Save the Starving Frontier! The “Buyer” of the Reversed Chastity World - 8

Chapter 8: Let’s Go to the Workshop District

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After finishing today’s round of food distribution, I spoke with Aisha’s mother.

“Since this is the east side, it might be better to also go to the south side, or even the workshop district up north.”

I see. So this is the east side.

According to Etna, there was nothing further west from here. Which meant that the empty western side must have been the noble district. The nobles’ residential area was placed in the empty west, as if to guard that side. At least it showed they had some intent to protect the common folk. 

“That’s how it is, given the geography. The knights of the nobles are the ones holding back the monster invasions. We often head out from the south gate to help the knights with their hunts.”

Aisha shared her own adventuring experiences. The knights had built defenses on the embattled western side, but the recent magical rampage had apparently hit them hard. Still, the reason it wasn’t considered a candidate for our visit was probably that helping the common people recover from the famine came first.

“The nobles’ quarter has food and supplies stockpiled. They should be fine for a while, but the residential districts can’t hold out. The granary region was destroyed, after all.”

Apparently the wheat fields had been completely wiped out. Well, I could see why the town had become this ruined. Even if the nobles wanted to distribute food, they probably didn’t have enough. The noble district was barely able to keep themselves fed.  

Aisha’s mother had lived here for decades, and she knew the ins and outs of the city. She understood what to prioritize to help recovery move along, which was very useful.

“If this is the east side, then it’s the way toward the country’s center, right? Don’t traveling merchants come here?”

“Normally, yes, but they might have been caught in the disaster. Right now, we can’t rely on them.”

So, according to Aisha, we couldn’t count on traveling merchants. If they had been caught up in the disaster mid-journey, it was questionable whether they were even alive.

“I know a little about the workshop district up north! I’ve got a master there who looks after me!”

Etna puffed her chest with pride. Apparently, once she was ready to stand on her own, she had been planning to apprentice at a workshop there. Her parents had acquaintances at one of the workshops.

“Then why don’t we head there first? We still have some time today.”

I judged that the residents we’d seen at the camping festival seemed energetic enough to manage for now. I planned to leave them with a good stockpile of food and ask them to pass it along to anyone who came later.

“We can leave the rest to the residents. What’s more important is checking on the workshop district.”

Following her advice, we decided to move out. Aisha’s mother, having recovered some stamina from eating and drinking, agreed to guide us. Aisha, of course, came along as our guard.

As we walked down the main road, the residential areas were full of rubble. Houses had collapsed, and some people were still lying on the ground.

I guess we will need to work while we move. 

We picked up rubble and left food for the people who were down. They didn’t seem completely unable to move, so they should manage somehow.

Along the way, we continued clearing debris. In places where the road was blocked, Aisha cleared it with brute strength. The “Purchase” slot could expand endlessly, so even huge debris disappeared into it.

The balance had gone up quite a lot. Even though we left a lot of food behind as we went, we were still well in the plus.

When we reached the workshop district, another scene of devastation awaited us. Several workshops and shops were half-collapsed. Whether from hunger or desperation, the shelves in the stores were completely empty. Only bare racks remained.

At least here, people must have lasted a little longer thanks to the stock in the shops. But with nothing left now, it looked like they had reached their limit.

Time to start distributing food to them.

“Let’s make this our base. I’ll keep producing food here. Etna, Pirika, hand out food and drinks to those who still seem able to move, and get us more helpers.”

“Got it, leave it to us!”

Etna and Pirika nodded energetically. First, we needed a few extra hands. I decided to wait here and call for people who could still move.

“Aisha, Mother-san. Call out the people around here and let people know there’s food. I want to gather the locals.”

“All right. I can make myself heard.”

As our guard, Aisha kept within sight of me while calling out to the people. Some people could still move, and women staggered out from nearby buildings.

Now, what should I hand out first? Of course I need to distribute bread, but I could see many people were dehydrated, with cracked lips.

I took out a pot and a portable gas stove to make bread porridge. I tore up loaves of bread, simmered them in salted water with eggs, and let them soften.

Wheat porridge or rice porridge would also work, but bread softened faster. Normally, it would be made with milk, but milk counted as a heavy liquid and was hard to drink on an empty stomach. So salted water and fresh eggs from a pack would have to do.

Once the pot boiled, I handed out deep paper bowls and plastic spoons. Carbs, protein, salt, and water. That should be enough to keep them going.

“It’s bread porridge! There’s bread too! If you can move, come and eat! You’re free to take some to those who can’t move as well! There’s plenty, so come, everyone!”

Aisha called out desperately. From all around, starving residents came staggering like zombies.

There are this many people? The porridge won’t be enough.

I bought more gas stoves and cooked bread porridge in six pots at once.

“Hey, mister. What is this? Can we really eat it?”

“Go ahead, don’t hold back. There’s more if you want seconds.”

It was a muscular but staggering woman. She wore something like overalls and carried a hammer, maybe for self-defense. A blacksmith, perhaps?

The fact that even skilled workers were starving was no laughing matter. This was a situation where feeding them was absolutely necessary.

“Where did all this food come from?”

“From my magic. Don’t worry about it, just put something in your stomach.”

I ladled out egg bread porridge into a deep bowl and handed it to her with a spoon. She seemed curious about the paper dish and plastic spoon, but once she slurped the porridge, the muscular, staggering woman devoured it eagerly.

I set out a drink dispenser as well. At this point, plain water was necessary too. I bought a water dispenser so I could provide water in bulk.  The woman’s eyes widened at the unfamiliar equipment that kept appearing.

“Eat plenty and recover. Once you’ve got your strength back, help make sure the other starving folks here get food.”

“Y-Yeah… Thanks.”

She ate two, three bowls. Once her stomach had settled, she switched to bread and sports drink.

“Kaito-nii-chan! I brought the master who looks after me! Feed her too!”

Etna supported another woman, helping her walk. Apparently this was the master of the workshop she had stayed at.

Well, whoever she is doesn’t matter to me. Eat, eat. Just keep on eating until you can get better. 

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