第１０８９堀：あの戦いの別の視点 (Part2)
"I was working hard at it. Dungeons are convenient places to gather and store magic in their cores. So, I invaded deep inside, killed the Dungeon Master, and seized the core. After that, I'd repeatedly collect the magic once a sufficient amount had accumulated, but recently, the amount of magic gathering had decreased, as if the dungeons were being cleared."
"Ah, that's because we were suppressing them."
Crushing the enemy's income and supply routes is a natural strategic move. It seems our actions did manage to hinder Seraria's movements to some extent.
"Just as I thought. Thanks to that, I couldn't even collect the magic to give to the children, and in the end, I had no choice but to exploit the decisive battle between the Zurabul Empire and the Hyne Empire. Originally, I had intended to absorb the Hyne Empire with the Seraphina Church before making my move, but I was forced to change my plans."
"I see. So that operation had meaning after all. There was no reaction at all, which felt a bit anticlimactic for us who were carrying it out. Or rather, didn't you think about taking them back?"
"I had no such leeway. After all, everything was being diverted to maintaining the children's lives."
"What? So you really were cutting it close. You should have more leeway."
"Is that something you, who stole that leeway, should be saying?"
"No, what I'm saying is that you should accumulate or leave behind enough resources beforehand so that you're fine even if someone takes some."
Indeed, it's quite common for the current situation to be lost due to a minor problem. That's precisely why one saves up as a precaution. This situation is no different. Certainly, we went around crushing those dungeons, but the question is whether it was wise to manage finances in such a way that you couldn't even reclaim them if something happened.
"I understand what you're trying to say, but I didn't inherit the dungeons. I merely seized their cores, so I couldn't do everything. And above all, I couldn't risk meddling with them carelessly. Because Luna would find out, wouldn't she?"
"Ah, I see."
So that's why she didn't use the dungeon's functions. It's true that if she used them carelessly, Luna might detect her.
"That's why I was truly grateful when a core, adjusted specifically for monster summoning, flowed in as a treasure from the Seasifo Kingdom. Just as I was about to use it to consolidate my forces, the Zurabul Empire suddenly gained momentum. Well, that's only natural. If I were to use a core to consolidate my forces, the Zurabul Empire would do the same. However, I also thought it would be perfect for eroding the Hyne Empire's strength."
"Ah, so you were poised to profit from it, and then things went south."
"...Yes. I never imagined the dungeons would be cleared so easily, and that my usable DP would be restricted to such an extent."
Well, that sounds like a failed stock investment. You bet it would go up, and it turned into mere scrap paper. So, we were both unknowingly taking actions that vexed the other. On our side, there was no counterattack, not even a single movement, and we couldn't get any information, which prevented us from acting.
"No, that was helpful. And what I want to ask next is, did you kill all the Dungeon Masters?"
"How many do you mean by 'all'? I killed them as far as I knew, but it wouldn't be strange if some survived, because I didn't clear all the dungeons."
"Exactly, that's what I wanted to know."
With that, I immediately spread out a map of the Zurabul Empire and the Hyne Empire for her to see.
"...Is this map of that land correct?"
"Yes, if you use a dungeon, maps like this are easy to create."
"That's truly absurd. Just thinking of such a use is abnormal."
"No, grasping geography is fundamental to warfare, isn't it? But never mind that. Could you tell me about the dungeons Seraria controlled, and any others you know of? If I know that, I can determine if there are any survivors."
"I see. That's how it is. Very well. I'll cooperate. After all, if there are any remaining Dungeon Masters, the people of the Seraphina Church might also be in danger."
Yes, by grasping the locations of all the dungeons, we can reduce the uncertain elements on that continent. Now, I wonder if any survivors remain?
It seems Seraria was operating under surprisingly tight constraints. Well, from the enemy's perspective, Yuki and his group are an extreme nuisance. That method might not have been the best, but it seems it was the better option. It's very important to view things from a different perspective. And what lurks within the remaining dungeons?