In previous years, whenever the New Year had just passed, countless people from other cities would flock to Bunta City in search of work.
Their numbers would even exceed the city's original population several times over, so at this time every year, Bunta City would be packed with people and bustling with activity.
After the New Year this year, however, the people of Bunta City were surprised to discover that there suddenly seemed to be far fewer outsiders coming to the city.
Although the Feilson Carriage Company's passenger magic locomotives still brought in batches of people from distant places every day, their total numbers were much lower than in previous years.
The enormous contrast even made residents accustomed to the past few years feel that Bunta City was somewhat deserted this year.
As the days passed after the New Year and winter drew to an end, the people of Bunta City discovered something else that surprised them.
With the crowds pouring into Bunta City over the past few years and people's incomes rising, the various merchant guilds had opened countless new shops throughout the city to meet the needs of these additional residents.
Now, however, the city's shops were closing one after another and announcing that they were ceasing operations.
At first, only the Amli Merchant Guild announced the closure of a housing sales center it had established outside the city. Soon afterward, the Armani Merchant Guild also announced that it was closing two ready-made clothing shops within the city.
After that, the number of merchant guilds announcing shop closures rapidly increased.
The people of Bunta City would go to sleep at night, wake up the next morning, and find several more shops along the streets closed when they went outside.
If the dwindling crowds on the streets made the