第３３掘：会議前半 (Part1)
**Dungeon Floor 33: The Meeting (Part 1)**
I managed to keep my body in a pristine state...
After that, Aslin and Firia had been wandering the hallways in tears, having been left alone. It seemed the sudden disappearance of everyone else had struck a chord of terror in them. That was only natural; as former slaves, they had lived in a state of constant uncertainty, never knowing when they might be torn away from their surroundings. Even if I had no such intentions, the prospect of waking up to find everyone gone must have been a nightmare.
In any case, thanks to those two angels, the day ended without further incident. I’ll have to treat them to something delicious soon.
Currently, everyone is gathered in the banquet hall to discuss our future plans.
"Alright, starting today, we’re going to begin making serious decisions regarding the operation of this dungeon. I want to hear everyone’s opinions, so don't hold back."
I scanned their faces as I spoke.
"As I mentioned yesterday, you all—having been slaves—are the ones who must eventually take the lead here. But I know it’s unreasonable to expect you to know what to do right away. I’ll be guiding these meetings until you get used to the process. I hope you’ll bear with me."
Ratz and the others nodded in agreement.
"Good. First, let’s talk about the basics of building a village or town in this dungeon. It might seem tedious, but we need to list the necessities. You’ll see copy paper in front of you—please write down anything you think is essential. If you can’t write, pair up with someone who can. There’s plenty of paper, so don't worry about using it. Let’s take about ten minutes to think it over, then we’ll compile the list."
Incidentally, commoners in this world generally don't own clocks. In villages and towns, they seem to rely on bells to signal the time. Clocks are luxury items reserved for royalty or the wealthy. Everyone was surprised by them, but since they’re necessary, I’ve been teaching those who come here how to read them.
The group naturally split up. They gathered around those who could write, and for the most part, people paired up with those they were close to. Well, if anyone had joined a group where they were clearly unwelcome, it would be a sure sign they were plotting something.
First, Labyris, Aslin, and Firia. Those three are a set. No issues there.
Next, Eris, Ratz, and Milly. A group of the educated. Very stable.
Then, Tori, Riel, and Kaya. The beastman group, as expected. I suspect they’ll offer perspectives unique to their kind.
Finally, Elju, Oriel, and Rurua. The princess group. Elju, being a guest from another nation, shouldn't really be participating, but she went out of her way to bow to Milly and the others to get permission. Something seems to have changed in her over the last day or two. Well, with a person of Rurua’s caliber there, it shouldn't be a problem.
Oh, and for the record, Mauve and the others are just here to listen. They plan to infiltrate this dungeon as adventurers, so they’re observing for various reasons. I wanted them to contribute, but they turned me down with a single "too much effort." Well, having an objective perspective isn't a bad thing.
While I was thinking about that and setting up the whiteboard, ten minutes passed.
"Alright, let's see. I’ll save Eris’s and Elju’s groups for last, since they seem to have written quite a bit. Let’s start with Labyris’s group or Tori’s. Which one first?"
"Well then, I think Labyris-chan’s group should go first."
"...Really? Thank you."
Labyris said that and handed the paper they had filled out to Aslin and Firia.
"Um, well! We want a place to play!! I’m sure it would be fun!! We want a place like a plaza!! And we want a field, so we can grow lots of delicious things!!"
"And we want a blacksmith’s forge so we can make all sorts of things!! We’ll work hard!!"
The former was Aslin, the latter Firia. It was a very fitting suggestion for them. Or rather, those are things we absolutely need. It might seem a bit premature to ask for those in a dungeon that’s currently just an empty plain, but looking toward the future, they aren't wrong.
"...They sound just like themselves, don't they? From me, I think we need a place for the people who will live here to reside."
Labyris offered a very sensible opinion. We can't do anything without housing.
"I see, I see. And don't feel like 'what an obvious thing to say.' If we don't voice these things, there’s a chance they might not get built. If we wait until after people move in to say 'let's add this,' it’ll cause a huge commotion."
I urged them to keep going.
"Ah, I see. So that’s the point of discussing our opinions. You're right, if I think about it alone, there will definitely be holes in the plan. It’s not just about taking Aslin-chan and Firia-chan’s words at face value; there are deeper meanings to them."
"Exactly. The plaza Aslin mentioned could serve as a gathering spot or a main street for the town. The field is obvious now that she’s said it. Firia probably wants the forge because she wants to work there, but as our population grows, there will be times when we need to craft various things."
Ratz understood the purpose of the meeting, and Eris grasped the secondary benefits of the girls' suggestions.
"That’s true. It’s a different perspective from what we wrote down. By the way, regarding the fields and the forge, I have a question: can Yuki-san create the necessary items using DP? If so, wouldn't we not need fields or a forge?"
Milly, while convinced, asked if I could just provide everything myself.
"That’s true, it’s not impossible. However, if I do that, this won't function as a village or a town. If they don't have to work, they’re no different from livestock. When the migration first starts, we’ll be short on many things, so I’ll use DP to substitute, but I don't intend to rely on that forever."
"Hmm, I suppose so, but... if you provide for us, Yuki-san, wouldn't that surely reduce unnecessary conflict? In fact, if you did that, this would be a paradise, wouldn't it? After all, we’d be safe, fed, and wouldn't have to work. If we can just get what we need by spending DP, isn't that fine?"
Ratz suggested that taking the easy route might be better.
"That assumes I remain in this dungeon, healthy and present, forever. If, by some chance, I die or leave this place..."
"...This paradise would collapse in an instant. I see. So that’s why you want the residents who live here from the start to be somewhat self-sufficient and capable of defending themselves?"
"Exactly. If they recognize that they are the ones protecting this place, rather than just being protected by it, they’ll be able to respond when the time comes."
"I understand."
"I’ll decide the extent of my involvement after everyone has finished sharing their opinions. It would take too long if I chimed in on every single point."
Everyone nodded. For now, I began writing the opinions we had gathered onto the whiteboard.
"Now, next is Tori’s group. Are you ready?"