The explosion had potentially scattered hazardous materials across the surrounding area.
Gucci raised this concern, and Miyo relayed it to Magistrate Ifuls of Shashato City. As a result, the Magistrate issued an official order declaring Shatto City and its neighboring lands strictly off-limits.
While this wasn't made public, the ban was scheduled to remain in effect until Gucci and his subordinates could confirm the area was clear of danger. Naturally, our planned investigation was suspended—or more accurately, scrapped entirely.
It was a shame, but I had no desire to wander into a dangerous zone, nor did I intend to let anyone else walk into one on my behalf. All things considered, it was for the best.
I felt guilty about sending the advance team—Rigne and the trio of Post-Age of Gods Dragon Race women—into such a hazardous environment. Rigne and the others insisted that scouting for such dangers was exactly what an advance team was for, but I wouldn't be satisfied until I made it up to them. I arranged for them to relax in Village Five for a while. I wouldn't have minded them staying in the Village of the Great Tree, but Village Five offered far more in the way of entertainment. I agreed to cover their lodging and dining expenses for about ten days.
Or so I thought...
Somehow, I found Rigne and the three dragons back at the Village of the Great Tree, getting caught in yet another explosion.
What on earth were they doing?
Apparently, they were conducting "explosion protection experiments." Rigne was perfectly fine because she simply ran away, but the dragon trio looked like they’d been through a war zone. Actually, it was mostly just Ojes who was in tatters.
It looked like Ojes was being used as a shield. Wait, didn't Ojes have a resistance to fire? Why was she so beat up? Were fire and explosions two different things in this world? Or was it that she could withstand the blast at Shatto City because the flames were more intense there?
I didn't quite grasp the logic, but I suppose that was how it worked.
"Just don't overdo it," I told them. As for the two using Ojes as a shield, I suggested they show her some basic concern before they started optimizing the angles of her defensive posture.
"Also, Lu, Tia—please suppress the power of these explosions a bit more," I added. "The animals are getting spooked by the noise and vibrations."
"What? You think the village animals wouldn't be startled by a blast of this scale?" they asked.
It was true that the horses and chickens didn't seem to care, but there were others who weren't as accustomed to the noise. Like the pegasuses. They had been so terrified by the sound that they tried to bolt into the forest. They had maintained a beautiful formation as they fled, but they definitely weren't composed. Even when they saw me, they looked ready to charge straight into the woods.
Kuro's children had chased after them out of concern, but... wait. Had the pegasuses fled into the forest specifically because the wolves were chasing them?
Whatever the case, I told the girls to keep the explosions small and went to join the search party for the missing pegasuses.
Fortunately, we found and secured every single one of them. Kuro's children were the ones who spotted them, and Zabuton's children were the ones who brought them under control. Since the pegasuses tended to take flight when panicked, they had been restrained—excuse me, "protected"—with silk threads.
I understood the pegasuses’ grievances, but they had nearly been mauled by monsters and magic beasts in their panic. Being bound in silk was a small price to pay for their safety. Besides, they had been so hysterical they wouldn't listen to a word I said. It wasn't until the Beastman girls who usually handled them arrived that they finally calmed down.
"Any injuries?" I asked. "Just stress from being tied up?"
If they had the energy to be sarcastic with me, they were clearly fine. I apologized for the explosion and led them back to the ranch area. I promised them some freshly harvested pumpkins and sweet potatoes.
When they insisted on carrots as well, I gave in. "Fine, fine. But I'm giving some to the horses, too. If I only give them to you, the horses will get jealous and sulk."
I was glad they understood. Of course, if the horses ever heard about this conversation, they’d probably sulk anyway, so I made sure to tell the pegasuses to keep it between us.
After returning the pegasuses and arranging the snacks as promised, I went back to the mansion to find Gucci waiting for me. He reported that the search for hazardous materials was progressing well. They had recovered three large items and sixteen smaller ones so far.
As I suspected, the blast had scattered dangerous debris. Magistrate Ifuls had made the right call with the ban. Gucci mentioned he wanted to spend a few more days searching just to be absolutely certain. Safety first, so I told him I’d appreciate the thoroughness.
"So," I said, "that report wasn't the only reason you came here, was it?"
It turned out he had come to see if I wanted to personally inspect the hazardous materials. I appreciated the gesture, but I told him I trusted him. I didn't think Gucci had any intention of using those items for ill, and since they were originally under his management, he was the best person to handle their disposal.
I left it all in his hands. Gucci responded with a bow so deep and graceful it looked like a scene from a movie. If Ire had been there, she would have certainly insisted on filming it.
Once the ban was eventually lifted, I wondered if I’d need to visit the explosion site... but there probably wasn't much point. The plan to turn it into a dedicated filming city had been blown to bits. Miyo was already scouting alternative locations. She currently had her eye on the villages that served as relay points for the short-distance teleportation gates. The convenience was undeniable, and she was likely thinking about developing them as tourist destinations as well. It seemed Michael-san from the Goroun Company was assisting her.
Speaking of Miyo, two pleas for her clemency had arrived. One was from Magistrate Ifuls of Shashato City, and the other was from Marlon, Michael-san's son. They had apparently sent them the moment they heard she’d been "captured," but because they went through formal channels, they took a while to reach me.
I had no intention of punishing Miyo—the whole courtroom drama was mostly a performance for her kin—so the petitions were technically unnecessary, but they proved just how much she was valued.
Ifuls’s letter in particular was enlightening. He wrote a moving account of Miyo’s diligence and her consideration for Village Five, insisting that her capture must have been a misunderstanding and requesting a reinvestigation. It was a perfect example of how to write a formal petition. I decided I should show it to Alfred and the others later as a study aid.
As for Marlon’s petition...
He wrote that if Miyo were absent, the businesses related to Big Roof Shashato would collapse. Therefore, he requested that even if she were to be punished, I should at least leave her head and hands intact so she could keep working.
...
Yeah, I definitely couldn't show that one to Alfred. I decided to hide it so Miyo wouldn't see it, either.