Isekai Nonbiri Nouka

Chapter 834: Watch Over

Ririus, Riguru, and Ratte were carrying heavy objects in the residential area.

This must be part of their physical fitness program.

So, Hakuren.

What kind of assignments did you give them?

「What matters most is that people here won’t worry about them when they go out.」

I agree.

「So I told them to at least try to kill a boar in the forest.」

………

Isn’t that dangerous?

「But if they can’t fight to some extent, people here will be worried, right? I heard there are bad people out there.」

So, is it safer for them to be able to fight than not to be able to fight?

I see.

In that case, this will solve some issues.

When I said so, Loo, who was standing next to Hakuren, blew up.

「R-Ria and the others will definitely be pleased but, isn’t asking them to beat a boar too much? That boar, in a one on one battle, is stronger than an inferno wolf.」

When Loo said that, I looked at a kuro nearby.

It is sleeping by lying on its back in the shade.

……..

Stronger than that? That makes it difficult for me to judge.

「Perhaps it is but……I think you should ask them something more realistic. We don’t want the three of them to get hurt because of recklessness. Also, you don’t want to be resented by them, do you?」

Of course, I don’t want them to get hurt and I also don’t want them to resent me.

Then, should their assignment be changed?

「Yeah, absolutely.」

I see.

Hmmm.

The three are working hard.

It would be a problem ruining their hard work by suddenly changing the assignment.

For now, let’s just tell them not to go out there without permission.

If they go into the forest without permission, they should forget about going outside.

If I tell them strictly, they will follow.

I’m sure they will.

I thought about asking Loo and Hakuren but they were the type who goes overboard.

Let’s just go to the three and tell them.

Also, I’ve already asked the kuros and the spiderlings to protect the three but I’ll ask them again.

However, since I’ll change their assignment…..let’s just be careful with the timing.

Let’s think about it while watching the three of them.

-0-

I have a few concerns about the children’s development.

I was wondering at what age they should start going shopping by themselves.

I asked Loo, Tier, and Hakuren but they didn’t seem to know so I asked Frau.

「Eh? The merchant brings things to our mansion so I never experienced shopping alone.」

…….

Come to think of it, Frau was a noble’s daughter.

I guess that’s how it works for her.

Then, let’s see……Gulf.

「We barter mostly so we go shopping as a group.」

Ah, that’s what I thought.

Then……

Who should I ask?

Those who are raising children.

I saw Youko with Hitoe in her arms but, I’m sure she has never let her shop alone, right?

「I won’t let her do something so dangerous.」

Right.

Hmmm.

Who should I ask then?

Come to think of it, there are no stores in Big Tree Village where adults can shop, let alone children.

We only trade with outsiders via Michael-san and Beezel.

So, there is no point in worrying about how old a child has to be to go shopping alone……

Ririus and the others are thinking about going outside.

I’m handing out reward medals as practice in spending money but currently, they are treated as exchange tickets.

I don’t want them to not know how to shop and by extension, how to spend money.

Let’s ask some more.

-0-

I asked Jack, the acting village chief of Village One.

「If you’re going shopping, it means you have money, right? If you let children carry money, bad adults will target them. Thus, we don’t allow children to go shopping alone.」

I-I see……

「I guess we can only let them go shopping when they can protect themselves.」

Understood.

Thanks.

-0-

I asked the minotaur Gordon, the acting village chief of Village Two.

「Ah……we never let children go alone. We worry about bandits and stuff so we go shop in a group.」

-0-

I asked the centaur Glueworld, the acting village chief of Village Three.

「In the first place, it is impossible to let a child go alone. It’s already abusive to let them leave out of the residence alone.」

-0-

In conclusion, no one lets their children go shopping alone.

It’s dangerous.

I see.

But then, how will the children learn how to spend money?

「It’s common for people to learn by shopping with their parents.」

This was what Futa, a mercury from Village Four who manages the teleportation gate between Village Five and Big Tree Dungeon, said.

Ah, surprisingly, you have experience raising children?

「I don’t. But that’s what I saw and heard when I was helping Youko-sama with her work.」

Heh.

However, with parents huh.

Hmmm.

