「それじゃ進捗報告会議、始めましょうか」

　酒場の片隅.
　奥まった位置にあるテーブルに集まっているのは、村長とエタンさん、ヘイモにノエミさん、それと俺とパウラといういつもの面々だ.
　酒場の主であるウーテさんは、まだ数人を接客中である.
　最近は忙しすぎるため、そろそろ手伝いの人を増やしたいらしい.
　まあ、ミアも近い内に探索に復帰できそうだし、そうなると余計に手が足りなくなるだろうしな.

　ウーテさんは客が引けたら参加するとのことで、先に始めることにする.
　それと内容を後で見返せるように、今回からはパウラに書記を頼んで議事録を作成することにした.
　ただ他国出身のヘイモとエタンさんは鬼人文字が読めないので、西部共通語での翻訳も同時に書いてもらう.

　忙しい中、揃ってくれた面々を見回した俺は、まずは新たに見つかったばかりの開拓向けの階層の説明から入ることにした.

「昨日、到達した十五階ですが、今までのどの階層よりも広いですね」
「ほほう、それは素晴らしい知らせですな」
「深い森があると聞いて、私もワクワクしてますよ」
「おいおい、山のほうが大事だろうが！」

　男性三人の口ぶりに、俺は手応えを感じながら言葉を続ける.

「ざっと分かった範囲だけですが、天井にかなりの数の雨生岩があって、降水量は結構期待できるかと」
「となると、作物をさらに栽培しやすくなりますか. 川もあることですし、聞けば聞くほどいい場所のようですな」
「ええ、それに新しい妖精種も見つかりましたしね」
「河童という名前は初めて聞きましたが、あの子も素晴らしい特技をお持ちでしたな」

　昨日の帰り道、五階に立ち寄って畑で作業中だった村長たちにさっそくカッちゃんの<雨乞い>を披露したのだ.
　水路や溜池が完成したとはいえ、水撒き自体はまだ手作業である.
　そこへ小さな雲とはいえ、自在に雨を降らせる使役魔の存在は渡りに船であったようだ.

「それで五階のほうはどうなってますか？」
「夏麦の種まきは、まだ半分といったところですな. 野菜のほうは、ほぼ終わりましたが」
「村のほうはどうなってます？」
「そっちも半分といったところです. 正直に言いますと、少々手が足りておりません」

　作付面積が、いきなり二倍以上になったことだしな.
　それでも二週間足らずで、半分終わっていれば十分に優秀だと言える.
　ただレベルアップの恩恵や生活環境の改善で作業効率自体は上がってはいるが、根本的な労働力そのものが決定的に不足している感はあるな.

「ゴブリンたちは、畑仕事はどうですか？」
「うーむ、勧めてはみましたが、誰も手を挙げず……. 興味がないことに関しては、彼らは徹底的にやりたがりませんな」
「やはりそうですか」

　よく言えば職人気質なゴブリンどもだが、悪く言えば偏屈でそそられない物事には完全に無関心である.
　もっとも物作りという点では飛び抜けているので、向いていない農作業を無理やりやらせるのは損失だとも言えるが.

「でも狩りに関しては、彼らが居てくれてすごく助かってますよ」

　フォローに入ったのは、ゴブリンの弓隊を率いるエタンさんだ.
　前まで居た村人の弓士たちは現在、畑仕事に追われており、その穴を埋めるためにゴブリンから有志を集って、八階に追加で二十匹ほど居住してもらったのだ.
　It seems to be a good match for the fairies' spying net, and they've managed to take out the black-haired wolves and forest crows.

　I've entrusted Mr. Etan with the development of the eighth floor, so I'll ask him about the progress of that next.

Is the house building going well?
I'm in the process of extending the bridge to the second tree. The charcoal kiln will be ready this weekend.
Oh, it's going well. Speaking of which, I got a new material from the demon. It's a strong-looking ivy. Would you like to try it?
That would be great. Thank you very much.

　At first, we only used the tree house on the eighth floor, but it quickly became cramped with the number of fairies, goblins, and sheep that had settled there.
　So they built scaffolding on thick branches, on which several huts had already been built.
　Then, a suspension bridge made of ivy was connected to a neighboring tree, and further expansion was underway.

　Perhaps the vines of bloodsucking ivy, a part of the demon, could make a safer bridge.
　I asked Etan, who looked more beautiful when she smiled, what she remembered about the hut.

Well, how's the new roof?
How's the new roof? Yes, it helped a lot too. It's sturdy and hasn't sprung a leak so far. Now if we could just get a few more, we'd be all set.
"All right. I'll try to find them as soon as possible.

　There is also an Amei Rock on the eighth floor, which collects water and makes it rain.
　Until now, the leaves of the cedar trees that spread out all around the ceiling had caught all the rain.
　However, when the sword-tailed dragonfly cut off a large branch, the sun and rocks began to shine through, but at the same time, the rain began to drip down.
　So he decided to use slates made from slate as a roof for his hut in the tree.

"Hey, hey, hey, give me more rocks, too!

　During the exchange between me and Mr. Etan, Heimo the blacksmith suddenly became angry.
　His boiling point is as low as ever, but it's the same as always, so no one makes a fuss.

