Day 501-510/Day 510

Day 510 / 40th day
　The Ant People boys had roughly two choices. They could either leave or stay. If they still had a place to go, they could leave. If you don't have a place to go back to, you can stay. 
There may be many complicated circumstances, such as wanting to go home but not being able to, so it may not be easy to make a decision, but we prepared an easy to understand choice, and each person made their own choice.
　So, it was early in the morning when the sun had just risen. Some of the rescuers who had finished their adjustments departed from the "Free Trade City of Securiad". They were going to their hometowns or places where their relatives lived.
　There were about thirty of them. For safety's sake, they formed several groups of people who were heading in the same direction, and left with firm steps. Of course, they didn't just throw us out. I gave them enough silver for the journey, as well as ten bee golems per person and a pair of earrings to control them for safety. The bee golems that I gave them along with the street silver were safeguarded against misuse, and I explained to them exactly how to use them. The poison cannot be replenished, and if it breaks, it will destroy itself. If you were attacked, or if you use it for a crime, you will be punished accordingly. I sent him off with the promise that if he didn't misuse it, he would be given a reliable escort, and if worse came to worse, he could come back here and we would take care of it. I think it's safe to say that I've done my part.
　Then, without leaving, about 40 people who remained here were hired as employees of the "the Drunken Lance Company" head office.
　　Those who chose to stay are the Ant Boy, a young man who had regained his senses from the regenerating flesh sack he had adjusted to, and several men and women who had participated in the attack. Most of them were young and needed someone to protect them, like the anthill boy, or old and had nowhere to go. Some of them, like the meat bag young man, seemed to be able to survive on their own, but they must have a lot on their mind.
　Regardless of what each individual is thinking, we have plenty of money for now. Even if we give enough street money to those who have left, we still have a surplus.
　For the time being, the business is going to be a transportation business using Golem trucks, which are mass-produced and modified from Golemkrat.
　First of all, there are very few employees who are well educated and can be entrusted with brain work. Writing letters and doing calculations are difficult without education. It would take too much time to train them to be able to handle complicated paperwork, and there would be too many problems if the work was concentrated on only a few employees who could be trusted.
　However, all the employees had undergone modification surgery, and even the children had the physical strength of an adult. An anthropoid boy would have the physical strength to carry a loaded golem truck.
　So it was natural for him to choose the transportation industry, which is simple work and is in great demand here, where merchants change rapidly and goods come and go in large quantities.
　Golem trucks that can transport large quantities of goods, and employees who can load and unload more efficiently than usual due to their superior physical abilities. I've already received my first job thanks to the connections I've made while gathering information, and I'll start work as soon as tomorrow. It's going to be a bit of a bumpy ride, but in order to gain as much experience as possible, I spent the day teaching him how to load, unload, carry, and drive the golem truck.
　It's a bit of a learning curve, so there will be a lot of problems, but at least they know how to do it. It's a good thing that the anteater boys are motivated to become employees. Many of them are still traumatized, but I guess it helps to have something to devote yourself to.
　Everyone worked hard all day to get ready for tomorrow.
　I think we've reached the point where we can say that we've taken good care of both those who left and those who stayed.
　That's why I gathered the main members at night and made a declaration.
　This is the end of my generous protection. I won't be able to support them forever, so now would be a good time for them to change their lives. From now on, the young man with the meat sack will take over the management of the organization, given the various conditions. He is one of the few employees who can be trusted to do the brainwork, and he is the smartest and most popular. He is one of the few employees who can be trusted to do the brain work.
　If I'm the chairman of the board, the young man is like a hired boss.
　The young man was bewildered at being suddenly entrusted with the top job. I'm the one who gave him the job, and he wants to do it, but he's afraid of losing money if the business fails. However, even if the business fails, there's always another one if you're still alive. I have plenty of money, so I can handle a few failures, and there are still ways to make money. Even if you make a big mistake, I will take the responsibility and clean up the mess, so feel free to go for it.
　It's best if you can make a big profit. Even if you don't make a profit, it's good if you have connections that can lead to the next step. 
　If not, it's good if you can find another organization that can help you get back on your feet. 
　Yes, there is nothing wrong with that. 
　There is no other place where I can work so comfortably.
