落とし穴１８掘：不正経費？
**Dungeon Pit 18: Fraudulent Expenses?**
**Fraudulent Expenses?**
**Side: Eris**
This is a story from a little while ago, during the festival.
"Hmm, I see. Then, for the security here... yes, monsters won't do. Please use humans."
While coordinating with Tori, Riel, and the Security Department via Call, I checked the documents in my hand. With the festival in full swing, all the representatives were busy.
"Eh? A problem at the inn for the nobility? Narjia-san was supposed to handle that... she’s out guiding a tour for the blacksmiths? Can’t anyone else handle it? They’re demanding to speak to a representative?"
Good grief. It’s only the fourth day of the festival, and there are three more to go. Even if there haven't been any major disasters, there are mountains of minor issues.
I set the documents on the table and glanced at Ratz, who was working beside me.
"Yes? Another theft? At Store No. 4? I see, then that doesn't seem to be a major problem. Hmm, a different issue? Ice stock running low? Which variety? Please compile the documents; I’ll bring the ones from Store No. 3 and No. 2. I’ll clear it with them from here, so if they don't arrive in two hours, contact them directly..."
She seems even busier than I am.
I gave up on calling out to her and tapped my pen against the table. The sound caught Ratz’s attention.
*“Trouble at the noble inn. I’m going to handle the representative call,”* I wrote on a piece of copy paper and showed it to her.
Ratz nodded and made an "OK" sign with her fingers. Once I confirmed that, I left the office.
"Excuse me, Representative Eris."
"What is it?"
As I walked down the hallway, a subordinate from the Accounting Department called out to me. She was an elf like me, one of the refugees who had come from Litea. She had left the elven village to work as an adventurer, but after an injury left her unable to earn a living—and unable to return home—she had been living as a refugee in Litea. When I asked how she avoided being sold into slavery, she explained that the refugees of the same race had banded together for self-defense. That’s why there were surprisingly many non-human races among the ten thousand refugees.
But I digress. The elf who joined the Accounting Department is named Tiffany. She’s younger than me, and possesses enough education and arithmetic skills to work in accounting. It’s a wonder she was a refugee in Litea at all. When I asked Yuki-san, he said that according to Crack, Litea had very few places that hired refugees, and only a tiny fraction of them could find work. Tiffany, having no connections, hadn't been able to find employment.
"There are some unclear points regarding the festival expenses," she said.
"Unclear points?"
"Yes. The name used is Yuki-san’s, but there is absolutely no information on what was bought, where, or when."
"Let me see. It’s in the documents you have, right?"
She handed them over immediately. Yes, Tiffany really is excellent.
"Sorry, but I have to head to the noble inn now. Could you work on these documents with Ratz in my stead? I’ll ask Yuki-san about this issue myself."
"Oh, yes. I’m sorry for bothering you while you’re so busy."
I marked the problematic areas with a red pen. I’ll have to look into it after I finish with the inn.
I hurried toward the commercial district. I could use my ring to get there instantly, but I’ve been told to use the proper transportation whenever possible. This ring isn't a privilege of being a representative; Yuki-san told me to use it as a privilege of being his wife. In other words, I shouldn't use it for representative work, but I should feel free to use it if we are in danger.
Yes, that makes me happy.
Thinking about that, I passed through the heart of the festival in the commercial district and arrived at the inn for the nobility.
"Ah, Representative Eris."
"Sorry to keep you waiting. So, what is the problem?"
"Yes, well, you see..."
Just as I was about to start a conversation at the front desk to get the details...
"Are you the representative?"
A nobleman was walking toward me.
"Yes, I am the representative, Eris. Do you have some business with me?"
"Hmm."
The nobleman looked me up and down, his gaze lingering on my chest and lower abdomen for a moment.
"How about it? Won't you become my mistress? And you can act as the liaison for this place as well."
"I don't understand. What benefit would that be to me?"
"If you become my mistress, I will guarantee you a lifestyle befitting your status, even if you aren't a noble. It would be better than having commoners running the place as representatives without any order."
That remark irritated me quite a bit. I am here because I want to be. I wish people wouldn't assume that nobility is everything.
"Haah. I must decline. I am already married. And what makes you think there is a better life than the one I have here? Furthermore, as I mentioned at the start, such underhanded negotiations are subject to penalties."
"Married, you say? That’s irrelevant. You wouldn't want to cause trouble for your husband, would you? I hope you don't find yourself out of a job by tomorrow. Oh, this isn't a negotiation. Just a friendly concern."
The surrounding employees froze. This nobleman clearly doesn't know who my husband is. I told him from the start: there’s no benefit in this for me.
"Huh? Do you understand the implications of what you just said?"
"Oh? You don't get it? If you become my mistress and voluntarily handle the liaison for Weed, the problem will be solved."
The other nobles watching the tour looked as if they realized they’d made a mistake. Some were already giving orders to their subordinates. They intend to target the other representatives too, don't they?
Good grief. So this is why you made us your wives, Yuki-san. I am filled with gratitude.
"I understand."
"Good. Now, why don't you come to my room and serve me..."
"I have no need for your filthy things. My body and heart belong to my husband. I will report this to my husband and his other wives, and we will see to it that you receive appropriate punishment."
"W-wait, are you sure? Even if it ruins your husband?"
"If you think you can do that, please, be my guest. My husband is the husband of Seraria-sama. Yuki-sama is my husband. Good luck."
"Hah?"
To pick a fight with the husband of a queen... he certainly has guts. Well, he’s picking a fight with the queen herself, too.
After that, the nobleman desperately bowed his head, begging me to pretend this never happened. Since it was just a threat, I didn't report it—if I reported every little thing, Seraria would have to decapitate everyone. However, since this pathetic display was witnessed by other nobles, he will undoubtedly be at a disadvantage in all future negotiations.
With the inn issue resolved, I looked over the documents Tiffany had given me.
"The problem is here. Indeed, this is not a small sum of money."
But there were no reports attached to it. It’s strange. For an amount that could fund an entire event, there were no applications for venue rentals or catering orders. Would Yuki-san really manage things so sloppily?
Hmm, something is fishy. Could someone be using Yuki-san’s name to embezzle funds or hoard money?
"Ah, but it says here that the money was received by the church."
The church of Lilishe-sama, whom Litea worships. This is even stranger. Under Alstaire-sama’s current strict governance, if the church were to commit fraud, the heads of those involved would literally fly off. Moreover, trying to siphon money from elsewhere is a massive problem.
"Hmm, rather than asking Yuki-san, I should head to the church immediately before the money disappears."
I’m worried about how much money is left, but the biggest problem is giving them time to destroy the evidence. If they play dumb, investigating becomes a massive headache. I can handle it on my own; after all, there’s no one in Weed stronger than me, except for my own family.
So, I snuck into the church, and what I saw there was...
"How is it? Will you make it in time?"
"Yes~, leave it to me. It’s totally OK."
Yuki-san and the master of the church... the real Lilishe-sama, were chatting happily.
"Eh, what, an affair!?"
To be continued.
Well, since the content was mentioned in a previous story, you can probably guess what’s going on. It’s a story about an event during the festival.