An Unconscious Genius Magic Tool Maker Wants to Live a Leisurely Life

Chapter 45: Waterway Management Bureau

Acrysta, the city of water.

Keeping Motivational Messages Alive

The pure white buildings, roads, and the entire city emit a white and fantastical atmosphere that is popular among tourists within the kingdom.

One of the city’s main attractions is the clear water that flows throughout the city and can be seen from anywhere.

The water flowing in the waterways is so clean that it can be drunk directly.

It is a valuable water source that supports the livelihoods of the people in the city.

However, now it is said to be plagued by a mysterious contamination.

“It’s surprisingly normal, isn’t it?”

We entered the city.

I thought that the atmosphere would be heavier since we had heard about the contamination troubles, but the people in the city were walking around as usual and there didn’t seem to be any impact on their daily lives, at least not from the first impression.

“What is visible is not everything. Besides, this is a tourist attraction. There are clearly fewer people here than when I last visited.”

“Does that mean there is an impact? What shall we do, Your Highness?”

“Well, let’s first confirm the actual situation.”

We decided to listen to the voices of the people in the city.

We approached a man walking down the street and asked, “Excuse me, can we talk to you for a moment?”

“Hello? Yes, Your Highness Julius?!”

“Don’t be so formal. I don’t want to stand out too much.”

“Y-Yes…”

It’s natural to be surprised when the Prince suddenly speaks to you like that.

The man regains his composure despite being flustered and listens to His Highness’s words.

“I heard that the water in this town has been contaminated recently. Is it true?”

“Uh, yes. It seems to be the case, but I don’t know the details. The agency that manages the city’s waterways has told us not to drink the water directly from the waterways.”

From what the man says, the contamination seems to be true.

However, it seemed that the people in the town were not given a detailed explanation, and only the people at the agency that manages the waterways in the town knew the situation.

His Highness thanks the man and decides to visit the waterway management bureau.

❂❂❂

The waterway management bureau was located in the center of the town.

It was a three-story building, and it seemed that the water was springing from this location.

Literally, it was the hub of the city’s waterways.

“Excuse me.”

“This is a non-affiliated place——Your Highness!”

“I’m sorry to surprise you. Is the director here?”

“Yes, sir! I’ll call them right away, Director!”

One of the station staff rushes off in a panic.

Watching this, His Highness chuckles wryly, and Gardo-san whispers under his breath.

“Shouldn’t we have made an appointment after all?”

“…No, that would have made the paperwork more troublesome.”

“But isn’t it also inconvenient to keep surprising them every time?”

“You’re right…we’ll handle it better next time.”

As they’re talking, a thin man hurries over from the back.

“Sorry to keep you waiting, Your Highness Julius.”

“My apologies. Did I rush you?”

“No, it’s alright.”

He doesn’t look alright at all…

He’s gasping for breath and seems young, but maybe he doesn’t have much stamina?

He gives off a slightly unreliable vibe.

“Excuse me. I’m the director of this branch. My name is Histoman.”

“Director Histoman, I apologize for coming without an appointment, but could you spare us a little time?”

“Yes, I had some free time, so please come in.”

“Thank you.”

Led by the Director, we proceed towards the back of the administrative bureau.

Inside, it resembled the room of the magic institution located in the basement of the palace, albeit slightly.

There were ornate devices scattered here and there.

It was probably a magic institution, but I couldn’t tell how it worked just by looking at it.

And…

“This smell…”

“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of it.”

Nero-kun whispered to me secretly.

If he says so, it seems that it’s not a good thing after all.

We were guided to the reception room.

His Highness sits down, and the Director sits across from him.

“I apologize for the small room.”

“It’s okay. We’ve come to inquire about the contamination of the waterways.”

“What, Your Highness came all the way here yourself?”

“These kinds of problems fall under my jurisdiction. Can you please explain?”

“Yes, of course.”

We hear the story from the Director.

The contamination is a fact, and it has only been occurring for about two weeks.

This facility has magic tools that analyze the components and purity of the water, and the condition of the water is always managed by them.

Suddenly, toxins were detected in the water that gushed out.

It was a small reaction, so if it was a natural occurrence, it would settle down soon.

At first, they didn’t think deeply about it, but a week later, the concentration increased rapidly.

“Although it doesn’t look different, when you drink it, you’ll feel a slight bitterness. If you drink too much in a day, you’ll suffer from digestive symptoms such as stomach pain, vomiting, and diarrhea, so we’ve asked the people in the city to stop drinking the water.”

“What about drinking water?”

“We have a storage tank here. The water in the tank is not contaminated, so we deliver the water from the tanks to the houses.”

“How much is left in the tank?”

The director looked hesitant to answer…

“To be honest, it won’t last for another month.”

“I see. It seems to be a quite urgent situation.”

“I’m sorry. It’s our responsibility to manage the waterways…”

“Don’t blame yourselves. Thanks to the quick response of the management bureau, the damage to the city has been minimized. Your response was not wrong.”

“Your Highness…”

“Besides, it’s all right now. I brought someone reliable with me at times like this.”

His Highness made eye contact with me.

I nod and turn to the stunned Director.

“Can you do it, Freya?”

“Of course. That’s why I’m here.”