Chapter 30
(Kyle Calendar
Year 503: Age 10)
History
Repeats Itself
Translator : PolterGlast
"No way..."
I was stunned, unable
to utter a word.
Two days after the
flood, Raymond-san revealed the collected and compiled information on the
damage within the territory and the neighboring regions.
"This is the
information we have gathered so far. Within the Estol territory, it can be said
that the damage from a disaster of this scale was minor."
"The only village
within the territory that suffered damage was Ale Village?"
Father's question was
what everyone was most concerned about.
The final flash flood
had caused several levee collapses. Everyone felt that the damage was
considerable.
"Outside of Ale,
there was no damage to residential areas or farmland within our territory.
However, the road
towards the town of Fran has suffered extensive damage, with the bridge washed
away and the road covered in mud.
Since the
transportation of food and minerals using this road is impossible, urgent
repair work will be necessary.
There are also quite a
few other places where levees have collapsed and are still submerged, making
passage impossible, but detours are possible."
"What about the
damage in the neighboring territories? Just tell me what you know at this
point, Raymond."
"Chris-sama,
please forgive me, but the information I have about the neighboring territories
is only what I have been able to gather.
It seems that Viscount
Gorman's territory also suffered considerable damage, but they have already
begun recovery efforts.
The situation is
serious in Viscount Hiyorimi's territory. They have suffered immense damage,
and the full extent is still unclear.
The town bordering our
territory has been completely destroyed, and I hear that several villages in
the river basin have also been completely wiped out.
It seems that the
neighboring territories suffered greater losses in this flood than our
own."
Later, when the
steward's explanation revealed the full extent of the damage, including the
more detailed information about the neighboring areas, I was aghast.
【Damage Situation】
〇Estol Territory
Displaced Persons:
Approximately 150 (no deaths or missing persons)
Affected Area: Ale
Village (above-floor flooding, farmland completely destroyed)
Other Damage: Road to
Fran, bridge (impassable)
〇Viscount Gorman's Territory
Displaced Persons:
Estimated approximately 400 (casualties unknown)
Affected Areas:
Farming Village ① (above-floor flooding,
farmland presumed completely destroyed)
Farming Village ② (below-floor flooding, farmland presumed severely
damaged)
Other Damage: Numerous
watermill facilities (damaged)
〇Viscount Hiyorimi's Territory
Displaced Persons:
Estimated approximately 2,000 (many deaths and missing persons)
Affected Areas: One
town (houses completely destroyed, many deaths, and missing persons)
Five farming villages
(houses damaged, farmland damaged, casualties)
"It seems that
Viscount Gorman's territory suffered less damage because they had implemented
flood countermeasures beforehand.
However, Viscount
Hiyorimi's territory had no such measures in place..."
"They had just
lost a third of their forces in the Battle of Southern Gate, so they probably
had no resources to spare."
Father's reply was, I
think, intentionally expressed in a favorable light.
In reality, they had
turned a deaf ear to our warnings.
If they had taken our
advice even a little more seriously...
If we had warned them
more persistently...
We might have been
able to save even a few of the lives that were lost.
I was deeply depressed
with regret.
If I recalled
correctly, the casual remark my younger sister Chrisia made during the first
regular meeting kept replaying in my mind.
[Hey, if neither
side's water overflows... where does that water go?]
I hadn't realized the
meaning of those words, the gravity of the situation. Or rather, I had
pretended not to notice.
"Father, Mother,
I have a request!"
I couldn't just keep
being depressed. I made a proposal to my parents.
"Let's dispatch
the disaster relief unit that is already being formed for the affected areas
within our territory to the Hiyorimi territory.
I want to extend a
helping hand to as many of the affected people as possible."
"Since it
involves another party, I can't say for sure..."
"You know, I
think it's precisely at times like this that we should show what we stand
for."
Mother gave me her
support.
"Relief supplies
are ready. Takuhir-sama has also completed the formation of the relief unit
under his command."
Raymond-san also
backed me up.
"Alright! Time is
precious. The relief unit under Takuhir's command will depart immediately!
We will send a
messenger on horseback to Viscount Hiyorimi to inform him that we are prepared
to provide disaster relief.
If, by any chance,
they refuse, the unit will remain in our own Ale Village and carry out the
planned relief activities there.
Takuhir will accompany
them as the Baronial family's representative, and the Twin-Headed Falcon Mercenary
Corps will provide escort."
Once his mind was made
up, Father's decision was swift.
I departed immediately
after the meeting ended.
Even on the way, my
expression was gloomy.
I was still feeling
self-loathing for my handling of the situation.
"You did the best
you could. You notified the Hiyorimi territory beforehand and urged them to
take countermeasures.
Think only of the many
lives that were saved and what you can do for those who are suffering
now."
Anne gently embraced
my depressed self.
"Many people are
still working to save lives. Each person can only do what is within their
power."
Anne's words lightened
my spirits just a little.
This time, one town
and eight villages were damaged across the three territories.
