落とし穴外伝：世間は師走と申しまして……あれ？ (Part1)
Dungeon Pit Side Story: The World Calls it December... Wait?
Side: Yuki
December.
The month is known in Japanese as *Shiwasu*. Legend has it that the term originated from the image of high-ranking priests—masters with disciples—running frantically from east to west to perform sutra recitations.
In short, it means things are busy.
And that is a fact. Between preparing to welcome the New Year and wrapping up the current one, the world is indeed in a state of flux.
Managing a nation, in particular, is a whirlwind of accounting, event coordination, and endless logistics.
You might assume that we, too, are caught in this frantic pace, but...
"It’s been quite leisurely lately, hasn't it?"
"Indeed. Our subordinates have finally matured enough to take the reins."
"Yes. Even the likes of Tefa and her group have become quite capable."
Sharing a relaxed tea time with me were Ratz and Eris—two women who, until recently, would have been buried under a mountain of work at this time of year.
They have succeeded in training their successors and have already stepped down from their representative roles.
Now, their primary focus is supporting my work. While diplomatic affairs remain busy, the year-end and New Year periods are typically reserved for domestic events within each nation, leaving us with this rare, tranquil lull.
There are no urgent matters pressing down on us.
As I pondered this, Milly returned.
"Phew, finally done."
"Welcome back. Is the Adventurer Guild busy?"
"Yes. As always, there are so many events around the end of the year. They’re desperate for personnel to act as merchant escorts or part-time help at shops."
"Well, that’s to be expected, isn't it?"
"It is the season for earning, after all."
"Still, it seems you’re able to get home earlier than before, Milly."
"I suppose so. Ever since Kina became vice-guild master, she’s been building up quite a track record, and the subordinates have grown, too. Basically, all I do now is confirm documents and sign off on things with Rock."
Milly, the only representative of the Adventurer Guild who hadn't undergone a generational shift, used to be swamped every year, but it seems that, too, has finally settled down.
"Well, it’s a good thing that it’s less of a hassle, but I take it a successor still hasn't been decided?"
"Not a chance. Since I’ve worked at the guild and have a close relationship with you, Yuki, everyone just says I should keep doing it. I even suggested the Grand Master take over, but that was shot down immediately."
"That’s only natural. The man is a grandfather, after all. If we’re entrusting the future to someone, it should be a young person."
Eris is right.
Though, that Grand Master feels like something beyond a mere mortal, I have no intention of meddling in his affairs—but he really should consider his age and the circumstances of those around him.
Actually, he seems to have moved his residence to Weed and is enjoying a leisurely life every day.
I hear he teaches martial arts to the children at the school, and he’s often seen wandering around trying different foods or lounging in the super public baths.
I suppose that’s just part of his hobby.
As I sipped my tea and let out a sigh of relief, a sudden light flashed before my eyes, and before it could even fade...
"Hey, Yuki. Help me out."
Luna called out.
How rare. This useless goddess actually came to me without being summoned.
However, I’m not foolish enough to say "I'll help" without asking for the details.
"No thanks."
"Hah!?"
"First, sit down and explain the situation. I’m not going to help you with something when I don't even know what’s going on."
"Tch. How annoying. Fine. Kirue, tea for me as well."
"As you wish."
Kirue, the model maid, bowed without a single word of complaint and began the preparations for the goddess who had appeared out of thin air.
Kirue, much like Kirika, has a habit of just being there before you notice.
While I was thinking that, Luna sat down across from me, started munching on a rice cracker, and began to explain.
"I want you to defeat a Demon Lord."
"That’s too short to understand anything. And besides, I’m not going to kill my wives, Liliana, or Peace."
In this world, those who gather monsters—or rather, those who accumulate notoriety—are sometimes called Demon Lords.
There are exceptions, of course; my wife Deryu was called a "good Demon Lord," though she was also treated like a walking bomb.
Usually, a Demon Lord is a villain who must be defeated in the eyes of the public.
So, she wants me to defeat one, but I have no idea who, where, or why. I have people in my own circle who are called Demon Lords, or who were once Demon Lords.
"Who said anything about killing your family? I’m talking about someone else."
She tossed a document onto the table.
"So you actually made a proper report this time."
"I got complained at enough last time, didn't I?"
Well, it seems my complaints weren't in vain.
Thinking this, I spread the documents out on the table. Ratz and the others leaned in to look.
"...Oh? Is this a fairly large continent off the south-southeast coast of the Rogari Continent?"
"If we’re talking about an aircraft carrier or an Aegis ship, it’s about two days' distance."
Eris’s reference to "Earth ships" implies a speed of about 30 knots, which is roughly 55 kilometers per hour. Over 48 hours, that’s 2,640 kilometers away.
Yeah, that’s incredibly far.
"It’s a bit small to be called a continent. About the size of two Hokkaidos. Well, that’s not the problem."
Luna continued her explanation, pointing to the top of the trapezoidal landmass.
"There’s a volcano here. One of the members of a mid-level god’s faction, who calls himself a Demon Lord, is holed up there."
Oh, now that’s information I can’t just brush off.
"And he’s planning a major offensive by coordinating with those hiding in various countries?"
"They don't have the technology for that. You see, the people there are completely isolated on this continent. It’s surrounded by mountain ranges, forming a basin. They don't even recognize the existence of the outside world. And that goes for the god there, too."
"Hah, well, that’s a relief."
In other words, there’s no threat to Weed or the Intercontinental Alliance.
"It’s not a relief. That mid-level god’s faction is meddling with the volcano to make it erupt. The scale of it would drag the Rogari Continent into the fallout."
"Hah!?"
I was absolutely stunned by her statement.
There’s no way an eruption could have an impact over 2,000 kilometers away.
"Don't be ridiculous. Even a nuclear explosion wouldn't have that kind of range. At most, you’d get a tsunami, right?"
"That’s not what I’m talking about. They’ve been researching magic, and they’re planning to disperse magic power over a wide area. It’ll strengthen and enrage the monsters. The god was originally researching that, but after the mid-level god was defeated, he stopped serving humanity and turned toward destroying it."
"Well, that’s a common enough story."
Gods who have despaired of humanity—we have the likes of Hifia and Senal right here in Weed.
"The diffusion of that magic power is likely to reach the Rogari Continent. I couldn't ignore that, so I came to tell you. It wouldn't be good to have trouble right now, would it?"
"I suppose not."
Dealing with the Great Flood, the two nations, and the Dark Guilds—having another factor that enrages monsters would be nothing short of a nightmare.