Saturday, June 14, 2025

[WN] Jitsuwa 3-Domedatta : Chapter 30


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

 

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)

 

Viscount Gorman's Territory

 

Displaced Persons: Estimated approximately 400 (casualties unknown)

Affected Areas: Farming Village (above-floor flooding, farmland presumed completely destroyed)

        Farming Village (below-floor flooding, farmland presumed severely damaged)

Other Damage: Numerous watermill facilities (damaged)

 

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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