　While leaving the means of remote communication in place, and steadily making preparations to leave the maintenance of the base here to the meat bag young man and the ant boy, I turned my attention to my next goal.
　My lost memories. 
　I still didn't know what the key to regaining them was, but there was one important keyword.
　[Area Raid Boss].
　The seven supernatural beings that exist on the continent. I've been intrigued by them ever since I learned of their existence, but when I learned of the existence of one of them - the ancient guardian spell treasure king "Fabniripugan" - I felt a certainty. If I ate the altar, I would be able to learn the [Altar of the Treasure King], so that altar must have come from [Fabniripgan].
　I can't remember why I was there in the first place. I don't remember why I was there in the first place, but I'm sure it had something to do with it. The only way to remember was to meet Fabniripgan, but there was no such thing there. Maybe I killed Fabnilipgan before I lost my memory. If that's the case, I'll probably need to meet the rest of the [Area Raid Bosses].
　 That's why I decided to go see the closest one to my current location, and one of the seven that isn't "Fabniripgan," the ancient guardian spellbinding treasure king, "Astrakium," the ancient lightning control emperor. "I think I'll go see him. It's not going to be peaceful. But this must be a necessary thing. Somehow, I think so.
　Yes, it's not that I have a desire to "eat". It's just something I need to do in order to remember quickly, and it's best if I can have a good meal along the way.
　 I had a lot on my mind, but the preparations went without a hitch.
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PLACE TRANSLATIONS ABOVE THE BAR. THESE ARE THE RAWS, LEAVE THEM HERE. CLICK EXPAND TO VIEW THEM.
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“四十日目”　／　“五■十■目”
　蟻人少年達には、大雑把に二つの選択肢があった。 
　出ていくか、残るかである。 
　帰れる場所が残っている者であれば、出ていけばいい。 
　帰る場所がないのなら、残ればいい。 
　帰りたいけど帰れないなど複雑な事情が色々あったりするので簡単には判断できない事も多いだろうが、分かりやすい選択肢を用意し、それぞれがそれぞれの選択をした。
　だから、まだ太陽が昇ったばかりの早朝。 
　調節を終えた救助者達の一部が≪自由商都セクトリアード≫を出発した。 
　彼・彼女達が目指すのはそれぞれの故郷だったり、あるいは親戚が暮らす場所である。
　その数は約三十名。 
　安全の為向かう方向が同じ者達で幾つかの集団を形成し、しっかりとした足取りで去って行った。 
　もちろんただ放り出した訳ではない。 　道中に必要になるだろう十分な額の路銀と、道中の安全のために一人につき十体の蜂ゴーレムとそれを操作するピアスを配給している。 
　路銀と共に渡した蜂ゴーレムは悪用防止のセーフティを施したもので、しっかりと使い方を説明した。 
　毒は補充できないし、壊れれば自壊する。襲われたのならともかく、犯罪に使用すればそれ相応の罰が下される。 
