第８８６堀：その前にやるべきこと (Part1)
**Chapter 886: Things to Do Before That**
**Side: Agil**
"Hmm. The If Continent has too many subjects for investigation, so our policy for the time being is to narrow them down. As for the New Continent, there’s the Goblin village, and on the Rogari Continent where we reside, there’s the Dragon Mountain, right?"
Seraria, Queen of Weed, said this as she placed the documents on the table.
Currently, we are gathered in the Weed government office conference room to hold a discussion.
The topic concerns the locations we’ve gathered information on from various countries—no, from various continents—that are believed to be related to the magical power depletion phenomenon.
Originally, we had planned to address this after the Intercontinental Exchange Conference and the wedding, but since some rather interesting information surfaced, we decided to gather and examine it now.
Well, for the If Continent and the New Continent, there are simply too many targets, so we really need to narrow them down further.
Or wait, is that wrong? In this case, it’s the Rogari Continent—where the candidates are already narrowed down—that is the strange one.
"Still, it’s surprising. I didn’t expect the other kings of the Rogari Continent to all bring up the Dragon Mountain as well."
"Yes. It is surprising, isn't it? When I asked my old man about it, he said that if we’re talking about the magical power depletion phenomenon, then that place is certainly the one."
That’s right. For some reason, every king of every country had the same opinion regarding this Dragon Mountain.
Moreover, it was as if they only remembered it once the name was mentioned.
"Hey, Seraria. Do you know the reason for that reaction? Personally, when everyone’s opinions align this perfectly, I start to feel like they’ve colluded. Like they’re trying to use us for their own ends..."
I feel something artificial about how the target locations in Rogari matched up so perfectly.
When I asked this, unexpectedly...
"That is likely the case. They do want to use us."
"Indeed. I share Shera’s opinion."
"I agree with Shera and Rurua as well."
They admitted to my suspicions quite easily.
While I was taken aback by the bluntness, that doesn't mean we can just leave it at that.
"No, doesn't that mean we’re going to be put in danger?"
"Well, that is true. So, what do you think?"
Seraria asks Yuki for his opinion with a wry smile.
That’s right. Yuki wouldn’t just say he’s going to some suspicious place like the Dragon Mountain, would he?
"Hmm. Well, I understand what the various countries are aiming for."
"Eh? You understand?"
"Of course. They want us to do something about the mountain where dragons are flying around. It must be a massive headache for their national defense."
"‘Must be’ doesn't cover it. It’s definitely a headache. Dragons can fly, so it doesn't matter if you’re close or far from the Dragon Mountain; every country wants someone to deal with it."
" " "Ah..." " "
At Yuki and Seraria’s explanation, not just me, but everyone else let out a vacant sound.
It’s true—if there were dragons flying around a mountain that was visible, even if not directly overhead, you’d certainly want someone to deal with it.
I hadn't even thought of something so simple.
"Besides, there’s what Queen Miyabi said, so it’s likely not a total lie."
Ah, right. Yuki mentioned that Queen Miyabi told him about a village of Dragonkin.
If that’s the case, it’s understandable that the countries aren't just lying to get us to exterminate the dragons.
Well, since they only brought it up after the name was mentioned, I had been skeptical.
"However, Yuki-sama. Regardless, it is a dangerous place. How do you intend to conduct the investigation?"
"Don't tell me we’re going to have to climb the mountain?"
"Well, that’s how it’ll be."
I’d really like to avoid that.
The Dragon Mountain might have various interesting subjects for investigation, but my life is more important.
I’ve improved quite a bit thanks to the Spartan training I’ve undergone since becoming Yuki’s wife... no, it’s precisely because I’ve improved that I’m so cautious.
I fear the terror of having the skies controlled above me.
...I’ve learned through experience that a battle without air superiority is no different from suicide.
"That said, we can't leave this investigation to the countries of the Rogari Continent. Any way you look at it, they’d just be wiped out."
I agree with that.
Weed is the only one with the military strength to fight dragons on equal footing.
That is precisely why the choice made by the kings of the various countries cannot be called wrong.
Well, the rest depends on how we decide to handle it.
As I was thinking about this, Comet, who is participating in the meeting as one of the technicians, speaks up.
"Well, there’s no problem with the direction of investigating the Dragon Mountain, right? We can think about the methods and means later. More importantly, are there no other candidates? The Dragon Mountain is just one of the leading candidates; it’s not like there aren't any others, right?"
Indeed, as Comet says, the Dragon Mountain isn't the only candidate for investigating the cause of the magical power depletion on the Rogari Continent.
It’s just that the probability seems high. There is a sufficient possibility that the cause lies elsewhere.
"That’s true, but if we look beyond that, the candidates would fill a mountain of documents. We’re currently in the middle of a meeting to rank that pile of documents by the likelihood of them being the cause."
"I see. So that part is still unknown for the time being. In that case, we should consider the strike team for the Dragon Mountain, even if it is dangerous. That’s more constructive than pointlessly worrying about things we don't understand."
As Comet summarized the current situation, everyone nodded.
With that, it was decided that we would prioritize the investigation of the Dragon Mountain, but...
"Actually, I’ve heard of the Dragon Mountain too, and I think we should get to it as soon as possible."
"Yeah. I agree with Riel. I suspect the kings of the various countries were worried that it might interfere with the upcoming Intercontinental Exchange Conference."
Unexpectedly, Riel and Tori both said that we should investigate before the Intercontinental Exchange Conference.
And the reason was convincing.
The kings of the Rogari Continent were likely concerned about exactly that.
"I see. It would be bad if the Intercontinental Exchange Conference or the wedding were spoiled."
"It wouldn't just be 'bad.' We’re talking about dragons. Weed is a dungeon nation, so we might be fine, but the other countries would suffer massive damage. That is certainly something we want to avoid."
"Hmm. If it only ends with the damage Seraria mentioned, that would be the best-case scenario. If things go poorly, it could hinder future Intercontinental Exchange Conferences."
It’s true—if dragon damage were to occur here, no one would have the leisure to participate in a relaxed conference, and in the first place, there wouldn't be any room to conduct intercontinental exchanges.
But why...
"That’s right. And now that the magical power depletion phenomenon has been clearly recognized thanks to my husband, there is also the anxiety that the dragons might start moving because of it."
Rurua answered the question I had been harboring.
I see. I had wondered why they were thinking about dragons at this specific timing, but it’s precisely because they’ve learned so much that they’ve become concerned.
Given the information, the fear that dragons might become a real threat has emerged.
The idea that the magical power depletion might be the catalyst for the dragons to start moving.
"In that case, we need to proceed with the preparations for the Intercontinental Exchange Conference and the wedding while simultaneously conducting the site investigation of the Dragon Mountain... but that brings us to the question of who will go."