Chapter 101: The Bear Is Unnecessary? — Part Two

Chapter 101:
The Bear Is Unnecessary?
Part Two

 

FROM THERE, we started talking about how the tunnel should be used.

“We need to make the tunnel usable as soon as possible,” said Cliff.

“Isn’t it already usable? You came here through it, right?”

“Yes, but right now it’s less of a tunnel, more of a…long hole, let’s call it.”

Harsh. I put a lot of effort into this thing, you know? But he wasn’t wrong, exactly, and I couldn’t think of a good comeback, so…

“The inside of the tunnel is pitch black, so we need to install light mana gems. There are too many trees obscuring the tunnel, too: enough to either hide the entrance or to make it impossible for carriages to pass through. We’ll have to do some landscaping.”

Okay, sure, a carriage couldn’t get through. We could both agree on that. But what about a big, beautiful horse? That could make it through, couldn’t it? Maybe? Barely?

“I suppose we could say that’s the reason the tunnel wasn’t discovered until now. Your seaport will need to supply labor and clear the ground, by the way, just as our side will. We’ll provide wages, of course, so don’t worry about that. But you will have to manage them,” he said, and stared at Jeremo.

Jeremo blinked. “You mean me?”

“Of course I mean you. Aren’t you representing the trade guild?”

“U-Understood. I suppose I am.”

Oof. It was hard to watch, but I bet he’d get the hang of it.

“And regarding the light mana gems?” Jeremo said, standing marginally straighter but looking a little paler.

“I’ll make arrangements for the mana gems, so rest easy. We’ll also need wind and earth mana gems, after all.”

Atola and the others breathed sighs of relief when Cliff said that. I bet they wouldn’t know what to do if they had to cough up the money themselves.

“I suppose that’s all we can discuss,” said Cliff. “The rest will go faster if you see the tunnel for yourselves. Today, if possible.”

“Then please,” said Atola, “allow me to prepare carriages.” Quickly, she left to tell Sei about the arrangements—and I do mean quickly, because she came right back. “Sorry to keep you waiting.”

Cliff was either unfazed or hadn’t noticed. “Elect a representative for the seaport next. I’d like to talk to them next time. Of course, I wouldn’t mind if it were one of you.”

“Like a mayor?”

“Like a mayor. We can’t settle discussions without a proper representative for your people.”

“Yes, of course. Just give us a few days and we’ll have a mayor for you.”

“And in a few days, I’ll meet them,” said Cliff and, looking satisfied, passed the conversation to Milaine.

 

“Now, then,” said Milaine, smiling broadly at Jeremo. “Today’s trade guild business. Once again, I feel as though I must apologize for the trouble caused by our sister guild in this town. I’ve read the letter from Atola—read it again, in fact, and only got angrier. We do not condone such behavior in the trade guild, and will not stand idly by in its wake. We will mete out the punishment in the same manner we would in Crimonia.”

“Um, if I might ask,” said Jeremo quietly, “what would that take the form of, exactly?”

“Execution,” said Cliff simply. “The seaport will become part of my territory, after all, so it follows that the punishment will be the same I’d deal out to any such low-lifes in Crimonia. They murdered people and stole property, and did it all in one of my towns. Therefore, execution. Nothing good would come from letting them live, you see—no, the hearts of your people need the cold comfort of retribution.”

That is, the people of the seaport—those who’d lost fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, grandfathers, grandmothers, and more to starvation and banditry. I couldn’t imagine suffering that and just letting it go.

“We’ll hold the execution in the seaport’s plaza in a few days’ time,” said Cliff. “Viewable to all who wish to see it. Once justice is dispensed, we can forget about this terrible affair.”

“And the robbers too?”

“Regardless of whether they were just following the orders of the trade guild, any murderers or rapists will receive the death penalty. Those guilty of less will work in the mines till they’ve earned their freedom.”

It was hard to hear that. He was so certain, so quick to deal that out and move on. Sure, these guys were awful, and sure, they killed defenseless people, but I couldn’t imagine making that kind of decision. I couldn’t imagine having to do that as a job, day in and day out. Cliff knew what he was doing. He was really…something else.

“If any of the relatives of those condemned to death have complaints, you may tell them to freely contact me. Use my name.”

Jeremo nodded vigorously. “We understand. Um, Lord Cliff, thank you very much.”

“No need for that. I’m doing my job.”

“Yes, yes, all very well then,” said Milaine, “but let’s talk about the future of the trade guild, shall we?”

Jeremo looked nervous when he heard that.

“One thing I’d like to ask,” said Milaine, “is whether this Jeremo fellow is someone you trust? Is he a hard worker? What sort is he?”

The old men tilted their heads slightly at that question, but immediately had an answer, “Jeremo is by no means diligent, but he turns in his work.”

“Plays hooky sometimes, but the townspeople like him.”

