第１３掘：全体を見るように

第１３掘：全体を見るように

Dig 13: Look at the Whole Picture

Look at the Whole Picture

Side: Seraria von Roschur

"Well, all that's left is to wait for them to calm down. If we offer a surrender recommendation now, they'll just resist more since they still have energy."

Yuki, as if to say his work was done, was stretching his body.

I don't want to admit it, but out of the approximately 1500 people who had invaded the dungeon, about 340 have died in pit traps...?

The rest are isolated within the dungeon, cut off from supplies and rescue.

They can advance, but only a maximum of six people at a time. That trap is practically a sneak attack.

Even if they try to retreat, the long corridor they came through has open pit traps, making it impossible to go back.

What's more, we've suffered no damage at all.

With only traps, he is toying with Roschur Kingdom's elite army, primarily composed of the Royal Guard.

Anyone can see it. This is a complete defeat of 1500 people by a single opponent.

However, if this is called the power of a Dungeon Master, I can't help but tilt my head in confusion.

He merely trapped the opponents in pit traps. But he trapped an entire army.

Is this what Yuki meant by "strategist" or "staff officer"?

It's a battle strategy that uses one's head, just as Yuki said.

With this, no matter how much power or how high their level, it's useless.

But then a question arose in me: why encourage the enemy to surrender?

He trapped the army so easily; there's no way the Roschur soldiers aren't standing over pit traps right now.

There's no way Yuki would take such a lenient approach.

"Hey, you... Yuki, why are you trying to encourage surrender? Judging by your actions just now, you must have anticipated this, right? Beneath their feet... aren't there pit traps?"

"Oh, you called me by my name for the first time. Yes, just as Seraria said, their lives are entirely at my discretion."

Yuki admitted it so easily. But I can't read his true intentions at all... If he killed them here, he wouldn't need to take care of them, so could it be out of consideration for our feelings?

"I don't want you to suffer. Those people were probably deceived by the minister Seraria mentioned, right?"

Yuki looked at her so earnestly.

"Yuki..."

Elju's face turned bright red, and her eyes welled up...

"A lie. It's definitely a lie! There's no way Yuki, with such a sharp mind, would create this situation in the first place. Didn't you say earlier? 'One hundred battles, one hundred victories'... 'Always consider methods that minimize damage,' was it? Even I can tell, so you must have another objective, right?"

Indeed, if his policy is "Always consider methods that minimize damage," then harboring us in the first place is a bad idea.

Even if he didn't know the circumstances, he could have just thrown us out.

There should be no need to deliberately take such a risk...

Honestly, it was a shot in the dark; I just said it on a hunch.

Since he's gone this far, I thought he must be thinking of something beyond my comprehension.

"That's right. Seraria is correct. There's another objective."

"What is it?"

"Do you think I'd just tell you so easily? Think for yourself."

"I'm telling you because I don't know!"

It's frustrating, incredibly frustrating.

I don't understand at all. But without Yuki's help, we're helpless.

"Tell us your plan. We have no other choice but to be helped by Yuki now."

"...Well, fine. It'll be a bit long, as it relates to your own situation."

"Yes, we have all the time in the world."

"No, if those soldiers surrender right now, we'll be busy dealing with them."

"Just tell us already!"

"Big Sister, calm down!"

Elju held me back. If not for Elju's scent, I would have punched him many times.

Yuki himself looked at me with an annoyed expression.

"How should I explain this... Right. I'll give you the general idea. Please ask questions after I've finished speaking."

"Understood."

"For me, it's a plan that works out no matter what. Well, by helping you, my main goal was to get recognition for operating this dungeon, even if not officially, if things went well."

That's right, if I asked Elju, Yuki apparently became a Dungeon Master at some point. He doesn't know this place, nor does he have common sense.

So, he helped us... helping Elju was by chance, but he wouldn't miss this opportunity, would he?

"So, I was thinking of sending Elju back to Roschur Kingdom to mediate things. But then she was being chased by soldiers, and when I harbored her, a mountain of soldiers came after, and if I just abandoned you, you'd be killed. However, conveniently, Elju was recognized as a 'Dungeon Master.' So, if she could act as the Dungeon Master in my stead and persuade these soldiers without killing most of them, you could gain Roschur Kingdom's elite as allies. If I massacred everyone here, Elju would have fewer allies. And then, if I persuade the people who surrender afterward and clean up the Royal Capital, I might be able to live safely."

"I see. I understand. If we can return to the Royal Capital safely, I promise to lend you our aid."

"Oh, thank you. It's much appreciated to have your consent beforehand rather than suddenly asking after everything is over."

"But didn't you think we might try to defeat you?"

"I said it works out no matter what, didn't I? For me, I also wanted to test the dungeon's operation. If you became enemies, I'd deal with you like the current soldiers... no, even more efficiently. Thanks to these soldiers, I've actually learned a lot."

"I see, it really does work out no matter what for you... how truly terrifying. But why push Elju as the Dungeon Master? I thought you could have just left yourself?"

"That's simple. Which is more easily accepted by the public—'An unknown Dungeon Master is safe' or 'Elju has taken control of the dungeon through her power as a Saintess'? Or even by the higher-ups?"

"Definitely the latter. The former isn't impossible, but it's safer for both you and us to put Elju forward rather than cross such a dangerous bridge."

It truly worked out for Yuki no matter what... and he even thought of using the misconception that Elju is the Dungeon Master.

He's terrifying if he's an enemy, but reassuring as an ally.

And truly, even if I made an enemy of Yuki, I don't think I could conquer this dungeon.

"However, even if we can make these soldiers our allies here, there will be trouble in the Royal Capital, or rather, it's useless unless we figure out a way to oust Loire."

Yes, unless we deal with Loire, who drove us into this situation, we won't be able to return to the Royal Capital safely, so to speak. Even if we return, he'll find some excuse to call us monsters and try to eliminate us.

"Ah, I think that's already taken care of."

"Eh, what do you mean?"

"I received a message from Mauve and his group."

Mauve? Oh, those men who enslaved and abused Elju. Even if Elju reconciled and forgave them, I won't. I'll definitely punch them a hundred times.

"Yo, just as Yuki said, the King of Roschur and the Princess have been assassinated!"

"Whaaaaaat?!"

"Whoa, what? Were the Princesses there?"

"Yes, so please state the facts a bit more clearly."

"My bad, my bad. The assassination was successfully prevented thanks to us and our collaborators."

"Oh, collaborators, huh?"

"And so. As planned, we told the King about that matter, and a messenger has been sent to those heading your way, telling them to 'return immediately because an assassination occurred.' Those soldiers will likely withdraw within a few days."

Yuki and his group were discussing such things... but still...

"Explain yourselves right noooooow!!!"

I, who screamed, am definitely not crazy.