Is it better for me to go shopping with them as much as possible?

「If it’s village chief’s child, I think any merchant will come if needed so you don’t have to forcibly teach them.」

That might be the case but for me, I want them to know how it feels in general.

「I thik it would be a good idea for them to go shopping with an adult. If it’s in Village Five, I think it would be safer if they are accompanied by Hih or Nana.」

I see.

Hish and Nana, like Futa, are mercuries from Village Four.

Moreover, they are both capable of fighting in their own way.

They would be able to protect the children in case of an emergency.

………

You didn’t mention Loch’s name, is there a problem with him?

「Loch can fight in his own way too but…..you see, if Loch leaves, Youko-sama’s work will be delayed.」

Youko’s?

Understood.

I’ll rely on Hih and Nana.

「You can count on me too.」

Yeah, I’ll count on you.

I said so and went back to Big Tree Village.

-0-

When Ririus and the others go out, I want them to know how to use money.

However, Ria and the others would be in a bad mood if I suddenly made them learn how to use money in Village Five so I’ll have to watch my timing as well.

Looking back, Gol, Sil, Bron, Alfred, Tiselle, and Torain went outside from time to time but I never taught them how to use money so I guess I should do it more often.

No, if you ask me if I’m good with money, I’m not sure if I can answer.

I was thinking about that when……

「How to spend money? We make sure they learn how to do so before going outside. We don’t want them to get scammed.」

That’s what Loo said.

Fumu.

It seems like the education in our village is great.

Did I just waste my time then?

「Ahaha. I don’t think it’s a bad idea to have them practice in Village Five.」

Is it?

「Yeah. It is relatively safe because Youko is ruling that place and there are spiderlings there. Also, Hih and Nana will have more opportunities to interact with the children.」

Opportunities to interact?

「There’s a difference in how often one sees your children depending on their job. Yoru at the hot spring and Tou on the universal ship sees the children of Big Tree Village a lot but Hih and Nana are both stationed at Village Five.」

Ah.

I guess we have to think about that too.

「I doubt Hih or Nana will ever complain. Well, until the children grow up, I think.」

You’re saying that the children will have a “to rely on” bias later?

「It is better for the children to hear from different people.」

Right.

By the way, why didn’t you mention Loch?

「If you assign Loch with another job, you’ll be in trouble with Youko.」

I knew it.

I’ll have to think about increasing the number of civil servants.

「You should. It seems like Alfred and the others are already trying to get students at the academy to come here after graduation. However, they are competing with Miyo so we can’t expect too much.」

Is there a shortage of civil servants in Shashaato City too?

「A lot were taken away because of Tiselle’s country building.」

Ah.

「Well, it’s better to let Youko and Miyo take the civil servants than us. At the end of the day, they will still be subordinates we can use.」

How come they had problems recruiting subordinates?

「Mainly because we needed them when we started up the school in Shashaato City. Once the school stabilized, they can just pick the graduates from there.」

I see.

By the way, how many graduates have you recruited so far?

「Eh? Ehto……there are many of them who are enthusiastic about research so……well, you know, we do benefit from their research.」

I appreciate that so, they’ve never gotten any graduates?

I guess that doesn’t help in replenishing their civil servants.

「D-do-don’t worry. Some will graduate soon. They will become great civil servants who can read, write, calculate and……do research.」

Let’s just hope for the best.

-0-

Miyo: That’s not a school. It’s a research facility.

Youko: Aren’t the graduates there……likely to embezzle the budget and do whatever research they want?

Loo: T-that’s baseless rumor!

-0-

Miyo: By the way, why don’t they just set up their own lab after graduating?

Youko: If it’s magic tools or something similar……I’d be happy to buy the result.

Village Chief: Can’t we just replenish our civil servants?

Angel: Too bad. If they didn’t hate us, we would go. Just too bad.

Miyo: ……

Youko: ……

Village Chief: Don’t just silently pluck her feathers because you’re angry. She’s writhing in pain.

Miyo: I’m going to have you work in disguise so you don’t need these wings any longer.

Youko: Umu, I’ll have her rewarded for agitating me.

Angel: I-I’m sorryyyyy