第１０掘：面倒事はまとめてやってくる
Dig 10: Troubles Come All at Once
Troubles Come All at Once
Side: Elju Lau Roschur
I am currently in the royal capital.
It's about a five-day journey from Yuki's dungeon. Thanks to Mauve and the others, we arrived here without any problems along the way.
From here on, it's my duty. To end this tragedy.
"Mauve, Raiya, Curse, thank you for everything on the journey. From this point on, I will stop this war, even if it costs me my life."
When I declared that clearly, Mauve and the others looked troubled.
"Princess, I appreciate your feelings, but don't overdo it. It's strange for me to say, but this is a life you picked up. Don't let Yuki's help go to waste."
Yes, this life and my reconciliation with Mauve and the others were thanks to the help of a strange Dungeon Master. But he is not here now.
"I don't want to leave the dungeon. I never know when my life might be targeted," he said, seeing us off and remaining in that dungeon.
"In the end, I couldn't repay the favor I received from Yuki."
For him, simply providing information was apparently enough, but I feel that I still haven't repaid the favor sufficiently.
"I understand how you feel, but you can't just walk around openly, can you? The Princess can intercede for him there."
"Yes... that's right. If I can end the war and have some leeway, it would be good to talk about Yuki and offer various assistance."
Right now, in this chaotic country, I cannot speak about the Dungeon Master. It would endanger Yuki and create an opening for other countries.
As we talked, we arrived at the royal capital's fountain plaza.
"Well, this is where we part ways. I have an errand for Yuki to run."
"Yes, thank you for everything."
I had intended to host Mauve and the others at the royal castle, but he said,
"Please don't. I haven't done anything that deserves praise from the Princess. Well, maybe I protected your virtue?"
"Oh, you! How rude!"
Indeed, whether by good luck or bad, my virtue remained intact.
In the end, he said such things and slipped away.
"Will you be in the royal capital for a while?"
"Yeah. While I'm running errands, there are a few things I want to do myself. I'm hoping to add some funny stories for my wife and daughter."
"...I see."
"..."
"..."
"Then, I look forward to the day we can meet again."
"Alright, I think there's a high chance you'll see me if you come to the dungeon."
With that, the three of them left.
"Oriel, this is our battlefield from now on. Will you follow me?"
"Yes, anywhere."
Side: Mauve
"Alright, I guess I'll get Yuki's errand done."
As I said that and started to move, Curse called out to me.
"No, wait. Did you hear what Yuki said!? There's a high chance that trouble will occur from now on. We need to observe the royal castle for a while."
"That's not my hobby, and it's not like it's happening right now, is it? Then I'll use my free time to look for some slaves to help out."
With a wave of his hand, he left Curse and Raiya behind.
"Mauve is as irresponsible as ever..."
"That's just like him. We'll observe the royal castle. We can leave the errand to him."
"Shut up, I said. Stakeouts are mostly out of my league, I'm primarily a combat type."
Muttering curses to himself about the criticism he just heard, he searched for his destination.
"But, 'just like me,' huh? Can I go back to how I was back then, even a little?"
Thanks to Yuki, he was freed from the brutal times, and while many things won't return, he still feels it's better than staying as he was.
"But, slaves to help in the dungeon, huh... Well, there probably aren't many other workers... Oh, I didn't ask what kind of slaves to buy."
Saying that, he entered a deserted alley.
"Uh, 'Call Yuki,' was it? Answer me."
He's Yuki's subordinate, effectively, right? The skill he received allows him to freely contact anyone who has entered Yuki's service. It's convenient.
"Huh? Mauve, what's up? I'm busy right now. Has something happened already?"
"No, it's a different matter. About the slaves, I was wondering what kind of help you'd prefer."
"Ah, I forgot to mention that. Hmm, they're like maids, so young women should be fine, right?"
"Yeah, that's right. Old maids aren't really ideal, they probably don't have much time left, and bringing them to the dungeon might give them a heart attack."
"Right. As for appearance or race, there's nothing specific. Oh, actually, try to get different races."
"Why is that? Wouldn't it be better to have the same race to avoid confusion with personalities and manners?"
"That's exactly it. I want information based on race. I've heard information from you guys, but there's a lot you wouldn't know without actual members of each race, right?"
"I see, got it. I'll look for them based on what you just said."
"Alright, I'm looking forward to it. I'm looking forward to your preferences."
"Gah, is that your real objective!?"
"Pfft."
"Ah, he hung up, didn't he!? Hey!!"
This is bad. If he buys slaves by himself, it will all be attributed to "Mauve's" preferences.
Depending on the situation, he might even buy someone around his daughter's age... No, that possibility is high...
He needs Raiya and Curse to participate, or he'll be seen as the only pervert.
Thinking that, he contacted Raiya.
Side: Oriel
"Elju!! Thank goodness, you're safe!! When your carriage was found in ruins, I thought you, clumsy Elju, had died!!"
"Big Sister, it's hard to tell if I should be happy..."
Right now, Elju's older sister, Seraria, is hugging her, crying.
Seraria has a sharp tongue, but somehow, her actions show that it's not her true feelings.
We are currently in Seraria's private room in the royal castle. We entered the royal castle without any problems, though the gate guards were a bit surprised, and we even met His Majesty, who praised us, saying, "Elju... I'm truly glad!! Oriel, I thank you for your devoted service."
In reality, I was reduced to a slave instead of protecting her.
"Is anyone there?"
"Yes, I am here."
"Prepare Elju's favorite tea and sweets. Quickly!!"
"Understood."
"Big Sister, you don't have to go to such trouble."
"What are you saying? It's not for Elju, it's for me!!"
It was a heartwarming scene from the outside; I only wished nothing would happen.
It was precisely because of this peace that Yuki's words bothered me.
