第２２４掘：今後の行動 (Part1)
### Dig 224: Future Actions
**Side: Yuki**
"Phew, Steve is all wrapped up like a mummy, and we’ve had our break. It’s time to get to the main topic."
"The main topic?" Tori tilted her head.
"That’s right. This is where it gets serious. We’ve obtained information regarding the previous Dungeon Master of the New Continent. I believe you all know this, and some of you have even met them personally, but I’d like to introduce them properly."
As I said that, the doors to the banquet hall opened, and a monster entered.
It had no head and was clad in magnificent knight’s armor. There are generally two types of Dullahan in the world of Earth. One is the headless fairy that pulls a headless carriage, and the other is the headless knight often seen in games. The latter is more famous, but both are synonymous with death.
"This is Peace, a Dullahan Valkyrie."
"It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I am Peace Guardworld."
With those words, she removed the full-face helmet she was holding. Beneath it appeared the face of a beautiful woman who looked slightly older than Seraria, with sharp, golden hair and piercing blue eyes—a face straight out of a painting. Well, it was a severed head, but still.
"A-a woman!?"
Mauve, who hadn't spoken to her before, stood up in surprise.
"Come on, it’s not like knights are only men. You’ve got Seraria right there, and your subordinate, Quar."
"No, no, I mean... a female monster..." Mauve started to deny it, then caught himself. "Wait, I guess there are some."
"Yeah, there are."
That’s right. Female monsters exist. Strictly speaking, they aren't "females" of a species, but rather classified as "women." They are women in human form. Some monsters even mimic humans to lead them astray.
"Come to think of it, why haven't you been using female-type monsters, Yuki? If they’re beautiful women, they could be used for all sorts of things," Seraria asked.
"I don't like using them that way. Besides, I’ve already summoned several female-type monsters."
"Eh? I didn't notice."
"Half of the Dullahan Assassins, like Peace, are women. Right, Kirika?"
"Yes, as you say, Master. Lady Seraria."
At my call, Kirika, a Dullahan Assassin, appeared silently from behind me. Sensing the flow of the conversation, she removed her helmet and armor, revealing a woman with a short-bobbed black hairstyle, black eyes, and a kimono. Kirika is like my personal ninja; I put her in a kimono because, well, looking at her face, I just wanted to dress her up. If Seraria and the others weren't around, I’d probably have asked her to keep me company at night.
I’ve assigned Dullahan Assassins to everyone else as subordinates, but Seraria’s must have been a man.
"Well, I only started summoning female types around the time we conquered the Demon King’s castle. For me, Kirika was my first monster-type partner."
"I suppose the reason you didn't before is, as we discussed, because low-cost monsters like Goblins and Orcs were sufficient, right?"
"Exactly. Besides, until then, I wasn't in a situation where I could waste DP, and since Seraria had already come to be my bride, I intentionally avoided summoning them. And, remember when we talked about summoning monsters to investigate things with the Adventurer’s Guild?"
"Yes, back then?"
"Right. I tried summoning a few, hoping to find a bride for Steve, but..."
Steve, currently wrapped up like a mummy, groaned in the background.
"He got rejected by all of them. You’re just too desperate, man."
Steve shed tears and fell silent.
"...So, it’s not that Steve can’t find a partner just because he’s a monster, then?"
"Probably not. Kirika, what was the consensus from everyone who went on a date with Steve?"
"Yes. They said he stared at their chests too much, his eyes were bloodshot, and he seemed like he only wanted one thing. I share that opinion."
"I see... wait, if I have people like Kirika with me, does that mean they can't serve as bodyguards?"
"Yes. I am, first and foremost, a subordinate. Even if I were to receive your favor, Master, and become your wife, I cannot disobey your orders. In that regard, you must have Lady Seraria and the others increase the guard. Especially since those of us who maintain a proper human form like mine are usually undead, ghosts, or creatures with different lower halves. It is shameful to admit, but I cannot serve as your Doppelganger bodyguard in the New Continent."
"I see. Undead and ghost types consume too much magic and would dissipate, and if the lower half is... *that*, it would just stand out too much," Seraria noted.
"I am glad you understand."
Kirika tried to step back, but Aslin stopped her.
"Kirika-chan, wait. Let's listen to the story together."
"Aslin-sama, it is fine. I can hear the conversation through the Master’s call from behind, and I must remain vigilant of our surroundings."
"No."
Aslin walked over to Kirika and plucked her head right off. Seraria looked on in shock; from an outsider's perspective, it looked like Aslin had just twisted her head off. Since Kirika usually kept her head attached, the fact that she was a monster had slipped everyone's mind.
"Honestly, Big Sister, it makes me sad. I told you to stop calling me 'sama'..."
Aslin ignored Kirika’s headless body, which was flailing about, and returned to her seat carrying the head.
"Ah, Aslin-sama is the one who named us, so... please, give my head back!"
As you can see, the female-type monsters fully recognize Aslin as their leader.
"Kirika, just give up. It’s your fault for not seeing Aslin lately. We have things to discuss, so just be quiet."
"As expected of you, Brother."
"Ugh... understood."
Aslin looked satisfied, cradling Kirika’s head. Kirika placed her body behind Aslin, her head resting in Aslin’s arms with a look that was a mix of subtle joy and distress.
"Now, we’ve gotten off track, but as I’m sure you all know, we’ve discovered that Peace was a close aide to the previous Dungeon Master of the New Continent. I don't think you know the details, so I’d like Peace to tell us about it."
I brought Peace to the front of the whiteboard. She follows me obediently now, but in the beginning, she had tried to slash me, so I had to knock her out, and she had caused trouble during my wife’s childbirth, so I had to stun her again—she was quite a handful. When I asked her why, she explained that she had been betrayed by her own kin and lost her master, so I couldn't blame her for being distraught.
"Then, once again, I am Peace, who served as a close aide to the Dungeon Master of that continent."
Peace had long advised me against keeping humans nearby. It’s a trauma, I suppose—just like me, she had tried to bring humans in to investigate the cause of the magic depletion, only to be betrayed. I’ve told her that I’ve taken specific protective measures since coming to this world, so it’s a little better now. I’m focusing on my wives and showing her the way Weed operates, telling her that what happened to her won't happen here. All I can do is take my time and heal her heart.
As I thought this, Peace looked around at everyone gathered and opened her mouth.
"First, I will tell you the most important thing. My late master did not uncover the cause of the magic depletion. Like you, Yuki-dono, my master was chosen by the gods and worked on that continent to prevent the world's balance from collapsing as magic faded. However, before that goal could be realized, my master was betrayed by those they had brought into their own ranks and passed from this world. Afterward, we who remained left the dungeon and pursued the women who had stolen my master’s keepsake—what is now called the Holy Sword—but we were defeated. I have only just now awakened."