　Heimo is currently building a forge on the ninth floor with his apprentice goblins.
　The tuff from the twelfth floor is perfect for the blast furnace they are building there, and they want more of it.

So, what about you?
"Oh, you finally asked. Well, the furnace is almost ready.
How close is close?
A little bit is a little bit!　Don't ask me details!

　Heimo is slumped over with his arms crossed, but he doesn't seem to understand that this meeting is to check the progress of each floor.
　Well, I've been delivering the stones every day, so I know what's going on.
　At the current rate of progress, it will take at least another month.

Well, take your time on the ninth floor. How's the other job going?


"Oh, that way?　Well, it's not so bad.

　This month, Hans-san had brought a variety of tools from the capital, and he had asked Heimo and the others to not only use them, but to see if they could make the same things in the village.
　It was important to be prepared now, just in case.
　There was one piece of armor in particular that would be very useful in our quest.
　I really want to mass produce it.

Is it too difficult?
"Well, I took it apart, but there aren't that many parts, so it's up to the goblins.
Okay. I'd appreciate it if you could get it into shape as soon as possible.
How soon is too soon?　I can't get motivated if the deadline is too vague.

　As I chuckled at Heimo's unreasonable comment, a mug of wine was suddenly placed on the table.
　I turned to see Ute standing there with a frown on his face.
　It seems that he has finally finished his work.

　From the sweet aroma wafting in the air, the amber liquid poured into the mug seemed to be honey wine, which had recently been added to the menu.
　However, there were only enough for five people at the table.
　With only one mug in hand, Mr. Ute said to the beastly young man.

There's no wine for a blacksmith who can't even set a deadline for his work. So you don't want your share?
"All right. I'll have it done in a week. How's that sound?
Good enough. Okay, so we're pretty much on track.
Yeah?　What about the tenth floor?

　Mr. Ute, who runs a tavern, is most interested in cultivating the tenth floor, where the ingredients for apple wine and honey wine are gathered.
　For me, too, lamb and wool are popular with the wives, so I want to keep a certain number of them on hand.
　However, I don't have the manpower to do so at present.

　The queen bee extermination itself has already been done many times, and most of the old people and children in the village who don't have occupations for fighting can already go directly to the tenth floor.
　So, there is no need to rush.
　I'd like to hunt bees regularly, since they are full of useful materials such as pea apples, honey, and beeswax, but it takes nearly twenty people to hunt them each time.

The more I hear about it, the more it becomes clear that we're short on manpower.
The more I hear about it, the more it becomes clear that we're short on manpower.

　The village chief and I looked at each other, but it was Noemi, who had been silent until then, who spoke up.

I'm not sure what to do, but I'm sure it's a good idea.

　It's true that Noemi is a demon hunter, and can do the work of several people if she uses her demon messenger.
　I'm not sure what to do, but I'm sure it's a good idea.

"Are you sure?　Noemi.


"Yes, I'm sorry I can't accompany you on your quest, but it's clear I'm not up to the task. Seeing your daughter by your side has made me realize that. That's why I would like to have the opportunity to use them carefully.

　Come to think of it, it's only been less than two weeks since Noemi had a demon to use.
　If you ask me whether I can use them like arms and legs, it is true that there are still some awkward parts that stand out.
　On the other hand, Paula's ability to give precise instructions in any situation may be a bit abnormal.

But isn't it dangerous for you to be alone?
Thank you for your concern, Mr. Etan. Thank you for your concern, Mr. Etan, but I was thinking of taking some of my shield-bearers with me.
Oh, you mean those guys? Yeah, I think they'll be perfect.
"Yes, you're right, we do have an extra hand. You'll have to train them.
"It's a great relief not to have to deal with my daughter. If you want, you don't have to let her out of the labyrinth for the rest of her life.

　Some of the youths of the village youth group are being treated badly by the village chiefs.
　The young men who come alone to these remote villages are usually the third son or younger of farmers who did not receive land.
　In other words, the ratio of males is very high.
　And if there is too much difference in the ratio of men and women, some of the men will have too many things to do.

　There is a single woman, Mia, who is of a strange age, but she seems to be hesitant to make a move on him.
　Well, she is the beloved daughter of Mr. Ute, who runs the village from behind the scenes.

　A few of them couldn't take it anymore, so they got drunk and tried to escape the village in the middle of the night.
　They were caught by the alarm of the forest crows and ended up being arrested.

　It sounds like a funny story, but it is not a story to be laughed off.
　But as a man, I can understand why you can't help feeling that way.

　He's a valuable asset and can't be disposed of easily, so we've been taking turns punishing him for challenging the Goblin King, the master of the fifth floor, with just his shield.
　So, it is quite possible to have them work for you on the tenth floor.

I'm asking Hans-san to do that too, but it'll still take half a month.

　As I muttered this, I looked at the girl studying at the counter.
　Mia has been longing for the city, but her clothes have been getting prettier and prettier lately.

　This is probably what triggered the outburst of the youth group, but she doesn't seem to be aware of it.

"Well, it's a lot of work when spring comes, isn't it?