Published: September 10, 2025
Satou here. When I was a kid, the term "assault reconnaissance" became popular because of some anime or manga. I have fond memories of taking the train to nearby towns I’d never been to before and wandering around as if I were a spy exploring unknown streets. Of course, as a child, I didn’t really understand what the term meant.
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“Master, I’ve spotted a village ahead. I recommend sending a pseudo-spirit for preliminary reconnaissance.”
“Hm, Shadow.”
Nana and Mia, wearing weasel suits, were inexplicably high-spirited.
Though their suggestion was appreciated, I had already done the reconnaissance, so it wasn’t necessary.
“It’s fine. It seems the villagers are all friendly.”
I took the slightly disappointed Nana and Mia by the hand and headed toward the village.
Besides, even if the villagers tried to attack, it would be impossible to cause any damage through these suits.
“Hey, traveler!”
“Hello, villagers. I came to see the smoke car construction. Is it nearby?”
I spoke to an elderly weaselfolk man standing at the village entrance who had a drawn-out way of speaking.
The reason I chose this village was, as I mentioned earlier, that it was the closest settlement to the railway construction site.
This village had more ratmen and rabbit humanoids than weaselfolk.
Surprisingly, not only in the district but also within the Weasel Empire’s territory, there were no nobles or slaves.
However, it seemed the subjects were divided into classes from first to third rank. Whether third-class citizens were essentially treated like slaves would change how I viewed this country.
For my infiltration, I disguised myself as a typical local wine seller.
“Hey, can you hear that sound? The site is just beyond that hill,” the old man said.
“Thank you, villager. Sorry for selling, but please have a drink.”
“No problem.”
I handed the kind old man a cup of sake in a plain earthenware cup.
“Ah, this is delicious.”
“Is it really that good?”
“Let me have a taste too.”
From the second person onward, I didn’t offer it for free but sold it for bronze coins commonly used in the Weasel Empire.
While selling sake, I gathered information under the guise of casual chat with the elders.
Eventually, I entrusted Nana and Mia with selling the sake.
“You want some too, wine seller?”
“Ah, thank you.”
Matching my tone to the elders, I accepted some dried meat they offered.
It was the same salted monster meat I had seen in the district city.
“Is this made here in the village?”
“Hm? Which village did you come from?”
When I answered that I was from the other side of the mountain, a puzzled expression appeared on the elders’ faces.
Damn, I must’ve said something wrong. I activated the interrogation ‘foolish field’ to confuse them.
“Well, that can’t be helped.”
“Unless the smoke car arrives, we can’t buy the cheap military rations the empire sells off.”
According to the elders, the awful-smelling fermented calorie bars became tasty when turned into porridge with fragrant herbs to mask the smell.
“I hope the construction progresses and the smoke car comes soon.”
“Yeah, since then, farmers can sell their crops and buy rations, so they can feed growing children their fill.”
“Praise be to the emperor.”
Unlike the district, it seemed the emperor had a good reputation in these remote farming villages.
I also learned that merchants arriving on the smoke car purchased the agricultural products.
“Hey, you young folks are working on the smoke car road construction, but you smell like booze already this early.”
“Hey, village chief. Have a drink!”
“Oh, sake, huh... how much?”
When I told him the price, the village chief shouted “Cheap!” and bought all the wine jars they were carrying.
That was fine, but somehow, it turned into a village-wide drinking party.
I was a little surprised at the leisure they seemed to have, despite it not being harvest time.
Those enjoying the sake wore patched-up farming clothes, but everyone smiled and looked healthy.