第５７掘：お姫様はお嫁さん (Part1)

第５７掘：お姫様はお嫁さん (Part1)

**Dungeon 57: The Princess is a Bride**

**Side: Yuki**

Today, Seraria arrives.

I received word last night that she would arrive around 10:00 AM.

Seraria truly is a first-class military officer. While it’s common for marches to be delayed by a day or two, I’m genuinely impressed that she managed to bring the immigrants and arrive on the 15th exactly as planned.

Ah, as for Rurua, she linked up with Alstaire, and they can no longer use the carriage.

It’s a 13-day journey to the capital of the Holy Kingdom of Litea. They’re definitely going to be shaken up in that wagon.

So, my vacation ended in a single day.

Well, I could have just pushed the work onto Deryu and slacked off.

"No, I don't want to! I’m not leaving my futon!! I cannot accept this treatment. It’s a strike!! Oh, Aslin, could you get me some vanilla ice cream? Thanks."

She was on the verge of becoming a shut-in, so I had no choice but to return.

"Mmm, mmm. It feels good when Yuki is around. Is it because we’re both ageless?"

She says things like that, but she does help out, so it’s better than leaving her alone.

Well, Deryu is the only one who is ageless like me, so she probably has her own complex feelings about it.

That’s why I think she clings to me because I’m a fellow ageless being, not because of any romantic interest... I think.

However, even though Deryu has her own private room, she comes to sleep in my room every single night.

When I wake up in the morning, she’s burrowed into my futon. Unlike Aslin and the others, she has a very mature, feminine figure, so I’d really appreciate it if she didn't.

My sanity can’t take it. If I were to lay a hand on Deryu, I would inevitably have to do the same for Labyris and Ratz.

I understand their feelings, I really do.

But in our current situation, I can’t afford to get them pregnant.

There’s already backlash against having women as the representatives for the town’s development; if they were to become unstable due to pregnancy, the criticism that "women aren't cut out for leadership" would only intensify.

Yes, for their sake, I must remain a sage.

Perhaps as a result of this resolve, my "morning companion" has been behaving itself lately.

...It doesn't mean I’ve stopped functioning as a man, right?

"What’s wrong? Why are you looking down?"

Deryu tilts her head, watching my strange behavior.

"……No, I was just thinking about how well I’ve been holding up. You might not know this, Deryu, but healthy men have a certain 'morning problem' every day, and I’ve managed to endure it until now with my unwavering spirit."

"Huh? What are you talking about? I’m usually mixed in with Yuki’s every morning... *Gah!?*"

As I was talking while looking off into the distance, I heard a strange sound from Deryu.

When I looked at her, she was hunched over for some reason.

"Are you okay? Do you have a stomachache?"

"…Yuki, don't worry. I accidentally bumped her with my sword. Sorry, Deryu."

Labyris said that and helped Deryu up.

"……Keep quiet. ……I won't let you……"

"……What!? ……is absolutely……!!"

"Then…… do as I…… say."

I couldn't catch the conversation, but it must be her pride as a Demon Lord.

Even if she’s in pain from being hit in a vital point, she seems to be putting on a brave face for Labyris.

"Yuki-san, they should be coming into view soon."

While we were distracted, Eris called out to me.

"Alright, everyone, it’s about to get busy."

Before us stood the direct unit led by Seraria.

Behind them were the immigrants for this project.

Now, I hadn't told them what was going on outside the dungeon.

Once you buy the land rights, you can naturally control the outside as well.

However, if the four directions aren't under the dungeon's direct control, the DP absorption efficiency drops even further.

There are also many drawbacks regarding defense, so I decided against building the town there.

Well, I suppose you could say I saved it for Seraria’s performance.

"Seraria-sama, we have been waiting for you. We all rejoice at your arrival."

Since Labyris is the public representative, she made the declaration, and everyone bowed their heads.

Oh, by the way, since everyone is outside the dungeon, these are "fakes."

The ones here are the doppelgangers of each representative; we have to take safety measures, after all.

"Labyris, I thank you for carrying on Elju’s will and maintaining this dungeon. And Yuki. For your achievement in preventing Loire’s rebellion, you have been granted nobility."

"Your words are too kind."

"Ha! I am deeply honored. I will strive to work even harder from here on out."

