132. No Time To Mope Over Failure, Isn’t It?

Thanks to the adventurers who gathered under Raidoc’s command, the barge we were on quickly arrived at the accident site on the water.

“Alright! Adventurers, decide on your roles by party! Jitaro! Solar! You two, team up with the archers and throw ropes to those who are drowning! Don’t forget to tie wood pieces to the ends of the ropes!”

“Got it!”

“Leave it to us!”

The archers immediately started preparing the ropes. Raidoc swung his arm wide.

“Those who can heal, move to the neighboring barge with Marilyn! It seems the injured are being gathered there!”

At the construction site, several barges were chained together, forming a small island. We could see the injured being gathered, so we docked alongside the artificial island.

Some sailors jumped onto our barge and quickly connected it to the others with chains.

They also set up a simple bridge as a bonus.

Marilyn and the adventurers capable of healing hurried to the injured.

“Those who can swim, dive with me and start the rescue operation!”

“””Yeah!!!”””

The remaining warriors and swordsmen responded sharply to Raidoc’s command, but I immediately objected.

“No! It’s too dangerous!”

For humans, accidents in the water are the scariest. Even if attacked by a monster, you can escape if you’re lucky, and if you’re strong, you can fight back.

But not in the water. If you can’t breathe, you die.

The same goes for demi-humans.

Lizardmen might be able to stay submerged longer than humans, but not indefinitely.

Raidoc might be able to hold his breath as long as a Lizardman, but if something happens underwater and he can’t resurface, he’ll definitely die.

This is an accident site; we can’t predict what will happen.

Even though it’s a life-saving mission, I can’t let anyone go to such a place.

We must avoid secondary and tertiary accidents.

I mixed these thoughts into my opposition to Raidoc.

But instead of being swayed, Raidoc looked at me with an exasperated expression.

“Come on. You’re the reason we can take such risks, you know?”

“What?”

I didn’t understand.

“Have you seriously forgotten?”

Raidoc pulled out a potion bottle, his eyes wide. I recognized it. It was an alchemy potion I had made in large quantities a few days ago.

Not only Raidoc but also the other remaining adventurers held the same bottles. They were water-breathing potions.

“Hey, Craft. If it were just me, I might try something risky, but I’m involving the other party members, you know? I’ve made preparations. When I heard the site was underwater, I prioritized those with water-breathing potions for the barge crew.”

Yeah, that’s right. Raidoc might push through with reckless and risky plans, but he’s not the kind of guy to force it on others. I should’ve known better.

“Alright, Craft and Eva, find the person in charge and get the details! After that, I’ll leave the command to you!”

“Got it.”

Raidoc and his team started diving into the river one after another. Among them was Camille—was that really okay?

“Um, sorry to interrupt your serious moment, but…”

Eva gave me a cold stare from under her wizard-like hat brim.

“Do you remember what you just did?”

“I’m soooooooooooooooorrrrrrryyyyyyyyyyy!”

I immediately prostrated myself on the spot. Eva looked down at me silently for a while, then let out a small sigh.

“I know you didn’t do it on purpose.”

“Of course not!”

I answered cheerfully, but she gave me a cold look again. I pressed my forehead against the floor.

“Please treat me to a meal sometime.”

“Deal!”

If that’s all it takes to get forgiven, it’s cheap! Besides, I’ve been so busy lately that I haven’t had time to spend money.

“Anyway, we should hurry. No time for jokes.”

“Right.”

I switched gears and started scanning the surroundings with a far-sight spell. I quickly spotted the person I was looking for.

“Leafan!”

“Craft! I’m so glad you’re here!”

Leafan, a gnome half-breed and the head of the Golden Dawn production guild, was clinging to the mast. The mast was narrow enough to be attached to a barge, but with the small Leafan hugging it, it looked thick, which was odd.

No, that’s not important right now.

“…Are you imitating a cicada?”

“No! I’m just holding on so I don’t fall off the boat!”

I looked around the barge.

The barge where Leafan was, was huge. From the mast in the center to the water surface, there was a distance of about two long logs.

“Leafan, are you…”

Suddenly, Leafan’s face turned bright red. Then she replied, almost defiantly.

“Yeah, that’s right! I can’t swim! So what!?”

“N-no, I wasn’t complaining! I just…you fought normally in the wetlands, so…”

“Does this look like the same situation where the ground reaches your feet and there are trees all around!?”

“No, it doesn’t! Yes, ma’am!”

I instinctively straightened up. Ma’am! Yes, ma’am!

“A-anyway, just tell me the situation. You can stay like that.”

“O-okay. We were driving sheet piles into the planned bridge pier location when we were attacked by aquatic monsters. Several barges were sunk.”

“Barges were sunk? Seriously?”

Unlike regular ships, barges are specialized for floating. Just how much damage did they take?

“We managed to drive off the monsters, but we’re having trouble rescuing the workers who fell into the water!”

“That’s fine. Raidoc and the others are already on their way.”

“I see. As expected of them.”

Leafan sighed in relief. Still clinging to the mast.

The sheet piles she mentioned are boards used to create a space in the river by driving them into the water and draining the water out. It’s one of the most challenging tasks in bridge construction.

But they failed at the testing stage… I shuddered as I surveyed the site.

Thanks to the adventurers’ efforts, all those needing rescue had already been saved. External injuries were treated with healing potions, and breathing difficulties were handled by priests’ recovery magic and healing. With the help of cure potions, we managed to avoid any deaths.

I turned back to Leafan and nodded firmly.

“Leafan. It seems we forgot the dangers of frontier life.”

Frontier development. Yes, I had forgotten. Originally, it was synonymous with death.

“Yeah.”

Leafan nodded as well.

“But…”

I lifted the corner of my mouth into a grin.

“You’re not planning to give up, are you?”

She returned a challenging smile.

“Of course not! Once we get back, it’s time for a debrief and strategy meeting!”

She replied while still firmly clinging to the mast.

“Not very convincing…”

Where did Jitaro come from?