第４２６堀：天上の神々の会談（標高５ｍ） (Part1)
### Chapter 426: A Conference of Celestial Gods (5m Above Sea Level)
**Side: Nonoa Wizard Shine, Queen of the Magic Kingdom**
Today, I was once again holding a discussion with a certain individual in a private room. Though two voices could be heard, I was the only one physically present.
"How are things on your end?"
A mirror sat before me, and the voice echoed from it. The reflection in the glass was not my own—the image of a peerless, genius beauty—but rather that of a burly, imposing man. His name was Nogosh, the King of Swords who ruled over a certain nation.
"Things are just as stagnant on my side," I replied.
"I see... so the information still hasn't come together?"
The heads of our two nations were conversing like this because of a specific problem. Under normal circumstances, we would never speak; we were rivals who would eventually have to crush one another. As gods, we had been given the mission by Lady Luna to save the world, and we had to prove that we were the true monarchs worthy of that salvation.
However, a situation had arisen that forced us to establish a temporary line of communication. The cause was simple:
"...What exactly is that guy Yuki planning?"
"To begin with, it’s questionable whether a person named Yuki even exists."
Yes, Yuki—the child of man brought from another world by Lady Luna. I use a question mark because information regarding him is completely nonexistent. It isn't that there is *no* information; it’s that the information is incomprehensible.
If you investigate Yuki, you get results, but they are contradictory. If you ask if he is black, you get white; if you mention red, the answer is blue. The reports are a chaotic mess. Furthermore, the details are nonsensical: some say he is a womanizer who keeps slaves, while others claim he refuses princesses and slaves offered by various nations. If you ask the residents of Weed, you get the bizarre response that he and his wife are happily married.
When I looked into his martial prowess and intellect, I found that while there were initial reports of him saving the princesses of Roschur, there were no notable achievements afterward. He settled into the role of a staff officer in a decorative military. Some even say he dislikes fighting entirely. Yet, there are reports that when he crossed blades at the Adventurer’s Guild, he fought a decent adventurer to a standstill and emerged victorious.
That is why I don't know. The information is so tangled that it is impossible to discern the truth.
"You doubt he even exists?"
Nogosh, my conversation partner, essentially has muscles for brains; his ability to grasp such nuances is low. He is the type to advance through intuition, which is fundamentally incompatible with my logical, calculated approach.
"Exactly. When the information is this chaotic, it’s highly likely that even if a person named Yuki exists, he is merely a front."
"Why?"
"Because, would a Dungeon Master appointed directly by Lady Luna really refrain from flaunting his power and instead leave the dungeon to a princess named Seraria?"
"That... is true. At this rate, he couldn't use it for fame, let alone to satisfy his own desires."
"Exactly. Yuki is more of a shield for Queen Seraria. It makes more sense that she is using a husband who does nothing to manipulate personnel and operations as she pleases."
"...Indeed. He has even rejected women, hasn't he?"
"It’s impossible for a man to have thirteen women around him and not want more. Besides, as royalty, it is a duty to produce many children. The fact that he refuses suggests it is Queen Seraria’s will. He is likely a fake."
"Then, where did the real Yuki, appointed by Lady Luna, go?"
"If my hypothesis is correct, Queen Seraria *is* Yuki. The initial story about him saving the Roschur princesses is what bothers me."
"Meaning?"
"She killed Seraria at that point and replaced her. There are magic tools and monsters that can mimic appearances. In fact, since 'she' went to Weed and became queen, there have been no reports of her visiting other countries. I suspect the goal is to create decoys to confuse us."
"Certainly, if Seraria is Yuki, she holds the real power, fame, and wealth. That holds water."
"Even if she were to form an alliance, that position would make it easier to do so."
"...An alliance, huh? How troublesome."
As Nogosh muttered bitterly, the formation of this alliance was a significant blow to us. It had become impossible to demonstrate the power and talent necessary to unify and save the world. At this rate, the world would remain stuck with the five major powers and their subservient minor nations.
"The world cannot be saved by such cowardly methods instead of competition. What is needed is an overwhelming monarch to lead the others."
"...I suppose so."
It is annoying to agree with this muscle-brained fool, but to build the wisdom necessary to save the world, I must break through this current deadlock. However, I must admit, I almost want to send praise for this approach. To have accomplished so much in just a few years—not through military might or hidden magical talent, but through a super-class diplomatic strategy between nations utilizing the power of a dungeon.
Perhaps their perspective is simply different from ours. A perspective born from being a child of man. Therefore, I believe that rather than teaming up with this muscle-brained fool, it would be more advantageous in the long run to eventually absorb Weed.
"Well, that’s fine for now. We won't reach a consensus today."
"True. That is why I sent Faide to verify it."
"That’s not the right way to put it. He is cooperating with us; he is not your subordinate."
"It makes no difference. He tills the fields on the farmland we provided and pays taxes. If anything, he is just a farmer."
This idiot... Because he leaves governance to his subordinates, he is fundamentally weak in political matters. He doesn't understand what a massive blow it would be if Faide’s agricultural techniques went elsewhere.
"...So, Faide said he was going to see Lilishe, right?"
"Yes. That woman is likely close with Yuki and would have information. Once he conveys the truth about the dungeon, she will surely cut ties with him."
"The truth... I see. Tell me, can you finally introduce me to the Dungeon Master you’ve made your subordinate? You gave me this magic mirror for communication, so I’d like to thank them."
"Unfortunately, the power of this Dungeon Master is immense. I cannot risk losing them. Therefore, I cannot carelessly expose them to public view."
Yes, this is the reason I want to absorb Weed. It is Nogosh, not I, who has secured cooperation with a Dungeon Master. In other words, the current balance of power favors Nogosh. Information regarding dungeons is kept to a minimum, and I am not even told who the Dungeon Master is.
Well, since I don't know, they must be a survivor from the past—a local who was made a Dungeon Master by Lady Luna, separate from Yuki. I used to think of dungeons as merely convenient bases, but seeing how Yuki uses them, I realized I wanted one for my own subordinates.
Nogosh beat me to it, and that is the source of my impatience.