strongly.

“I’d like to hear your thoughts.”

“……”

Upon closer inspection, it appeared that they were both drunk.

I sigh.

I can’t go along with the idle talk of drunken people.

“Let me tell you ….., you are both wrong. Neither of you can even reach your own ideals. You take the management of a community too lightly to begin with.”

I was bewildered at myself for saying this.

I was strangely passionate. My mouth was moving on its own.

Am I drunk, by any chance?

“Lloyd, I’ve said it before. People are different from each other. If education is only homogeneous, there will eventually be dropouts who can’t adapt to it. Furthermore, a non-competitive community that simply surrenders itself to its leaders will eventually weaken. Not everyone can be saved, and they will slowly decline. Is such a system really ideal?”

I looked away from Lloyd, who was silent, and then at Zamlug.

“Zamlug, you are no different. The freedom of adventurers is nothing but an illusion. They have very few opportunities to make their own choices. In a dangerous and ill-informed place like a dungeon, everything is decided by sheer luck, rather than their own ingenuity and effort. To call such a thing freedom is the conceit of a successful person who happens to win something. Or do you call such a status quo an ideal?”

Even Zamlug falls silent.

The guild’s bar had somehow fallen silent.

“What should we do …… then?”

Zamlug opened his mouth gravely.

“I’ve known a number of newcomers who died despite their talents. If only there had been someone to teach them about dungeons, maybe we could still be having a drink together ……. But still, I don’t think it’s good for Lakana to have spoiled adventurers who just want to be managed.”

“I don’t think my policy is perfect either. But if we spread the knowledge and techniques properly, the number of adventurers who die in trivial accidents will surely decrease. At least, it’s better than doing nothing. …… There will be problems as you say. But I couldn’t think of any other way.”

Lloyd says.

‘If you say there is an ideal way, tell us. What should we do?”

“I don’t know of any such thing. The ideal way to run an organization is the kind of thing that everyone searches for and never finds. I don’t even think it exists. There’s just …… a somewhat better way.”

“Hey, what’s that?”

“I’d love to hear about it.”

I was somewhat amused by the two of them leaning forward.

Or rather, …… what in the world am I talking about?

Still, my mouth moves on its own.

“If it’s bad to help too much and bad not to help, then just give …… the opportunity to learn and leave the rest to the individual’s free will.”

“…..?”

“…… sorry, what exactly do you want us to do?”

“I mean that everyone should have free access to the knowledge and skills needed to survive in the dungeon.”

I continue, my tone slightly subdued.

“The guild could write down in a book, for example, the locations of dangerous monsters, the compatibility of different weapons, how to recognize traps, and other information necessary for adventures. The guild could manage them, rent them out, or sell them. In any case, it would be available to anyone who wanted it. This would at …… least reduce the number of adventurers who are forced to challenge dungeons without knowing anything about them. At the same time, the will to try desperately to survive on their own can be nurtured.”

Perhaps it is because of the language and writing system, but there are many people in this country who can read, even in a city full of ruffians like this.

So, this way of doing things should be enough.

Of course, this method is not perfect. It is meaningless to those who do not have the will to learn, and even those who work hard and acquire knowledge sometimes lose their lives by sheer luck. But it is better than their extreme methods.

I am reminded of an old Latin proverb that says, “Heaven helps those who help themselves.”

After all, this is probably the limit of what one can do to help others.

Lloyd and Zamlug were somewhat taken aback as the bar was abuzz.

“No, no, but then, surely ……”

“What about the …… content? If you really want to make something like that, …… my party can help you out a little.”

“…… no.”

I continued, wondering why I was taking this seriously even though it had nothing to do with me.

“ I think it’s best to gather information from as many people as possible.”

“That is, but… Lamprog-kun. Will you be able to gather people who will cooperate with you so easily…? But…”

“What if a half-serving person gives us the wrong information?”

“The number of people will probably gather without worrying about it. There are surprisingly many people who raise their hands for such an event. The accuracy of the information can only be considered to some extent. It’s fine as long as the credibility increases every time you do it. If you’re really worried about it… you can link it to the information and put the name of the provider. If you’re an adventurer who values ​​face, it’s easy. At the same time, the number of people who see this as an honorable reward and want to cooperate will increase.”

“……!”

“Oh, I see. …….”

As the buzz in the bar grew louder,…… I, on the contrary, gradually began to calm down.

I don’t know why I’m talking so much.

While tilting the cup as if to deceive myself, I talk with my eyes cast down.

“…I am, after all, a newcomer here. If it’s an adventurer’s situation, they should know much better. If you still want to try this kind of drunken nonsense… you should talk with everyone.”

As soon as I finished saying that, the adventurers in the tavern started talking.

“…In other words, we’re making a book about dungeons, right?” Is it the guild?” “It’s okay to be a member of the council.” “Write the name of the investor. Let the rich buy the honor.” That’s great.” “If it’s a high-ranking party….”

Inside the tavern where the hustle and bustle suddenly returned――Zamlug suddenly let out a deep laugh.

“Gahahaha!　What the heck, they’re all in on it!　You’ve got some interesting ideas, Seika Lamprog.”

He drained the cup in his hand and then added a few words.

“Then I’ll leave the rest to you.”

“What about?”

I asked him with a blank stare, to which Zamlug replied in a tone of exasperation.

“I’m sure you’re not going to tell me you don’t know anything about it after taking such good care of it?”

“He’s right. We’re just adventurers. You’re the one who has been properly educated at home and at the academy, so I think you’re more qualified for this kind of thing.”

“….”

Not that I learned how to make books at the academy. ……

I sigh and say.

“I don’t know that much about it,……. I’ve already told you, you’ll have to talk it over with yourselves and decide what you want to do. I’d be happy to help, but I’m not going to take the lead.”

Zamlug and Lloyd, who heard this, looked at each other with subtle expressions …… and then said,

“You seem to have wisdom, but you’re a fool when it comes down to it. Seika Lamprog.”

“What about?”

“So much excitement. In less than half a month, your opinion will be all over town. The hero who saved Lakana has come up with an ingenious idea to train new adventurers. And every time you pass an adventurer, they will ask you. When will the strategy book be ready?　Where can I find it?　Put my name in it!”

“What?”

“Well… no, if it’s just that, it’s still good. Your party members who are sleeping in the back might get pestered.”

“… Huh?”

“I opened my mouth wide.”

“Maybe… did I say the most unnecessary thing?”

Zamlug and Lloyd both laughed and said.

“Give up”

“We will cooperate as much as possible.”