落とし穴３７掘：そこに女湯があるから 集まる人たち (Part1)
Pitfall 37: Because the Women’s Bath is There – The People Who Gather
Side: Yuki
"Greetings, Yuki-san."
"Oh, if it isn't Teague-san."
To think that the heir to the Gartz throne would show up at such a ridiculous "Peeping at the Women's Bath" tournament.
"Haha, drop the 'Teague-san.' I’m Shera’s husband, after all. I’m your brother-in-law, so feel free to speak casually."
"In that case, you can just call me Yuki, without the honorifics. Brother."
"Fair enough. Yuki."
Yes.
He’s a handsome man with a pleasant smile. A real picture-perfect figure.
But he has dark circles under his eyes. He must be busy with all sorts of things.
"So, Brother, why are you participating in such a foolish tournament?"
"I wouldn't call it a foolish tournament. The method is a bit unconventional, but it’s reached a point where other nations can’t afford to stay out of it. Naturally, I am a participant as well."
"Huh? You’re participating, not just observing?"
That seems a bit strange in a different way, doesn't it?
"I am, after all, the one entrusted with the command of the entire army. A place guaranteed to be free of danger is a rare opportunity indeed."
Ah, I see.
Since it’s safe, he intends to bring out high-ranking individuals who usually can't move freely and create some results.
"I understand the logic. But nothing is ever perfect. How are you accounting for that?"
"I assume the worst that could happen is me tripping or getting caught in one of the tournament's traps. In Weed, I doubt anyone but the upper management—people like you, Yuki—could pull off an assassination."
"Ah, well, if you're asking who has the best chance of doing that, it would be us. Still, keep your guard up."
"I know. I’m not half-bad with a sword, you know. It would be pathetic to be a commander who can't move or fight."
"I understand what you're saying, but if a commander is forced to draw his sword and fight, the battle situation is already at its worst."
"Well, I suppose that's true. I, the supreme commander, will not be heading to the front lines with a sword in hand. As you said, if that happens, the army will have already collapsed. That is precisely why I am showing my face here at a time like this."
"So, it’s safer than a battlefield?"
"Exactly. Here, not only is carrying weapons forbidden, but even substances are prohibited."
That’s right. By utilizing the dungeon’s functions, we thoroughly scan for weapons, as well as potent drugs and poisons.
If I were to be killed, the only real possibility at this stage would be poisoning.
Of course, this is also to protect my wives. Most of them are high-ranking officials in Weed now.
Teague’s guards also have "Paralysis Seals" on their swords, so if they draw them, they’ll be immobilized on the spot.
In a sense, this is all thanks to that one idiotic princess who, despite being granted permission to carry her sword, drew it and attacked us.
Since that incident, no matter how high-ranking an official from another country is, they must have a Paralysis Seal on their sword just like any regular adventurer, making it impossible to draw their weapons.
By using the precedent of that other nation causing trouble as a shield, we were able to nullify the standard excuse of "our subordinates would never do such a thing."
Furthermore, since Teague’s Gartz, Roschur, and Litea took the lead in voluntarily stopping the carrying of swords, no one can even complain about it anymore.
Soldiers from other countries who try to sneak in weapons are easily caught at Weed’s trade gate.
The same goes for any hidden drugs.
And that is why the safety of Weed has been trusted for some time now.
"To tell you the truth, my father—the King—said he wanted to participate. I’m here to stop him."
"Ah, he’s full of energy, then."
"Having too much energy is a problem in its own right."
It sounds like they have their own struggles over there.
"And what about you, Crack-dono? Are you participating as well?"
"Haa... oh, excuse me!! As Prince Teague said, I have also been chosen to participate as a representative of Litea. Honestly, I’m wondering why it has to come to this..."
Crack sighed and slumped his shoulders.
He is still the captain of the Royal Guard in Litea, and his move to Weed has been postponed time and again.
It just goes to show how much of a loss his departure would be, and how capable Crack himself is.
His partner, Dest, is also buried in paperwork every day, and when he does come to Weed, he finds solace in playing with the orphans who moved to the school.
"Yuki-dono, could you say something to them? And perhaps grant me permission to move here..."
"As for the peeping tournament, both Teague and I are participating. I’m not letting you run away alone."
"Indeed."
"Also, regarding your personnel situation in Litea, there’s still the aftermath of what you did to clean up. Make sure you finish that properly. Even without a formal treaty, Crack, you’re my comrade. Your presence there is not meaningless."
"...I understand that, but."
Crack is nominally a high-ranking official in Litea, but internally, he is completely on the side of Weed.
He’s been working hard to make up for the trouble he caused to Litea’s leader, Alstaire.
"Crack-dono, I understand your sentiment. But this is for the sake of the country. If that is the case, why not aim to reach the goal without peeping at the women's bath?"
"Ares-dono. The fact that you say such a thing means..."
"Indeed. I am the representative for Roschur. I’ve been hearing the exact same headache-inducing talk that Prince Teague mentioned..."
"You too? It’s good that everyone is energetic, but I wish they would show some restraint."
"I couldn't agree more."
From the side, the Roschur representative, the level 100+ Ares Lester, joined the conversation.
He, too, is kept busy running left and right as a bodyguard for the King of Roschur, who takes every spare moment to head toward Weed.
Thanks to that, Seraria’s sister, Aria, apparently can’t leave her office.
"The problem is that we cannot afford to be unable to get past the traps set for the women of each nation."
"Indeed, no matter how superior Weed’s technology is, this project isn't designed to be impossible to clear, is it?"
Ares said that, and Teague pointed out the problem with the project.
Yes, since we went through the trouble of planning this, it would be meaningless if there wasn't a route to get through.
If we had made the traps with the premise of never letting anyone through from the start, the men would be furious.
The representatives of each nation would also lose face and protest to Weed, so naturally, that isn't the case.
"I’ll explain it to all the participants later, but of course, there are restrictions on the use of traps so that it is possible to break through. If we just lined up teleportation traps in front of the women's bath, it would be an impenetrable fortress given the rule that you have to walk there. There are no such impossible traps."
"..."
The three of them froze.