“He was stealing fish and redistributing them to the poor just earlier.”

“True, true. Grumble as he may, he does the work and his heart’s in the right place.”

After a little more chatting about Jeremo’s character, Milaine made her decision: “In that case, we’ll make Jeremo the guild master for the seaport.”

“What was that last part?”

“For the seaport.”

“Before that.”

“The guild master, yes. While the guild was (shall we say) unstable, you still earned the close trust of the people. Trust is a valuable commodity in a time like this: if an outsider like me were to become the guild master, it wouldn’t be a good look.”

“But…the guild master? Me?”

“I’ll send someone to assist you. You can take your time learning the ropes.”

“Jeremo,” an elder piped in, “this request is coming from us as well. Do you realize how much hope your actions brought us all?”

Another: “And if you want to play hooky, just dump the work on one of your employees.”

And another: “Jeremo, we’re begging you.”

The elders bowed their heads. Seemed a little irresponsible for a bunch of old dudes to give him permission to play hooky, didn’t it? But I guess the guild master of Crimonia’s trade guild did that too. Was it just part of the job description?

“Yuna, do you have something to add?”

“Nope.”

Milaine gave me a long, suspicious look, and I retreated deep into my bear hood to escape. Ah, the hoodie…a shut-in’s best friend.

“All right,” said Jeremo to the elders, “I understand. Please stop bowing. If you’re sure I’m good enough for the job, then I accept your judgment.”

Milaine smiled when he said that, and Jeremo definitely noticed. As for the bit where his face turned bright red at the sight of her smile…maybe it was a trick of the light, maybe not. Who can say?

“Excellent, Jeremo. I’ve got vital documents for you now, regarding trade guild work, so please get to them the moment they arrive. As for informing the staff and residents—I’ll leave that to you, guild master Jeremo.” Milaine gave a few more details about trade guild business while Jeremo listened intently, and then…

“That about covers it, I’d say. Now we just need to go to the trade guild. Cliff, do you think we should start there, or…?”

“We can start with the tunnel. I’d rather have the employees hear about it firsthand from Jeremo and the rest of you. Besides, we need to have the five of you examine the tunnel as our representatives of the seaport.”

Milaine sniffed. “Hm. I suppose you’re right. Let’s go, shall we?”

And on we went—three guild masters (one of them new), some old guys, a mayor, and the bear girl who kicked it all off.

 

Right outside the adventurers’ guild, we found two roofed carriages waiting for us. Sei stood before them. “Lord Cliff, Miss Milaine. I apologize that we only have small carriages, but I have nevertheless prepared them for you.”

He wasn’t lying about the small part—these were tiny compared to the one that nobleman from the capital, Gran, used. Cliff didn’t seem to mind. “Don’t worry about it.”

And now that I thought about it, no nobles lived in the seaport. Who would use an ostentatious carriage?

Sei directed us to board. The carriages had seats for four people, two pairs facing the other. Cliff, Milaine, Atola, and I piled into the first carriage. The three old men and Jeremo rode in the second one.

Once Atola gave instructions to the driver, the carriages started moving, and we were off. (For real this time.)

“Yuna, thank you for bringing the lord of Crimonia here,” said Atola from beside me. “I really can’t thank you enough.”

“I made a promise, didn’t I?”

“Yes, but I didn’t expect you to drill a tunnel through a mountain in the process.”

Sure. I was happy to let them think that was why I did it, rather than to nab a great seafood chef for Crimonia.

Cliff’s sharp eyes read me like a book. “Yuna, why are you making a face…Huh! It seems she didn’t actually make the tunnel for the town.”

“You didn’t?” Atola asked.

“Whatever could you mean?” I said awkwardly.

“Lies?” said Cliff.

“Lies,” said Milaine.

“Come now, Yuna, spit it out.”

The mighty bear hood failed me.

“Yuna…” Even Atola was giving me a look now? Really?

Ugh. The jig was up. I told them the truth: I made the tunnel to secure a distribution channel to bring seafood to Crimonia, and Anz along with it.

Cliff? “…”

Milaine? “…”

Atola? “…”

“I just can’t believe it,” said Cliff.

Atola squinted like she wasn’t sure she could see me. “You did all of that just to bring a cook over?”

“No. I mean, yes, but not yes as, uh, the only yes. Did I think it’d be nice to have seafood in Crimonia? That’s a yes. But Atola, you and old man Kuro seemed like you wanted to have more back and forth with Crimonia, didn’t you? Yes. So I thought it’d be nice to have a tunnel—I mean it.” And I did mean it—I meant it right from the heart—but they all looked fed up.

“I think,” said Cliff, “it would be best not to tell old Kuro and the others about this.”

“Agreed,” said Milaine.

“Yeah, I’d hate to destroy the illusion for them,” said Atola, and that was that.

Huh. For all that work I’d done making the tunnel, all that appreciation dropped like a rock.