"What I'm about to say is just a prediction. I haven't actually seen the scene, so I can't say for certain. But if you want to protect Elju, listen. If nothing happens, it'll just be me being overly worried. But if it's different..."
Yuki told this story only to me. I thought it was so as not to cause Elju unnecessary worry.
The content concerned Elju being used in this war.
"I'm sure you understand that if Elju was used as a banner, there's someone who wants to exploit her."
"Ah, I believe so too."
"I'll list a few patterns, from reassuring ones to the worst-case scenarios."
The contents were as follows:
Pattern 1: The Princess's exploitation is over. She can now live in peace.
If this were true, it would be truly wonderful.
Pattern 2: A pretext for the internal war-promoting faction to take Elju into their fold.
If this is the case, we must continue to be careful in our actions, or the previous tragedy will repeat itself.
Indeed, invasions are being carried out in Elju's name, so this has credibility.
Pattern 3: And the worst possibility, a plan to eliminate Elju, though the mastermind is unknown.
But Yuki pushed this one the most. He was bothered by the fact that the place where the carriage was attacked was near a battlefield. Yuki said that if it was a coincidence that Elju's route became a battlefield, that would be fine, but he suspected she was deliberately instructed to pass through there.
If this is true, I will absolutely kill that traitor.
"Here, it's delicious. Elju, you drink too."
"Big Sister, you don't have to rush so much."
"Drink it quickly... *cough*... *cough*..."
"Big Sister!?"
The sound of a breaking cup brought me back to reality. Seraria was clutching her throat, looking in pain!? As I approached to help Seraria, the room door burst open with a loud bang.
"Seraria!? Ah... I was too late!! Guards, guards!! Seraria is being killed by an impostor wearing Elju's skin!! A healing mage!!"
Standing there was Loire, the Minister of this country.
Side: Seraria Nou Roschur
That damn Minister, saying this Elju is an impostor!?
Her scent, her gestures, and her underwear—everything about her is 100% Elju, there's no doubt!!
"Gasp... gasp..."
But no sound came out. Damn it, that Minister set this up!!
I understood it instinctively.
Elju's smile had shone even brighter since she became the Saintess.
But recently, she had been somewhat down. It was probably about that village. That damn father praised her without reservation, but there's no way Elju would cause people suffering!!
Elju herself had said that she was unknowingly being used as a banner.
...I see, so I, who was investigating, became an obstacle. And to make matters worse, they're pinning the crime on my precious Elju!!
"Big Sister!! Sister!!"
"Elju, please calm down!! If you use your power, the misunderstanding will be cleared, and Seraria can be saved!!"
"Gasp...!!"
Nice, Oriel!! Elju, come on, use your power to neutralize my poison, and then we'll deal with this damn Minister!!
"I-I understand!!"
And then her beloved hand approached me, but...
"Don't move!! You intend to kill Seraria, don't you!! Guards, we've called a healing mage here, so don't worry and apprehend that impostor!!"
Damn it, he intends to leave me like this, finish me off, and somehow pin the crime on Elju.
Ah, it can't be helped. If things continue like this, neither of us will be saved... Then.
"El... gasp... run..."
You can do it, can't you?
Even poisoned, my feelings for Elju cannot be stopped.
"Don't move!!"
"Oriel, no!! Let go, Big Sister is... Seraria is!!"
"Elju!! Seraria!! Excuse me!!"
Oriel slammed something onto the floor, and light burst forth, dyeing everything white before my eyes.
Side: Raiya
"Oh, so Yuki's prediction was right after all."
"Yeah. I wish it hadn't been."
Curse and I were scouting the royal castle when suddenly, light burst from a window, and someone jumped out.
"It's the Princess and her attendant, after all."
"It looks like she's carrying someone, though? Will they be able to get out safely?"
"I don't know. But if they make it this far, we're asked to help them."
"But about Yuki's story... if he could predict this much, why didn't he help them from beginning to end?"
"Don't ask the impossible. If it's revealed that a Dungeon Master is involved, the royal guards from here will rush to that dungeon."
"I understand that. But then he wouldn't have asked us to help from the start. What exactly is Yuki thinking? If we shelter them like this, at worst, the dungeon itself will be gone."
As we talked, Oriel came running towards us, carrying the Princess and another person.
She probably had no intention of stopping. She intended to escape back to the dungeon like this.
"Go."
"My apologies."
A while after she ran off, soldiers rushed up.
"Did anyone carrying two women come this way!?"
"Ah, if it's them, they went that way."
He pointed to a different alley.
"Did something happen?"
Curse naturally spoke to the soldiers.
"Sorry!! This is not the time!!"
The soldier cut off his words and ran off.
Pattern 4: Even worse, a takeover of this country. Elju being used as a banner... being made a scapegoat was to lower the country's reputation. It's fine for now, but if the war drags on, the Saintess who caused it will be in a bad position. At an opportune moment, the Saintess will die, and then there will be an outcry, both domestically and internationally, about using the Saintess in a conflict!!
Then, surrounding countries will form an alliance, creating an anti-Roschur coalition. If that happens, the King will lose his influence. And then the mastermind behind this plan will appear, saying, "I cannot entrust the people to the current King, follow me!!" ...How terrible.
By this point, it's in the realm of delusion, but just keep it in mind. We don't have enough information to know who the mastermind is, but if they're going to make a move, it will be right after Elju returns. I don't know how, but they'll probably dispose of Elju legally.
Because the Saintess, who was thought to be dead, has returned. If it were me, I'd take this opportunity to eliminate one or two more people. Who? The royal family.
He remembered Yuki saying that.
"So, was that unfamiliar face earlier someone from the royal family?"
"Who knows?"
The person who should have answered that question had already run far away.