The disaster that had concentrated
on the town of Mars and the granary in the [previous history] could be seen as
having dispersed to other territories this time.
Yes, to areas that
were not originally supposed to be affected.
Come to think of it,
even in the Southern Gate Annihilation Battle, although we avoided taking
damage, the Hiyorimi Viscount's army suffered immense damage, losing a third of
their entire force in our stead.
Could it be that the
malice called [history] always tries to balance out [alterations], leaving its
mark?
The guilt I felt for
the lives that might not have been lost originally, the fear that history would
demand an equal price for future alterations... such terror gripped me.
Yes, I had only been
thinking about escaping history.
But now, I have decided
to fight.
Not just run away, but
face it head-on and fight.
Thanks to Anne, I was
able to reaffirm that.
After receiving a
formal reply of acceptance of aid from Viscount Hiyorimi, we quickened our pace
even more.
"Elan, Mary,
Sasha, everyone, I know you're tired from working day after day without rest,
but please lend me your strength a little longer."
"Of course! You
gave us this power. We must repay your kindness even at a time like this!"
"My town might
have ended up like that. So, I can't see it as someone else's problem."
"I was able to
help people for the first time this time. I'm happy if even someone like me can
be of use."
I received encouraging
replies from Elan, Mary, and Sasha. I would rely on their kindness a little
longer.
The core of this
relief unit was the executive committee members of the archery tournament, the
reception staff, and the personnel from past refugee relief efforts.
The rest were people
who had been rescued as refugees in the past.
"We want to repay
the kindness we received before, the gratitude for being saved, by being the
ones to provide relief this time."
With such thoughts,
they were the first to raise their hands.
That's why many of
those in the relief unit were people I knew well, and since we understood each
other, they moved according to my wishes without needing detailed instructions.
Moreover, it was
helpful that they were accustomed to soup kitchens and relief activities, and
were familiar with organizational activities, including the chain of command.
When the dispatched
unit crossed the territorial border and continued for a while, the scenery
changed completely.
"To think it was
this bad..."
"Awful..."
Each member of the
relief unit was speechless at the extent of the damage.
I myself had seen the
scenes of various disasters through videos when I was in Japan, but the
devastation on site was completely different from what I had seen on screen.
The muddy land that
had been a town, washed away by the torrents, people covered in mud and suffering
from hunger, many unburied bodies, people wandering aimlessly in search of
missing family members... I was at a loss for words.
Upon arrival, we
immediately set up a command post, gathered supplies, and began preparing soup
kitchens and other necessities.
There, we joined the
group of Viscount Hiyorimi's steward, who was handling the local response.
"On behalf of the
lord and the people of our territory, I deeply thank Baron Solis for his swift
support.
I am Hindel, the
steward, overseeing the reception of your aid and the recovery efforts
here."
A silver-haired
middle-aged man with deep wrinkles etched by years of hardship greeted us
courteously.
"We are all in
this together in times of trouble. I am Takuhir, the second son of Baron Solis.
On behalf of Baron Solis, I offer my condolences for this flood damage."
Based on first
impressions alone, he seemed like a better person than the people of the
Hiyorimi territory I had heard rumors about.
Viscount Gorman was
arrogant and haughty but straightforward in a way that made him somewhat
understandable.
Viscount Hiyorimi, on
the other hand, didn't make his attitude clear on the surface but schemed
behind the scenes, making it impossible to know what he was thinking.
I had heard that the
vassals resembled their lords, so this was a bit unexpected.
Of course, there were
some (very) unpleasant individuals.
One was Hiyorimi von
Errol, the second son of Viscount Hiyorimi, who had come as the lord's
representative.
In the [previous
history], he would become the next head of the viscountcy a few years later,
replacing his deceased elder brother.
"What? Does the
family of the Turnip Baron (Solis), despite being nobles, have even young
children working alongside the commoners, covered in mud?"
That was his first
remark.
"It must be
called a great feat that we could never imitate."
We came to help, and
that's what he says? That's a great feat in a different sense!
That's what I thought,
but I remained silent.
I had seen this
arrogant man with his sinister gaze before.
In the [previous
history], I had encountered him countless times.
In the royal capital
and on the battlefield, not a single good impression remained.
A typical unpleasant
person... correction, a very unpleasant person.
He fawned over those
in power but treated those without power or of lower status with utter
arrogance.
And he was the very
person who would bring about my ruin in the [previous history], by colluding
with the Gryphonia Empire and inviting Commander Weiss (Shogun)'s army into the
Estol territory.
The moment I met him,
I struggled to suppress the overflowing murderous intent.
Not only me, but even
Commander Weiss and Anne, who were next to me, emanated a real, terrifying
killing intent that even made me flinch...
"Hmph! Don't take
advantage of this situation to win over the people of our land! I expect you to
work!"
With only those
parting words, he left.
I was probably...
certain in an instant that I wouldn't get along with him in the [current world]
either.
An incorrigible man
and a dangerous man to watch out for.
It was an encounter
with someone who would become my nemesis in the future.
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