第２６掘：残る苦味 (Part1)
Chapter 26: Lingering Bitterness
Lingering Bitterness
Ratz was in quite a panic.
That was only natural. 490,000 DP was proof that a corresponding number of lives had been taken.
"No, I'm not saying you did anything wrong, Mister!! But what on earth could have happened in such a short time to earn that much DP!? All I've heard about this dungeon is that it was the last place Lady Elju was seen alive!!"
Come to think of it, I hadn't asked how Elju's fate was being reported to the general public.
"Sorry, can I ask a question? What is this story about Lady Elju? I certainly sheltered her, but I don't know what happened after that."
I knew the circumstances, but I asked as if I knew nothing.
"Ah, so you really were sheltering Lady Elju, Mister. However, it is a tragedy. After leaving this place, Lady Elju was attacked by the Demon Lord's minions and passed away. She was reportedly leading around 2,000 elite soldiers, but that number had dwindled to about 1,500. For elites to be thinned out that much... it must have been a tremendous assault."
I see, I see. So that's the story circulating in the streets.
I had wondered how they would cover up the loss of troops, but instead of blaming the dungeon, they pinned it on the Demon Lord. That way they save face—or rather, it makes it easier to form an alliance against the Demon Lord.
"You don't seem very surprised, Mister. ...I see, so those 500 elites were converted into DP."
Oh, it seems Ratz has already deduced what I did based on her own words.
"Mister, could you provide an explanation for this?"
"Of course. You all deserve to hear about this incident. In fact, you absolutely must hear it if you're going to help manage this dungeon."
I paused for a moment and looked at everyone's faces.
They seemed ready to listen. Just in case, Mauve and his group were sitting near Milly.
"Right, first, let me introduce this person. Elju, come in."
At my words, the door opened, and Elju and Oriel entered the room.
Elju had been providing medical treatment for the sake of the people, so she was well-known.
The women here were shocked, clearly recognizing Elju's face.
"It is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Elju Rau Roschur. Though, currently, I am essentially a dead person."
"I am Oriel, Lady Elju's guard."
Even after they introduced themselves, everyone remained frozen with their mouths hanging open.
Ratz was the first to recover, her mouth finally moving.
"...I-I see. The high food consumption for yesterday and today recorded in these accounts was for these two. I never imagined such high-profile figures would appear."
Ratz fluttered the balance sheet she had written earlier, looking as though she still found it hard to believe.
However, she noticed there were extra people just from those numbers. Ratz seems like she'll be quite reliable.
"Now, I should explain about Elju and the others. Elju, please take a seat."
After prompting her and watching her sit down, I recounted the outline of the recent turmoil to everyone.
• Mauve and his group entered the dungeon with Elju as a slave.
• I protected Elju and the others to gain information about this continent and its nations.
• I persuaded Mauve's group to escort Elju to the royal capital as her guards.
• What was being kept secret in the capital: the assassination attempt on Seraria and Minister Loire's secret maneuvers.
• Immediately after, Rurua joined up with Mauve's group, revealing that the Lithia Holy Kingdom had instigated the turmoil.
• I protected Elju and the others once more, but Loire quickly dispatched a subjugation force to this dungeon.
• I used that situation to turn the tables on Loire.
• However, if Elju were known to be alive, the Lithia Holy Kingdom would be forced to take action.
• To avoid war, Elju was officially declared dead, leading to the current situation.
"...This was quite a troublesome affair, wasn't it?"
Ratz spoke heavily after finishing the story.
"Yeah, but thanks to that, this dungeon's DP is overflowing, and I've secured a guarantee of support from the country. In about ten days or so, immigration will begin outside the dungeon under the guise of Elju's dying wish. Seraria is leading that effort."
"You really don't leave anything to chance, Mister. You've already made all those arrangements. Now it's just a matter of building, then."
"Exactly. I don't know if it'll be a village or a town outside the dungeon, but that's outside our jurisdiction. We'll be focusing on developing the inside of the dungeon."
"So, Mister. Why did you tell us that Lady Elju is alive? No, I understand it came up naturally in the conversation, but wouldn't it have been easier to operate if you kept it hidden?"
"It's simple. I want Elju to be involved in managing this dungeon. It's for her own sake as well."
"...I see, you're thinking about the time after her restoration. I understa—"
Ratz tried to continue, but she was cut off by a scream.
"I don't understand!! Why is that woman in management...!! No, why are you sheltering her in this dungeon at all!!"
Milly burst out in a tirade and hurled the teacup in her hand at Elju, but it fell at Elju's feet as if blocked by a wall due to the Designated Protection skill.
"You!! How dare you do that to Lady Elju!!"
Oriel barked, but Milly didn't stop.
"Everyone, you know it, don't you!! This woman is the root of it all!! Because this woman calls herself a Saintess...!! We were made into slaves!! How many villages and towns do you think were drenched in blood because of her!?"
Ratz and Eris looked at Milly with bitter expressions.
They understood what Milly was saying. The others looked confused, not quite grasping the situation.
"Give them back!! My family!! Everyone in the town!! ...I'll kill you! You have no idea how my brother died protecting the town!! They cut off his arms and stabbed him repeatedly while he was defenseless!! Then they held up his head!! I'll make you suffer the same fate!!"
As she tried to lunge forward, Mauve caught her from behind in a full nelson.
"Let me go, Mauve!! Why didn't you kill her when you met her!! It's her, she's the cause of everything!! Why is she living so nonchalantly!! She should have just died!!"
Mauve seemed to have no words, simply holding her back without trying to do anything else.
"...I am sorry. I was shallow..."
Elju hung her head and apologized to Milly.