Well, I figured she’d do at least that much.

It would be incredibly troublesome for me to remain nameless. For the Kingdom of Roschur, which wants to put a collar on me, telling them to "be wary of Yuki" would just result in them asking, "Yuki? Who? There’s no need to be wary of someone so unknown."

Moreover, since I never appear in public, even if they wanted to be wary, there’s no target, which would make the King’s reaction seem excessive.

Therefore, the best solution is to just give me a title and make me a noble.

But even that is a stretch.

Because I haven't really "done" anything—or rather, I have, but it’s not something the high-ranking officials of Roschur would know about.

So, I thought it would be impossible to suddenly make me a noble, but they managed to push it through.

"Yuki’s rank is Marquis. And as I, a Duchess, have been granted permission to marry, I shall become your wife here and now. I look forward to working with you, my dear?"

"Pfft!?"

S-she did the most troublesome thing possible.

I had assumed they would just make me a noble and force some "wife" on me to act as a monitor, but I never expected Seraria herself to take that role.

Wait, won't Labyris and the others get angry at that!?

I thought that, but Labyris and the others behind me were...

"Seraria-sama, congratulations on your marriage."

For some reason, everyone was smiling and celebrating. ...Why?

Strangely enough, Seraria’s direct unit was also celebrating with open arms.

Hey, hey, isn't it natural to object and say this isn't appropriate!?

There’s no flow for me to decline this at all!?

"Yes, thank you everyone. I think I’ll be able to get along well with him. However, there is a problem. I don’t intend to die anytime soon, but 'I cannot rely on myself alone' to bear his children. My children must be raised as Dukes, and I cannot have them tied to dungeon management forever. Therefore, Yuki, I’m afraid you’ll have to welcome quite a few concubines."

Seraria said that with a smile.

...No way.

"I have been granted autonomy here. To fulfill my husband’s ideals, education for the next generation is absolutely necessary. And for that, I need good companions to support my husband. No, I want people who are prepared to love him and bear his children. Labyris, do you have anyone in mind?"

"Yes, including myself, most of those present here are willing to bear Yuki’s children. Would you accept such people as us?"

"There is no 'no.' I have heard of what you have all done here. It is actually fortunate. Let us support my husband together."

"Yes, Seraria-sama."

...I’ve been trapped!?

They were all in on it!?

They’re glancing at me and smirking!!

"…Seraria-sama, I apologize for interrupting your pleasant conversation, but there are many immigrants. It’s about time..."

"Oh, my dear. You can just call me Seraria, you know? Well, that’s fine. As you say, we shouldn't trouble the people."

And finally, Seraria began the action as planned.

"Everyone! I, Seraria, shall now prove that I have been entrusted with the control of this dungeon by Elju!!"

With that, she activated the buildings outside the dungeon that I had secretly set up.

Well, the outside isn't that grand.

Since the outside is just for show, there are about 30 wooden houses and a manor for Seraria to use when she works outside.

" " "Oooooh!!" " "

With this, she proved that she could properly control the dungeon.

"Half of the unit will be assigned to defense here. Qual, I leave this to you."

"Ha!! However, what shall we do? There are no other places to live."

"What are you saying, Qual? I have control of the dungeon, remember? In other words, the safest place is inside the dungeon. The interior is already more developed than this place. But if there’s nothing outside, no one will come near it. That’s why I built this place for now. No one would believe there’s a town inside a dungeon, so we’ll explain it here and make sure no suspicious individuals get inside."

"Ha!!"

Convinced by Seraria’s explanation, Qual began giving orders to her subordinates on the spot.

"Now, Labyris, please lead the way."

"Yes, this way."

Saying that, she led the immigrants into the dungeon.

The first and second floors of the defense are skipped by using teleport traps for transportation.

Though, only the representatives can use them.

And when those who had come here for the first time, including Seraria, saw the residential area, they couldn't hide their surprise.

"This is... beyond my expectations."

Seraria said.

Well, it’s mostly wood, after all.

They probably can’t even comprehend concrete.

"Thank you so much for coming. You must be Seraria-sama, right? I am Narjia, the representative of the Fairy tribe that Labyris-sama and the others have accepted."

And to top it all off, there were the indigenous Fairy tribe.