第３９７堀：保身を謀った結果 (Part2)
If I explain our circumstances, those trivial matters should seem insignificant.
Yes, it’s working!! This is going well!! It could be called perfect.
The only problem is if Yuki and the others talk to Noble and Sacri first and hear the old stories, but we already have Noble under our thumb, and Sacri will likely be contacted by us through Noble first.
I’ve won. I managed to protect the most important things until the very end!!
“...Phew. For now, Binzo, contact Sacri and the others. I can’t seem to use my skills or magic well due to the damage from earlier. Tell them Lady Hifie has important matters to discuss. Tell everyone to gather at the dungeon’s meeting hall.”
“Understood.”
Yes, it’s coming together!! With this, my victory is unshakable...
“Ah, Hifie-san. I forgot to mention, but I’ve already seized the dungeon, captured the Dungeon Master called Sacri, the Chancellor within the Ex royal castle, and the person in charge of the zombie production factory, some guy named Schmidt.”
That voice came from Mino-chan.
“Eh?”
My eyes went wide.
Come to think of it, I hadn’t received any progress reports from the infiltration unit...
Eh? Is this a joke?
“That monster can speak!? And that’s besides the point—you captured Sacri and the others? How could such a ridiculous thing happen? They are in the deepest part of the dungeon, surrounded by layers of powerful monsters and traps!!”
“Y-Your Majesty. I... I cannot make contact with Lord Sacri, the Chancellor, or Schmidt...”
No way!?
“Um, King Noble. I am Mino-chan, who was in command of the exercise earlier. That command of yours was magnificent. I don’t think many people could command an army to that extent.”
Ignoring our shock, Mino-chan offered such a greeting to Noble.
“Ah, no. I lost, after all... But I am happy for the praise. Mino-chan-dono’s command was also wonderful.”
Oh, he actually returned the greeting.
“And, Mino-chan-dono. You mentioned earlier that you captured my loyal retainers...”
“Ah, please wait a moment. The preparations should be ready soon...”
“Preparations? What are you talking about...”
...Preparations? Could it be...
A terrible premonition crossed my mind.
『Hey, hey!! Noble, was it? Yoo-hoo!』
Suddenly, an image was projected into the air.
And displayed prominently in that image was...
“L-Lady Luna!?”
“Your Majesty? Do you know the woman in that picture?”
Yes, Lady Luna.
A High God, superior to us. The supreme goddess of this world.
“She is the one who stands at the pinnacle of us gods.”
“W-what did you say!?”
Noble trembled violently, and Binzo looked even more surprised than before.
That is to be expected.
By nature, that is what a god is.
They are not beings that can be summoned so casually...
Yuki, who was visible at the edge of the screen, is the exception—a person who can move Lady Luna freely if necessary.
Though, he surely paid the necessary price.
『I’ve been listening through Comet since a while ago. Well, you should be convinced now. Seizing a dungeon is a piece of cake for me.』
Hm? Who did she say she was listening through just now?
“Hah. If that is the case, there is no room for doubt.”
『We’ve been probing you guys from this side too. Well, I’ll explain the details at the venue. I’ll send someone to pick you up, so wait. Oh, Sacri and the others are fine. Don’t worry, they don’t have a single scratch.』
“Thank you very much.”
Noble was completely bowing and shrinking away.
However, that didn’t matter.
Through Comet... That means she didn’t just hear what happened a moment ago, but everything...
『Oh, Hifie. Everything is exposed, you know.』
“U-um, I didn’t mean any harm...”
『Hm. It’s fine. Leave it to me!! The penalty game for this time is something Comet and I thought up—you could call it a supreme work of art.』
With Comet?
“You betrayed me again!?”
“It couldn’t be helped, right!? I told you, didn’t I!? My games were taken hostage!! It’s fine, it’ll be a good thing for you too, surely...”
Comet said that, looking away.
“LOOK AT ME WHEN YOU’RE TALKING TO MEーーーー!!”
***
Side: Steve
I wondered why Luna-san was poking around in my mind, but it turns out she was in on it from the start.
She’s been waiting impatiently for this moment to shine.
Watching and peeking at us to kill time.
“...Captain.”
“What is it?”
“Hifie-san. Is she seriously crying? Are we really taking her in?”
“...Our job is to bring Hifie-dono in. It’s not like we’re the ones who made her cry, so no problem. Or rather, should we take her place?”
When I said that, my subordinates started running all at once.
“Target secured!!”
“L-let me go!? I’m still... I am still...!!”
Why are we capturing our own people?
Even though Noble is being calm and following our guidance.
No, that’s because he doesn’t know the future.
“S-Steve-san!? Please!!”
Hifie-san, who was being dragged away, appealed to me desperately.
“...I cannot defy superior orders.”
“Comet!! You just wait!!”
“No, if it comes down to it, it’s your fault for trying to do things behind our backs, isn’t it?”
Yeah. Comet-neesan’s argument is reasonable, but for me, I’ll just fold my hands in prayer.
Live strongly, I guess.
In this world, you can’t do bad things. That’s the story.
The heavens are always watching. (Yuki is)
Well then, the true demons are starting to move.
The ones who are truly scary in this world might just be other people.
The identity of the true mastermind is!! Deden!!
Wait for the next episode!!