　悪用しなければ頼りになる護衛をつけ、最悪何かあればココに戻ってくればどうにかしてやると言って送り出したのだ。 
　俺の役割は十分果たしていると判断していいだろう。
　そして出ていかず、ココに残った約四十名は≪朱酒槍ドランクランス商会≫本店の従業員として雇う事になった。
　残る事を選んだのは蟻人少年を始め、調整によって再生する肉袋から正気を取り戻した青年や、襲撃時にも参加した戦闘要員の男女数名を始めとした者達だった。 
　年齢層としては蟻人少年のように幼くて誰かの庇護が必要な者か、年老いて帰る場所のない者が多い。 
　中には肉袋青年のように一人でも生きていけそうな者も居るが、色々と思う事があるのだろう。
　個人個人が何を思っているのかはさて置き、とりあえず資金は潤沢だ。 
　出ていった者達に十分な路銀を渡してもまだ余っている。
　余裕をもって≪朱酒槍商会≫を運営できる下地がある訳だが、当面の事業内容はゴーレムクラートを元に改造し量産したゴーレムトラックを使った運搬業をする予定だ。
　まず大前提として、十分な教育を受けて頭脳労働を任せられる従業員が非常に少ない。文字を書き、計算するのは教育されていないと難しい。 
　煩雑な事務処理を任せられるまで教育するには時間がかかりすぎるし、数少ない任せられる従業員にばかり作業が集中しては問題が多すぎる。
　しかし従業員は全員改造手術を受け、子供でも成人以上の膂力があった。 
　蟻人少年なら荷入りのゴーレムトラックでも担げるくらいの膂力があるだろう。
　そうなると単純労働であり、かつ商人の入れ替わりが激しく商品が大量に行き交うココで需要の大きい運搬業を選択するのは自然の事だった。
　大量運送できるゴーレムトラックに、積み下ろしが優れた身体能力によって普通よりも効率的に行える従業員。 
　既に情報収集時の際に築いたコネで初仕事は受注済みで、明日から早速仕事が始まる。 
　ほとんどぶっつけ本番になるが、少しでも経験を積むために今日一日は積み下ろし方や運び方、ゴーレムトラックの運転など色々教えていった。
　付け焼き刃なので問題も多く出て来るだろうが、最低限のやり方は周知できただろう。 
　蟻人少年達も従業員としてやる気が出ているので良い事だ。トラウマは残っている者も多いが、打ち込める何かがある方が気分も紛れるのだろう。
　明日に向けて、今日一日は皆頑張っていた。
　さて、出ていった者も残った者も、十分面倒を見たといえる段階に来たのではないだろうか。
　そんな訳で夜、主要なメンバーを集めて宣言した。
　手厚い保護はココまでとする。 　俺がずっと支える事は出来ないから、生活が一変していく今が良い機会だろう。 
　今後の運営は色んな条件から肉袋青年が引き継ぐ事にする。 
　肉袋青年は数少ない頭脳労働を任せられる従業員であり、最も頭がよく、かつ人望もある。 
　後任としては申し分ない。
　俺を会長とするなら、肉袋青年は雇われ社長といった所か。
　肉袋青年はトップをいきなり任せられて困惑していた。 
　恩人である俺が任せるのだからそれに応えたいが、事業失敗による損失を与えたら、と思うと戦々恐々らしい。 
　しかし事業に失敗しても生きていれば次がある。 
　資金はタップリあるので多少失敗したところでどうにでもなるし、まだまだ稼ぐ手段はある。 
　大きな失敗があっても責任と後始末は受け持つから気軽に頑張れ、とエールを送った。
　大きな利益が出るなら最良。 
　利益が出なくても次に繋がるコネとかが出来ているのであれば良し。 
　駄目なら他にある裏組織を潰して再起するので良し。 
　そう、何も問題ない。 
　ここまで気楽に仕事できるのは他には中々ないのではなかろうか。
　一応遠隔通信の手段は残しつつ、ここでの拠点の維持は肉袋青年や蟻人少年達に任せる準備を着々と進めつつ、俺は次なる目標へと意識を向けた。
　俺の失われた記憶。 
　それを取り戻す鍵はまだ分からないが、一つ重要なキーワードがあった。
　【エリアレイドボス】
　大陸に七体存在する超常の存在。 
　その存在を知った時から強く興味を惹かれていたが、その内の一体――古代守護呪恩宝王“ファブニリプガン”の存在を知った時にある種の確信を得た。 
　祭壇を喰ったら【宝王の祭壇】がラーニングできたのだから、あの祭壇は“ファブニリプガン”由来のモノだったのだ。
　そもそも何故あそこにいたのかは思い出せない。 
　しかしだからこそ、何か関係があるのは間違いない。 
　思い出すには“ファブニリプガン”に会えればいいのだが、あそこにはそれらしき存在は無かった。 
　もしかしたら、記憶を失う前の俺が“ファブニリプガン”を殺したのかもしれない。 
　そうなると、やはり残りの【エリアレイドボス】に会う必要があるだろう。
　 だから現在地から最も近く、古代守護呪恩宝王“ファブニリプガン”ではない七体の内の一体――古代爆雷制調天帝“アストラキウム”に会いに行こうと思う。 
　きっと、穏やかな事にはならないだろう。 
　だけどこれは必要な事に違いない。何となく、そう思う。
　そう、決して『喰ってみたい』なんて欲望を抱いているなんて事はない。 
　早く思い出すために必要な事で、そのついでに美味しい思いが出来るのなら最良だろう。
　 色々と思う事はあるが、準備は滞りなく進んで行った。
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Category:Novel
Category:Re:Monster ~ The Dark Continent ~ Vol. 3