Mismanagement revealed

 
 ”Hey! Stop that carriage!”
 ”It’s that castle’s minister! What the h**l’s going on all over town!”
 ”You never explained a single reason why!”
 ”I also can’t properly do business like this!”
 ”They’re blocking the road with the construction work they’re doing in front of my shop! If you’re going to suspend business, then set up a guarantee!”
 
 As the carriage continued down the main street, the cries of the citizens could be heard even in the carriage. Some yells were sorrowful, while others were filled with anger, and even abusive language was hurled at the carriage.
 Among them were citizens who tried to approach the carriage, but they were all blocked by the soldiers. Naturally, those people whose speech and actions were intolerable were taken away just like that. However, nearly all the citizens living in the royal capital were clearly angry.
 Moreover, discontent has spread not only to the commoners, but also the upper class, making it difficult for the kingdom to deal with the situation in a gaudy manner.
 
 ”… it’s getting considerably rough, huh.”
 
 In the carriage, Toa said so with a frown. Seated next to her, Heim’s expression also felt grim.
 
 ”No, this is, right! They’re just venting their anger out!”
 ”Oh? Venting their anger?”
 
 Dowal gestured with his hands, while adding in an explanation. To this, Heim reacted. “Hmm”, and waited for the lightly groaning Dowal to explain.
 
 ”Yes. The merchants and farmers who are dissatisfied with poor business or poor crops and such, are making false accusations against the country one by one. It’s really troubling. They think that if they complain, they will get money from the state.”
 
 Dowal crossed his arms, claiming that they weren’t in the wrong. However, Toa’s eyes were full of doubt.
 
 ”Even if that’s so, isn’t this a considerable amount of people voicing their dissatisfaction? And actually, the smell in the royal capital also seems quite intense, so what are you going to do about that?”
 ”No, that is that—”
 
 Dowal became flustered due to Toa’s pursuit, but the carriage that moment, no, the whole kingdom, was struck by a violent earthquake.
 
 ”Is this, an earthquake!?”
 ”Princess! Be careful!”
 
 The other members of the committee in the carriage also screamed. The tremor was quite large. Cracks even appeared on the cobblestone paving on the road they were travelling on.
 
 ”Ha-, has it settled down?”
 ”It seems so…”
 
 The tremor settled down soon after. Heim tried to calm down Toa, whose voice still had anxiety left in it.
 Then murmurs spread from the residents.
 
 ”Th-, that surprised me.”
 ”You okay? There’ve been a lot recently, huh.”
 ”Recently, a lot?” (Toa)
 
 Toa’s expression clouded over, and Dowal’s expression looked as though he wanted to curse. Carcel Kingdom was known as a country with few natural disasters.
 The choice of the venue for the Grand Festival of Sorcery was also based on safety considerations. That’s probably why Toa’s face was filled with suspicion.
 
 ”Ah, no, that’s. Even though they said a lot, the shaking isn’t usually this serious.” (Dowal)
 ”Is that so. Of course, they’re natural phenomena, so I guess it’s unavoidable, but I was surprised since I’d heard that you’ve never suffered from that before.” (Toa)
 ”Th-, there are years like this. Of course, it’s just coincidental that it’s this year, and the damage hasn’t been much, so—” (Dowal)
 ”That’s enough, you b*****d!”
 ”Tsk, hey! You guys, get that lot and arrest ’em! It’s perjury!” [TL: perjury = making false claims]
 
 Dowal barked that to the soldiers. The soldiers took some of the residents away, but Toa looked at them with suspicion.
 
 ”R-, really troubling. As the country grows bigger, people start saying that have no basis. Recently, I’ve no idea what to do with those guys that shout “it’s a state conspiracy!” and such. Haha”
 ”sigh…”
 
 Toa gave a blunt response. Heim was also glaring at Dowal while appraising him. Dowal’s brow was oozing sweat.
 
 ”A-, anyway, let’s quickly head to the planned location—”
 
 -Whoooooosh!
 
 It was at that moment. The ground ahead of where the carriage was facing burst, and water spurted out. It was even higher than the four-storied buildings in the vicinity. The column of water spewed out with such vigour, that the residents also began leaking voices of grief.
 
 ”Dowal-sama, there’s a big problem! The water pipe burst!”
 ”I-, I can tell for myself, you fools! Go call the Abane company immediately!”
 ”Huh? Th-, that lot?”
 ”Yes, now hurry!”
 ”I got it…”
 
 The soldier who came to report complied with the order reluctantly. However, that face, when that company was mentioned, why was it oozing such displeasure?
 That feeling also wasn’t hard to understand. In fact, every time damage occurred, the Abane group was tasked with the repairs, yet for some reason, instead of getting better, it just kept getting worse.
 Of course,if that’s the case, it should be fine to ask another construction company, but unfortunately, the Banae group is currently the largest construction company in the royal capital and has the most manpower. In addition, all carpenters outside of the Abane group work for them as subcontractors and such. If they didn’t yield to the Abane group, it would be impossible to attract any craftsmen at all.
 Anyways, while the water continued to accumulate on the road, those riding in the carriage decided to switch to a detour towards the stadium.
 
 ”A burst water pipe, is it…”
 
 Toa murmured so. A gasp escaped Dowal’s lips as Toa looked his way. Toa’s eyes had lost their heat. Heim’s gaze was cold as well.
 
 ”It’s strange, huh. I’ve heard that the Carcel Kingdom’s technological prowess was so amazing that other countries couldn’t catch up, but the impression I’m getting is quite different from what I expected.”
 
 Dowal’s inner thoughts were racing. It was disastrous, and he frantically racked his brain for a solution. “What to do, what to do”, when he had a flash of inspiration.
 
 ”Th-, there are circumstances. Actually, we recently exiled this Wirk guy, and this incident is all due to that guy’s half-hearted work! He’s a terrible b*****d, that Wirk!”