I set the payout calculations aside for a while and focused on continuing the improvements to the swan races.
First, I addressed the spectator seating. Until now, people had just staked out spots wherever they could around the pond, but I wanted to install proper seating so the crowd could congregate near the finish line. I figured simple backless benches would be enough, so I commissioned the carpenters from Village Five for the job.
Next came the construction of huts for the competing swans. There were about thirty swans participating in the races, but I went ahead and built two hundred huts, each roughly the size of a large dog kennel. Was that too many? No, I was certain the numbers would grow. I handled the construction myself, working alongside the High Elves from the Village of the Great Tree.
Then, there was the matter of adding more practice ponds. Yes, more ponds. We simply didn't have enough water space. It would be a problem if the swans on standby couldn't get into the water while a race was in progress. A swan’s primary diet consists of the leaves and stems of aquatic plants, so if they couldn't reach the water, they couldn't eat during the event. Furthermore, they wouldn't be able to practice while the main races were underway.
I didn't need anything massive—two more small ponds would suffice. I asked the swans if they could manage it. Was it impossible? If so, that was fine; I could have handled it myself. I just thought that since they had dug the first pond, it might be best to leave the expansion to them. But again, if it was too much, I wouldn't push.
"I-I can do it!" Odette declared.
She pushed herself hard and managed to dig two more ponds for me. However, the effort left her utterly exhausted. She was so spent that she couldn't even maintain her human form, reverting entirely into the shape of a giant white swan.
"P-praise... me..."
"Of course," I said. "You did a wonderful job. You're amazing."
"Not that."
"Hm?"
"Praise my beauty... which remains radiant... even in the depths of exhaustion."
...
Well, the ponds were finished. And it was a fact that she was beautiful, whether in her swan or human form. So, I gave her the praise she wanted.
Ah, she seemed to recover a little.
Next, I turned my attention to the bookmaker's management facility. Since we would be collecting money, we needed a proper security system. I also needed to provide a living space for Odette and Odile. Couldn't they just use the shrine? No, the shrine was for the gods. This needed to be a distinct, independent facility.
I also included a breakroom for the guards, a waiting area for lost children, and a simple infirmary for anyone who felt unwell. The High Elves and I built these structures in one go.
I also prepared a betting ticket sales office and a payout office. Previously, when someone placed a bet, they weren't given a ticket; their name was simply recorded in a ledger. After the race, anyone whose name appeared on the list received their payout. Their trust in the bookmaker was surprisingly high. What would they do if the bookmaker lied and claimed a name wasn't on the list?
...
Apparently, they would just beat the bookmaker to a pulp. I see. That’s a bit terrifying. Well, I had no intention of letting any dishonesty happen.
Instead, I proposed a betting ticket system, modeled after the horse and cycle racing styles from my previous world. Customers would buy tickets for the swan they expected to win, and the payouts would be determined by the total ticket sales. After the race, winners would exchange their tickets for cash.
I had wanted to use paper, but considering durability and storage issues, I decided on branded wooden plaques. To prevent counterfeiting, we used a special plywood for the plaques and included a hidden seal during the branding process.
Since I was introducing a floating dividend rate—or rather, fluctuating odds—we had to display the current status and final results. This brought up the issue of literacy among the customers. Not everyone could read. I would like to think they could at least recognize numbers, but there were some questionable cases. In previous races, the swans wore numbered mantles, but some customers apparently viewed the numbers as mere symbols rather than digits. Even if we gave the swans names, some people wouldn't be able to read them. Even if we displayed the odds, some would be lost.
I agonized over what to do, but in the end, I decided to press forward regardless. We would give the swans names, but they would continue to wear their numbered mantles just as they always had. Essentially, things would function as they had before. The odds would fluctuate, but we wouldn't display false information. Therefore, even if someone couldn't read the numbers, they wouldn't lose out. Being able to read the odds didn't make you more likely to win, anyway; it only changed your expectations for the payout. As long as the bookmaker paid the correct amount to anyone who brought a winning ticket, it would be fine. Beyond that, I hoped people would either get help from those who could read or study enough to learn for themselves.
Next, I looked at the roads. The shrine sat on a mountain northeast of Village Five, and the pond was located at the foot of that same mountain. From the shrine's perspective, the pond was to the west-southwest; from Village Five, it was to the north-northeast. In other words, it was slightly north of the main path connecting the village to the shrine.
Before I could plan a new road, I checked how the customers had been getting there. A path leading to the pond had already branched off from the main shrine road. It wasn't quite a game trail, but it was clear enough to follow since so many people had been using it. I see. We would simply focus on properly developing and maintaining this existing path. I left that task to the artisans of Village Five.
As for food and drink, there were already plenty of shops along the road to the shrine, so I didn't think we needed any near the pond. Since profits could only be expected on race days, I figured it would be difficult to invite the Goroun Company or other major vendors. Or so I thought, but the Goroun Company actually approached me, saying they wanted space to set up stalls even if it was only on race days.
I agreed to provide the space. However, managing the stalls would be too much for the Silver Fox race, so I delegated that responsibility to Village Five. I wanted them to manage the area in cooperation with the Goroun Company. I made sure they understood that stall fees shouldn't be exorbitant, though I didn't mind if those who paid more secured better locations.
Now then, was that everything? I figured I could just handle any remaining details as we put things into practice.
...
I know. I'm aware I'm ignoring the single biggest problem. And no, it isn't the payout calculations. That will work itself out somehow.
The real issue lies in the nature of the "Swan Race" itself. You see, swans are migratory birds. Furthermore, because they primarily eat aquatic plants, they have an incredibly strong sense of territory. They can't survive unless they claim a stretch of water and monopolize the food source. In other words, swans are not naturally creatures that stay in one place to compete against one another.
Village Head: "You can't do it?" Odette: "I-I can do it, I tell you!" Village Head: "Swans aren't suited for racing!" Odile: "You're only realizing that now?"