第３５９堀：集まり始める情報 (Part1)
### Chapter 359: Information Begins to Gather
**Side: Yuki**
The long-awaited first report from the Royal Capital of Ex arrived.
"So, it stinks here. You got any deodorizer or something?"
Mauve was the first to bring that up.
"I was monitoring that scene, so I know, but for that level of threat, you could have just shredded the zombies. Why did you have to go and blow them up?"
"Nah, my body just moved according to the manual, I guess."
Following long-standing rules, perhaps? Well, if that’s the case, it can’t be helped.
"That’s not the problem!! The problem is that the undead were moving in the first place. Didn't you find any tools or items that were making them move?"
"Found something that looks like it. This. I’ve already sent most of them via the birds I had monitoring from above, so the physical items should be arriving soon."
Thank goodness Raiya is there. Mauve really doesn't think things through.
"It looks like a pendant set with a gemstone."
"Yeah. Since there was one for every monster, it’s safe to assume they were wearing them individually."
"True. So, what’s your take on the Royal Capital itself?"
"Nothing particularly suspicious for now. According to the merchant Torneko, who I teamed up with, trade with Zilba and August is still continuing as usual."
"Well, even if they’re on guard, it’s not like they’ve locked everything down. They’re probably maintaining the status quo because they’re afraid of provoking us."
Wait, did he just say the name "Torneko"!? That wasn't a slip of the tongue, right? It didn't have a "ru" at the end or anything? Is there a "Mysterious Dungeon" nearby?
"I see. Well, it’s only the first day. There’s still a good chance that things will change as we dig deeper."
"I understand that. Just be careful not to get your throats slit in your sleep. That area is still outside our sphere of influence, after all."
It would be ideal if I could seize the dungeon, but if not, our own situation would be laid bare. I need to find a way to secretly get a grip on their necks.
"I know, I know. So, Yuki, how are things over there with White Forest and Roday?"
"Yeah, I’ve already returned to Roday and filed my report. I’m currently on standby there. I’ve sent Tori, Riel, Kaya, and Eris to the demi-human village, so there shouldn't be any issues."
"Are the hot-blooded ones still not moving?"
"Well, the swap only happened yesterday. If they were going to revolt the day after Mauve and the others left, they would have done it already."
"True enough. Well, the girls should be fine."
"Since there’s no worry about the rear, why don't you go on a rampage and blow off some steam?"
"Who’s going to go on a rampage!!"
Tch, diversionary tactics don't work, huh.
"Well, keep up the investigation."
"Got it."
"Yeah, and leave the slaves for tomorrow."
"Why?"
"I’ll be the one questioning the slaves here, so you focus on continuing the investigation of the Royal Capital. There’s no reason to delay information gathering by putting the slaves first. In these situations, it’s better to move quickly. The dungeon core the enemy recovered is also being moved toward the Royal Capital of Ex; we’ve only got a week or so left. Time is of the essence."
"Understood."
If there are any noble slaves, there’s a possibility that Mauve and the others might be under surveillance, which actually makes it easier for me to perform a reverse-trace. Raiya and Curse might have a vague inkling, but Mauve probably doesn't realize it. For now, I’ll have Mauve and the others prepare as the spark within the capital.
"…Yuki. The items from Mauve and the others have arrived."
Cleena came into the Ex Royal Capital monitoring room and said that. We had already left Doppelgangers in Roday and were on high alert in Weed to support Mauve’s group.
"Understood. It seems the items have arrived here. I’m heading over there, so if anything comes up, just let me know."
"Got it. Good luck with the research."
"You too."
I stood up and headed toward the laboratory with my four wives acting as my escort.
"But it’s strange, isn't it? Why undead?"
"Jessica, do undead usually appear?"
"No, in Zilba, I hadn't even heard of such a thing, let alone seen one."
"It’s the same in Roday."
"…Same for August. If an undead of that level appeared, it would be a scale that requires the military to be deployed."
…Our combat power is so excessive that it’s hard to get a sense of the scale, but in the New Continent, even an Orc is a high-level monster, and if an even higher-ranked King appeared, it wouldn't be easily stopped. Well, we do have a "vegetarian something" Orc in our own ranks who surpasses that Orc King. It’s only natural that it doesn't feel like a threat when he spends all his time farming.
"That means that Ms. Rosetta, was it? She’s quite impressive too, then."
"Yes. I didn't know her name, but she would be more than a match for regular knights."
"Indeed. She had good movement."
"…Mm. The last one was just an unlucky matchup."
The wives saying that are on an even higher level, though. Their original specs are on a different plane—a Hero, a Magic Sword User aide, and a single-digit ranker from the Magic Academy. Ah, how terrifying.
While we were talking about that, we arrived at the laboratory.
"You’ve arrived."
"Right this way."
"Hey there, Yuki-kun and everyone."
In the room were three of Weed’s most prominent "mads." One was Zargis, a former Four Heavenly Kings (lol) of the Demon Lord, and a research fanatic. Another was Narjia, the leader of the Fairy race, obsessed with metallurgy, smithing, and creation. The last was Comet, my predecessor in the New Continent, a Dungeon Master and a leading authority on magic research.
In short, they were all mad scientists. Among them, Narjia was relatively the most "sane" as she didn't engage in human or monster modification, but since she built super-weapons, I honestly didn't feel like there was much of a difference.
"I feel a rather rude gaze, but let's ignore it as usual."
"That’s not it. Yuki-san is just excited about new weapons again, right?"
"No, Narjia. I don't think that’s it. Anyway, let’s talk about that item that arrived from Mauve and the others."
While Narjia skillfully used magic to prepare tea for everyone, Comet placed the pendant with the gemstone, which was inside a transparent box, in the center of the table.
"So this is what the zombies were wearing."
"That’s right."
"Wait a second, Yuki-kun and Mauve-san keep saying 'zombie,' but is it different from a regular zombie?"
"Hm? Ah, for us, it’s like a threat-level designation."
"Threat-level designation?"
"Yeah. When you draw out the word 'zombie,' it sounds a bit lackluster, right?"
"Ah. You mean it implies they aren't a threat to you?"
"In battle, you should avoid unnecessary effort. But it’s also to convey that we have the leeway to handle it. Rather than going out of our way to say we have leeway, saying 'zombie' is shorter."
"I see. You’ve thought this through. My apologies, I digressed. Now, about this pendant—the reason it’s in this box is because of the smell."
"Excuse me?"
"As Comet-san says. Since the zombies were wearing them, and maintaining their condition is important, we haven't washed them. That’s why we’ve kept them sealed like this, but…"
"Shall I open the lid?"
Narjia said that and reached out her hand, so we hurriedly shook our heads…
"““No, that’s quite alright.””"
Who would willingly subject themselves to the same fate as Mauve and the others?
"So, since it’s sealed like this, have you already examined it?"