第４７１堀：まとめ 我儘姫と毘沙門天 (Part1)
**Chapter 471: Summary – The Selfish Princess and Bishamonten**
**Side: Yuki**
"What is the meaning of this? What she has done is absolutely unforgivable!!"
"That’s right!! Taiki-san, the people of the nation, and even us—we’ve all been put through so much trouble because of her!!"
"…Hmm. I’ll go persuade Taiki. That wretched woman should be executed immediately."
Jessica, Ria, and Cleena were the ones seething with anger upon learning of the outcome regarding the Idiot Princess. Naturally, most of the other wives likely shared their sentiment. The only ones who could have accepted the decision to keep her as a servant from the start were probably Seraria, Rurua, Shera… and perhaps Samantha, who remained silent.
"…Samantha? Why aren't you saying anything?"
"Yeah, Samantha!! Because of that person, so many people were troubled!! No, they were hurt and even died!!"
"Hmm. Samantha, let’s go persuade Taiki too. Leaving her alive puts the future of Lanks at risk. Or rather, for Yuki’s sake, that wretched woman must be killed."
Samantha heard the voices of the three, but she didn't look at them. Instead, she turned toward me and opened her mouth.
"It’s a political matter, isn't it?"
"That’s about the size of it."
"…?"
The three of them tilted their heads, clearly not following the conversation.
"To put it simply, we cannot execute Princess Bitz."
"What do you mean by that?"
"I don't get it. Samantha?"
"…Keeping her alive is nothing but a bane."
"The 'bane' Cleena refers to is likely Rei, though that person is already a corpse. But Princess Bitz actually holds a very important role for Lanks."
"A role?"
When Cleena asked, Samantha nodded.
"Yes, a role. Lanks may appear stable now, but that is not the case. While neighboring countries cooperated, the internal situation is quite murky."
"Samantha, I don't really understand."
"To explain it simply for you, Ria-san: Lanks is split between the faction supporting the Hero Taiki-sama and the faction of the old royal family. Am I wrong, Yuki-sama?"
"No, you’re spot on."
That was the crux of the problem with Bitz. That was why I had advised Taiki-kun from the start not to execute her, but to use a form of punishment disguised as harassment—such as menial labor—aimed at reforming her mindset.
Hearing this, Jessica fell into deep thought. Having served as a vice-captain in the Knights, she had enough experience to grasp the implications.
"…I see. I am not well-versed in Lanks’ internal affairs, but it has been less than five years since the revolution succeeded, correct?"
"Let's see, about the same number of years as our daughters, I suppose?"
"At best, two years and a bit. In that case, it is only natural. Ria, Cleena, if you use Weed as your standard, you won't make any progress. Please clear your minds and listen. You understand that even if you build a country from scratch, you can't just gather everything you need instantly like we did in Weed, right?"
"Yeah. I get it."
"That goes without saying."
"Yes. If you understand that, then this will be quick. Normally, when you undertake the monumental task of changing a nation’s regime, you don't replace everything from top to bottom. In fact, without collaborators who know the old system, a revolution like the one in Lanks wouldn't hold together."
She was right. I had built Weed by borrowing the power of influential figures like Elju, Seraria, and Rurua. The groundwork Taiki-kun had done in Lanks must have been equally extensive.
"If handled poorly, it would have invited civil war. Perhaps thanks to Taiki-dono’s skillful maneuvering, that hasn't happened, but the old royalist faction is not amused. They are compliant for now, but problems will inevitably arise. In fact, that was the very reason for the execution. For better or worse, tradition is held in high regard, and many people cling to the importance of bloodlines."
"What does that mean?"
"Explain it more clearly."
"Let's see... For example, if Luna-sama were to suddenly install a Dungeon Master other than Yuki in Weed and tell us to obey them, could you accept that?"
"No way."
"Exactly. That is the 'murky' internal situation Samantha mentioned. If we aren't convinced, and Yuki is ousted, we would certainly rebel. We are a married couple, after all. The idea of tearing us apart is impossible. And it’s not just us; everyone in Weed would feel the same. Yuki is loved by the people."
"Of course. Ousting Yuki-san is unthinkable."
"Hmm. Luna saying something so unreasonable deserves... punishment."
Cleena’s eyes widened as she finally understood.
"That is exactly it. I don't think Luna-sama would do such a thing, but if she did, our response would be to arrange a discussion—or perhaps a 'punishment.' If that isn't possible, it leads to a revolution like the one Taiki-dono carried out. In that sense, we cannot entrust Weed to anyone who isn't connected to Yuki. That is what tradition and bloodline mean."
"I see. But how does that lead to keeping Princess Bitz alive?"
"Well, Ria. How would you feel if the change of the Dungeon Master in Weed wasn't Luna-sama’s whim, but something requested by Yuki himself? For example, if he asked you to cooperate for just a little while?"
"Well, if it’s a request from Yuki-san, I guess I could cooperate for a bit...! Ah, I see! Even those who are uncooperative, saying 'only the old royal family will do,' might cooperate if Princess Bitz intercedes for us."
Exactly. As Ria said, that was the goal of keeping Bitz alive. It was a chance to seize control of the embers smoldering within Lanks—the old royalist faction—even if not completely.
"However, I find it strange, Yuki-sama. Forgive my rudeness, but isn't it a bit sudden—or perhaps dangerous—to make Princess Bitz a servant to Taiki-sama? I thought you intended to put her in a position that would mentally exhaust her to persuade her?"
"Mentally exhaust her?"
"Er, Cleena-san. If Princess Bitz were to ask for cooperation, do you think people would actually cooperate?"
"No way. From what I’ve heard, she’s the type who isn't satisfied unless her own selfishness is indulged."
"Yes, I thought so too. That is why, while correcting her selfishness, we place her in an environment worse than what she is used to—if you'll pardon the phrasing—to make her easier to persuade. By making her do menial labor, for instance."
"That’s a good idea. She doesn't know how people live, which is why she can do such things so easily."
"But she has become Taiki-sama’s servant. That doesn't seem like it would be very painful, nor would it lead to a change in consciousness..."
"Hmm. Samantha is right, that is strange. Yuki, what is going on?"
"That part went off the rails thanks to the sudden appearance of Uesugi Terutora. Though, I’d like to think it’s in a good direction."
"I want a detailed explanation."
"Understood."
To be honest, Taiki-kun and I had hoped to force Bitz into menial labor, show her how hard the commoners work, how selfish she had been, and—if she wanted to regain even a shred of her former life—well, it was meant to be a mix of threats and brainwashing. But Uesugi Terutora had shattered those plans.
*"We—though we are one body—are not opposed to cooperating with you, provided our conditions are met."*