第９６掘：大臣達の反応と暇つぶし
**Dungeon 96: The Ministers' Reaction and Killing Time**
My motivation vanished for a moment... it’s at an all-time low.
I think this is also the shortest chapter I’ve written.
***
**The Ministers' Reaction and Killing Time**
**Side: Seraria**
"That is absolutely unacceptable!!"
"Indeed!! Your Majesty, please keep your wits about you!!"
*Heh.* It was worth sending Shera to the briefing with the ministers this time.
Currently, the King of Gartz and his sons are discussing the exchange and trade with our dungeon—and the construction of a dungeon beneath the Gartz royal capital—with the ministers.
Well, if you ask which part is causing the most friction, it’s definitely the "dungeon construction beneath the royal capital."
That’s only natural, I suppose.
It’s unheard of to place something of unknown origin under the royal capital.
I had already anticipated this based on our discussions this morning, but still...
"We do not oppose exchange and trade with the dungeon governed by Lady Seraria. On the contrary, the trade goods we were shown are magnificent. We are in favor of building a relationship."
"Then..."
"However, building a dungeon under the royal capital is like having a knife pressed against our throats!! From the perspective of safety and various other factors, we cannot agree to this!!"
The response was exactly as expected.
Based on what the King of Gartz, the princes, and the princesses told us, the ministers’ rebellion and hostility aren't even worth noting.
If anything, they seem deeply loyal.
...Honestly, that bastard Loire.
It was because of information like that that I had compiled a list of predicted reactions.
"Fufu, they’re dancing in the palm of our hands, aren't they?"
"Yes, as expected of Yuki-sama."
That’s right. The one who first predicted that the ministers would oppose the dungeon under the royal capital was my husband.
"Next, it’ll turn into a debate about where the dungeon *should* be placed."
"Well, I hope it lands in a town near me."
"What do you think? I’m betting on beneath the Ritea Church."
We are currently gathered in our room, relaxing and listening to the situation via Call.
In the end, it has turned into a game of guessing where my husband will place the dungeon.
"Then, you are saying that if the dungeon is placed somewhere other than the royal capital, there would be no problem?"
"Yes. We can trust the words of the King, the princes, and the princesses, and we have the trade goods as proof. Wouldn't everyone else be reassured by this?"
One minister looks around. The ministers in his line of sight nod in agreement.
"Hmm, I understand that point. So, where would be good? This is not a decision I can make alone. However, we cannot spend all day in long-winded meetings. Lady Seraria and her party plan to create direct passages to various countries, and they cannot stay in Gartz until then."
"As my father, the King, says. The opinion that the royal capital is off-limits is understandable, and I have no objection. However, Ritea has already deployed dungeons under the Grand Cathedral of the Holy Capital and the royal capital of Roschur. Considering this, if we do not place one as close as possible—even if not under the royal capital—we will fall behind other countries in terms of trade security and the speed of information. I want you to consider that. Just because we’ve confirmed their safety, we cannot expect Lady Seraria to go through the trouble of coming back to build another one... such selfishness will not be tolerated."
Teague drives the point home to ensure there is no dissent regarding the current decision.
I could set one up easily, but if I go around building them willy-nilly, I’ll be taken lightly, and it’s a hassle for me, too.
"Lady Seraria’s stay is only five more days. We must decide by then."
"Five days, you say..."
"As I said before, Lady Seraria and her party also have business at the Gartz branch of the Adventurer Guild, so you should assume they have even less time to spare."
And so, the meeting on where to build the dungeon begins.
This won't be decided immediately, so there's no point in watching.
"It seems it won't be decided today after all."
"Well, I suppose so."
"They want to think it over carefully. Look forward to seeing whose prediction comes true... anyway, I’m leaving the meeting and heading back to you all."
"Yes, thank you, Shera."
With that, the Call with Shera ends.
"Well, now we just relax until Gartz gives us an answer. Though, I still have to handle the guild business, market research, and move forward with the trade goods through Princess Charl."
Yuki gets up from the bed he was rolling around on and walks over to me.
"That’s true. But I didn't think the King of Gartz and the princes would realize our true objective."
"I figured it out, so it’s not strange for them to figure it out, too. If anything, it saves us the trouble of explaining, which is easier."
That’s right. The Gartz royals arrived at the answer during our first meeting: our goal is to use the dungeon’s information network and passages to quell wars.
And they easily guessed that our personal exchange with Gartz this time is to support the dungeon’s independence.
Well, I’m not shaken by things like that, but Kaya’s eyes were wide as saucers.
Kaya needs to practice that a bit more, or she’s going to leak information.
"I heard the story, too. Using a dungeon to quell wars... The Adventurer Guild is already on board to support it, but man, that’s incredible. Even the Grand Master is cheering it on with open arms. Anyway, leave the Adventurer Guild business to me. I’ll head over there today and get it settled."
"Oh, I’m counting on you. ...Wait, hold on."
My husband stops Rock, who was about to leave the room.
"What is it?"
"Can you think of anything to kill time? You’ve been to this place before, right?"
"Killing time? Yuki, you’re an important guest, aren't you? Wouldn't it be better to stay quiet at the castle? You made some kind of promise to Lady Shera, didn't you?"
"That’s not something that’ll take all five days. And staying quiet at the castle is rejected. ...Let’s see, aren't there any dungeons nearby? I’m interested in seeing other dungeons."
"Oh, that sounds nice. We have the car, so we can make a day trip to most places."
I am in full agreement with my husband’s opinion.
My body is a fake, but I’m still strong, I can kill time, and I’m interested in other dungeons.
"Hey, hey, are you planning to conquer them? What if there’s another Dungeon Master there? That could be dangerous, right?"
"That’s the goal, too. I want to dive into other dungeons and find the Dungeon Masters. If they aren't hostile, I want to build a relationship. If Seraria were to die, the control would become unstable. The next best thing is to transfer full authority to Labyris, but it would be better if there were others, right?"
"Well... I suppose so. But man, 'nearby'... considering the car’s range, there are about two dungeons we could reach."
"Oh? Are dungeons scattered around that much?"
"No, the land of Gartz has always had many dungeons. Or rather, considering how dungeons work, there must have been a Dungeon Master in this land. There are seven dungeons in the country."
"That’s true. Roschur only has three at most."
"Ritea has five, but all of them have been conquered. Though only three have had their Dungeon Cores seized."
"Well, that’s because it’s the Grand Master’s home turf. Information on Ritea’s dungeons, including floor details and monster distribution, has been fully collected."
Indeed, considering the number of dungeons, they existed long before my husband came to this continent, so there is a high probability that there is a Dungeon Master in Gartz.
"Do you know the information on the two dungeons we can reach?"
"Well, I was the guild master in the town of Gartz, so I know a thing or two..."
"Rock, won't you tell us?"
"...Hey, hey, are you planning on going too, Lady Seraria?"
"Naturally. I won't let my husband have all the fun."
"Just say you’re going out on business; that should be fine. So, what’s the info on the dungeons?"
"It’s useless to stop you, isn't it? I’ll keep it simple. There’s one that’s been conquered and one that’s..."
" " "Unconquered." " "
Well, it seems we’ve found a way to kill time during our stay.
Next time, we’re storming another dungeon!!
Prepare to witness the unreasonable!!